Happy New Year & a Quick Update

/ Marcia Meara

Hope you have all had a great start to 2024, and are enjoying the year so far. I’m sorry to have been absent so long, but we had a house full of company over the holidays, and immediately upon the  departure of our last guests, I came down with a lung infection. Urk. It was NOT on my planned agenda, believe me. But the good news is, the two antibiotics I was on finally kicked it out the door, and I’m feeling much better. Still moving a bit slow, but I’m sure that will soon be a thing of the past, too.  (Okay, I’ll be 80 in about 6 weeks or so, so “Slow” might be here to stay, but … slow is better than not moving at all , so I’ll take it! 😁)

Mark & I With My Daughter & Two of Our Grandkids

It might take me a while to catch up a bit, but I’m SOON going to put out a call for guest posters and we will get things back on track. I’m looking forward to a year of wonderful guests, lots of book promotions, and loads of fun all around. Let’s make 2024 SHINE with wit and humor and a ton of good books to read! 

What the heck. Let’s go ahead and get started. If you have a book or two you’d like to promote, email me, and I’ll save some dates for you, starting in February. 

In the  meantime, have a super day, everyone, and a wonderful year ahead!

Granny Says Happy New Year, Everybody!

 

80 thoughts on “Happy New Year & a Quick Update”

  4. It’s good too hear from you even if it’s via a group posting. I’m so sorry that you have had to deal with a lung infection. It’s great that you’re recovering. As always, your positive attitude is an inspiration! I’m looking forward to a healthy and happy 2024 for you and all of us.

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    • I’ve pretty much been out of touch with everyone, online or off, for weeks, for which I apologize, Dennis! I do hope all is well with you guys?

      The lung infection was NOT fun, for sure, but it’s history now, so I’m hoping for good times ahead. I’m not totally back to my normal activity level, but I’m on the way, so yay for that! Here’s to a happy 2024 for you, Lynn, and the rest of your family, too. I’m looking forward to this being a great year for all of us! 😀 ❤

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  6. Glad you’ve seen off that lung infection and that you had a lovely time with family. That’s a great photo of you! You’ll need some time to recover from the antibiotics and then you can full-ish steam ahead. Looking forward to your return more than I can say. ❤❤❤

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    • Aw, thanks so much, Trish! I thoroughly enjoyed having Erin & crew here from Denver, and my son & his family came down for Christmas, too. It was wonderful to have them all here at the same time, and to get to meet my oldest granddaughter’s boyfriend, too. He was a lot of fun.

      I can’t wait for full-ish steam ahead, that’s for sure. I’ve missed out on a lot of the things I enjoy doing, but as I feel better and better, I’ll get back to them. Hope all is well with you and your family? And here’s to a fabulous New Year! 😀 ❤

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  9. Thanks for the update. It’s great to hear from you even if it’s via a group posting. I’m so sorry that you have gone through the lung infection. Happily, it looks like the worst is over for you. As always, your positive attitude is inspirational. I’m looking forward to a healthy and happy 2024 for you and all of us.

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    • Both of your comments came through, Dennis, though I’m not sure why one was being held for approval, unless you were using a different account. Either way, two comments mean twice as much fun, so yay! Hope you guys are doing well, and your new year is off to a super start! 😀 ❤

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    • You are TOO kind, Darlene, bless your heart! I’m pretty sure I look every year of my age, but I don’t mind so much any more. I’ve earned every laugh line and frown wrinkle, so it’s all good. 😁Glad you like the photo. I did, too. I might share some more family pics in a separate post, since I don’t often have everyone here at the same time.

      Here’s to a great 2024, my friend! 😀 ❤

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    • Thanks so much, Olga. I’m feeling better each day, so I think it’s all going to be cleared up soon, and even my energy level will start picking up by then. (That’s my story, an’ I’m stickin’ TO it! 😂 )

      Hope your year is off to a great start! 😀 ❤

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    • Thank you so much, HHL! I’m glad you enjoyed the post, and I appreciate the birthday wishes. LOTS of folks will be celebrating my birthday as they do every year, because it falls on St. Patrick’s Day! Hehehehe. How clever was I??? 😂 Good to see you here this morning, and here’s to a fabulous 2024! 😀 ❤

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  13. Happy New Year to you, Marcia.

    I am glad to know you are on your way to feeling great and back at your work again.

    I turned 80 in August, and Its just fine. You can do it, too. My One Word for 2024 is “Faithfulness.”

    Each new year I get a new word to live with for the year and this year is the tenth year to do it.

    On a sad note, my precious husband, Bob, passed away in the early morning of January 18. He had been suffering from dementia for some years, and the past 2 years he was in a memory care facility.

    Between Christmas visitors, and then the house full of family for over a week in January, I am just beginning to get back to my own work.

    I will have a new book of poetry coming out on April 1 – for National Poetry Month. The book is all short poems from my gardens – and the book title is: Each Day Hold Some Small Joy.” The entire book is haiku and tanka poems, with just a couple short free-form poems. I was inspired to begin this book because of writing Garden Songs for my blog for the past three years. I’d be honored to be one of your guests in April if you think this would be of interest to your readers.

    Meanwhile, I am doing a year-long project with Carol Farnsworth, who is a blind author and visual artist (she does fiber sculptures). She has a book, “Leaf Memories,” that has a focus on nature. Well, Carol asked me in December if I wanted to do a collaborative project with her. I had to say “YES,” because it was so unique. We are writing a short poem each day of this year. Then, we create a post card for the poem, and mail it out, each day. We will do this for the entire year – 2o24- and our goal at the end of the year is to create a book with the poems and images from the year of our collaboration. Since we are both visually impaired, it is quite a challenge for us to figure out how to do it. Today, I plan to begin to TRY to work with Elmer’s Glue – which I have not done since I lost my sight in 2007. Since I cannot see the glue or the surface where I need to put it – I purchased some cookie baking trays to work on – so I don’t get the glue on my tables or countertop. I am hoping to be able to glue imager that I have from photos or from my own drawings and small paintings – onto the archival post cards that I bought from the Art Supply Store. Once I have this son, then I’ll write the poem on the other side, and mail it out. I send my cards to Carol, and she sends hers to me. Eventually we will create a book from those cards – next year. Life is still lots of fun at eighty. You will like it, too.

