2024 Wrap Up!

 

It's almost a new calendar year! I don't know about you but 2024 was quite a year. Sometimes it seemed to drag, other times it just seemed to be flying by and always it seemed to be a year of changes. 

I'm going to do a "wrap up" to look back on 2024.  Sometimes my daughters are interested in things like this or they wonder "when did ____ happen". I can refer back to this blog when that happens!

JANUARY

January was mild for winter in New York State. We didn't have any significant snow.  We had some dreary days and sunny days and  I found myself walking outdoors more last January than in previous years. I also read a lot more books than in past years, probably because I was embracing retirement! We finally did a little bit of snow (5 inches) in the middle of the month. 

We had the girls over at various times for comfort food dinners and we got to know a young couple from our church who are becoming great friends with our oldest girl as well as with us. 

I started getting organized to launch SoulSteps (a hiking group) in March. 

The highlight of the month for me personally was the very beginning....we welcomed in 2024 by being in Boston for First Night and spent 3 days there.  It was so much fun. 

A fave pic from the month:

first snow of 2024

FEBRUARY

I visited my uncle who lives about 45 min west of us during the middle of the month and he surprised me with photo collages in antique  frames of my dad when daddy was a boy, teen, young adult in the army and a married man...there were even a few pics of me and my sister Joy when dad and mom just had the 2 of us. It was very special and they currently reside in our guest room. 

There were mom-daughter dates with both girls and Dave and I had two movie dates with dinner ordered out in the family room which is honestly one of my fave things to do with my husband during the winter months. 

I bought some new furniture for the living room which I absolutely loved doing. 

The highlight of the month was the luminary walk I did with our oldest  daughter at our fave state park (Moreau Lake State Park) to the north of us.  The weird thing? There was absolutely no snow!!

A fave pic of the month:

starry night over Moreau Lake
photo compliments of Courtney 

MARCH

March started out mild but then we had more snow at the end of the month.  It was ok with us as we needed the moisture since it had been a fairly snow free winter. 

My youngest daughter and I had tickets to see the Royal Kiev ballet company perform in downtown Albany. It was a great night out.  We had had lunch earlier together and it was just fantastic to spend time with her. This was the highlight of the month. 

I also had breakfast out with my cousin Trisha and we had a lot of catching up to do.  It was fun....we met in my fave city to the north of us as it's a half way point between our 2 homes. 

We attended my niece Mady's early Spring Musical and that was one fantastic show. My husband, me and our oldest daughter went to the Sunday matinee.  Our youngest daughter had to work. 

Dave went on a week long missions trip to Guatemala again and brought back amazing coffee for us to enjoy! While he was gone, I had a friend over for coffee and since she is a retired PT she was able to explain in simpler terms than the doctor, what my neck x ray was showing. 

In the middle of the month, when it was very mild, I went north to where my cousin Kenny lives and he and I went out for lunch and did some walking and exploring.  I also went to some local nature preserves this month since the weather was so mild.  

My fave pic from the month of March was this heron that just wasn't spooked by me power walking close to him in a nature preserve I like to walk in. It's the closest I had ever been to one of these birds. 

Vischer Ferry Nature Preserve 

APRIL

This month was when we first started seeing some changes in my life. It was now 2 full years of Cervicogenic headaches with upper cervical issues and neck pain (which still hadn't been examined via MRI).  But this was the month my doctor finally got me into see a headache neurologist who is a woman who was determined to get me pain free. 

The beginning of the month also brought Dave and I and our 2 kayaks to Moreau Lake State Park because we won 2 spots via the NYS lottery to store our kayaks there from April 15-November 15. We were so thankful for this! 

This month also brought Dave, Courtney, and I to a local Methodist church that was doing a special Easter Cantata and the woman who was my maid of honor and who married one of Dave's friends, was performing in it. We also of course had a wonderful Easter service in our own church followed by dinner at an amazing restaurant in Saratoga Springs. 

