January 2026
January 31, 2025 Saturday - The first photoshoot I did for Sparkle was for this cookie, her PB&J back in 2021. I remember being amazed by the flavor of this first cookie. She has gone on to make some of the most incredible flavors I’ve ever had in a cookie. Little did I know she would also become such a dear friend.
January 30, 2025 Friday - About 6 weeks ago, this brindle puppy was available for adoption. I was still thinking if I got another pup, I should wait until after the wedding. She’s available again; her family brought her back. I went to go see her today, and she’s so adorable. I’ve got my fingers crossed that she’s still available when I get back.
January 29, 2025 Thursday - My dear cookie-making friend has been very productive while being cooped up with this weather. She sent me a sampler box with lots of goodies. This is one of my all-time favorites, her Cinnamon Roll Cookie. Like real cinnamon rolls, the middle bite is the best. I still distinctly remember the first time I tried one of these.
January 28, 2025 Wednesday - My nephew’s daughter is so sweet. She does a lot of baking and snack making. She made some small cakes and brought one over for me. She brought it over late in the afternoon, and it was still a little bit warm. Of course, I had to have a little bite to make sure it would be a good dessert after dinner.
January 27, 2025 Tuesday - There are times when I don’t leave the house for days, and it doesn’t bother me. It’s only been a few days of being cooped up, and I’ve been craving a good burger or some pizza. Have I mentioned how disappointing the restaurants are here in Burleson? I miss all the great food near my old place in Dallas.
January 26, 2025 Monday - This cold weather has all of us not really wanting to go for long walks in the evening. After work, I took the pups out, and with the bright moon out tonight, the ground looked a bit like a big slab of marble. I took the pups back in and then came out to get this photo. I love all the trees in the front yard.
January 25, 2025 Sunday - The bad weather came in with the cold temperatures yesterday afternoon. When we came out for our potty break this morning, I turned around and couldn’t find Biscuit. She came out to pee and poop just past the driveway and then went straight back to the door.
January 24, 2025 Saturday - Today got off to a great start. I woke up when my brother called to invite me over for menudo. That’s good any morning but on super cold morning like today it really hit the spot. I could hear chirping while we had breakfast. They had a few new baby chicks hatch in the last day or two.
January 23, 2025 Friday - The weather is finally turning really cold today and the warm socks I usually wear are not quite enough. I never think to pull these out until my feet are really cold. I’ve have these for over 15 years and they look it. I’m afraid to put them in the washing machine since they’re full of feathers.
January 22, 2025 Thursday - The coming weather is all anybody can talk about lately. 60+ hours below freezing!!! I’m dreading my electric bill way more than the weather. That being said, all I could do to prepare was to make a big batch of soup. I still have a little bit of chili and tomato soup in the fridge. And at some point, I’ll make a big pot of stew too.
January 21, 2025 Wednesday - I’m getting close to wrapping up this freelance project for the grooming company. I did a groomer recruitment video and this brand story video. I worked on the client edits tonight. Hopefully, this will be the last or next-to-last round of edits for this one. It’s making me want to quit my job and become a dog groomer. Hahaha
January 20, 2025 Tuesday - I’ve made this tomato soup a few times now, and I’ve always debated whether to strain the soup or not. Normally, I don’t mind the chunky bits of carrot, celery, and garlic. After having this for dinner, I think I’ll strain the last bit of soup to see if it’s really worth doing. I did go a little heavy with the hot sauce, but it’s still really good.
January 19, 2025 Monday - I totally forgot about our new meeting schedule today. I left to go meet my brother and SIL for lunch. Just as I sat down, I got a notification for our meeting. Oops. Walking out of the restaurant, I saw a bunch of paw prints across my hood and up the windshield. It’s a good thing I have a monthly subscription to the carwash.
January 18, 2025 Sunday - Today, as I was taking the pups for a walk, I passed this little dandelion growing next to the driveway. The way the sun was hitting it, they looked like little glowing balls. I went in, grabbed my camera, and got this photo while the dogs were barking at the door. They’re ready for dinner.
January 17, 2025 Saturday - Mom used to make a quick and easy chili. I wouldn’t call it a real chili, but it is really good with crackers, a bit of sour cream, and lots of cheddar cheese. I’ve doctored up Mom’s recipe a bit over the years. It’s not the greatest, but it’s quick and easy and really satisfying on a cold day.
