2021: A Year Of Change
Looking back on 2021, remembering the changes and surprises, and looking ahead to the new year.
I just read what I wrote at this time last year, in my wrap-up post for 2020. I had just finished a double bathroom renovation at the Sutton Place house, and had big plans to begin a kitchen remodel. Who would have thought that one year later I would be writing this from a new home? Certainly not me. In fact, a year ago, it had never even entered my mind!
(At the end of the post, my Home Style Saturdays crew is sharing their wrap-ups too.)
Get the raspberry crisp recipe HERE.
The year began with COVID still rearing its ugly head. We didn’t venture far, and continued a quiet and solitary daily routine. As always, my heart was filled with gratitude for this amazing job that allows me to work safely from home. With a few months of 2021 under my belt, I began a huge job that I had been putting off for a long time. You may not have even noticed, but I changed email marketing platforms.
Thanks to all of you and your loyalty, my email subscriber list was 30,000 readers strong. Moving everyone, along with all my forms, was perhaps one of the biggest challenges I have faced as a website owner. From start to finish, it took several weeks. Once everything was moved, and I had mastered the learning curve, I began to see the benefits of a more powerful platform. This was the first change in 2021, and it was definitely worth every minute!
Spring rolled around, and here in Ohio it was lovely. My bleeding hearts were beautiful, and I painted pots to match our front door. Spring turned into summer, and the calm cadence of long days and blue skies took over.
It was during the hot days of July that our little dog, Kelly, became sick and passed away. This was a change so big that, for a while, I couldn’t see beyond my sadness. But fate sometimes leads us in unexpected directions that help us heal and move on.
The biggest change of all came next…and it was scary and exciting at the same time. It’s a long story that you can read about HERE, but in the span of two months, we bought a new-to-us house, sold our house on Sutton Place, and moved!
We moved into the Sugar Maple house in mid-November, and the process of adapting to a new home began. It’s been fun and challenging at the same time! Once we were a bit settled, I immediately plunged into preparing for Christmas. With that now behind us, it’s time to look forward to 2022.
As I’ve said in the past, I’m not one for making resolutions or setting goals when the new year rolls around. However, I believe that the beginning of each year presents a blank slate, and that we can point our lives in any direction…preferably one that will bring happiness and contentment. So that’s what I wish for all of us!
I have lots of plans for adding my own touch to our new home. The very first thing I need to do is hang some pictures on our walls! After that, I would love to add a wall treatment, maybe board and batten, in our entry. I need to organize the kitchen pantry closets, and rearrange the drawers so they are more efficient. I needed to live in the kitchen for a while before I knew exactly how I wanted it to function. I can’t wait to get outside and plant some perennials…and spruce up our tiny patio.
All in all, there is much to look forward to…including the addition of another miniature schnauzer puppy. We loved Kelly so much, and we now know that we can give all of that love to another dog without taking away from our love for her. I don’t know when it will happen, but you all will be the first to know!
In closing, I want to thank each one of you with my whole heart for following along with me, and supporting my blog. I know the ads can be annoying, so I thank you for your patience. You enthusiastically embraced our new series, Wednesday Weekly Wish List, and it is now my most popular day of the week. Lory, Yvonne, and I are so grateful. I plan to work very hard in 2022, and will continue to bring you easy-on-the-budget ideas and inspiration.
Reader Favorites from 2021:
- Small Closet Makeover
- Chicken Salad with Apples & Pecans
- Decorating On A Budget
- How To Love Your Imperfect Home
- 2022 Printable Monthly Calendar
Now take a look at what my friends are sharing!
Designthusiasm | On Sutton Place | StoneGable
Shabbyfufu | Southern Hospitality
I hope each one of you
finds health and happiness
in the new year.
Until next time…
