The first half of January was a bit of a doozy with nasty coughs and pink eye, but thankfully we are doing much better now. Without further ado, here are my favourites from the first month of 2024.

Read

I’ve decided to take on the Literary Life 2024 reading challenge which is based on reading works from all the time periods of history, but I’m going to spend two years on it. (Unfortunately I haven’t finished my first book yet, so it might take even more time! I’ll keep you posted.) Andrew and I also have a joint reading goal: reading aloud six Pulitzer Prize winners. We’re making good progress so far.

I’ve had Ella Minnow Pea on my shelf for years and I finally read it — it’s not a favourite but it was amusing. I finished Living Life Backwards in January — it’s a thought-provoking take on the book of Ecclesiastes with discussion questions. I read The Dutch House a few years ago and this time Andrew and I listened to the audiobook narrated by Tom Hanks.

Eat

For Ralph’s birthday at his request I made a cake shaped like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. So simple yet popular!

We went back to the Royal India Grill in Potsdam for the lunch buffet; it’s all so good, especially the goat briyana, lamb curry, paneer, and mango custard.

Have you tried Häagen-Dazs Irish Cream Brownie ice cream? Yum!

Do

I started Yoga with Adriene’s annual 30-day challenge on January 1st; I’m a bit behind because I decided to take Sundays off and to exercise with Andrew instead some days, but I am enjoying it as much as I have in the past. (The couple workouts have been hard but it feels good to be challenged.)

We got a membership to the North Country Children’s Museum from Andrew’s parents and have gone once so far. At first glance it seems small, but it really keeps the kids entertained with areas like a play grocery store, giant water table, puppet theatre, and Lego racetrack.

As I mentioned the Frederic Remington Art Museum had a free reception that we attended. The kids also had their first art class there. We started in the main museum and then headed to the Eva Caten Remington Education Center to make collages in the classroom. The adjoining play area with canoe, fire pit, life-size horse and moose head was a hit with the younger kids.

Listen

I listened to several new to me songs in January and this is one of them that now gets stuck in my head. (Does it remind you of Ecclesiastes?)

Meditate

Andrew and I decided to do the Five Day Bible Reading Plan this year, reading separately for the most part but keeping each other accountable. So far we’ve finished Genesis, Mark, and Galatians, as well as a sprinkling of Psalms.

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
    for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods,
    for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
    for his steadfast love endures forever” – Psalm 136:1-3