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Dreamer. Reader. Traveler.

Wednesday, January 8, 2025

The One with 2024, Quarter 4: Books and Baking

 Book tally for the quarter: 26

Book tally for the year: 103


My favorite reads from the last quarter of 2024, in no particular order:

Somewhere in the Night: A Country Club Murder Thanksgiving - Julie Mulhern

Long Live the Pumpkin Queen - Shea Ernshaw (favorite of the year)

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches - Sangu Mandanna (favorite of the year)

Somewhere Beyond the Sea - T.J. Klune

Tent for Seven: A Camping Adventure Gone South Out West - Marty Ohlhaut


Baking this quarter consisted mostly of My Best Favorite's birthday cake and some Christmas treats.


This was my first time making candied oranges and the process was LENGTHY. I can't say that I'm likely to make them again.



This was also my first time making cream cheese mints. These were easy and tasty, and I WILL make them again. Maybe these are a new Christmas tradition.


I also helped a friend bake delicious red velvet cookies at our annual Christmas baking day.


A goal I have for 2025 is to actually use all the cookbooks I've collected over the years and never used. I've even recruited some friends to help me on this quest. My hope is to find joy in cooking again, add some new recipes to my rotation, and enjoy food time with friends.


"...food was really about storytelling. It was about creating something good, and then giving it away." 

- Sarah Addison Allen, Other Birds


Here's to good storytelling (in all forms) in 2025.

Wednesday, October 30, 2024

The One with 2024, Quarter 3: Books and Baking

Book tally for the quarter: 26

Book tally for the year: 77

The third quarter was full of good reads, and I surprised myself with how many Rom Com books I read - and liked. The below are some favorites (Rom Com and otherwise) from the quarter, in no particular order.












This far into the year I found myself particularly unmotivated to bake unless I had to. The most baking I did for fun was when the nephew was visiting, and we went camping at the Roaring River. We had campfire donuts, Dr. Pepper Peep s'mores, burgers, etc. etc. 





Oh! And there was tons of reading time whilst camping at the river.






Here's to finishing the year with baked goods and good reads. 

Thursday, August 22, 2024

The One with Remington Gregory


Yesterday, on what would have been my grandpa's 102nd birthday, we surrounded our freckle-footed Remy for a warm and comfy send off. In the days and moments leading up to yesterday we made sure to fill his days with some of his favorites. A final fire night (he was so cozy he stayed out longer than the rest of us), some of his favorite humans, and lots of snacks including spray whipped cream near the end.



We chose to do in-home euthanasia, and it was the kindest, tenderest, most dignified experience. So much gratitude to the organization Lap of Love for making it so gentle and easy for our little man.

It wouldn't be a trip down Remy Lane without gobs of photos... 16 year's worth. 


















Oh yeah, remember that time we hurt our feet at the same time?


I'll be forever grateful to my cousin for entrusting me with Remy's care all those years ago. He sure changed my life. 

Remy and Dharma - together again.


"How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard." 
- A.A. Milne, Winnie the Pooh