Taking in Life Around Me....#Sunday Stills 2024 in Review

This #sundaystills challenge is hosted by Terri from Second Wind Leisure. It's a great themed photography challenge that you'll enjoy. I love seeing the other participants interpretation of the theme each week...it causes me to think outside the box. I joined in hopes of it pushing me to get out and take more photos...I have to some degree, but I also like that Terri is okay with us finding photos in our archives, which is also a lot of fun. So check out my photos and then head over to Terri's page to participate or visit other's posts. There are some awesome contributors who always inspire me.

Wow...it's been awhile since I've joined in with #sundaystills. Isn't December supposed to the start of slowing down? Savoring the winter months? Not here apparently. December is my works busiest month...everyone shipping packages, receiving packages, returning packages. I worked every Wednesday which is my usual day off, aside from Tuesdays, but I'm with the grandkids that day so I don't get much of anything else done. I just couldn't seem to pull together the time to post, let alone take pictures or search through archives. I did post a few #weekendcoffeeshare posts, and a #WOYBS post. But the other ones I usually participate in, I put on the back burner for a bit. I'm hoping to jump back in now that the busyness of work is over. 

Teri is continuing through January making the challenges 2 weeks long. I have tried to go back each week on the challenges I participated in and comment on any new posters. I enjoy interacting with others and that has been a bit of a frustration to me of having little to no interaction on my own posts. Perhaps I need to start linking them to other challenges as I know many of you do. Something to think about. 

2024 was a good year and for the most part we made it through with no injuries or sicknesses. We took some great trips and enjoyed great people. I'm looking forward to 2025.

I decided to just do a simple collage or two or three for each month. I went through and found photos that seemed to highlight that month. I could've taken more time but it just seems to take me forever to do anything these days..lol. 

JANUARY: 

We gathered with friends on NY Day and made Raclette and played games. Raclette is a European inspired dish that is often enjoyed in the colder months. Everyone gathers around a grill and tops roasted or boiled potatoes with a variety of meats, vegetables and special raclette cheese that is melted below the grilling unit. It's so good. It forces you to slow down and visit while everything cooks. 

It was also a month of gathering with friends and family to play games, make crafts with grandkids, work on puzzles and I even went to an author event at a local bookstore. I found a new author who is local to our area (she actually lives in the next town over) and I have enjoyed her cozy mysteries. If you like cozy mysteries look up Paula Charles. She also writes under the name Janna Rollins and has two cozy mystery series. 

We did get some snow and freezing rain, and on a visit to a neighboring town's waterfront, I spotted a bald eagle in the trees. The snow I welcome. The freezing rain wrecks havoc on everything, even though I didn't mind being stuck indoors for a few days...lots of game playing and puzzle working took place. 

I like being cozy during these dreary months...coffee in my Moka pot, by the fire and making sourdough bread. I always get excited if the sun makes an appearance through the windows (which isn't often since we have covered porches and a lot of trees. These are ways I deal with the wet, dark days of winter. 

FEBRUARY: 

We celebrated our granddaughters 3rd birthday. I attended a paint and snack with my daughters at their church. While I won't ever be considered an artist, it's fun to tinker with something different. I finally found something to hold a copy of a toll painting that my mom did years ago. My aunts had the original and I brought it home and had a print shop make several copies for family members. Spring flowers make me happy. 

The highlight of February was my first trip to Hawaii! I loved getting to go with my daughter and her friends. Seeing new sites, trying new foods. I would go back! We were on Oahu and traveled around the entire island. I will say I prefer the more scenic areas to city life. 

MARCH: 

During March we celebrated our youngest daughters 25th birthday, my hubby and I took a day trip up the Columbia river gorge on a beautiful 65+ degree day only to find the hiking spots so crowded we couldn't park so we stopped at a few other areas and had dinner before heading back. I also found a little frog in my planter. 

I enjoyed being more intentional with my health (2024 has been a struggle with some weight gain due to lack of exercise and menopause). I made 3 ingredient bagels which I hadn't made in awhile and enjoyed some beautiful spring flowers. 

APRIL:

In April my hubby and I took a trip up to Mt. Rainier N.P. and also to the Olympic Peninsula. What a great time exploring our own neck of the woods. 

The PNW is stunningly beautiful. I live in the SW region of Washington and I enjoy exploring areas that I've never been to or haven't visited in so long. I have tried to document each trip on my trip tab. 

I took an early morning drive to the local tulip fields to catch the sunrise. I laughed at myself during our April trip because when we visited the Olympic N.P. trip it was warm down below, but when we got to the top of hurricane ridge it was so stinking cold I had to put my winter coat on. We weren't 100% sure what the weather was going to be like. We also had some dear friends over before they moved to Tennessee. 

MAY:

I love that I get to spend so much time with my grandkids. Indy graduated Kindergarten. we ate ice cream, took walks, and just had fun. Pepper and I often see this pink car when we go to Walmart..she loves it, so we took a picture in front of it. 

