I hope you’re launching into 2024 with a sense of hope and a heart full of kindness. I’m going to cheat and post only pictures to summarize my 2023. My year was all about Ada and Noelle (who are now 2), but they’re still not appearing on social media, so you’ll have to take my word for it when I say they are the most amazing toddlers in the world:)

Saint Simons Island, Georgia – beach walking and pelican watching.

Approaching Quebec City from the ferry out of Levis (easiest way to visit Quebec City without the parking woes).

This picture of my shoes and Ada’s never fails to make me smile. (I got her Keenes at Frenchy’s)

I had such fun spending the winter on this project for Camp Triumph on Prince Edward Island. https://www.camptriumph.ca/why-camp-triumph

Sadly, this moose was put down after wandering along highway 118 in the Haliburton Highlands for several days. Not sure why…

Haliburton Sculpture Forest – magical place for a walk.

My Beach Meadows writing women – we’ve been retreating together for over a decade, and we never run out of things to talk about!

Lahave River Books – with surprise guest, Holly Doll, publisher at Fitzhenry & Whiteside (and her furry friend, whose name I’ve forgotten). Such a cozy, warm bookshop.

Squeezed in some sister time with Nance.

Pine Lake in the fall – the tractor mower mulches all the leaves pretty well.

Ada and GP at Benjamin Bridge winery, fall, 2023. Think I can post this one because it’s from the back…

I have to say I do love being able to take pictures with my phone. They’re not the best quality, but it’s so great to have a record of the year since they’re passing by so quickly that they all blur together it seems.

I wish you good health, peace, contentment and plenty of time with your people in 2024. This Neil Gaiman quote is popping up everywhere this year, although he wrote it in 2011.

“May your coming year be filled with magic, and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you’re wonderful, and don’t forget to make some art — write or draw, or build or sing, or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself.”