End of the Year Questions - Reflecting on 2021

These questions are from a swap on Swapbot that look back on 2021: 

1. If 2021 were a movie, what was the title, and what happened? The first thing that comes to mind is "Where Did the Time Go?" 

Even though the past year was packed with lots of activities, milestone birthdays, and challenges (like doing the 75Hard challenge and drastically changing the way I ate, exercised, and approached life), it went by so quickly. It seems like each year there never is enough time to get everything done that I want to accomplish. 

2. What worked well in 2021, and for what are you grateful? For the first 75 days of the year, I was using a habit tracker and doing the 75Hard challenge. I was eating well, exercising 90 minutes a day, reading at least 10 pages, journaling, and doing other activities that I wanted to do. 

I really liked the program and ended up continuing a modified version of it until about October. Then, I started getting side-tracked with the holidays and they took priority. 

I am very grateful I did the program because it showed me that if I set my mind to something difficult, I can do it. It is a matter of setting small, achievable steps to reach the major goal. 

3. What was challenging or disappointing about 2021? We had multiple major problems with our only car. This was a huge setback financially which was disappointing. 

We also struggled with Hoss's hooves from February through September, and worked with our vet and farrier to find a solution. They (and we) tried everything. In September, we made the difficult decision to give Hoss and Bailey (who were now a bonded pair) back to the Minnesota Hooved Animal Rescue Foundation. They ended up being able to discover the problem (an abscess in one hoof) that, thankfully, was caught in time. Olivia was very observant and - had she not been - things could have been a lot worse for him (either long-term issues or euthanasia). 

The good news is that both Hoss and Bailey were adopted within a month of going back to MHARF. Although they are in different homes, Hoss has a miniature companion and goats at his new farm and Bailey is at a stable with 15 other horses, and she is used for giving lessons. So, she's getting lots of attention.  

4. What were your most meaningful moments this past year? At the end of the year - from December 23rd to January 4th - we quarantined at the request of Sophia's study abroad program. In order to board her international flights, she needed a negative COVID test. So, we didn't want to risk it given the appearance and easy transmission of the omicron variant. 

Although we were sad that we couldn't do things we normally did - like go to Christmas Eve service, spend time with extended family on Christmas, go out to do special things for Sophia's 21st birthday, and go out to a Chinese restaurant on New Year's Day - we celebrated these occasions at home together as a family. 

We started some new traditions (like playing Risk together as a family over multiple days after Christmas and into the New Year), watched movies together, and made food together. We worked on projects that we hadn't had a chance to do because we were always out and about...rather than at home. 

5. Where did you spend a lot of time and energy? Although I felt like I was driving a lot to take Olivia to the homeschool co-op twice a week and to speech therapy, I did spend a lot of time and energy at home which I enjoyed. 

I enjoyed watching Olivia paint many barn quilts during the summer for clients. She was earning a lot of money that she has set aside for college.

6. What did you learn this last year? I learned how to take better photos and use my camera in ways I didn't know how to use it. 

I took a photography course at North House Folk School with Layne Kennedy, a very talented photographer. Olivia and I enjoyed photographing waterfalls.

We also explored places on our own - like High Falls at Grand Portage State Park. This park is adjacent to Canada, although - at the time - we couldn't go into Canada because the border was closed due to the pandemic.

The photography course challenged me to look at taking pictures different than I normally would do, and learn to tell a story about the places we visited.

7. Looking back on 2021, on a scale of 1-10, how happy were you overall, with 1 being depressed and 10 being happy and content? I think about a 7 or 8 in terms of being happy and content. 

8. As you look to 2022, what will be the highest use of your talents? As I think about different skills and talents during the upcoming year, I would like to use my:

- research skills to help find scholarship opportunities for Olivia, 

- writing skills to write a book for Olivia to give to her as she starts college, 

- organizational skills to keep everything in order as Olivia finishes high school and Sophia studies abroad, 

- decluttering skills as I get rid of things we no longer want or need in our home, barn, and garage, 

- organizational skills as we plan for a trip to England and Scotland for Olivia's graduation trip,

- gardening skills to make the farm look nice for Olivia's graduation party, and 

- communication skills to help me talk with potential employers as I search for a job later in the year. 

9. What will success look like in 2022? If I am able to accomplish all the things I mentioned in #8, I would feel like 2022 is successful: 

- help Olivia secure scholarships, 

- write a book for Olivia, 

- see Olivia complete high school after being homeschooled since Kindergarten, 

- hear that Sophia had a successful trip in Thailand, 

- get rid of a dumpster of things from the home/yard/barn (so a thorough deep clean and decluttering), 

- have a great family trip overseas, 

- complete the gardens so they look full and colorful, and 

- secure a meaningful job. 

