Life in Crab Meadow: Dec 31, 2010

Friday, December 31, 2010

My Year in Review

2010 has been one heck of a year, so much has happened I don't even know where to begin. I have had so much fun working on the Crab Meadow Journal and other blogs. Mother Nature, so picturesque, has shared the snows of January and February, the blooms of March, April, May and June, and the glorious (if hot) summer and autumn. My Meadow never left me disappointed and always entertained with a beautiful and changing face of seasons.

Personally I have covered a lot of ground as well - mentally, spiritually and artistically. Whatever powers there be, whoever you are looking down on me, pushing me along and guiding my path, I say from the bottom of my heart, thank you. This year has brought new realisations, skills, friends, accolades, and happiness - professionally and personally.

I wanted to share a few highlights with you here, on the last day of the year, December 31, 2010. Thank you for joining me on this journey. Without your company, it would have been a very lonely road.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

The November exhibit at the Spoke Gallery
The Photo-Journal of Life in Crab Meadow, the City in Pictures, the Burger Boyz, Crab Meadow News and the Human Mien
Crab Meadow's first season for the Horse Shoe Crab Survey with the Cornell Cooperative Extension
Accepted as a Member of National Association of Women Artists
Joined Professional Women Photographers

TREATS

Photographic tour both forks of Long Island and Maine with a side dish of the Boston Pops during a stormy Nor'easter that was the perfect backdrop for some lighthouse photos

Took part in a Bobbi and the Strays Walk-a-Thon with Rosy and Tiny
Discovered new/old family members, kindred souls and childhood pals
A few new cameras
A new tiny rose garden
A new laptop computer

The Coney Island Mermaid Parade with the most flamboyant folks in NYC

A visit to the old homestead of my grandparents in Delhi, New York

A marathon tour of the forks of Long Island including 3.5 lighthouses, two vineyards, laughing at a nudist beach day for seniors, a clam bake and tremendous waves at Montauk and dinner at Captree State Park

NEW DISCOVERIES

On the islands of St Thomas and St Johns where Night Herons and Iguanas eat at the buffet, well fed cats roam the hills, and the water is buoyant beyond belief

Banana trees!!!
The wonderful, creative and inspiring world of bloggers. So many talented artists with inspiring vision, talent and good spirits that kept me company for hours on end
Revisited the inspiring words of Walt Whitman
Toured the York home town of May Sarton

SAD GOOD BYES

I will miss my dear friend Molly, who left this world a better place
The Swansong of the Crab Meadow Beach Parties with "Hawaii Five-Oh" birthday bash
To my little Woodhaven tree, crunched beyond repair by a wayward foot
To friends who have moved away and moved on. I know, "a door closes and a window opens", but I will miss you.

GREAT THINGS AHEAD FOR 2011

A Sunday Morning Artists Group at the Spoke Gallery
The Human Mien Project with the first subjects for Women's History Month
Finishing a book of short stories and start to peddle them for publication
New beginnings at Fuch's Pond Preserve
Another November show with other talented Mallon Family photographers (Brian, Claire, Caitlin, and Dee) titled "The Familiar Weight of Water". It's going to be amazing!

GOALS

A trip to Forcalqueiret, Toulon, Arles and the little villages of Southern France
A trip to Florida to visit our favorite aunt in Port Orange
Start work on a Crab Meadow picture book
A road trip to South Dakota for a photo tour of the Black Hills and Sylvan Lake
To get healthy in body and soul and weight! Kiss the carbs goodbye (sniff sniff)

To treat my pets better with longer walks on the beach and pats on the head

To sleep sounder, smile more and live happier

LESSONS LEARNED

Things really do look darker before the dawn (especially on those late night horseshoe crab searches).
True friends will always be there for you - to comfort you in sorrow and celebrate your victories
It's not what you do, but who you are and what you are trying to do that really matters.
It's not where you came from that shapes you, but where you are going.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

For auld lang syne, my dear,

for auld lang syne,

we'll take a cup of kindness yet,

for auld lang syne.

And surely you’ll buy your pint cup !

and surely I’ll buy mine !

And we'll take a cup o’ kindness yet,

for auld lang syne.

As a small token of my appreciation, I am happy to send you an 8x10 print of any of the images from the Life in Crab Meadow series. Just email me (virginiamallon@yahoo.com) with the picture you like and I will send it to you, with my thanks for visiting me here on the web. Don't forget to send me your address too!

With Love from Crab Meadow!

I will see you next year.

xox
Ginny