I came into the world – the writing world – as a blogger. I wrote html codes into posts and memorized sequences for links and assorted characters for italicizing. It was challenging and exciting and I eventually built great relationships with a community online. I checked their sites daily. They checked mine. It was inspiring and inclusive.

But then the blogging world began to wane as social media steadily increased. I’ve loved those outlets too, but I continue to long for the days of longer posts, numerous pictures, and online interaction on a deeper level. I don’t know that those blogging days will return as they once were, but for me…for just me…I’d like to go back to this longer form of documentation about my experiences in the world in an attempt to connect with others.

Many things have happened since I last posted on this blog in 2023. Entire parts of lives have shifted. Below are a few of the things I want to talk more about as we go along:

We moved back to the Kansas City area from our time in northern California. It has been a mixture of family excitement plus grieving a place we truly loved. My husband and I are officially retired (which lasted all of one year for my husband, who is now loving his part-time job at Lowe’s and has become a beekeeper!)

The most dramatic change has been our now two-year-old grandson and watching him grow up (you’ll hear the word ‘perfect’ a lot when I’m writing about him.)

I actually have a lot of surprising thoughts about grandparenting that I didn’t expect when going into this new role and wonder if others might find themselves in similar places.

My daughter is getting married in a couple of months. It’s been a year-long planning session which has been exciting and scary (spoiler alert: I didn’t lose the 750-thousand lbs I’d hope to get around to before the Big Day.) With many weddings come occasional side dramas. There have been those. Let’s talk about those too.

I tried a GLP-1 this year and while I didn’t lose much weight, I did lose a GREAT deal of energy and hair. Yes, hair. Boy, do I have things to write about that!

Volunteer work, moving into and updating a 1940’s home near our children, our sweetest pup, Tilly, suddenly going blind, knee replacements, family celebrations, new traditions, on and on. So very much has changed.

And yet, here we are. Very much the same in ways too. Scott and I still would rather be traveling somewhere interesting than just about anything else.

We’re always knee-deep in home projects that I’ll gladly share here. Still watering houseplants and creating, creating, creating – in a variety of ways.

I have attempted to be a bit more ‘analog’ this year. A catchword, to be sure, but a trend I’ve been excited to see from others who want to enjoy their actual lives instead of falling into the trap of comparison and false envy. I’ve been keeping various forms of journals as well as other projects that keep my hands busy and free from the scroll. Now don’t get me wrong!, I love a good brain rot while I scroll through social media daily. It’s just a little more balanced these days with some safety guardrails built in. I’d like to write a whole separate post about how optimization has stolen 2026 from me. I am an organizer by nature but I have taken it to habitual levels this year and have had to rein that in to a healthier level. Maybe you find yourself in a similar situation: prep time taking over the actual doing.

There’s so much to write about. So much to tell you, but it will take time. And TIME seems like a delicious idea. Time to flesh things out and learn as I type. The following is a loose idea of how I’d like to structure my blog writing. As the posts begin to accumulate, you’ll be able to read them in topic order, if you’d prefer. Just interested in family pictures? There will be a link for that. Just want reading recommendations? We can filter everything else out accordingly. Here’s how I plan on things unfolding:

Monday Musings

Things I’ve been thinking about lately. This is more of an essay format than photo-laden.

Tuesdays at Three Pines

Three Pines being the name of our wonky, crooked little home. Home projects and home décor. Much like you’ve seen here before. We have three pines in our backyard that make me think of the popular book series by Louise Penny. Hence, the name.

What I’m Reading Wednesday

This part will be about…well, about what I’m reading (right?!) Also about what shows we’re watching (we are habitual RE-watchers) or podcasts I’m into at the moment.

Creating

Much of what I do in life is built around creating. It’s a broad subject and I like it that way. A lot of cross-referencing will happen here since the overlap to other topics will most certainly occur.

Family and Friends Friday

Look. A girl’s just gotta brag when she has such an exceptional family, brilliant friends, and the most… perfect … grandson.

Sunday Shares

I love discovering new inspiration and I’d like to share those finds with you.

If any of this sounds interesting, please follow along. Do all the things that help us stay connected. Reading. Liking. Sharing. You know the drill. I hope to post links on Instagram and Substack but the best way to keep up to date is to follow or subscribe to this account. If you subscribe with an email address, you’ll automatically receive each post in your email. Easy as pie.

Oh dear. Did we talk about food? There will definitely be food!

As always, I appreciate you. Deeply. As a blogger, it can sometimes feel like you’re talking to yourself and that’s okay too. But I like it when I find out someone else is walking alongside.

Have a fabulous FALL week. The temperatures have finally left the hell-scape levels of summer and soon the cold and snow will be overcoming us here in the American Midwest. So for now, we walk hour by hour, soaking in as much autumnal joy as we can. I’m wishing the same for you today!

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