10. If you select a "word of the year" - share what it is for 2022, and why you chose it. I'm not sure what word I pick. I go between four words: Trust, Acceptance, Embrace, and Change. 

I'm thinking Change might be it because there is inevitable change that comes with aging, seeing the girls get older and move to the next stage of their lives, and change in relationships. 

Then there's change that I initiate that can be positive - like saving over $70 per month by changing garbage collection companies and changing phone companies so we get faster and more reliable internet while saving ourselves money. 

2022 will be filled with many changes. I just need to trust, accept, and embrace them - whether I am ready for them or not. 

My Favorite Photos - September 2021

 Below are some of my favorite photos from September:

Olivia was accepted into Bethel University at the beginning of September. This is her top choice, so she is very happy.

Olivia and I - along with my brother (Jim) and one of his daughters (Addy) - went to Chalk Fest in Maple Grove. 

The chalk drawings were larger than I anticipated and many were three-dimensional.

The one below caught my eye because it is unusual. 

This month, Olivia finished another barn quilt. I helped her with the sketch because it is a different style and much more complex than what she is used to doing. 

The roses have been blooming throughout September. This is a tea rose that I got from Walmart that is for our growing zone. For $8, it was a good deal. 

This is another tea rose...also from Walmart. This one and the one above are very fragrant. 

I like this photo because I got Aspen with one of her stuffed animals - Bunny - that she carries around. They are like her security toys. She also brings them to us when we return to the house after being gone - whether it is 5 minutes or 4 hours.

On September 11th, I coordinated part of the Taco Daze community event. This one was, by far, the best one - according to many people who commented about the event online and in person. One highlight was seeing two Huey helicopters that were flown in the Taco Daze parade. There was a select group of people who were able to see this one take off from a friend's backyard. Almost everyone had cell phones and were doing videos of the take-off. 

At Taco Daze, Minnesota Armored Combat came out to do some demonstrations. It was really impressive to watch how they fight with big swords.

Sophia, in the middle, along with two of her suitemates, took a break from college and helped with the set-up as well as attending the Taco Daze. It was really nice to have them all at home.

Another highlight of the day was watching the firemen's waterball competition. Opposing teams used the water from their hoses to move the silver, metal container to the other team's side. 

To kick-off the Taco Daze parade, I worked with a pilot who had contacts with a group of veterans are pilots. They agreed to do a flyover and then in the last pass over, one of the aircraft would veer off in a different direction t show the missing man formation. 

Sophia, her suitemates, my sister, and I all had a chance to sit in a Huey helicopter that flew over the parade route. It was in the Vietnam War, was damaged, and sold. A veteran who is a pilot bought is, refurbished it, and flies it now. 

The next day, Sunday the 12th, my sister and I went to parade in Osceola - a nearby town.  This unusual costume caught our eye.

On September 15h, Olivia and I went to Bethel for the opening of their science building. We both really enjoyed the event. Our favorite part was seeing the green roof on top of one of the buildings. 

This is a blurry picture, but it is a picture of Bailey galloping through our pasture. It was the last evening she was with us. The following day she and Hoss went back to the Minnesota Hooved Animal Rescue Foundation. Hoss's hooves exceeded what we could provide for him, and our vet and farrier couldn't figure out what was going on and why he was having trouble walking. 

It was a very difficult decision, yet we knew it was the right one since they were a bonded pair. 

This is another photo of Hoss and Bailey together. 

A brighter day happened later in the month when Olivia was accepted into the College of St. Benedict. 

Last week, Olivia and I went on a short hike during "Blue Hour" - the period of time when the sun is below the horizon, yet there is still light. The sky takes on a darkish-blue - almost an indigo appearance.

This is the road in front of our pasture and driveway. There are telephone lines and tall tree silhoutted by the remaining light.

Looking southwest, we could see Venus.

My final photo of September is of my favorite oak tree. It is in the west pasture. Did a visual search on the SEEK app, and it came back as a white oak. Olivia is standing near it and her image gives an idea how large and majestic this tree is. 

 

It's interesting for me to go back on photos that I took during the previous month and get an idea of what I want to document and remember.

September 3-2-1

3 things that made me happy in September

1. Olivia got accepted to go to both colleges that she applied to, and is very happy about it. She already received an initial academic scholarship and alum referral scholarship ($29,000 per year total) for her second-choice college. It will be interesting to see what her top choice academic scholarship is, and if it competitive with or matches her second choice's offer. 

  

Olivia received her acceptance packet from Bethel University first.

Olivia received her acceptance packet from the College of St. Benedict second.

2. The major event that I was co-coordinating went exceptionally well. 

The food trucks/trailers were a huge hit!

