Kristine Joy, Writer

1. In Case You Didn’t Know

Pickleball Kingdom Paddle Battle Reality TV

2. Would You Rather?

3. The Great Outdoors

I needed to read the reflections of Sam Keith “from the journals and photographs of Richard Proenneke” in One Man’s Wilderness An Alaskan Odyssey.

If it needs to be said, man = woman for purposes of interpretation.

“We need each other; but nevertheless, in a jam the best friend you have is yourself.”

We are dependent on “too many things”; how many things “could be eliminated if the question were asked, “Must I really have this?””

“I don’t think a man knows what he can actually do until he is challenged.”

“I do think a man has missed a very deep feeling of satisfaction if he has never created or at least completed something with his own two hands.”

“Why worry about something that isn’t?”

“I would rather experience things happening to me than read about them happening to others. I honestly don’t believe that man was meant to know everything going on in the world…the poor guy with all the immediate problems of his own life is burdened with those of the whole world.”

“I have found that some of the simplest things have given me the most pleasure.”

4. Steak A Claim

I tasked myself to master a new dish and attaining a perfect result on the first try is RARE, but I nailed it.

5. Backyard Bungle

I was the first person to buy mulch at Home Depot this year (because a February heat wave made our backyard a mud-hole and we have 12 paws a-playing and because I’m so far ahead of the game that you may need binoculars).

The bags were frozen together and I didn’t have gloves (because who knew and because the early bird may get ahead AND full of themselves).

I got frostbite in my fingertips to the point of nauseating pain (because I was OR wasn’t tough enough to tough it out and because I thought I was cool and the “cool kid” needs a dose of reality).

P.S. Read the last bolded statement again if you didn’t uncontrollably laugh with me over my humor.

6. Bed of Straw

Before:

The purchase of straw was a smoother process (sort of; undisclosed struggles aside and retrieval of the store bought item seemed a tad sketch).

After:

When you spread straw to cover the bare spots in your yard and any semblance of grass disappears, but you don’t care because it made a bed of straw for the dogs.

7. Fireside Chats

Just how warm was it in February in Iowa in 2026?

Warm enough to comfortably have a fire five days in a row!

8. Fear Not

“Sometimes the fear won’t go away, so you’ll have to do it afraid.”

(from This Much Country by Kristin Knight Pace)

9. Closing Credits

I appreciate you.

And I appreciate your readership. 😘