List Day

I started a post and then got sidetracked yesterday.

Good morning, a day later.

Let's make a list -- as always, no particular order.

(1) Snake Rock:

I got about 20 rocks from the quarry.

It was more fun than it should be -- this shape, and that shape, a heart, a car, a ladybug. 

Took my time, enjoyed every minute.

I'm working on the tail now. 

(2) Social Calendar:

Another add-on for the month. 

I like this focus of "we" things right now.

(3) Pottery:

That said, I'm doing a solo thing today.

Multiple days, but starting today.

Pottery making with free form clay.

Gift card from my son a year ago.

I thought of inviting a friend, but I want to focus and that's hard to do when I'm talking.

(4) Bookclub:

I didn't go to December's bookclub with any suggestions.

MISTAKE.

We spent so long picking a book and a date, that we deferred the location.

No one will make a suggestion, so I texted a list of options.

No one will make a choice now. 

"Whatever everyone else wants."

SOMEONE HAVE AN OPINION (!!) hah.

We're in limbo and I'll need to make the decision this week.

My pick will always be my town, so I'm giving the group a chance to do something else.

They aren't taking it.

(5) Books:

I'm having a slump.

I have a library non-fiction and the bookclub book that need priority. 

And, yet, both sit unopened. 

(6) 26 for 2026 List:

I wrote the next to last draft. 

The next re-write will be the final list.

I need to do the review of 2025 too.

All will be revealed by the end of January.

(7) Speaking of the list ...

One line item is related to books.

It's a book flight and I needed the last of 3.

Listened to a podcast, and, bam, there it was.

I'm excited to tell you about it.

Last year I did a June of 3 Steven King books.

(8) My foot:

There's improvement. 

But my activity is LOW.

I dropped off an easy hike on Friday with the club.

Don't want to go backwards.

(9) Monti:

Vet visit. 

I thought he had diabetes.

Nope, kidney disease.

Next time we go to the vet it'll be to say good-bye.

Sweet boy isn't living well.

We're trying one more thing.

I'm trying not to think about it.

I love this little guy.

We'll do the right thing for him.

(10) Weather.

Yep, the weather.

It's VERY annoying.

70s next 2 days.

It's in the 60s already and humid this morning. 

WHERE IS WINTER?!?

Hope you have a good (and cold) day. I have things to chat about that I want to take a picture and I can't seem to get my act together to do it. Hello, eBay purchases. 

Yep.

Stay tuned. Later gators.

Social and Space

As I mentioned, I had an extrovert moment or a fill-the-calendar-void moment ... or something. 

Of course, I need to keep quiet time, SPACE on the calendar too. Balance -- which I don't always do well.

What's on the books, you ask?

LOTS of stuff in my town.

A concert.

An author talk x2.

A Black History presentation and lunch.

Rock painting gatherings.

A dinner and local mayor event.

All walking ... all with people. 

And still about 6 social "let's get together in 2026" gatherings that I'll need to be the driver on planning over January and February. I took a breath on those because I felt I was in a kind of "manic" planning mode and that can lead to regret hah!

Plus a couple solo things that need to go on the calendar or they won't happen ... using a pottery gift card (finally) and a local thrift crawl. 

Several January house projects in the works too.

My empty New Year is filling well. As I said, I need to make sure I don't overfill it or rush everything. I heard someone say when planning a commitment down the road ... would you do it if it was NOW. That helps decide if it's a filler, a meh yes, or something you'll be excited to have on the calendar.

That's a little taste of what I've been doing.

This week is a lot of SPACE. 

Again, space doesn't mean sofa slugging. 

It's productive fun stuff and a little socializing too.

Off to work on the 26 for 2026 list (almost ready) and a rock quarry visit.

Have a good Monday. Later gators.

P.S. I did in fact go too hard on the cookies. Dang. But, also, of course I did. Not a shock to anyone (including me). That ends my baking bug for a bit lol. Time to get my pants fitting well again.

Snake Rock and Creativity

Starting this year on a creative note.

Almost anything can be CREATIVE. 

Picking a cool outfit.

Cooking a meal.

Setting a table.

Planning a garden.

Framing pictures. 

Rearranging furniture. 

I don't get hung up needing to have a talent to qualify -- not anymore. Create something and you're a creative. I used to say, "wish I was creative." Now I believe anyone is -- and it all counts. 

Doodle on a napkin -- yep. 

Arrange some flowers -- yep. 

Try new makeup -- yep.

I'm working on prep for the snake rock. I invited a friend and her granddaughter to come and paint next week. Hopefully, bookclub to follow. I have a list of "asks" as we build the snake rock back -- group effort.

I'm base prepping the rocks it simplify the process for everyone. I'm also painting a few myself.

