In the seventh month of 2026 I celebrated 7 years living in Cologne, Germany with my beloved partner, brought another schoolyear to an end, celebrated Gay PRIDE in Cologne and lots more!
In the seventh month of 2026 I celebrated 7 years living in Cologne, Germany with my beloved partner, brought another schoolyear to an end, celebrated Gay PRIDE in Cologne and lots more!
June to me means PRIDE and my birthday month (though Cologne celebrates PRIDE/Christopher Street Day in July), the Summer Solstice, Father’s Day, Juneteenth, Refugees’ Day, end-of-schoolyear celebrations and goodbyes.
I also like to do some midyear reflection, lots of strawberry eating, rose sniffing, cake, hopeful for sunshine and warmth as spring flowers yield summer fruits in the northern hemisphere.
In the fifth month of 2026 I celebrated my father’s 80th birthday, little nephew’s 3rd, adventures around Hawai’i Island, big personal news, travel back to Germany to be received by a Renaissance Festival and Culinary tour!
The fourth month of 2026 featured Cherry Blossoms in Cologne, Jacaranda in Kona, and blooms everywhere in-between.
The third month of 2026 for me featured collaborating on International Women’s Day, a production of “The Nutcracker” ballet, Easter and the Spring Equinox among the bright green leaves and first butterfly appearances.
February brought me a sampler of this winter’s viruses. Still did a bit of teaching and creating, Karneval celebrating and game-watching, but getting sick put a serious crimp in my style!
Greetings, crafty campers!
Inspired by several creators here on YouTube and elsewhere, and the childhood sense of long lazy artsy summers I was lucky enough to have, I’ve decided to take a playful approach to this season’s Personal Curriculum and Bucket List.
Not to say I will complete all of my desired activities or complete all crafts on the list that I share, but I will be using my Bullet Journal spread as a menu of creative treats all during the warmer seasom.
No camping necessary, though if you’ve got outdoorsy times ahead, they could provide a refreshing complement to beloved crafty activities.
If you’ve got an hour to dig out a favorite hobby, a weekend afternoon, little bursts of time over the summer or a whole staycation, maybe you’d like to join in the fun!
Twenty Twenty-Five
so glad to be alive,
finding me floating,
spreading wings to fly.
That’s an excerpt from the poem I shared when I declared my Word of the Year and practices to make it so.
Here I reflect on the soaring times and storms of 2025.
Let’s romanticize, gamify, and bring the fun to our learning and creating goals this season with a “Personal Curriculum!” It is a trending topic that I can really jump on board with.
Though I may not want a life on the open sea myself, I was raised on sailing and pirate stories and appreciate the ethos of freedom, treasure, and adventure.
What better time to embark on a fantastical journey of imagination than summer?