Ugh. Just ugh. This is my kid's school district. I will keep saying DEI and standing up for students of color, disabled students, ELL, and lgbTqia+ students.

Some photos from the last month. It's a winter wonderland now with the ground covered in snow. I love that the sun melts the top of the snow, and when you step on it, it's like cracking creme brulee.

Here's some of our life in January.

Today, I appreciate the little joys that I can. This goose landing in the water with the steam rising from the river is one of them. No, it's not a hot spring. But nature's ability to keep rivers running when it is -7 out is amazing.

I'm so grateful for the time spent with other women, like over the coffee with matching hearts. Friends bring some joy into a very tough world.

I'm venturing into my old lady era and skipping this whole middle age business. I'm almost done with my daughter's blanket and am going to mess around and figure out all the terminology before starting my next project.

Advice for today.

How I make meal prep work:
1. Write amounts I need in my planner, a week ahead.
2. Make breakfast, prep snacks, fill a 36oz. water bottle.
3. Eat breakfast.
4. AM snack and water bottle come with me. PM snack: fridge.
5. Lunch at home, grab PM snack.
6. Make dinner. Prep grains for next day.

I've encountered a lot of people with strong emotions in the last week. I'm telling myself two things: "Meet them where they're at" and "Let them". Everybody is fighting battles we don't know about. Responding with kindness and patience is the hard bit higher road to take.

Wisconsin, sometimes you can be very pretty.

The best birthday parties end with a sleepover in a blanket fort.