A Simple Hello: Ms. Bean Goes For A Car Ride AND Returns To Blogging

/ Ally Bean

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A few days before Christmas Day I realized I hadn’t driven my car in over a month. How very 2020 is that, I ask you?

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To remedy this situation I decided that we, that being Zen-Den and I, would go for a car ride to make sure that my sweet old car, now 18 years old, was still working.  She was.

~ • ~

Inspired by the beautiful clear December day, we went to a city park where instead of walking, we drove around to see what we could see.  A different way for us to enjoy a park, but considering everything about 2020 was unique, it seemed fitting.

~ • ~

A few people were outside walking, but for the most part we were by ourselves. I, of course, snapped a few photos to share here because what’s the point of having a camera in your cell phone if’n you don’t use it? I mean, really?

~ • ~

Thus with this little vignette of a day in the life of Ms. Bean, I’m back here in the blogosphere with a renewed sense of vigor and, I hope you’ll agree, a snazzy new template for The Spectacled Bean. It was time for a change here.

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Also, for those readers who care about such things, I’ve decided on my word of the year. *drum roll please* In deference to my good intentions gone awry by things outside my control in 2020, I’ve decided to reuse my 2020 word of the year.  Yes, my #OneWord365 is going to be SIMPLIFY.  Again. 

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186 thoughts on “A Simple Hello: Ms. Bean Goes For A Car Ride AND Returns To Blogging”

  2. Welcome back–did you enjoy your Internet holiday?

    I think I went about 4 or 5 months without filling up my gas tank last year. Definitely a first! I had a friend who took advantage of her insurance company’s offer to keep one car parked and only pay minimal insurance. If my spouse wasn’t considered essential, we’d have done that for sure.

    Liked by 5 people

    • AutumnAshbough, yes I enjoyed just being me, doing whatever, without the need/desire to post about it.

      The same situation here about the insurance. Thus we pay as if we use our cars when in actuality we don’t. Strange days indeed.

      Liked by 2 people

      • Blah, not cool. In California the insurance regulator or whomever made the insurance companies give people a break if they were driving less, which almost everyone is. So our premiums did come down, since we are all working from home and never go anywhere other than the grocery store.

        Liked by 1 person

  4. It’s good to be back in blog world. I am in a major restart mode myself. Lots of blog management is in my near future, finishing my novel, and (crossing fingers here) finally a trip abroad since I’m realizing I haven’t been abroad since I got married. That was not the life I intended to live! Time to start living!

    Liked by 6 people

  6. “Simplify”. A perfect choice – again. This last year has made many rethink complex vs simple.
    That’s a lovely park ( and I’m sure the car has sighed about feeling neglected…after all, sure she wonders why she must suffer even though she can’t get sick. HAHA)
    The blog format looks stellar..may prod me not a redo sooner or later.
    Anyway, cheered to see you’re back and ready to write. a(nd what good is a cell phone if you’re not taking pictures – so true HAHA. Cracked me up!)

    Liked by 3 people

    • philmouse, you’re right about rethinking the concepts of complex versus simple. I know I’ve come to a few new decisions because of last year. I do think that my sweet old car was feeling sadly, she’s a dependable girl who likes to hit the road.

      I’m pleased the new template looks good. I fiddled around with a few but decided I liked how clean [and simple] this one looked. And about using your cell phone… I figure the darned things cost a small fortune so I want to get all I can out of mine.

      Liked by 1 person

      • Smiling at old car – we have been driving a bit to keep battery up and tires from being stuck in one spot/position. Certainly much less mileage on the car this year…so maybe it will last longer…I hate the experience of buying new cars.
        Once question about the blog update – did the change and new template alter or disrupt your older posts? I’ve held off because some have said a change moved pictures around and stuff….while loving the new clean styles, I don’t have a lot of time ( or interest) in redoing the entire bunch blog post.

        Liked by 3 people

    • nance, I was tired of seeing the primary colors on the previous template plus this one plays nice with the new block editor, so it’s a good way for me to SIMPLIFY.

