Happy New Year! It’s time once again to look back on the last year, and look forward to what I want to do this year.
2025 was a great year! I went to Portugal in March on a birding tour and added 100 birds to my life list, and one butterfly! Plus did a little sight-seeing. Unfortunately it rained almost every day of birding, but that’s okay. We still saw lots of birds.
And it wasn’t just in Portugal that I was able to add birds and butterflies to my life list. I added one bird (Great Crested Flycatcher) and butterfly (Great Spangled Frittilary) while at St. Brieux and one bird (Long Eared Owl) in Saskatoon.
I did lots of camping this summer. Lotty (my motorhome) and I camped at Lucien Lake, St. Brieux (twice), Memorial Lake, Kimball Lake and Outlook. It was a glorious summer!
I went to a handbell conference in Calgary this summer as well. Some challenging pieces, but lots of fun.
Activity-wise in 2025, I left the Warman Community Band and joined the Saskatoon Community Band. I’m now playing trombone in the intermediate band and bass clarinet in the concert band. I continued to sing with the Contemporary Singers at St. Martin’s United Church, and played handbells with Zodiac Tapestry Handbells. In November I began directing a brand new handbell group (Bellissimo) at St. Martin’s. I just couldn’t stand for the bells to be just sitting there any longer! And I also became a host for the Saskatoon Council on Aging’s new radio show on CFCR Community Radio. About once a month, I have an episode that I call Women and Songs. On it, I interview an interesting woman as well as play a song she has chosen that brings back a good memory for her. It’s been fun! Oh, and I did lawnbowling in the summer and am doing short mat (indoor lawnbowling) through the winter.
Quilting-wise, I now have 5 projects on the go. Which brings me to one of my goals for 2026 – finish them! BEFORE I start another one. Can I do it? The finishing part I’m pretty sure I can manage, but not sure that I won’t get caught up in something new before I finish them all. I do enjoy it though.
Other goals for 2026:
- lose 20 pounds
- lots of camping again this summer
- get my Victims of Vowel Play #3&4 printed
- make some progress in decluttering my basement
- continue enjoying life and trying new things!
That’s it. Like I said, I had a great 2025, am looking forward to a great 2026! I wish you all good health and great joy in the coming year!
