Moving forward, looking back

These tiny pink roses were one of my mum's favourites - Cecile Brunner roses. They're easy to grow and they're what I'd call a non-vigorous climber. Also, no thorns, a definite bonus. The buds are about the size of a small finger nail and they smell divine. These are growing happily in our front garden weaving through the wisteria.

I like having the luxury of looking back and remembering what's happened to me and my family during the year. Over the past couple of days I've spent a bit of time looking through old posts and being reminded of just how many people I've connected with through my blog - both online and in person. When I started writing this blog I wanted to create a record of my own changes. I also wanted to get simple life information out to the world because there wasn't enough of it around. That was over seven years ago now. In the beginning there were plenty of people looking for ideas on how to simplify and I was happy to share what I could remember about doing housework the old way and encourage others towards self-reliance. Now there are a lot of blogs and simple living experts everywhere, how times have changed us all. I am not an expert. I'm just an ordinary woman who remembers how things used to be and can harvest some of those memories and tack them on to contemporary life in a way that makes sense. If I am anything, I will always strive to be that.

A year's worth of notebooks. I love to hand write and write something every day. I hate the thought of handwriting dying out so I make sure I keep mine up to a reasonable standard.

To be honest with you I did think of stopping my blog a couple of months ago. I wondered if it had run its course but I continue to receive so many emails about being a surrogate grandma and online friend and in the end, I realised the blog is an important part of the day for many folk, not just for me. So the blog will continue next year and I hope you'll continue reading.

Square knitting needles, bought in Katoomba when I visited Tricia. Have you used square needles before?  They're supposed to be ergonomic and easier on the hands.  And below: slow and steady with the organic cotton baby blanket.  I'll have it finished in plenty of time. 

This will be a quiet week for me. I have Christmas chores, cooking, some personal sewing and a new embroidery project to plan. Hanno is getting through the mowing by doing a small amount every day. The cricket continues, the days will slip by slowly and then another Christmas will be here. So shhhhhh. It's early in the morning here and I'm up with the elves. I'll do a few things before Hanno wakes and if I keep working slowing during the week, I'll do everything I must do without rushing, and I'll appreciate it more. 

It's been a year full of toys and story books and stepping on Legos. Again!

A year of fruit photos on our kitchen bench. I wonder if anyone likes these photos as much as I like taking them.

And a year of tea - loose for me and bags for Hanno, enjoyed on the front verandah, watching the lizards and birds and being entertained my Jamie.

Looking back these past couple of days has reminded me just how much I have to be thankful for. Kerry and Sunny have been living close by for a year now so we've finished a year of having Jamie in our lives on a much more frequent basis. I must say he's slipped  into our routine like he was born to it and he's given us a hurry up in the process. There has been dancing in the lounge room, soccer in the hallway, conversations in the garden and so many snacks and drinks.  It's been a joy. We also had Alex here with us staying overnight. He's another gentle soul who seems to have been born knowing us. And maybe that's what does happen. Maybe kids just know their grandparents because love is like glue that bonds generations together.  And next year?  Well, a new baby of course. Due in April, Shane and Sarndra are expecting their second child and I can't wait. Another little love to care for and cherish. These are the people who will replace us and be here to form our family when we're gone. I'm grateful that I have such a loving husband and wonderful family. I hope most of them keep simple values close when they're older and help encourage those who will come along after them.

I have to say though that both Hanno and I are tired at the end of this year. We'll celebrate the season along with our family but we'll also take the opportunity to rest and relax and get ready for next year. We have some movies chosen to watch, I'll have the knitting needles clicking away, I'll be hand stitching and I'll be writing.  Both here and more for Penguin, but that's another story and it can wait till next year.  See you tomorrow, my friends and in the meantime, please tell me what you're grateful for this year.