When I read that bloggers Deb,Sue, Donna, and Jo were starting a new link up for 2022 Word Of The Year updates, I immediately thought it was a fabulous idea, and would love to join in the fun. I was planning on publishing a WOTY update post monthly, but this link up means that I won’t miss on reading the updates of other bloggers. When various bloggers announced their WOTY in early January, I really enjoyed reading about their hopes and expectations for the year. I love knowing that these posts will now be in one place, making it easy to access all.
My WOTY for 2022 is Happiness January has been very kind to me, with very little stress, and much happiness.
Summer
There have been many long, hot summer days, which is the weather I enjoy most. Even though the days have been hot, they haven’t been extreme, so we haven’t had to stress about fire danger. Yet! We still have at least another month of hot weather, so fire danger days are still possible.
Port Fairy
For a few years, before the pandemic, we spent the Queens Birthday weekend in Port Fairy, staying with our Melbourne friends and a friend from the Port Fairy area. The pandemic put a stop to that, for the past two years. We decided to have an Australia Day summer weekend there and have been counting down the sleeps until we see our friends again.
We were there for three days, which of course was not long enough, but was better than nothing. We did lots of walking and reading, drank lots of takeaway coffees, and did very little else, which was perfect for a summer weekend away. I had my covid booster just a couple of days before we left home, and was quite unwell until it was time to hit the road. So, time to rest and recuperate was what I needed more than anything. I’m feeling well again now, though very tired, but I’m very happy to be fully vaccinated.
Genealogy
#ANZAncestryTime is a genealogy/family history discussion that is on Twitter. I feel very fortunate to have been invited to be a moderator, at the end of 2020, when it started. This has been a highlight for me, and I was very happy that it was back after the holiday break.
There was a really great Scottish Indexes conference held virtually in January. These eight hour long conferences have been held regularly during the entire time of the pandemic and have been a huge highlight.
My Dad’s Birthday
January 25 is my Dad’s birthday and I spent time remembering him. Dad passed away in July 2014. This year, he would have been 96. Dad was a very gentle, unassuming man. He had a tough life as a child, due to the deaths of his parents, within weeks of each other. I’m sure he carried the pain of that with him during his life, but he never let it affect his enjoyment of life. Dad died when I was walking the Camino de Santiago in Spain. It has always made me really sad that I found out that my father died on Facebook, when a family member posted it on their status. This year is the first that I’ve been able to give more thought to Dads life, than to my experience of his death. Many things about Dad made me smile as I remembered him.
52 Week Book Club Challenge
This is a book challenge that I’ve joined for 2020. The aim is to read one each week, based on a prompt. I posted recently about the first four books here. So far, the challenge has added a fun aspect to my reading, which I’m enjoying.
Garden
The garden doesn’t usually make me happy in summer as it goes into a ‘holding period’ until the cooler days return. The days are too hot for the plants to thrive, and the water is in short supply, so the garden usually looks very ordinary as the new year begins. Summer is about tidying and pruning the flowers of spring. It’s also about watering both by sprinkler and by the bucket. I spend many hours in summer transferring water from the washing machine to the garden.None of this brings me any happiness at all, so I usually am a bit grumpy with the garden in summer. However I’m planning a garden reno in autum, so have spent time planning and writing lists. This has been making me smile,as the end result will make life in the garden, much easier for me.
We have tomatoes, salad vegies and zucchini’s in the vegie garden in abundance which is very happy inducing.
This post is linked to Natalie’s Weekend Coffee Share
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Hi, Jennifer –
Thank you so much for joining with us and for being our first post for this link up!
I am delighted to read that January has been very kind to you.
The influence of your WOTY at work? I believe so!
Thanks for visiting Donna. And thanks also for providing the opportunity of the linkup. I’ve loved reading the posts today
It feels so funny to be reading about your hot temperatures when we’re bracing for a huge winter storm this weekend! It sounds like you have some really wonderful memories of your dad. Your mini getaway sounds wonderful!
I’m dreaming of colder weather just now Vanessa.
So glad you’ve linked up! I’ve enjoyed your pics on Instagram of your time away. That genealogy indexing conference sounds interesting and it was lovely to read that you can now ruminate on your father’s life rather than his passing. I’m with you re the garden in summer. I lost all my zucchinis to too much rain & my beans to mutant giant grasshoppers. The eggplants though are thriving.
The frustrations of gardening are many Jo. Eggplants haven’t been successful here this year
Hi Jen! Thanks so much for joining us for our first monthly 2022 WOTY Link Party. It really helps to stay focused on our word and as you say the link up is a great way to read what other bloggers are doing with their word. Happiness is such a lovely word but not always easy to adhere to. It is a great way to focus on what does bring happiness and it is often the little things – like an abundance of tomatoes and zuchinnis from your garden (please send some my way). I enjoyed reading how you found happiness in January. We are off to a great start and look forward to reading about your February next month. Take care. xx
Hi, Jennifer – I did comment earlier. Am I hiding in your Spam Folder again? If not, please let me know and I will rewrite.
