It’s the last day of the year, New Year’s Eve, a full moon, a blue moon, and a lunar eclipse on the far side of the world. I do think that’s auspicious – a celebratory finale for the year past and a celestial blessing on the year to come.
(In a month, such as this, graced with two full moons, the second is called a Blue Moon, which actually occurs every 2.72 years. The last one being in May, 2007, the next in August 2012. But the next on a New Year’s Eve is a long way off…)
When I worked in corporate marketing, the last days of each year were a frantic flurry of stat counting, reports, analyses and sometimes puffed up lists of accomplishments submitted to give ourselves a pat on the back, justify our year end bonuses and generally make all and sundry feel it was a productive year. Most of the time it had been a good year, but doing it as an admin exercise felt forced.
It is a testament to how much my life has changed that doing a year-in-review list didn’t even cross my mind until today when I noticed a few blogging friends post photo montages of their year. I think it’s a healthy activity to put the year in perspective and focus on the happenings that brought joy and a sense of completion. So, if you like, join me on a little tour through some of my year’s highlights!
I realized a lifelong dream when D and I went to Peru and I stood at the top of the ruins at Machu Picchu. Returning home and sharing the trip with my Mom, who had gone there at exactly my age, but 31 years prior was priceless. We compared photos, talked about the places (some of which had changed) and the people (who have not).
We celebrated my Mom’s 85th birthday! Being able to share all my daily joys and activities with my Mom means more to me than anything. All I know about art, music, poetry, color, design, magic, playfulness and wonder are due to her influence. She’s a genius musician (violin and piano), singer, painter, poetry lover, interior decorator, pilot and all around spritely, creative spirit. I’m thrilled that at 85 she is sharp and active and currently putting the finishing touches on her downstairs bathroom renovation, which she designed and which looks fabulous!
This year she and I did some fun road trips. She’s always up for an adventure!
I became active on Flickr and discovered a universe of incredible images and even more incredible, talented and kind people all over the world, a number of whom I am delighted and honored to call friends. I created two “Best of 2009” galleries to showcase some of their incredible work.
Blogging and blog reading became a regular activity and I was thrilled and grateful to have my work mentioned or featured on a number of spectacular blogs including Decor 8, Real Simple/Simply Stated, Gabrielle Loves, Life Through a Lens, Chronically Vintage, City of Blackbirds, oh, hello friend, Secrets of a Butterfly, Such a Wondrous Place This Faery Tale Space, Trinkets and Roses.
Business wise, D and I shot, edited, keyworded and captioned nearly 6,000 rights managed botanical and garden images for one of the international stock agencies we are contracted with, Photolibrary Group, as well as also posting them on our own stock site, Garden Photo World.
Here are some of the images we sold this year for magazine articles, book covers and posters. (I don’t yet have copies of the actual publications.)
I signed a contract with another of the world’s largest garden stock photo agencies, Garden World Images, and now have nearly 500 images with them. You can see some of them here.
We shot, edited, scored and produced two new promotional videos for clients Purple Haze Lavender and Colette’s Bed & Breakfast, two beautiful places on the Olympic Peninsula
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4Vx4dPhQGw]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V11B5ITtO10]
I joined Facebook and put up a fan page have been stumbling around trying to figure it all out!
We had a glorious summer and spent many wonderful days enjoying the garden, even while working!
I am thoroughly and completely impressed! I'm so glad I connected on Flickr with you Georgianna, I absolutely adore your work!!!
You've had a very productive year, and I wish you all the best for 2010 and hope to get to "know you better"
~Sylvia
Oh, Sylvia, thank you! You are really too kind – I have visited your many websites and seen how much you accomplish on a daily basis! I'm delighted to have connected up, too. Very best to you for 2010!
If I had to pick one artist, you know in the "what if" games you play with the kids or friends, that I could only look at one artist's works for the rest of my days, I can say for sure, it would be yours. This is a blessed time to be a writer and an artist and all I can say is I truly marvel at what you can show the world. Your scrapbook paper inspires, your photography is all that is sweet and precious and represents the senses on those days when a person actually looks around, breathes in Nature, and smiles with gratitude. I am glad you share this. Thank-you. Blessings.
Hi G my lovely friend
so glad to have connected with you this year def a highlight for me.
and what a fabulous post this is,full of such beauty with all your images, and those paper there so lovely hadnt realised you could do those too! i love the idea of the flickr round up too i spot some gorgeous images i love there in that collage.
And what a treat to be introduced to your beautiful Mum too, i can see the likeness you have similar kind sparkly eyes!
thankyou for all your wishes for 2010 and the same to you
love and light Kat x
say hi to D and your mum from me!
wow great post g, what a fantastic year you've had :) how wonderful that you are able to earn money from your lovely photography through stock images! i hope that etsy really takes off for you now too, you have such great work i know that you'll do very very well with it.
i love the idea of the photo description of your year, it's a lovely way to look back on all the things you've achieved, and my have you achieved some fantastic stuff this year, congratulations!!
have fun at your movie :) xx é
Dear friends, you knock me over with your beautiful thoughts. Thank you so very much!
Amy, you hold such a special place, you are a true bringer of light to so many people.
Kat, you generously share your magical connection with beauty and wonder.
And Éadaoin, your sensitive words and luscious images are food for the soul. Thank you for your positive support.
My life has been so enriched this past year by knowing all of you. Thank you!