Wednesday, January 22, 2026
It’s Wednesday and that means it’s Joyce day!
1. Ice skating, skiing, sledding, snowshoeing, playing in the snow, or a snowy walk…which winter activity do you choose? Have you done any of these activities so far this winter?
I used to love ice skating! I grew up on a lake and owned my own skates. My church group took field trips to ice skating rinks in larger cities, too. I couldn’t find any photos of the lake I grew up on – darn!
I have done a snowy walk this year. We had a very snowy early December. I would choose snowy walk because it’s so fun to do with your dog!
We have lots of snow day memories from our twins’ childhood, too. It was always so exciting when they could go play in the snow.
2. Everyone is posting pictures from ten years ago on their social media sites so let’s jump on the bandwagon too. Share one photo and one thought to go with said photo from the year 2016. And maybe everyone isn’t doing this, but many are and we’re going to be part of the fun.
I guess it’s just because it’s 10 years ago…
In 2016 we left the country for the first time since having kids. Our twins were in the summer between middle and high school, and it was our goal to take them to Germany where Tom was born. It was an epic two-week trip! We stayed with Tom’s family and in hostels and it was a really special experience.
This was the first plane ride our kids ever took. We had been road trippers up until this point.
A pretty park in Tom’s mom’s hometown and the town where his three cousins and uncle lived:
The German teens ages 14-19:
Tom’s three cousins and their spouses:
The fam:
We traveled all over Germany by train. We saw Bremerhaven, Cuxhaven, Bremen, Hamburg, Munich, Schwangau (where the Neuschwanstein Castle is located), and Berlin. We spent the night in this museum just for the 14 of us! We rented two circular bicycles to see the town. It was a hoot! We walked mud flats at low tide and that was an experience.
Tom and I had been in 2000 a few months before our wedding. On that trip we took his mom, aunt, sister, and niece.
3. What’s a trend you hope disappears in this new year?
This is a hard one. Nothing is particularly bothering me at this point.
4. ‘They’ say there’s a day for everything and January 21st proves it. National Granola Bar Day. Do you like granola bars? How about just regular granola? Do you like bars of other kinds?
I used to buy the big boxes from Costco because that is all my kids would eat before school in middle and high. If I’m desperate, I will get one. My favorite is the really messy Nature’s Valley. I don’t like nuts, so it has to be granola sans nuts.
5. A frozen lake, a trickling stream, a raging river, or a deep well…which one describes something about your life right now? Elaborate as much or as little as you like.
This is a tough one. I guess I would say trickling stream right now. I have more time on my hands.
I had a really hard time with some of this week’s questions!
6. Insert your own random thought here.
It’s cold. I’m cold. I’m not built for this.
Apparently we could get 12-14 inches of snow this weekend!
I want to bake and hibernate. I found a happy medium when I baked just 6 full sized muffins with this mix:
I sprinkled some brown sugar and cinnamon on top before baking. Highly recommend!
What would you say to any of these topics?
Brrrrrrrr…….
Amy
Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa 
I’ve been fighting the urge to bake… baking and hibernating sounds wonderful! We’re supposed to possibly get up to another 9 inches of snow this weekend too and I am so bummed that it sounds like our dinner out at Hell’s Kitchen will need to be canceled. I had to make reservations a month in advance!
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Right? It just feels right! I hope you don’t have to cancel. The forecast will change a million times before all is said and done so maybe even call them and ask what you should do and how late you can cancel.
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I am grocery shopping today and slightly nervous at how much baking/cooking I will be doing this weekend, ha! How did I miss the fact that you are an ice skater? That is so cool. I have done it a few times, but man, it is hard! Have a good day friend!
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I feel that! I already did the ranch saltines but used the baby ones. I have stuff to make a last (second) batch of Chex Mix and queso for the weekend. I need something chocolate! I love to ice skate but it would probably hurt my ankles now. I do have a ice rink 5 minutes away! Should I do it? I have been to some hockey games there. I used to think ice was easier than roller. I spent lots of time ice, roller, and rollerblading. You too!
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I’ve been reading about the big storm. As of right now, we are not in its path. I did see that it looks like much of the south is in for it. YIKES- it sounds nutty how much many areas will get that are not used to getting that much. Your pics in Germany are great! My mom’s parents come from the Bremen area but my mom’s cousin whom I stayed with moved to the Bavarian region. I took a train to see a bit of the in between including Berlin. I saw the big castle while there- so amazing!! What a great first plane ride for the boys! Have a great day!