I found you in the Pending folder Donna. Not sure why as it should publish automatically
Hi Jen, this was a great post and update of the first month of your WOTY. Happiness is such a great word and your post resonates with happy thoughts and activities. I’ve not been to Port Fairy but I’ve enjoyed your posts on Insta. Maybe one day soon we’ll be able to travel further afield without so much worry!
My father died on 25 January 2018 ,so we had mum stay with us for a few days and chatted about various memories and stories from his life. I share that date with you now!
Thanks for joining us in the linkup, it’s so wonderful to read about everyone’s WOTy and how they are approaching it. I know it helps me focus buy writing a monthly update,
Hi Deb I’ve also loved how others are approaching their WOTY. The linkup up is a fabulous idea. I was pleased to see how well it’s been supported. So lovely for you to be able to take about memories of your Dad with family.
Oh how lovely to read your post update for your WOTY Jennifer. That is a lovely photo of your father. I am sorry he died when you were OS. But the ties of love and connection are never broken are they?
Denyse #WOTYlinkparty
Thanks Denyse. I do feel that he’s still with me most days
That is beautiful Jen.
Many thanks to you for linking up for Life This Week with a blog post. I look forward, I hope, to seeing you back on Mondays whenever that works for you! Denyse.
Thanks Denyse. Will be there next week
Love that you managed a get away so for sure that qualifies as a Happiness. Those have been far and few between for all of us. Your genealogy stuff sounds interesting. As to not gardening in the summer — that seems so foreign to me. It’s only in the summer that we get enough heat! Take care. Nice to met you here on the link up. Bernie
Thanks for popping in Bernie. I’m very pleased to meet you here. I’m very curious as to where you live. Will drop into your blog to say hello
This is such a happy post, and I loved reading it! I’m so glad the summer is treating you well, and I have thought of, and been happy about, not hearing about any bushfires in Australia yet.
Happy to hear about your trip, and that you’ve been able to reflect on your dad’s life. I imagine it must have been a such a trauma to find out about his death like that when you were away, and being able to move your thoughts to celebrate his life is a wonderful thing.
Your garden being on hiatus in summer feels so odd to me, being on the other side of the globe! I can’t wait to see the gardening season start here. which is spring and summer.
The heat of our summer is just to extreme for the garden. Looking forward to autumn which isn’t too far away. Thanks for visiting.
Hello Jennifer. I so enjoyed reading your update and the happiness you have cultivated this month. We are in the middle of winter here and stuck in a high pressure that has created hazy, dreary skies, so summer sounds delightful. Thank you for sharing that photo of your father. He has such a kind face and I just get a pleasant vibe from his picture. Also, the Port Fairy photo is beautiful. I’m glad you were able to enjoy the mini vacation. Here’s to our reconnection and more happiness in February!
Thanks Christie. So lovely to connect again. This time five years ago I was in Salt Lake City for a conference and will never forget the cold.
Jen, what a terrible way of learning of your father’s death, though I realise options were probably limited.
I love your word of the year and that picture of the marina is just lovely. I had a few days away last August and was reminded how much I enjoy being able to do that. Go somewhere when it’s not to stay with family or for a purpose, but for a break.
Even a short break can be rejuventating Deb, and extra special in these difficult times.
Happiness is a great guiding word for the year and I’m so glad your January has been a great month! Lovely to see a photograph of your Dad – he looks like such a lovely man. I know what it’s like to miss your Dad. I lost mine in early December 2017 and miss him every day. I visited Port Fairy once when we did a Great Ocean Road road trip – we only stayed there one night but I loved the place. I’d love to go back!
Thanks for visiting Min and for your lovely comments. I’m sorry you have also lost your Dad. Dads leave a big hole in the heart
Thank you, Jennifer, for linking up with #weekendcoffeeshare. I’m glad you had a happy January and your thoughts about your Dad were to celebrate his life. Port Fairy looks beautiful. It’s a good idea to make plans for your garden while you wait for the weather to get cooler. Have a great weekend!
Thanks for popping in Natalie and for providing this space for us. Have a good week
The link party sounds so fun, I just don’t think I’ll be able to make time to do it, but I might try. Your weekend away sounds wonderful. I like that idea of the 52 book challenge. I don’t think I could accomplish it, not with the way it seems my life plays out..lol. Maybe someday.
Time is always an issue for me, when participating in link parties. But I ind it to be worth it to make an effort.