Four years ago, I started this blog as a 365 project.  I pushed myself to take and post a photo a day throughout 2012 in order to make time to pursue a hobby that interested me.  There were some days without posts in 2015.  Okay, sometimes it was longer than that.  Yes, I’m looking at you, March.  But I still took a lot of pics, learned some more about photography, and had a pretty great year.

Here are some of the highlights…
(Click on any image to see a larger version and the original post)

I was lucky enough to visit my beloved San Francisco several times and cross a few things off of my bucket list like walking across the Golden Gate Bridge, visiting the Point Bonita Lighthouse, and hiking in the Marin headlands.

I got to cheer for my son’s high school Quiz Bowl team at Quest and for my daughter walking the runway at Kansas City Fashion Week.

This spring I built a huge, new garden that I filled with vegetables, herbs, and wildflowers.  I love spending time out there, one with nature and its smaller creatures like butterflies, skinks, dragonflies, and birds.

As always, 2015 included many photos of cats, from a sleeping lioness at the Phoenix Zoo to Lucy, the stray Himalayan kitten we found and adopted.

I got to travel near and far.  Closer to home, I photographed the rainbow-colored Equality House in Topeka, a windmill on the Konza Prairie, a head of photogenic cows in Wabaunsee County, and a young chimp at the Sunset Zoo in Manhattan. I also took several trips to the Powell Gardens, especially to enjoy the Lego exhibit and Festival of Butterflies.

A little farther from home, I enjoyed the Strawberry Festival in Montana, watched my first Indoor Football League game rooting for the Billings Wolves, and spent a whirlwind day at Yellowstone National Park.

Even farther, I visited Copenhagen, Budapest, Prague, and Berlin.

When the school year started in August, it was one of the most bittersweet so far with my oldest, the Twinners, starting their senior year of high school and last year here at home with Mom.  These last four months have included senior photos and college visits.

And last, but not least, I got to cheer for the Royals and celebrate with the rest of Kansas City as they won the World Series.

As 2016 begins, I wish you all good health, happiness, peace, and prosperity.  Happy New Year!