(Took an old frame and added a color wheel print out -- it's a hint for a couple of 26 for 2026 goals.)

Still need to paint the snake tail.

COLOR!!

I'll head to the quarry this week to grab another bag of rocks. 

I'm not sure how far I want to take this ...

Hiking group?

Women's group?

Neighbors?

Family?

I'll start small -- learn as I go. What I need, how to organize, etc. 

I'm kind of excited.

Maybe it will fizzle after a few gatherings ... or not. I'm keeping myself open.

People investing time and putting their unique stamp on a community project. 

I'm working on planning an intentional year too. (See ... it's all creative.)

This week I'm finalizing the 26 for 2026.

(I'll also do a review of 25 for 2025.)

It starts the same way. 

I make a brainstorming list and love it.

Look it over a few weeks later and don't love it.

I start re-thinking.

Nothing inspires me.

Then, ideas slowly come into focus.

Why didn't I think of that, and that, and that?

It's so obvious. 

I'm at that stage now. 

It's not finished, but it's forming.

Lots of inspiration.

Leaning hard into creative ... that big, broad definition of creative. 

I'm curious to see the final list. 

It's always a little bit of a surprise AND not a surprise. 

Kids are coming over for football today. 

Making an oldie but goodie, easy-peasy, hot roast beef sammie. 

Tater tots in the air fryer.

Cookies -- date, almond biscotti and chocolate chip with super fine chopped chocolate. 

(I had a procrastination on chores baking-bug yesterday.)

Next week will be healthy choices.

I'll go another route since I don't have GF bread, but I made the cookies GF. Probably a mistake -- I'll be on a sugar rollercoaster if I'm not careful. Will I be careful? Taking bets. 

I'll chat about social stuff tomorrow. I had an extrovert moment yesterday -- said a few yeses and I have a list of social invites to come. But the chat needs to wait. I got 90% of the chores finished, but tossed a couple to this morning. 90% was outstanding considering my motivation yesterday -- high marks to me, but sitting here right now, I wish I finished hah.

Have a good day. Later gators.

Chore Day -- Bummer

We went to dinner with friends last night to try a new restaurant. 

Absolutely HORRIBLE.

It's on one of the biggest acreage of a regular restaurant (not event space) in our town and nothing sticks.

3rd owners to try -- and 3rd's not a charm. This one's the worst. Probably gone in a year.

But, it was a nice night out and I'm glad we know. I was curious. Also glad we didn't invite other friends to try it with us. We went with a local couple who were on the same page as us -- curious, but not very hopeful. 

Stopped at the local ice cream shop on the walk home. Something fun about walking with an ice cream cone, looking at Christmas lights. (GF cones and DF ice cream -- don't see that combo often.)

The walk was about a mile away. My foot was a mess by the time we got home. This is super frustrating. Rest isn't helping. It's okay during the day, as long as I take it easy ... actually pain-free in the morning. By night, even with full rest, it hurts -- a lot. It's been about 3 weeks with minimum improvement -- no running, no hiking, no long walks.

I wouldn't be as concerned if resting helped and it was on its way to feeling better. I have no idea what's wrong. Best guess is tendonitis. 

Today is a blah day. 

Rain and now hubby is home and bored.

House CHORES galore -- and some of my least favorite ones. 

Grocery store run for football game tomorrow. 

I need to add some fun to the day ... but coming up short so far.

I've been working on the snake rock -- I'll fill you in tomorrow. 

Best get at those chores. 

Eat the frog first.

Later gators.

A Rambling Story

Yesterday was a solid start to 2026. More on that later in the week. 

For today, prepare for a convoluted story.

I've been off my game for a couple of months. 

Didn't notice it completely. 

Attributed it to normal ebbs and flows of life.

I felt meh. 

A little disillusioned with things.

A sense of disappointment. 

Why bother? 

Does it even make me happy? 

Am I really growing?

The usual things that make me happy being me, weren't. I was begrudgingly doing them. They brought no joy. I was judging myself. 

First the why. 

It was the family situation that I won't go into detail, but basically, I thought I did amazing, let things go, showed up well. But ... was told the complete opposite. I think it came from a place that has little to do with me, but it knocked me off my feet -- HARD. We seem to be actively recovering from the situation, but, honestly, who knows. Didn't see it coming last time so maybe I have no idea what this person(s) thinks now.

Another component of the WHY is that friendship dynamic that steamrolled me into old insecurities, old patterns, etc. Totally my fault for going there. THIS I even saw coming and thought I'd be okay. Spoiler alert -- I was not. I stood up, spoke up, AND let insecurities sneak in. The first part was progress, but not enough to keep my old-self patterns out. 

I learned a lot, but, dang, I'd been happy with different sorts of lessons. 

