2018

I've always been....umm....unique. (Weird? Different? Whatever fits.) I've enjoyed books, working with my hands and learning my entire life. I mass produced potholders and had my chapter books alphabetized as a kid.  I could cook an entire meal for my family at a young age.  I was not afraid of hard work. I got in trouble for reading during class. I'd wear my handmade clothes with pride.  I'd be stitching while waiting for afternoon activities. My friends had first friendship bracelets and scrunches made by me, and then prom dresses and quilts for their dorm rooms.  I never had a hard time fitting in growing up. I had friends who loved me for who I was. 

When it was time to go to college, I was worried.  I felt different from others. I had no attention span for TV, had hardly seen any movies, was clueless about fashion and didn't even know who the stars even were. In my plight to fit in, I left all my handcrafts at home, hours away from my dorm room.

It didn't take me long to realize that I couldn't and really didn't want to pretend to be someone I wasn't.  I went back to being myself, brought my sewing machine back to college, and found friends who embraced me as I was. 

When I started this blog, the main reason I started it was twofold. I wanted to document my kids' childhood and all that we were up to and I wanted to supply a steady supply of pictures to their grandparents. 

Once I set up the blog, I discovered that it filled another purpose.  It's a space that I can un-apologetically post the things I love on repeat. In this space, there are plenty of folks who share my homemade/homegrown/slowed down pace of life goals and plenty of folks who do not.  All the folks who read are not "just like me".  But all the folks who read have been consistently kind, caring and encouraging of my journey.  It's so nice to have a place where folks join me in whatever random thing I'm working on and give me support and keep me company. For that, I thank you.

And 2018? I'm going to keep on keeping on with my homemade/homegrown/slowed down lifestyle. Hoping for more of these 2017 images to creep into 2018.  Thank you, dear readers, for coming along with me on this journey.









 



3 comments:

  1. You were wise beyond your years, Jackie. I didn't trust myself enough to follow my path until much later in life. We are kindred spirits, and you have already accomplished so much of what I could have, had I been truer to myself early on.
    Bless you for documenting your childrens' lives. I'm grateful to be able to share in it, in whatever small way. Blessings in 2018!

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  2. Thank you so much for sharing your life and your children's lives! I learn so much! Happy New Year!

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  3. Great post! I felt the same way starting my blog 5 years ago, just hoping that there were others out there like me. You are such an AMAZING photographer too! Seriously, you could sell calendars or something! Great post.... Happy New Year! Nancy

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