The past week has been a mix of tranquility, visitors and grandchildren, and now here we are, ready to begin a new year. I'm looking forward to a few weeks of rest now and then I'll be out, touring around and meeting people with my last book. I'm going to enjoy that final flourish in the commercial world but I'm ready to let go of it all and return to the quietness of my home.
While I rest after one of my busiest years, I'll be getting back to regular baking, making soap, slowing my mind with hand stitching and working to a routine sometimes and my natural rhythm at others. Life will pass slowly, I'll garden, fuss about, take my time, write, think, sit in the back yard, make scones with buttermilk, pour tea from a pot and get to know life again without the constant need to write. Writing has been part of my life since I was a teenager and while I think I'm ready to let it go, Hanno is doubtful.
At the start of this new year, I'm not going to think about resolutions. Instead I'll be living with the clear intention of enjoying every day. I'll follow my heart, work with the seasons and my inclinations and appreciate my work and home life in the slowest of slow lanes. I hope you'll continue to visit me as I slow down; maybe you can do it too. And in the words of Wendell Berry: Let’s be against sweeping changes and in favor of doing things in small steps. Let’s not discourage ourselves by trying for too much or subject ourselves to the tyranny of somebody else’s big idea. Happy new year, my friends. ♥︎
A very happy and peaceful new year to you, Rhonda, and your lovely family. I have followed your blog (quietly in the background !) for some years now and am constantly inspired by your words and deeds. Through you, I have 'met' some lovely bloggers - lately, the lovely Morag and her family. We, your online friends, have been with you through the birth of all the grandbabies, through Hanno's accident, through the loss of your dogs, the down-sizing of your vegetable garden and your preparation for the coming years of your life. I'm sure everybody will join me in wishing you every happiness in 2016 and we look forward to moving forwards with you 'in the slow lane'. Still waiting for the New Year here in
ReplyDeleteEssex, UK
Happy New Year, Rhonda to you and to all your readers.
ReplyDeleteAnd a Happy New Year to you, too, my friend.. Loved your post and decided I, too, want to enjoy my life to the fullest even in the slow lane.. smile..
ReplyDeleteGod bless you and your precious family this year of 2016 !! xo
A very happy new year, I am loving your blog! x
ReplyDeleteI too, am looking forward to slowing down. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteBest wishes to you for 2016.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you and your family Rhonda.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year Rhonda. I look forward to another year of your wise words.
ReplyDeleteAll the very very best for 2016.
Peach
Have a very happy 2016, Rhonda. Kitty in England
ReplyDeleteHappy 2016 for you and Hanno. Still two and a half hours here until the new year :)
ReplyDeleteWishing you good health, peace, love and a happy and enjoyable year in the slow lane.Thank you for a being such an inspiration to many through your wonderful blog and best wishes with the release of new book.Looking forward to purchasing a copy.... from Warrnambool in Victoria.
ReplyDeleteThe happiest and slowest of New Years to you too Rhonda!
ReplyDeleteWell, said lillibet!!! I am the same as you...following the lovely Rhonda for years in the background. I've had the pleasure of joining the forum community, also one of Rhonda's babies! I applaud you Mrs. Hetzel, you are one heck of a woman!! A lovely lady, without a doubt.
ReplyDeleteHappy new year to you and your family, I read your blog everyday and even if there isn't a new blog I still find a gem of information that I pocket away. Can't wait for your new book!
ReplyDeleteKindest regards
Fiona
A very Happy New Year to you and yours Rhonda, and thank you for the photo accompanying this post; I have been on the verge of giving up on my vege garden for the rest of the season as I'm sick to death of battling the birds, rabbits, lack of rain, and water pressure that means hand-watering is my only option but the lovely fresh greenery on your photo strengthened my resolve! Thank you for motivating me once again :)
ReplyDeleteHappy new year Rhonda and Hanno ! We are looking forward to slowing down too and enjoying more quality time with the kids and in the garden :) cannot wait for your new book xox
ReplyDeleteAnd the happiest of new years to you & your family Rhonda
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year, Rhonda. The slow lane sounds good once you get older ;-) Enjoy the quiet before your book promotion tour begins.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year Rhonda & Hanno, your description of life in the slow lane sounds like bliss, enjoy!
