One thing about life is that no matter how old you get, you are never too old to learn.  January has been a month of learning. 

I have been learning about sourdough starters.  My first loaf was a little dry and more dense than it should be.  But tasted good.  I am going to try looking for a fridge raise recipe for this weekend since I won’t be home much.

Also, I am taking some online photography classes.  Certain things I am used to my camera on but shooting the wedding taught me I need to learn more to be at home and comfortable for something like that.

Here are some of my latest photos on my photography page and website.  The sky’s have been stunning in December and January.   So many stunning sunrises and sunsets.  And even clouds.  Here are a few of the ones from the last week or so.

Work has slowed majorly down for me.  Boredom will soon be a factor.  But I have plans for when that happens.  At least this week work has felt not overwhelming, and progress has been seen.  In a bit, I will be filing the last of the filing stacks.  My desk is cleared.  And my lists have so much crossed off.

At home has been a slower pace.  I’m trying to work out more now that my step count is shrinking into the winter slump.  But evenings after are spent on the computer doing photo classes or working on updating my page or website with photos I took.  That or reading.  I have been reading a lot.  Tuesday Wrangler was home for 3 hours of my time at home, so I just hung out with him.

This weekend we have to travel 3 hours one way on Sunday for my Aunt’s 100th birthday party.   The weather is supposed to be good for traveling.  It is a relief because January is usually kind of hairy to travel around here.

We both felt drained and worn out last Saturday, so we never did go out to eat to celebrate.  But we ended up cooking supper together that night.  We had a nice night even if we were home.  We both were mostly recovered from being sick at that point but just tired and leary of being out in public. Wrangler came home in Friday, giving me much relief that he was feeling much improved compared to when he left on Monday and had me very worried.

Yesterday was Wrangler and my 14th wedding anniversary.   We were separated by Wrangler’s work but will celebrate when he gets home with a nice meal out

This last week has been filled with challenges.   It all started with sickness.  I did not make midnight on New Year’s due to being sick.  And New Year’s Day I rested the only thing I really did was to start my sour dough starter, which will be ready to bake with this weekend.

Friday Wrangler woke me up at 5, in extreme pain, but would not let me take him to the ER or urgent care.  He managed to fall asleep again, so I went to work.  At 9, he told me to call and make him a doctor’s appointment, and the only one they had that day was at 1.  At 11, he told me he was going to drive himself.  I told him I was on my way and he could not drive himself. I was afraid he was going to pass out from pain.

Immediately, we were told to go to the ER, where for the first two hours, we were led to believe he had a bowel obstruction and probably would be sent to a larger hospital for surgery. But it turned out to be very inflamed bowels, which was causing major pain and discomfort.  They think whatever virus we had caused it.  They have had other cases with those with stomach issues having similar issues. An hour later, the medication was working, and he was released.  Friday, he was very sore but better some.

Saturday, they cut down some trees at mom.  I let Wrangler be on the skid steer while I split wood, but I limited his physical activity even though he was a lot better.  When we were done, I did not do much.  Sunday, I got the truck ready,  took down the outdoor Christmas decorations, and went on a long walk on a 70-degree day.

Work this week has been so overloaded and heavy.  My desk may get cleared by tomorrow so I can start the end of the year tasks like W2s and such.  I have 2 massive filing piles that keep on growing.  It does not help that 15 to 20 invoices a day is a heavy invoice day and so far I have had 18,  31, and 27 the last 3 days so it takes an extra hour to two to process.  After being so slow in December today, I am feeling overwhelmed and mentally exhausted.

Monday night, I brought the indoor Christmas boxes inside and got my tree undecorated and broken down.  Tuesday night, I got the rest of my decorations down.  Last night, I got everything out to the shop into the back corner of the storage room where my Christmas stuff hibernates until it is time to come back out again.

I decided with how I am feeling today, which is mentally exhausted from a long week. I am going to light the wood stove when I get home.  Our weather is more like early winter with highs in the 30s the today and tomorrow and rain turning to snow.  So the stove is needed again.  It has been a couple of nice weeks with temps in the 50s to 80s, and we have not needed it much since late November.  I will be resting tonight.   I’m just attending to my starter and making a salad for supper. Otherwise, I will be resting and relaxing.

This weekend the weather is not as nice so I am not sure about the plan.  It also depends on if Wrangler is home or not.  It depends on what loads are out there tomorrow after he unloads a little under 2 hours from the house.  If there are none he will come home.

My starter is alive.

I am ready to say goodbye to 2025.  It has been a rough year.  But a positive is it flew by.  I have much hope and faith that 2026 is much better than the last two years. As the year ends, Wrangler and I are sick once again after his family Christmas.   This occurs about every other Christmas because his family obviously does not advertise they are sick and decide to celebrate anyway.

