2012

 

I sat the other day and thought about all we accomplished in 2012:  

~ helped make 70 gallons of maple syrup
~ learned to spin wool
~ got a miniature horse
~ hung on hammocks
~ watched the Middle Barn fall down
~ cleaned up the Middle Barn wreckage
~ built a treehouse
~ had a date in the treehouse
~ made a hankie shower curtain
~ went on a dinner cruise for the first time ever
~ read lots of books
~ painted the living room trim
~ rewallpapered the bathroom
~ painted the bathroom
~ spent the night in a HOTEL.  That had a pool.  And I didn't pack bathing suits, knowing we couldn't AFFORD a hotel with a pool.  But the cheap motel was booked solid.  Lesson: Always bring suits.  Period.
~ Built a "coat closet" in mudroom
~ skidded many loads of logs out of woods
~ spent holidays sawing them up at the sawmill
~ glued maps all over the school room wall
~ spread turquoise all over another wall
~ built a stone foundation for the entryway to the barn
~ built a grand entry into the barns
~ re-sided a portion of the barn
~ rented dumpsters and cleaned all the outbuildings and garbage dumps around the place.  Made enough money on scrap metal to pay for the garbage dumpsters AND a woodsplitter.
~ split 18 cords of wood for the winter.  NOT enough.
~ hung hundreds of loads of laundry
~ put new ceiling in mudroom
~ planted a first-ever SEPARATE pumpkin patch.  Loved it.  Will never go back.  Ever.
~  replaced our washing machine
~ started drinking "sweet water"
~ fixed roof on barn
~ tore down the drop ceiling in the living room
~ made soap for the first (and second and third) times
~ taught a class at a library on herbs.  Made lavendar lemonade, peppermint tea and chamomile muffins for the occasion.
~ Sold an old tractor and bought a less-old tractor
~ spent many sweaty days doing garden work- the largest we've had.
~ set up a saw-horse summer kitchen.  (A brilliant idea)
~ had many parties
~ had Hopesteads' first-ever hayride
~ spent lonely nights when Matt was gone
~ had many happy homecomings
~ got electricity out to the barns
~ started attending a knitting class where I learned to INCREASE.  (wahoo!)
~ Started "officially" homeschooling TWO children
~ planted two filbert trees
~ paid several thousand dollars extra toward principle on our mortgage
~ went to the doctors twice.  Once for a Judahbear.  Once for a Mama.
~ spent many-a-day canning and preserving summers' bounty
~ pruned apple trees
~ spent a summer organizing all our clothes and stuff in storage.  (That was fun.)
~ Had two yardsales and made over $300.00 getting rid of said junk in storage.
~ had our first really successful year of corn planting
~ Found a signed, hardcover, first printing of an Eric Sloane book that Matt DOESN'T already own for FREE in the library Book Barn.  For FREE.  It was a great, (did I mention FREE?!?) Christmas present.
 ~ built a cabinet around a gifted dishwasher in the kitchen.  Still not working-but some time.
~ cleaned out the back half of the basement
~ dug out a new drainpipe for the kitchen.
~ killed (not enough) mice
~ planted over 30 perennials- most GIVEN to me by neighbors.
~ laid a new foundation for the front of the house.
~ sang carols at a nursing home
~ began a new hobby.  Carving wooden spoons.  (My first will be done very soon!)
~ started dreaming of building a log cabin in the woods.
~ listened to a million (not-funny) jokes but laughed anyway because I love the jokester.
~ lost 10 pounds (in the last month) after a year of trying
~ made almost all the gifts given for Christmas
~ Tucked children into bed night after night and snuggling into Misters' warm arms...wondering how I have things so good.

Looking forward to seeing all that the Lord has in store for our family in this new year of our Lord, 2013.  Maybe less work?  But I somehow doubt it...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!