Jim Rodgers (18) hits the puck behind goalie Tyler Hansen (30) into the net to score for Skaneateles High School during the New Hartford v. Skaneateles hockey game at New Hartford Recreation Center Friday evening.

Francis Mietlinski, left, and Jane Lopata, right, crochet during the knitting, crocheting and needlework group at Dunham Public Library Saturday January 7, 2012.

Jane Lopata crochets during the knitting, crocheting and needlework group at Dunham Public Library Saturday January 7, 2012.

Mary-Margaret Krukonis during the knitting, crocheting and needlework group at Dunham Public Library Saturday January 7, 2012.

Ben Simons chops wood on the Story property off of Hinman road in Barneveld. Simon owns a dairy farm in Remsen and said that during the winter months the work consists of "Working with the cows in the morning and evening, and chopping wood."

Ben Simons fixes a piece of machinery on the Story property off of Hinman road in Barneveld. Simon owns a dairy farm in Remsen. The winter months are when a lot of machinery is fixed in preparation for the spring and fall.

Sarah Batson, 29, Thursday December 22, 2011 in New Hartford. Batson is currently training for the Boston Marathon in April. "I do one short run, one long run and one track plus cross training at the gym every week." she said.

Sarah Batson, 29, stretches before her run Thursday December 22, 2011 in New Hartford. Batson is currently training for the Boston Marathon in April. "I do one short run, one long run and one track plus cross training at the gym every week." she said.

I was going through my blog posts last night to find some of my favorite photos of the year to share. It was pretty hard to do. I covered so many different things in the past year, from circus camp to the plane crash. I covered armadillo racing, kids swimming with baby alligators, a craftsman bootmaker (one of the last of his kind retiring), an entire church speaking in tongues, three days of soldiers being honored with Warriors Weekend, my four families for my Autism series, Confederate Decoration Day, Rodeos, Stock Shows (still a slightly surreal experience), soldiers coming home from war, a woman needing a new heart (she got it, btw), a nine-year-old who built hot rods with her dad, a guitar pickin police chief, ZOMBIES! lurching through the fog on an abandoned Texas ranch and so much more.

Also, TOUR DE DONUT, our crazy donut eating 5 am race, which wasn’t really work related, but hey, it was a lot of fun. Watching a million bats fly over Austin at Sunset and attending SXSW. And after all that, I got to drive halfway across the country with the dormouse, seeing New Orleans and other random/awesome parts of the US along the way.

Then in September, I got a job here in Utica and moved back to the east coast. I’ve seen people play sports in the snow, train for the paralympics and of course, spent the early morning hours at a structure fire in addition to many other fun experiences. I am looking forward to 2012 being full of unique and enthralling photo opportunities like 2011.

I spent last night with friends playing a game that was not Taboo (but should have been, because really, I haven’t a clue what that apples nonsense was) and drinking a glass of champagne to bring in 2012.

I ended 2011 feeling infinitely lucky that I get to do what I love everyday and that no matter where I’ve moved, whether it be the south, the midwest, or the east coast, I’ve always been able to find welcoming and wonderful people there to be a part of my life.

Joey Mastraccio swims for Rome Free Academy in the Boys 200Y Medley Relay during the Rome Free Academy v. Holland Patent Swim meet Tuesday evening in Rome.

Joey Yagey swims in the Boys 200Y Individual Medley for Holland Patent during the Rome Free Academy v. Holland Patent Swim meet Tuesday evening in Rome.

Tom Warcup swims for Rome Free Academy in the Boys 200Y Medley Relay during the Rome Free Academy v. Holland Patent Swim meet Tuesday evening in Rome.