Many of you will think I’m nuts, but it has been glorious here! We got eleven inches of snow earlier this week! It’s been cold so that snow has stuck around, and I love it! We’re supposed to get some more, but I’m not holding my breath. Those weather forecasters can’t be right twice in a row! Our neighbor came over and plowed out a little area for Jack to do his business. Jack just sniffs around…the neighbor has dogs so I’m sure he’s smelling the dogs on the neighbor’s boots…then hops into the snow to take care of things! Of course, he takes his sweet time so he ends up holding up a cold paw so I’ll feel sorry for him. Nope…not gonna happen…just do what you need to do, Jack, and let’s both get inside where it’s warm!
Is it weird to you that Christmas came and went so quickly? I think it may have been because Thanksgiving (here in the US) was so close to Christmas. My oldest came by and helped get the tubs down in the basement. I am hopeful next year will see the big, big tree up in the house again.
2024 was not a banner year for Haus der Mitte. 2023 wasn’t fab, either, but it ended on a high note. So, here we go! Oh, and I’m doing it monthly so there will be 12 rather than just 10…but, say it with me, “You do you, boo!” And, there’s a link party!
Without further ado…
January – I joined Shelbee and Salazar as a curator for Style Imitating Art. I love coming up with the looks, but it’s difficult finding the art. Salazar has given me tips so that’s helped. I’d say becoming a curator is something I definitely want to remember.
January – my friend asked if I’d want to go to Ireland and Scotland. This is something I will never forget and live over and over again. It is definitely a want to remember.
February – I renewed my passport as did Nigel. I wish he’d been able to use his. This falls into a purgatory level of I’m glad we did it, but I’m regretful Nigel and I didn’t travel at all. So, I’m not sure if I want to remember it or not.
March – Plans were coming together for our trip to Ireland and Scotland. I don’t know if I ever said this on the blog. My travel buddy and I barely knew each other and had certainly never traveled anywhere together. The excitement I felt at finally going somewhere was tempered by not going with Nigel. But, this is definitely something I want to remember.
April – We finally had family photos taken. I still haven’t done anything with them. I really do need to pick a couple out because they are beautiful. Nigel breaks my heart in almost all of them because it’s so obvious he’s in pain. He was barely able to walk at this point. The boys basically carried him from spot to spot. The pain on his face…not something I want to remember. April is such a wonderful month, but this past April was our last month before the world kinda crashed down on us. Again, I want to remember the family photos, but I want to forget the look on Nigel’s face.
May – Ah, May! That was the month I hit up the clearance corner at Lowe’s day after day to fill in the spots on the hump. At this point, everything is snow covered, but I have hopes that it will be awash with color this spring and summer. I am planning to plant some cosmos, zinnias, and other annuals from seed up there. I love my flowers so this is a definitely remember month.
June – Gosh was I optimistic in June! We finally had a diagnosis for Nigel’s walking problems – AVN – avascular necrosis which meant the tops of his femurs were dead. Surgery wasn’t scheduled yet, but I had high hopes. Little did I know. This is going to purgatory, too.
July – My travel documents arrived in July so I was really excited for my trip. On the other hand, Nigel finally had his right hip replaced. We thought he’d be up and walking within the month. Little did we know six months later he still wouldn’t be walking. Another purgatory month.
August – OK, this is where things get complicated. On the one hand, it was an amazing month because I went to Ireland and Scotland. Ireland is the most magical place I’ve ever been. I loved the people, the history, and the experiences. On the other hand, I twisted my knee on the flight over so I was in excruciating pain for most of the trip and really struggled to walk. On the other other hand, Nigel’s surgeon wanted him off his feet as much as possible so all the plans that had been in place for when I was gone were scrapped, and we had to buy a wheelchair…all the day before I was to leave. It left me exhausted, frazzled, and tense. My kids were troopers and made sure Nigel was cared for constantly. It’s not a purgatory month because I never want to forget Ireland and Scotland, but I do want to forget the tensions surrounding the situation around Nigel’s set back.
September – I think this was one of those months where not much happened…just visits to the surgeon and many, many, many trips to the physical therapist. I also had my knee looked at and got a steroid shot which helped immensely. So, it’s not necessarily anything I want to remember.
