My husband and I put together another short 60th birthday video for a friend--it has been the year of 60th birthdays for many friends, and those celebrations have mainly been marked with virtual celebrations of one kind or another. As I put together the video, I was reminded of the fact that 2020, while a pandemic year, had many highlights as well.
Puppy time
For one son, it's been a year with a beautiful new puppy, Barley. Barley has brought joy to all of us, and the pandemic time-at-home has provided her with a wonderful start to her life.
Outdoor adventures
Since most of our time with friends and family members has been outdoors, it has been a year of wonderful outdoor adventures. My favorite outdoor adventures included kayaking and swimming in a spectacular clear New Hampshire lake, riding my bike on a brand new rail trail, and hiking/walking with friends and family members in beautiful nature spots including the lands around Jefferson's Monticello.
Cooking
It has been a year of cooking more and better--I have loved exploring multiple recipes from around the world, using more spices, and cooking for those I love. I look forward to continuing this adventure in the years to come.
Warm and welcoming home
Since we've been home a lot, we've spent a lot of time cleaning up, reorganizing, and making our home as warm and welcoming as possible. This Thanksgiving found our spaces to be the best yet. We'll continue this quest made up of great simplicity rather than fancy glamour.
More letter writing
Via email, I've sent more letters than in years past. It has been a good way to keep up with friends and family members.
Dreaming, writing, imagining, and planning
It has been a time of lots of dreaming, imagining, writing, and planning for days ahead.
Research
Researching our family's history has been a valuable pastime as well.
I guess to sum up the year, it has been a close-to-home year with a few outdoor adventures added. It was the first time I visited North Carolina and North Haven, Maine--two wonderful trips with great biking, water, and history-related adventures. It was also the first time we had an extended lake vacation which was equally wonderful. Despite the limitations, it was a good year overall. Onward.