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It will change a million times before it’s all said and done.
Thank you! I adored Bremen and wished for more time there. It’s like a fairytale.
The castle was stunning!
It was epic!
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I’m not built for the snow and cold either girl- same! Love the Germany pics-what a special trip that must’ve been- I bet the boys loved it!
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Right? I am built for fall and spring – Goldilocks!
Thank you! It really was!
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I loved seeing the Germany pics. Always so fun to travel somewhere foreign with people who live there and give you a glimpse into everyday life.We might get snow. Or ice. Or nothing. Probably nothing but I wouldn’t mind a snowfall. I need to hit the store I guess because ice would mean being stuck at home. We say our blood has thinned since living south and it feels true. 40 feels freezing now and we regularly had single digit temps all winter long in NJ. I don’t miss that! Stay warm and have a great day!
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Thank you! I had to go to Facebook for those. It was huge to have locals to travel with. But, they determined the schedule more than I would have liked. I didn’t get to plan it – pros and cons.
I need to do a store run at some point, too. Tom and I feel like we aren’t tolerating the cold very well this year!
Can you imagine living north right now? I cannot!
You too!
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I loved reading about your trip to Germany! Don’t you love looking back like that? I’m always interested in what I was wearing. It’s cold here; I am freezing in the car rider line each morning, but I also still love to be getting kids out of cars. I love welcoming them each day with a smile and a “happy Wednesday” when they get out. I think the parents appreciate my smile and welcoming tone. I love EO in the snow! We’re supposed to get snow over the weekend, and I’m kind of dreading the amount that’s predicted. Chloe and Stella are going to LOVE the snow! Chloe loves it, but Stella has never seen it in person since she’s just a baby.
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Yes! I didn’t love my wardrobe for that trip! Oh well. You are the first person they see and that has a huge impact! The doggies will have so much fun – let’s hope for the fluffy kind that melts by the end of the afternoon!
It is lightly snowing now. I have plenty of food I can cook but I want to go get a few more things – I want to do beef stew and asian sticky chicken with broccoli in the next couple of days. Then, I would like to have a soup for the weekend – maybe just chili. I hate winter!
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Ha! I HATE winter too!! We have tickets to MJ this weekend and fingers crossed that it will not be canceled – I have been waiting SO LONG to see this show!! Ugh. Oh well. . .nothing we can do about the weather except be prepared I guess. And I agree with Amy, Jenn. . .your smiling face must really be a light to the students and the parents every morning!!
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I hope not, either!
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We are going to Germany for the first time this year and are really looking forward to it!! I bet that age with your boys was a really good time to go and explore, especially since you had family there too. What fun memories. I’m with you on the cold weather – WAY worse up there for sure. “Everyone” is talking about what we “might” get. . .sigh. Who knows??? Those muffins look good 🙂
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That is going to be so fun! It was! I guess I better go to the store because people do freak out!
Thanks – they are a good quick option!
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Your trip to Germany is filled with so many special moments and memories to cherish! I love all the photos! I’ll have to go back and check out my photos from 2016, too, although I really wasn’t very good about organizing photos, especially digital ones, until after that time. I think I’ll be looking for that muffin mix on my next trip to the store, too! YUM!
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I don’t know if we’re going to have snow here or not! That was a big trip for the twins’ first flight!
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I have never been ice skating on a lake, my skating was always done inside. The snowy walk does look like fun with Eddie Otis.
What a wonderful trip to Germany! Fantastic photos!
Brr! That is cold! I complain when temperatures drop here but it’s hardly ever that cold. Eek!
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I would choose ice skating. I no longer want to ski because it’s hard on the knees. I grew up roller skating all the time but I can’t do that anymore but I can ice skate. 🤷 My daughter is supposed to fly to Boston on Sunday morning. Our weather in South Texas is not looking very promising for that 😬🥶
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I love to bake in the winter, maybe because my kitchen is cold (it doesn’t get the sun it used to since I added a screened porch). Stay warm…looks like you’re in for snowmageddon this weekend! 🙂
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What a great trip! The boys must have been really excited to fly for the first time.
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