      Like

    • Arlene, thanks for the compliment. I like writing here, but occasionally I need some distance from blogging. I like your WOTY. Friendship is a good way to process your life. A very good way.

      Liked by 1 person

  11. I so enjoy seeing you’ve returned Ally Bean! Sort of like running into an old friend unexpectedly after months of isolation…oh wait…that’s it exactly with a virtual twist thrown in 🙂 I have a list of words for 2021, just to cover every possibility. Right now I feel like “caution” is appropriate.

    Liked by 3 people

    • Deb, thank you. What a sweet thing to say! ❤️

      I imagine that when to comes down to it, as part of my focus on simplify, I’ll be incorporating caution this year. I want to do things, but not if doing them complicates our lives.

      Liked by 1 person

  12. Welcome back.

    Love your new avatar . . . although I’m still curious about what YOU look like . . . especially after living through a pandemic for a year . . . oh, well, curiosity killed the cat.

    My car and your car sound equally stately, proud, and under-utilized. I’ve got a 2000 Honda Civic that I use mostly to drive to and from Bridge. No Bridge? No outings for the Honda.

    Liked by 3 people

  13. Simplify is my life right now. Packing up to move and have more stuff than I know what to do with (or where it came from). I enjoy you the time for a leisurely look see at the park. Seems like I’ll never get there but I will. Good to have your back. I always like a little Bean in my week!

    Liked by 3 people

    • Kate, I’ve been thinking about you while I was off, hoping your packing was going ok. We have lots of stuff, too. I shudder just thinking about what to do with it. Thanks for taking time off to stop by here to say “hi!”

      Liked by 1 person

  14. Welcome back and happier new year! Like the new look, and looking forward to seeing posts from you again. Choosing simplify as your word again seems like a meta kinda choice–almost like there wasn’t another one possible. And ditto on the car. Can’t remember the last time I filled the gas tank. Maybe in October? Well before Thanksgiving, anyway.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Rita, I decided on a new template as a way of reminding myself that this is a new decade. And at least for this year I shall simplify. Oh yes I will… she says. Good question about when I last tanked up. I bet it was October, too.

      Like

  16. First off: Welcome back, Ms Bean! I opened a new bag of beans (for me that refers to the only beans worth opening – coffee) and they are potent…as if I’d been imbibing decaf these past months rather than the real deal…
    So, here **you** are opening 2021 with a new blog theme, full of vim and vigor – as if 2020 life zapping energy has ceased to exist…(there’s a connection there somewhere?)
    HA! aren’t you happy to read comments again?
    🙂
    Seriously, I perused your entire site…love the about page for sure especially your motto!
    peace
    Stay safe, yet cool…
    😎

    Liked by 3 people

    • Laura, I always like reading any comment from you so keep them coming. I decided it was time to shake things up on this blog, if only in the sense of how it looks. The content will remain pretty much the same.

      My motto is a result of these last few years. Once upon a time I’d not have said anything like that, but now… what the heck? It’s my truth. Be forewarned.

      Liked by 2 people

  17. Nice to see you back, Ally. I noticed your design change while in the Reader, believe it or not (the new cool icon tipped me off). Sweet re-design. It matches your Word for the year perfectly, yet looks great up on top. You’re inspiring me to bust a move myself in that department. And let’s hear it for old cars. Mine is now 14 years old and still going strong, a rear dent notwithstanding. – Marty

    Liked by 1 person

  18. Good morning, Ms. Bean! I love your park! Especially the reflections in the water. I think I’ve gone a week without driving, but I am the primary (read only) person that goes to the grocery store, so even if it’s pickup v.s. actually going inside, I still have to drive to get there. I confess to wanting to continue to drive once I’m in the car. I would love to just keep driving, say over to Lake Michigan, or down to Alabama. But the responsible adult inside my child-person says it’s not appropriate yet. So, the grocery store and back is about it. Though sometimes Katie does insist on a field trip to a field. I’m afraid to mess with my blog format…afraid I won’t know how to get it done and then I’ll be stuck. Sigh. Change is hard.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Dawn, driving through the park was fun. We usually are destination oriented when we go there, favoring one particular path. This time we drove through the whole park and could see these vistas from the car.

