Book 3 - The Last Garden In England

I have started soooooo many books in the last few months I actually just made myself finish this one.  This one i even read as an audio book.  the Last Garden in England by Julia Kelly was not really my favorite book it was a bit hard to follow because it’s following several womens stories and I kept being confused which women it was following and which time period it was.  But I made myself finish it.  Their stories kind of came together at the end.  I did enjoy the bits about the gardens I want to look more into English gardens.  

Movie 2 - The Beguiled

For my second movie this year I randomly watched The Beguiled. (Technically I also watched a few movies my kids picked)  I can’t say it was good it was kind of meh.  Very Sofia Coppola.  I do love a historical period type movie and story but this one was just very moody.

22 - New Shoes

I bought new running shoes x3.  This year.  

However I had to return 2 pairs!  It seems either the shoes sizes are changing or my feet grew.  The weird thing is I literally bought the same exact shoes I was currently wearing and my big toe was like popping out the end.  So then I ordered Kiziks which are a bit wide for my feet in size 12 but my toe was not poking thru at the end so I kept them.   Kiziks are shoes that don’t requiring tying which is MOST convenient for me as I usually just throw them on on the way out of the door.  

1200 miles Update

In May my Apple Watch broke.  Sad day.  

But before it broke I had 86.9 miles in the first 24 days so that leaves me at 485.3 miles for 2022.  It was actually a good month for walking.  I wish I had the last few days of may in there too.  But until I get a new watch it’s stalled.

38 - hydrangeas

This probably looks like nothing but it’s one of 6 new hydrangea bushes.  I learned from a friend the local Soil and Water Conservation Department had native barefoot bushes and plants they practically give away in the spring.  And to my delight when I read the list of available plants hydrangea bushes of two varieties were on the list.  They also had lilac bushes so I ordered some of each.  I finally got them planted today I am hopeful that they will make it a few of the bushes seemed a bit dry.  I wish now I had bought enough to line our back fences, but if they do well I can get more next year.  

7 - Great Wolf Lodge

Last weekend my brother and sister in law invited us to join their family at Great Wolf Lodge.  We came just for the day and enjoyed the water park, bowling, arcade, quest, and more.  I will say that the day passes might be the best way to enjoy the GWL.  It’s less than an hour from our house to the Ohio one so it was convenient to drive up for the day.  

I did one big water slide and reconfirmed my decision that I prefer the small ones, wave pool and lazy River.

The kids had the best time, and it was a good way to spend time with cousins.  Thea now talks of nothing but returning and thinks we should just head there after school or with play dates.  

Thanks for the adventure Schreve and Alicia.  

13 - Book 2 Cultish

Second book down - Cultish, Amanda Montell.   I finished this one up on spring break.  I enjoyed it although I felt myself wanting more on the topic.  Such an interesting topic.  

8 - Spring Break Carolina Beach

Over spring break we traveled to Carolina Beach, North Carolina.  It was a little before their perk season and it’s a smaller beach destination but this worked well for us.  But we enjoyed ourselves nonetheless.  

We stayed in a hotel right on the beach, and enjoyed our beachfront balcony and going out to the beach 3-4x per day.  The water was a bit cold but honestly I don’t think much colder than Lake Superior.  

We built soooo many sand castles and braved the cold waves and started a new alligator castle tradition prompted by my cousin (who’s family always makes alligators at the beach).  We checked out the aquarium, arcade, boardwalk, swimming pools, nearby fort, took ferries, shopped and more.  It was a good time together exploring the area.  We also saw my great aunt and several cousins although they were short visits.

1200 Miles - March Update

Well I started March out good but it feel off mid-month and then picked back up while on vacation then feel back off but ultimately I only hit 81.8 miles for March it’s probably slightly higher as I know multiple days my watch battery was dead midday but this is what it says.  So here I am quarter of the way through the year with 282.7 miles off target.  

But onwards - in April Lita and I started doing dance exercise videos daily and my miles are already up and it’s only the 5th, and on days when we can’t do it we are going to try to walk the neighborhood or sometimes it’s actually the ice rink.  

1,200 Miles February

Well February came a went.  We had the flu for what seemed like two weeks although it just was one kid then the other.   We also had a little snow storm.  I also didn’t wear my watch a few days.  Regardless to say i did not smash any walking records, despite having three big days.  I only hit 90.2 miles walked.  This combined with Jan puts me right at 200.9 so I am still right on target but no longer ahead.  

Here’s to hoping I can bring this up a bit in March, we have a spring break in there and vacation always brings my numbers up.

26 - Sweet Potato Hash (recipe 1)

Mixing it up a bit with a new recipe.  I used this recipe for sweet potato hash here from Two Peas in a Pod.  https://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com/sweet-potato-hash/ I did NOT put it in the over I just fried an egg in the pan after cooking the ingredients.  I used peppers and sweet potatoes from my freezer.  

