New Year Hopes.

I never make New Year's Resolutions.

But I do make a list of hopes each

year. This year, it's a pretty simple.

World Peace. The Orange Man to go

away. Our Province's Leader to as

well, as her "ideals" are matching. I

hope for my mom to be at peace in

her illness. For my amazing team at

the centre to be healthy and fulfilled.

Not a lot, just simple and basic. Peace.

Happy New Year! Welcome 2026!!

💗 Chy 💗

 

Europe Dreams.

The two of us visiting Walt Disney

World in June of 2023. Amazing trip!

We were with his company for the 2nd

week but the 1st week was our time to

celebrate my retirement from my long

term position and to our new beginnings.

Our previous trip had been to Disneyland

in November of 2022. For 2024, we had

thought about going for our milestone

anniversary but the building of our new

centre took so much time, we let it go.

Then dh's company announced a trip to

Spain for a conference and invited all

the partners to attend to help celebrate

their 30th anniversary. We decided to

add in a week in Paris before the work

conference so we could visit Euro Disney.

After booking our flights a few days just

before Christmas, we took some time

today to book our 1 hotel close to the

Park, then started to look at our 2nd

hotel that will be in Paris, along with

our train tickets to get from Paris over

to Spain, but that made me pretty anxious

so we took a break. We'll book the rest

of the next few days. Then we'll be all

ready once we get to our dates. For now,

it will be lots of dreaming. The 2nd

week is all paid for by his company and

all planned out, so that will be so very

relaxed. I'm nervous about flying over

the sea but know this is too fun to pass.

A beautiful start to the New Year!

💗 Chy 💗

2024 Journalling.

I picked up this brand new journal at

the charity shop before Christmas. We

are going to work on this one together

as we plan out then live through 2024.

I so hope this year, full of promise and

new dreams, is just as we hope. Always

a gamble when we start a new year and

I'm forever grateful for so many years

that have been beautiful. But at times,

life throws a little blip our way, and I

then I need to navigate on how to pivot

to get back to a better place. It is what

life is but wouldn't it be lovely if each

day could just be calm and peaceful?

What are your dreams for 2024?

~ Chy

Goodbye 2023!

I know it's customary to "be done" with a year.

Despite the hardships this time has brought to

our lives, we choose to reflect on the growth and

the blessings that come with diversity. There are

things we can't always control. And things that

fall in our laps without warning. Living thru the

good, the bad and the ugly is what matters. With

whatever life delivered to you this year, I hope

you've expanded your capacity and embraced the

experience. The opposite is not worth the time!

Goodbye 2023. A year to remember for sure ....

~ Chy

The New Year.

And just like, it's 2023! With high hopes for a

year filled with all new adventures, good health

and love all around. My calendar is filling, our

budget is done, plans are made and we're ready!

~ Chy

Here's to 2023!

This past year had more good than bad.

The tough stuff was so hard and things

I hope we never have to tackle again.

But we did get through them. We even

celebrated those moments. And truly

embraced all the good moments too!

Thank you for all my readers and blog

buddies. Thank you for those who are

able to comment and those who follow

along. I read all your blogs and love

the community that exists with those

who love to share our lives with others.

Happy New Year to each of you as you

ring in 2023 with family and friends. Be

well. Stay safe. Keep living. Never stop

dreaming. Let creativity flow. Love to all!

~ Chy

London New Year.

Beautiful shot of London, England

as they welcome in the New Year!

~ Chy

Filling My Time.

Getting ready to ring in the New Year.

I love to sit with my new Susan Branch

desk calendar each year and fill in all

the special days for the year. Thankful

for a sweet daughter who makes sure I

have my sweet calendar under the tree

every Christmas. She did however this

year order 2 by accident! One for work!

~ Chy

New Year 2022.

Like everyone around the World, this

past year has been hard on so many

levels. But there have also been some

great things that I'd like to record. The

best was our ds and ddil's wedding,

a day that was planned for 2020, but

they had to wait another year due to

Covid. In the end, the small wedding

over looking the ocean was amazing.

