Hello there, my friends. I am really feeling like I want to start writing consistently again. I hate writing those sorts of phases. Because like I always taught my kids, “Don’t talk about what you’re going to write about, just write about it.” But I feel like I just wanted to touch base with you all.

First of all, I want to say thank you to the people who keep showing up and reading my older and newer posts. I really appreciate that when I check in, my blog doesn’t feel dead.

I had such a crazy summer. I spent hours and hours planting baby lavender in June, and watched most of it die as I failed to keep it watered and cool, as babies need. I planted 288 plants and have 16 survivors that are now covered in snow. And frankly, they look so much better than I thought they would!

I spent the rest of the summer dodging hot smokey air, and building the rest of the field out with weed fabric, covering half of it in decomposed granite, and irrigation. It was literally the hardest my body worked since I was in the Sheriff’s academy in 2000. I was so physically exhausted, I didn’t have the time or energy to do anything else.

In November I jackhammered all of the 1980’s rock from the outside of my house, in preparation of the new siding! I love the way everything is looking, but have all the trim to paint now, because I just couldn’t get it done before our snow started falling. However, some warmer days are ahead and I’m thinking I can get out there to do it.

Lastly, I really have to be honest. This last year has been a roller coaster of all the feels. Divorce is never easy and I really liked being married, and thought I would be for the rest of my life. Luckily, I feel like I’m a very resilient girl and I’ve managed to stay in a pretty healthy place for the majority of the year. But I will say this~~ It’s a little difficult to be clever and creative whilst keeping one’s head above water. In other words, I haven’t been in the mood to share, blog, or make cool stuff. I just basically put my head down this year, watered, dug dirt, and broke stuff up.

But here we are on the other side ~ mostly. Feeling my life call me back into action. I really want to get back to making, creating, sharing, and keeping up on my blog. A new year, a new goal. I’m feeling the fire starting to burn inside my heart to work again, and I hope you’ll be here to watch it all go down.

The inside and outside of this beast of a house are almost completed, and I’m starting on the outside landscaping this year. I’m missing my photography and creative outlet it allows me to have.

So, let’s paint more things, take more pictures, plant more plants, and spend time making ourselves happy! I’ve learned so many times that no one else can do that stuff for us.

My former mother-in-law once said, “Once you step over the white line, you’re in the game.” She was referring to the game of soccer, but I always love how it comes to mind when I’m thinking of life and staying in it’s game.

So, here’s to stepping over the white line, getting in the game and continuing to make life happen.