      I know what you mean about wanting to drive somewhere, anywhere. I keep thinking about shooting up the interstate to the next big city north or shooting down the interstate to the next big city south. Just go somewhere…

      I held my breath when I hit the button to change the template. I had no idea what would happen, but it went smoothly. I checked out about 5 contestants before I went with this one. You can preview them in WP so that helped me feel confident I could make the change work.

      Liked by 2 people

  20. Welcome back!

    I got a notice that it was time for an oil change and I checked the mileage and I’d only gone 24 miles since the last one. I need to start taking my car for rides too.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Jean, that’s funny. Courtesy of 2020, so many of us haven’t gone anywhere in our cars lately. I trust you put off getting your oil changed until you put a few more miles on your car!

      Like

  24. Welcome back! I have been waiting for you. Nice ride in the park! Using the same word for your word of the year is certainly the simplest way to choose a word! (Simplifying already!)
    I am wondering what happened to your deck stairs – did that get fixed?
    Happy New Year! So glad to be a cool kid again!

    Liked by 2 people

    • Ellen D, hello to you, too! The ride in the park was a different way for us to use the park and I’m glad we did it. Got to see things I didn’t know were there. Good point about simplifying by choosing the word I did. Hadn’t thought of that.

      The deck stairs won’t be fixed until next spring or summer… IF we can find someone to replace the deck. Getting a contractor around here is the first challenge. They are busy and booked and not all that interested in our relatively small deck. 🙄

      Like

  26. Welcome back Ally! So nice to see you and I LOVE the watercolor heading you have. I’ve been thinking of changing my space up too this year and you have inspired me. Your drive sounds so fun. I’ve been using my car a lot since I drive my son to and from work but I’ve been thinking of taking it for a spin just for fun. Happy New Year to you and ZD.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Janet the Cool Kid, I was soooo tired of the primary colors on that other template so changing the look here and making a header with these colors… well, it made me happy… tickled pink even. 😉

      Going nowhere in particular was a good way to get my old car going and turned into a low-key adventure. I mean, why not try new things, like car rides and blog templates?

      Liked by 1 person

  28. It’s a very clean, fresh template–I like it! It’s soothing. I need to do more car rides. My poor vehicle isn’t getting much use these days. It’s probably not good for it. I am envious of your blue sky!

    Liked by 2 people

    • Margaret, I liked this template for the reasons you mention. I understand about your poor vehicle. I felt the same way. Today it’s gray and gloomy here, but we do have some lovely winter days with blue skies.

      Like

  29. Glad you are back! Beautiful winter pictures.
    Unlike everyone else posting here, hubby and I have been working and driving every day. Visiting antique and thrift stores on the weekends, going to church, even traveling to Ohio to see family last week. No problems whatsoever.
    Our son that is a paramedic has done very well so far, too. He should be getting the vaccine soon.
    Looking forward to your future posts!

    Liked by 2 people

    • Beth, we stay home, do our things, and really are having a great time [considering we’re in the middle of a pandemic]. It has brought out the introversion in us, I guess. You be careful out there.

      Considering his job, I hope that B gets the vaccine soon. We’re in the fourth tier of the planned rollout so it’ll be a long while before it’ll be available to us. Yet we can wait.

      Liked by 1 person

  30. I love that you have an 18 Year Old car!! Mine is 8 and hope to keep it for at least 2 more. Glad to see you back! Simplification is always in the back of my mind…I’d give myself a 5 at realization. Hope you are way more successful than that! Cheers to a New Year, I am cautiously optimistic.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Pam, yes I have a really old car. I use her to do errands mostly, only drive at most one hour away from the house. She’s reliable and paid for a long time ago so I like her very much. I’m hoping that I do a better job of simplifying this year than last. Like you I’m cautiously optimistic on all fronts. Seems like the simplest way to approach things. 😉

      Liked by 1 person

  31. Now that you mention it I haven’t driven my car in a while either. With the husband always home he’s been tagging along on errand runs and I get to be chauffeured. A rare perk of the pandemic.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Judy, I was surprised when I realized how long it had been since I drove my car. The poor dear deserved an outing. Great point about implementing SIMPLIFY during this coming year. Time, I gots.

