Best Purchases of 2025

Between Covid and the "big hike" a whole lot of things haven't happened for several years. The last year I did a "best purchases" of the year was 2020.

But I think a few things are noteworthy from this year.

For starters, after thinking about something like this for almost six months, I finally decided on the brand I wanted, and it was on sale. I bought one of these little power pruners. Most of them weigh closer to nine pounds. This one by Greenworks is four pounds. With the battery. The company makes a lot of other tools that take the same battery pack too. With this, I was able to get truly serious about some of the autumn olive. I didn't buy it until November so only a couple of complete bushes got whacked, but next year those nasty autumn olive are going to take a big hit.



It's strictly happenstance that another great purchase is lime green. It's a popular comsumer color these days.

This is the kitchen chopper I got for easier salad prep. It's holding up perfectly, and I use it regularly. It cleans up easily if you don't let stuff dry on it. I wasn't sure if I could chop the cucumber and pepper and have it stay fresh enough. But I'm keeping paper towels in the veggie tub to absorb a lot of the moisture. I'm using more towels than I like to, but I think it's worth it to not have to chop the parts of my evening salad every single day.



I'm really happy with several plants I bought, but assuming it comes back in the spring, perhaps the favorite purchase is the Lewisia 'Safira Coral.' It bloomed for nearly two months.

I think I'll include one more purchase because it just makes me happy. At the end of our Adirondack adventure in June, at a convenience store, they had some fleece blankets marked at $9.99. That seemed reasonable as a nice souvenir. When I took it to the register, it rang up at $29.99. "Oh, no," I said. I took the clerk to the display, and she did give it to me at the lower price! It's a great reminder of the Adirondacks, and cuts the drafts on my legs as I do computer work.

It is a romance map of the Adirondacks. I do love romance maps! I've also seen it as a poster, but I like being able to snuggle up with it.

Today was nasty outside. I opted not to hike before bell choir. Cathy and I are going to try tomorrow. It was raining and just above freezing. Ludington actually didn't have school because it was ice in the early morning. Betty is on her way to a warmer clime for the winter, so there will be no afternoons of crafts for now.

I did do all the usual- editing, bell choir, miscellaneous little things.

See Best Purchases 2020