Thursday 1 January 2009

200 rosy notes



Apologies if you can't hear this post, it has been written very quietly as lack of sleep and too much wine have conspired to make me feel a tad fragile this morning. I really wanted to write this post to wish you all a very Happy New Year and thank you all for your kindness this passed one. I hope you all had a great New Year's Eve spent with family and friends, or if like me, it is not your favourite night of the year, the evening past quietly and peacefully.



We spent last night with our closest friends. Not a dressing up, grand kind of evening but, in my eyes, the best kind of evening, seeing in a New Year with people we love in a relaxed, happy and cosy way. Over the years we have spent New Year's Eve in each other's company, sharing our food, laughter and homes. With every New Year's Eve our children have grown older and bigger, the laughter has grown louder and our relationships stronger. As we sat in their seafront home watching chinese lanterns floating past the windows (yes, it was that idyllic) and fireworks fly off over the sea, I realised that it couldn't get any better. What more would you possibly want to do to say goodbye to one year and welcome in another? And what lay at the heart of it all was our desire and willingness to share.



We have known our friends through times of feast and famine and have supported each other in times of joy and sadness. This year we agreed not to give each other presents and I did worry that it would feel mean or diminish the evening, but in a way the night was better for it. What we savoured was each other - our mad dancing, our shrieking singing, our relentless laughter and the rosy faces of our children as we sat round a candlelit dinner table.



So here we are, slightly the worst for wear, on New Year's Day and this is my 200th post. I won't go on (again!) about how much this blogging business means to me but I will say that, just like evenings spent with friends or family, what has mattered most to me since I began posting was the sense of being able to share. Being able to share in your news and reading your views and comments on my posts has made blogging much more than a way of recording the daily goings on and thoughts from the Roses household. Without your posts, blogs and comments my blogging experience would be so very different. Just like New Year's Eve, I have learnt that sharing things (not necessarily the headache resulting from too much wine and lack of sleep) is fun.



To welcome in the New Year and celebrate my 200 posts I'm offering a little giveaway. To enter, please leave a comment on this post and when I have emerged from my stupor I shall draw a name from a hat. I have, as usual, no idea what I shall be giving away but will go off to a darkened room straightaway and start thinking about it!



Wishing you all a wonderfully happy, rosy New Year, full of dreams fulfilled, magical moments and new blogging friendships. I'm looking forward to reading all about it!

83 comments:

Jo said...

congratulations on 200 posts! and Happy New Year!
Josie x

Gem said...

200 posts? What a great way to start the new year :) Hope 2009 is everything you and your family want it to be
x

Country Bliss said...

Happy New Year and congratulations on 200 posts.
Yvonne x

Sal said...

A very happy new year to you all,Kim ;-)

LinenandRoses said...

Congratulations on reaching 200 posts and a very happy new year to you! I'm also one who is normally none to keen on new years eve but I did have my best ever last night, very quiet, just the two of us. Perfect. And made even better as it brought in the start of the year in which I'm going to become a Mrs! Glad you had a fun evening with your friends. No kind of hype or big party could ever beat being with those you love could it. Looking forward to continuing to pop by your lovely blog over the coming year. Hope the head starts to feel a little less foggy soon. Fiona x

Anonymous said...

Happy New Year to you all Kim and thank you for 200 brilliant posts!I love the beautiful flowers and am glad you enjoyed your night. Hope the headache has gone. JackieMxx

Rosanne said...

Congratulations and Happy New Year!

RR said...

happy new year
i wish you a happy and healthy one

rachel

xxx

French Knots said...

I'll just whisper Happy New Year then!
We had a lovely evening with friends too, we've been seeing in the New Year with them for many years, just the right start to a clean slate of a year.
Congratulations on 200 smashing posts!

Selfsewn said...

Happy new year!!
I'm with you on the wine and lack of sleep.
Gorgeous roses!
Clare

April said...

Happy New Year and congrats on 200 posts

April xx

Flossie and Tom said...

Sounds a really lovely way to see in the New Year

Happy New Year to you all

Sara
X

Willow said...

Happy New Year Kim - lovely to see all those pics of roses on your 200th post .... summer can't be too far away?!!
Willow x

Country Cottage Chic said...

Just popping in to wish you all the very best for 2009!

Jayne

Jane's Fabrics and Quilts said...

First I need to say that pink roses are myn favorite! I loved reading your post, we also spent the night with friends, ate, ate, laughed, ate, ate, talked and talked some more till it was 2009. Happy New Year to you and your family. I just reached my 100th post before Christmas, congrats on your 200th. Blogland is the best!!

