After some record setting snowfall… it’s finally (officially) spring!
This winter was really, really busy.
And really, really snowy.
It wasn’t quite as busy as last winter — most of which I spent working and recreating out in northern California, with a big trip back to both Chicago and Michigan — but I still kept myself fairly occupied in and around Arizona, and even snuck in an extended weekend trip to Colorado.
I’ve been working a bit to break some of this content out into other posts. I’ve started recapping my reading more in-depth month-by-month (you can find those posts here), and in addition to the seasonal “What I’ve Worn most” posts, I also started a recent “S#!T I’ve been loving lately” series as well, to share cool finds and other stuff I’ve been buying and/or interested in lately.
Other than that, here are a few highlights from this past winter.
WORK
So, work has been very slow for the most part. I’m trying to enjoy all the down time lately before fire season kicks off — although hopefully all the snow this winter will give us a little bit of a break this summer!
Otherwise, the big thing is: Another year, another week at Arizona Wildfire and Incident Management Academy! I recently wrapped up two Incident Command System classes, which brings me just a little bit closer to qualifying as a PIO3.
HIKING + OUTDOORS!
So, the big outdoors-related news? I picked up backpacking!
I took two backpacking trips this winter — the first (my very first ever!) was to the Arizona hot springs at the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, and the second was down in the Superstition Wilderness area on the Tonto.
I also spent quite a bit of time hiking! I made it down to Sedona for a few hikes: mainly Airport Mesa and Fay Canyon.
And, despite the snow, I did a few hikes around Flagstaff, too: snowshoeing around McMillan Mesa, Buffalo Park and part of Oldham Trail.
My brother also came to visit for a weekend back in January, and we went off-roading in Sedona.
He works as an engineer for Ford, so he scooped one of the Broncos from development, and took that up and down Schnebly Hill with me, Ryan and Yukon.
I also, of course, did quite a bit of hiking around southwestern Colorado during our weekend there as well.
DINING + FOOD
Well… Christmas!
Ryan and I spent Christmas with his parents at their cabin in Parks.
I made mashed potatoes, vegetarian gravy, Mushroom Wellington, baked Brie, corn casserole and stuffing, in addition to all the amazing food Ryan’s parents made.
I also mentioned it in my last “Life Lately” post: But the Christmas baking this year was vanilla meringues, my mom’s sugar cookie recipe, and “Christmas Crack.”
We opted not to participate in this season’s CSA share program for a few reasons, which is a little bit of a bummer, but we’ve still been busy making some new recipes.
I tried this lemon poppyseed cake recipe for Jane’s birthday earlier this year, and it was a huge hit!
HOME
I have a gear closet now!
Our apartment, luckily, has a ton of storage space. When we first moved in, I had the idea to turn our master bedroom’s linen closet into a combined gear closet for both of us.
But, I quickly realized that wasn’t going to work because Ryan is incredibly disorganized. He takes an “out of sight, out of mind” approach to cleaning and tends to “clean” by shoving things in drawers, cabinets, closets — wherever you can’t see them.
Yes, he loses things A LOT.
So after several months of frustration because my stuff sacks would get buried underneath paperwork, old towels, bins full of coffee table books… whatever — I pulled all of my stuff out of the linen closet and started stacking it in the closet of our office/ guest bedroom… which also housed a bunch more of Ryan’s stuff.
Which was still frustrating, because Ryan kept (one of) his bike(s) in that closet. So he essentially had an entire closet to himself, and half all the other closets to himself as well.
Well, Ryan FINALLY moved his bike and other errant stuff out of the office closet so now it’s all mine! I organized it so it’s half gear closet and half craft closet. My yarn is organized in laundry bins and my gear is organized in labeled drawers.
It’s all so pretty!
BOOKS, MOVIES, MUSIC + TV SHOWS
Obviously… the big one was Taylor Swift in concert!
I also had a chance to head to the Orpheum for the Emo Night Tour, which is basically a bunch of DJs playing the music I listened to in high school (like the When We Were Young lineup). I lost my voice screaming along with my friend Jenni. It was a blast.
— Randi (@RandiMShaffer) March 5, 2023
#emonighttour #itwasntaphasemom pic.twitter.com/iX9ARcLxVL
Book-wise, here’s what I read in December, January and February, as well as a recap of the best books I read in 2022.
YUKON
Here’s a photo of Yukon in his annual holiday sweater, which was a gift from Ryan’s mom!
Yukon also got a sweet pair of new booties!
MISC.
Ryan and I celebrated two years together back in January.
I can’t believe it’s already been two years since this man walked into Hops on Birch and thus, into my life. I’m grateful for every day I get to spend with him. 
Celebrated two years with Ryan yesterday.
— Randi (@RandiMShaffer) January 20, 2023Lucky to have a caring, supportive and thoughtful partner to share my life with. #cheesy pic.twitter.com/OPuFBfFX6L
We also held an impromptu New Year’s Eve party at our apartment this winter.
— Randi (@RandiMShaffer) January 1, 2023
Other than that, it’s been a lot of the usual: Meetups, yoga, knitting with friends and lots of time spent outdoors.
I’m excited for spring adventures, and I’ll catch you up with them soon!