The end of the month brought us to MA to help Dave's mom with some duties around the house as his father was now entering at home hospice care. We had a good time with them and Dave's brother and his wife for a few days. 

The highlight of the month was ,of course, the Eclipse! Sadly, Dave could not go as he had to work. Our youngest daughter also had to work although she saw part of it from the work parking lot. His brother Peter and wife Kathy came out for it and they and my self and our oldest daughter were able to get a spot up in the central part of the Adirondacks in Schroon Lake Village where we had perfect seats at the town park overlooking the lake. It was such a wonderful experience to see the world go dark for a few minutes. It was just amazing. It reminded me of how it might be when the rapture happens! 

My fave pic of the month was taken by my daughter Courtney during the eclipse. She had a special lens for her iphone camera. 

total eclipse
April 8
photo compliments of Courtney

MAY

The month started out with me planting flowers and basil in the backyard and deck pots. The flowers in the front (tulips, cherry blossoms and roses) were already in full bloom. 

Two road trips took place: one with my friend from childhood  and one with my daughter Courtney.

This month also brought 2 SoulSteps Hikes: one in the central Adirondacks and one in the Berkshires of MA. 

We also had a Saturday with my sister Hope and her husband Donny visiting us for lunch and a bonfire  all afternoon. That was a wonderful time. 

The highlight for me was probably Mother's Day. Both daughters took me out to lunch at Sake (a local Japanese restaurant I love) and then we went for a walk in a nature preserve in the town where my oldest daughter works. It was a wonderful day. 

My youngest sister Jill had brain surgery (an AVM was discovered to be the source of her fainting spells, seizures and headaches). She pulled through very well and is recovering nicely. 

I was able to attend a guided prayer and contemplation workshop at church, went solo kayaking, and had brunch with my dear friend Monica (my spiritual mentor). 

A Baroque concert, walks in the town park and nature preserves, biking, and reading on the deck also happened this month, along with a visit from my sister Hope and her husband Donny for lunch and a bonfire. 

Memorial Day weekend was laid back. I first went out to MA to see my father in law.  Little did I know that would be the last conversation we would have as he took a turn for the worse, reached his 90th birthday, saw his 34 yr old granddaughter (Beth) get married via video (the only grandchild of 7 to be married) and got to meet his great-grandson from his 21 yr old granddaughter Debi. 

The rest of Memorial Day weekend included a backyard bonfire with my oldest daughter, biking, and hiking. 

A fave pic from the month is: 

in my kayak on Moreau Lake

JUNE

June brought very warm, sunny weather. It was almost a perfect June actually although we could have used some rain. 

My father in law died the very beginning of the month and the funeral, etc was at the end of the month. All of the grandchildren were able to attend and that was a good thing in a time of sadness. 

I enjoyed time on the deck with coffee and books, bonfires in the evenings, daily walks either in the neighborhood, local town parks or bike paths, and in nature preserves. I went hiking twice in June.  

We celebrated Dave for Father's Day at a new Italian restaurant in town and decided this was now our go to place for ordering pizza. 

I wrapped up the SoulSteps Walking group in June with promises it would continue come September. 

The SoulSteps Hiking group grew even bigger and we had lots of hikes scheduled for July - November!

I finally was approved for an MRI which did indeed show some major cervical spine issues thus the cervicogenic headaches. I also finally saw some relief from the daily headaches and neck pain thanks to the hard work of my chiropractor, and the supplement the neurologist put me on. I thanked God she was on board with me doing NO prescription meds and just natural remedies. God is good!

I also had a dinner date in the mountains with my oldest girl where we sat outdoors on the lakeside patio for delicious food and drinks. 

The highlight of the month for me was our Anniversary Vacation. We stayed in my brother- in -law's 2 room camp right on Long Pond in Plymouth. It was heavenly.  They weren't using it that week and wouldn't take money for it...this was a huge blessing to us.  Dave and I enjoyed a long hot hike on the Cape Cod Canal trail which led us to Scusset Beach, a fave Cape Cod beach. 