Wednesday was spent doing the final last-minute tasks to get the house ready for Christmas, like mopping, moving the unnecessary items off of my kitchen cabinets, and setting the table up.  Then it was cooking of chickens and ham for Wrangler.   I made stuffing, mashed potatoes, and green bean casserole.

Right as people had shown up, Wrangler decided to pull the ham off the smoker and put it in the oven because it was not up to temp.   Disaster struck when the pan exploded in the oven, filling the house with smoke.  Luckily, the temps were 75 that day, and we were able to go outside without freezing.

We had a good celebration with my siblings, their husband and fiance, and my mom.  Even with the smoky disaster.

Christmas Day it was just my mom, Wrangler, and me.  After we opened presents and ate leftovers we started the oven on self clean to get rid of the giant mess in the oven.  I took a nap in the hammock on yhe front porch dueing this time in a record setting Christmas day in the 70s.

It is not often that you can wear a dress on Christmas Eve in Northwest Kansas, which is a summer dress.  I was never cold.

The day after Christmas I reset my house for the next gathering.   We had two friends we only usually see at the tractor show in the summer stop by because they were visiting family in the area.   It was good to see them.

On the 27th, we spent the morning cooking again for Wrangler’s family.  SIL four kids have one who is a troublemaker now and three who do very well.  We celebrated with Wrangler’s mom and step-dad and his brother also.  For that side of the family, it went fairly well except that someone had been sick and came, and now we are sick.

Sunday was a rest day.  It went from the 60s and 70s all week to the daytime high being in the 20s with high winds.  We did a little to put our house back to normal but spent most of the day resting.

Monday was crazy busy at work.  Then the last two days have been very slow.  I am off tomorrow, and then I get to resume my normal work Friday with 180 invoices to enter.

I am writing this in the last hour of work at my job this week.  I am all caught up and ready to head home.  I want to wish every one of you a very Merry Christmas.

Tomorrow night, we host my side of the family where there are seven of us.  The menu includes smoked chicken and ham by Wrangler, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole,  and stuffing by mean.  My mom is bringing rolls.  My brother is bringing his usual little smokies and pecan pie.  My sister and the future sister-in-law, one is bring dessert and one is bringing a salad. 

Saturday afternoon, we host Wrangler’s side of the family with anywhere from 9 to 14.  Waiting on the final confirmation any minute.   Wrangler is doing more chickens. I am doing potato soup with leftover ham instead of bacon, green bean casserole, stuffing, mashed potatoes, a corn casserole, and rolls.  Mother-in-law is bringing her homemade family hit of chicken and noodles. 

One thing I am thankful for is that our guest bedroom had an upgrade when cousin lived with us.  It is a fold up bed that is three feet wide when folded.  It has become my exercise room for all but the treadmill, my wrapping station has been up the whole month without being in the way, and it has become my crafting area because the bed makes a nice table perfect for my height to stand at.  The open space of that room is going to be the kid play area on Saturday.   The toy basket, book tote, and a coloring/puzzle station will be in there, giving the kids some room to play.

Other than that, my health has returned to normal after last week’s sick day.  Mom and I spent Saturday afternoon in the kitchen working on goodies.  Sunday I. Adw zucchini bread for my coworkers.  It was a major hit, with two of them raving about it this morning. 

I think I need to make one more batch of cinnamon candy, and we are done.  Wrangler eats it as fast as I make it.  I need to mop in the morning and vacuum.   Wipe my counters one more time and clean the toilets, and we are ready. 

Last night, Mom and I went 50 miles down the road to the first town, which has a very well-done Christmas display.  I have seen it labeled on Facebook as Hallmark in our very rural area.  The radio says Griswold on Steriods.  They have ice skating. They have horse and tractor wagon rides.  They had horse and camels and reindeer.  You can enjoy hot cocoa and smores.  You can tour all buildings of the museum which each one has a beautiful decorated Christmas tree.  I went with mom and my sister in 2022.  And a large blizzard dumped on it in 2023, closing it down early for the season, and last year, it was money that kept me from attending. After driving around and looking at lights the last couple of years, we decided we would rather spend our evening over there.

Just a few pictures from the memory card in my camera at the start of the evening. 

Pictures of each of us at various places.

The sky’s have been beautiful in December at both sunrise and sunset.  Here are a few of the pictures this month.

Remington our alien dog had been extra weird lately.  Below is deer at sunset.  I had my camera out but I needed a long range lens for this shot.  So I took the picture on my phone which us not the quality of my camera.  The lighting was gone when I was back outside with my other lens.

Hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas.   I will catch up with you next week.

