A Look Back Through 2021

2021 was a challenging year for all of us. But we have much to be grateful for. David and I have stayed well. David continues to work from home and I am happy to have him close by. Soapy is blessedly still with us but has gone blind in both eyes. He is in good spirits and eats well…especially loves treats of fresh banana slices!

Decorating my home and working in my garden areas gives me a creative and physical outlet that I am so grateful to have. I’ve taken enough pictures throughout this year to put together a year-long gallery of images of both the in- and out-of-doors.

I am also including a few pictures of my Ikebana arrangements when I have used floral materials from my yard. I am studying the Sogetsu School of Ikebana with my teacher Ilse Beunen via Zoom from Belgium…I am in my second year now.

Hope you will enjoy looking back over this year with me…

February 2021 – Valentine tree and decor…I left up the white tree from our 2020 Christmas and re-purposed it for Valentine’s, St. Patrick’s and Easter!
February 2021 – More Valentine decor…love filling up the three tiered tray
February 2021 – Our Valentine’s dining table set for a special Valentine’s supper
February 2021 – A close up of the place setting for our Valentine’s table
March 2021 – St. Patrick’s Day tree and decor
March 2021 – Sweet shamrock themed smalls fill the three tiered tray
March 2021 – Shamrock themed teapots and spring tulips decorate the dining room table
March 2021 – A trio of Dresden porcelain lace shamrock lassies on a pretty elevated tray
April 2021 – The first of the daffodils for the spring season
April 2021 – Ikebana moribana (low vase) arrangement using yellow daffodils and forsythia branches
April 2021 – Easter egg tree and decor
April 2021 – The three tiered tray all decked out for Easter
May 2021 – Both David and I celebrate our birthdays in May…my sister Liz made these delicious Almond Pound Cakes for our celebrations
May 2021 – Looking out to the back yard – 12 newly planted David Austen Roses in right foreground
May 2021 – Ikebana moribana (low vase) arrangement using pink Azalea blossoms and Crabapple branch from my garden
June 2021 – The Siberian Iris showing up beautifully with their purple flowerheads
June 2021 – Looking at the purple Siberian Iris patch from an opposite view
June 2021 – Ikebana moribana (low vase) arrangement using Siberian Iris and Hosta leaves from my garden
June 2021 – Beautiful “Crystal Fountain” clematis growing up the side fence by the back patio
July 2021 – The front yard with roses, daisies and daylilies blooming
July 2021 – Looking into the back yard from the entrance gate
July 2021 – “Supertunia Bubblegum” Petunia voluminous blooms cascading over the fence
July 2021 – Looking out to the back yard from the patio area…the David Austen rose bushes along with pots of flowers filling in
July 2021 – A close up view of the orange “ditch” lilies – a faithful returning perennial
July 2021 – Ikebana nageire (tall vase) arrangement using Stella de Oro daylilies and Hosta leaves from my garden
July 2021 -” Jackmanii” Clematis reaching up the back fence creating a gorgeous showing of blooms and color
August 2021 – I love the transformation of this back yard patio area since taking out the three overgrown cedar trees…pots of elephant ear plants and impatiens peak from behind the peacock chairs
August 2021 – Pretty pots of mixed pink impatiens decorate the bright pink tea table set
August 2021 – The Limelight Hydrangeas tall and magnificent across the back fence
August 2021 – The first of my dahlias to bloom…love this one with its rich yellow-orange color
September 2021 – Decorating with a sunflower theme as we transition into autumn
September 2021 – Sweet little Soapy enjoying a nap on this sunflower themed pillow
September 2021 – The sunflower theme continues onto the front porch
September 2021 – Love the buffalo check tablecloth and sunflower table accents
October 2021 – Looking out to the back yard…the autumn season is definitely upon us
October 2021 – Ikebana nageire (tall vase) “horizontal” arrangement using Crabapple branch, Hosta leaves and Limelight Hydrangea blossoms…all from my autumn garden
October 2021 – David and I carved pumpkins for Halloween…this is David’s jack-o-lantern
October 2021 – Getting ready for Halloween night
October 2021 – The Halloween lights and decor at night
October 2021 – Ikebana nageire (tall vase) Halloween arrangement using oak leaves, old branches, sunflowers and small pumpkins
November 2021 – I started decorating for Christmas on November 1
November 2021 – This year’s Christmas tree using colored lights and white ornaments. I used my green tree this Christmas…the white one is decorated at the Turner-Dodge House for their “Holiday Open House”
December 2021 – The Turner-Dodge House did not have their Annual Festive of Trees this year but instead opted to do a smaller “Holiday Open House. I decorated the Music Room using my white Christmas tree and a peacock theme.
December 2021 – The dining room table decorated for Christmas and my Christmas teapots on display
December 2021 – The Christmas dining room table illuminated at night
December 2021 – The front of the house all festive with the Christmas lights…even a layer of snow!
December 2021 – The front porch lit up with its Christmas lights
December 2021 – The “Winter Solstice” luminarias…a neighborhood tradition
December 2021 – My last Ikebana arrangement for 2021…flowers not from my garden…lesson was on creating “curved” lines

Thank You for looking back through 2021 with me to the change of decor and flowers through the seasons! Happy New Year 2022 Wishes!

2 thoughts on “A Look Back Through 2021”

  2. Jan Mace Sollenberger

    Spent lovely time on this final day of 2021 reviewing your year in your home and garden, Cristy.
    Absolutely beautiful.
    Hope we connect in this new year. We leave for Georgia in two weeks for the winter.
    We have been enjoying blue birds at our feeder and turkeys, deer and, not my joy, lots of squirrels, who challenge us to out smart them at our bird feeders. I really think they are winning the challenge.
    Happy New Year to you and David and Soapy.
    Harold and Jan

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