Life and Books: Happy New Year!

By Mpartyka @mpartyka2
Hello friends,
I hope 2016 has started well for everyone.
Warm weather has kept the snow away BUT it's great for running and the porch is still an option.  This is a lovely place that warms my heart, snuggling with a warm blanket to enjoy a hot tea... or my renewed fascination with Glogg. 
An old friend saw this photo posted to instagram last week and left this comment 'Some serious hygge on your porch.'  Hygge is a Danish word that is a feeling or mood that comes from taking genuine pleasure in making ordinary, every day things more meaningful, beautiful or special.    
Books
I read 37 books in 2015.  I'm happy with this number, my reading habits have changed in recent years and I don't track personal enrichment reading on goodreads...  (eg: business empowerment, cookbooks).  Sadly, I didn't give any of books five stars, but did read 18 four stars.  
I'm off to a good start in 2016 - I have read two books in the first week of January.
4 stars: Missing Pieces (by Gudenkauf, Pub date: Feb 2)
3 stars: My Year of Living Biblically (book club selection)
There are several books I'm excited to read so here's hoping for a great year of reading.

Running
Week three of training is done.  This weekend I decided to run my favorite trail, a five mile loop called the Yellow trail.  From the parking lot to the loop (x2), I ran 10.5 miles.  I love running this one, it has a 1.5 mile climb, followed by 8 minutes of winding descend that provides many opportunities to jump over natural obstacles. 

2016 will be an exciting year -  I have a list of a few goals/wishes to keep me on my toes.  More on all of this later!
Have a wonderful weekend, Mari