We got to experience the Northern lights. Here, we only were able to see them through our phone/camera photos. With the naked eye, we could tell where the colors would be. My girls took me to brunch for Mothers Day, we spent time in Portland and stopped at one of our favorite pizza places that has been in business forever and one we used to frequent when we were in Bible College. Spending time with family is always nice. 


JUNE:

June was helping our oldest with her coffee cart, and eating ice cream with the grands (love a good reason to eat ice cream). Loved the warmer weather. 

June was also the month I traveled to Ohio to visit my family. I reconnected with some 2nd cousins, played games and enjoyed the scenery. Oh and I did yoga in the vineyard. 

During the summer months the tasting room is open and I spent time exploring the island (Kelley's Island) via golf cart by myself or reading on the deck outside my aunts home above the tasting room. Kelleys Island became a township in 1840 and a village in 1887. I love the old homes and buildings around the island. 

JULY:

In July we celebrated our grandson turning 6. I taught the grandkids how to make mud pies and of course we at more ice cream. We also got a cold plunge tub and began cold plunging every day. 

We also traveled to Vancouver Island, BC. My hubby was pretty sick for much of it and we did things as his energy allowed. The highlight was finally visiting the Butchart gardens, though they were very busy at the time and in a few spots made it hard to really take the time to enjoy what was around me. 

AUGUST:

August was spent hosting friends who were in town for a family function, but it also gave us time to spend with them which is always nice. Helping my daughter and her coffee cart events. We also had an italian chef (who is also an actor) come to the house and teach us how to make pasta. It was so much fun! I now have confidence to make my own noodles. A few weeks later was my hubby's birthday and I made homemade lasagna with homemade noodles. 

We also took the grandkids to the county fair and the zoo. They loved both. We also rented a private swimming pool for a few hours. We did this last year too and loved it. Everyone had a great time. 

SEPTEMBER:

We spent a day in the Columbia River Gorge driving around the Fruit Loop and pausing to watch the wind surfers and kite boarders. We also took a long weekend trip to the Oregon coast with the family. So much fun!  

Pepper started pre-school. We traveled to Seabrook again to hang out with the grandkids while their mom and dad ran a retreat, and Indy came along while we did a coffee cart event at a grand re-opening of the local childrens discovery museum. 

OCTOBER:

In October our new library opened and we took the grandkids, which they loved because Star Wars characters were there. It was VERY crowded though. We had a few warm days and spent time outside riding bikes. We also poured an planting area off our porch. 

It's also the month I work at the pumpkin patch. Of course we did the corn maze and took a tractor ride. I took advantage of a nice October day and walked around the lake while my granddaughter was at preschool. I brought. my camera along to take some photos. I also enjoy fall decorating. I usually keep it simple but I was really close to just not decorating at all. However, I found the motivation and did it. 

NOVEMBER:

Since we got an artificial tree I will decorate earlier in November. I love it. My decor is still up by the way. I plan to take it down by this weekend. I also received a special quilt from a friend who recently moved to Tennessee. She found an old cedar chest in the barn that came with the property and it was filled with old quilts. She sent me one of them. I will treasure it. I love seeing the grandkids loving being with their great grandparents (my hubby's parents)....it does make me sad that they have never gotten to experience my parents. 

My hubby and I took an extended weekend and visited an area of Oregon not far from where we live. The Willamette valley is popular for its vineyards and wineries. We had such a great time exploring the area and just relaxing. 

We also celebrated our daughters 29th birthday and took Pepper to Disney on Ice. We also hosted a friend who was visiting from Tennessee. 

DECEMBER:

Christmas was a fun time of gathering around the tables enjoying friends and family. This year we added in playing some fun group games that my hubby put together, complete with prizes. Even the little ones joined in. 

I did a little baking, only three things. Caramel corn, PB fudge and Italian sprinkle cookies (anginetti). I also joined in with Jo Traceys BKD cookbook club's challenge and made chocolate shortbread cookies from the designated cookbook. 

It was also my birthday in December. I turned 56. Hubby got me a neat book themed box, along with a book and a puzzle. He was gone over my birthday as was my oldest daughter. I had a few of my coworkers up and another friend (my daughter had invited a few and was trying to surprise me). The funny part was that my MIL dropped a cake off for me at work, my daughter made me a cake and another co-worker dropped off a cake...so I had three cakes. We also spent a few nights in Seabrook with the family. My hubby was doing it to celebrate my birthday (kind of). He knows I love Christmas and they decorate the town and homes in a way he knew I'd enjoy. 

I hope you enjoyed my update. Hopefully next year I can do a bit of a better job of being more prepared. I'm looking forward to 2025 and all it has in store. I don't have a word of the year. I'm not sure if I will choose one. 

With Joy Unquenchable,

Kirstin