I have THE BEST son-in-law and..

 Happy Friday!! 

Since discovering I have arthritis in my hands, both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, I've been trying to find some comparable alternatives. Having quit smoking 20+ years ago, knitting was what I did with my hands. Now..when watching tv, I eat. Not a good idea since I've lost close to 20 pounds so far doing Weight Watchers and I DO NOT want to gain that back. 

So far I've been working on puzzles, I started a junk journal and a paint by number. I am going to work on some watercolors too. Possibly this weekend. 

On to my story of why I have THE BEST son in law. The other day, I brought out a paint by number set I had purchased YEARS ago.  

as most of you know, I have a thing for doors. 

I brought out the little paint pods (not sure what they're called) and I was thinking, how do hold these and paint at the same time? Maybe I could make something to hold them out of a cardboard box. But, then I thought, Dan and family got a 3D printer at Christmas time. I wonder if he could come up with something. 

And lo and behold! Check it out! It even has the little slots for the side pieces of the pods and he personalized it for me!!! 

Needless to say I love it! I did discover the paints are dried up. No surprise there. So I contacted the company who I bought them from and come to find out they are under a different name now. They used to be Simple-Painting and now they're Art Spark. I explained that some of my paints were dried up because of not using them and would they be willing to sell me some that go with my particular painting. Can you believe they are sending me a whole set? Free of charge!! Now that's what I call excellent customer service!! 

I've also been working on my storytelling. I got a couple more pages done for January..

Looking at this journaling card is a little reminder of why I usually don't write in my own handwriting and I type on the computer. Not only do I not like my writing, I make mistakes LOL. 

Working on puzzles. I found this little acrylic puzzle in the secretaries desk, it was in there during the move so it's been a long time. I bought it years and years ago at Barnes & Noble. It is little, only like 4"x 6" but super fun!

After finishing the little acrylic puzzle, Paul and I started a one I got for Christmas from Bev. It's fun and challenging at the same time. It's not real big, but the puzzle pieces are wood and ALL different, with a large amount of animal shapes. Paul's doing really well with it in spite of his color blindness. 

I recently started Junk Journaling. They call it that because you can put all kinds of ephemera inside. Ticket stubs, postcards, buttons, beads, pictures, stickers etc. I think for this year, this will be my journal. I don't think it will be called my junk journal but rather my diary.

So, I got a couple of pages done.

The other day as I was making a cup of tea, I noticed the labels on my tins. Doing a junk journal has me looking at things around the house in a whole different light. Anyway, I saw these labels and immediately thought, I can add those to my diary! Recently I bought a book (or magazine) at B&N called Daphne's Diary Paper Creative Book. Filled with so many fun cutouts, stickers and paper. It's a treasure!! 

And, that's where I got the little teapot cut outs! I decided to put a quote from each character on the inside of the tea pots. I think they turned out really cute!

I finished this book..

it was great, and now I'm on to this book. 

I'm hoping I can finish it before I start the series. I just love ANYTHING with Jennifer Garner. 

We, like almost everyone in the country right now, have quite a bit of snow..

If you've read this far, thank you. I will leave you with a couple of funnies. No politics as it only brings me DOWn, DOwn, Down, down.

Paul: "this is what happens when you leave me alone with Ensley" LOL. 

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As always, thanks for stopping by. 

Some January Memory Keeping

I have lots of (how do they put it?) irons in the fire so to speak. I started my memory keeping for this year in a 6x8 album from Ali Edwards . 

I'm using both inside the page protectors and outside. So far I'm really enjoying the process. 

Other endeavors include Ali Edwards' One Litte Word OLW, a TN (travelers notebook) for my everyday journaling, and I purchased a bullet journal and project log for my knitting My Year In Yarn all of which I'll post more about at another time 

Knitting...oh how I miss you! Granted it's only been a week but, since finishing Elliott's sweater I haven't been able to knit because of my arthritis 😞

So far for memory keeping I have these pages done:

I found some clear monthly dividers I plan to use for this year. 

As always..Thanks for stopping by. 

Oh The Places We Went-2025

When I look back on 2025, I don’t see a year defined by one single moment. I see a year shaped by movement—across miles, across seasons, and sometimes just across the driveway. We traveled (a lot), we gathered, we celebrated, and we kept choosing to show up for the life in front of us.

These photos don’t capture everything. They hold the feeling of the year—and that feels like enough.

