Hey there! It’s the end of the year; I feel like some parts went by way too fast, and other parts? Not nearly fast enough.
This post will (mostly) be up on New Year’s Eve and I know lots of people are traveling or otherwise offline. Let’s have a gab about … whatever you’d like, if you’d like. Yesterday folks chatted in comments on Cinnamon’s post about the holidays, fragrance, and weather. Are you looking forward to the new year? Any fun trips or exciting life events, in the past or planned/dreamed of for the future?
For Christmas I asked for (and received) Etat Libre D’Orange Remarkable People from my kids, I did a post a few months ago about stumbling across it and being entranced. It’s my first ELdO bottle and I’m thrilled to have it. Also, I’ll think of those kids when I wear it. I got books and other goodies from dear friends. In the meantime, I’m sniffing a couple of new-to-me things as I type this, which will be featured in a future post.
Book recommendation: North Woods by Daniel Mason. What an interesting, well thought out read. The “main character” is a New England home over several hundred years. All sorts of exciting things happen.
Movie recommendation: Flow, which I knew nothing about; went on a whim with my housemate because … the trailer looked cool? It’s from Latvia I think. It’s not subtitled because there’s no human dialogue. Absolutely gorgeous visually and worth seeing in the theater if it’s playing anywhere near you.
Cake recommendation: it’s sorta plain looking, but if you like molasses, this is delicious and pretty easy to make. Don’t skip the molasses whipped topping. Is molasses a U.S. thing? I don’t know what the European equivalent would be.
Okay, your turn! And happy New Year, I hope 2025 is a good one for you.
cover image: Pexels
March, I started reading North Woods at your recommendation, and I’m about a third of the way through so far. I find it remarkable–what an elegant premise, an innovative way to link all the stories. And oh man, the story about Alice and Mary–that was a doozy that I was not prepared for. Thanks for the rec!
I spent the morning at the gym, doing both regular workout as well as the PT work which AMAZINGLY seems to be working! I then went to the Run Your Ice Off 5k – it was HORRIBLE WEATHER but it was a good time (especially for me, as I didn’t run! LOL! I mos’ def ain’t about that noise)
Best part of today was spending it with good friends… and coming upon a new (to me) dish: sushi bites! Little California rolls (?) dipped in tempura and fried. OMG. I could’ve eaten the entire plate!
Happy New Year to everyone!
nothing special on New years Eve, just a lovely dinner with the BF and a sparkly wine and some arab pistachio sweets. i wore a mix of Musks Khoublai Khan and Agent Provocateur to up the roses, works really well.
Oh wow that sounds like a fantastic combo of scents! And what a perfect combo with the wine and pistachio sweets!
We did our big trip last month — 2 weeks in Europe — so 2025 will see us traveling up to Massachusetts for a family reunion in August, and also to Maine to see my husband’s college friends in June possibly. That movie sounds good. I’ll look it up. I just finished a Louise Penny book: “A World of Curiosities.” Those books are so suspenseful I end up staying up till the wee hours to finish. Wishing you a Happy New Year and lots of great posse posts in 2025!
Is that an Inspector Gamache book? I love those. Will look it up. I binge-read most of them last year I think. Hey, Mass and Maine next summer sounds perfect! Happy New Year to you as well, and thanks for stopping by and chatting 😀
I’m with Cinnamon on the fireworks & dog comforting.
May 2025 bring only good things.
Yes! I hope you and your husband find peace and comfort and good things this coming year. Let’s embrace the present as much as we can.
Thank you
Going to be a gentle day here, with Indian food for tea and battening down the hatches in anticipation of the big storm rolling in to mark the first day of the new year. In the past we’ve had fireworks at the marine training camp up the hill, which means staying awake to soothe the frightened dog. I’m really hoping the high winds will mean the whole shebang will be cancelled. Baa Humbug from me.
LOL! Fireworks at New Year’s aren’t as big a thing here, although I’m sure they will be setting them off in the neighborhood… Coco seems mostly oblivious. Did you ask about smudging? I forgot to answer. Set your intention, and think about drawing the wonderful things in (not merely chasing bad energy out.) I think it’s a more positive way to approach it. Walk the perimeter inside and out if you feel like it. Maybe a little salt and/or herbs in stagnant corners.
Not much going on here for New Year’s Eve. Thank you for Flow. I think I will like it very much. The trailer has definitely drawn me in!
I hope everyone has the best possible New Year.
And happy new year to you too! It’s going to be a quiet one for us; most nights we stay in and read. I hope you can find that movie to see somewhere, it was magical.
Happy New Year to you! I’m hoping that 2025 will touch people a little more lightly than ‘24 did (nothing happened to me, knock wood, but a bunch of friends didn’t fare as well.)
Oh, for sure. I hope things work themselves out for the better, if not the impossible best. I’ve had some friends get scary diagnoses this year.