My Year in Books

What I did in 2014

This post is late. Nine days late. Consider it a testament to my long year.

I became a green smoothie making master. When I make them, they are delicious. Also, very green.

I spent three months in NY taking care of my sick sister-in-law and her three kids. I spent one month in UT taking care of my sick sister-in-law and her three kids.

I learned what it is like to be a working mother and that I don't like it.

I bought and used hair product. It made waking up in the morning and getting my hair out of the way for the day so I could be a working mother much easier.

I read 69 books including 8 classics and 17 nonfiction books.

My plan to read a classic a month failed.

I visited Boston for the first time.

I visited Phoenix for the first time as an autonomous adult (I have vague memories of visiting grandparents in Phoenix when I was three or four, which clearly doesn't count).

I visited:

• Phoenix (twice)
• Boston
• Ballston Spa, NY (three times)
• San Diego 
• Iowa (for the 100th annual powwow!)
• St. George
• Park City
• Concord, MA
• Minute Man national park

I visited Orchard House and The Old Manse.

I learned that Concord grapes were developed in Concord, MA.

I learned that Paul Revere's ride was an even bigger bunch of bunk that I had heard it was but there is a large memorial gravestone and a memorial where Paul Revere was stopped on his ride anyway.

I visited the olive grove in Phoenix and saw olive trees for the first time.

I ate a peanut butter cookie made with olive oil that was delicious, unlike the peanut butter cookies with olive oil I tried to make in 2013 which were not delicious.

I wore a streak of green in my hair for eight months.

I tried about 10 varieties of apples I had never had before. I think my favorite was the Kiku apple. Yum.

I tried three varieties of pears I had never had before. I loved the starkrimsons.

I made pear butter for the first time.

I learned that if I can run four miles in May and I spend the summer not running, I probably won't be able to run four miles in November.

I bought a running hat with a hole for my ponytail. I love it.

I bought three new pairs of pants and eight new pairs of shoes. (This was clearly not a year of no spending).

I bought ten new nail polish colors, none of which I have used.

I did something that I've been putting off for over a decade. First I was in denial, then I knew but was too stubborn. Now that it's done, the rest of all my years will be better. (i.e., ma thinks there's a chance some man might actually fall in love with me now and ask me to have all his babies. Cause I'm not so grumpy anymore. The suspense might just kill her.)

I helped ma purchase 675 lindor truffles for the christmas season. The caramel ones were not delicious but the sea salt ones were very delicious.

I read the Old Testament and still don't understand most of it.

I paid off my car.

I was called to the best church calling ever. I was the fourth sunday relief society teacher, a calling I've never had before but subbed for on occasion. I was released three months later at which time I commenced weeping and wailing and gnashing my teeth.

I bought a few special issue magazines on canning but didn't can a thing.

Ma and I used more vegetables from the vegetable garden this year than ever before despite being less available to use garden things.

Among the garden things, I made a bunch of freezer, blender salsa bags. Fresh salsa all winter long.

I became an auntie to one new nephew.

I started lots of projects that I didn't finish.

I reduced my two and a half shelves of unread books to one and a half shelves.

I reduced my shoe wardrobe significantly enough that they all fit in my closet and I no longer need to keep some of my shoes under my bed.

I gave away lots of clothes to my sisters and often see them wearing things that look much better on them and get used a lot more. Win.

I learned to make a really good loaf of 18 hour bread.

I spent most of the year eating homemade bread only. No store bought for us.

I ate more black raspberry, marshmallow milkshakes than a single person should ever consume.

I finished a novel but then decided it wasn't finished and jumped back in.

I started but didn't finish a short story in October featuring the ghost of a lonely young man.

I used up 21 fat quarters from my store of fat quarters and I feel very accomplished.

I started drinking caffeine on a regular basis. I'm a nicer person with a little bit of caffeine in my system, dang genetics. I prefer my caffeine as diet coke with some delicious syrups and a bunch of half and half in it. Then it's more like candy than coke. Yum.

I started getting serious about family history work and I've made good progress.

I ran holes into several pairs of running socks.

I surprised my father with my physical strength.

I killed three house plants. They aren't particularly forgiving when you go out of town on a frequent basis.

I got a new plant a week before the end of the year. I'm sure it will be dead before the end of 2015. Poor thing.


Since we're eight days in, I'll tell you now that 2015 has been great.

I've read two books from my need to read shelf in my room.

I've bemoaned my shelf and a half of need to read books to more than one person, wishing I could spend hours picking out books at the library instead.

I've signed up for a 5k.

I've laughed with friends and family.

I pants shopped for my sister who really, really needed it.

I've exercised on some days and not exercised on others.

I taught a freaking awesome lesson on 2015 intentions.

I've experimented with wet styles (i.e., out of the shower styles) for my shorter hair. Ponytails don't work. Braided buns work better than expected.