January - Hawaii

APRIL - WILLIAMSBURG

In the spring, we explored Williamsburg as tourists. We brought Sue & Bob with us. Walking, learning, noticing details. I’m drawn to places rooted in story, and this one reminded me how much I love wandering through history and imagining the lives that once filled those spaces. I look forward to documenting this trip in a scrapbook. 

It was great to spend time with Eric, Ange, Emmy, Logan, Conner and Owen while we were there. 

JUNE - CAMPING 

Early summer was about family. Since Elliott and Ethan had never gone camping (and we didn't want to get to a campsite and find out they hated it) we decided to have a campout in the driveway. It was a perfect way to get them acclimated and they LOVED IT! 

This driveway campground was followed by camping at Yogi Bear's Jellystone in Indiana. These memories created with fun and laughter are the kind that take hold without much effort. So blessed!! 

JULY - ALASKAN CRUISE

This was our 50th wedding anniversary year and after 2 other failed attempts at an Alaskan Cruise, this one took hold. 

Alaska was awe in its purest form. Glaciers, water, vastness, wilderness, just everything larger than life and completely unconcerned with us. It was humbling and grounding all at once. Easily one of the most powerful experiences of the year (if not my life). 

VANCOUVER

We always fly into the port where our ship will sail from, the night before. Loved Vancouver and wouldn't mind spending more time there. It's beautiful!! 

SETTING SAIL

When in Alaska you have Baked Alaska! 

INSIDE PASSAGE

We've been so lucky with out dining room seat assignments. We saw whales out the window! 

JUNEAU

ICY STRAIGHT

We did some whale watching. 

SITKA

This is a beautiful town!! 

SKAGWAY

Thankful I brought my National Parks Passport

HUBBARD GLACIER

SEWARD & ANCHORAGE

DENALI

Because of the weather, only about 40% of those who visit Mt. Denali get a view like this. Wow, did we luck out!!  

HEALY

This clear top train ride was one of my favorites! Amazing views! 

Downstairs was the dining room. Food was delicous.

Everyone is downstairs eating. 

CHENA RIVER

Our last day before we fly out of Fairbanks. We took a riverboat cruise down the Chena River.

FAIRBANKS

Got to see the Alaskan Pipeline. 

HEADING HOME

At the airport and can you believe it's 11:00 pm? 

SEPTEMBER - WILLIAMSBURG again

We returned to Williamsburg in September, this time to watch Emmy play volleyball. We've never seen her play and that was a treat! 

I had the privilege to help Angela paint the cement ball outside the school she teaches at. I painted a tiny bit and while I was back in Ohio, she finished it. It turned out beautifully! There's an art teacher for ya. 

Ange is so talented! 

LAS VEGAS, GRAND CANYON AND THE WIZARD

October brought a contrast, the energy of Las Vegas followed by the quiet, breathtaking scale of the Grand Canyon. Man made spectacle beside natural wonder..such a fitting way to close out the year of travel. 

Jim & Linda came with us. We're fortunate to have the Hilton Grand Vacations Club access to places all over the world. We got the same room I had when I took my friends and Linda and I were just as blown away as the first time we visited The Elara. 

On Paul's birthday we took a helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon.

We went out on the Sky Walk and Paul got some cake for his birthday inside. 

We visited the outside of the Hoover Dam

Seeing The Wizard of Oz inside the Sphere...spectacular!! 

The view of The Elara from the Eiffel Tower inside the Paris Casino

IN BETWEEN

I could have given each and every trip it's very own post but I just wanted to share my fun adventures without writing a book or playing travel agent here. Or, bore you to death with hundreds if not thousands of photos. If, and I'm really hoping, I blog continually throughout 2026, I can post individual trips. 

Woven through the months were girlfriend visits and a weekend getaway. Moments of connection and conversation that didn't need a destination to matter.

In August Paul and I took the ferry out to Kelley's Island and spent the day with Molly, Bev, Joanie, Kathy and Lisa.

Paul stayed and visited with Molly while I went with the rest of the girls in town to the festivities. 

In September, Bev, Lydia and Lisa came to visit me. They stayed the night and we had a ball. We went to the Hollywood Casino and gambled, I took them to a Salt Cave, Tony Packo's!! They absolutely loved spending time with Ethan, Elliott and Ensley too!  

Later in October, Bev planned a weekend getaway to Lakeside. It was a wonderful weekend. She had 2 houses and I got to spend the weekend with Lisa and Lydia. 

I brought cupcakes to celebrate Bev's birthday. The whole weekend was LOADS of fun!! 

YAY is an inside joke

I'm grateful for all the trips last year, big and small. 

As always, thanks for stopping by.