Oh that was so much fun, loved getting to know more about you...my first year blogging will be coming up, so thanks for sharing......Take Care, Francine.
Isn't it amazing when you look at what you've done! Looks like you had a pretty good year - sans your hubby's surgery! All the best or a happy & healthy 2013!
Love your sofas and coffee table. The bathroom color is so much better too. You got way more done than I did. I am definitely not a project person. Happy New Year Jane.
Hi Jane, loved seeing your first part of your year in review... I don't think I missed a single post, but it is fun to see them again!... thanks to you, I got my very first ever Kate Spade handbag too!... still love it! your pups look just adorable fast asleep... always love hearing about your gardens and the yummy things you cook... can't wait to recap more!... Happy new year to you and your family!... xoxo Julie Marie
Jane, I'm more of a rambler too. Isn't it fun to look back at all that happened this past year? You've been busier than you realize. And for someone who doesn't like to paint you sure got a lot done!
You had a busy year this year, Jane! I'm always amazed that you keep up your home and the cottage, too. Hope hubby is getting better day by day. Happy New Year!
What a sweet walk down memory lane:) I love looking back thru the pictures and posts! Enjoy your evening dear friend, ONE MORE day and then it's 2013! BIG HUGS to you dear Jane!
I loved every photo.. what a fun walk down memory lane you took us on. I cant wait to see part 2. I probably said it before but wowzers what a beautiful job you did on that guest bath- love it~! Happy New Year
You certainly had a good year! We have a place on the lake in SW GA and love to go there too. It's a 5 hour drive so we need to stay several days when we go to make it worth the trip.
Hope 2013 is filled with good times for you and your family!
It's always fun to look back at projects, isn't it? I love your bathroom makeover, it's gorgeous! And your daughters are beautiful, too. When is the wedding? Wishing you and your family a healthy and happy new year!
Loving your recap Janie ~ we have decided to stay in this year and are pooling our resources with our next door neighbours. I made seafood chowder today and she is making biscuits and munchies for later. We joked we may even make it a pj party! Happy New Year ~ cannot wait for part 2. xo
Loved the recap of your year...it's fun to go back and see all the home things your did and the places you went, isn't it? We're staying home for NY Eve, too. :-)
Jane, this was fun. Amazing how much happens in a year's time. We'll be at home tomorrow night too. Quiet and early to bed. ;-) Happy New Year........Sarah
I loved your look back over the past year. I've been thinking of doing one too. I won't have much to choose from though since it seems like I hardly did any posts...lol. I hope you have a wonderful New Year :)
It's lovely going back over the year like this especially as you have taken time to explain each one rather than just post them. I look forward to the second lot! A Healthy and Happy New Year to you and yours. Joan
I truly enjoyed your walk down memory lane -- so many fun memories! The very first pic had me cracked up at the get-go -- pups all passed out from all the Christmas activities!
What a wonderful year...I loved seeing everything in one place! Your chicken soup looks so good. :o) Best wishes for 2013 Jane...looking forward to what you come up with!
You did have a great year! New stuff at the house... weddding... travel... Nothing better. Happy New Year sweet friend. Hope Hubby is back to normal. Nursing is hard work! Looking forward to another year as bloggy buddies! HUGS! Charlene
Hi Blondie! Happy New Year! I really enjoyed your year in review and getting to know you a bit! I love gardening and English Farmhouse to! So nice to have you on board at Dandelion House. I look forward to reading your blog in the coming year too! Deb
Wow! Jane! Don't you feel a sense of accomplishment after putting this great post together?
I wish you and your beautiful family a Happy New Year! I also continue prayers of healing for The Husband! *It sounds like he is on a great road to recovery!* ~Lynne w/L.
January 2, 2013 at 9:37 AM
Anonymous said...
Your 2012 was full of fun ~ and I'm sure your 2013 will be as well. Happy, Happy New Year, Jane!!! Hugs, Zuzu
Happy new year!! I have seriously been off the grid, hoo boy. So happy to 'see' you again and your beautiful projects. Best wishes for a wonderful year ahead filled with health and happiness (and wedding fun!).
Hi Jane... I had to pop down and see part one so I didn't miss anything... Wow.... what a year girlie... The new Kate Spade bag caught my eye... Whoooppeeee.. I must confess, my daughter and I went to the mall... and while whizzing through Nordstrom... well.... this Kate Spade caught my eye from afar... my eyes twinkled and I said "it WILL BE MINE"... so I brought it right on home... Yeah, well, that emotional purchase had me giggling by the time I took it out to share with the Hubbs... What was I thinking??? I wear lots of very casual attire.... you know, hoodies and fleece? The black patent bag with a big bow on it just was not the bag for me... so I took it back. Seriously, I have never seen anything so cute and I nearly cried as I walked away... but hey, I gotta be real, right?