(Now, if you think that's a nonsense ramble, prepare your heart.)

A little background:

I don't do the future-self growth for accolades. I'm quiet about it -- I don't talk about it (except in journalling). It's for me. Quietly for me. Not to impress. Not to be liked. That's how I knew it was a real change that came from knowing myself. I just do me. People might notice from the DOING, but not from me talking about it. Or comparing. Or making comments. Or thinking I'm doing it better. 

I asked for help during meditation to get back on my path.

It came in the picture of energy sitting away from me.

"This is where you are focusing."

Then the picture of energy covering my chest.

"This is where you need to put your energy."

I'm all up in other people's energy. Letting that lead ME. Letting that tell me what to do, what to want, what's important. Old me stuff. Trying to please others by mirroring back to them. 

This answer helped, but not completely. But, I guess the universe wasn't finished answering. 

We briefly played Priorities at our Christmas celebration. Draw 5 cards and rank them. The group tries to guess the correct order. 

My cards weren't funny groupings. All serious things. Hearing my family discuss, essentially me, was such a confirmation of who I try to be. I felt seen. Maybe this isn't my imagination that I've changed. It's odd because the changes weren't for being seen. But being mis-seen was such a devastation to me. 

Finally, this last couple of weeks, I've had a number of really nice conversations with people at my fence. It's like they were sent to be messengers. Wisdom, confirmation, acknowledgement. 

Again, I know I said this growth and change was personal, private, intimate even ... but I needed a hand to get back on that path. I needed a pat on the back. I needed people to see me as I see me. 

So a big, big, huge hug and thank you to the universe for answering my call for help. 

I feel like myself again.

Temporary?

Will I be back next week in the same place?

Hopefully not.

The little ME things feel like joy again. They're making me happy. I'm back to making the effort with quiet enthusiasm. 

Best way to know if things are working is to stop doing them and see what happens. (This is a version of a quote I heard decades ago.) 

I've rambled long enough. Did it make sense? Maybe not, but it helped me to write my thoughts out, so thank you. 

Have a great day. Later gators. 

Hello, 2026

Hello, 2026.

Started with an early wakeup with my grandson.

Immediate and serious truck playing.

Peloton ride.

Brunch with the family.

Ebay -- new addiction unlocked.

Hour conversation with a 93 year old neighbor's great-grandmother who was out walking her dog (lives here 6 months out of the year).

Quick hello.

Happy New Year. 

Hope your day and year are amazing.

Later gators.

Goodbye, 2025

For your viewing pleasure ...

She's a beauty -- absolutely stunning again this year. She started as an itty bitty and now look at her.

Well ...

Christmas 2025 is in the books. Only the outside lights are still up. Everything is re-organized, labeled, and neatly stored. YES to me!!!!!!!!

Future Me, you are very welcome. 

Hours of work, lots of literal backache, but miles lighter.

I also did a bit more decorating. Changed up a few things. Added holder "art" to empty frames. Moved some furniture. 

Started this hallway in the basement.
Bench for my crafting overflow.

Finding creativity in the house chore day. 

HVAC in Asheville is fixed (fingers crossed). Hubby with a quick turnaround -- home by 5 o'clock. 

NYE today -- lordy, hoping 2026 makes our wish come true. We all know the "wish" of which I speak. The Orange Man needs to GOOOOOOOOOOO. 2025 mostly sucked balls for too many people. Can 2026 do better? Hard to say. Some days it feels like hope on the horizon, and other days ...

We're heading out and about in our town this morning. Trying a new bakery that's having a soft opening this morning. It's owned by a brunch place that we really enjoy. 

Grandson coming over in the afternoon for a sleepover. He and I will be asleep by 8 o'clock and up well before the sun. I'm ready for some serious truck playing, book reading, cuddles, chatting. Most excellent way to end 2025 and start 2026.

My journal prompt for my one-sentence journal is "what's the best thing that happened this year?" (I write prompts on some days.)

I'm still thinking it over. Last year I wrote "our decision to move" ... we actually moved in 2026. It was the highlight decision of the year. I want to choose something else for this year. Of course, our grandson, but that almost goes without saying. (Family, friends, health, etc.) It's hard this year. Looking back, we've had a lot of mixed moments. There was an underlying stress to most of the year.

(Always, disclaimer -- well aware how lucky we are and nothing was anywhere close to what so many continue to struggle with, but this is my journal, so I'm talking about my stuff.)

I'd like to reflect deeper on the year though, so I'm going to give it attention this morning. My answer is probably more esoteric this year.

On a last note, my coaching group is having a call on January 1 -- about SPACE (!!) My word of the year. Joining this one live. It's serendipity. 

Hope you reflect and find your best memories and many joyful moments. 

Here's to better in 2026. Later gators.