      Liked by 1 person

    • Natalie, Happy New Year to you, too. I decided it was time to freshen things up around here, hence the new template. Somehow it seems simpler to me. The park is one of our favorites.

      Like

  36. So nice to see you back in the blogging world again, Ally Bean. I did miss you. It’s wonderful that you were able to take a drive and get those lovely pictures. And your choice of the word Simplify is simply simplifying!

    Liked by 2 people

    • Kathy, thank you for your kind thoughts. The drive was spontaneous and showed us a different part of the park which is great. Love your last line. So simply true.

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  37. Welcome back! I like the new template and the photos of the park. Ah, winter. (and that’s as nice as I can be about that). I drove to Irish dancing last night and it dawned on me that I hadn’t driven in days. A month, I can’t imagine.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Ernie, I was surprised when I realized how long it’d been since I’d driven. I’d been places but my husband had driven his car. Time flies when you’re doing nothing, I guess.

      Like

  38. Welcome back and happy New Year, Ally. Was it easy to change templates? I’ve been thinking about that off and on for some time but I’m worried it might all go awry. (What? WP go awry? Say it ain’t so.) I’m so glad we’re able to get out into parks or for walks other places and don’t have to have all the regulations that many other countries have.

    janet

    Liked by 2 people

    • Janet, it was surprisingly easy to change my template. The last time I changed templates was over 5 years ago and it was a struggle then. This time I previewed a few templates, then went for it. I know some bloggers have had trouble when they changed their WP templates, but *for once* I wasn’t one of them.

      I agree about the luxury of going to parks. I know some people in other countries are not able to do so, thus I won’t take it for granted. Happy New Year, btw!

      Like

  39. Well, I’m simply thrilled to see you back in my blog-o-space! I can relate to the car thing. When we started out on this dystopian adventure called Covid, we had three cars (yes, there are just two of us). Now, one has been sold and one other seems to be sprouting cobwebs. We have pretty much settled on my electric car for most trips. I imagine when we start to regularly drive outside our neighborhood again, we’ll use the other car too but, for right now, it just seems like overkill.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Janis, Z-D has been talking about getting an electric car for running errands in the neighborhood. Of course my old vehicle works fine for such things now, but maybe eventually when he retires. It’s difficult to know what to do about cars when we aren’t using them that often. Strange days, indeed.

      Liked by 1 person

        • I’ve seen those cars around here. The Konas are cute as can be. As for when he plans on retiring… this is an ongoing conversation with fluid dates based on his mood of the day. In other words: WHO KNOWS?

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  40. Snazzy new digs here at Chez Bean. I changed my template in November. The end of the year is just a good time for that, yes? Look at you, recycling! SIMPLIFY! Love it. Mine is ENGAGE, since I’ve done the opposite for a few years. I’m feeling full of vigor myself, and plan to use it to try to overhaul what I see wrong in the political system (and other things, but that’s what’s got my attention at the moment). Right now, I’m going to engage with some ice cream after dinner. Happy new year and welcome back!

    Liked by 2 people

  43. Lovely pictures Ally – and snazzy new template. And I love that you’ll be continuing with simplify. Seems to me that a good guiding star word needn’t be abandoned with the turn of a calendar page. Wishing you a most wonderful 2021!

    Liked by 2 people

    • Deborah, thank you! I like your reasoning about why I kept SIMPLIFY. Turning a calendar page is arbitrary in many ways. Plus, it’s a darned useful word. Why not keep it?

