Are you still enjoying your holidays? Oh how the days, weeks, months and years seem to go by so quickly.
It has been over a year since I posted anything on my blog and I've really missed posting, sharing and connecting. It seems that with every passing day there is more to do with less and less time. As I sit down to write this post it is nearly impossible to figure out where to start. In fact, I took a look back to see what I was last blogging about. So I see I was talking about Mexico.
Did you see that post? The one where I was trying to decide between visiting Puebla or Oaxaca, Mexico (and Puebla won)? Well since my last post, I'm happy to say that I've visited both cities. My trip to Puebla was a long weekend visit and a solo trip. I fell in love with Puebla but was still longing to go to Oaxaca. This November my husband and I spent a week in Oaxaca and it was heavenly. It was one of those slow (well sort of slow) vacations where we relaxed. Our hotel had a rooftop patio so we sat up there to watch the sun rise and set. Then at night we sat up on the roof just to be out under the stars. It really was heavenly.
We've managed to take several trips since that last post and I'm so grateful for each and every experience. We are budget travelers which allows us to take more trips but we cut a lot of corners to do so. And because of my work schedule, most of our trips are jiffy trips over long weekends. It's amazing what you can do and see in 48 - 72 hours. In the past year we've been able to visit Bogota, South Africa (we were able to do some driving around and it was incredible), Barcelona and Oaxaca and I'm looking forward to doing some planning of future trips on New Year's day. I've got several magazines and decided it would be fun to create a new vision board with goals and wishes for the year, including my travel dreams!
As I looked back at my early blog posts, my first post is dated December 29, 2007. In that post I featured my granddaughters and niece. It seems so long ago and so much has changed. My niece is now a freshman at Berklee School of Music and the grandgirls are now 15 and 13!
The past year was a hard one for me in many ways and yet, the year was filled with amazing and wonderful memories too. I lost two friends in 2017 and both deaths, which were less than a month apart, were shocking tragedies. For months it was difficult to find happiness, but as the end of the year approaches, I realize there were happy moments that should be recognized and cherished. But, I'm ready for a new year with new hopes and dreams.
As I get ready for the long weekend, I'm looking forward to a nice quiet few days to have time for reflection, reading, setting goals and creating order. My sister brought me a box of cookies from my favorite hometown bakery and I'm looking forward to curling up with some delicious sweet treats before putting myself on a more healthy regime too.
How about you? Any big plans for NYE or the coming year? 2018 is nearly here. Happy New Year!!! I'm so glad to get reconnected. Let's do this!
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| Family Gathering - Christmas 2017 |
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| The "blue hour" in Park Güell, Barcelona |
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| Hierve el Agua, Oaxaca, Mexico |
Did you see that post? The one where I was trying to decide between visiting Puebla or Oaxaca, Mexico (and Puebla won)? Well since my last post, I'm happy to say that I've visited both cities. My trip to Puebla was a long weekend visit and a solo trip. I fell in love with Puebla but was still longing to go to Oaxaca. This November my husband and I spent a week in Oaxaca and it was heavenly. It was one of those slow (well sort of slow) vacations where we relaxed. Our hotel had a rooftop patio so we sat up there to watch the sun rise and set. Then at night we sat up on the roof just to be out under the stars. It really was heavenly.
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| I finally got to walk in a field of sunflowers!!! |
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| Trip to an elephant sanctuary in South Africa |
We've managed to take several trips since that last post and I'm so grateful for each and every experience. We are budget travelers which allows us to take more trips but we cut a lot of corners to do so. And because of my work schedule, most of our trips are jiffy trips over long weekends. It's amazing what you can do and see in 48 - 72 hours. In the past year we've been able to visit Bogota, South Africa (we were able to do some driving around and it was incredible), Barcelona and Oaxaca and I'm looking forward to doing some planning of future trips on New Year's day. I've got several magazines and decided it would be fun to create a new vision board with goals and wishes for the year, including my travel dreams!
As I looked back at my early blog posts, my first post is dated December 29, 2007. In that post I featured my granddaughters and niece. It seems so long ago and so much has changed. My niece is now a freshman at Berklee School of Music and the grandgirls are now 15 and 13!
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| Christmas 2007 |
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| Goddaughter's dance recital |
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| Lantern Festival with friends |
As I get ready for the long weekend, I'm looking forward to a nice quiet few days to have time for reflection, reading, setting goals and creating order. My sister brought me a box of cookies from my favorite hometown bakery and I'm looking forward to curling up with some delicious sweet treats before putting myself on a more healthy regime too.
How about you? Any big plans for NYE or the coming year? 2018 is nearly here. Happy New Year!!! I'm so glad to get reconnected. Let's do this!
Hello Jo-Jo, it's so lovely to see a post pop up from you in my reader. Life has a way of twisting and turning in directions we don't understand, doesn't it? I'm sorry for the loss of your friends.
ReplyDeleteTravel is something we hope to do more of once we retire in a few years. It sounds like you have had some wonderful trips.
Those grandchildren do grow up in a hurry, don't they? We have three and they are always on the go and always growing. That's as it should be.
Have a most wonderful 2018!
Oh Lorrie, I have missed you though I have to say, I have tried to read your blog when the time has allowed. Happy New Year to you dear friend. It means so much to see your post. I'm hoping to do a better job at keeping up and keeping in touch in the coming year. Sending the best of wishes to you and your family.
DeleteI enjoyed hearing a bit about you and your past year and travels.
DeleteReally loved seeing your name in my email box this morning and your IGH comment.
Happy NEW YEAR Cheryl . . JoJo . . .
love
lynne