Some 2025 Christmas Loot

Huh. I thought I showed you my Christmas gifts almost every year. But I didn't do it for 2024, and not everything for 2023. I'm not sure I can remember without the blog post. Oh wait, I think Om helped me get a different camera last year.

Anyway, This year was a year for the feet from Steve. I found another pair of the boots I like (on eBay because the company doesn't make them any more). Steve said, "You want USED boots, Mom?"

Yup, I wear the smallest size they ever made. This is my third pair. The first ones wore out. The second ones had defective plastic, and some of the buckles broke. I've been holding the boots on with velcro straps. Not ideal but it worked. So when I found a pair in the right size that were in good shape, I sure did want them. These should last the rest of my outdoor recreation life.

And here's why these are so perfect for me. My heels are VERY narrow. Most boots just slipe and slide or pull completely off my feet. These have a velcro strap across the heel that you can tighten down. No more slipping!

Steve said that wasn't enough. So I asked him and Omer to split the cost of new hiking shoes. The ones I have aren't totally shot, but if I can do the Sheltowee Trace this coming year I'll need a reliable pair of shoes. I think these are perfect.

But Steve bought those all on his own! So Om got me a couple of books. One hasn't arrived yet. That one is Ground Cherries of the Prairie, by my friend Stan Hagemeyer. I've heard him read portions of that at writer's group for several years, so I know that will be good. The other one, pictured above, is a true crime book, The Axeman about a serial killer in New Orleans from 1910- 1916. I've almost finished it, and it's great.

I don't have pictures of what we got from Josh. He always brings a big fruit basket, which is very thoughtful. He also brought mixed nuts and the large red candle that is on the dining room table in the pictures from Christmas day.

Neither of Omer's gifts from me has arrived yet, although I have notices that both have shipped.

I got back a bit of my motivation today and edited and worked in the kitchen. Then Om and I finished watching Truth and Treason, an excellent movie of a true story from Nazi Germany.

I walked on the treadmill some more, but even with that I doubt I'll make 500 miles for the year. I find the treadmill much harder walking than outside. If you are local you know we had a only a little snow, but a serious wind was blowing it around all day. It was a good day to stay inside with a blanket and book.

See Some Christmas 2023 gifts

Puzzling Christmas

Except for putting a few pieces in a few puzzles at Cathy's house, the only jigsaw puzzle I've done since February was the small one with Miki while she was recuperating.

But it looks like the fates want me to do one soon. I got four for Christmas (from Loren, Betty, Cathy, and Omer), I bought two (secondhand) this month at prices I couldn't pass up, and the seventh one I bought on sale this summer.

Which one might I do first? This one, Cat Library, from friend Betty is sort of calling to me. We shall see.

I also have two more that Diane sent for Miki and me to do together.

Meanwhile, what am I doing. Well, the 500-mile mark is not going to happen. The weather didn't look promising, but I was thinking I'd go do 5 miles this morning before it started raining. Ha. It was already raining when I got up.

I managed to get in gear and do a few things around the house. I don't know if it's age, just fatigue at the same old, the long dark of winter, or laziness, but I am having a terrible time getting myself to do even basic chores. But I managed to improve a few small areas today.

But Omer also bought me a really good book for Christmas, which I'm having trouble putting down. On another note, neither of his gifts have arrived yet. Hopeful for soon. He's not upset that they didn't come before Christmas, but I'll be happy when they show up.

See Look Who's Feeling Better

Familiar Places

I decided I better get off my butt and take a walk today. Ever since the big NCT hike, I have been unable to get enthused about my road loops. I used to just do them without thinking about it a lot. However, I've now shown you just about every shred of variety, particularly on the 3-mile one, unless some stray wildlife happens along.

Anyway- here are the water features I usually show you. And I did actually learn something new.

This is the pond along the bypass. I've seen several interesting ducks here. But not today.

What I learned today, by looking at several different maps, is that this "pond" - not much more than a wetland, is one possible source for the Cemetery Creek (my name- it's totally unidentified on any maps).

At the link below, you can see my journey to try to follow that creek to its source, but both in summer and winter (I would link to that, but the pix have disappeared and I'm too lazy to try to find and reload them today) I ended my search at another large wetland area.

Today, I did a 4-mile loop which takes me past another wetland area I share fairly often on Johnson Rd.

There is a small drainage creek that flows out of it. It's been channelized. But look. I found a map with it showing.

Since this arm is longer, I guess technically, this is the source of the Cemetery Creek. Here's the drainage channel. You can see that it joins the other branch of the creek south of the highway (and south of the railroad tracks, and the cemetery) and heads for the Pere Marquette River.

And now, as I am completing my road loop, I pass the Cemetery Pond, which is on what I guess I'll need to call the East Branch of Cemetery Creek. This pond usually isn't very pretty. But here it is, a small body of water on my ho-hum loop, so I do share occasional pictures.

Edited, paid bills, played my game. Took this walk. Which raises a big question.

Miles hiked in 2025: 479.5. Am I going to shoot for 500? I'd need to do a 5-miler each of the four remaining days. I think I could. I have no pressing engagements. And here's another question. Om bought a cheap treadmill a month ago. I've done 6 miles on that which I haven't counted toward miles for the year. They seem like fake walking, but I suppose they could be counted.

Road loop near home: 4 miles

Stay tuned for the answers.

See A Creeklet Excursion- Revisited

Ice Is Nice

Ice is nice... when you don't have to go anywhere. Which I did not, today!

It made the pine look frosted- we didn't get enough to do damage.

I heard that the driving was bad this morning, but you can't prove it by me.

When I went on the deck to take this picture, I startled three big does. But they ran off too fast for a picture.

It was a very low key day here. I edited, I played my game. I cleaned up the kitchen. I read.

See Ice- Not So Nice Today

Christmas 2025

Quite a nice holiday, actually.

Om went and picked up Josh to ensure that he would show up. Steve called and we did gift opening with phone commentary. He's done that the past few years, but he seemed to really get into it today with me sending him pictures of the various gifts. So, that was really fun.

After the successful experiment a few days ago, I made a real batch of the low cal/carb cinnamon rolls. These turned out even better. I learned a few things the first time.

The table looks good. But wait... five plates?

Yup! Doug and Cathy were going to go spend the day with one of their daughters. But all the kids are really sick, so they are waiting a few days. That was perfect- they came and ate with us. We had ham, mashed potatoes, green beans, cranberry relish, and a low-cal chocolate dessert. That list sounds impressive, but we really kept it simple. It's also a meal that most everyone will eat.

Cathy brought a game we all played. It's called Marbles and Jokers. It's very similar to Sorry, but it will work for three to eight players, and there is more strategy to it. Doug won if anyone cares. The board is very ingenious. Each player choses a color and you hinge the sections together with a 2-D ball and socket joint to create the track.

We tried to get a family picture. Well. Josh says this is his smiling face. We couldn't find a location where the light didn't bounce off my hair. Om looks pretty good.

As is so true in most holiday homes, the day started with cleaning up the kitchen so that I could make another kitchen mess. The second one is partially cleaned up. Om took care of all the wrappings (most are fabric and bags, so it's just a matter of folding them and putting back in the box. The only paper wrapping here is on things someone else brought in.)

Cathy gave me a jigsaw puzzle. Actually, I have six new ones. I may have to start one this week. She also brought some pumpkin bread and sweet snacks. That bag of mint M&Ms got opened and devoured.

I'll share some of our loot another day. Right now, I'm beat. And too full of food.

See Food Coma