To do a Mouthy Monday as the last post of the year, or a Wordless Wednesday in which I ignore the wordless part and just adopt the Wednesday of it all?
Hmmm...?
Meanwhile guess what? We're on an 11-day Christmas Staycation and LOVIN' the freedom of it. Got new taller hair pin legs for my dough bench and put those on today. I love the new area. Made a kilo of hand-shaped cavatelli for me (and the freezer), and a BIG HONKIN' pizza for Smoochie Face. We'll live off this until it's gone.
Delightful.
In other news, on the 15th I finished the last of the lighting classes along with food in motion classes (video classes). That felt good. Excited to take the education into 2026, PLUS jump into a few new adventures.
Pretty cool.
And that my Boogerbutts is all that's fit to print for 2025. This is Ivy, reporting live from an 11-day Christmas Staycation. See you next year ❤️
Dear Ivy, I love your illustrations and sketches. And your photos and blog 😊 header made me smile. Happy New Year to you.
ReplyDeleteHi Linda! Happy New Year! Thank you for the kind words.
DeleteSounds like bake and watch Christmas movies-I never get tired of those movies---Happy New Year
ReplyDeleteThey are fun! Hope you're having fun in the kitchen! Happy New Year!
Deleteooops sorry for the typo its early early morning here haha sounds perfect to bake and watch Christmas movies
ReplyDeleteI get that. Thanks so much for stopping in today! Wishing you a fun baking season ahead.
DeleteYour Post always makes me Happy, the header makes me happy, I like it as my favorite so far. I want to eat and watch Christmas movies, that would make me happy. Your joy makes me Happy. Last but not least Your drawings make me super Happy... You did choose the right name for you blog
ReplyDeleteHelllloooooo Wonder Woman! Your blog makes me happy to. I love how honest and open you are an all your art and photos are wonderful to see. I love how you and Ann do the twin thing! So fun.
DeleteI think I'll watch Christmas movies while someone else bakes and I'll be the taste tester. An 11 day staycation sounds heavenly. Enjoy
ReplyDeleteOn day 10 and I'll tell you, flew by quick. Whoosh. I'll teleport you some bakes to go with your movie!
DeleteEnjoy your staycation! Happy New Year
ReplyDeleteThanks, Cheryl - Happy Frugal New Year to you!
DeleteI love this period between Christmas and New Year, I don't even know what day it is and I don't care, haha. Happy new year, wishing you a happy and healthy 2026.
ReplyDeleteSame! At one point I wasn't sure if it was Monday or Tuesday. Was great! Happy Healthy 2026 to you as well.
DeleteHappy Staycation! I will be running all day long in close to zero degree weather; dr appts for hubby, Costco, UPS, Christmas returns...sigh...Wish my staycation would include some quiet time today but don't think that is happening. Blessings for the New Year- Diana
ReplyDeleteHi Diana! Sounds like a lot to do on a freezing day. Burrrrr. Were you able to sneak in a little quiet time?
DeleteFor some reason, I always think of you when I see those delightful Minions! So of course I love your new banner. Glad you've had such a good staycation and holiday period. Happy New Year to you and Smoochie Face!
ReplyDeleteHey Debra! Thank you soooo much. Staycation. Just too fast. Like I blinked and it's day 10. Where did it go? Happy New Year and here's to a kickbutt good 2026. Smoochie Face says, "Hi Debra!"
DeleteThe staycation sounds perfect to me. Home is where I want to be! I hope 2026 is a banner year for you and hubby, Ivy!
ReplyDeleteHi Marie. Happy New Year! Excited to see all the fun bird shots you shoot this coming year.
DeleteLOL. I have been on a stay-cation or confined to my home for the past 9 days. It is much more enjoyable when one isn't under the weather. I'm so happy you got to do exactly what you want!
ReplyDeleteWonderful that you took a lighting class, I did take a classes for black and white and also still life. They were quite fun to do over the winter time.
Enjoy New Year's Eve.
Hope you're all the way better now, Val. Being sick is no fun at all. For sure. Very cool on your classes. They really are fun to take. Excited to see your upcoming photos as well. Happy 2026!
DeleteInteresting for sure.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year...it's New Years Day, just, I'm off to bed..night
Happy New Year, Margaret! Wishing you a fun year ahead.
DeleteA wonderfully happy post Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Anne! And the happiest of New Year to you!
DeleteLoving the header...they are so cute and fun to watch. Photos of your baked goods would be a great subject!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!
hugs
Donna
Hi Donna! Thank you. Was fun to shoot. Food photos will be in the New Year as I work on the bake book and how-to posts. Thanks so much for the interest and wishing you a yummy year in 2026.
