The last year hasn’t been easy in lots of ways and now is the time to look back, take stock and move into 2015, hopefully a Happy New Year.
2014 was the year we lost a very dear friend. Bill was the husband of my partner-in-crime-and-Open-Studios, Kit. Bill Calladine was an amazing artist, engineer, inventor, teacher with a quick wit, a lover of life. After a life threatening condition was diagnosed at the beginning of the year he bravely coped with surgery, with paraplegia and infections until he lost his battle last autumn. We still can’t believe he has gone and he’s left a big hole in so many lives.
This little picture is a treasure from Bill which I thought I would share with you. I bought a tiny canvas from an art shop, only a couple of inches in size, and gave it to Bill joking that if I ever bought a William Calladine painting, this was the only size I could afford. A few weeks later the canvas came back, beautifully framed and signed on the back. A perfect little miniature!
Life has been difficult for my mum, too. She is still not home after her fall at the end of August. Her ankle has healed, but she’s very wobbly on her feet and is currently in in respite care in a care home about 4 miles away. It’s such a difficult situation as she just wants to be in her own home, of course, but she also needs able bodied carers to be at the end of a buzzer. I dread the thought of her being alone at home.
So of course, I feel so guilty because the care I’ve given her over the last few years is not going to be enough, and the the last few years have taken such a toll on me both physically and mentally.
Anyway, that’s the sad aspect of 2014. The big happy news was the arrival of our third adorable grandson last February. It’s hard to believe that this time last year we were all waiting expectantly for his arrival, and already we are having to move low lying ornaments and cover the electric sockets and wires!
And that’s what I want to take into 2015, Happy. I’ve noticed other blogs picking on a word to work with for the new year, Fun was one, I like that too. But Planet Penny is meant to be cheerful place for me to be, and for you to visit.
Sometimes life is grim and it’s hard to find the positives, (especially in January!) but looking for that little moment, clear blue sky on a frosty morning, a bunch of daffodils, a baby’s giggle or a dog’s waggy tail and holding on to it will help get us through.
So I’d like to invite you to join me in holding on to your happy moments. Starting next week there will be a Happy Friday link up. If you have a blog put your image from the week in a post with some words (or not) and link it here. If you don’t have a blog you can leave your happy moment in the comments. I’ll be running it on Instagram too so you can join in there. There will be full details of how to take part with the first Happy Friday post.
I’ll be back soon with crafty stuff and news and my usual ramblings but I’ll leave you with my favourite happy image from the last week, my ‘big’ grandsons with their Christmas scooters!
photo: ©Thomas Taylor 2015
In the meantime I’d love to know if you are joining in with Happy Friday… and what brings happiness to you…!
See you soon…
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Sounds good to me Penny. It is hard to see the good sometimes and to be happy, things do tend get us down very quickly and somehow it is not so easy to bounce back. I hope Happy Fridays will help us all and look forward to joining in with my comment.
Lovely post – that’s a gorgeous miniature and such a lovely keepsake to remember your friend by. Happy Fridays sounds like an excellent plan – I think we all need to look for the positive at this time of year. Happy 2015! x
Dear Penny, I do hope this year will be good and easier for you. And for us, too as the last one was really difficult. That little painting is so beutiful – what a Special memory of your friend. Happy Friday is a great idea and I’m happy to join you. x Teje
Happy Fridays seem like an excellent idea. Although I am already doing a “Five on Friday” link next week I might try to sneak in a happy too. That miniature is gorgeous.
I will try to remember to join in Penny but I am so scatterbrained at the moment that I thought last Wednesday was Sunday. Keep your fingers crossed for me.
I love that little painting, you are lucky to own it but, how sad that your friend is no longer with you.
I feel so sorry that you are stressing about your Mum and wish that there was a way around it all.
Try to stay smiley. x
Happy Fridays sounds a lovely idea, I’ll try to join in on Instagram.
I hadn’t heard the sad news about Bill, so sorry to hear this xx
So sorry to hear about your friend Bill’s death.
Sorry that you had such a rollercoaster of a year Penny but I agree that Happy Friday sounds a great idea and will help lift spirits – will try and join you 🙂
Count me in, I remember being part of your cheerful Wednesday(?) A few years ago, and its good to look for the cheery moments, when you practice something often it becomes second nature. I do hope that 2015 is a happy year for you and your family and friends. Love the painting, very special.
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