2025 Revisited

 

How is it possible that 2025 has come to an end? For some reason, it’s gone by way too quickly. I guess what they say is true. Time flies when you’re having fun.

January began with Chuck and me continuing to go to our local gym. I go twice a week, and he goes three times a week.

In February, I joined a Wellness Class at my local hospital, and after limiting my sugar intake starting in April, I lost 10 pounds. (Of course, it’s time to get back on the wagon after indulging during the holidays.)

After a friend from high school invited me to join her writing group, I spent Tuesday nights on Zoom practicing the craft. I was able to edit a children’s book I had written in 2019, and started writing a historical fiction novel. I have learned so much this past year, and I look forward to continuing to write this next year. 

In February, Chuck flew to Florida to spend time with his Dad, who had been put in hospice. Charlie passed away at the beginning of March, and Chuck returned to sell his house and get his affairs in order with his brothers' help. 

At the beginning of March, we began raising our third flock of baby chicks, only to learn that half of the six were roosters. We put them in the loafing shed instead of the library, and it was much easier and cleaner. We were able to give two roosters away and ended up with a very docile rooster, named Barry, who has done a fine job keeping the girls in line. 

Chuck was able to get fencing done around our property to hopefully raise sheep this coming spring. 

Chuck and I volunteered this year to be greeters at church. It requires a once-a-month commitment, and we have enjoyed being involved. 

The boys were all involved in sports this year. Levi played Wee Ball; Casen played football, basketball, and baseball; and Hayes played soccer. Hayes’ team ended up winning the season championship. 

Casen also began showing pigs in the spring, and Hayes showed with him in the fall. Casen won first place in showmanship and earned his first official belt buckle. 

This July, Chuck and I celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary. We had dinner at a new restaurant in Stephenville called The Seeker. We both agreed that it seemed almost impossible that forty years had gone by. 

Chuck’s big news this year was retirement after 46 years of service with his company. (TPL, TXU, Energy Future Holdings, Vistra Energy) He had a special luncheon in his honor, given by one of their vendors, SOS, and a reception at work. The Beahm family was able to attend, and that made it even more special.

He has spent the last three months working on projects around the farm. He’s in his element, puttering around the Rocking H.

My big news this year was getting my cataracts removed. It’s been nice not having to wear glasses, but it took some adjusting to coming to terms with what I really look like—that and all the dust I didn’t see before. I will need an extra laser procedure in a few months to remove a film that has grown pretty quickly on both eyes. (Not uncommon, but usually happens after a few years.)

I’ve been volunteering to read to preschoolers at the Comanche Library on Wednesdays. Levi has helped me, and I’ve really enjoyed sharing some of my favorite books and crafts with the kids. 

Chuck and I joined a book club at the De Leon library, which we really enjoy. After our once-a-month meeting, we have been exploring new eating establishments in the area. It’s been a lot of fun. 

I also took over the Retired Teachers Facebook page. I enjoy attending our monthly meetings. 

I attended a writing seminar at the Comanche Library and hope to join a new writing group forming there. 

We did not go on vacation this year, but hope to travel to New England next summer. 

My favorite thing of all is getting to watch Levi three days a week. I’ve taken him to preschool story hour at the library, and his brothers and him to Dairy Queen for Happy Hour treats. All three boys enjoy playing games on the library's computers each week. Living close by is the best!

Christmas 2025

Another wonderful Christmas is in the books. I was a little slow to decorate this year (I trimmed the tree in shifts), did a lot more last-minute shopping, and only made a few Christmas goodies, but it all worked out. 

We started the season with what has become a Christmas tradition. Brittany, the boys, and I shopped the local Comanche stores on Black Friday and ended up at Star Beau’s for lunch. The boys each got a pre-Christmas gift that day. 

I was fortunate to celebrate a Christmas get-together with my Bible Study group, the retired teachers, my wellness group, and my Yee-Haw friends. 

We were able to attend the boys' Christmas programs, a live nativity scene at Lingleville Baptist, and the last year of Faces of Christmas at our church. 

Getting together with my family on Christmas Eve has become a cherished tradition, which includes Will, Brittany, and the boys. 

We got a ping pong table for the Beahms, and I’d forgotten how fun it is to play ping pong. 

The Beahms came over Christmas afternoon, and Will cooked us delicious steaks for dinner. We had a great day together!

Yacht Rock

Well, apparently, I've been living under a rock, or more appropriately, a yacht, when it comes to music. 

Last night, for the first time, I was introduced to a genre of music I didn't know existed- Yacht Rock. Well, actually, I was familiar with it, but only under its original name, soft rock. 

If you were born in the 1900s ( as the kids like to say), you probably remember the music of the mid-seventies into the mid-eighties. 

I learned there is an actual channel, 311, on Sirius radio that plays Yacht Rock. 