The original large wedding had to be

scrapped and we all agreed, this was

so much better, much more intimate

and so much fun! I truly believe all

weddings should be like this one was.

More great moments: being promoted

to Director, the move to our all new

hospice; traveling to the coast for the

wedding, then to our little island for

a very well deserved break; more time

working from home; more time in

the office; new connections; I was

able to do a lot more writing and art

this year; my brother came to visit

and stayed with us; and my mom is

still with us, though declining. All in,

it was still a good year. Here's to 2022!

~ Chy

The 1st Day.

So far, so good. We quietly said

goodbye to 2020 and gently did

a small "welcome" to 2021. So

very careful to not rock the boat.

Today we slept in a bit, showered,

did some tidying up, re~organized

the pantry and the fridge, dusted,

vacuumed, washed bathrooms out,

paid bills, did lots of blog purging,

and did a bit outside as well. Quite

the busy day. At the end of it all,

we ordered some amazing food.

It was nice to have a treat for all

our hard work. And leftovers too!

How was your 1st day for 2021?

~ Chy

Merry Christmas!

 

From our little house in the big woods, to your
home, wherever you are, we all wish you a very
Merry Christmas. And all the best for a Happy
and Healthy New Year. Stay safe buds! Namaste.

~ Chy

The Adventure.

Of course, this time of year and in particular on this cold, Winter's night, we all look back at the year now behind us and begin to plan or make resolutions for the year ahead of us. I've been trying to figure out what to write and as always, I can't write an amazing poetic piece like so many bloggers. I can only and will always only speak from the heart. Was 2017 a spectacular year? No, it had many special moments and it had some incredibly difficult times too. It was hard with all the political turmoil not just in the U.S. but around the world in general. It was hard with my one employment contract and though we're now on the other side, there are still pieces that creep forward and bring me back. I hope we never have a year like this one was for our Centre! The good included working on our landscaping, writing more in my book, program development and renewed and new friendships. Working on the house and discovering how much we truly love country life in our little cottage was inspiring. Celebrating a birthday with ALL my children. And this special Christmas. I wish to each of you a beautiful New Year and all the best for a Happy and Healthy 2018.

Two Days In ....

.... and so far, so good. Honestly, the last year was a really tough one for us. Not the "end of the world tough" but difficult at times. I'm sure most can relate. I do believe that times that challenge us can provide an opportunity to truly appreciate the small moments, the gifts we do have, the relationships that hang in with us when life throws a curve ball. Do I appreciate everything so much more this year? Absolutely! I'm happy we've weathered the storm to date and hope that this year, we all get a bit of a break. Life is hard but it's also beautiful. More beautiful would be most welcome by the world!

I'm not a resolution maker. I like goals and am realistic on my limitations. Usually at this point in the year, I've got a good idea of things I'd like to accomplish in the coming year. Today, I don't have a list. It's still growing in my mind. I'll share once I have it set. Realistic and short.

Today, the 2nd day of 2017, was beautiful. We woke up to warm sun streaming through our windows. Outside, snow had fallen overnight and the perfect landscape was glittery and white. The trees were encrusted with frost and all around, silence. Living in the country is still so new to us and we marvel at everything new around us. I bundled up and stood out on the back porch to take pictures. I'll share some over the next few days. After breakfast and showers, we settled down to tackle our "to do" list. We hung curtain rods in the dining room to match what we did in the living room last week. Sweet lace curtains now grace the front rooms in our house. We hung some pictures and made plans for more next week. We did laundry, cleaned the kitchen of Christmas clutter, reorganized the desk in the great room and the shelves above. We went outside for a bit to set a new trap to catch the mouse in our garage and used some steel wool to plug a spot that I've been worried  mouse could slip through and get in to the house. Dh, like our builder, are certain it's too small for a mouse but I feel better tonight knowing that we filled it up anyway. After dinner, we watched Coronation Street and then Leah Remini's series on her experience of leaving the Church of Scientology. Folded laundry, swept and mopped the floors, and then it was time for bed. A day well spent. I hope tomorrow and the rest of this new year are much the same. I hope the same for you. Peace and well being. Hope and love.

