This week I celebrated my one year blog-o-versary! Woot Woot!
With 233 (make that 234) posts, 21 pages and three re-designs, it has been quite the journey. I am thankful for every view, every comment and every follower who has joined me along the way. I hope to continue bringing great adventures from my travels, more photography snippets into my life and maybe a few surprises along the way – not to mention 10 ultimate hikes!
I think what has impressed me most this year is just how much I learned and grew. From my writing and how I connect with people to my photography and organization, each post is a learning experience that I savor.
5 Great Things I have learned this year:
- Blogging pushes me to try new things
- There is beauty everywhere! Even in spider webs, fog & spandex
- I can’t cook and people love that (one of my top posts for the year is this burnt mess)
- Words can lead to self discovery
- Stories and photography bring people together
While my life has certainly gotten busier since April 2011, I am still excited for another fantastic year on The Joyful Shoehorn!
Let’s take a look at where in the world the past year went?
- Over the summer I made sure to not kick the bucket with adventures throughout Eugene
- In November, I traveled to Napa with the Buick Tweet House crew and a bottle of 1974 Stag’s Leap to drink wine that had years on me
- I pledged my allegiance to my hiking shoes and the next 10 years
- I brought you my favorite iPhone apps for snapping pocket pictures of nature
- In January, I made my first video with snowshoes strapped to my feet and a grandiose waterfall
- I perfected my self-timer jumping skills with 20 covered bridges leaps of faith and history
- I almost killed my roommate and myself with my lack of car knowledge and a really steep hill
- Traveled across the country to hunt ghosts and tour DC at the speed of light
- Hugged a Viking!
- Challenged the sun and snow with skis in Canada
- Took the Willamette Valley by storm and two wheels for a three day biking tour
- Taught my followers how to live with endless rain
- Found courage on skinny skis
- And I drank a lot of beer and wine and more beer and wine and more beer and wine!
The Joyful Shoehorn 