Highlights of 2024

 It often seems like we only show the highlights on social media. 

The lows were pretty low this year and I haven't talked about them on this blog because they really involve other people. I had to start taking anxiety medicine because all the chaos in the first part of this year. Someone pointed out that I wasn't do well and I accepted the help.

Some pictures of the highlights

visiting my favorite college student at GCU but more importantly hanging out with my best friend

Entered the Recycled Art Show

heading to Beth and Micah's Wedding

spending every day until the wedding in my best friends garden

officiating this wedding

Def Leppard in Denver

my Dad's 80TH birthday

Sharon McMahon Book Tour

The Small and the Mighty

Meow Woof -- Santa Fe

My husband retired

Books Read this Year 2024

 I actually thought I had read less books this year. (I read 17 in 2023)

Books by the Number -19 total

Fiction - 10

Nonfiction - 9

January

Fever in the Heartland - review

Trail of the Lost

February

Necessary Lies

Mrs Kennedy and Me

The Personal Librarian

March

The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson

The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd

April

Jimmy Blue Feather

May 

Bones of the Master

June

Class

The Women by Kirsten Hannah

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

July

China Rich Girlfriend by Kevin Kwan

Rich People Problems by Kevin Kwan

Distance Between Us by Reyna Grande

September

A Woman of Intelligence by Karin Tanabe

October

The Small and The Mighty by Sharon McMahon

November

Reconnected by Carlos Whittaker

December 

James by Percival Everett 

End of The Year Roll

How you survived your Christmas and about ready to Ring in the New Year! Scarlett is ready.

Linky Love

Unconventional Packing Tips

Book Clubs, Book Bars and Book Tok

Flower Letters - I got this as a gift from my Best Friend. I can't wait to receive all the letters. So original and cool

Deep Thoughts

Christmas Words

 

December Happenings - Cookie Stockpile Shortage

 I am well known to have a cookie stockpile in my freezer normally at all times. I like to be prepared for a cookie emergency. However, there wasn't a single frozen cookie cooked or raw frozen in my freezer this month. This was a real emergency according to my family. I even tried to convince them we should have a family cookie exchange. I only had one taker, and my husband had the audacity to say he would bring Oreos. I don't know what is wrong with my family.

I spent the last week trying to remedy that problem. Below are some of the new recipes I tried

Chocolate Snowflake Cookies - Lakeside table recipe from Lakeside Table. I ended up making a second batch because first disappeared. This recipe used cocoa instead of semi sweet baking chocolate. 

I made a double batch of Andes Mint cookies this is Becky Higgins Recipe. This was easy and very good.

I also made a double batch of my World's Best Cookies - Chocolate Chip/Butterscotch.

My son made ugly cowboy cookies - Recipe Cider Press Lane

My husband did come through with 2 loaves of snickerdoodle bread with cinnamon chips

IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO BAKE COOKIES!

except if you don't have the ingredients 

Before Christmas Linky Love

 

Book Tree at Local Library

Are you ready for Christmas? My short answer is I don't know.

Linky Love

Scientist Developed a Questionnaire to decide if your Cat is a Psychopath

Royal Christmas Cards from Around the World - Do you send cards? I usually don't do many Christmas cards.   I am a Valentine Card person. Another question is do you hold onto Christmas photo cards? I know if I received one from the royal family I would.

Viral Box Photos DIY for Instagram and TikTok Has anyone tried this 

Our Family Tree

Inappropriate Thoughts

My husband had the audacity to ask me if I have started my Valentine Cards.  Does he even know me? Short answer is YES!   Not the most complicated design but sourcing materials has been challenging.

Tree in the Oasis

Deep Thoughts

I hope you find calm in the season. It is too easy to fall in the trap of consumption, overdoing, and comparison.  May your season be perfect for you and your family. 

Chuck's Fish Tree

Wordy Wednesday

 A map is really just permission to get lost.

Percival Everett

Percival Everett said this during our book club discussion with him. I like it.  Percival Everett wrote the book " James".

December Happenings - Someone has Christmas Spirit

 My son loves to set up his own Christmas tree and village. Many of the holiday celebrations are challenging for him in regard to change and noise etc.  He is a big fan of Stitch from Lilo and Stitch. I mentioned that I had seen a Stitch blow mold.  Next time we were at Walmart, guess what was in his cart.

My son is a safety-first kind of guy. So of course, Stitch was buckled in for the ride home.

I think it looks great in his room along with his tree. Decorations are all him.

December Reading

 I am linking up with Modern Mrs Darcy's Quick Lit. Check out what everyone else is reading. December had me finishing up a book club book. 

I plan to do a wrap up all the books I read this year next week. I was surprised by the variety.  Book club really helps with that.

