I know, I know. . .it's March. But since I unintentionally dropped out of blogworld for a couple weeks, I figured I might as well start here. I tried to find ONE picture that summed up February 2026 for me:
February generally d-r-a-g-s for me. . .this year it flew, despite pivots in schedule and more time at home than expected. The month started with COLD weather, quite a bit of time with Stephen (!!), a basketball game, and gifts to purchase and give. Also a new devotional book which is one reason blogging has taken a back seat - in order to add something to your life, you also have to remove something. I've been reading and soaking in John Mark Comer's book Practicing the Way and I'm so happy to have added this to my mornings!
My birthday stretched a week this year, first with the bourbon trip, then a family party. . .and wrapped up last week with our monthly Birthday Friends dinner: 
Can you believe that??? There were 16 of us at dinner - 4 birthday girls, and gifts galore. And such thoughtful gifts too. This year the organizer asked us to list all of our favorites - favorite color, season, store, candy, snack, drink, place, holiday, etc. I gave the one who said "mimosas" as her favorite drink a set of champagne glasses, the one who is a huge animal advocate (probably the person I know best) a dog food donation to a shelter of her choice, and a friend who is a big gardener a garden decoration.
I got a lot of bubbly, chocolate mint candy, and gift certificates to Trader Joe's and Target :). Flowers and plants too, as well as a set of bourbon glasses and lake accessories, since that's my favorite place to "be" :)
We have two birthdays this month - I've already picked up their gifts since I don't know either of the ladies well - icon glasses are all the rage so I got them each a set :). These might be part of my kiddo's Easter baskets too!!
On to the Trip That Wasn't. A good friend from Coookeville who I played tennis with when we lived there wanted to do a Racquet Wars trip in February with me. We planned this back in the fall - although both November and February can be "iffy" on the east coast, I've gone in both seasons before and it truly is hit-or-miss. It was pretty easy to say "yes" to the Kiawah Island location, though, because my sister has a place for me to stay there. We were all set, plans made. . .then we started looking at the weather as Travel Day approached. Rain, rain, and more rain. And not very warm. And windy. Nothing good. Wednesday afternoon we got hold of the organizers and said we weren't going to make it. It's almost a 10-hour drive for her and close to 8 for me. With no sunshine in sight it just wasn't worth it.
On that Friday we had two matches scheduled. . .for some reason we were still on the text thread with the organizers - Saturday morning's match got moved to the afternoon, all matches went to 8-game pro-sets, and Sunday morning I woke up to a text that the courts were underwater again and they were "calling" the tournament. I hate that for everyone who went, the organizers (of course - they want everyone to get to play!) but we definitely made the right decision not to go. That is twice just this year that a trip has been thwarted (and money lost both times!) because of weather. Certainly things have got to get better as we move into spring???
Thursday night a friend invited Tom and me to play pickleball outside at some new courts in town. We knew a couple of the players and met some new ones - it was fun! That had been the first time Tom had been out this year (2026) too.
Do you see the theme here. . .???? Because I hadn't planned on being home I hadn't made any plans. . .and then things just kept coming up to do!!! Usually I play in a pickleball ladder on Sundays but, again, since I was supposed to be gone, my usual partner did something else. There is a ladies ladder on Sundays that I never play in because 4 hours of pickleball is a little too much for me. . .someone in the ladies' ladder was looking for a partner and I could say YES to her too!!! And then. . .we won :)
On that Friday we had two matches scheduled. . .for some reason we were still on the text thread with the organizers - Saturday morning's match got moved to the afternoon, all matches went to 8-game pro-sets, and Sunday morning I woke up to a text that the courts were underwater again and they were "calling" the tournament. I hate that for everyone who went, the organizers (of course - they want everyone to get to play!) but we definitely made the right decision not to go. That is twice just this year that a trip has been thwarted (and money lost both times!) because of weather. Certainly things have got to get better as we move into spring???BUT, since I wasn't in South Carolina for that weekend, I found lots of last-minute Knoxville things to do, which was fun.
Thursday night a friend invited Tom and me to play pickleball outside at some new courts in town. We knew a couple of the players and met some new ones - it was fun! That had been the first time Tom had been out this year (2026) too.A friend wanted to play singles (tennis) after work on Friday - I haven't played that in forever so I said "yes". Shortly after another tennis friend called, wondering if I could fill in with their Friday night group. Since I was going to be at that club anyway playing singles, I said "yes". It's not like Tom had expected me to be home over the weekend anyway, right?
I had already signed up for a tennis clinic Saturday (again, generally I'm home and playing pickleball Saturday mornings so rarely do the tennis clinic anymore - there was one spot left so I figured it was there for me - ha!) and the same Friday night tennis people were playing in a "triples" event Saturday at 12:30 and asked me to join them. I'd never done that before but I said, "yes". It was so.much.fun!! We came in 3rd place, only 3 points behind 2nd place!!
The day was SO BEAUTIFUL that when I got home from that, Tom and I were able to take the doggies out for a long walk at a favorite park. 
And remember, this was the last weekend of the Olympics too and we got home from church just in time to see this victory :).
