31 December 2017

2017 the year that was

I started this post yesterday it was long and involved it was quite cathartic this isn't that post

Needless to say 2017 will be one year I am glad to see the end of.  We have learnt about the mine field that is aged care and more than enough about dementia, lots and lots about anxiety and OCD  (real OCD not the one everyone jokes about) and its affect on family and most importantly we learnt how amazing strong and determined Mo is.  I am thankful that my kids aren't afraid to talk to us about their struggles as well as the good stuff. I've had conversations that I didn't have any answers for.

The first half of 2017 was scary but the 2nd half we settled into new routines and came to terms with the changes the first half brought.  There were setbacks but we made it to the finish line and we are still smiling.

Mo was awarded a Medal for Excellence again this year at school, and Maestro passed his year 11 exams.  After the upheaval of classes being cancelled at the end of the year he has good opportunities going into Year 12.  Mo is moving into the SHIP Class next year and both of them are on the UAV Project run in conjunction with UNI SA.  Next year promises to be challenging for both of them.

Xmas day was the most relaxed in living memory.  For a change the temperatures was in the 20's instead of high 30s or low 40s.  Mo did most of the food prep the night before and we all visited my MIL in the morning.   Mo and I left early to put the turkey on the webber Q, when the boys came back it was pretty much all done.  At the end of the day we headed to the beach for a walk along the waters edge and Mo gave me her download.   It was a good day.

Quilting has taken a back seat this year but I did finished 3 quilt tops and have nearly finished hand quilting one of those quilts (Jen Kingwell's Spring Fever).  I'm planning on hand quilting one other which will be released as a pattern and the Celtic Tree of Life will be machine quilted some time in 2018.  I have started stitching the new Row of the Month with plans to release in June 2018 .... earlier if I can get it finished before then.  One row is done see below and I have started making templates for one of the first major appliqué block.

The plan is to start pattern writing straight away so that it is all ready on the day of release and I can keep to the month by month schedule with no blowouts.  







My resolution is to find the Joy in the every day next year, and enjoy turning 50.

3 comments:

Marian said...

Heya Amanda, I'm sorry I didn't know about the hard times earlier last year, but I am happy to read that life is settling in for you. Send me an email when you get the 2018 botm going and I'll add it to my sites blog list for botms and let everyone know your starting it. I hope your 2018 is filled with happiness and joy all year long. Hugs!!

Kate said...

Sounds like a rough start but a fairly smooth finish. It seems the challenges get bigger as the kids do, I think that's normal (hope so anyway as we seem to have a lot of those too). Wishing you a joyful 2018.

Val's Quilting Studio said...

I LOVED turning fifty and have found joy in every day since....enjoy!!! happy 2018.