The weather was pleasant, turnout was very high, and the new activities we added this year were well-received. 

Sophia and some of her suitemates playing Bingo at Taco Daze.

Minnesota Armored Combat.

I was responsible for the vendor area, food trucks/trailers, and the flyover (the latter of which was handled by a pilot who had connections to veterans who fly vintage aircraft...I was the point-person on the event team who worked with the pilot).  

Everyone was using their cell phones to record the Huey helicopter take off.

The Huey helicopter flew right overhead.

Three military aircraft kicked off the Taco Daze parade.

The director of Gammelgarden was happy to 

see Sophia back from college for the weekend.

My sister, Sophia, her two suitemates, and me in a Huey helicopter.

I used a 1960s filter since the Huey flew in 1966-67 in Vietnam.

The dance team from the local high school performed in the parade.

3. Olivia and I have been able to do some activities together during her senior year of high school. Some of the activities are new ones - like going to Chalk Fest - which we both enjoyed. The chalk drawings were much larger than we anticipated. Some were in 2D and others were in 3D which I've never seen done before. 

One of the chalk drawings at Chalk Fest.

This chalk drawing had a 3D effect.

Olivia, Addy, and Jim.

Another chalk drawing that was done in 3D.

There was so much detail in many of the chalk drawings.

Other activities are ones that we used to do together when she was younger - like nature hikes and collecting leaves as part of her nature study. The first photo below is from the day when we were collecting leaves and needles from the trees so she could press them. Our goal is to identify each type of tree on our property. 

Olivia by one of the tall pine trees in the front yard.

Olivia and I went on a night hike so she could get some photos for her photography PSEO course. We didn't go on a long walk...just long enough to get some photos of the sky and landscape during the "blue hour") when the sun has set is far below the horizon and the sky takes on a dark-blue or indigo tone.

Olivia using her flashlight to light the way up the hill 

as we took photos during the Blue Hour.

2 things I'm looking forward to in October

1. I'm looking forward to going to the Twin Cities Harvest Festival and Corn Maze on October 9th. Paige, Olivia, and I went last year, and it was a lot of fun going through the complex corn maze. Each year the corn maze has a different theme and design. On the weekends, there also are food trucks and activities to do. We are picking up Sophia from college so we can do something together as a family. The photos below are from last year.

Olivia and me at the corn maze in 2020.

Paige and Olivia in the corn maze in 2020.

Olivia marking off where we had been in the corn maze.

2. Later in the month, I am going to the Regional Lions Leadership Institute. My Lions Club is paying for all the expenses which will be nice. It's about 3 1/2 hours from home, so I am carpooling with another Lion from my club. During the days and early evenings, there are sessions focused on building one's leadership skills. The evenings and early mornings I have to do whatever I want. I'm looking forward to bringing some things that I've wanted to get done, and doing those when there are no activities. 

1 thing from September that I'd rather forget

1. On September 17th, Bailey and Hoss (our horses we have had for 12 years), were picked up and returned to the Minnesota Hooved Animal Rescue Foundation (MHARF). The miniature horse - Hoss - developed an issue with his hooves, especially his front right one, that impacted the way he was able to move. 

Since February 2021, we had been working with our vet and farrier, and the problem persisted. We tried numerous things and his hooves were not improving. We felt it would be best to have the MHARF look at his hooves and give him different medical care than what we could provide.

Bailey galloping in the field on her last evening at the farm. 

I will miss hearing the clopping of her hooves as they hit the earth.

Because Bailey and Hoss are a bonded pair, we felt it would be in the horses' best interest to go together rather than being separated and alone. 

Bailey and Hoss eating together on Thursday evening.

They have been able to be together during this transition time at a foster home. However, the foster family let me know that the MHARF director wants to separate them so that Bailey can be trained to be a riding horse versus a pasture pet. Hoss would be "marketed" as a 4-H mini horse or pasture pet once his hooves are 100% better and he is healed. 

So, as painful as this decision is, I'm hoping that Bailey develops the confidence to be separated from Hoss and is able to do some fun things that she'll enjoy - like trail rides and being with other horses where she can get along with them and she isn't picked on (like at the first farm she was at and why she was rescued from it). 

Bailey looking at me after looking at the trailer 

pulling up outside the barn.

I will miss seeing both Bailey and Hoss look out of

the barn window and into the backyard.

The trailer with Bailey and Hoss headed out of our driveway

and to their new life.

I know that Hoss is getting the medical care he needs, and - because there are fresh eyes on him (both a new vet and farrier) - he already is walking better thanks to better hoof trims and the treatment of an abscess (which neither our farrier or vet identified). 

Things will work out for the best, I have to believe.