Ha! The weather this February has NOT been consistent at all.Had another full busy week at work -
Friday ended up being the only day I worked from home. . .this was toward the end of the day when our friends were on their way over and I snapped a picture to say, "I can log off as soon as you get here"! We headed to the boat show, then to dinner :)
We had our beers and were ready to SHOP - ha! Connie showed up a little after this - and this is the ONLY pic of the night of the three of us: 
And checking out our favorite with him - the Cobalts :)This is the same as ours - just 20 years newer - ha!
Basically, we'll be able to afford it in 2045 ;)
This picture was GOLD - our guys matching at dinner with their plaid and boat show entry wristbands :)
We had our beers and were ready to SHOP - ha! Connie showed up a little after this - and this is the ONLY pic of the night of the three of us: 
And checking out our favorite with him - the Cobalts :)
Basically, we'll be able to afford it in 2045 ;)
It was Alan & Susan's 26th wedding anniversary - a great reason to celebrate :)
Saturday morning I got up at 615 to play pickleball at 7 a.m. There was a mixup in the schedule, a couple people weren't counted, so I bowed out since I had a full day ahead of me. . .no big deal. Got home at 7:30, we ran a couple of errands (exciting stuff in this stage of life - got a new vacuum!) and as we were sitting at this light to leave Costco I had an urge to take the picture and write a journal entry about "right now" - Feburary 28th at 9:45 a.m.
We were on the road to Chattanooga by 10:15 - we were excited to spend some time with Robert and Ellie :). They have been house-hunting so they took us to one of the neighborhoods they are considering and we were able to look at the house they're interested in (love it!!!), then we went out to eat and to a park for a hike. I have never seen the city from this view: 
And my Picture of the Day: 
We got home early enough to get the dogs out and wind down for the day. . .a good way to end the month!!
Other thing that has kept me away from blogging?
I love this show so very much. I sign up for HBO once a year so I can watch the new season: 
And because I had to sign up for the streaming service for that, I went ahead and started (and really like) 
this. Wow. I have actually cried twice watching it - a lot of these stories are so very well told. I'm pacing myself, so paid for another month. It's a lot. So well-done.
this. Wow. I have actually cried twice watching it - a lot of these stories are so very well told. I'm pacing myself, so paid for another month. It's a lot. So well-done.And my other favorite that dropped at the beginning of the month: 
I've got one episode left. . .sure it's not going to wrap up so will look forward to a new season when it comes around. Tom came into the room the other day when I was watching and said, "they still haven't wrapped this case up?" I had to explain that the case was the entire season - ha! Now it looks like it will be a bit longer. . .funny enough, Robert has just discovered this series and is in Season 2 - I'm a little jealous that he has so much left to watch! AND, Tom and I watched Miracle: The Boys of '80. So good!!
I've got one episode left. . .sure it's not going to wrap up so will look forward to a new season when it comes around. Tom came into the room the other day when I was watching and said, "they still haven't wrapped this case up?" I had to explain that the case was the entire season - ha! Now it looks like it will be a bit longer. . .funny enough, Robert has just discovered this series and is in Season 2 - I'm a little jealous that he has so much left to watch! AND, Tom and I watched Miracle: The Boys of '80. So good!!That is a LOT of hours of television for me in one month - no wonder I didn't have time to write.
As far as books I read this month, I finished this book last week:
Maybe a 4 out of 5? I liked it enough to keep reading, which is usually a good sign :). I really liked 
probably another 4 out of 5 stars. I would recommend this over Parents Weekend. I love to read, but am finding I prioritize other things. It's great to have one at my side for when I'm a passenger in the car (I was reading John Grisham's The Widow Saturday on our way to and from Chattanooga) or when I'm out with the dogs by myself I have a podcast or audio book. I currently have One Golden Summer for that. I really don't care if I finish this one, but it's on loan from the library so we'll see if I get through it or not.
Maybe a 4 out of 5? I liked it enough to keep reading, which is usually a good sign :). I really liked probably another 4 out of 5 stars. I would recommend this over Parents Weekend. I love to read, but am finding I prioritize other things. It's great to have one at my side for when I'm a passenger in the car (I was reading John Grisham's The Widow Saturday on our way to and from Chattanooga) or when I'm out with the dogs by myself I have a podcast or audio book. I currently have One Golden Summer for that. I really don't care if I finish this one, but it's on loan from the library so we'll see if I get through it or not. So. . .there you have it, a little catch up 10 weeks in the year or 1/6th of the way through 2026 already!! Wow. Blink and we'll miss it so I'm keeping my eyes WIDE OPEN.
We started the month by replanting my rubber tree 
This guy was one of those "end cap" plants at Sam's Club years ago!! This is the third time I've replanted him. . .I love watching new growth from this him :)
This guy was one of those "end cap" plants at Sam's Club years ago!! This is the third time I've replanted him. . .I love watching new growth from this him :)Now, two days into March. . .looking forward to what's ahead!!!
Let me know that you've stuck around - tell me what you are most looking forward to this month!! Both my parents have March birthdays and we have plans to celebrate my mother's 75th with her!
Love,
Jenni
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