January 16, 2025 Friday - This is about 20 minutes after I washed my car. Shortly after I bought my new car, the person in charge of the roads extended the sides of a bunch of the roads out here with white gravel. My car will never be clean again. I washed the car on the way home, drove home, and then drove to Target. The water droplets on the back were covered in the dust and dried like this.
January 15, 2025 Thursday - A while back, I pulled out one of Dad’s old measuring tapes. I’m planning on making a set of stairs for the side door here. About the third time I pulled the tape out, it broke and rolled up, leaving me with a 20-inch ruler now. I guess Dad wore out this tape measure before he put it down for the last time.
January 14, 2025 Wednesday - On days when I’m not too busy and I don’t have to do any video work, I’ll work at least part of the day from the couch. I’m a sucker for this face. He knows that if I’m in the kitchen, he can come in and give me a look and get a little something from me. I got this photo of Zak while he was chilling on the other couch.
January 13, 2025 Tuesday - One of my good friend’s birthdays was in the middle of last month. We’re finally getting around to celebrating it and my half-birthday. We ordered cannoli for each of us, and then they surprised us with a dish of spumoni with a candle for her to make a wish. I wish there was one of these restaurants in Burleson.
January 12, 2025 Monday - I’ve been wanting to make some other kind of soup for a while. Today was finally the day. The downside is the quantity of tomatoes it takes compared to the quantity of soup it makes. I roasted a bunch of tomatoes and other ingredients and then put it all in the blender with some honey, hot sauce, and half-and-half. Not too shabby.
January 11, 2025 Sunday - Today I slept in a bit. I did a little bit of work that morning too. My friend’s daughter beat a few boys to win her tennis tournament today, so in addition to the guac I made, I picked up some special ice cream treats for her. My friend and I had our own special treats out on the patio.
January 10, 2025 Saturday - I worked almost all day on a freelance gig. Except for getting out with the pups for our walks. We also did take a break to go into town to get some breakfast tacos for dinner. After dinner, I came back and spent the evening on the couch building this new Lego set.
January 9, 2025 Friday - This week I haven’t been sleeping well or enough. So by the time I was done with work, I was way too tired to take the pups out for dinner. I don’t remember what we did for dinner, but I know we went to bed kind of early. I got this photo on our evening walk. Something was flying up there.
January 8, 2025 Thursday - After work, I went with a bunch of the family to see my nephew’s daughter’s basketball game. Earlier in the day, my sister sent over some snacks. She’s not doing me any favors. I can eat badly enough all on my own. She did also send some snacks for the pups too, but it was just regular food, nothing sweet.
January 7, 2025 Wednesday - When I sat these down on the counter, the memory of a girl I dated after high school popped into my head. She had a Pomeranian she named Mr. Addison that she took everywhere. I remember sitting next to her in the car while she ordered a burger for him at McDonald’s. I thought she was nuts. I wonder what she’d say if she could see me now!
January 6, 2025 Tuesday - After work, I took a break on the couch for a bit. I had just a few edits from my freelance client to do this evening. Late in the day, I took the pups out for our evening walk. I got this photo out front in the driveway. I love all the oak trees that fill the front yard.
January 5, 2025 Monday - Today was a lot like yesterday. I spent the day working and then most of the end of the day finishing up the video I started. Like yesterday, I didn’t get away from my desk much at all. If it weren’t for my pups, I probably would not have gotten outside at all today. The light was almost gone.
January 4, 2025 Sunday - Today I spent almost all day doing some freelance work. I’m working on a video for a mobile grooming company, so I was looking at pets most of the day. When I decided to wrap it up for the day, I opened this box of Legos and built this latest addition to my collection.
January 3, 2025 Saturday - This was a good way to start the year. I met friends to share a meal and get caught up. It’s been a long while since I saw most of them. I ordered this frozen Old Fashioned to get started. I have a bunch of work to do when I get home that will last me all day tomorrow too. It was good to have a few hours with friends today.
January 2, 2025 Friday - First day of work this year wasn’t too busy. I spent most of the day working from the couch with Biscuit and Pancake keeping me company. I don’t mind Pancake being near me; she doesn’t snore like Biscuit and Zak. They just like to rub in the fact that they’re sleeping and I’m working.
January 1, 2025 Thursday - I got home really late last night, or should I say early this morning. I slept in a bit but definitely not enough. I took a couple of naps during the day, so late in the day I was starting to feel more like myself. It was after midnight before I remembered to get a photo. Almost missed my first photo on the first day of the year. I got a few sets of Legos for Christmas.