My fave pic of the month is one I took on a morning walk in my neighborhood.

the farm on Boght Road

JULY

July in eastern New York was HOT,  HUMID and DRY! I had to cancel several hikes due to the extreme high temperatures.  The central air was on from noon until early morning almost every day. 

Trips to the mountains, the beaches (in the Adirondacks) and deep woods hikes all happened in July. One of the SoulSteps hikes was in Vermont to the 2nd tallest waterfalls in that state followed by ice cream in town. Another SoulSteps hike was up a small mountain that even my husband was willing to climb. 

July also brought Dave and I to a softball tournament where our youngest niece was playing/pitching. 

July brought Courtney's and Dave's birthday and we celebrated by going to the Star Trek Museum in Ticonderoga. It was absolutely fantastic spending the entire day up north together. 

Evenings were spent reading and drinking iced tea on the deck as it was too hot for bonfires. 

I took an early morning walk just about every day in July and it was very nice to be out of the blazing hot afternoon sun. 

A kayaking date with my friend Diane happened in July which was fun. 

I also had a couple friends over for Brunch and coffee along with a family picnic that my sister Hope and her husband Donny hosted. 

The highlight of the month was the annual date night with my youngest to the New York City Ballet when they appeared at SPAC.  It was excellent as usual although so very hot. 

A fave pic from July is of where i spent almost every morning and evening:  

our deck's sitting/reading  area

AUGUST

This was another very dry month (I think we had 2 days of rain) but less hot and humid and we were all thankful for that. 

The month included taking my niece Mady up Hurricane Mountain which stands over 3000' and is one of the harder ones to climb. It was my 4th time up and probably my last based on how my cervical spine felt afterwards. 

Several more SoulSteps hikes happened (one a week!) and several beach days/swimming days at the lakes in the mountains, sometimes alone, sometimes with my youngest daughter. One day, my sister Hope and I met in our childhood camp town and had a beach afternoon.  It was heavenly because it was hot! The lake water felt so good. 

Claire and I kayaked together and also Dave and I had our friends Darlene and Bob over for dinner one evening.  

My friend Debbie from Tennessee came up for a day of hiking and going out to lunch. That was great fun. 

The highlight of the month was my overnight road trip with my oldest daughter to the Adirondack towns above the High Peaks region!! In one town, we were only 20 minutes from Canada. We had a blast exploring six new to us villages, spending the night at a sweet Inn and eating at their bar and grill.  It was much cooler and a bit rainy the first day but the weather improved for the 2nd day. There was a hint of autumn in the air up there. 

A fave pic from the month was the place where  Courtney and I stayed: 

ADK Trail Inn
Upper Jay, NY
High Peaks region Adirondacks

SEPTEMBER

More hikes with SoulSteps members, including another mountain,  a kayaking date day with Dave and many bonfires this month due to the fact it was cooler in the evenings and very dry. We only had 1 day of rain in September (the 29th!).  It was a perfect month for hiking, kayaking and hanging out on the deck. It was also a perfect month for going to the lake beaches and my sister Joy joined me on one of those days. 

We had more friends and our daughters over for dinners/bonfires/movies. 

The highlight of this month was driving 2.5 hours northwest to another fave state park and meeting my childhood friend Cheryl there for an entire day of drinks,  food, swimming, sunning and laughing. She and I were the only ones on the beach!!  It was unbelievable given how perfect the weather was. 

Dave and I also had fun attending our friend Diane's 60th birthday party at local pub garden that her husband Scot invited us to. We had so much fun.

A fave pic of the month is one of Moffitt Beach State Park on the shores of Sacandaga Lake (not to be confused with the Great Sacandaga Resevoir/Lake). 