Probably one of the best examples of this style of music is Christopher Cross, one of my all-time favorites.  Remembering actual albums I owned, Little River Band and even Dan Fogelberg are included on the list. 

Artists like Steely Dan, Hall & Oats, Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins, Seals & Croft, and Toto are also considered Yacht Rock. 

The term Yacht Rock was coined in 2005 by comedian J.D. Ryznar in a “mockumentary” about the soft rock of the previous era. The term was a play on the Southern California music industry and the lifestyles of the rich and famous.

It looks like I was only twenty years behind when it comes to the term, but I’ve got my radio preset on 311! 

Emergency Coke Float

Well, a real crisis was averted on Wednesday afternoon. Due to circumstances beyond our control, my youngest grandson and I could not go to Dairy Queen for his weekly treat. (His brothers were competing in UIL and we weren’t sure exactly when they would need to be picked up.)

So Mimi to the rescue. Taking inventory of the available resources, I proposed making a Coke float. The little one agreed, since it’s one of his DQ favorites, along with the vanilla shake. 

We scanned the garage refrigerator for Coke and found a lone Holiday Creamy Vanilla Coke hiding behind two Sprites. (I was to learn later why it was hiding.) 

I knew there were ice cream sandwiches in the kitchen fridge. Using the skill of a surgeon, I carefully cut off the outer chocolate cookie, leaving the pure vanilla goodness for the float.

To make it even more special, the pièce de résistance, was a fancy glass from his mother’s collection. Dropping the ice cream in the glass, followed by the creamy Coke made the perfect dessert. Adding a spoon and a straw and the boy was in sugary heaven. 

Later when I texted my daughter a picture of the masterpiece, she responded, “That’s not my last Creamy Vanilla Coke, is it?” 

Guilty as charged. She responded, “Good thing, I love that kid!”

Me too, me too!

I Can See Clearly Now

 Well you know you are officially old when you get your cataracts removed. Over the last several weeks I’ve been involved in the cataract removal process. 

I can honestly say it’s been quite seamless as my ophthalmologist has worked hand in glove with the eye center and surgery center. I’ve only had to drive to Ft. Worth for the consultation, the measurements, and twice for the actual procedure. 

All my follow-ups have been in Stephenville at my regular eye doctor’s office. I’ve really appreciated that. 

I am fortunate that we were able to get multifocal lenses that allow me not to have to wear glasses for either close-up or far-away distances. 

It’s pretty remarkable how clear everything is now. I don’t think I realized how bad it had gotten over this last year. I was requiring a lot more light, and it felt like my glasses were always smudged. 

I have to give a shout-out to Chuck, who has been my driver and helped me stay on top of my eye drops. He’s done a great job!

The only real drawback is that now I can see what I really look like. It has been somewhat shocking to see the extra lines and eye bags, but I am adjusting to my new normal. That and of course everything that needs a good cleaning!

Your Brain on Art- Day 31

 Well it looks like we are at the end of our journey. Hopefully you’ve been inspired to include an aesthetic mindset in your life. 

What does this actually look like? Well it can be as simple as picking up a bouquet of flowers from the grocery store this week to display in your kitchen. 

It could be purchasing a fancy, good smelling soap for your daily shower. I recommend checking out TJ Maxx for some good prices and unique selections. 

Doing something as simple as humming can activate the vagus nerve and  create a more peaceful feeling. 

Taking a morning walk outside is a great way to include nature in your day. 

Realizing that art is more than just a hobby, but a way of life, opens the door to incorporating it throughout your day.

Listening to music while washing the dishes, or dancing to a favorite song from your youth all are fun ways to enhance the brain. 

The authors of Your Brain on Art remind us, “The world, and its beauty, are there waiting for you.”

Hope you found some inspiration over the last thirty-one days. 

Your Brain on Art- Day 30

 I recently came across an art form that I’d never heard of before. It’s called slow drawing and is defined as, “A mindful art practice that emphasizes the process over the final product, using slow, precise movements.”

It allows you to pay closer attention to what you are drawing without the distractions that often come along. Because the focus is not on the end result you can enjoy the moment more without your inner critic weighing in. 

The process is slow and deliberate. Moving your pen or pencil more slowly makes each mark more precise. It doesn’t require anything more than a piece of paper and your favorite writing instrument. 

The most important thing to remember is not to overthink the process. Just enjoy the moment without judgment.

The benefits of slow drawing are reduced stress, mindfulness, and improved focus. 

A good resource for slow drawing is mindfulartstudio.com. Search Creating Slow Drawing Patterns for ideas. Of course, you can certainly draw from memory or copy something that has caught your eye. 

The idea is to explore another form of drawing that might not feel so intimidating.

Have you ever heard of slow drawing?