Monthly Archives: January 2026

First a quick update on the ocean rolls to tell you that this is still a project. I actually made them last weekend but I messed up and used the wrong kind of yeast. When I took them out of the refrigerator after the first step I was thinking: this is just cold dough. But I went ahead and did all the steps. They didn’t rise. When I baked them, it was basically boiling them in butter.

Did they taste good?

Yes, amazing. But visually and texturally they left a lot to be desired. I will try again but not for awhile.

Now: the book case.

I have probably posted a photo of this book case at least a half dozen time in the last 15-20 years and I bet some of the same books are still on it. I try to stay on top of them but I don’t do a very good job.

I’m not sure the last time I took a photo of this bookshelf. The two on this post are my main shelves with the “to read” or “I intend to read” or “Sure, someday I’ll get to it.” I don’t often take paper books on the bus just because I already carry so much stuff. I’m always in awe of the people who carry hardcovers on the bus. I want that to be me.

When I look at the books I already own, I always want to read them. It’s always a thrilling moment when I finish a book and it’s time to pick the next book. What am I in the mood for?

Besides the books I already own, I have a huge list of book that have been recommended that I want to read. I foolishly listen to the Fated Mates podcast where I could add a half dozen more books every week. I have friends with great taste in books. What about the Reactormag website recs? Defector also has good book recs. I also recently went back into my Goodreads (and penname’s) and found a whole bunch more books I wanted to read that I forgot about.

What an amazing problem to have.

I had coyote visitors how up on two different nights at the beginning of the year. I haven’t caught them on camera for awhile.

I wish I had better shots but I have to do with what I have.

Look how fluffy they are.

Also the opossum climbed on the deck. Look at it’s feet!

We got a gift basket from some friends for the holidays. I joked that it’s not a gift basket, it’s a gift boat.

Tonight we are building our dinner around opening this up. I think it’s going to be fun.

I got a puzzle caddy for Christmas!

I already finished one puzzle and this is a second my brother-in-law loaned me from his stash.

I have never had such a challenge doing the edges. Usually I do the edges first. But the edge is almost entirely black or very dark and some of the pieces look like they fit together but then maybe don’t fit together so I went from the top down. Now I’m at the very last hardest part.

I listened to a bunch of podcasts and saved TedTalks and I finished an LLM class on how to write prompts. And I finished the wonderful The Ministry of Time.

Final update: my bootie is better!

Last month I wrote about how I injured a muscle that resulted in severe bootie pain. It hurt to stand up, sit down, and lie down. It was hard to walk. At 8 weeks I am at a solid 95%. It does spasm or ache sometimes and there is still limited mobility and strength but it’s getting better every day. I am faithfully doing PT strengthening and stretching exercises. And whew! Because that has been very unpleasant and I do not recommend.

I have been trying to write a longer post about books but I’m not getting very far. Hopefully I can posts next weekend.

My favorite winter food is hot chocolate. I have written about this before. I make it with milk and cocoa — not the sugary packets.

Many years ago we were in Bend, Oregon and my husband brought me an ocean roll from the local bakery. It was a life-changing delicious treat.

I have a recipe — I’m not sure where I got it. Maybe it’s a different cardamom roll. That’s not the story.

The story is how I plan to bake these every holiday season and every holiday season passes and I did not make the ocean rolls.

Bob won a frother like this at some conference and it sat in a drawer for years until one day I tried it in my hot chocolate. My hot chocolate has never been the same. The frother finally died and I had to buy a new one which was still inexpensive. Little gadget that’s actually worth it.

This year I finally cleared up how this happens.

At the beginning of the holiday season I get out all the baking I plan to do. Usually 2-3 cookies and 1-2 pies depending on where we’re going or who is coming over for what.

Most of the baking is at the beginning. Then we have all these goodies sitting around plus what people gift us.

Then I’ll decide to make the ocean rolls later – maybe for New Year’s Day.

Except by then we have been eating treats every day for weeks. Plus my birthday treats.

Just to be clear, I’m not complaining about treats but there is a point when I’ve had enough treats and I want to be done with treats and cut back to more normal consumption so I can continue to button my pants.

So the ocean rolls get put away to make next year.

Maybe I’ll try to think of ocean rolls as something I make at the end of January or for some other time of year because I’d really like some.