Best of 2025, by the Month

I usually do a few "best of" series at the end of a year, but I don't think I've done this before. I'll remind you (and me) of the best thing that happened in my life in each month of2025.

January 2025: This is the month the shingles was the worst. I actually managed to walk outside- a little bit- on the 26th.


Febrary 2025: On the 17th, I managed to walk 1.7 miles on natural surface and do a few other things too. Still not 100% well at that point, but doing pretty good.


March 2025: Philadelphia Flower Show. Of course everything about the trip was great. How to choose one picture? And time with Marie and many short hikes as I gained strength. The specialty displays always intrigue me, but I choose a picture of a riot of spring color at the Flower Show, because it's the boost of color in the March world that is so perfect.


April 2025: The rock garden was beginning to come alive. I choose this picture because the pink Lewisia turned out to be one of my best purchases of the year, and it looks great with the 'Black' sempervivum. This was the day I bought it; it filled out a lot and bloomed well into June.


May 2025: May was pretty awesome with a short backpacking trip (in the rain) and continued rock garden acquisitions and delights. But I choose the day I got to help with macroinvertebrate sampling on the Black River in Pigeon River Country State Forest. It's wasn't a lifetime first for me, but it had been decades since I'd done it.


June 2025: The hike in the Adirondacks- what else? Everything about it was perfect. The Adirondacks, collecting map data for the NCTA, time with hiking buddy Bill and other friends (Marie, Diane, Sara, meeting Will Brazil). Having the stamina to complete what we wanted to do. I think it was my biggest gift of the year. This is at West Canada Creek. Yeah, I look tired, and I was. But I was SO happy!

July 2025: It has to be the day Bill and I spent with Matt at NCTA getting all the data we collected in the Adirondacks actually into the mapping system. Knowing that what we did really will make a difference in the maps- and maybe keep someone from getting lost may be the high point of the whole year.


August 2025: On the road again to travel to North Dakota for the North Country Trail Trail Fest. Lots of hikes, friends and several new experiences. Marie, Diane and I traveled together. Several friends either fed us or put us up along the way. Afterwards, the three of us went to see "Dignity of Earth and Sky" the statue of a Native American woman. I don't know how to choose one picture. The point of the trip was NCT stuff, and that was great, but I'll probably only see the statue once, and it embodies the prairie adventure.


September 2025: I stayed home and thoroughly enjoyed how nicely my rock garden is filling in.


October 2025: The fall colors were spectacular this year, and I especially enjoyed getting out just to view them a few times.


November 2025: Many local adventures, one with the original Adventure Buddy, Ellen. I hiked in six new-to-me places and quite a few familiar ones. Picture is Ellen and me from several years ago, and all my hiking friends are awesome, but Ellen and I haven't managed to get together for years, so it was special.


December 2025: I think this month has to be about all the music. I managed to take in four concerts (two of which the bell choir participated in, but we were not the only performers). The bell choir played two additional times, and I really liked the Christmas medly we played. I have a hard time with holiday spirit, and the music helps.


I let myself have a vacation today. This post took a while to put together, and I started one of my bigger jigsaw puzzles.

Looking back at the year, I really do feel blessed to have had so many great events and so much beauty in my life!

See Best People Events of 2024

A Golden Morning on a Gray Afternoon

Remember, I told you that I also have two puzzles that Diane sent for Miki and me to do together?

Miki is pretty much back to normal, which is not to say she's at full strength. But she's leading a pretty much normal (if not her desired normal) life.

Today, she drove to my place and we tackled the puzzle with more pieces- 550. That's not a huge number, but it was a little harder than it looked. We are both intense and good puzzle workers. It took us about 4 1/2 hours. But neither of us was willing to stop.

It's not really blizzardy today, but gray and snowing. A good day for a puzzle. And it was fun to have someone to do it with.

Title of it is "A Golden Morning." A little goldfinch on a fencepost with golden sunflowers.

I did edit and write in the morning. Finished my Mason County Press column.

See A Puzzling Christmas

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

Bell Choir Christmas 2025- part 2

Here are the other two songs we played this Christmas season.

First is "Were You There on that Christmas Night?"



This is our most impressivie piece of the season. I made two recordings on different days, but I think this one is the best. It's a medley- you'll recognize the tunes- of a number of songs. Called "Christmas Bells Overture."



I'm posting this late, but at least I got it done!

See Bell Choir Christmas 2025- part 1

Sausage Day

This should have been taken care of a couple of weeks ago, but who would have guessed we'd get two feet of snow so early.

