A year of fairies, family, flowers, and furry friends

Last year might have ended in worry and cancellations but it began in hope.  And ours started on the wings of fairies, which was pretty special.

We were blessed to be with our fairy family for Christmas and New Year’s Eve 2021. After what 2020 had put us all through, we were ready to face a brighter future.

Rich and I volunteered at vaccine clinics, where I was the coldest I have ever been in my life.  On a day of 14 degrees, I worked outside for six hours, something my family still can’t quite believe that a person as terrified of being chilly like I am, could do.

Volunteering at this event not only showed me that I was tougher than I thought, it brought hope to me that our lives could be somewhat normal again.

We headed south for a few weeks to the beach where I got to make lots of fairies to give thanks for the blessings in my life.

We took four dogs with us in a 19’ camper, which isn’t as bad as it sounds.  They are every bit as much underfoot in our home as they are in the trailer.  Two doodles, a retriever and a Yorkie  provide many tripping opportunities, no matter how small the kitchen I am cooking in is.

And what is better than being somewhere warm and blooming, away from a cold, Kansas winter?

Coming home is always hard for me.  While I am away, it’s easier to not expect to see Ryan.  He rarely traveled with us.

Returning to an empty house without his happy grin of welcome is rough to get used to.

These furry bundles of love came along in the spring.  They fill my heart up, in a bittersweet way.

I can almost feel Ryan by my side laughing at their silliness like he used to do.  He loved the puppies as much as I do.  Having them around was a help in getting through the anniversary of his death.

For two months, I did nothing but care for the babies.  When they slept, I’d do paintings of them, and talk to prospective families. I got very little sleep and picked up mountains of poo.

But I also had weeks of furry snuggles and joy. 

The babies helped me through the loss of two of our Yorkies. The pups were right there with me when Twinkle had her stroke.  As I held her in my arms during convulsions, those little dogs watched with compassion and care.  I could tell they would grow up to be loving pets when I saw how they wanted to comfort Twinkle and I.

The very next week, we lost our boy, Albie.   I don’t know what I’d have done without armloads of furry, warm puppies to get me through it.

There is so much joy in these little bodies, that you just have to smile even while in pain!

We took another camping getaway to the mountains of North Carolina.

Where I crafted riverbank fairies of rocks instead of seashells in the sand. 

 This is the year that Sugarwings grew up and became a teen, not a child.

And our Hippy Chic got her Master’s to become a midwife.

Painting flowers and landscapes got me back into the studio.  I still haven’t added to my Boutique or planned a Birdsong event, but both have been on my mind.  I’d started feeling out the prospect of an arty weekend, and then, BOOM, along came Delta.

So, I’ll be sticking to my solitary studio time for now.  It would devastate me to host a Birdsong and have anyone become ill while visiting.

On a second trip to Florida, I got to watch countless dolphins, see sharks up close, and find amazing piles of shells on a teensy island.

There was a lot to be thankful to nature for. 

It was also kinda nice to have the dogs cared for by family while we stayed in hotels instead of a camper.

I even got to visit Tinker Bell!

After a spectacular Disney adventure, I headed to Indian Shores to be with sisters and nieces.  It was a beach I was unfamiliar with, and was surprised by the lack of larger shells.  So, I used itty bitty shells to leave a mosaic fairy on the shore.

This might just be a new favorite art form for me.  Painting with seashells!

Thanksgiving brought us a visit from Dewdrop and a great family weekend to be plenty thankful for.

Stories of the proliferation of Omicron made me value every moment of holiday celebrations we had.

And to remember to appreciate those around me and what is important.

I am wishing you a safe and happy 2022.  With this horrid curse of a virus fading away.