      Like

  44. It’s so nice to have you back! I like the new template, too. I think ‘snazzy’ is exactly right. On top of everything else, your photos of the park are great. I can almost smell the dry leaves and such; you have a real autumn, while we’re still a little too green for my taste down here.

    I laughed at various comments about cars, driving, and such. I decided in early December to go off on a long weekend to enjoy what fall color we have, and it turned into more of an adventure than I’d anticipated. It’s a fairly short post, in which I end up choosing my song of the year, rather than a word for the year.

    Liked by 1 person

    • shoreacres, I’m pleased to be back among those who blog, but taking a break was good for me. Also it gave me time to work on getting a new template going which seems like a snazzy way to start the new year!

      I look forward to reading about your adventure that resulted in you deciding on a song of the year. I’ve never thought to pick one of those for a year, yet it makes a certain sense.

      Liked by 1 person

  48. My car is also under-used. When my sister’s battery went dead, she took it to the repair shop, and they told her she needed to drive her car more so her battery wouldn’t die. I guess your drive through the park was good for your car.

    SIMPLIFY is a good word. But not for me this year. I do need to make it my word and simplify my closets. But I’m working on some writing goals this year.

    Happy New Year, Ally.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Nicki, I know that if you don’t drive your car often enough the battery can go dead. Fortunately my car started right up so off we went. I like to think she enjoyed herself in the park.

      I look forward to reading what you complete because of your writing goals. My hope is that SIMPLIFY may ultimately lead me in the direction of some new writing goals, too. But we’ll see…

      Liked by 1 person

  49. I’m not sure how much more simple life can be than not going anywhere or doing anything, but then again, 2020 did not FEEL simple, did it? I hope that 2021 is a better year for all of us. With Biden’s win and a vaccine on the horizon, things are certainly looking up.

    Your pictures are lovely, it looks like you had a lovely day.

    Liked by 1 person

    • J, 2020 did not feel simple to me, but I take your point. In many ways with Z-D working from home our lives got simpler [no long commute] but on the other hand planning meals in advance + using curbside grocery pick-up seemed tediously complicated to me. Oh well, we are healthy so that’s good.

      Now all we have to do is get Biden in charge, wait for the vaccine, and try not to lose hope. Sure, that’s doable.

      Like

  51. Your readers are clearly welcoming you back! 😀

    I see you keep your car a long time as do I. Why change if the wheels turn and it works!
    Last week, Cliff and I got in our car, drove to St. Augustine and boarded a boat to see millions of lights along the bay edge. Millions, not an overstatement. We were masked, as other passengers, in open air, and had a jolly old time.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Marian, I agree with you about cars. I don’t have one for status, I have one for practical purposes and as long as she goes forward without excessive maintenance costs, I’m happy.

      Your holiday adventure sounds delightful. I’d do it, too— if there was something like that around here. Our world is pretty much shut down, just waiting for virus-free days, I guess.

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  52. I’ve had the same tank of gas for about two months, Ally, and it’s still over half full. Can’t say as I mind, although I notice when I drive to the grocery for a moment or two I have to think about driving as if I was doing it for the first time. So there’s that. Happy New Year to you!

    Liked by 2 people

    • Anna, thanks for stopping by. There’s lots of formal how-to-blog advice out there, but in the end I’ve found that I do best when I go with my own muse. You’ll find your way. I just know it.

      Liked by 1 person

  55. Simplify- our lives were simplified in 2020 for sure, and that’s one positive from a challenging year. I think once we can get out again we will be challenged further to continue to simplify and not return immediately to a rat race. I’m so glad you are back here to the blogosphere. 💚

    Liked by 1 person

  56. Happy 2021 Ally! I love the new banner and look!

    I chuckled over you not using the car for a month. Been there, done that in 2020. I don’t go far when I get in the car, so a full tank of gas lasts a very long time. I tend to drive either to pick up groceries/supplies or do what I did this morning – go to a local trail for a walk. It’s going to be strange, but a wonderful strange, when we are able to actually go places and fill up the gas tank once a week.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Mary, thanks. I like the colors in the header and feel the simple template reflects who I am now.