So glad you had so many fun times at the lake place, but who wouldn't??? It's soooo yummy. And, such a nice get-away from the daily stuff....
Big Happy New Years Huggies and Lovies to you sweet chickie!
Spencer
January 8, 2013 at 10:00 AM
[Image]Maybe this will be the year that I post more often. Can you put up with my ramblings? In the quiet days since Christmas, I have been visiting blogs and reading a lot about 2012 projects in review and some blogger's highlights of this past year. So...I decided to do a Blondie Year In Review. Wow, what an undertaking. So many memories, so many pictures! Of course I wanted to download everything, there were some occasions even I had forgotten. Projects? Not so many. A project to me is going to the dry cleaners! But I did have a few home improvement moments and in my true style, just a whole lot of randomness. So...here we go!
[Image]January brings out the Cleaning Fairy in all of us and I did a number on our master bedroom. I added a soft and cozy new quilt, a few toss pillows and a beautiful throw I received as a gift from son Kevin. Simple. Easy. Done.
[Image]The Midwest had very much a mild winter, but I kept the comfort food coming and pretended to hunker down. Here I made chicken soup from scratch following a recipe by Susan Branch. It was delish!
[Image]The only good thing about February is that it is my birthday month! The Husband and I headed downtown where I picked out my much dreamed about Kate Spade purse. We then had dinner at Tavern On Rush and a few cocktails at the legendary Jilly's, which sadly has closed after decades of good times.
[Image]I was also really pleased to get my family room redone after almost a year of hemming and hawing over paint colors and furniture. Sofa's with washable slipcovers and distressed furniture gave this room a bit of farmhouse feel.
[Image]March came in like a lamb and we spent a day at Navy Pier on Lake Michigan.
[Image]With Easter right around the corner I splurged on some linens at Pottery Barn.
[Image]And I did a little Easter tablescape.
[Image]Daughter Emily got a head start on creating some things for her 2013 wedding...here are some of the reception dinner table numbers covered in moss. Fun project!
[Image]April brought Abby's 21st birthday. Here she is on the right.
[Image]A Cinco de Mayo tablescape.
[Image]And another. I think this was the year of tablescapes for me after Kathleen started her fun party.
[Image]Finally, a spring tablescape.
[Image]We made another trip to Asheville, N.C in April and I met up again with these lovely bloggers; Mary, Penny and Penny. We had a wonderful lunch together. I wonder if this year holds another trip. The Husband sure loves his fly fishing there!
[Image]June found us back at the lakehouse where we spend a good part of the summer. It's just the perfect little getaway for us and our days there are carefree!
[Image]Lots of time sitting at this table with family and friends, or just alone dreaming.
[Image]This is our beloved daisy garden that we thought would never bloom. It did. And did and did! And, my first try at climbing roses.
[Image]The Husband has become an avid gardener over the years and though we had a few disagreements over our techniques, he helped me a lot and I learned to believe in some of his homemade concoctions after seeing our flowers and plants grow before my very eyes!
[Image]And of course we took some time to enjoy the outdoors here in Chicago.
[Image]A little trip to the historic and great shopping town of Galena, Illinois came in June and we met up with fellow blogger Cindy and her husband Dan.
[Image]This is my dear friend Cindy, and this trip marked our 4th year in a row getting together. Don't you just love meeting the people behind the words in Blogland?
[Image]And we can't forget the new love in The Husband's life, The Monster, or his newly acquired old fishing boat. It was definitely an angling summer for him!
[Image]I took on a little project of myself while we were up there for 2 straight weeks and decided to change the paint color in the downstairs powder room from this...
[Image]...to this. I don't know why I waited so long. Oh, yes I do...I hate painting! But I love how it came out.
So now you can see why I had to divide this post into two parts. My walks down memory lane involve stopping to sniff each and every flower. I really had fun going through my old posts, seeing how the seasons change, how we change. And then how some things stay true and constant. I'll be back in a few days to complete this. In the meantime, have a ball celebrating the beginning of a new year! We will be very low key here at home as usual. I can't remember the last time we went out anywhere. I just hope all those fireworks at midnite don't wake me up! lol!
See ya!
posted by Blondie's Journal at 3:07 PM on Dec 30, 2012
"HIGHLIGHTS OF 2012 (PART 1)"
42 Comments -
Your year sounds very idyllic, and ours was too. I like your cottage, that is a fun family gathering place, I am sure.