James by Percival Everett

This is the telling of the Huck Finn story from Jim's point of view. Mark Twain was an amazing storyteller, and Percival Everett is as well. This is going to be considered a classic and more than a companion book to Huck Finn. This is an easy read with complex layered themes.  I had the chance to virtually join an author talk with Percival Everett.

Weekly Roll

 

2024 is in the almost in the sideview mirror. 

Plogging is the New Fitness Trend - Jogging while picking up trash. Well my husband and I have been walking and picking up trash. Is that almost plogging?

How to Turn Toilet Paper Rolls into Snowflakes - this seems on brand for me

Inappropriate Thoughts

Nonna's Cats got fixed this past week. One lived up to his name of Lucifer.  I call him Luz. He hissed at me when I put him in the carrier and evidently gave the whole Halloween vibe of the black cat stretch with arched back pre anesthesia. He wasn't having it. I guess we got the last laugh. The cats are recovering.

Deep Thoughts

I was everywhere and nowhere this week. I think we tried to jam in every appointment in this week. I left me MIA from this blog.  I am ready to slow down and try to enjoy the season. Next week is less hectic though and I do need to get a few more gifts in the mail.  I would love to craft and watch a Christmas movie. Any good Christmas movie suggestions?

December Happenings - Tree Suprise and Confession

 My husband carved this little tree for me and left it for me to find. I am well known to have a mini tree problem See below

I have a few mini trees. This is the majority of the collection but not all of them. They are ceramic, glass, wood, mercury glass. I love them all

Weekly Roll

Photo by CRR

My son was gifted like 4 lbs. of pecans. Our area of New Mexico is known for Pecan groves. He has been making batches of Candied pecans for us. RECIPE.  Maybe we should try these spiced nuts.

Rare Wildflower found in New Mexico Granted Protected Status

 Inappropriate Thoughts

Anybody else look at their Spotify wrapped. I spent the majority of my 5000 plus minutes about 4, 000 listening to podcasts. I use mainly Spotify for podcast listening when google podcast went away. I only use music on Spotify when driving on road trips. I have a road trip playlist.

Deep Thoughts

This is the week I start freaking out a bit about what gifts I haven't bought and things that need to done before Christmas. Does anyone else fee that way?  

December Happenings - Light Up Artesia Parade

 Since moving here, I have only attended the 4th of July which frankly takes more time to wait for than the actual parade. The light parade was great.  There were many parade entries.  If you know me in real life, I am always down to go to a parade. It was a great hometown showing. I of course loved all the lights. It was my first time seeing Santa in a sombrero. No Santa did not pass out tacos. It was a missed opportunity in my opinion.

December Happenings- Keith and Helen have Arrived

 I never had any inflatables until I arrived in New Mexico. My best friend felt I needed these. They really do bring so much joy

Keith and Helen

December Happenings - Mistakes Were Made

Does anyone else watch Jennifer Gardner's Pretend Cooking Show on Instagram. She made leftover cranberry sauce muffins.  I gave it the good Monday Morning attempt. Problem was I didn't have enough coffee. I might have accidentally mixed-up cumin and cinnamon. 

I was able to dig out most of the cummin out but not all. I added the correct amount of cinnamon. I felt like I was to far in so I continued baking.  Mistakes were made. My husband said they were a bit on the savory side according to my husband. They disappeared quickly.

Wordy Wednesday

 

This is kinda the whole point of my side quest project.

December Happenings- Christmas on the Pecos

 Ali Edwards, scrapbooking expert, has December Daily scrapbook. I cannot not maintain that level of commitment, but I did want to share and maybe scrapbook some of our December activities.

Last year we tried to go to Christmas on the Pecos. They have a lighted boat tour, but our tour was cancelled due to weather. We were successful this time. The pages below were done with Project Life.

Weekly Roll

Linky Love

TikToker's DNA test results help solve a cold case - my parents just got their DNA results. Good news I am their daughter

7 Things I can't stop Thinking about after watching the Martha Documentary - I have talked previously about how much I liked this documentary

This Hidden Colorado State Park is Better Than Rocky Mountain National Park - I might need to take a side quest here. I love Rocky Mountain National Park. I haven't visited this one. Staunton State Park

Jim Bishop builder of Bishop's Castle Dies - This would make a great side quest to visit. Maybe I need a Colorado, my youngest nephew has visited. 

Inappropriate Thoughts

I have gotten to the age where I leave notes on things. Evidently these dinosaur inflatables are named Keith and Helen. It is important info folks.

Deep Thoughts

As we enter a busy holiday season, I have a tradition of reading the Gospel of Luke. I read a chapter every night until Christmas starting December 1.  This isn't a fancy bible reading. It is just me quieting my mind and reminding myself the reason for the season. Every year I learn something new. I discussed it here.