A 2018 Recap in (Mostly) Photos

The end of the year -- here's a look in mostly photos of some of the highlights. Don't worry, I didn't include them all!

January -- Much of this cold month was spent hibernating, reading and de-decorating. We enjoyed a trip to London, Ontario to see friend Suzanne, celebrate late Christmas and see the National Theatre Live production of one of my favorite Sondehim musicals, "Follies." And then there was this cardinal, my favorite photo of the month!

February -- More hibernating and art. Our Baby Grand turns one!

March -- A slow month! But the weather begins to look up (even though it seemed it would never be warm again) and ditch walks bring visits with the deer!

And I did enjoy a fun visit to Chelsea, Michigan to lunch with blogger Mae from Mae's Food. It was good to see the sun again!

April -- Our friend Larry Stone received a well-deserved alumni award from MSU and theatre department chair Kirk Domer and I take Larry over to the U's fabulous scene shop for a private tour.

Ditch water is fully open and Harry returns.

And Southern Exposure classes begin with the HUGE sun face (which is so huge, I can't mount it on anything so it leans against the house looking very cool!

May -- I begin painting more -- practice makes better!

And, it's spring! Time for more Southern Exposure visits and projects, including this fun little planter!

June -- A trip to Maryland to see Rick's aunt and a great reunion with my college theatre friend, Patty kicks off the month.

My former "work brother," Tim, whom I've known since my first days in TV, retires and his party is a great reunion of old friends.

Summer Circle Theatre productions run through the month and trips to the lake begin!

July -- After a LONG overdue wait, our second Baby Grand is born (becoming the Little Little Guy and elevating his brother to Little Big Guy!).

We spent some time waiting at Sand Lake with Rick's cousins and aunt Carol which made the wait a little easier!

After that, loads of time at the lake.

Art camp begins, bringing with it loads of good fun and great sunsets!

August -- My lip cancer returns and my tendon in my foot ruptures (although we don't know that at the time). I celebrate my birthday at the Northern Michigan Asylum, where my great grandfather spent the last 13 years of his life -- part of my genealogical journey.

Art camp continues and we go on a healing quest! Loads of time at the lake, art camp continued and those sunsets didn't stop!

September -- My lip begins to heal after the chemo; the foot, not so much.

My friend Judy hosts a belated birthday lunch with friends Kate and Jane.

Ditch walks continue as best they can. Southern Exposure kicks off a fall season and we close the cottage for the season.

October -- Paris and England, the trip of a lifetime. The Klimt experience at Atelier des Lumieres was the hit of that city, along with seeing my old friend Jerry, blogger Peter of Peter's Paris and Tara Bradford Holmes, former blogger and instagrammer.

England. Biggest sigh. Meeting and discovering London with our wonderful hosts, blogger Jenny Woolf and her husband T. The hitting it on our own, meeting up with our friend and longtime PBS pal Joan and connecting with Canadian friend Suzanne for Sondheim's "Company."  Then it was on to Windsor (St. George's Chapel), Oxford (Morse country), Bath and a day trip to the Cotswolds (below). And there is MUCH more of all that to come here on the Gypsy in the new year!

November -- Let the season begin! There was the attempt to deal with the worsened foot issue, recovering from the trip and a successful art sale.

The holiday season kicked off with the Greens Market and friends Jan, Kate and I enjoyed the last of the season at Southern Exposure.

At the end of the month, our friend Judy hosted a Friendsgiving dinner which was great fun!

December -- One of the highlights of this month was a cooking class with Chef Geoff Russell (if you are in the mid-Michigan area, his winter season begins January 13. Check it out here.)

Then on to holiday festivities. And a visit with this little guy!

So, onward to 2019. We'll celebrate the New Year's Eve afternoon with our Cork Popping friends and spend the evening listening and dancing to the wonderful blues band Root Doctor on the Michgian Princess riverboat, again with friends.

And someone will be looking out for her New Year's snack! Here's lookin' at you, Kid!