Personal

Studying for my driver’s permit. Hoping to take the test next week. I haven’t driven a car in 30 years. Wish me luck. The road should be nervous, not me.

“Three central components of subjective well-being were considered: life satisfaction, positive emotional states, and negative emotional states.” - Dr. Susanne Bücker

Research points to the 70s as the happiest decade of all.

But for me, at 50 is my happiest time of my life, living in a tiny house in the Appalachian hills, working a side job on my own terms, sitting on my porch watching the mountains do nothing fast — I think I’ve already found it. Maybe happiness isn’t an age. It’s a life that fits.

But I’ll check back in at 70. Just to see.

If I were short, I wouldn’t mind a Hobbit-style house, but at 6'0", I’m more like Gandalf. I’d spend most of my time tilting my head just to navigate the place. 🙄

Check the video out on Facebook.

Disclaimer: I suspect it is AI-generated, but you never know if they actually did this house.

I’m enjoying my Iced Mocha latte with Almond milk—it’s so delicious! But I might be due for a new espresso machine. I’ve had this one for about 5 years now. It’s still working well, but I’d love a machine that offers more pressure to bring out a richer, more aromatic espresso flavor.

I just had sausage gravy and biscuits for breakfast, but it wasn’t homemade like my family used to make on Sundays when I was growing up. I missed that, but it was still a good breakfast!

I should start making my own butter. Heavy cream, yogurt, a stand mixer — that’s really all it takes. Let it ferment overnight, whip it up, rinse it, done. The possibilities go beyond plain: garlic herb, honey, whatever I’m in the mood for. Can you imagine me doing this? It should be fun, right?

Dinner’s on the stove. I looked out the window and saw everything buried under a fresh blanket of snow. The trees and the fence line — quiet and white. There’s something right about cooking for loved ones while it’s still snowing outside.