2025: A Year of Writing

 

It was a productive year for writing. By my count, I had 75 articles published this year.

Some months, I would have 4 to 6 stories to write. Other months, I'd have 10 to 12. I had to keep all those assignments and deadlines organized in my planner, and check it every day.

Telephone interviews, email interviews, in-person interviews. Research, correspondence, and a lot of coffee.

For whom did I write? Everyone and anyone!

I wrote for my small town's online news site. I wrote for two parent publications, one print and one online. I wrote for the edgy city papers. I wrote for a monthly mature living publication. I wrote for a Michigan magazine. And I even wrote for a national publication.

I wrote about authors and entrepreneurs. I wrote restaurant reviews and travel features. I wrote about local events. I wrote about home builders and businesses.

A little bit of everything, just to keep it interesting. Because if I'm not interested in the subject, then the reader won't be, either.

Which brings me to this blog.

I've struggled to keep it interesting this year.

There are many reasons. No major home repairs or remodeling. No big changes in the yard and garden. No earth-shatteringly creative craft projects.

And without these things, not a lot of interesting photos and stories.

Life is shifting. Sons are living out of state. My mother requires more and more care. I'm just finding a daily and weekly rhythm that works for me.

I will probably not be posting much on this blog in 2026.

I'm considering limiting my Instagram account to card and craft creations, and turning to Substack for my writings and ramblings.

If you are interested in any of these things, drop me a line.

Blessings to you in 2026, cafe friends!

2025: A Year of Music

 

Music became an even bigger part of my life in 2025.

I have now been playing my mountain dulcimer for 2 years this January, and I'm feeling more confident with each year. I play in jams, I play in workshops, I play out with friends for musical performances. It's been so much fun.

This year, I want to expand upon my skills with some online tutorials, and I'm hoping to attend a big festival in Michigan this July.

I'm adding another instrument to my collection. This November, I purchased a hammered dulcimer from a local seller who listed it on FB marketplace. (The free dulcimer that I'd received last fall just didn't work well for me). This beauty had everything I needed to get started, at a quarter of the price if I were to purchase it all brand new. Books, bags, tuners, hammers...the works!

It has a lovely sound, too.

I'm going to begin once-a-month workshop lessons with my instructor in January.

I had a few opportunities to listen to live music this year, like this Candlelight concert in Detroit.

I also attended a few concerts from our local Saline New Horizons Band. These were wonderful! It was great to see so many adults continuing their musical journeys.

I continued to sing with our church choir, and it's always a pleasure and privilege to make a joyful noise unto the Lord!

In 2026, I want to listen to new artists and get out to hear more live music. 

2025: A Year of Reading

 

I made it a priority to read more books in 2025. Initially, I didn't have a goal. But as months went by, I decided I wanted to read 52 books this year, one for every week.

Well, I surpassed that goal and thus far have managed to read 55.

I discovered a new world of fellow readers thanks to YouTube who shared my tastes and made some great recommendations.

I read fiction. I read non-fiction. I read mysteries. I read history. I read cozy new to me authors, and some old favorites, too. 

Reading has helped me slow down and enjoy the moment.

Here are some ways that reading has impacted my life in 2025:

Eliminates the Second Screen

Have you heard of the phenomenon of the two screens? It's being talked about a lot in recent months. Movie and TV writers and producers are now dumbing down their plot lines and scripts to take into consideration that viewers are probably only partially paying attention while scrolling on another device like a phone or tablet.

Guilty as charged.

But reading won't allow for that. You have to totally unplug for that experience, and that is a good thing.

Boosts Brain Function

A 2025 University of Florida study found that adult reading for pleasure fell 40% in the US in the past 2 decades, with only 16% of adults reading for pleasure in 2025.

And with schoolchildren? It's even worse news. Did you know that most school children do not read entire books in the classroom anymore? According to a recent article, book reading was replaced by excerpt reading when Common Core was introduced in an effort to boost standardized test performance. Instead, we have abysmal reading, writing and comprehension scores among America's school children. 

Devices are making us dumber.

Makes Conversation More Interesting

Eleanor Roosevelt is famous for saying this:

Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people.

I find my discussions and interactions with people to be richer these days. I learn so many interesting facts and read such interesting stories that seem to relate to topics at hand.

I've found a lot of great sources for books this year. I request a lot from my library. I've attended big warehouse book sales. I visit Half Price Books when I can. I find great titles at resale shops. And I'm even making a habit of pulling books off my shelves that I meant to read years ago.

As I embrace a slowing down life, I plan on reading more and perhaps adding some social elements to this as well.

Did you read many books in 2025? What were some five star picks for you?

A Few Feet From Good Health

 

I haven't talked about it much here, but it's been well over a year of dealing with foot issues.

It all started when I decided to try the shoe everyone was raving about, HOKA tennis shoes. And within a week of trying these for everyday fitness walking, I had terrible toe and heel pain which led to plantar fasciitis. I'm talking pain first thing in the morning, pain first thing at night, and a lot of pain in between.

