Life in a Small Town: January 2026

Photo by Designecologist: https://www.pexels.com/photo/image-of-river-on-smartphone-1398339/

As 2025 comes to an end, I want to recap my year in pictures. Hopefully, I'll do better with this series next year.

JANUARY

Laika staying warm and napping

We had a very decent snow

FEBRUARY

It must have been a fairly warm day...Laika found some sun on the back porch

MARCH

In March, I made my first solo road trip. I drove to Texas and reconnected with some cousins, saw a friend, visited some of the Painted Churches, toured Shiner, learned some Texas history, and also learned some family history. There will be a post with more Painted Churches and more about the trip on my Catholic blog and travel blog, so stay tuned!

The month started with a visit from my BIL, and we managed to get all of the boys together for supper at a local restaurant

On the way to TX I stopped in Vicksburg to go through the Battlepark

One of the first stops was the church where my mom and dad were married. This is my mom's home parish in Cameron, TX.

I found a house that was donated by relatives at the Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center in La Grange, TX

This painted church in High Hill, TX is in the community where (I discovered the day after I visited) my great-grandfather settled when he immigrated to the US. He had moved on to Cameron (see 2 pictures above) when this church was built, but his brother and sister would have been parishioners here.

I was so close to Shiner that I couldn't resist touring the brewery. It was a fantastic tour; I'd highly recommend it!

I visited Panna Maria with some cousins. Panna Maria is the oldest permanent Polish settlement in the US. Fascinating history and an amazing cultural center.

I spent the night with another cousin in College Station as I started my journey back home. Gig 'em...WHOOP!

I was treated to a birthday brunch (which ended up being a mini-pub crawl) at Potchke Deli in Knoxville.

I saw this stunning view from the park next to my house.

APRIL

April must have been a boring month...I only have 1 picture to share.

The Easter Vigil Mass is very long (anywhere from 2-3 hours, usually), but I think it is the most beautiful Mass of the year.

MAY

I gained a daughter-in-law in May! They decided to make it "legal" at the courthouse, then have a very small ceremony in Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It was perfect; there were even a couple of bears hanging out at the tree line.

Just outside of the courthouse after making things legal.

In Cades Cove, Great Smoky Mountains

Some friends had a surprise 80th birthday lunch for Mother Gabrielle Marie of the Benedictine Daughters of the Divine Will.

JUNE

I took another tour with Vagabond Tours of Ireland and asked the sister (who wasn't able to go last time) to come with me. We went to some places I'd been to before, but also to some new places. (I have plans to write a post or two on this adventure on Flyin' the Coop.)

Previous Places I've visited:

St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin

Blarney Castle

3 Sisters; Slea Head Drive

Dingle

Kilkee Cliffs

Cliffs of Moher

First Time Visiting:

Tork Waterfall in Killarney National Park

Aughnanure Castle

Stairway to Heaven, Garinish Island

Kenmare

Daniel O'Connell's house; Derrynane

Portmagee

Loop Head

Poulnabrone, The Burren

Pine Island. CH & I stopped near here when we were on our campervan trip in Ireland in 2022.

Kylemore Abbey

Cong. "The Quiet Man" (John Wayne & Maureen O'Hara) was filmed here.

The oldest bar in Ireland in Athlone

Kerry Cliffs

Cahergal Stone Fort

After I returned home, I had to put the finishing touches on a reception for YS & DIL. Since the ceremony in Cades Cove was very small (immediate family only), I held a reception for them at the church for my side of the family and a few of the couple's friends.

3 siblings weren't able to attend, but it was a decent turnout!

1 of my sisters made a beautiful cake and cupcakes for the event.

I don't know what I'd do without my sisters! (1 sister couldn't be there)

The happy couple!

I think I would have been cleaning up the church hall for days if it hadn't been for my sisters. They helped decorate, organize, and clean up after. In full disclosure, everyone pitched in to help clean up...even a brother and brothers-in-law!

JULY

Another boring month...only 1 picture.

MS' cat, Mr. Rumpelstiltskin (Mr. Rumpels or Rumps for short!)

AUGUST

Walks with Gurl Dogg

High School Football projected on the screen on the back porch

SEPTEMBER

Walks with Smokey (OS' Blue Tick Hound):

An owl feather

Plus:

A trip to Hanceville, Alabama, to the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament. While there, I reconnected with a friend with whom I went to church in SC

View from the cabin during Sisters' Weekend

OCTOBER

I added 2 new countries to the places I've traveled. I went on pilgrimage, "In the Footsteps of St. Paul" and visited Greece and Turkiye. Not to sound like a broken record, but this is also on my list of "to do posts" for my Catholic and travel blogs.