This post comes to you from the beautiful wintertime woods of Northern Michigan, where I am currently enjoying a far-too-brief break complete with bald eagles, woodpeckers galore — and to top it all off — my first-ever sighting of an owl!
The jury is still out on whether it was a barred owl or a great grey 
Lovely Nupur of One Hot Stove, a dear friend who is always an inspiration and always ready with an encouraging word, has asked us to search the archives for our “Best of 2007″! Break or no break, I didn’t want to miss it, so here I am in my snowsuit.
I thought this would be a fairly easy task, but in the end it turned into something of a slippery slope. Once I started noting favs, I couldn’t stop!
Here are a just a few of the things I enjoyed about blogging in 2007:
Nupur’s A-Z of Indian Vegetables challenged my imagination every week for a spectacular twenty-six weeks.
Lakshmi K’s Regional Cuisines of India took me traveling all over India. A great index page for this ongoing event can be found here.
Bee and Jai, dynamic duo of Jugalbandi, started the popular food photography event Click!; I may have to take a class now!
And of course, there was another fabulous year of Indira’s Jihva For Ingredients, “the original” event, to me, and one which continues to amaze and delight me.
If I had to choose one favorite part of 2007 at Out Of The Garden, I would say without hesitation, it was my long-awaited turn to host Jihva. Toor dal was the theme, and what a party it was! To say I was thrilled would be an understatement. Check out all the fabulous dishes from the bottom of the page here.
More fun that landed on the blog:
amazing agates from Lake Superior
waterline agate close up
black-legged kittiwake over Lake Superior
black tern at Tuttle Marsh near Oscoda, MI
home canning ~ red tomato chutney, yellow tomato jam, and green tomato pickle
cozy kitties
redpolls mixing with the usual suspects (goldfinches) at the feeder, December 26, 2007 ~ could this be an irruption year!?
Thanks Nupur, for this great opportunity to look back on 2007! It turned into much more than a foodie-journey for me 
It’s been alot of fun poring over past posts. In doing so, the biggest thing I learned is — at the risk of repeating myself — I have learned so much from all of you!
To each of you who have taken the time to stop and visit, offering encouragement, suggestions, advice, or just a friendly hello, I thank you sincerely.
It is the interaction that makes blogging fun. Without that personal touch, this would be just another site with so many pics of kitties, kids, and khichdi.
I wish you all a wonderful New Year filled with health, happiness and lots of time to go “blog-hopping”!
Nupur said
What gorgeous pictures, Linda! It sure has been an “event”ful year for us
Here’s to 2008! Wishing you and your lovely family good health and good food and good times next year and in all the years to come.
Thanks so much, Nupur. I wish you the very same! Thanks again for this great event to capture our fond memories and create hopes for the coming year
Simpleindianfood said
Lovely snaps and a Happy new year
Happy New Year to you as well! I’m so glad you enjoyed
Namratha said
The Agates look splendid Linda, and of course so do all the other pictures…you need no class!
Wishing u a wonderful 2008!
Aw, thanks Namratha! I’m happy you liked them. Happy New Year to you dear!
VegeYum said
A wonderful way to end the year. Thank you for all of your fabulous work and inspiration in 2007. Have a beautiful new year and may 2008 be joyous!
Thanks so much for your kind words and good wishes, Vege! Wishing you all the best in the New Year!
sra said
Happy New Year, Linda!
And to you dear Sra!
Nags said
lovely pics
have a wonderful new year!
Glad you enjoyed them, Nags. Happy New Year to you!
Siri said
First of all Thanks for link for RCI Intros and RoundUp dear… and Loved ur post. Even we loved the RoundUps of JFI:Toordal. Its bookmarked and a regular reference link everytime I plan to cook sumthing with Toor. Thanks to food blogging I came to know wonderful and enthusiastic ppl like U.
Have a Joyous and Blissful 2008 dear!
~ Siri
Siri, thank you dear!
I am so happy to hear this — if JFI Toor Dal was as much fun for you as it was for me, I am satisfied.
Wishing you and yours all the very best in the New Year! 
Seema said
Lovely post Linda. Amazing Photos! Wishing You & Your Family A Very Happy New Year.
Thanks so much, Seema! All the very best to you and yours, for a Happy New Year too
sig said
Happy New Year Linda!
And to you, Sig! Hope to get reading more in your blog in 2008. Love the new template!
richa said
lovely pics, Linda!
Best Wishes for 2008!
Thank you Richa dear, and wishing you and yours the very same!
bee said
wish you a wonderful new year, dear linda.
Thanks Bee, and all the same to you and Jai — best wishes for all good things in 2008
Suganya said
Cozy kittens get my vote
. Hapy New Year Linda.
I think they’re my fav, too, Suganya. Happy New Year to you dear!
mansi said
wish you a wonderful 2008 Linda! hope you get more joy and success:)
Thanks so much, Mansi, and I wish the very same for you! Happy New Year!
Cynthia said
Happy new year to you and the family.
Thanks Cynthia, and the same to you! Happy New Year!
neroli said
Happy New Year to you and yours, dear Linda!
And to you Neroli — all the best for 2008!
mandira said
Dear Linda, The agates look gorgeous. Maybe the next time you can take a detour to Ann Arbor. Happy New year to you and your family!
I sincerely hope so, dear Mandira! We were ships passing in the night, this time. Saw someone at Detriot metro yesterday though, and thought of you
Happy New Year to you and Aswin! 
anusharaji said
a very happy new year n btw
those are some lovely shots
Happy New Year to you too Raji, and thanks
indosungod said
Linda, Happy New Year! It was a hectic trip but sure enjoyed every minute of it. Those agates look gorgeous.
So happy to see you back, ISG! I bet it was hectic, but good memories all the same yes?
Bharathy said
A warm post as always!..love the snow flaking together with that music..:)
Lovely pics..
Have a great year, linda!
A Very Happy New Year to you and yours, Bharathy dear, and thank you
vineela said
Lovely pictures,Linda.
Wish you a happy ,healthy, peaceful new year to you and your family 2008
to you and your family,dear linda.
Vineela
Wishing you all, all the same, Vineela dear, thank you so much
Mishmash! said
Linda….its been great knowing you and ur passion for food , particularly Indian food….its been nice knowing u….have a lovely year ahead….
Shn
Happy New Year, Shn… thank you and looking forward to all your great posts in 2008!
prema said
Wish u a very happy and prosperous New YEar Linda… nice to know abt u and ur love for Indian food.
Happy New Year Prema, you’re always such an inspiration, thank you!
Latha said
Wishing you a very Happy New Year dearest Linda. And a great year ahead! Loved all your pictures here! Hope u had a lovely vacation… hard to get back to routine after a long break like this isn’t it???
Oh, dear Latha you don’t know how hard this time!
Wishing you and your family all wonderful things in the New Year!
Pelicano said
Hey Linda- nice recap of your year, and I hope the next is as splendid for you. Hope the mini vacation near my neck of the woods is going well for you! Personally, I’d rather be nearer the equator…
but the weekend should be warmer. (43F!!) 
Vacation was far too short as always, Pel — but thanks for your good wishes. You can have my ticket to the equator — but a little heat wave is heading this way too this week — 43 indeed!
Amna said
wonderful pics and a happy new year!
Thank you and a Happy New Year to you too, Amna
MR said
very nice pics
what a way to start off the new year!!!
hope you have a great year ahead
Happy New Year to you too, MR, glad you liked the pics!