Anonymous said...

Am new to blogging,but just wanted to say that I love your blog. Congratulations on 200 posts (I'll be proud if I manage one!) and wishing you all the best for 2009.

Julie x

Rowan said...

Marvellous summery images of roses to warm a cold winter's day. Happy New Year Kim! I'm planning to get back on the blogging reading and writing waggon again this year - am feeling a little embarrassed that my arrival has coincided with a giveaway!! I do know that someone is in for a lovely surprise though :):)

Amanda and Tim said...

Happy New Year to you too!! I hope that hangover gets better real soon! I passed my 200th post the other day but decided I'd wait to celebrate until 2009 was well under way. We had a quiet evening and were in bed by 11pm 'cos Tim worked til 9.30pm and was back at work at 7am this morning... we are celebrating the New Year this weekend so we'll be a bit late this year hehe. What a wonderful evening yours sounded like - how magical :o) Here's wishing you a beautiful 2009!

Cape Cod Rambling Rose said...

What beautiful rosey photos, Kim! And congratulations on 200 posts!!! I hope you have a splendid 2009!

What sweet memories you have of watching "Duchess of Duke Street"! I think if I could, I would stay awake until the entire series had been watched - I enjoy it that much! lol

Shabby Chick said...

Beautiful pictures, and what a wonderful way you spent the evening last night, it sounds perfect. I'm not a big fan of going out on New Year's Eve so we stayed in with the TV and some cold cava and it was really nice.

Congrats on 200 posts and Happy New Year!

Mel xxx

A Bun Can Dance said...

Dear Kim. What a lovely post. Like you I am not a big fan of New Years Eve and it sounds as though you had the most wonderful time with your friends. The shrieking and wild dancing sounds like our evening spent with family! The photos in this post are beautiful, thank you for these. Happy 2009 to you and may it bring you much joy, creativity and special times. Happy Days. Denise

Janette said...

happy new year,

and congratulations on 200 posts. I've missed blogging this year and decided this week to restart my own again. You never know maybe one day I'll make it to 200 too.

Take care, keep blogging and have lots of fun in 09.

take care.
xx

Greentwinsmummy said...

Happy New Year to you & your rosy family :o) your evening with your pals sounds lovely
GTM x x x

andsewtosleep said...

Hi Kim
Happy New Year to you and yours. Sounds like a perfect way to spend the evening-especially chinese lanterns.
You put me to shame because we started blogging together and I am nowhere near 200 posts. Well done you. I look forward to another year of your lovely blog.
Take care
Mary xx

Michelle said...

Happy New Year to you all. Hope you have a very happy and healthy 2009.

Take care

Michelle

Unknown said...

A lovely, moving 200th post. Congratulations and very happy new year wishes to you.

A time to dance said...

....what a lovely lovely post and such beautiful pictures of the soft pink roses....I know what you mean about friends and blogging...I have felt rather odd this holiday as everyone has been busy and posts have been scarse. Its a lovely community and I have found it such a tonic..blogging makes you look for the beautiful... rejoice in the simple things of life and celebrate our day to day adventures...wishing you a very very happy new year...H

aromatic said...

Congratulations on your 200th post!!
Love following your blog Kim... so very much looking forward to another 200 posts!!
Glad you enjoyed a lovely Christmas.
Wishing you and your family a Very Happy 2009!!
With Love, Jane xxxx

Becky Garrison said...

I am so happy you began blogging 200 posts ago! Because, although I've only been reading for a while, I love your blog, all the gorgeous pictures, and the lovely way you tell about you and your life. It is a joy to find each new post! I'd love to be counted in the giveaway, because I'm sure that whatever it is, I will love it! Blessings for the new year, Becky G.

Lisa said...

Your New year's eve sounds wonderful!
Hope 2009 is a good one for you all.
Lisa x

Anonymous said...

happy new year, it sounds like you had a lovely time - I was sound asleep, never care much for new year. Congrats on your 200 posts..
lisa x

Hen said...

200 posts is a real achievement, well done! Glad you had a lovely time, wishing you and all your nearest and dearest, a very Happy New Year!
Hen x

Poppy said...

Congratulations on your 200 post!!!
I will raise my glass of wine, well done!
I will leave your blog very quietly!

Happy New Year to you and your family… :0)

Love Lou xxx

Gill said...

Happy New Year dear Kim, and thankyou for 200 wonderful posts...I've enjoyed reading them as much as you've enjoyed comnposing them. Your New Year's Eve sounds perfect, it's not my favourite night either (don't like the forced jollity!)so we had a takeaway and an evening in front of the telly (exciting eh!). Here's to a bloggy 2009.

