Is anyone else challenged by a blank notebook or tablet? When I was in school (yes, I remember, I’m not that old), every new school year brought a fresh challenge to not make any mistakes or erasures. Of course it only lasted a day or two before I messed up and had to erase. That’s somewhat how a new year, 2018, feels to me. It’s a challenge to do better and be better than I was in 2017. I don’t make resolutions these days, but I do challenge myself. Maybe I won’t walk 4 miles every day and maybe I’ll give in to fast food french fries, but I can at least try to develop healthful habits. Maybe (probably) we will raise our voices when we disagree, but I can let LeRoy know that I love him in many ways every day. Anyway, I’m giving 2018 a chance to be the best year yet!
Christmas eve 2017 found us by ourselves, but we didn’t abandon the tradition of eating chili. Not just any chili, Papa’s award-winning chili con corny. It was his best effort in a long time!
We had a chance to talk or text with all the family either Christmas eve or day and they seem to be doing fine. In fact, we got our best gift of the year when we talked to Tim and Heidi and their family via Facetime. Our oldest granddaughter, Jordan, and her husband Marc are expecting their first child in August, making us great-grandparents for the first time!
This has been a week of big accomplishments around our Yuma Landing. The hot tub is working! And notice the grass that appears to be growing on the stairs?
A friend of a friend just bought a new house here and wanted the turf removed from their back yard, so we brought it to ours! This deck on our guest side had been carpeted but we had to take the carpet off since it was pretty rotten. Now it looks like this. There is also “grass” in what used to be planting beds around the casita.
Last night we went out to dinner with bus friends before going our separate ways for the rest of the evening.
We ended New Year’s Eve playing Farkle and toasting with sparkling cider. It’s so nice to have a building where we can accommodate a group of people!
Tonight was a beautiful time to catch a glimpse of the moon coming over the mountains.
Best wishes for a happy and prosperous new year!