      I drive for the same reasons you do. I agree it’ll be a “wonderful strange” when I use my car again. To go places, and see people in person, and maybe even drive to another town!

      Liked by 1 person

  57. Saw your comment on Thurs. Doors, and it only then occurred to me, you went out of sight in Dec. somehow. Hope your Christmas and New Year were enjoyable. Of course I like your watercolor background in your header! Does that mean you are active now in that medium? Anyways a belated Happy New Years wish! Jesh

    Liked by 2 people

    • Junie-Jesh, I took December off from blogging and enjoyed a quiet time of living without writing about it. Thanks for looking for me here.

      The header image I created using a photograph of some fabric, then ran the photo through the Waterlogue app that turns pics into watercolor “paintings.” It’s not hand painted, but it is cheerful so it works for me.

      Liked by 1 person

  59. Welcome back to the blogosphere, Ally! Thanks for sharing your trip to the park with us. My hubby also has a car that has been driving ONCE since October! I think your word from 2020 deserves a do-over. Happy New Year! Nice new blog look!

    Liked by 3 people

    • Laurie, the trip to the park was a good reminder that you don’t have to do the same thing over again in the same way. I can understand how it is that your husband has driven his car once since October. Strange year, 2020.

      Like

  60. It really does look like it was a clear, pretty day for a car ride. Thank you for sharing your pics. Glad your car is still chuggin along!
    I love your new banner — the colors are so you! Wonderful fresh look!
    I don’t think I will ever redo my blog. It stressed me out so much to choose and learn how to make it happen. I had to ask for help. So much so, I consider myself blessed every time I see it 😉

    Liked by 2 people

    • Zazzy, my soul craved this change. I was soooo tired of the bold colors in that old template. I like your word. Serenity seems like a great way to approach 2021 after the chaos of 2020. Happy New Year, btw.

      Liked by 1 person

  62. Welcome back Ally. I noticed the profile picture before I got to the sentence that you had changed the template too. Both are very snazzy! My car is 11 years old and just over 8,000 miles on it. I have it on a trickle charger in the garage all year around to keep the battery juiced up, though I do drive it more in nice weather. I like that someone decorated the rustic fence with lights. This is a nice park and looks enjoyable for a walk or drive through.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Linda, Happy New Year! I changed the template + header + profile pic during December in anticipation of the new decade. I was soooo tired of the primary colors in the previous template.

      You drive even less than I do! I’m pleased that my old car started right up and that we got to drive around the park. I was taken with those lights on the rustic fence, too. I’ve no idea what they plugged into out where they were, but I suppose at night they must have been electrified. Why else bother to put them on the fence?

      Liked by 1 person

      • I know one day I’ll get an e-mail saying “you, with the 2010 template – time to change it!” I know it’s no longer available for starting a blog. I don’t drive much in the Winter time to begin with Ally, but this Winter I’m driving even less to avoid filling up at the gas station. I’m being ultra prudent about COVID especially since Thanksgiving. So, one less place to mingle with people and COVID. Today was a beautiful day here – yes, cold … but sunny for the first time this year! So I took the car for a 10-mile spin. I wondered where the lights plugged into and thought it would be costly to have battery-operated lights.

        Liked by 2 people

          • Ha ha – I am so behind here in Reader and on WordPress I didn’t notice, but thank you.
            This is why I cut one post out a week beginning 2021.

            You remember I noticed you were MIA and looked back at your blog to find you were taking a pause? I never got that post in Reader. Well, I published a post on New Year’s Eve to give my final miles total and send a New Year’s e-card embedded in the post. I checked in the morning – it was in Reader at 5:00 a.m. as usual … later it was missing. I wrote WP and said “it was there – what happened to it?” They didn’t know – they said “you have to clean your cache.” Aha – this was NOT the issue. I was told Firefox was the est browser for WP and to clear your cache to avoid issues. I said I use Firefox as a dedicated browser and clear it each time I write a post (so there!).