Betty said...

Happy New Year Kim! 200 post and I think I have read and enjoyed every one of them!

Indigo Blue said...

Hi
We also take it in turns to share the new year in others houses. This year was a bit different as it was my husband's 40th birthday on New Years Eve so we moved the venue to a small local restuarant in a village. Has some silly games and the ages ranged from 2.5 to 75! Fab! Happy New Year and congrats on reaching the 200th post.
Take care

jessica daisy said...

Congratulations on your 200th post, and Happy New Year!
Jessx

MarmaladeRose said...

Ssssh! What a lovely post. Congratulations on 200 posts and a happy new year. Fi x

Teena Vallerine said...

What a lovely way to start the year! LOVE all those pink roses! Hope the headache is better- I'm a great believer in 'hair of the dog'! A benedictine liqueur before bed always seems to do the trick! You'll have to remember that one next year! t.xx

Ally Jay said...

Congrats on your 200 posts, each a delight to read. Happy New year to you and your family. Simple pleasures, that cost only of our time do seem to be the greatest treasures.

Janice said...

Happy New Year and congrats on your 200th post. It sounds like you had a really nice New Years Eve. Our friends got back from their Christmas visits from out of town at 11:30 and came over and saw the new year in with us until 1:30. Lots of fun!!

Linda said...

Hi Kim,
Sounds like a wonderful way to see in the New Year. Congrats on your 200th post. I hope you and your family have a wonderful 2009
Cheers Linda

driftwood said...

happy New Year Kim, your new years eve sounds idyllic, and I love those roses, what a refreshing sight after the frosty photos.
wishing you all the best for 2009, hope it brings you much happpiness, and the next 200 posts!!!

Twiggy said...

Happy New Year to you!!!
Twiggy x

Suzie Sews At DOTTY RED said...

As ever, beautiful words, what a nice way to bring in the New Year. May it be a good one for you and yours, filled with love and happiness and goodhealth.

What a lovely way to celebrate you 200th post it falling on the first of a new year.... I think this is such a good sign.

Take care and all the very best and thank you for your 200 post of beautiful words and pictures....

Anonymous said...

Looks to me like you have your priorities absolutely spot on! Congratulations and good luck for all the joy and happiness that there is to come. Andrea X

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on your 200th post and a very Happy New Year to you and your family, I hope 2009 is a fantastic year for you all

Niki Fretwell said...

Hi Kim,
Happy New Year to you! - sounds like a magical evening - the best kind in my view too...hope you are feeling more perky now!

Congratulations on your 200th post - each one has been wonderful - you are an inspiration. I'm glad that blogging offers you so much pleasure in return.

Lets hope 2009 will be a successful one for all of us with small business (and everyone else, of course!)
Niki x

Attic24 said...

oh a huge Happy New Year to you Kim!
And 2OO posts too, congrats hun. Your words and pictures as always are very uplifting and I'm really looking forward to popping in to your beautiful ragged roses spot throughout this year...thanks for sharing all that you do
lxxxxxxxxx

Emma Herian said...

HAPPY NEW YEAR! To you all xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Beki said...

Congrats on 200 posts, that seems like forever away for me!
Happy New Year!
Hugs
Beki xxx

Anonymous said...

Wishing you and your family a very happy, healthy and productive New Year!
Margaret and Noreen

ShabbyInTheCity said...

OH gosh that sounds like a perfect New Year's eve! Fireworks over the ocean!
Happy 2009 Kim :) Love the music/rag balls!

Unknown said...

That sounds like my favourite sort of New Year's Eve.
Wishing you and yours a wonderful 2009.
Rosie xx

Anonymous said...

Happy 2009! and 200th post!

I love roses too. I have some paper roses from Laura Ashley, much like yours displayed in the glass ?cake stand, mine are on a cream cake stand in the bay window of my bedroom. It's lovely to open the curtains in the morning and see them.
Love your Blog.
Best wishes,

Sandie ("sandie's patch" blog)

Elizabethd said...

Wishing you a very happy new year, may it be filled with family joys.

200 posts! Wonderful, congratulations.

Bertie Meadows said...

Your New Years Eve celebrations sounded lovely. Congratulations on your 200th post, a great way to start the new year!
BERTIE X

Anonymous said...

Happy New Year, and many congratulations on your 200th post and a beautiful blog.

Anonymous said...