    So that what I am up to this new year.

    I wish you every blessing and joy as you move forward with your own creative projects in 2024. Lynda Lambert

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    • Thank you for sharing with us, Lynda. I’m sorry to hear about the loss of your husband, but glad to know that you have things to look forward to as you move onward. Your book of poetry and your project with Carol Farnsworth sound inspired and like positive steps forward. Wishing you MUCH success with both!

      Thanks also for your well wishes. Yep, I intend to stay as creative as possible through the years still left to me, and to enjoy my family and friends to the fullest. Lots of blessings have come my way and I want to revel in each of them every chance I get.

      Here’s to a full and happy year ahead! 😀 ❤

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    • Thanks for your kind words, Nancy. I’m feeling better each day!

      That’s actually my grandson next to my daughter and one of my granddaughters that Mark is holding. (My grandson, Kaelen, just has a lot of floppy hair to confuse folks. 😁) We had a wonderful time with them during their visit and hope they get to come visit more often, though Denver is a long way from us here in Florida. Still, it’s loads of fun when they do get to come.

      Here’s to a great 2024! 😀 ❤

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      • I have a 3 year old grandson who, until last week, had bouncy, flowing blond ringlets. None of the little old ladies in the church wanted him to get his hair cut. I’m so glad you’ve been re-energized by your beautiful and HANDSOME family!

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        • I can fully understand not wanting those blonde ringlets cut, Nancy. So cute, on boys OR girls! I still don’t have all my energy back, but hopefully, it won’t be much longer. I’m having some blood work done tomorrow, and will be checking with my doctor to be sure I don’t need anything else for now.

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    • Aw, thanks, Kay. It’s nice to have been missed. Hopefully, my health will continue to improve in the weeks ahead, and I’ll be a whole lot more visible around here.

      Glad you enjoyed the photo, and here’s to a great 2024 for you, as well! 😀 ❤

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    • Thank you so much, Jan. The house filled with company was great fun, the illness afterward was not. BUT. I made it through that, too, and am looking forward to lots of good things in the days and weeks ahead. And yep, slow and steady wins the race. (A big ol’ tortoise taught me that long, long ago! 😀 )

      Thanks for stopping by, and here’s to a great 2024! 😀 ❤

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    • Thanks, Debby! Glad you enjoyed the photo, and I’ll try to share a few more in the days ahead. I’m definitely feeling much better now, and hopefully will have some smooth sailing this year. And I missed all of you guys, too, so I’m really happy to be back again.

      Thanks for stopping by and here’s to a great 2024! 😀 ❤

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  22. What a beautiful family photo, Marcia. You look radiant – and a very young 80! I’m sorry you got the dreaded lung infection. Our area got hit hard with this virus and folks are still sick. The Prescott hospital to filled to capacity. I mention this because you need to rest and not overdo ❤️ even though, it’s wonderful to see your smiling face on your website again.

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    • Thanks, Gwen, both for the lovely comment on the photo, and for the warning about this lung infection. I’m much better, but have NOT gained back my energy level yet. I’m not pushing it, though. It takes what it takes.

      Sorry to hear so many have been sick with this, but grateful I haven’t needed hospitalization, to date. I promise not to overdo. (Unless I’m overdoing my time spent in the Comfy Chair of late. That’s about all I can handle right now.)

      You stay healthy, my friend, and here’s to a wonderful year ahead! 😀 ❤

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    • Thanks, Beth. I’m trying to take it slow and easy as I get back into the swing of things again, but hopefully, it won’t be much longer before I’ll be able to pick up the pace a bit. Thanks for stopping by and here’s to a great 2024! 😀 ❤

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    • Thanks, Yvette. I’m happy to be doing better, too. Nothing is more boring than being unable to do what you want because you don’t feel well. Ugh! And I’m very happy to know you are back in the lives of the Painter Brothers again. Hope you enjoy their story. (I have 15 chapters in Book 4 written, but had to shelve it some months ago when I started having some health issues. I hope to get back to it before too much longer.

      Thanks for stopping by and here’s to a great 2024! 😀 ❤

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  30. Oh, no, on the lung infection, Marcia! Definitely not how you wanted to end or start a year. I’m glad you’re on the mend and the antibiotics are working. Make sure you take it easy.

    I love the photo, and am so glad you had a fantastic time with family over the holidays. 🙂

    I’m going to release a book in early but need to get my act together on the promo materials. I hope to be in touch. And it’s great to see you back online. You have been missed, my Penderpal! ❤️

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    • I’m definitely doing much better, Mae, thanks! But I’m also taking it easy. Don’t want any relapses!

      Glad you enjoyed the photo, and I really did love having the family here over the holidays. Will share a few more pictures soon.

      And yay for you releasing a new book soon. I’ll be ready when YOU are, and will gladly share the news on TWS. Here’s to much success with it, and to a great 2024, my Penderpal! 😀 ❤

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  31. Hi Marsh. Nice to see you surface and learn you beat yet another ailment. No apologies, you were busy with life. We’re here when you are, although I’ll be taking my winter blog break in a week or so, I’ll be happy to be a guest here when I return. Stay well! Hugs ❤ xx

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