Wednesday, December 31, 2014

A Look At 2014

This year has gone by so fast it almost makes my head
spin!  All in all, it was a very good year, but there were some
sad times as well.  

What I've learned is to enjoy the sweet,
simple things in life and if my family is healthy and I'm
healthy, then I have much for which to be thankful. 

It is impossible to put a year in a few photos, 
but I've put together a few collages of some of my
favorite photos taken during the year.  
First up...more Christmas! 


We had a very nice Christmas.  We missed my
aunt and uncle who usually spent Christmas Day with us.
They both passed away in September, as most of my 
readers know.  

Our son came home last Tuesday night and was here until
Friday afternoon when he had to return to KC to see his new lady. 

Daughter and I were the champions this time at card games
so that was fun!  We are usually on the losing end.  lol!

We had lots of food and laughs.  BG and I don't normally
exchange gifts, but my son talked us into a new TV for the living room so 
he took his dad to the city where they found just the right 
one for us.  Now I need a new table for it and will have to do
some rearranging in the living room...later.  I plan
to read a few books and just relax for a while. 


I picked out a few favorite photos of my furred and 
feathered friends that I see out my kitchen window.  The
exception being the white-tailed squirrel that I saw one
day while driving down the street and the Bald Eagle that
I spotted not far from our town.  The deer was captured using my
zoom while he was getting a drink at our pond.


A few of my favorite sunsets of 2014. 


January saw the work begin on the foundation of our house.  I'm happy to report that nearly a year later, our basement has stayed dry.  Yay!

We had some snow, but all in all it was a pretty good winter.

I did spend part of the winter dreaming of flower gardens!

We planted strawberries in our new raised bed that BG built and hope for a good crop next June.  When the weather was nice, a lot of time was spent outside working with my flowers or trying to get a shot of the birds and sometimes even the moon.  I enjoy our patio which is filled with flower pots.  We do lots of grilling in warmer weather, too.

We put a bid in on a house that came on the market and the next thing you know...we are the proud owners of another house with a red barn included!  I always wanted a red barn.  The house will be rented to our daughter as soon as we get the bathroom remodeled and a few other things that need to be done.

We didn't get to take our trip out west in September as we were in the middle of house negotiations and also because of my aunt and uncle.  We did squeeze in a few trips to Branson during the year.  Also we went to St. Louis one weekend and made other short jaunts.  One of my favorite day trips is to the Amish country where I bought most of our Christmas candy last week.  I ended up putting a lot of it in the freezer!

The last photo of the grandfather clock is a reminder to me of a new goal (I don't like to make resolutions) that I'm setting for myself in the new year.  And that is to get to bed earlier and wake up before 8 am.  For one reason, so I can see more sunrises and capture the beauty of the early morning hours.  We'll see how that goes.  You know what they say about old dogs and new tricks!

My trees will stay up a few more days.  I'm really enjoying the new slim tree in the dining area that is decorated with cookie cutters.  I can see both trees from where I'm sitting in the recliner and they look so pretty at night.  

I hope each of you had a wonderful holiday and my wish for you is that you have a happy, healthy New Year filled with many blessings!

Love,
Cheryl

30 comments:

  1. Enjoyed the montage of photos you put up. Those sunsets and that deer are sweet. Sounds like you had a wonderful Christmas. We're celebrating for all twelve days here. I wish you a HAPPY NEW YEAR.

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  2. Oh mornings are the best it is where the beauty lies, a great goal in 2015. Your photos are beautiful. Hug B

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  3. love the white-tailed squirrel. all of your wildlife visitors. :) i hope you can finish the project soon and your daughter can move in! then, on to more things! happy new year!

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  4. A lovely review of your 2014 year.. I love the beautiful birdies mosaic and the gorgeous sky mosaic.. lovely images.. I wish you and your family a happy & healthy New Year!

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  5. Always enjoy your photos Cheryl! Enjoyed the review too. It will be wonderful when the new house is done and your daughter can move in. I am looking forward to seeing pictures of the charming red barn! Happy New Year's Eve and a Happy and Healthy 2015! Hugs to you!

