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A New Year, A New Beginning

2017-01-01T11:39:00.000-05:00

I have been taking these Year to Year portraits on New Year’s Day since 2005.

This year… my Year to Year photos look a little different.

In July of 2016, when I was five months pregnant, my husband of 12 years (and boyfriend for 10 before that), made the decision to leave this family.

It has been incredibly hard these past months. You will see many of my posts lately were either me trying to maintain some sort of norm or simply a bit of scripture. I am heartbroken, not just for the end of our marriage but for my son. This was not the family and life that I had imagined for him. I have got through it with the help of my friends, family and church family. They raked my leaves, accompanied me to childbirth classes, sent plows in snowstorms and always lent sympathetic ears. I am forever in their debt.

This month Jackson and I will be moving back to Pennsylvania to be with family. I will miss Rochester and all of my friends but 2017 will be a year of fresh beginnings.

Scripture says God uses trials to bring you closer to him. Indeed my faith has been strengthened and carries me through each day.

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:12

And just this morning in church these two verses jumped out at me.

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Philippians 4:4

“I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13

Jackson is here now and is all I could hope for. I am very blessed and we have lots to look forward to in 2017. Happy New Year everyone!

Trick or pug

2016-10-31T16:59:00.000-04:00

Triceratops & Lobster are ready to bark at each and every trick or treaters tonight.

Baby blanket

2016-10-30T16:58:00.000-04:00

Something to be treasured - soft and snuggly handmade baby blanket crocheted by a lovely church friend.

Pumpkin carving

2016-10-29T16:57:00.000-04:00

I went to my friend Liz's house for dinner and to carve pumpkins.

This year I did a pug pumpkin!

I think it's a pretty accurate representation.

I took along some rice krispy treats. I've been on a rice krispy kick lately.

And don't forget the snack jack seeds!

Halloween decor

2016-10-28T16:56:00.000-04:00

Time to decorate for Halloween

Spooky mantelscape.

A bit outside.

My favorite vintage plastic mold lights.

I get you coming and going...

October snow

2016-10-27T16:56:00.000-04:00

So yup, we did get show. Rochester snow in October.

Eggplant

2016-10-26T16:55:00.000-04:00

It might snow tonight! Had to harvest my crop of four eggplants.

Just enough for some eggplant parmesean.

"Please Re-Elect Gerald...Please!"

2016-10-25T16:51:00.000-04:00

I'm not a very political person but I just love this ad campaign. Re-elect Gerald Daugherty.

"Gerald really doesn't have any hobbies."

Halloween bump

2016-10-24T16:50:00.000-04:00

Had to do it. You don't get opportunities like this often.

Felted fox

2016-10-23T16:50:00.000-04:00

I have to take a moment and talk about this amazing gift my friend Greta made Jackson for the baby shower. She felted it by hand. It is beyond adorable and I'm sure he will treasure it forever.

Baby shower

2016-10-22T16:49:00.000-04:00

One of the best parts of being pregnant - a big party to celebrate! I was so blessed to have so many dear friends gather for my baby shower. Tina and Nancy did an amazing job pulling everything together.

Look at this adorable cake!

Lots of tasty party snacks! We also had giant pans of pasta for lunch.

Snacks to take home too.

Lots of adorable things for the baby. So much fun to open.

Time to cut the cake.

The shower theme (because my friends know I love a theme) was "woodland creatures".

I can't wait to hanging this on Jackson's wall someday. He is already so loved and blessed.

Fall scenes

2016-10-21T16:48:00.000-04:00

Loving all the fall scenes I see each day. THREE colors of mums in one pot!

Stacks and stacks of pumpkins.

They went that way!

Pie season

2016-10-20T16:47:00.000-04:00

Since Tina came to get the house ready for the baby shower she gets a homemade chicken pot pie.

I had to make them season-appropriate with fall leaves!

Guardians of the Galaxy 2

2016-10-19T16:47:00.000-04:00

So many good movies coming out!

Logan

2016-10-18T16:46:00.000-04:00

Can't wait!

Fave fall supper

2016-10-17T16:45:00.000-04:00

Simple fall supper - butternut squash soup from scratch.

Grapes

2016-10-16T16:45:00.000-04:00

There are so many good things about this season. With all the apples and pumpkins and pumpkin spice, let's not forget about the grape harvest.

I love these sweet, fragrant concord grapes. I've always preferred them over the table grapes you typically buy in the store.

Perfect for grape juice and grape pies.

I had no idea there were so many varieties!

Pug Day

2016-10-15T16:44:00.000-04:00

Oscar & Hugo would like to wish you a happy National Pug Day. Pugtober 15th!

Pumpkin bump

2016-10-14T16:43:00.000-04:00

I've imagined this day for a long time. Taking a baby bump out to get a pumpkin. It's one of my favorite seasonal activities.

Bump feels about the same size as a pumpkin!

Meatloaf, beatloaf, I love meatloaf

2016-10-13T16:43:00.000-04:00

When the weather turns cool and you don't mind having the oven on it's time for a meatloaf. The pugs agree.

Fall flowers

2016-10-12T16:42:00.000-04:00

I grow flowers with the intention of making arrangements for inside. Then I feel bad cutting the lil' guys & don't do it. A frost warning made me nervous & now I have a cute fall bouquet to enjoy.

Pug protest

2016-10-11T16:40:00.000-04:00

What do you mean it's not suppertime yet?!

More apples

2016-10-10T16:39:00.000-04:00

Did you know you can make apple sauce in a crockpot?

Small batch of 20 ouncers & honey crisps - easy peasy lemon squeezy.

Especially nice canned in cute jars!

Apple season

2016-10-09T16:39:00.000-04:00

Apple crisp out of the oven & applesauce in the crockpot. House smells pretty wow at the moment.

Meow party

2016-10-08T16:38:00.000-04:00

Stewie for president!!!