As I sit and write, I wonder what happened to 2020, let alone 2021. Although 2020 and the onset of the pandemic was bad, for some reason, that year just seems blank. The year that's gone, on the other hand was bleak and black. Until the last perhaps, three, months. But, to bastardise an idiom, a good month(s or so) doesn't make a good year.

Ending as you intend to carry on

Although I am lamenting what was a really bad year, I did get the sense, as we approached its conclusion that there had been a shift in the universe. For me, and, I hope, for everyone. So, I end the year with a sense of optimism. I did, the last time we saw in the new year - 2020. It was an optimism based on, well, nothing. This time, the optimism has a foundation: hard work that has paid off. In all of my hustles. I hustle. A lot. They were side hustles but each one makes a contribution to our making ends meet. Including Hive.

Gratitude

In addition to a sense of optimism, I am also grateful. For those side hustles and that The Husband and I ended 2021 and began 2022 honouring our Scottish heritage: with, by past standards, a gentle, out-door party, and with special peeps that populate our cocoon village. Without a curfew, so it was all in real time and we happily turned off the light around 2am. It felt good.

Although for many, a party is just a party, for us, it's significant. As significant as my posse on the blockchain whose support and friendship has, in no small part, contributed to my mental health and wellbeing over the last year. On and off the blockchain. You know who you are, and I won't be tagging you as, well, I do understand that you prefer hiding your lights under bushels.

I do, though, want to mention @lizelle, the Silver Blogger who not only took the plunge and started the Silver Bloggers' Community but went a step further in taking a leap of faith and entrusting me with an admin role. My reward has been friendship, meeting new people and learning more skills. Her vote of thanks, and everyone's comments reduced me to a soggy wet heap - several times.

Thank you, Lizelle.

Back to business - Hive Power Up Day

For more about why we power up on the first of each month, check out this post from the awesomsauce @traciyork who pulls it all together.

Nope, that's not all I do around Hive Power Up Day each month

I have great empathy for noobs and redfish, and, that's what lies behind my small contribution to #HivePUD. If you don't know what I do, here's the rundown:

After all the numbers are done and official winners announced -

I delegate 300 HP, shared equally among three accounts that meet the basic Power Up Day Criteria as well as these additional criteria. They must:

• be less than 6 months old
• have at least two qualifying posts since the previous power up day.
  Posts that qualify must have 200 words or more and exclude posts for Power Up Day, and Actifit.
  As a reminder, the reason I added the second criterion is because -
  Hive is a social blockchain: it's for socialising, ruminating and just generally hanging out.
• have a reputation of less than 61
• have not more than 500 HP in their accounts before they power up - both on the first of the month

What if no accounts qualify?

As I always say, I don't make decisions on my own, so if, as has happened in the past, there are "slim pickings", I will be working via Traci with the @ocd team to make selections and will keep an eye out for those accounts that fall into the Silver Bloggers' league and who have joined that community. If there are no Silver Bloggers who meet the criteria, I will look for accounts that have been identified as part of the @lovesniper curation initiative.

Of course, that's not all

Remember that in addition to the delegations, these accounts are added to my fanbase and receive a daily 100% upvote (if my voting power is still more than 90%; if it's not, I do try to pop over, but RL sometimes gets in the way). This is also why I ask @ginabot to notify me each time they post. If I have an opportunity, I pop over, have a gander and occasionally weigh in on whatever the post may be about. If you haven't had a vote, I then give a manual vote.

In the last three months, I delegated 400 HP four qualifying accounts. Depending on how things roll between now and 5 January, I may rinse and repeat.

Remember, too -

Lightening does strike twice:

If you participate in this #hivepud and you still meet the criteria, you will go into this month's pot again, and stand another chance to receive a second delegation. It's happened before. I promise.

I have you powered up today? Have you?

Because twos yes, 2's, are significant this year, and to me personally (more of that, in time...), I've set a goal for each of my monthly powers up: they will all be in 2's. Here's proof today's power up:

Until next time, be well
Fiona
The Sandbag House
McGregor, South Africa

Photo: Selma
Post script
If this post might seem familiar, it's because I'm doing two things:

• re-vamping old recipes. As I do this, I am adding them in a file format that you can download and print. If you download recipes, buy me a coffee. Or better yet, a glass of wine....?
• and "re-capturing" nearly two years' worth of posts.

I blog to the Hive blockchain using a number of decentralised appplications.

• From Wordpress, I use the Exxp Wordpress plugin. If this rocks your socks, click here or on on the image below to sign up.

• Join Hive using this link and then join us in the Silver Bloggers' community by clicking on the logo.

Original artwork: @artywink

• lastly, graphics are created using partly my own photographs, images available freely available on @hive.blog and Canva.