Friday it was wonderful to get off at noon and get a bunch of projects done off my list.  The weather was around 50 so I was able to get a couple of outdoor items done also.

Saturday, the Christmas Farmer’s Market went well.  When we walked out, though, it was freezing fog.  Luckily, the roads were still good.

Sunday, we made our Christmas cookies.  Plus more candy.

Monday was total chaos at work.  Tuesday was truly about survival.  I felt off.  Had a slight headache.  But I just felt weird.  That night was about resting.  Wednesday, I got up to go to work and had a bigger headache.  And when I was about halfway to work, I turned around and went home for the day.  I slept more than I was awake that day.  I truly think my body was fighting a virus, and staying home helped.

Yesterday, I went back to work feeling better than I had had for days.  It was a circus to catch up.  And today, I still feel good.

Next week, we host Christmas on the 24th and 27th, so this weekend will be preparing for that.

Little PSA.  If you happen to be driving thru Northwest Kansas on a windy day and they close the interstates on a non wintery day, it is due to blowing dust.  Do not take side roads to avoid.  They take this very seriously now that a 71 car pile-up that killed 8 back in March on the interstate around 8 miles from my house.  The amount of traffic we get down our road when they have the interstate and highway shut down to avoid roadblocks is crazy

So, I started out the week with plans for the evenings.  Monday was ornaments.   Tuesday was to make cookie dough to chill and to make chocolate carmels.  Wednesday was supposed to be baking cookies.  Thuraday off due to the tournament evening games.  Depending on tournament play times (mom is going to), Friday was probably going to be frosting of cookies.

Monday, my boss came into my office and asked if I had plans for Wednesday night.  I said I did with my mom.  He said you need to change your plans.  I am almost to start my fifth year of working here and not once I have worked after 5 or a weekend.  It was all for the club he belongs to fundraiser.  I have some issues with this for sure.  One I am not a member of this club.  The total disrespect of me having a life outside of work.  I am off tomorrow afternoon so I don’t have overtime hours.  I should have overtime hours since it went over my working hours.

Work this week has been a lot.  Tuesday we got a new phone system which I had to tear apart my office to do.  Yesterday, I was at the fundraiser for 10 hours.  Being gone yesterday, I walked into a tech caused mess today.  I am just surviving at this point.  When I arrived home at almost eight pm last night, it was eating food from the fundraiser,  a bath to help my exhausted body, then I was asleep by nine.

Last weekend, I decorated outside at both my mom’s house and my place on Saturday.   Sunday, I got the truck ready, and Mom and I made cinnamon candy and peanut brittle.

Outside decorations.

Beautiful photos I took the other morning.

Ornaments mom and I made together, and Remington being weird.

We had a nice Thanksgiving.   It was my siblings and the spouse and spouse to be.  Plus my mom and us at my sister’s house.  It was peaceful and with laughter.  And not a lot of weddings talk.  With a year and a half engagement for my brother and his finance, there could be a lot of wedding talk in our future.

Friday was around 40 and overcast.  And since then, we have been in the twenties and thirties for highs.  Friday, we worked on stockpiling wood for the stove.  Just in time for a day with the highs in the 20s and 50 mph winds gusts Saturday.   We were stuck inside that day.  Sunday was low 20s for highs, but without wind, it was tolerable to be out for short periods of time.  It was mainly effort to get Wrangler out on the road Monday.

Saturday on our cooped up day, Remington had all but one toy out of the toy box.  I worked on a few towel toppers, and I am down to three left to do before the Christmas Market on the 13th.  And I worked on a couple of deep cleaning projects.

Our stunning sunset on Thanksgiving night.  It was so breathtaking and beautiful.

Work this week has been very slow.  I am working quickly through the end of the year list.  I am also working on projects like placing pictures for family calendars.   I have three of the four done.  And in the evenings, I have been printing a calendar a night.  I have 5 more to print, and I am done.

In the evenings, I also have been decorating for Christmas. Monday was getting my Christmas boxes out of storage.  Then I did a lot of the decorating minus the tree and Christmas Village.   Tuesday night was setting up my Christmas Village and getting the tree up and fluffed and beads and lights on.  Last night was placing the ornaments on the tree.  My conclusion after being very choosy on ornaments is that I need a second tree or a bigger house for a gigantic tree.  So, it’s a bigger house because I have no place for a second tree.

Thanksgiving Eve, it came up that Wrangler and I are hosting his side of the family on the 27th for Christmas.   We are hosting my side of the family Christmas Eve.  I am excited to host both.  I love hosting the holidays.

