Saturday, January 19, 2019

A Look Back...And What's Ahead




I'm always amazed that other bloggers have so many things to share in their "Best of the Year" posts on what projects they did best last year.

How do they manage that? 

After all, this bead board wall and the cabinet on the other side took us over a year to get finished! 


I didn't even take a photo of the finished cabinet when it was done.

When I looked back the other day all I could wonder was what did I do all year? Granted it wasn't a stellar year for our family's health problems (yes that's an understatement) but still I'm bereft of many proud moments to brag on! 

As Bridget Jones would write in her diary: "Must do better next year!"

So I don't have a "Best Of's" post for you, but here's a few milestones of the past year and a glimmer of hope for the coming year. 

The wall above the fireplace (where the wall mount for the TV was until last year) finally got the holes repaired professionally and now is presentable! 

However, if I had it to do over, I would just leave the TV up there...


The builder built our spec house with this area planned for a TV and it really makes for better room arrangements. 

So lesson learned for me with this house (and the next) is "go with the plan, don't fight it."

We also had the handyman do some minor repairs and paint trim in most of the house and then paint the master bathroom. It looks so much better with just a few of the little things done.

We're in disarray right now trying to remove to storage everything that's not necessary and downsize things we no longer plan to keep. Once that's all done, I will share what remains.

Debbie at Debbie-Dabble questioned again this year why she sticks with blogging. She stays because of the friendships and I have to agree with her!

I thought seriously about closing this blog and starting a new one later since we plan to sell Rivercrest Cottage and move in another direction now that Wild Bill's parents are gone. 


Still Waiting For A Magical Snowfall This Year!

Then it came to me that I should see the blog out until we lock the door one last time, so that's what I intend to do. 
Spring Will Bring Back The Green Grass Soon.

I appreciate when you drop in, and I hope you'll give me lots of advice along the way with staging and selling the house as we go through the next few months of the selling process.

I could not have gotten through the last 6 months without your hopes and prayers for us...truly! 

For me, sometimes just popping by your blog and reading about your day or your project allowed me to take my mind off more serious problems even for just a minute or two. It helped so much!

The word I've chosen for the coming year is "JOY!" with an exclamation point! If you don't have a word for the year, I highly recommend mine.




Thanks for dropping by!






27 comments:

  1. That wall looks so pretty! Some things are more important than decorating! I don't blog as often as I use to, but I do because of the friendships. I hope it is a great year for you both. xo Su

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  2. Wishing you a much better year this year.

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    1. Thank you Camo Lady! Hoping you have joy this year too.

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  3. Thanks so much, dear friend , for mentioning my post!! The amount and context of all the comments on that post were amazing and I plan to do a follow up post!! I am amazed at everything you did manage to do with the health issues that your family had encountered. How is your dear hubby doing??? So you plan on selling your home this year? Have you decided what your next move will be? In about 10 years unless our health fails, we plan on selling and moving into a No Maintenance apartment...I hope you are having a good weekend! Thanks too for taking the time to stop by!!
    Hugs
    Deb

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    1. Debbie, we are planning to head to someplace in the south...Tennessee or Alabama maybe? We are waiting for better weather so we can travel some. Doing chemo every other week took our time and strength away so now without having to do chemo we are ready to get well and move around some.

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  4. I've always enjoyed your blog and when you start your new one take me with you. Hoping 2019 will be a better year for all.

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    1. Thanks Janet! When I end this blog, my last post will be a post about my new one with a link. I love that you're here and willing to go there! Having rode the roller coaster ride of cancer this year too, I'm sure you're ready for a great year this year. Here's hoping it brings joy for all of us.

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  5. Maybe when you move, you can just change the name of your blog!!!
    I hope you both have a good year and prayers for you both.

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    1. Cheryl, I think I want to start fresh with a different blog provider so I can have a new url and have a professional set it up for me. I find I'm still grieving the loss of Bill's parents, especially his father who passed in November and I just want to move on with a fresh start.

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  6. We have our TV mounted on the wall and there are times when I wish that I could move the furniture more than I can, because of it being there. When it's in or on a cabinet you can move it around:) Sometimes just moving a rooms arrangement around makes it real like a new room. We all like to change our rooms now and then.

