Time flys, especially when I'm not paying attention.

 I am well into 2013 - This will be the first full week of school since only God knows when. (Shows how stressed I have become getting ready for semester grades.)  The fiscal cliff seems to be at bay for another month or so. At least my income tax won't go up, just my deductions for social security from 4% to 6(point)something%... Oh well....[heavy sigh]

I have looked over that calendar from 2012 to see what good things stick out in my view:  this is one of them. I haven't looked for pictures of all the stuff that went on. I'm lucky to get this finished before bedtime.

 When we took our "traditional Walls family fall vacation" this year, we went to the HIGH country: Canaan Valley-Timberline and environs... And it was fun, even though I was afraid of the travel (snow possible and all) But somehow, we managed not to alienate each other and we had a good time. Even saying that, we did not plan a fall vacation for 2013. Maybe we can get together for Disney in the spring of 2014 or in the fall of 2014.  

 Amanda and Todd tied the knot in May. What a wonderful time we had celebrating with them in Arizona! Trisha and I have some "firsts" - 1st time she was away from Zoey; 1st time we were 'rooming together' (I use that term loosely); 1st airplane ride since 911; 1st destination wedding  - and it was HEAVENLY - good food, lots of family (Joey, Uncle Johnny and Pam, not to mention new family- Todd's Mom n Dad, Mary and Eric; and, of course, Aunt Barbara and Uncle Eddie!)

Uncle Timbuck died over the Memorial Day Weekend. Aunt Joy is still working and looks younger than ever. She has a new cat - a snowshoe Siamese called Jazzie. He's ADHA, but he's just a kitten.

In June, Leah, Jay, Cassie and I drove to Virginia to see Rob and Jenny (and Alana, the grandchild.) We saw Monticello and the winery. I got a speeding ticket on the way back in Virginia. Or rather a failure to heed a speed sign ticket. No matter, it was a ticket!!!

I worked on finishing up some financial things- starting in July, continuing into the late summer and fall. Maybe in January the process can finally end.

 

Cousin Susie had her heart operated on in late August or September and she spend quite a while in a Good Samaritan rehab in Florida. She's back home on Timber Lane now and she writes often (She told me she had Thanksgiving dinner with Gene and his wife.)

Delia turned 12 this year. She got some medical attention for her migraine headache-seems to run in the family.

Cousin Malissa and Darrin tied the knot in October, in Dorsey Park in Morgantown. She is now Mrs. Baker. Tracy and Delia were in the wedding, as well as Mindy, Naomi, Billie, Audry and Cassie. Leah and Mindy made the chocolate leaf favors and Leah saved me several ;-) Yummy.

I went to the Millers in Marietta for Thanksgiving. John made a fabulous turkey (in the oven, not in the 'shoot the turkey into the sky outside oil' tank) Trisha made her famous mashed potatoes (with some lumps, just so you know they were hand made fresh!)

 

The World did not End on December 21st.

I spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with the Millers. Festivities never end there! Zoey had her 'Barbie Christmas' and at 4 and 1/2 this was THE time to have it... All smiles and sparkles from that little girl!! 

We had another Christmas last Sunday when the families could get together here. Delia spent the next two nights here and we celebrated New Years by staying up and watching the ball drop - exploding confetti grenades, sitting on balloons and popping them, making igloos outside - (she did, I didn't) and wearing paper hats!

We all seem to have good health. And our bucket lists seem to stretch out forever, despite the health problems we see in our nearby family... Aunt Norma has been in Cleveland Clinic since before Christmas, and was operated on a few days ago. We are awaiting her full recovery.

I found this prediction somewhere on the net earlier this fall. We do not seem to be following this map. Even though I wish we would (snow days and all that go along with them)...But change is in the air!!! Even so, here's to another year of living. [clink!]

happy New Year 2013

Delia's giant snowball-snow cone

It's the new year.

2013

WOW - so many things have changed in the past decade 2002 -2012. 
I hope this year is a year of living to the max.

 Strange, too, that the calendar turns to the new year in January - mid-winter. I like new beginnings to be green, fresh, warming slightly and moving into the peak of comfort. 

Not so in our world right now - it's cold, of course, and damp. Even Gibbs is wearing a tweedy wool jacket on  my new NCIS calendar for 2013, preparing for a long, cold dark winter...
 

But the end of the traditional year can be blah, colder, wet and dark (unless it's been a good year - then we will all be on vacation in a warm climate with lengthening days..)  So - to fight off the misty memories of past years... 

Delia and I spent this New Year's Eve Together. 
  
We got a late start on searching for appropriate New Year accessories. 
First to Kroger - no party hats there.  Then to CVS, where we found the hats and balloons. On to the next best  store, RiteAid, where the silly string, popping confetti and those little noisemakers with the roll-out paper on the ends. And don't forget the candles, lighters, and lanterns to be used for an outside purpose...

Delia built an igloo outside while we waited for the new year to appear on the east coast. We watched ROKU reruns of Monk and we ate chocolate by the tons in various forms - true confession time. 

Zoey in her flower girl dress for Bill and Sarah's wedding (last year at this time) does a retake like the Royal family when she wears it for the Christmas program this year 2012 at Marietta High School

Then we got pictures from our far away family via the photos that take pictures other people think we must see. (And mostly that's true. ;-)

And so, you see - there were celebrations on the farm this new year's eve and we bask in the glow of the ball being dropped in various cities around the world - soberly.  And so, we begin another year of living (dangerously).