December 30, 2012 at 3:25 PM
What a fun review of your fun year.
Fondly,
Glenda
December 30, 2012 at 3:36 PM
What a fun post- I forgot some of the stuff you did, too! Can't wait to see more- xo Diana
December 30, 2012 at 3:43 PM
Blondie, I loved your photos of the past year. I wish you and yours a very happy New Year filled with love and good health. xoxo,Susie
December 30, 2012 at 3:44 PM
Oh that was so much fun, loved getting to know more about you...my first year blogging will be coming up, so thanks for sharing......Take Care, Francine.
December 30, 2012 at 3:49 PM
Een heel goed en vooral gezond 2013 !!!.......
Bedankt voor je liefde en vriendschap van het afgelopen jaar......
Ik ben zo blij met je !!......
Liefs van mij....xxx..
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A very good and healthy 2013 !!!......
Thank you for your love and friendship over the past year........
I'm so happy with you !!..........
Love from me....xxx...
December 30, 2012 at 3:56 PM
Isn't it amazing when you look at what you've done! Looks like you had a pretty good year - sans your hubby's surgery! All the best or a happy & healthy 2013!
Mary
December 30, 2012 at 4:34 PM
Love your sofas and coffee table. The bathroom color is so much better too. You got way more done than I did. I am definitely not a project person. Happy New Year Jane.
December 30, 2012 at 4:40 PM
i always love visiting your posts!!! have a Happy New Year!!!!
December 30, 2012 at 4:45 PM
Fun going through the year with you. When you look back...you really did a lot of projects. Can't wait for the next episode.
Balisha
December 30, 2012 at 5:05 PM
Hi Jane, loved seeing your first part of your year in review... I don't think I missed a single post, but it is fun to see them again!... thanks to you, I got my very first ever Kate Spade handbag too!... still love it! your pups look just adorable fast asleep... always love hearing about your gardens and the yummy things you cook... can't wait to recap more!... Happy new year to you and your family!... xoxo Julie Marie
December 30, 2012 at 5:20 PM
You had a wonderful year, and I wish all the best to you and yours for 2013! Looking forward to the wedding! xo
December 30, 2012 at 5:24 PM
what a wonderful year in photos! I wish for you a happy healthy new year for you and your beautiful family!
December 30, 2012 at 5:31 PM
Jane, I'm more of a rambler too. Isn't it fun to look back at all that happened this past year? You've been busier than you realize. And for someone who doesn't like to paint you sure got a lot done!
Happy New Year Girl!
December 30, 2012 at 5:41 PM
You had a busy year this year, Jane! I'm always amazed that you keep up your home and the cottage, too. Hope hubby is getting better day by day. Happy New Year!
December 30, 2012 at 5:42 PM
What a fun review! You had a great 2012. I love your living room...it looks so comfy!
December 30, 2012 at 5:53 PM
What a sweet walk down memory lane:) I love looking back thru the pictures and posts! Enjoy your evening dear friend, ONE MORE day and then it's 2013! BIG HUGS to you dear Jane!
December 30, 2012 at 5:55 PM
I loved every photo.. what a fun walk down memory lane you took us on.
I cant wait to see part 2. I probably said it before but wowzers what a beautiful job you did on that guest bath- love it~!
Happy New Year
December 30, 2012 at 6:02 PM
You certainly had a good year! We have a place on the lake in SW GA and love to go there too. It's a 5 hour drive so we need to stay several days when we go to make it worth the trip.
Hope 2013 is filled with good times for you and your family!
December 30, 2012 at 6:55 PM
It's always fun to look back at projects, isn't it? I love your bathroom makeover, it's gorgeous! And your daughters are beautiful, too. When is the wedding? Wishing you and your family a healthy and happy new year!
December 30, 2012 at 7:09 PM
Loving your recap Janie ~ we have decided to stay in this year and are pooling our resources with our next door neighbours. I made seafood chowder today and she is making biscuits and munchies for later. We joked we may even make it a pj party! Happy New Year ~ cannot wait for part 2. xo
December 30, 2012 at 7:52 PM
Loved the recap of your year...it's fun to go back and see all the home things your did and the places you went, isn't it? We're staying home for NY Eve, too. :-)
December 30, 2012 at 8:04 PM
Jane, this was fun. Amazing how much happens in a year's time.
We'll be at home tomorrow night too. Quiet and early to bed. ;-)
Happy New Year........Sarah
December 30, 2012 at 8:22 PM
Jane, what a fun review of your 2012! Looking forward to seeing what you do in 2013 .
