About eighteen months ago, I read a book about Jean Nidetch, the founder of Weight Watchers, and it remains to this day one of the most depressing literary experiences in my life. I was still processing the book weeks later, particularly the part where Jean advises that on one’s birthday, every single birthday for the […]
Tiny Seedy Miracles
April 28, 2025 by 56 Comments
After two solid weeks of festivities and celebrations, this morning I’m looking down the barrel of a quiet week of regular programming. We had our dear friends as houseguests this weekend, which always feels like a holiday, and then we hosted a barbeque for about thirty people on Saturday night. It was such a great […]
Nicole’s Favourite Things: The Nifty Fifty Edition
April 24, 2025 by 49 Comments
In honour of my milestone birthday, this month’s Favourite Things consists of fifty favourites throughout the years. Buckle up, buttercups! Age 0-10 Age 11-20 Age 21-30 31-40 41-50 Thank you, dear readers, for all your support and kindness! I’ve been reflecting so much on everything I am grateful for, being fifty years on this earth, […]
Nifty, Fifty
April 21, 2025 by 64 Comments
Today is my fiftieth birthday! I can finally say I’m Nifty and Fifty! When I was very small, I had the thought process shared by many small children with regards to what “growing up” entailed. What do you want to be when you grow up is a ridiculous question to ask a three-or-four-year-old, and yet […]
Pretty Nice Little Sunday
March 24, 2025 by 55 Comments
It was a big weekend at the Boyhouse with lots of things to celebrate. Twenty-three years ago yesterday I was wearing this outfit: And then twenty-one days ago yesterday this guy made his entrance into the world: The truth is that ever since our son was born our wedding anniversary has been kind of eclipsed. […]
Series-us
September 16, 2024 by 71 Comments
Just like everyone else in the reading world, I have strong preferences when it comes to certain genres and subjects. I gravitate towards those genres naturally, although I really do try to branch out every now and then to broaden my mind and my horizons. Recently Suzanne (HI SUZANNE) wrote about twenty ideas for lists […]
Miner Miner Forty Niner
April 22, 2024 by 65 Comments
Yesterday was my birthday, and I turned 49. My last birthday in my forties! I have really loved my forties, and I hope this last year before I can say that I’m nifty and fifty will be just as great. I love birthdays. This isn’t news to anyone who has known me even tangentially – […]