ReplyDeleteHappy new year! Thank you for speeding up my slowing down this year, if that makes sense ;) All the best for 2016 and beyond. Ayesha.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year Rhonda! I wish you all the very best with your new book. Thank you so much for your generous support and encouragement over these past months. I look forward to continuing to work with you. Love, Morag
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year Rhonda and Hanno, Kerry and Shane and their families. Hope everyone is happy and healthy. Glad to read that you are slowing down to enjoy what you love most. Hope to catch up with your and Kathleen again one day to share our memories and maybe a glass of two. Maybe you should write a book about those days, hahaha, would be a best seller. Cheers Maureen and Kevin
ReplyDeletethank you so much for sharing all your posts,, you've enlightened me, inspired me and gave me thought for pause. I feel we live better lives from your lead.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!
That all sounds great Rhonda....looking forward to your book and your 2016 posts. Regards Kathy A, Brisbane
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year To you and yours .
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year Rhonda and Hanno and everyone who reads along here! And hi Lilibet, I'm in Essex too!
ReplyDeleteI have enjoyed reading your blog for a while now and your first book(i need to get the others:) Thank you for sharing a part of your world and ideas, always a pleasure. Wishing you peace,good health and happiness in the coming New Year.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year, Rhonda and Hanno! I love my slower life and I love reading about yours too.
ReplyDeleteHave A Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year, Rhonda; for all of you. :)
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year, Rhonda, and to all who visit here! We are all on the same journey and I feel so encouraged by everyone here!
ReplyDeleteWe went to eat tonight to celebrate Christmas, my birthday, my son's birthday, and the New Year together as a family. Going out together is something we have not done in years, but tonight we all agreed that since I have been in the hospital, my husband has been in the hospital, my daughter in law has to work, and my son just got off work, we would throw caution to the wind and just go OUT and let someone else clean up. We went to a Chinese place. My fortune cookie said it all, "this New Year make it a habit to have desert 3 times a week" and I think that is a fine plan.
ReplyDeleteHope your year is wonderful. I look forward to getting your new book. I have both of your other books.
Thank you for the fine blog. Happy New Year and may God bless.
Happy New Year Rhonda. I always enjoy reading your blog.
ReplyDeleteSo thank you for your lovely posts which I find so inspirational. I'm happy to move into the slow lane with you.
Happy New Year to you' Hanno and the family. Enjoy your time of quiet reflection. Hope you come Hervey Bay way on your book tour.
ReplyDeleteRhonda the most extraordinary coincidence has happened. Somehow, until now, I've missed the name Wendell Berry. An American friend mentioned him in a blog post I read a little while ago, now you've quoted him here. Mr Berry is #1 on my reading list for this year thanks to you and Polly.
ReplyDeleteWould you give Hanno a message for me? Please tell him I share his doubt. :)
I don't think I will pass that on. You'll LOVE Wendell Berry.
Deletehappy new year from germany. love mel.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year, Rhonda and family. Thank you for all your wonderful posts and encouragement this past year. ~ Elaine
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year.
ReplyDeleteI'm with Hanno. I spent 8 very busy years as voluntary Secretary of an 800 member club that was basically a full time job. I was finally replaced last March 2015 and the job was divided into several smaller jobs.
I am still not able to slow down, but find encouragement to do so from your site.
I come here daily and will continue to do so. Again Happy New Year.
z
A Happy New Year to you. It sounds like it will be a year of good change for you. Slow and simple is good whatever that looks like.
ReplyDeleteHanno and I both.....writing seems/appears to feed your soul in some way (?) - but I guess you know best dear Rhonda. Your comment in a recent post about retreating back into obscurity was a sad moment for me, but again this is about you not us. So, we will just enjoy and relish every word you share between now and then (whenever that is) and we have your new book to delight us soon. How wonderful. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteYour writing is a true gift and you have given us all so much with this blog. I find myself checking your blog constantly for the next post and going over the older posts regularly. You help me personally with my simple living journey. I love hearing about your family and the words written show so much love and appreciation of them. With my parents already gone (dad when I was 14, mum when I was 29), I love to see what could have been, I see this in your posts of family. I wish you and your family a blessed and happy 2016.
