How are 31 days of January soooo long? Oh - 3 snow days, a million event cancellations, and way too much time cooped up indoors? Yeah, that tracks. Snow is currently falling, but every day brings us a bit closer to spring. Hope springs eternal.
❄️ January Notes ❄️
The year had an unusual start because I took a trip with my mom and kids to Arizona over winter break, and we rung in the New Year in the desert! My mom gave me the wonderful gift of time with a friend on New Year’s Day — she had a board game marathon with my boys, while my friend Kelli and I met for lunch and browsed a bookstore and a thrift store.
We had a belated Christmas celebration with my husband’s family in Kansas City in mid-January. The weather was much warmer than late December (remember -8 degrees???) and everyone was healthy, so I call it a win.
I took advantage of a wild weather weekend and went on a winter hiking trip with my friend Ashley and her hiking buddy Just Jim. Maybe one of these days I will go on a through-hike and earn a trail name like the cool kids. We covered 5 hilly miles in a nearby state park and had some great barbecue on the way home. Hiking in the winter has a major perk, even if you do have to bundle up a bit - NO BUGS!
3 snow days since Jan 25… these are the times that
try men’s soulstest mothers’ sanity - apologies to Thomas Paine.My older son had his first archery tournament of the year. It’s such a unique sport and I’m glad that our district has the option for kids to try it (I’m assuming it’s heavily subsidized by our hometown sporting goods purveyor, Bass Pro Shops.) It’s very popular - I think about 800 middle schoolers in our district are participating.
Currently enjoying
Newly obsessed with knitting in general and my temperature blanket in particular. I’m still not sure I’ve completely figured out how to deal with all the loose ends on the back, but for the time being I’m tying surgeon’s knots and hoping they stay tied. I think when this thing is done (1 square = 1 day, color coded to the high & low temps for the day) it will be about the size of a double bed.
Orange Theory. The best description I’ve heard for this boutique gym workout is “adult gym class.” It combines running or walking on a treadmill, rowing, and strength training. What I really love are the specialty workouts where you can challenge yourself to got a little farther or faster than last time. I was way too excited to learn that I got 1st place among 40-something women in my gym for the timed mile run! (Yes, I realize this is not most people’s cup of tea!)
The Rookie Feds. I’ve long enjoyed the TV show The Rookie as a fun, funny, over-the-top mindless show to unwind at the end of a long day. The Rookie Feds follows a similar format but the main character is played by Neicy Nash-Betts, a high school guidance counselor turned rookie FBI agent. She is really funny and charming, and the events the Scooby Gang investigates don’t seem quite as dark as those on The Rookie (I really don’t need a serial killer storyline every season, thanks.)
Book of the Month
Tough call - I read a lot this month! - but I think my favorite was Signal Fires by Dani Shapiro. The intersecting stories of two families and the reverberating effects of a tragic car accident (and a long-held family secret) make this novel an interesting and beautiful exploration of love, loss, family dynamics, and friendship across generations.
Photo of the Month
Book club - I just love these gals.
Here’s to February!