Happy New Year!
Judy
December 30, 2012 at 9:27 PM
I enjoyed your year in review Jane!
Have a wonderful new year.
December 30, 2012 at 9:50 PM
jane,
It's always so fun to look back:) Happy New Year!!!
Blessings,
Linda
December 30, 2012 at 10:51 PM
I loved your look back over the past year. I've been thinking of doing one too. I won't have much to choose from though since it seems like I hardly did any posts...lol. I hope you have a wonderful New Year :)
December 30, 2012 at 11:34 PM
It's lovely going back over the year like this especially as you have taken time to explain each one rather than just post them. I look forward to the second lot! A Healthy and Happy New Year to you and yours. Joan
December 31, 2012 at 1:00 AM
Looks like you had a fun, full year Jane! Wishing you a Happy New Year and all the best in 2013-enjoy:@)
December 31, 2012 at 4:36 AM
Hi Jane,
I do love to meet bloggers face to face. It's always a delightful time.
Happy New Year!
December 31, 2012 at 2:13 PM
Hi, Jane
It's hard to believe that another year is just about over. From the photos, yours looks like it was full. I hope your new one is very happy.
-Karen
December 31, 2012 at 3:03 PM
I truly enjoyed your walk down memory lane -- so many fun memories! The very first pic had me cracked up at the get-go -- pups all passed out from all the Christmas activities!
Glad to hear your hubby is doing so well!
Happy New Year!
Carol
December 31, 2012 at 5:33 PM
Such a fun post, and a good year!
Happy, Healthy 2013 to all, with love from This Old House - xo
December 31, 2012 at 5:44 PM
What a wonderful year...I loved seeing everything in one place! Your chicken soup looks so good. :o) Best wishes for 2013 Jane...looking forward to what you come up with!
January 1, 2013 at 8:38 AM
You did have a great year! New stuff at the house... weddding... travel... Nothing better. Happy New Year sweet friend. Hope Hubby is back to normal. Nursing is hard work! Looking forward to another year as bloggy buddies! HUGS!
Charlene
January 1, 2013 at 5:33 PM
Looks like a great year and super busy as usual. Isn't it fun to do a year in review and go back through all your photos?
I made a mosaic for my year in review but still need to post it.
Hope this year brings you health and wonderful experiences.
January 1, 2013 at 7:01 PM
Hi Blondie!
Happy New Year! I really enjoyed your year in review and getting to know you a bit! I love gardening and English Farmhouse to! So nice to have you on board at Dandelion House. I look forward to reading your blog in the coming year too!
Deb
January 2, 2013 at 8:14 AM
Wow! Jane! Don't you feel a sense of accomplishment after putting this great post together?
I wish you and your beautiful family a Happy New Year! I also continue prayers of healing for The Husband! *It sounds like he is on a great road to recovery!*
~Lynne
w/L.
January 2, 2013 at 9:37 AM
Your 2012 was full of fun ~ and I'm sure your 2013 will be as well.
Happy, Happy New Year, Jane!!!
Hugs,
Zuzu
January 2, 2013 at 11:40 AM
I think you have had a great year. I'm curious-how do you like your light colored sofas now that you have had them awhile?
January 2, 2013 at 12:49 PM
Maybe this will be the year I post at all, lol.
Happy new year!! I have seriously been off the grid, hoo boy. So happy to 'see' you again and your beautiful projects. Best wishes for a wonderful year ahead filled with health and happiness (and wedding fun!).
January 7, 2013 at 12:52 AM
Hi Jane... I had to pop down and see part one so I didn't miss anything... Wow.... what a year girlie... The new Kate Spade bag caught my eye... Whoooppeeee.. I must confess, my daughter and I went to the mall... and while whizzing through Nordstrom... well.... this Kate Spade caught my eye from afar... my eyes twinkled and I said "it WILL BE MINE"... so I brought it right on home... Yeah, well, that emotional purchase had me giggling by the time I took it out to share with the Hubbs... What was I thinking??? I wear lots of very casual attire.... you know, hoodies and fleece? The black patent bag with a big bow on it just was not the bag for me... so I took it back. Seriously, I have never seen anything so cute and I nearly cried as I walked away... but hey, I gotta be real, right?
So glad you had so many fun times at the lake place, but who wouldn't??? It's soooo yummy. And, such a nice get-away from the daily stuff....
Big Happy New Years Huggies and Lovies to you sweet chickie!
Spencer
January 8, 2013 at 10:00 AM