So Bad
I absolutely cannot believe it has been more than a year since I posted anything. I feel so ashamed! I constantly write in my head but never seem to get it down on paper. I am making no promises moving forward, but I feel like I have reevaluated my priorities over the last year and am working on setting aside time for my creative self every day. It’s going to be a challenge for me because I always feel guilty for just tuning out to focus on my creativity. But I will work on it.
So, since it has been a year since we connected, how about a whirlwind year in review?
So Much House Work
I believe I mentioned last year that we bought an old house in June 2024, and we were doing some renovations. I had grand intentions of documenting every project, but alas, although I took many photos, I never posted a word. Well, after months of working with an architect, then hiring an (AMAZING!) contractor, then waiting for subcontractors, we finally moved in mid-August of this year. And although it was a very long wait, I am so happy to have space to spread out and have plenty of room for our own projects. Once again, we have enough space to host house parties. I have missed that.
A Little Fun
Rob and I did sneak off for a couple of quick weekend trips while the house project was going on, but we spent most of our time working on the house. In May, we spent a weekend at Belhurst Castle in Geneva, NY. It was a fun little getaway.
Then in August we ran away for our anniversary. Spent a long weekend at an adorable cottage on the St. Lawrence Seaway. It was a beautiful location with so much to see on the water, including Singer Castle and Bolt Castle.
We also flew to Texas in July to have a little family fun. Our grandson Logan met us in Dallas for a family reunion Rob’s brother had planned. We got to visit with family and spent several fun hours at Grandscape, racing go carts, playing video games and laser tag, and bowling. Perfect for a 15-year-old boy and his 15-year-old cousin. It also was pretty fun for the big boys – Rob and his brother Matt!
At the end of September, my travel buddy Natalie and I snuck off to Quebec City for a long weekend. It was a blast, but we are anxious to plan our next trip abroad. We are thinking of doing a train trip through Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, etc… in the spring. Please let me know if you have any suggestions for that trip!
Mom’s Visit
Our first house guest was my mom, who arrived Nov. 2 and stayed until Dec. 5. It was a nice visit, and we did quite a bit while she was here. We visited some waterfalls, took her down to Geneva for lunch at Belhurst Castle, visited Carpenter Falls, went shopping at two different malls, attended a drag show, and saw Cirque de Holidaze in Syracuse. I am looking forward to hosting others and introducing them to this beautiful part of New York.
Getting Ready for Christmas
My sister Angie came up in December to fly home with Mom. It was great getting to spend time with her, but not long enough! When they left, I threw myself into making my traditional tiger butter, finishing my shopping, and getting everything in the mail. The last package went out on Dec. 17, and I spent two days recovering after that flurry of busyness!
We were expecting a very quiet Christmas, just the two of us, but we ended up with a house full of friends and laughter on Christmas afternoon. We are blessed to have met so many good friends since moving here.
Reflections
Reflecting on the whole year, 2025 has been a doozy! In February I had a weird broken bone in my foot, which led to a series of medical appointments, which led to a diagnosis of osteoporosis in one hip and Celiac disease.
So, I have been working on building strength to protect my bones and navigating the world without gluten. It’s not bad, except anything gluten free costs at least 25% more than the same product with gluten. It’s been fairly easy to be gluten free at home, but it’s hard when you just want a hamburger in a small town. I am tired of nachos and bun less burgers! And sometimes a girl just wants a sandwich! I am experimenting with baking my own bread. The first attempt was a brick. I will keep you posted on progress.
Work has been good this fall. I was able to hire a second part-time employee, and it has been amazing having time to do the big picture things associated with running a nonprofit organization. I finally feel like I have time to do my job. I am looking forward to seeing our agency’s growth during 2026.
And speaking of 2026, I am excited to see what the year brings. I don’t like making resolutions, but I have set a few goals for the coming year, including getting physically stronger, making time for meditation and contemplation, and doing something creative every day.
Happy New Year everyone! Thanks for reading.