Books read in 2023...

 

Twenty twenty-three was not a banner year for my reading.  I've had a hard time since retirement with time management...getting a layout to my days that keep me productive.  Way too much time spent mindlessly on phone apps.

The images above are the 23 books that I read this year.  When I do make time to read, I am not concentrating.  About eight of the books pictured above were not really to my liking, so I would let them lie for several days or a week without picking them back up.  

I remember when a former co-worker announced that she would no longer continue reading books that she didn't enjoy, she would just stop reading them, because life was too short to read bad books.  I think she was about my current age when she decided that, and I'm about ready to follow her example.

One thing I did this year was read the Bible through chronologically (by order in which the recorded events occurred).  I had planned to read the One Year Bible again as I have done several times before.  Then a friend mentioned in late 2022 that her cousin was just finishing up reading the Bible chronologically.  I found a reading plan on line, and we discussed it a bit.  Then, thankfully, my friend agreed to commit to also do the daily readings.  We both say we wouldn't have kept at it without the other.  It seemed very difficult for some reason.  I'm glad to have done it, but I'm also glad to have it done.

Frugal Friday File 2023, December 29...

 

1.  Here we are at the last Friday of 2023.  Oh, my!  Over November and December we have spent money on new furniture and rug for the living room.  I can't remember how much of this I have mentioned, so forgive me if I repeat myself.  I sincerely hate shopping with its traffic, stops and starts, browsing, salespeople.  Hate it.  So I searched furniture styles online pretty exhaustively, then once options pared down went to a few stores for test drives.  We purchased the sofa in the city and had it delivered and set up.  Since it is made up of sectional components and has power recliners at each end, I wanted to make sure that it was set up correctly.  

     The chairs, rug, end tables, and floor lamps were all ordered online after much research and price comparisons.  They were all ordered without paying extra for assembly, so we saved a decent amount by assembling them ourselves.  We are very happy with the room now.  We are still waiting for the delivery of the area rug.  After it arrives I will take photos of the room and post.

2.  All furniture and Christmas spending has been paid without incurring interest on cards.

3.  I worked two days this week.  Money in.

4.  Carey went to visit his mom and be on hand in case of emergency while his sister was out of town for Christmas.  He stayed at sister and b-i-l's house while they were gone, so no hotel bill's this time.  (When I go we always stay at a hotel since I have back pain and headaches when sleeping on too-firm-for-me mattresses that s-i-l and b-i-l prefer.)

5.  A little late, but I did mail out a number of Christmas cards.  I found a box that I had purchased on sale after Christmas in a previous year, so no outlay for cards.  I plan on making and sending out a few more New Year cards in the next week or so.  The postage was purchased months ago.

On the menu this week:

Saturday:  homecooked freezer meal

Sunday:  Christmas supper at Kasey & Beau's

Monday:  homecooked freezer meal

Tuesday:  Campbell's soup

Wednesday:  takeout

Thursday:  Southwest Quinoa and Bean Salad

Friday:  Dublin Coddle

2024 New Year's bucket list...

 

I follow the BetterFoodGuru on Instagram.  Everything she makes looks so good; and I'm not even vegan!

Today I made this Southwest Quinoa & Bean Salad and loved it.  The dressing is heavy on cilantro, so if you hate it (did you know that there is actually a gene that makes it taste repellent to some people?) I think this would also be great with something like a Honey Mustard dressing instead.  

But I digress.  Recently the BetterFoodGuru (Sara) mentioned that instead of making New Year resolutions, to make a New Year bucket list instead.  I liked that.  It reminded me of Juhli (at The Boomer Girl's Guide) and her list of 2024 Hopes...such a good list!

So here's my own 2024 Bucket List of Hopes:

1.  Eat meatless twice a month...if we can do once a week, so much the better.

2.  Find a volunteer opportunity.

3.  Send 52 letters in 52 weeks.

4.  Read The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron and perhaps work on the daily journaling.

5.  Visit at least one friend I haven't seen in years.

Merry Christmas 2023...

Merry Christmas, friends!  We had a wonderful family gathering at Kasey and Beau's  yesterday (Christmas Eve).  

Our tree has given me a lot of joy this year.  Retirement gave me more time to decorate than I've had for awhile.  And the new living room furniture, that we've been acquiring and arranging over the past month or so, makes things feel light and free.  (Not that IT was free, hence the absence of Frugal Friday's lately.  😂)

The top photo shows the 'C' and 'K' (our initials) that I made for our very first Christmas tree in 1976.  There are a lot of handmade ornaments on the tree, and the other ornaments are full of memories.  There's a helicopter to commemorate when Carey was back to working on land again, and never had to make another offshore trip in helicopters.  There's a shamrock teapot from a trip to Ireland.  

The disco ball is always on for my little disco baby (Kasey, born in 1977) and the drummer is always on for Jared since he played in the drumline.  Lots of candy and sweets are represented (visions of sugar-plums).

And now that the grandkids are mostly grown and into places of their own, I'm starting to make ornaments for them to hang on their own trees.  

 Carey was cleaning up some trees in the yard and trimming branches last year.  I asked him if he could cut some of the larger ones into disks and drill a hole for hanging them.  A few days ago I used a wood burner to  add Christmas-y designs, and I burned our names and the year onto the back.  Later I wrote the kids' names on them, and they served as their package tags.

I wish I could send one to each person who reads this!  Wishing you all the best!