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  7. Rivercrest Cottage,
    I agree that blogging has changed drastically, but I still enjoy it immensely!
    I was devastated when I couldn't access my blog for over a year and a half!
    Like you, I've developed many amazing friendships within The Land of Blog and hope they continue!
    My word of the year came to me as 'hope'.
    Blessings upon you as you prepare for the selling of your home.
    I'll be observing your process.
    Pat

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  8. I can't wait to hear about your new plans...keep the blog - just change the name if you want...JOY is a great 2019 word! ♥

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    1. Carrie, I've already changed the name of my blog once. I've had it going for 9 years and I think I'd like one hosted on a different system.

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  9. New starts are always a good thing...whether moving or a new blog. Sometimes it just helps us close the door on some painful things and open our hearts to something new! Love and hugs!

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  10. I will be very disappointed if you don't take us along to your new home. Please let us know if you change the name of the blog what it will be. It sounds quite exciting to go somewhere new.

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  11. Hope you have a better year and that you fulfil your dreams of moving. It was a struggle for us to downsize and move to our little cottage but we have no regrets and have loved every moment. Parting with some of the larger pieces of furniture was a wrench, but we did it. Some of the family took some of it so that was a comfort. The key is to declutter as much as you possibly can so that you show your house to its full potential and depersonalise it, taking down precious photos. Joy is such a good word for the year. Wishing you a year full of JOY.

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  12. WE all find ourselves in this situation.. down sizing is a quite a journey...but I find myself on the same cusp of reality as you with health and houses... plus I lost my mother this Christmas .. but dealing with all has brought me back to the reality , that blogging does the heart good especially when one has such wonderful friends here. Blogging and reading everyones blogs rejuvenates me and gives me the breath to keep going.. I love you word “ Joy ‘ for the new Year..mine is ‘ “Breathe”....Big Hugs

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    1. Zaa, Breathe is perfect too! There were so many times in the last 6 months that I had to remind myself to keep breathing to keep going.

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  13. I hope you won't delete this blog as all you photos and writings would be lost....keep it and just start a new one. That's what I did when I THOUGHT my original blog was gone. It wasnt...and I finally found it...but...I had already started a new one so I just leave the olden one right where it is. I can stil see all the older photos and, well, the whole thing.

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    1. Oh BJ, I wouldn't delete as in the last 9 years I've posted about the new grandkids we gained and the old adopted dogs we've lost during the 9 years. I want to keep those memories and am thinking of doing a photo book of it through one of the companies that create them.

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  14. Did you have a beautiful day when you took a walk and saw something new or just felt good to be outside? Did you take a road trip or try a new recipe or spend time talking to a friend or a loved one? Did you do a craft project, even a little one, or write Christmas cards or wrap gifts or go to a movie you wanted to see or enjoyed -- really enjoyed -- a series on telly? You did a lot - don't sell yourself short, ever. Life is so very short and getting shorter every day. Doing things that give you joy, large or small, are accomplishments to treasure! You survived a rough medical year -- that's doing a lot. And the beadboard is look terrific.

    And my blog, with my regular old life, isn't going anywhere. Like Debbie and you and others, here to stay with the same old eclectic mix of this and that and the other thing, just because I love it and my fellow bloggers.

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  15. Wishing you a new year filled with better health and fun new decor ideas for your pretty home.
    Happy New Week.
    Hugs,
    Kris

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  16. Oh Sugar, JOY! is a wonderful word. Each day I write down something that has brought me joy or that I'm thankful for. It helps for me to do that. Thank you for visiting my blog. That brings me JOY!

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    1. Kitty, that sounds like a great idea. I have you on my blog list so I always read your posts, but sometimes don't comment.

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  17. Are you planning to stay in the area or a major move when you sell your home. If you mentioned it in a blog I must have missed it. When we bought the home we live in now I thought I loved everything about it, but now I find several things I would like to change. I guess change is good.

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    1. We are planning to find a new state to live in ...major move.

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  18. Good luck with your home sale! And I’m sorry about your losses. I took an 8 year sabbatical from blogging after my dad passed away. Many life changes since then. When I did restart, I began with a new platform. Moved from blogger to WordPress.

    Anyway, I came here from Debbie-Dabble’s blog. Looking forward to getting to know you.

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