2008 - What are you most proud of?

[Mr and Mrs luvpie]

OK so 2008 was our first year of trying to do a little more for ourselves than we had done in the past, so far we have managed to get a small, then nearly full sized, allotment, introduced our children to the idea of growning their own food, introduced chickens to our back garden, brewed many types of Home brews (perhaps too many seeing how long this is actually taking me to type!), used washable nappies for the little man, read about herbal remidies and grown herbs accordingly, learnt about paganism and how earth relates to us and our children, shopped localy when we could, learnt to knit, made chutney and fruit cake for the first time (sorry if it's rubbish Zoe but at least we tried!).

I couldn't have wanted to try/learn/experience more in a year than i have this year so what are you most proud of achieving/trying this year????????


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please excuse any bad spelling/grammar and the like, I'm absolutely s**tfaced on homemade schnapps!!! Sarah[/size]

[Annpan]

I had some of my own home-grown, home-pickled (even spiced my own vinegar) beetroot today.... that brought a warm glow

Grew a lot of other things and sold some of my home-made produce... but the beetroot still wins.

[Ellendra]

I learned to walk again.

I did NOT lose my land despite being unemployed for most of a year.

I met the Town Board where my land is located, and made friends there.

[lsm1066]

My boys settling in so well to their respective boarding schools. Conor goes to Christ's Hospital in Sussex and he managed to get his place with no coaching or professional tuition at all. It was purely on his own merits. He had a difficult time getting himself organised in his first couple of terms but he's really come on and he's most definitely turning into a fine young man. And Christopher has started in his special needs school and already he complains if he has to miss lessons. His problems with dyslexia are showing a light at the end of the tunnel and his behaviour is starting to improve. He's far more relaxed now than he's ever been! But of course, I hate them being away and I love it when they're home (at least until the first fight starts).

Apart from that, being able to walk out of my kitchen door and pick my own vegetables. We were very small scale this year, just to see how it would go. It went great, and we can't wait for next year.

Lynne

[Mr and Mrs luvpie]

wow I really was drunk last night, I know that not only by the banging head this morning but also by the fact that I appear to have posted on here! Can't remember that

[charlie]

Getting our allotment up and running, making all our raised beds, despite being heavily pregnant!
Having our baby, and seeing her 1st smiles and hearing her 1st giggles

[mrsflibble]

this year i learnt how to crochet
make jam
make bread
bought a bike and trailer...

i carried on shopping at asda, but chooose locally grown fruit and veg over foreign stuff as much as i can.

[Penny Lane]

The best thing I made this year was a baby boy!!!

[MuddyWitch]

The best "thing" I made this year were all my new friends on ISH

Have a Cool Yule one & all

MW

[linzibean]

I learnt to knit this summer, which I'm quite proud of, but not proud of my new wool stashing habit!!

[growingthings]

Most proud of my beautiful baby girl.

But also got the rayburn into the house, have travelled every journey two miles or under using people power alone (not bad with a 3 year old in tow), Hand / homemade alot of birthday presents this year even enough to have a little stash to fall back on,

but I think this years biggest achievement is that I learnt to weld. Hubby taught me and I am luvving it!

[Andy Hamilton]

Does the book count as it was written in 2007? Having it published though was certainly the proudest moment ever.

Ok so related to that I suppose, talking on live radio and appearing on Live TV (twice). Getting over my fear of public speaking, well getting better at hiding it anyway. - Speaking at 4 literary festivals, 1 music festivals and a green fair.

Cycling to Aberdeenshire and meeting some more of the ishers in person.

Getting better at home brewing.

Taking people on forages and realising that that was such a wonderful way to earn a living.

Filming for RTE and BBC. (RTE program to be aired in March and should be available online).

[StripyPixieSocks]

1. Growing, maintaining and using my own herbs... in window boxes and hanging baskets
2. Cutting down on food waste by preserving any leftovers in any way I can
3. Recycling more and really making an effort
4. Managing my depression well enough with medication and other methods that I only felt suicidal once this year (believe me that is a significant improvement)
5. I learned new skills
6. I tried new things, lots of new things
7. I started two blogs, kept them going and one of them is doing exceptionally well.
8. Managed to fix my own car saving myself hundreds of £'s and I learned what the ignition coil, distributor and battery do properly in a car... enough to diagnose what was wrong inside the distributor
9. Kept in touch with my family more and especially my sister and my Niece.
10. Forced myself to be more social and tried to overcome my crushing shyness and lack of self-confidence
11. Improved my diet
12. Learned to brew good wine and beer

... actually there's lots of things I'm proud of this year and in the last two and a half years since I met my OH my life improved immeasurably from what it was and keeps on improving woth lots of little proud moments

[Helsbells]

Gettin engaged (proud of other half for finally getting round to it after 8 years) and qualifying as a teacher.

[Thomzo]

made chutney and fruit cake for the first time (sorry if it's rubbish Zoe but at least we tried!).

Aha - now I know who to thank. It's absolutely delish - sorry I just couldn't resist it looked so good, smelled so wonderful and it tastes even better. I'm even more impressed if it was a first attempt.

Compared to some, my accomplishments are quite tame. I did start cycling properly this year and I raised two chickens from eggs. Oh, and I built a hen house.

Cheers
Zoe