It'd alternate between my feet, too. For one period, it was mostly my left foot. And then that got better, but it had moved to my right foot. And of course, if you are walking weird to compensate, you will end up with joint pain in your knees and hips as the day progresses.

I tried icing. I tried roller massagers. I tried swapping shoes frequently. Nothing really helped.

A month or so ago, I tripped on a bad bumpy sidewalk while walking the dog and twisted my ankle. I tried to let it heal on its own, but it got so bad I ended up in urgent care. Nothing broken, but they told me to wear a boot. So I've been using this for most of December. The plantar fasciitis has gone away, but the top of my foot is still swollen and I can't wear a lot of normal shoes just yet.

Sore feet means I can't walk long distances for fitness like I used to do. 

So my health has really declined this year, and I don't like it. Add to that a lot of post-menopausal weight gain that adds pressure on my joints, and I'm caught in a nasty cycle. 

So this next year, I'm really going to work on my health. The weight has got to go, so bye bye baked goods and comfort foods. Hello healthy eating.

I'm going to make a lot of doctor appointments that I've been putting off for too long.

And I'm going to try more Pilates and functional fitness that will keep me limber but not put pressure on my feet and joints.

I want to look and feel better than I do right now, so that will be one of my big goals.

Aging gracefully isn't easy. Most days, it feels like a game of whack-a-mole. You get one thing under control, and then another pops up. But I have to keep at it, if for no other reason than I have people who are counting on me to show up and get the work done.

Boxing Day

 

Happy Boxing Day, friends! I hope your holiday was lovely.

We had family with us for church. It was a service called Lessons and Carols. Lots of singing!

We had lots of good food and games, too!

Life is bringing many changes! Sam graduated from the University of Michigan this month, magna cum laude. So proud!

And he got a job which will be taking him to Illinois next month. So he decided to let go of the blue college hair and start fresh.

This seems like a good time to wrap things up here at the cafe.

When I began blogging, Sam was just starting his journey in education, and now that is complete.

Over the years, we've had a lot of moves and a lot of crazy dog antics.

I've made a lot of crafts and shared a lot of my creations.

I think I'm entering a new phase of life. Something slower, something that will reflect on these seasons in a more profound and purposeful way. 

I will share a few thoughts with you this coming week before I sign off. Bless you, cafe friends! I hope your year wraps up in peace and love.

Christmas Eve Eve

 

I get a little crazy on Christmas Eve Eve, trying to cram in last minute shopping and projects. Tell me I'm not alone! Please!

I started early in the morning, heading in to our downtown. And the first stop was Benny's Bakery, where they specialize in German cookies. I got a box for the family, as my mother will be coming to spend the holiday with us. 

So much easier than baking dozens of assorted cookies! We only need a few, not a few hundred.

As if I didn't have enough to do, I decided to pull out another craft project. I made a potholder for Sam's stocking, trying my best to come up with colors that were close to Maize and Blue.

I stopped in to our local cafe and bought four gift cards for our church staff. I figure they can use them for a 2026 staff lunch planning session. But then the problem: how to wrap them? And then I remembered that I have a box of these To Go Coffee Cup gift card kits, ready to assemble, from a past event that I hosted. Yes! So easy! Thank you, past self, for holding on to these so that my future self could use them to make my day a little easier!

And then that reminded me. I needed more cards for some church members. STILL making cards.

And then the mail gets delivered, and I find cards from people that I forgot to send a card to, so it's back to making MORE cards!

At last, Christmas Eve is here, and I can sit down and catch my breath. I'll be driving down to pick up my Mom this afternoon, and then it will be church, followed by fun appetizer foods, drinks, card games and Hallmark's Yule Log.

Merry Christmas, cafe friends! I pray your days are filled with God's blessings!

Little Yellow Turns Ten!

 

Ten years ago, we were living in the suburbs of Illinois and decided to get a puppy. I'd done my research, decided on English Cream golden retrievers, and found a breeder not to far away.

The puppies were born on the first day of winter, and each was given a colored ribbon collar. When I saw the one they called "Little Yellow", I knew she was the one. And then we met her and our hearts melted with her cuteness.

Mind you, she wasn't always cute. We had a rough period those first months, that's for sure! She was bitey and nippy and mischievous. They don't call puppies at this stage "land sharks" for no good reason!

But soon, she resolved herself to the fact that we were her family, like it or not. 

I learned something interesting about golden retrievers recently. Of all the dog breeds, they produce the highest levels of Oxytocin. That is the hormone often called the "love hormone". It is what mothers of newborns produce to bond with their babies. It floods their hormones with love.

This is why Goldens are known to bond so deeply with their owners. They are not independent dogs. Jemma follows me everywhere, even into the bathroom. She tries to sit on my lap, even though she's 80 pounds. When we sit at the table to eat, she's at our feet. When we sleep, she's laying curled up to our legs. When we are out in the yard working, she's by our side, guarding us from evil squirrels.

Yesterday was Jemma's 10th birthday. The Queen of the Goldens needed a crown, so I made her one!

It was a happy day. And when Jemma is happy, she smiles. 

Happy Birthday, sweet Jemma!

Hope your day is full of smiles, too!