Putting the Old Year to Bed, and welcoming in the New

16 years ago

This morning, my husband and I were cutting and slicing a whole pork loin for the freezer and for the celebration this evening. I got to write 2008 for the first time this year, and it feels so strange to have another tick over on the odometer of my life.

I absolutely love New Year's Day as it is a special time for my family to be together and for introspection and plans. We are very superstitious about this day, and believe what we do shall lay a pattern for the coming year. So, I try to go into it with my affairs in order, and decided on a year's aspirations and plans.

2008 is the year I put in a new strawberry bed, and perhaps set aside some ground for a new black raspberry bed as well, far away from my husband's tractor, lol. I also plan to have the ground turned for a garden plot, to accommodate enough room for a new corn and melon patch next to the old garden. I'll be starting some new grape vines from the ones at my folk's house to share with my children, so they'll have starts on their grandparent's grapes my father also lovingly started. And, perhaps a dozen new cherry trees because the birds quickly go through the fruits on the two I already have.

I want to get started on the book I've been compiling of family history on which I have worked about eight years gathering data. There are three or four day trips and a few overnights I need to make to complete the research, and I'm looking forward to the adventure.

I started a new quilt as well, to keep my hands busy in leisure hours (but those are few and far between, so I usually steal time late at night). And, this is the year I do the wall repairs on our up and downstairs foyer. I've put it off for twenty years and I ain't getting any younger.

I've also decided to try my hand at whittling. We've an abundance of old fallen trees and branches on the property for fodder. And last but not least, I need to get a new fishing license!

I said Goodbye to my Mother last year, and also her precious little dog, Daisy.......and stepped into the position of Matriarch of my family. It shall be awesome shoes to fill and I hope I'm ready for it.

What are your plans and dreams for the coming year? Life style changes? Job changes?

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Comments (6)

oscarthecat
16 years ago
I think you are ready for it. Steve in Baltimore County
mawheel
16 years ago
Your activities and energy level continually amaze me! No wonder I love the GP; it's so interesting to read and learn about others' lifestyles.

For my DH and myself, our main plan/goal/dream is to stay at least as healthy and active as we now are. Advancing years gained on us in 2007. :
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mwoods
16 years ago
No resolutions or grandiose plans. Life has a way of throwing lots of curve balls which can zap out dreams,plans and resolutions in a mini second. I think I'll just reexamine each day and try to improve on that the next, roll with the punches without complaining and with as much dignity as I can, and continue to work on not being a traffic director( Lilo's expression.) If I can do these things every day,it will be a good year.All the rest will fall into place.
beanmomma
16 years ago
Well the last year-and-a-half have been complete upheavals and as much as I'd like to get some settling-down done it probably isn't going to happen. LOL.

Initially our plans were to move back, settle in and improve our home. We've done mostly cosmetic improvements since July -new carpeting and painting in the basement, new floor in the upstairs bath as well as new sink/vanity and toilet. In the kitchen we put in a new stove and refrigerator. We're going to do some more work in the kitchen -new counters and floor and repainting cabinets.

We were looking at an addition that would have added a new bedroom, master bath and enlarged the master bedroom. We also were going to upgrade and put in central air.

Instead we have come to the realization that such an addition would completely price our home out of the surrounding neighborhood. We live on a street of very modest ranch homes that are the smallest and lowest-value homes in the entire division. It would make no sense to put so much money into our home when none of the neighbors are currently doing any similar improvements. In fact I've become even less enthused with the neighborhood. Some of the homes have recently sold and there has been some quality of life issues with some of the new neighbors. Two of the properties are currently vacant. One seems to be always up for sale and one is a vacant rental property that has been slowly deteriorating since the original owners sold it two years ago.

Sooooooooo we may be doing fix-up with an eye to sell.

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My descriptor has been 'flux'.

Flux 2008.
calliope
Original Author
16 years ago
I have empathy. Last year was quite a year, wasn't it? We just purchased a little extra acreage and almost doubled our property here as a buffer zone against development. This house I expected to live the rest of my life in because of the beauty of its setting is now becoming an oasis in an industrial zone. In the background where there was once only the whistle of wind in the trees, there are now motor noises, and the aroma of cow manure and misty air from the lakes is giving way to the smell of industry. We've put twenty five years of our soul into this house, but now it's habitable again, my eye is peeled and I believe I could leave it for open pasture again.

My "plans" sound ambitious, but it's basically the same plans I had this time last year. As Marda says, life happens and throw you curve balls. If I don't accomplish them all, there is next year. I know myself well enough that I do this little ritual each year in the hopes that having it there, tangible on a list, I'll get at least one of them accomplished. If I don't earmark things I want to do in my heart, then it gets shoved on a shelf and I don't allot myself time or permission to do any thing I really want to do. So, I schedule it.
andie_rathbone
16 years ago
I'm looking to cut back on some of my activities & make some time for myself this year. It seems like in the past couple of years, I haven't had time to spend in my garden or to spend time just reflecting. I'm determined to make time for those things this year.

As the new year rolled over last night, DH, said, "2008 - Did you ever think we'd see it?" I knew what he meant. I remember being much younger and figuring what year it would be when I turned 60. 2008. It seemed like a date from science fiction & here it is.

Putting the Old Year to Bed, and welcoming in the New

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oscarthecat

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Putting the Old Year to Bed, and welcoming in the New

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oscarthecat

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