Gretchen Rubin has often said:

The days are long, but the years are short.

Last year, my favorite boy toy and I traveled extensively, both in-state and out-of-state. Some of the trips were to see our daughter, grandsons, and bestest son-in-law. One trip was to see my Dad and family in Texas. But mostly we wandered.

I took nearly 2500 pictures last year, often with my cell phone. It’s always on me, it takes reasonably good pictures, and it’s easier to post to Facebook later.

I cooked on my Big Green Eggs. I made pork shoulders, chuck roasts, chicken, fish, ribs and all kinds of vegetables. I even made bread in the heat of the Virginia summer! I haven’t cooked on it lately – for some reason, the lids are freezing shut overnight. I don’t feel like first starting my charcoal after lunch and being up until all hours of the early morning watching over a pork shoulder.

The dogs are getting older. The miniature pinscher has to be carried up and down the stairs each time he goes out. The Vizsla no longer hops over the dog gates. The beagle has lost enough weight though that he’s out walking with me again. I never knew there were so many dirt paths at the park until he started going with me! His nose takes us all over, especially to a few favorite spots that often have Goldfish Crackers® dropped by little hands.

I learned to make kombucha. I saw Alton Brown live, for a night of laughter in downtown Richmond. I started using Spotify to play music all day at work. My Excel skills improved even more in my continuing efforts to work reasonable hours.

Last year flew by. 2018 is already going quickly but even so, I’m enjoying my life and family. It’s been fun going places, trying new things, traveling, and having some solitude at home. I look forward to more of it this year!

Virginia beagle dogs Gretchen Rubin photography Short Pump Mall travel Virginia