What can I say about the year that is about to come to a close? How can I put everything that has been gone through, both good and bad; everything sought for, sometimes achieved, sometimes left wanting, in the physical world, as well as in the world of the inner self, into words that can easily flow with the quick and witty prose that is the usual norm of a blog post? I’m not sure it’s possible. I’ll see if I can organize it all for you here…bear with me, lol.

The year 2012 has been one of bounty. We have been able to make our house more comfortable, more like the home we’ve been wanting for 22 years. We just finished a wonderfully bountiful Christmas holiday, having had the ability to shower those we love with appreciation and blessings.

The year 2012 has been one of friendship. I’ve been able to visit with some wonderful people this year…some in person, whom I had only known through the internet, some who have come into my life through other avenues. I was able to bring my dear friend to spend a long weekend with me for an amazing birthday slumber party which will be remembered and cherished always!

The year 2012 has unfortunately been a year of health struggles…for all of us. Lots of doctor visits, tests, and specialist consultations have happened, and there  is at least one surgery on the horizon, with still more hopes of recovery, all of which we will unfortunately have to carry into the year 2013.

The year 2012 has been one of adventure. We’ve been able to branch out and experience through a bit of travel what else is out there in the world, away from our little corner of it…at least a little bit.

While experiencing life in a bit of a wider way through travel, my online life has gotten a bit smaller. I’ve felt the need to focus on life at hand, rather than constantly viewing it through a small window (aka: my computer screen!), via other people’s ideas and perspectives. Not that I don’t snatch a few peeks of Facebook here and there, or chat a bit online with others in a few select groups. It’s just been less. Needfully so. I began feeling that something in my life was off balance. I began being kind of crabby on a regular basis, lol. Things just irritated me and I know that I probably ruffled some feathers in my insistence that things (namely, my feelings, lol) be put right again…and I’m sorry for any lasting stings I may have inflicted along the way. I began to feel that the life I had been living needed a change. I needed to back away from “normal” as I knew it to get a fuller view of it all and find out what had become abnormal when I was too busy to take notice. I needed to pull my eyes away from the computer and experience my real life in the first person, rather than seeing how it played out in the online scene…rather than watching what shape the ripples in the water took on after I dropped bits of my life into it. It sounds really silly to say it like this, but this is really what pattern my life had taken on. When I received an impeccably timed, clear, concise…and extremely insightful…letter from a friend who knew nothing about what I was going through inside, I felt encouraged enough to take the next step. I knew it would be okay to back away a bit…possibly let some things go. Live life in real time.

So I did.

Which made the year 2012 one of learning to let go.

The year 2012 has also been one of new beginnings. 🙂 My daughter, Emily, and I have started a new mother-daughter business venture together this year. We called this new adventure “Tidbits & Things, Handcrafted Whimsy”. It’s a business where we can stretch our creative wings, make whatever bits and bobs come to mind and see if other people want to buy them, lol. Emily creates her lovely hand spun yarns, knits and crochets absolutely beautiful, prize worthy fibery loveliness…and helps me with whatever crazy idea pops into my noggin’, lol. I loom knit and crochet, play with paper crafts, upcycling, etc. and have plans for lots more in the upcoming months…if only there were six if me, haha! 😉 We have focused our attention on placing our stock into a new local shop here in Tacoma, Pip & Lola’s, at the Freighthouse Square. This requires us to put in hours every week at the shop, to be a better part of the new venture. You can usually find us there on Fridays, if you’d like to chat, or craft along with us. We also aspire to setting up shop online as a new combined entity, rather than (or right alongside with) our individual online shops that we maintain currently. Don’t worry, though…the Gettin’ It Pegged! pattern shop and website will still be maintained and will be available for inspiration as you need it, with new patterns and fun along the way. 🙂 It will be really exciting to discover where this new piece of crafty-adventurousness will lead us for the year 2013!

The year of 2012 has been one of inspiration and yarnie fun, as always. Although not talked about a lot here on the blog, I have gotten lots of projects completed, some of which will become patterns to be released in 2013, and some of which have already been published in book format and are out there for your looming pleasure (more to be talked about here soon!). A year of “Stitch Smarts” articles and pattern submissions for the Loom Knitter’s Circle is under my belt, with one more on the horizon. My amazingly talented daughter, Megan, has produced just as many zany comic strips for us loomers, also in the issues of this year’s LKC, as well as occasionally here at gettinitpegged.com. She’s filled countless pages here at home with her characters, as well as an incredibly fun and rib-tickling version of Alice in Wonderland, all with her asparagus-type characters based on family and friends in her life, the Dailey Occurrences. This has been published in a full color book format, with more in the works. We’re looking to set her up with her own website which will focus on her comics and various art pieces soon. You will definitely see more from Megan in the near future! 🙂

Below you’ll find a smattering of the projects completed in 2012:

So, do I know where all this will take me in 2013? Not exactly. But, really, when do we ever? The best we can do is move on with firm steps and an adventurous heart, being ready for new doors to open and the courage to walk through them…as well as the wisdom to know when to turn and walk the other way. As my friend said in the letter that has been on my mind almost everyday since I received it,

“…don’t fall into the trap of thinking what has gone before should dictate what comes next…the important thing is never what you decide to do, but how you feel about what you are doing in the present moment. You mustn’t lose site of the fact that you started on this adventure because of how it made you feel. Not fun every minute, for sure … but a joyful journey at its core. And all of your creativity and success has stemmed from this joy.

So …. if, too often, you’re feeling rushed and burdened and pulled in all directions … stop procrastinating …. take charge and make a change. Because the present moment is all we ever really have.”

Amazing words, right? Definitely something to keep in mind while closing out 2012 and moving forward to greet the new year. I wish for all of YOU the same…take stock of what your life is about, and if there are things that just don’t fit anymore, like a too tight pair of shoes, then have the courage to make the change, right the balance, and look ahead to a new day’s adventures. 🙂

Wishes for blessings immeasurable in 2013,

Bethany~