stepping stone refresh

Here's another craft that's been on the list for a while.

This past summer, right before the neighbors tore down the house next door, I dug up a random stepping stone that had been embedded in the ground between the houses that we kinda just mowed over and ignored. 

Then it sat propped up against a post for a few months. Then one day I scrubbed it with soap and water and it sat for another few weeks before I plopped it into the middle of the driveway and spray painted it white.
Then it sat in the driveway for a few more weeks. Then today I grabbed an amazon box, a razor blade, and a garden sign that I picked up at the dollar tree a long time ago and I made a stencil. 

Grabbed some spray paint and headed back outside.

I started with a teal color, but that looked a little flat so I went back with a navy on the tips and I really like how it turned out!

Not bad for something that I dug out of the neighbor's yard :)

Crochet things

Since I decided to learn to crochet, I wanted to buy a book that I could easily reference. I know that online learning is NOT for me unless it's a quick video. I looked at a few books and decided that I liked the one sold at Hobby Lobby the best because it has nice charts and some cute projects. Then I spent about 30 minutes picking out yarn. I had no idea that they were categorized by weight and it really matters what you use! I also bought an assortment of crochet hooks and stitch markers and tapestry needles. So I started my official crochet journey at the Hobby Lobby in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.

Here are a couple things I've made while learning how to read patterns and playing with tension:

This wobbly flower. These are cute and I bought some actual flower-colored yarn to make more. I put this one on a screw outside for a little whimsy.

This lumpy little basket. I don't know if I love crocheting in a spiral because it's so easy to lose track of stitches. I can't figure out if it's lumpy because I was playing with tension or I lost track of stitches. Or both.

This partial hat. I tried making one and ignored the swatch to gauge size, and halfway through I realized I was making a hat for a GIANT. So I unraveled it and anyway it was good practice learning to read patterns and learn different stitches. This one might be better.

I found this website Yarnspirations has lots of free patterns and now that instagram has figured out I'm into crochet, I come across a lot of neat stitches and tips. So. Here we go.

2026 here we go

Quick note. I don't want to be one of those old people that tells the same stories over & over, and complains about all their health issues. Because damn that's all my parents (and FH's parents) do. I love them but I'm sensing a theme here.

Okay, time to review the past year and start a fresh one. Last year was about setting things up to develop new habits to take better care of myself physically, mentally, and financially. I think I did all right. Work got really busy, I traveled a lot, we hosted a lot of folks out here at the river... and I felt like I had no free time or energy. I blame that on the combination of schedule and hormones. I was running on autopilot most of the time without realizing it. By the end of the year, I was able to take some time off and recharge and only then did I realize just how tired and disconnected I was.

With that in mind, one of the things I want to change this year is travel less for work (I am allowed to say no when they ask), and make a point to see my people more. Now that I have my small household support system in place (the maid and grocery delivery), I think that will be easier. I still want to travel for fun once a month (except summer months when we opt to have people come to us), and I want to mix in a few camping trips this year. We already have one planned, weather-dependent. 

Physical goals: One thing I've noticed since I started doing yoga again, is that my body has really changed in the last few years. Movements that used to be easy are more difficult. I've lost strength and mobility without even realizing it. Which tells me I need to keep going. If I can lift weights twice a week and go to yoga once a week, I'm active enough in the interim that I'll be happy with that. Funny enough, it's easier to maintain a workout schedule when I travel, because there's not really much else to do.

Financial goals: We haven't looked at the budget yet, but the goals we had last year are the same this year: max out all retirement accounts and make some smart investments with the leftovers. One thing I do want to start doing is contributing monthly to a fund specifically for travel. Right now when we travel, we add up expenses and split the costs and reimburse each other. Which is really tedious. We have an extra joint account that we don't use that would be perfect for that.

Mental goals: I started to crochet to learn how to make one specific thing, but it might be fun to actually learn the stitches and how to read patterns and make some stuff. 

Cheers.