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            • It’s always something odd with WP. I try, but I’m not convinced they try as hard as I do! Anyway, onward we go, doing our best. Happy Tuesday… or whichever day on which you read this.

              Liked by 1 person

              • Yes, and I just had a WP oddity Ally. My blogiversary is February 11th. I didn’t get a notice of renewal yesterday which they always do one month beforehand. But I THINK (and could be wrong), they just remind you one month ahead they will debit your credit card on file on that anniversary date. This morning in my e-mail I had an urgent e-mail from my bank saying “unauthorized charge to your credit card.” It was WP for the renewal/domain name etc. I don’t recall that happening – it was listed as a pending charge. Now, in my Unread Comments was a message from them that read “Successful Renewal – thanks for renewing your WordPress.com plan.” Now maybe it’s because so much has happened the last year, my brain’s fogged up? But I mention it for what it’s worth and it is still Tuesday. 🙂

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    • Pistachios, Happy New Year to you, too. I’m pleased to be back to blogging and am glad that I took the risk to change my template and header. It’s a new decade and I needed a new color scheme.

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  64. Lovely park, great pictures, excellent new avatar and blog theme Ally. But most important, it’s so good to have you back, what with 2021 starting the way it has.

    So glad your car didn’t let you down. Mine has also been sat doing not very much. Himself insisted on paying for it’s annual service etc and was pleasantly surprised when it turned out to be much cheaper than expected due to it being the year we went nowhere. As a result, he was able to indulge himself in a long wished for coffee machine and bean grinder – one that is so complex, he’s still learning how to use it optimally before he can teach me 😀

    Liked by 2 people

    • Deb, thank you for the kind thoughts. I’m glad to be back to blogging even though this week has been difficult to process and left me kind of numb.

      I’m ashamed to say that I never took my sweet old car for her annual service in December. I reasoned that I hadn’t driven her much so *maybe* it could wait a few months. I love that you and Himself now have a fancy new coffee maker/bean grinder/kitchen toy. An upside of sorts to the weirdness that was 2020.

      Like

  65. My 2020 word of the year was leisure. Boy howdy did that come to fruition far more than anticipated. I think I’ll skip a word in 2021.

    Love the new look. I’m a big proponent in mixing things up occasionally!

    Liked by 2 people

    • Swinged Cat, you’re probably wise to forgo a word of the year. I chose mine with trepidation [that not being my word of the year].

      Thanks about the new template. I get bored with things so I have to change it up every once in awhile. Plus maybe this one will play nicer with WP than my old one. 🤷‍♀️

      Like

  66. Nice post…feel like u had a beautiful day photos are amazing and yeah 2020 was full of episodes and we can make a new episode with full of josh in 2021😉☺

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  67. Simplify seems like quite the fortuitous word for 2020. 2021 seems it will be the same.
    Lovely pictures! What a great idea that was of you and ZD. How did you not drive in a month!? Groceries delivered? My card is just as old as yours. Still kickin’! 🙂

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  69. A snazzy new look and the enthusiasm to go with it. Nice! Welcome back and congratulations on changing up your theme, that takes bravery! The park photos are lovely – I hope you get to go back there again and walk through it. The sunshine you captured seems like such a foreign thing in my part of the states this past week or more. I’ve lost count of days!

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    • Hey there Shelley! Happy to see you here [and back to blogging?]. I held my breath when I hit the button to change the template and miracle of miracles it worked. I was tired of the bold colors on the old template so this mellower + simpler style works for me now.

      Our days have been a mix of mild sunshine and total grayness. I hope you get a glimpse of sunlight soon. It helps keep life in perspective, I do believe.

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  70. It is amazing how much less I’m in my car. I don’t think I’ve gone an entire month, but I have had some long stretches. That park looks very peaceful. Simplify is an excellent word!! I think I’ll be incorporating some of that into 2021 as well. 🙂

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    • Amy, I was surprised when it dawned on me that I’d *forgotten* to drive my car for a month. I’ve never done that since I was 16 and got my license. The park was inviting and next time we see it on foot.

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