Mom and I liked it.  I especially liked how the egg made a sauce for it.  Thea like avocado (lol), but otherwise the kids were disinterested.  Sorry I didn’t get a better picture once I tossed the egg on top you couldn’t see all the pretty colors.  

13 - Book 1 - The Vanishing Half

I have been in a real reading slump.  Starting maybe 10 books finishing maybe 1.  2022 has been not that different, I planned to read 12 books this year which doesn’t seem unreachable, but for me it might be.

This one The Vanishing Half I struggled with at first considered dropping it in the first few chapters but then I just committed.  It wasn’t bad,  I’d say it was a 3 star.  It jumped around a bunch in time and characters and that’s not really my fav.  But I appreciated the story although I felt a little like I needed a bit more in the end as well.

Not sure what’s next I have a bunch of books in my hold queue with the library. 

1200 miles January Update

January has came and went.  And with it my goals to hit 100 miles.  Thanks to a handful days of 6+ miles I managed to get to 110.3 miles.  So I am 1/12 of the way to my 1200 miles goal.  Hoping to get ahead a bit in February, hopefully the weather will improve to make for more exercise. 

5 Complete a Puzzle

I bought this puzzle back in December with hopes of doing it this winter.  While Kathleen visited we knocked it out.  It took about 4.5 hours.  The kids attempted to help but they really just connected a handful of pieces.  When we finished it we discovered 6 pieces weren’t even in the box.  I am pretty sure we didn’t lose them since we moved the table and looked under the couch etc.  oh well!  

Kathleen and I could name all the scenes from the 90s but two which I thought was impressive.  Anyhow it was a fun challenge.  I may buy myself a few other puzzles too just for fun.

Movie 1 - Palm Springs

So I have watched a few movies with Thea but I wanted to do 12 movies I haven’t watched that I pick myself.  I randomly picked Palm Springs as my first one for 22.  It was in my suggested queue on Hulu probably because I am working my way thru Brooklyn 99.   It was not was I was expecting, I thought it was going to be an artsy rom com based purely on the promo images.  It was a rom com with a weird Groundhog Day plot twist. I do love some Andy Samberg and I appreciated Christin Miloti too.     Anyhow I didn’t love it but I also didn’t fall asleep so that’s saying something.  

Anyhow video 1 down 11 more to go.  

19. Miami Hockey Game

So randomly my friend gave us tickets to a Miami hockey game just a few days after I put this on my list.  The kids loved it, especially Jones.  He wanted to stay until the very end.  He watched very intently.  Then was like can we come to all the home games?? Thea did pretty good, once we moved seats to sit near some other friends she did better.  She loved giving the players high fives in the tunnel and snacks!

They also loved being on the Jumbotron! I only wish i had taken a picture they made it several times.

It was a good game to come to as well since the college students aren’t back yet and the alumni band played for the pep band. 

Bummer that Miami lost though. 

Sometimes I take for granted we live in a small college town and my kids can have these experiences, it is such a blessing though. 

 

The 2022 List

This year my list has 46 things some will span several days all year so I feel like 46 is a good number.  I also carried over some of the goals I didn’t quite finish.  

1. Buy new to me car - bought
   
2. Alms Park-Cincy
3. Mend jones pants
4. Thomas Rambo Exhibit in Dayton
5. Complete a Puzzle - Completed
6. Finish half rectangle quilt
7. Great Wolf Lodge with Kids - done
8. Katie and Kids Spring Break - done
9. Finish the Teal/orange/yellow quilt
10. Finish another quilt
11. Visit a new National park
12. Get clothes line
13. Read 12 books - the vanishing half, cultish, City of Girls, Slaughterhouse Five, The Signature of All Things, Apple Cider Slaying, 
14. Watch 12 movies - Palm Springs, Hocus Pocus 2, 
15. Visit JJ and Rob - May 2022
16. Sleepover with Brooks/Blakely
17. Lemon desserts with Kathleen
18. Craft with Ollie and Marlow
19. Go to Miami Hockey game - Done.
20. Walk 1200 miles (roughly 3.3/day)
21. Family Vacation
22. Watch the last years Project Runway
23. Replace pans
24. Paint bathroom cabinets
25. Make new stockings
26. Try 5 new recipes
27. Visit someplace new
28. Remove carpet from stairs
29. Paint shed
30. Lume at Newfields
31. New to us Bike trail
32. Buy new running shoes - Done
33. New shelves under tv.  
34. Cookie tastings x25
35. Take the kids to a play/musical
36. Planned art club with my kids
37. Purge 100 things in Spring cleaning
38. Plant some hydrangeas - planted
39. Visit the Westcott house
40. Take Thea on a girls trip - State Fair Trip
41. Go fossil Hunting with Jones
42. Make a junk journal
43. Make 22 - $22 donations to small non profits
44. Moms 70th Adventure
45. Visit the Wilds - Done
46. Make new list

Photo is unrelated Katie and her sister assembled that giant LOL house.  Christmas 2021.