Welcome to the Weekend View – and Happy 2026 friends! The weekend view is all about the week that was & last week was about family fun, reflecting and reinvigorating and recuperating a bit.
It has been a bit over here. And as I mentioned, I am so glad to be out of 2025. I focus on the good things and the blessings that each year brought – and there were a lot of beautiful blessings I am so very grateful for! And some stuff I am kicking to the past and par for the course, 2025 ended with some not so great things in the last week of the year. We lost another one of our sweet chickens and were also involved in an accident.
Sweet little LouLou was one of our first chickens and she was such a beautiful and sweet little silkie. Silkies also are prone to heart attacks and have an open skull like a baby does so they can have injuries more easily. We have lost several chickens over the past couple of years it is never easy and we will miss little LouLou.
Weekend View Reflections
While on the way to a Christmas celebration with our kids and grandkids, our suv was struck by a truck that lost control coming down a hill. It was a clear and sunny morning so no one is sure how it happened. I was in the passenger seat and was looking down when I heard the squealing from the trucks tires as it veered towards us and looked up right as the truck ran into the driver side of our car. My daughter was sitting behind my husband on the driver side and both of the doors were smashed in badly and my car is totaled. We didn’t walk away without injuries (I won’t go into detail) but thankfully the side airbags in my 21 year old Toyota Sequoia deployed and helped protect my daughter and husband from more serious damage. We are all quite shaken even now and feel sure someone was watching over us. We are all grateful and feel so lucky that it was not worse.
Family Christmas Fun
We had to reschedule our Christmas Day gathering plans because some of our grand babies were sick and especially with brand new baby Sienna, we decided to wait a few days to get together. It was a bit of a bummer at the time for the kids but when we rescheduled and brought the kids their presents – they had such fun! We enjoyed a casual celebration with allllll the holiday foods and it was perfect. And yes, I did eat a few carbs this holiday season haha. I know I mentioned sharing more about the meal and workout plans that I have been following for almost 2 years – if anyone is interested in more about those, I will add to the list of posts to work on.
Rain, rain & more rain
It has been raining and raining and raining here in Northern California. I always feel a bit energized by the rain- the sounds of it falling on the roof and the fresh air is intoxicating. I sleep with windows open- even in winter- and am pretty obsessed with how good the air smells. I have gone out for a run or walk a couple times when there has been a break and the fog has been a thing! We don’t usually see this much fog in our area. Mystical morning magic!
Though, this kind of heavy soaking rain we have been having has been doing some damage Our power has been out a few times with some of the soggy ground and winds that caused tree damage and other issues. That said- I am not a fan of snow – so rainy winters work for me even when it is rainy for days and days. I am looking forward to some sunshine next week and have a few outdoor projects to work on.
Christmas Decor
Have you packed up your Christmas decor yet? I have been working on it and while some trees and bits were taken down pretty quickly, we have a couple bare trees twinkling away yet. I am going to tackle packing those up this next week and then will be adding simple winter touches. Feeling a bit more ‘quiet’ in decor this winter.
Coming your way
I am going to be sharing some of my reflections, goals and dreams coming up and also some simple things for winter decor and rejuvenation. We are working on some changes here on the blog as well that I hope you will like so stay tuned for those too.
I hope you are all having a beautiful start to the new year friends!
Happy New Year Courtney! I’m so glad you weren’t too badly hurt at Chritmas, and that you got to celebrate eventually! thank you for this whole year of beauty and inspiration – I can’t wait for what you’ll share in 2026!
OMG – how terrifying! I once had a New Yorker Tell me that Californian’s don’t know how to drive in inclement weather, and I believe he was right. I’m glad You were at least riding in a large, strong vehicle. I’m sure that’s a big reason why you did not suffer more serious injuries.
hi courtney
i am interested in your meal and workout plan.
i need to lose weight and get away from carbs for sure.
thanks
happy new year to you and all family!
Sotty to hear about the acvident so scary glad no serioys injury. I am looking forward to this voming year and whst you have yo share with us!! Happt new year
Hi Courtney,
Sorry to hear about your accident.
The good thing is that everyone will be ok.
Im looking forward to s Magical year ahead for all of us.
Happy New Year everyone!
I amso glad everyone was not badly hurt. I can’t wait to see thenew changes on the blog and I would like to hear about easy recipes and low stress exercise.LOL
Grateful to God your accident was not more serious. Love your blog, beautiful ideas, and dedication to your viewing friends. Jane
It seems like when it rains it pours….so sorry for the sad endings to your 2025 year. First of all I think chickens are so sweet and I’m very sorry for your loss of Lou Lou. We get so attached – animals are so wonderful and comforting. it tears us apart to lose one of our best friends. Secondly thank God for Toyota Sequoias! I also was broadsided by a person that ran a stop sign at the end of a road that intersected the highway I was traveling on and hit me going 55 mph. They came out of nowhere. My sequoia spun around 3 times but it did not flip – sequoias are built like tanks. I too had an older model and I’m very grateful the air bags deployed. My toyota sequoia was also totaled but it saved my friend’s and my life. I purchased another because I feel safer in it than many other vehicles. Thirdly, My daughter was sick at christmas so we had to reschedule family gatherings….in fact we still have a present exchange to do…lol. Oh well, as long as we are all here, happy and healthy that is what is most important. I hope your family is doing okay after your accident. it’s a tragic thing to go through and hard on everyone. here’s to 2026!
Oh, Courtney. I’m so sorry to hear about the accident. Glad to know you’re all mostly okay. That had to be scary.
I’m also sad to hear about LouLou. We lost all of our chickens to a hungry fox a few years ago and haven’t had it in us to get more.
I wish for some quiet peace for you and your family as you recover from the accident.
My Christmas décor is still up. It took me about eight weeks to decorate (I was sorting through all of my Christmas décor so it took a little longer) so I want to enjoy it for another week before taking it down.
I’m looking forward to continuing to follow you this coming year and being inspired by what you share.
Take care,
Debbie
So thankful you and your family
Are going to be ok after your accident. I was sorry to hear that it happened. Always looking forward to the “beauty” that you share. Blessings on the new year!
So sorry to hear of your accident! i wish a speedy recovery to all. Take it slow and try to enjoy all the beautiful ambiance that you create. You have a wonderful family.
Holie Molie…I wasn’t expecting to read THAT!! THANK THE LORD IT WASN’T WORSE!!
YOUR PHOTOS AREOVELY…PLEZ KEEP THE SNOW & SEND RAIN! OUR LAKE IS DOWN 3FEET!!
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS STAY TWINKLING!!
franki
So thankful your accident was not any worse and that your family is OK. Praying for complete recoveries. Your photos of your home and gardeen are so inspiring! Thank you sor sharing with your readers and viewers!
God bless you and your family. Thanks for sharing your inspiration and creativity with us. I’ll be waiting for your new projects.
Thankful the crash was not worse. GOD was with you. It is so heartbreaking to lose pets.
Happy New Year Courtney. I hope it’s a very healthy happy one for you and your family. so sorry to hear about your sweet chickens. also sorry to hear about your accident. I’m glad God was looking over you. I hope everyone heals quickly. I’m looking forward to a new year with your beautiful inspirations.
Glad you allare ok, but, still sore and shaken. Prayers for healing! Would love meals and workout ideas! Hopefully, no more flooding! Wish it could come to dry Texas!Looking forward to a quieter couple of months!
Happy New Year Courtney!!
I am so sorry about your accident and the loss of your beautiful LouLou.
I look forward to your new blog look and other inspirational content!!
Take care and stay safe!! Barb