It is impossible to be Thanksgiving already.    The weather in Northwest Kansas is just now feeling like the end of October normally.  One thing is for aure is the year has flown by.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of my American friends.  This year, I am most thankful for the fact that we own our own house, and it is paid off.  In a tough year with the trucks that has been a real blessing.

Tomorrow, we go twenty miles to my sister and brother-in-law’s house.  Both siblings and their singnificant others and my mom will be in attendance 

Last weekend was filled with fall cleaning projects. Wrangler and Remington were on the road for the weekend.  I finished out the greenhouse a month and a week after the first freeze.  It is just getting to cold this week to maintain the greenhouse without major modifications.

I am down to one wedding picture that I just can not get to work for me.  Hopefully, tonight is the night. I have been making a minimum of one towel topper a night to get ready for the Christmas Farmers Market Dec. 13. Plus, I am around three quarters of the way on my first set of slippers of two to knit as Christmas presents.

Work is at a standstill, pretty much until Jan. 1 for me except answering phones and the odd end of the year task, which mainly means moving folders and making a bunch of folders.

My plans to stave off boredom at work include finishing the towel project for Farmers Market.  Replace any of this year’s tractor ornaments that sell at market after.  Get pictures placed in the family calendars so I can print them at home.  Work on my portfolio website.

Friday will be spent helping my mom decorate outside and probably working on stockpiling wood for the winter. Saturday and Sunday are supposed to be brutally cold.  So more fall cleaning in the kitchen cabinets and decorating inside for me.

I am so close to being done with my wedding photography project.  I am down to the problem photos that I am just not happy with.  My solution will be to try a few different editing software to see if they produce any better.   But the end is in sight, and I will be able to slip into at home Christmas things.  I am my own worst critic, for sure.  And I let out a huge sigh of relief when my brother told me they had hired a photographer for their wedding.

Saturday, I spent the day on my to-do list, which is mainly full of fall cleaning tasks. We went to supper with my side of the family minus my sister’s husband, who was on call for harvest and my brother’s fiancée parents.  It went well and then Wrangler and I went to pick up our new trailer in Colorado Springs.

Sunday, on our return home, I enjoyed beautiful weather as I picked up my gardening tools and weeding stools for the winter, putting them in the greenhouse.  I did a few more tasks on the deep cleaning list.

This week work has been busier, much to my enjoyment.  It makes the days go by so much better. On top of that, I have been working on getting trailer tags and some other truck things when I am caught up for the day.

Evenings have been filled with small projects, editing photos, and relaxing.  Wrangler hit the road yesterday and will be home sometime Wednesday of next week.  So my plan is to keep working away on my list.

Speaking of life without cousin.  My house brings me peace again.  Wrangler and I quickly were able to settle back into what is normal for us.  There’s no more daily fights about crap that should not matter or have to be taught the 100th time.  I can find a spot to decompress when needed, and it is respected.  And throw in life without a very needy driver life feels a little better.

This week has been a much better and more balanced week.  Plus, Wrangler and I are slipping back into our normal routine with an empty house.  Let me tell you that my house stays cleaner and more organized. The teenage boy smell is slowly leaving.  And we have a driver that Wrangler likes going through the insurance test.

Last Thursday, I had to take the day off, and one of our technicician at work with a CDL went to rescue Elmo with me from our ex-drivers’ home three hours away since he refused to return the truck to us yet came to our place to get his pick-up.  Elmo is in poor condition, which breaks my heart.  Between an awful stench, very dirty conditions inside and out, and things chewed or torn up by our ex-driver or his dog.

Saturday was spent cleaning in the house as we started our yearly deep cleaning and in Elmo, which is so very gross that no one would want to drive it.  Our carpet cleaner quit working.  But we got a new one in on Tuesday, so Elmos carpets will be cleaned this weekend, and hopefully, that takes care of the rest of the smell.

Sunday, Mom and I did the last canning of the year.  And Wrangler and I did more relaxing than working.  The greenhouse tomatoes are still ripening buy we will eat them as they do in Blts and salads.

This week, Wrangler has been running local on a pipeline project and home every night.  It has been nice to have him around but working.

Tuesday night, we were able to see the northern lights with the naked eye in Northwest Kansas, which I have never been able to do before.  My mom was thrilled to them in person.It was a very fun but stunning evening.

This week at work has been extra slow.  Our one techs has been working on the shop project list because his monthly list is so small.  I have turned to Christmas projects I can do, which include ornaments, gathering calendar pictures, and working on our Christmas letter.  I am caught up on the truck books.

Evenings is still filled with a lot of editing time for wedding pictures.  I have a little over a third of the pictures left, but many of them have six to ten pictures in the same shot, so it is pick the best one.  I am ready to wrap this project up so I can work on at home Christmas presents.