It was more work to get Sunny ready to cover this year because I had to get all the snow and then water off the top. But today was almost 40° and sunny, so the top was dry. The ground, however, was really wet. So I got pretty much soaked getting the straps underneath and tieing it up like a little gray sausage.

But, I got 'er done. I had high hopes for taking the trailer out at least for a couple of days this fall, but it didn't happen. Sigh. This is not the latest I've gotten it covered, but it's the first year it had that much snow on top that I had to clear!

It was a busy day. Edited, etc. Did errands, took something to Cathy's. Josh stopped by. Put Sunny to bed to hibernate. I'm rejoicing in the extra minute of daylight!

Today's LOL moment. I saw a meme with Morgan Freeman looking stern and saying "I don't know who needs to hear this, but throw away the box your phone came in."

This made me actually laugh because while hunting for my camping-themed ornaments this month, I found a box full of empty phone boxes that Om has saved, possibly from as long as we've had cell phones. I think he's actually going to recycle them now.

See Sausage Time for Sunny

Chrismons

I learned something new this week! The white and gold ornaments on some Christmas trees have a name. They are called Chrismons- a portmonteau word of Christ and monogram. They are always symbols of the Christian faith. That much I knew.

Not being raised in a liturgical church, I did not know that white and gold are the liturgical colors of the Advent season.

Just to remind you, here is the Chrismon tree at the Lutheran church next door.



This type of ornament was first created in 1957 by a woman named Frances Spencer who made all the ornaments for the Ascension Lutheran Church Christmas tree in Danville, Virginia. She said the tree was not complete until someone had the story of Christ explained to them through the symbols. So... a truly US-based tradition that has spread to many denominations and throughout the world.

Here is a small Chrismon tree at the Ludington Methodist church.

I have some closeups of the symbolic ornaments, but not all of them are great pic. I'll highlight a few.

Symbols of the trinity are always featured. These have three connected circles (a trefoil), or a triangle, or both. They represent the triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The trees also have only clear or white lights if they have lights. You can see that some have strings of white and gold beads.

This picture isn't very good, but it shows a shell. This is the symbol of baptism (because a shell can hold water), the beginning of a journey (as baptism is seen as the outward display of a serious desire to follow Christ), and spritual growth. The ribs of the shell symbolize paths to spiritual truth. Actually, I'll bet a lot of you already knew this, even if you didn't know you knew it. The shell is associated with St. James (Iago), and the Camino de Santiago- the way of St. James in Spain- uses the shell as its trail marker and symbol. I know two people who have chosen to get a small shell tattoo as a reminder of their walk of the Camino.

Behind the shell is a star- a fairly well-known symbol of Christianity not only for the Christmas star, but as a reminder that Christ is the light of the world, and we are to be the light to others.

Various kinds of crosses are alwyas found. The cross, a Roman emblem of shame and execution, became the symbol of triumph for Christians as Christ rose from the dead. You'll find any number of styles of cross. This one has something hanging from the arms. The left one is probably Alpha, but the one on the right does not look like Omega, so I'm not sure what's going on here. Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. God and Christ are called the Alpha and Omega- the beginning and the end, a symbol of their eternal nature.

If you look at the pictures of the entire trees, you'll also see sheep (Jesus as the Lamb of God who was sacrificed for our sins), doves (symbol of the Holy Spirit), circles (symbol of the eternal nature of God), the Chi Rho cross, which looks like a P with an X on the upright. These are the Greek letters chi and rho, a monogram for Christos- Christ in Greek.

Here is a crown- symbolic of our future reward in heaven, and that Christ is King.

Some other symbols that may be used are the shepherd's crook (Jesus as the Good Shepherd), the butterfly (eternal life), the rainbow (God's promise to Noah), the chalice (symbol of the Eucharist), and the anchor (God is an anchor for our soul).

I don't see any fish on these trees, but this is one of the oldest of the Christian symbols IXTHUS means fish, and it's an anagram for "Jesus Christ God's Son our Savior." Early Christians would identify themselves to each other by scratching a semicircle in the dust. If the other person completed the fish, they know it was safe to talk of spritual things.

Of course, many of these symbols are now mocked or discarded. But I like symbols. A lot. I have several books on symbology. They are great as mnemonic devices, and they are sort of like puzzles in pictures. I'm glad I learned these ornaments are called Chrismons.

And here is another full tree- this one at the Methodist Church in Manistee a few years ago.



I got quite a lot done today. Hopeful for more of the same tomorrow!

See Concert at Our Savior Lutheran