Happy New Year and what a way to enter it with pictures of beautiful pink roses, just the right antidote to all our (UK) cold, gloomy weather we have been saddled with of late. Here's to the next 200!

mollycupcakes said...

Happy new year and 200 posts Kim.
Wishing you and your fabulous family a wonderful new year.
Hugs,
Catherine x

Mary Poppins said...

Happy New Year Kim :)

Much Love

Mary

X

Margaret Cloud said...

The one thing I love in this world is flowers, to me they are the prettiest things grown. I am glad you had a wonderful time with your friends. The pictures are just beautiful.

Pondside said...

Just stopping by to whisper a very quiet 'hello and Happy New Year' - don't want to be the cause of a headache!
It sounds as though you had the perfect recipe for New Year's Eve. We've spent many a similar December 31st with friends - lovely when the children are old enough to play games or dance to the music.

Thimbleanna said...

Happy New Year and Happy 200 Ms. Roses! It sounds like you've had the most perfect New Year's Eve -- just the way they all should be!

Tracy said...

Ringing in the new year with friends...doesn't get any better! :o) Ours was a quiet evening--still in a jet lag fog from our trip--LOL! But 200...that a wonderful way to begin a brand new year in blogland. Wishing you & yours all the very best in 2009--much love, happiness and peace. ((HUGS))

Carol said...

A Very Happy New Year to you Kim and your lovely family and congratulations on your 200th Post...blimey!
Love and hugs,
Carol xxx

Shsjndkdns said...

Congratulations on your 200 posts, your roses are lovely! Happy new year! xx

dottycookie said...

Happy New Year, Kim, and congrats on 200!

We had New Year with my family - and a drunken game of Balderdash into the wee hours - excellent!

A Thrifty Mrs said...

Congrats on 200 posts, wow!
Happy 2009!

MelMel said...

Wow 200 posts! fab!

Loving the pictures! i just adore roses....

Happy New year to you!xx

Sweet Cottage Dreams said...

Happy New Year, Kim! Congratulations on your 200th post. This calls for some celebration for sure!

xo
Becky

Sea Angels said...

Flipping heck now that is a lot of posts......everyone a winner!!
Thankyou for your thoughtful and lovely words Kim, I hope the year ahead is as happy and contented as your lovely evening.
Hugs Lynn xx

Barbara Jean said...

Hi,
I just found you. (just in time for your contest!!)=0)
Speaking of contests, I'd like to do that myself. I'm a first timer. Any tips?
I can't wait to check out your craft posts!
Later,
Barbara jean!

prettyshabby said...

Happy New year Kim!
It sounds like you spent a fantastic evening welcoming it in..fireworks and lanterns with closest friends..by the sea, no less,how wonderful!
I think last year a lot of us appreciated the little things rather than the brash,commercial side of Christmases past and it's those little things that really count.
Thankyou for 200 wonderful posts and as always, beautiful pictures to accompany them! x

Michelle said...

You've got a tree of happiness waiting for you at
http://diaryofacluelessmama.blogspot.com/2009/01/tree-of-happiness.html

Michelle

Anonymous said...

Hi

Well done on 200 posts. I love sky candles. We are lucky enough to sometimes get ones that have come over from Brighton and they fall near our beach. Have a lovely year.

Love Emma xxxxx

Anonymous said...

200 posts.brill.lots more to come in 2009 I hope.All the best to you ,your family and friends.

Tracy x said...

reading your lovely post made me remember the wonderful Christmas days and New Year Eves that we spent with our very special friends - one half of that couple is no longer here but i still remember the singing, dancing and laughter!
true friends are so very important and i am so pleased that you celebrated with yours x
wishing you every happiness and so much fun in 2009
hugs
t x

meggie said...

Happy New Year to you & your family Kim.

This Vintage Life... said...

Happy New (blogging) Year Kim.
Well done on reaching the 200...I've some way to catch you!
Deb x

Here, There, Elsewhere... and more said...

HAPPY NEW YEAR and Congratulations on your 200 posts..!
Whoever we are, wherever we are and whatever we do, this time of year is definately for sharing with loved onew and being together - i'm glad you had a great time..:)

Cowboys and Custard Mercantile said...

Wishing you a very very Happy New Year 2009 ... though judging how late I am in passing on this greeting it will soon be 2010!!!
Nothing beats good times with loved kindred folk and I hope that in 2009 the Custard clan will meet up with the Roses for a long overdue reunion!!
Much love
Dxx

Sweet Sage said...

A truly lovely post!
Sorry I missed the giveaway, but thoroughly enjoyed visiting.
I leave inspired .. thank you.
~kim