A Year in the Life

 

- Indian Runner Ducks -

For the past few years, I've quietly labeled each year: 2023 Life Moves On, 2024 A Life Enjoyed, 2025 Life Reflected, and 2026 A Year in the Life.  They're broad, but give me a jumping-off point.  A Year in the Life brings to mind what a year in my life involves: 

Home Keeping, Dog Caring, Gardening, Vine Growing, Bee Keeping, Traveling, Entertaining, Reading, Writing

I've been talking for several years about getting chickens or some other foul that will aggravate my dogs and leave messes all over the garden.  It's not about eggs, but the fun of watching them.  My latest favorite is Indian Runner Ducks.  I used to think they were distorted looking, but now I find them hilarious and charming, bustling around in their slanted ground-murmurations.  Maybe I'll investigate more seriously this year, then I could add 'Tending Flocks' to my list.  My only hesitation is when I travel.  But with my sweet Barksy needing at-home pet-sitting, maybe it isn't such a stretch. 

Revisiting "The Folly"

For continuity I'm going to leave the above definition of 'Folly' as my letterhead.  But it's been five years since my home was completed and my reason for choosing the name has evolved.  It was originally intended to be self-mocking, "yes, I can see the ridiculousness of a home this size for one person."  But my home fits me perfectly now and today the definition of "A Folly" is not the same as "Billie's Folly."   

Billie's Folly:  An overambitious structure built not from vanity, but to satisfy my desire to capture timeless design and proportion with a classic old-world aesthetic.  The intention is to merge seamlessly with the rural setting as well as provide a highly personal, gracious and livable home.  

The definition says a lot about me of course "overambitious" and way more than I need!  And that's where the original definition "want of good sense; derangement of mind; an extravagant structure" might also ring slightly true! 

                                                                Revisiting my Blog

In November, 2018 I started this blog of the same name.  I was new to all of it--Oregon, building a house, writing a blog.  At that time, it was "about writing a new chapter in my life, looking forward, leaving the comfortable and familiar behind, making changes and taking risks, and building my dream home."  Now I'd say I'm not so much on a journey, but more experiencing where I am.  And this blog has become: 

A photographic journal that chronicles this season of my life, and my thoughts along the way.  

 

~ The End ~