How was your 2nd day of 2017?

Have you had a good break?

Happy New Year!

May your New Year be filled with love,

good health, prosperity and family.

This past year was very difficult and

I'm happy it's done. Peace out 2016.

Welcome 2016!

We're two hours in.

So far, so good!

Happy New Year!!

From our little cottage in the big woods

to you and yours, we all wish you a

Happy New Year and all the best

for this new day, new year of 2016!!

My 2016 Goals.

I've never liked the word "resolution" so I substitute the word with "goals" which for me are gentler and more realistic. My goals for this new year of 2016 are quite simple: 

1. be outside more ~ easy now that we live in the country with peace and quiet all around us
2. save more money this year to pay down our mortgage ~ we've made a good start with our savings
3. use my time more wisely for creative art instead of just working and not creating art
4. continue to find ways to have my team take on more of my tasks so I can create more art

There we go. Easy peasy! Nothing that isn't achievable, all very sensible. Now tell me, do you have goals set aside for this year? If so, please share so we can applaud your enthusiasm!! Share them here or send me a note. Waiting ....

A Nice Ending to 2015.

Today, we experience three very nice things that made the end of the year even sweeter. The first was news that our charity that we started and are actively and passionately involved in each day was chosen to be the Charity of the Month for August of 2016 by our local fondue restaurant. This means not just funds for our programs but great exposure for our organization as well. We are so excited and this is so timely as we have two big Walks each fall, so the promotion will be so beneficial for our little charity.

The second thing that happened was dh booked a trip to our favorite island off the West Coast. We be gone again for ten days, like we did back in October. But because we have a long weekend in the month of May, when we'll be away, we'll only have to claim five days off work. A ten day break, paid for, but only five days taken as actual holiday days. Two full weekends means two Saturday Markets. Yes! Can't wait to go again. This trip always makes winter go a bit faster. 

And the third great thing today? Dh brought home my favorite desert to celebrate ~ a key lime pie. We had our first piece tonight and it was pure Heaven. Should last us all through the weekend ~ pure bliss!

So how was your last day of 2015?

Anything special happen to end the year?

Would you hate me if I didn't?

You may have noticed that today is the day to provide readers with a review of your blog, a review of your year.

I've read so many today and they are impressive. I haven't jumped on board though and hope you'll truly forgive me if I bow out from the traditional year end posts. I have ideas in my head and lots to say but I'm not really feeling the need to write about my favorite posts. So instead I'll give you a quick synopsis about our year here at "Our Little House in the Big Woods."Was it an amazing year? Yes! Was it more than memorable? Yes! Was it difficult at times? Yes! Was there moments when I wanted to quit? Yes! Is there anything I'd go back and redo if I could? No! Wait, yes, there is one moment I would change in a heart beat if I could. But I can't. So lesson learned, no one died and integrity and friendship is still intact. Phew! That was a hard one! My favorite moments involve my family, the new house, being back on stage after a couple of years taking a break, visiting family we haven't seen in years and making new memories in the country. Learning to relax. Learning to let go. Learning to pass on my passion so others can shine. Learning new creative mediums. And not holding back when I feel the need and have ideas! We said goodbye to my father-in-law and the market changed, so we made the difficult decision to not sell our other house, which means we now have a mortgage with two houses. But it's livable and once the economy recovers, the value of our old house will be much better than if we sold now. A good and sensible decision in the end, just not our original plan to also be mortgage free in the new house. We took chances, we stepped outside our boundaries, we laughed, we cried, we traveled, we stayed home. And all of it together. So that's our wrap. I have only good things to feel about this year. And hope that 2016 will be just as adventurous, as fun, as hard (so we keep learning), as creative and as healthy as we can be!!

Wishing you and your family a Happy, Healthy New Year. 

May 2016 bring you good luck, good cheer, good friends, 

great family and amazing health. Stay warm and stay safe!

Thank you for visiting and I hope you'll keep reading!!

Happy 2014!!

Wishing you and your family a

New Year of life, love and luck.

Happy 2014!!