2012 In Review

Looking back . . .

There have been ups.

And there have been downs.

But we've come through it all in tact.

It hasn't always been what we've expected. Or thought we needed.

Yet we are strong. Still here. And ready to embrace whatever the future brings.

So, as we farewell 2012, this is a snapshot of the past 12 months - my year in review . . .

Row 1: New year - good food & company | Celebrating a special birthday | Re-framing vintage bark artwork | Dahlias | Discovering Instagram
Row 2: Family dinners | Playing with buttons | Christmas cross stitching | Me | Union Jack Quilt
Row 3: Discovering cake pops | Hot drinks & good conversation | Stitching | Cooking with fresh food | Vintage cases & tins
Row 4: Autumn colours | Easter stitching | Pear samplers | Boiled eggs for breakfast | Christmas canvas work
Row 5: 60th Jubilee cross stitch | Broken ankle | Stitched words | Felt robot | Relaxing at the beach
Row 6: Knitting | Enjoying nature | Matching shoes | Picnics | Christmas 

Looking forward . . . to 2013 and all that it has to offer . . .

Happy New Year from our family to yours!

The Surrogate Angel

tradition [trəˈdɪʃən]n

1. the handing down from generation to generation of the same customs, beliefs, etc., esp by word of mouth

2. the body of customs, thought, practices, etc., belonging to a particular country, people, family, or institution over a relatively long period

3. a specific custom or practice of long standing

One of our Christmas traditions includes our kids taking turns, year about, to put the angel on the top of the tree . . . they may be grown up now, but the tradition continues.

Last year we got a living tree, which was a bit small for the angel, so we had to find her a new temporary location at short notice - she went on top of a nearby cupboard!

This year, the tree it still too small, so we're going with a surrogate angel.

She's a little lighter on the fragile top branches. She's not quite as regal. But I think she's pretty cute.

So we're not breaking with tradition, just modifying a little. After all, you've got to do what you've got to do!