October – October is my birth month so it should have been one I wanted to remember. It wasn’t because absolutely nothing happened to celebrate my birthday…no cake, no cards, no nothing. I know, I know…I’m 67 years old and should be OK with just having my birthday being another day. I’m not, though. Birthdays are special and should be celebrated. One of these years, I’m going to throw myself my own party. I got so close to ordering my own birthday cake. I’m going to order it extra early next year! So, October is a month I don’t care to remember.
November – We went to Winterlights at Newfields. This has become a tradition for our family and the kickoff to the holiday season. Nigel wasn’t happy about going in a wheelchair, but my daughter convinced him to go. Luckily, it wasn’t too cold. I just wish it had snowed to make the night even more beautiful. Add in Thanksgiving and Black Friday shopping, and this was a big “Yes, I want to remember November!”
December – I was officially accepted into the docent training program. Nigel began walking with a cane. I attended my oldest granddaughter’s choir concert which was amazing. And, I attended my youngest granddaughter’s orchestra performance which was breathtaking! Christmas was a fun day of botched food that was ok and lots of laughter. It’s definitely one to remember.
Wrap it up, Marsha!
While 2024 wasn’t a year I’d ever care to repeat, there were glimmer moments and some downright fireworks! I began the year nagging at Nigel to walk straight and ended the year just wanting him to walk. I went to Ireland and Scotland and made a friend for life. I learned that religion can and does create huge barriers and is the reason for so many deaths. I began a new way of eating and have lost a significant amount of weight. Do the pros outnumber the cons? They may outnumber them…I didn’t go back and count…but they definitely stood out more. So, can we talk? How was your 2024? Did you have more pros than cons? Did you face physical challenges? Or, did you travel to an amazing place? Please leave a comment or two, and we can talk. I promise to respond as soon as possible.
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Where you can find me:
Linking up with Nancy’s Fashion Style, Fine-Whatever, Is This Mutton, Shelbee on the Edge, Chez Mireile, Suzy Turner, and Away from the Blue as well as Deb’s World and A Fresh Cup of Coffee. I also link up with This Blonde’s Shopping Bag, Doused in Pink, I do deClaire, Mummabstylish, Style Splash and Elegantly Dressed and Stylish as well as the Senior Salon Pit Stop (Esme’s Salon) and Slices of Life. Please check out these wonderful ladies and their blogs! I also am a co-host for Ageless Style on the third Thursday of the month and Songful Style on the last Monday of the month. I co-host Traffic Jam Weekend every Thursday with Melynda, Lisa, and Sue. I also host Final Fridays on the last Friday of the month as well as 10 on the 10th on the 10th of the month! I do hope you’ll check out all of these blogs and link parties!
Don’t have a blog…
Don’t worry! You can always leave all or some of your answers in the comments! If you don’t want to do that, you might discover a new blog! Blog friends, if you’d rather not participate, please share this party with others so we have lots of links!
And, now, it’s your turn!
Please link up your favorite 10 on the 10th posts as well as baking, cooking, decorating, fashion, DIY! If there’s a category I’ve left out and it’s family friendly, please feel free to include it! Please do visit some of the links! If you don’t have a blog, here is your chance to find a new one! You can also drop all or some of your answers in the comments!
I’m very happy for you enjoying your 11 inch of snow. I’m very happy for myself for not having even one inch of snow at the time (although weather forecasters keep threatening me).
I’m sorry that your year has been so hard, but glad for the good experiences you’ve had to at least balance it out a bit. Here’s to a much better and hopefully much healthier 2025 for Nigel and you!
Cat
https://catswire.blogspot.com
Hi Marsha you have 11 inches of snow whilst here in Australia we are having heat waves. A lovely wrap up of your year and such a good idea to document it, isn’t it? I started to do a wrap up post like this but found I was a little overwhelmed in what to include and what to leave out. Have a lovely 2025 with more adventures and fun. x
Marsha, you have lots of memories here. If life was easy it might be boring, but I do understand that there are some things that you could do without.
Thanks for sharing your year. There was definitely highs and lows but you came through smelling like a rose. I wish you and Nigel heath and happiness in 2025!
https://www.kathrineeldridge.com
Sounds like you had a difficult year too. I hope all of us injured in 2024 (and everyone else!) will be fully healthy in 2025!
Oh my – what a year!! Mine was not ideal either but reading other’s recaps does help keep things in perspective. So sorry you twisted your knee but, ah, to go to Ireland is a dream of mine! Surely it will happen one day. I am so glad you were able to make the trip even with all that was going on (and even if your knee was screaming at you the whole time!) Here’s to 2025 being a year of healing for your husband.