DeleteHere's to a great 2026!
ReplyDeleteYou too, Kathy!!!!!
DeleteYou put a smile on my face for this last day of 2025. I look forward to many more smiles and laughs with you! Great header, btw.
ReplyDeleteHello Sandra! So happy to hear about the smile. That's the best. Here's to a fun baking new year for us both.
Deletei have never taken any lighting or photography classes, you have peaked my interest!! it is a great way to learn new things so we don't grow old and stagnant. i have taken many classes at the farm this year and the one i enjoyed most was basketmaking!! you write like i think and i enjoy your lively words!! happy 2026, stay jolly and have fun!!
ReplyDeletewith regard to the blocks i featured on my blog...i have 3 left and would be more than happy to give them to you!! when completed, they are 2.5 inches high. if you would like them, email me your information. the blocks are fine, the boxes are crushed. i flattened them the best i could, and used the 3 best ones because i wanted to wrap them! my email is : stangs6@hotmail.com. Debbie
Deletei found your comment and have your address. i will ship them out shortly!! have a great weekend!!
DeleteHi Debbie! The classes were so worth it. I posted on your blog about Joanie and Karl and both, you can't go wrong. Very interesting stuff. Though Joanie doesn't have classes right now for sure her videos on The Bite Shot could be of great help. She's the best. Karl also, very, very good. He has a year membership and also really useful free videos on YouTube. With his classes, it goes beyond photography. There's art there too. So fun.
DeleteThank you sooooo much. Glad you found it. I almost had email working yesterday and then nope. So close! Thank you for thinking of me.
DeletePS: Happy Happy New Year!
DeleteEnjoy your stay-cation and the New Year. You know, when my boys were little I used to call them Booger hurts so I smile every time you say that. Brings me back to those most precious times! Love the new banner and the one of you in the kitchen.
ReplyDeleteIt's supposed to say booger butts not booger hurts! Spell check sometimes sneaks in and changes it before I notice. Grrrrrr
DeleteHi Debby - thank you about the new banner and very fun on the boogerbutts. Wishing you and your boogerbutts a fun 2026!
Deletelol on the bogger hurts, my brain just read boogerbutts! That's funny.
DeleteLoving your adorable Minions...They make for the perfect Wordless Wednesday.. 11 day stay-cation sounds wonderful and it also sounds like you're enjoying it to the fullest. Continue those classes even though I think you are pretty good at what you do now. Happy New Years Ivy..
ReplyDeleteHey Shugster! Happy 2026. How fast did this year fly? The staycation is going well and almost to an end. It went TOOOOO fast.
DeleteThe classes are over now and the instructor no longer teaches at this time. However, they're life-long access and I go back. BUT I'm in other classes and those are a different teacher and still going. Always fun to take classes?
Are you still looking to buy a new camera?
Wishing you a Happy Healthy (and Sam too), New Year!
The headphones are beautiful! I wish you would show us the cavatelli (an amazing feat!) and the dough bench. Fun being greeted by a bunch of Minions!
ReplyDeleteThank you. 20 bucks at Aldi and I LOVE them. Good range too when cleaning and moving around. Wishing you a wonderful New Year!
DeleteHappy New Year!!! I hope the year brings you all the joy and happiness you deserve . My 16 day stay cation is winding down but I'm still going to enjoy the heck out of the last 5 days I have. Enjoy!!!
ReplyDeleteHi Lori! Thank you so much. Wishing you the same. Here's to a kickbutt good New Year. 16 days. Boy, that's just lovely. We're on day 10 as I type this and I cannot believe how fast it went. Whooooosh!
DeleteHappy New Year!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!!!!
DeleteHappy New Year to you!
ReplyDeleteAnd a very happy new year to you too! Thanks for popping in.
DeleteHappy New Year, Ivy! I swear, those minions are looking RIGHT at me!
ReplyDeleteThanks for helping make 2025 fun and adorable. See you next year!
Hi Abby! Thanks for the kind words, that's really nice of you. I'm excited to see what you do with your new time this year. Here's to new adventures and lots of fun.
DeleteHappy New Year
ReplyDeleteCathy
To you as well, Cathy!
DeleteLOL I just want to read and eat fresh baked goods! Have a wonderful 2026, Ivey!
ReplyDeleteReading and eating fresh bakes sounds darn good to me too. Happy 2026!
DeleteMinions!! I love them, especially when they all run as a herd, like a swallow murmuration. I also made a pizza but not a huge one, this only has to feed me for two days. Happy New Year
ReplyDeleteMinions are fun. Yes! They are so funny in a herd. I like two days of pizza. I think that's the perfect amount. Enough for more than one day but no so far as to lag on. Perfect.