Moffitt Beach State Park

OCTOBER

This month continued to be very mild with perfect early autumn days and chilly evenings but also we were now in a drought.  At the end of the month, bonfires and campfires were no longer allowed due to lack of rain. 

October found me hiking more deep woods hikes with SoulSteps members and with Dave and our friend Cheryl.  A lot of time was spent in the woods and on mountains and it was heavenly. I went kayaking just once in October. 

of my 

I was also now volunteering with a group called HomeBound about once a week and taking 2 classes at church (a fitness class and a women's Bible study class). I was leading my own book group every week in my home as well and loving all the free time to prep for these things. 

A road trip in the south-western Adirondacks with my friend Cheryl to explore waterfalls and celebrate her birthday also happened. 

Dave and I took a Friday night date trip to Lake George for the Octoberfest and dinner/drinks at a fave restaurant on Glen Lake outside the village.  

The highlight of the month was the deep woods hike in a new-to-me area with my friend Joan.  We were far from civilization and it was just a perfect autumn day. 

A fave pic of the month was one I took on a hike with Joan and a new member named Jill on one of my all time fave trails in the southern Adirondacks: 

golden glory at Murphy Lakes trail

NOVEMBER

We finally had some rain this month although not a lot.  It was another mild month weather wise. Lots of sunny days. We were truly blessed this year with good weather. 

Dave and I went and brought the kayaks home. We treated ourselves out to lunch afterwards and that was a fun spontaneous date. 

I started working diligently on scraping the old paint off the deck so I can re-paint it next April or May. It's a huge project. Hopefully Dave will help me sand in Spring 2025 and I can have it all painted by Memorial Day weekend. 

I also needed an emergency tooth extraction this month  and that was NOT fun. The recovery was tough this time around. 

We started planning Christmas gifts with the girls this month. 

We also racked up 18 bags of leaves from our two maples trees and one pear tree in the back, and the 2 cherry trees in the front. We also burned alot of brush in an afternoon bonfire and one evening fire as the ban had been lifted since we had a couple days of rain. 

The highlight of the month was Thanksgiving break with most of Dave's family in Plymouth.  His oldest sister and her bf came, her daughter from Scotland came. Our two daughters were there and of course Dave's brother Peter and his wife Kathy and Dave's mom Betty. Missing was Dave's youngest sister Paula and her husband and 2 young adult children as well as Peter's son and daughter. It was smaller but we still had fun. Dave, Peter and I  went hiking the next morning because although colder, it was a gorgeous day. 

A fave pic from the month is from the day after Election Day. I was so depressed at who won this election and honestly so disgusted with most of America that I fled to Saratoga Spa State Park about 25 min north of us and spent the afternoon there eating lunch and reading/walking/praying:

Saratoga Spa State Park,
 the southern end at Geyser Brook

DECEMBER

This month has been busy but not as hectic as in years past when I was teaching full time. This month was colder, more rain, only 3 inches of snow that quickly melted, and then another 3 inches of snow that lasted until Christmas Day and then melted. 

This month brought birthday celebrations for Claire and I and more client visits at a hospital and a private home. 

It also brought a Class Brunch for the Wed class I take and I also announced to the fitness class instructor that i needed to drop out due to my cervical spine issues and the advise of the chiropractor. 

We also had 2 more SoulSteps hikes this month and they were well attended. 

Even Dave and Courtney went on one!

This month brought a family gathering after Christmas and of course the Christmas Eve service and Christmas Day with our two daughters. 

The highlight of the month for me was Christmas Day.

A fave pic from the month is this one:   

moon setting in the west
as the sun comes up behind me in the east

That pretty much sums up our year.

I hope you stay safe tonight whatever you do....for us old folks....we are staying in as Dave had to be at the office all day and our daughters have plans. We expect to have a quiet night of  dinner, drinks, maybe a movie and reading time and if we can, we will stay up to cheer in the New Year!

See you in 2025 !