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  6. can't wait to see the new house when it is completed.. enjoyed your blast from the past in the collages.. and woo hoo on the TV. how big did you get. we have had a 47 for 4 years, when it gives up we will go to 55 or bigger. i do love the big screen TV... Happy New year

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  7. The year flew by! But how nice to have our photos and blogs to share our life and memories. Happy New year my friend! Sweet hugs, Diane

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  8. Your photographs from last year are just beautiful. I think it's great to be able to see a representation of the year in collages. Happy New Year and I hope 2015 is a great year for you and your family....

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  9. You take some of the most beautiful photos in all of Blogdom! You're going to love your new tv when you get enough energy for it. LOL! After Christmas and we all just want to linger and enjoy it with our feet up. Such changes for you with Christmas...one thing is certain, this life is ever changing. A very Happy 2015 to you and yours!

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  10. A Happy New Year to you . . .
    (I am not sleeping in past eight either . . .)

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  11. Cheryl, I love all your photos. Especially the sunsets...you know me girl. Your birds are awesome. I wish you and your family a very wonderfully blessed new year. xoxo,Susie

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  12. Such beautiful animal and sunset photos especially. Isn't it fun to look back through the year of photos. I hope you will get your trip in 2015. Have a wonderful new year!

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  13. Happy New Year, I enjoyed seeing all your photos!

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  14. Thanks so much for your blogging friendship thru this wonderful year. Looking forward to 2015 and all it holds for us.
    xo bj

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  15. Yes time flies. As a friend said, "Christmas seems to come every other month." Loved your photos and recap. You have had a busy year and holidays.
    Hope you plan some R &R time for 2015.

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  16. What an awesome end of the year post! The collages are wonderful and organized so well! Christmas, nature, sunsets, favorites! Of course I love your moon shot. And the cone flowers. and the sunsets. And everything else. Happy New Year!

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  17. 2014 did seem to fly past, didn't it? I love your photos, Cheryl. You always manage to capture beauty in a way that warms our hearts. Thank you. Wishing you all the best in 2015!!! blessings ~ tanna

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  18. Your second paragraph really says it all. I am coming to appreciate that the older I get. One of the perks of aging :).
    Beautiful collages showcasing the highlights of your 2014.
    Wishing you and your family continued good health and happiness in the new year.

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  19. Being healthy is a gift at this age. Well said! Happy New Year!

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  20. Happy 2015!! i love looking back over the past year. so fun!! i can't wait to see what happens in 2015 for you. should be so fun!! big big hugs. ( :

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  21. I love that squirrel! I've never seen a white tailed squirrel before. Happy 2015 to you and your family!
    hugs,
    Marie

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  22. Beautiful photos and a great year you had, Cheryl. Happy New Year to you and yours... I hope that 2015 will bring you (and us) lots of joy, happiness and GOOD HEALTH....

    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  23. I enjoyed these glimpses of the past year through your lovely photos and through your words. I know that you miss your aunt and uncle; it is always hard to say good-bye to those we love.

    Happy New Year to you and yours!

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  24. I have so enjoyed all of the lovely pictures you have taken through the year. You have had quite the year. I really enjoy following your blog. I need to do your one resolution too. Wishing you a wonderful New Year. It is so fun to be a blogging friend; thanks for all of your sweet comments on my blog. If you come west It would be fun to meet you. Blessings for you dear friend!

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  25. Been quite a year hasn't it? I love all your pics! My tree is still up too. First time in a long time that I haven't taken it down the day after Christmas. For some reason I'm still enjoying it.
    Happy New Year dear lady!

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  26. I enjoyed all of your beautiful photos, Cheryl.
    A review helps us remember how truly blessed we are!
    Wishing more blessing for you in 2015!

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  27. Hi Cheryl - Haven't been around in a long time. Going to make a concerted effort to reading and commenting on blogs again in 2015. I just posted about my 2015 word God gave me. Hope you'll drop by, read and leave me a comment so I'll know you were there. Happy 2015 to you.

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  28. Oh Cheryl, I love your year in review! You take such gorgeous photos! You remind me of myself...still enjoying the lights of the tree....wanting to rise earlier in the morning to enjoy Gods sunrises! Today the scraping of the snow shovel against our driveway woke me up. I thanked our Lord for those who are doing our snow removal this year.

    Stay warm and safe.

    Blessings..your Iowa friend,
    Gert

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  29. Such a nice post.
    It is fun to see your photos. Yes... the past year did seem to just fly by!
    Hope this new year is a great one for you!!!

    {{hugs}}
    K.

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