DeleteHappy New Year, River and Happy Writing!
Love the new banner! I hope the rest of your staycation is just terrific! Wishing you a very Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteHi Jeanie! Much thanks! Christmas Staycation is coming to an end and boy did it ever go quick. Whooosh! Happy New Year!
DeleteHappy New Year, Ivy. I hope you're still enjoying your staycation 💗.
ReplyDeleteAnd a very Happy New Year to you! ❤️
DeleteDo like your minions banner photograph.
ReplyDeleteAn 11-day Christmas Staycation ... sounds good ... enjoy.
I had both a happy Christmas and a Happy New Year spending time with family.
Sending lots of Happy New Year Wishes to you.
All the best Jan
Hey Jan. Wonderful that you had a Happy Christmas and a Happy New Year with your family. That is wonderful. Good times, indeed. Here's to a kickbutt good 2026!
DeleteI'm sure you still have some days left from your Christmas vacation.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy them.
I wish you all the best for 2026, good health, and many successful experiences.
Hugs Viola
Hi Viola! On day 10 and going fast, fast, fast and tooooo fast. Wishing you a wonderful happy healthy new year!
DeleteThose minions are SO cute! Happy new year!
ReplyDeleteThey are! Happy New Year, Joanne!
DeleteHappy New Year, Ivy! So glad you're enjoying your staycation. When you're retired, every day is a staycation, so I'm glad to get away for a bit.
ReplyDeleteThat makes sense but you're also a professtional writer and that is very, very cool. Wishing you lots of good writing (and reading), in 2026.
DeleteGood for you treating yourself to an 11 day staycation!! Wishing you all the best in 2026. Happy New Year..
ReplyDeleteWas Smoochie Face's idea as all he had to take a few days of vacation and the rest was paid holiday time. Not too shabby. Wishing you a yummy 2026! With lots of soups!
DeleteWow, you accomplished so much. Way to go. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteThe year went in no way that I had planned but turned out really well. Wishing you a wonderful New Year!
DeleteGreat new header, Ivy. The Minions are fun characters. Very cool headphones. I love the colour.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the rest of your staycation and just chilling out with the films and baking and the classes.
Looking forward to Mouthy Mondays and some Wordless Wednesday, which ever you do, it will be fun. Thanks Ivy and a Happy New Year to you.
Thank you! They are fun little characters. Fun to watch. Fun to shoot. Me too on the headphones. My keyboard and mouse are similar. Thank you so much for stopping in and I wish you a wonderful and fun new year!
DeleteHappy New Year.
ReplyDeleteHi Mary! Happy New Year!
DeleteBob named me MadSnapper in 2002, when i got a 69 dollar Kodak Easy share, 3mpx tiny camera and fell in love. I took hundreds of pictures per week, maybe 1000s . I could not stop, macro and long and short and leaves and bugs and sticks. I bought it to take photos of Baby Girl, our beautiful dog... she hated it as have all the dogs. 2005 i bought my first Rebel DSLR with a long and short lens and off to the races. MADly Snapping.
ReplyDeleteI love that Bob named you MadSnapper because of photography! This is very, very cool. I LOVE IT! It's such a great thing to do. Macro and close-up for me, the best. Love that you enjoyed it. Yes, those bugs and sticks are great and over the summer, I got a shot of a stick bug. So fun!
DeleteWishing you a wonderful new year with new adventures, lots of art and good health.
I hope you are still enjoying your vacation. You have a wonderful New Year.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
On day 10 Jackie and it's going quick. Too quick. Happy New Year to you too!
DeleteStaycations are always fun, enjoy it to the max. Making food ahead is a vacation from the kitchen too. Great pictures! Have a wonderful time and Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Denise. Day 10 coming to a close. Was a very nice week. Wishing you a wonderful 2026 and thanks for popping in.
DeleteIvy, I'm a bit late with sending all good wishes to you for a Happy 2026 full of new adventures in photography and cooking. Your stay-cation may be over but there's always the next one to look forward to. of course, as Patrick and myself are retired, every day is just that for us and we enjoy all of them, all the time.
ReplyDeleteHi Beatrice! Never to late for good wishes. Hoping you and Patrick have a wonderful 2026 with lots of fun adventures. Yes, Christmas Staycation is over and boy did it go fast. Whooosh. Love that you and your honey bunny are enjoying life. That is WONDERFUL. Cheers and boogie boogie.
DeleteNever been here. You're fun. Just sayin.'
ReplyDeleteHiYa DB Stewart. Thank you for stopping in today. I went over for a visit, love the LEGOS, so fun. And love that you and you wife worked together with the snow. That is the best, working together. Cheers, Ivy.
Delete