Rad Things (and Misadventures) That Happened in 2024

This year was a wild ride, to say the least. It was filled with incredible highs, moments of pure joy, and crushing lows that turned my world upside down. One moment, it felt like everything was falling into place; the next, life had other plans. 2024 was anything but predictable.
So, here’s a look back at the rad moments, the unexpected twists, and the inevitable misadventures that made this year one I would rather not remember.

The rad things:

• Furnishing our home! For several months, our front living room remain devoid of furniture as I awaited the beginning of January to utilize my lifestyle expense account from work. We acquired a new sofa, coffee table, record player stand, curtain rod, and side table – revitalizing the space and making it feel more like home. Additionally, the bedroom furniture (nightstands and dresser) we ordered upon moving in, finally arrived in mid-February. We still need to get some large plants, throw pillows, and a rug to finish off the living room space, and a new bed, textiles for the bedroom – but I haven’t found the perfect ones just yet.

• Launching this blog. After months of second-guessing myself, I decided to just go for it and launch this blog, and I am so glad that I did. It has become a space to share my passions, and document life’s adventures (and misadventures). Writing about my journey has been rewarding, not only as a way to reflect on my projects – but also in the hope of inspiring others to embrace their own creative projects and create a wildlife habitat in their own back yard.
  From the ongoing transformation of our yard to the evolving character of our home, having a place to document these changes has made the process even more meaningful. There is still so much to explore and refine, but starting this blog was definitely the right choice. I am excited to keep creating, sharing, and seeing where this path leads in the years to come.

• While there is still so much to be done with the yard transformation, the progress is undeniable. It has been a long, exhausting journey, filled with hard work and perseverance. The countless hours, sore muscles, bruises, broken tools, worn-out gloves, and muddy boots were only the beginning. Between battling the heat, wasps, and constantly adjusting plans on the fly, it’s been far from smooth sailing. But all the blood, sweat, tears, and setbacks have ultimately made the transformation that much more rewarding.

• After marking five years with my previous job in 2023, I was given four weeks of uninterrupted time off. I had been waiting for the perfect moment to take it, and with a new house to settle into and plenty of yard work on the horizon during our first spring, May seemed like the ideal time. While I didn’t manage to finish everything I had planned (it was a ridiculously long list of stuff I have never done before), each day was spent tackling projects and making significant strides in transforming the outdoor space. It was a productive, rewarding break, and the progress I made was well worth the effort.

• Planting our first-ever garden was such a rewarding experience! While not everything thrived, the produce that did felt like a huge victory. Along the way, we learned so much – what worked, what did not, and how to improve for next season. Even with a few setbacks, the joy of growing our own food made it all worthwhile. We are excited to take those lessons into next year’s garden and can’t wait to see what we can grow next!

• One of the best surprises in our yard was discovering peonies tucked away in an unexpected spot. With so many plants and flowers we did not initially recognize, it was exciting to see what would emerge – but finding peonies was especially delightful. I have always loved them (and bought myself a bouquet every year) but likely wouldn’t have planted them myself, so spotting them felt like a lucky find. Since they are a bit hidden, I will need to try moving them into a flower garden so we can fully enjoy their beauty.

• Ever since I got into birding, I knew that once we had a house, a wildlife pond was a must-have. It was non-negotiable. Of course, the process was not without its challenges – underground utilities, buried cement slabs, possible buried pets (yeah, you read that right), and stubborn tree roots made for a less-than-ideal digging experience, resulting in a bit of an awkward shape. But once it is finished and the foliage starts filling in, I know that it is going to be a wonderful feature to our back yard. We’ve already had some visitors, but I cannot wait to see more birds arrive and watch the wildlife make it their own!

• This year brought some of the most stunning Aurora Borealis displays that I have ever seen. Living in the city, I was used to only catching faint glimpses (if anything at all) but this year was different. On multiple occasions, the sky lit up with spectacular, dancing colors, more vibrant than I had ever seen before. Each time felt like pure magic, a reminder of just how incredible nature can be.

And now for the misadventures… The less than perfect moments that I experienced throughout the year:

• When Josh is walking home from his last bus stop, Ranger and I embark on our routine evening walk to meet up with him and continue our walk together. This one night in particular it was his closing shift, so it was about 10:30 PM when I left the house. This was in January, and darkness enveloped our surroundings. Fortunately, the moon cast a luminous glow on the snow blanketing the landscape, alleviating total darkness (a crucial detail for what unfolds later).
  A few minutes later, we joyfully meet up with Josh and start our homeward journey, relishing in the snowy ambiance. Amid our playful jaunt, something grabs my attention atop a small hill alongside the path. Initially dismissing it as the ubiquitous orange neighbourhood cat, I nonchalantly continue, only to realize it is absolutely WAY too big for that cat. Panic sets in as I realize it is a coyote. I freeze, signaling Josh to the unexpected visitor. Josh vigilantly walks backward, snapping a branch from a nearby tree to use as protection if the need arose, while Ranger and I cautiously proceed down the trail at a quicker pace. Anxiety courses through me. Without our dog, I would have felt more at ease. I desperately hoped that the situation didn’t escalate. Thankfully there was snow, and the moon was out, otherwise we might not have seen the coyote until it was too late.
  Miraculously, Ranger remained oblivious, engrossed in his own world, sparing us from his usual outburst at anything alive. The coyote, however, descended the hill and continued towards us along the path we were on. Choosing caution over confrontation, we navigated around the block with heightened vigilance to make it back home safely. This quadrupled our intended distance, but we arrived home thankfully without incident.

• A casual visit to the neighborhood summer dog park took an unfortunate turn. We met up with a friend and his dog and were having a great time, and our dogs got along wonderfully. Just as we were leaving the area, an off-leash dog (who was with the kids on the top of the playground structure) came darting out from under a bench and launched into an attack. After a frantic struggle, we managed to separate them, and both dogs seemed fine at first. But once we got home, we noticed our boy was bleeding. In the chaos, he had somehow broken several of his claws. Not knowing how serious it was, we rushed him to the emergency vet. Thankfully, he was okay, but spending the evening in a waiting room – and a few hundred dollars later was not exactly how I had planned to end the night.

• Just two weeks after returning from my four-week break, my world was flipped upside down in an instant. I had made it through previous rounds of major layoffs, and leadership had reassured the remaining employees that there would be no more. But one morning, without warning, I was blindsided and laid off. Just like that, no further access to my work computer, or to even say goodbye. It was completely unexpected and utterly devastating. One moment, I had stability – the next, I was staring into an uncertain future, overwhelmed with fear and uncertainty. It was one of the worst days of my life, a moment I never saw coming, and one I’m still trying to process. The whole experience was traumatic, leaving me shaken and unsure of what is next for me career-wise.

Looking back on 2024, it is clear that this year was a rollercoaster of highs and lows, full of growth, unexpected challenges, and moments of pure joy. From transforming our home and yard to navigating some of life’s tougher moments, there’s been no shortage of lessons and progress. Though it was not always smooth sailing, each experience has shaped the journey, and I am grateful for the resilience gained along the way.

As we head into 2025, I cannot help but wonder what is ahead – whether it’s more home and garden projects (on a budget), new adventures, or something unexpected. But after all the chaos of 2024, I am hoping that this year brings nothing but good things!

Thanks for reading! Until next time,
Tracey

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