ReplyDeleteWonderful quote - thanks for sharing it, Rhonda. May you both have a happy, blessed, calm and simple, 2016. x
ReplyDeleteA very Happy New Year to you Rhonda and Hanno. Also your family. I have enjoyed your blog for a couple of years and read all your past entries. I enjoy your blog very much and can't wait for your new book. That's one purchase I will be making in 2016. Ronnie, London (England)
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you and your family Rhonda. As always thank you for your genuine heartfelt words. Having found a great path for myself, life will be full this year but not busy. I recently met someone here in melbourne who spoke about simplifying their life and later I spotted your book on her desk. So so lovely to have found someone outside cyber space to share my love of your blog and your wonderful words.
ReplyDeleteThat said I am also looking forward to contributing more to the forum this year. Your timely email reminded me.
Blessings and peace.
kxx
To Rhonda & Hanno, best wishes for a joyful year ahead. Rhonda, thank you for sharing your journey with us.
ReplyDeleteA very Happy 2016! Your words inspire me every day. IS there any way you could post that cracker recipe? It looks so good! Thanks.
ReplyDeleteJinger, the recipe is in the new book.
DeleteRhonda, I've enjoyed reading your blog for years, you & I are on the same page on so many topics with regard to living a more simple life. I started writing my homesteading blog when I was diagnosed with breast cancer 3 years ago. (Since I wouldn't be physically able to help run the ranch for a while, my sweet man thought writing might be a way for me to exercise my creative side while my physical side healed from surgeries, etc.) I found I really loved the writing so I've continued it, but I'm now evaluating how much time I realistically have available to spread between running a ranch, community commitments I feel are important, blog writing, etc. I guess sometimes it's healthy to step back & realign everything. I will say that if you write less here, I'll still be here to soak up each & every post and be inspired by it, the same as always. (HUGS from Texas)
ReplyDelete~Taylor-Made Homestead~
Happy new year Rhonda :-)
ReplyDeleteI like intentions much more than resolutions and I think your intention for the year is perfect - enjoy!
Madeleine.x
Happy new year. I bought myself 'Down to Earth' as a Christmas present. I just want to tell you that your book inspired me so much. When I started reading it I was lying in bed on my holiday feeling depressed while my family was down on the beachfront enjoying their lives.
ReplyDeleteYour book made me realise it's okay to be a homebody, to take things slow, to take pride in your home and that one of the most amazing things I can do as a human is cultivate a loving home for my son to grow up in.
I'm not a very eloquent person, but I just think you should know you inspired this 22 year old mum to be the best person she can be. I will be forever thankful.
Good for you, Josie! Take control of your home, make it the place you want to work in and that will make the biggest difference. XX
DeleteHello Rhonda,
ReplyDeleteI love reading your blog and keeping track of your happy and creative days. You certainly inspire me to enjoy pottering around my own home and making it a place of peace and orderliness. I would like to wish you and Hanno a wonderful New Year and I look forward to reading more from you in the future.
Best wishes
Lorna
A very Happy New Year 2016 to you and your family Rhonda! I have been a daily follower for years now and have learned so much from your wise thoughts and deeds. You are a gifted writer and teacher!
ReplyDeleteHowever, I really understand you need now to slow down and enjoy life on your terms. Not "enjoy" in any flippant way but savour slowly and to the full.Being a few years older than you, I recognise the need.
Whether or not Hanno is right, I will be happy to continue following your thoughts and deeds.
Ramona
Uppsala, Sweden
A Very Happy New Year to you and your family.
ReplyDeletexx
And a very happy new year to you as well! We are not making sweeping changes here, but we are tweaking things a bit, especially as regards homeschooling and also how our children help around the house, to try to improve some things that aren't working. I am so relieved to put 2015 behind me and have hope that 2016 will be better.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year Rhonda and Hanno. Thank you for all the time you take here, to help us find our home and the slowness of days.
ReplyDeleteAh! Rest and Relaxation. Sounds dreamy!
ReplyDeleteHope you find you and Hanno find a nice rhythm for the new year.
This is such a beautiful post and echoes my heart for the New year. Thank you for writing all you do here.
ReplyDeleteA bit late Hanno and Rhonda but we wish you both good health and much happiness in 2016 . I have been following your journey now for a long time and have one of your books . Love the fruit loaf! Take good care of each other Margaret in Tasmania
ReplyDeleteEnjoy! That's something I've forgotten to do for a long time. Maybe that should be my word of the year!
ReplyDeletePlease drop by and say hello!
Have a wonderful winter season!
Blessings,
Laura of Harvest Lane Cottage