As I look back at photos I also look back at a year that brought great joy and sadness. Probably the greatest sadness was saying farewell to the dear sweet Marmelade Gypsy. We miss him more than we can say.
The joys were many. Rick and I loved our Paris trip...
...and time in the Netherlands...
...and London!
Kevin graduated from college and got a full-time job with Georgia Pacific (the bad thing being that he now lives far away)...
...and Greg became a slightly less starving artist with several good bounces but notably a demonstration and interactive installation at the Detroit Institute of Arts, a gallery piece in Chicago and a second commission for the DIA in conjunction with their Faberge exhibit.
There was time at the lake...
...a wedding that turned into a family reunion with Rick's dad's side...
...and a gathering of his mom's side at Torch Lake.
I enjoyed a visit to St. Louis for a conference, followed by time with blog friend Diana (below). I also met bloggers Peter and renewed a friendship with Tara, both during our Europe visit.
And in December we enjoyed time in Las Vegas after Rick's trade show...
...and in Utah on an unexpected vacation after the show.
The year brought Kevin and Molly's engagement...
...and the arrival of Lizzie Cosette, who makes me laugh every day.
We enjoyed our friends in Cork Poppers...
And I had fun with my book club and the GGs (Great Gang). 
I enjoyed an art workshop with Kari McKnight Holbrook and another later in the year making Japanese stab-binding books.
I got my 15 seconds of fame with a cover spot in a local magazine and was pleased to have The Marmelade Gypsy (which celebrated its fifth anniversary in December) featured in "Romantic Country" magazine in their BlogSpot column.
And I did plenty of my own work, finding enough success with it to at least pay for the pleasure of doing it! I also enjoyed fun swaps\, including the Faerie Swap, organized by Karla!
It wasn't all perfect -- Rick had a bike crash and a hospital stay with MRSA and I repeatedly kept dealing with my infections. But somehow we manage to soldier on and have an awful lot of fun!
My word for 2012 was Savor. That I did, every moment, good and bad.The word for 2013?
Anticipation!
I look forward to enjoying your celebrations, supporting your challenges and admiring your creativity in 2013!
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year! You are inspiring in the way you find happiness in so much of your life! I hope your health will improve so that 2013 can be even better.
ReplyDeleteBest... Mae
I wish you a Happy New Year and hope that 2013 will bring you many wonderful moments :-)
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year, Jeanie! 2012 was quite a year for you, a time of both great sorrow and great joy. I wish you and Rick the very best in 2013!
ReplyDeleteI love your review of the year. Anticipation is a lovely word for 2013. Savor also I have toyed with at time, but realized it is good to savor all throughout our lives. Happy New Year, dear friend!
ReplyDeleteJeanie, what a beautiful review of the year! You did travel quite a bit! Thanks for sharing your adventures, the happy and the sad times.
ReplyDeleteI am looking forward to another year full of your lovely blog posts :-)
HAPPY NEW YEAR to you and yours!
Take care,
Dagmar
It is so fun reading everyone's reviews and seeing how many wonderful things their year included! I know that the loss of dear Gypsy was a very dark cloud of this past year, but I am glad that you had many joyful moments to savor. Here is hoping 2013 holds many wonderful things for you, Ricky, and Miss Lizzie!
ReplyDeleteOh how I love the pictures you feature here. Must get to the Netherlands. Must. And what a cool picture of the wine glass outside from your cork poppers group. And us - very cool that you posted the picture - would you mind if I do the same? And that little Lizzie - she makes me laugh, too, with the picture you included. I am inspired by your artwork successes and look forward to you housting a workshop that some of us blogging art-making wannebes can attend! Hugs to Rick and Boyz - wow, a wonderful year for them as well. Happy New Year, and keep us current, as always, and striving to hold hands across the miles!
ReplyDeleteThis was a fun look at your year in review, with its many ups and downs. May the new year bring you good health and much positive anticipation.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe all that you did this year. I've enjoyed following along, and I'm so happy that you're willing to share it with us. There's such enthusiasm here, and I feel it every time I visit. Happy New Year, Jeanie!
ReplyDeleteYou had quite a remarkable year. Sorry for the health issues and loss of your precious cat, but you definitely had some wonderful adventures as well. All the best in 2013!
ReplyDeleteWhat a year you had in 2012 - and a great review too. Thanks for sharing your journeys with us. I find you such an inspiration with your honesty and genuine expresions of joy and sorrow. I will look forward to following you into 2013 - lets see what that brings.
ReplyDeleteI hope you have a Happy New Year filled with good health, many joys, love, fun, family and art.
ReplyDeleteI miss Gypsy, too, but I'm looking forward to a new year with Lizzie Cosette! And of course I'm looking forward to all your new adventures - here's to health, peace and prosperity in the New Year!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you, Jeanie! I'm so glad to have found your blog and delved into your posts this year. I've enjoyed your photography and followed you through your travels... virtually. Congrats of a year of great achievements, magazine articles, family celebrations, and most rewarding travels. All the best in 2013. Downton Abbey in 5 days! ;)
ReplyDeleteA very happy and healthy new Year to you and your family ♥
ReplyDeletehugs
Stefanie
Jeanie, I love seeing all these beautiful moments together. may 2013 be an amazing one.
ReplyDeleteAnticipation--what a great word for a new year, Jeanie! Getting all misty-eyed during this backward glance with you. A year is full of so much, the difficult balanced by the good. A great highlight of my year was friendship shared with you! :o) Here's to more of that in 2013... and all the best of LOVE, PEACE & JOY to you & yours ((HUGS))
ReplyDeletei love your zest for living
ReplyDeleteand your word!
it's perfect....it fits you so well:)
i anticipate you haveing
a beautiful year,
Jennifer
Happy New Year, Jeanie! I hope 2013 brings you time to travel and be with friends, and the good health to enjoy it all!
ReplyDeletewithout the sadness we wouldn't appreciate the joy nearly as much, and as long as the joy outweighs the sadness, we are doing okay. loved your look through the year and remember your sharing of most of them.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Years, Jeanie! What a grand review. Thank you for checking out my new blog, and I do "savor" your advice about trying to keep 2 of them going. So far I feel fairly confident, but I haven't started my teaching schedule for the semester, either! My word for this year (since I think it's a lovely tradition to start) is Joy. Finding the Joy in whatever we're doing. Have a great year!
ReplyDeleteI caught up with your posts – so many good looking dishes and wines! I remembered all your 2012 posts by looking at your year in review – that was a good year. Now comes a new year with many new subjects to address and places to visit – all these will fill our eyes and heart when we see them on your sweet blog. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteHappy New year Jeanie.. thanks for sharing 2012 with us. I am looking forward to getting back to blogging and visiting you often, hugs, Baba
ReplyDeleteUnquestionably imagine that that you said.
ReplyDeleteYour favorite reason appeared to be at the web the simplest factor to remember of.
I say to you, I definitely get irked while
other people think about issues that they just do not understand about.
You managed to hit the nail upon the top as well as outlined out the
whole thing with no need side effect , other folks can take a signal.
Will probably be again to get more. Thank you
Feel free to visit my web page :: banks sell iraqi dinar
This was a great post! You have had quite a year. I loved the way you captured it so succinctly and with such vibrancy when you have had more than a few losses and set backs. The photo of Marmalade Gypsy is one for a frame to keep on your desk. I know you must miss her so, but oh what joy you new little kitten must be.
ReplyDelete