Happy New Year

Kids and I electioneering at the mall

Hello 2020.  I usually do a blog post recapping the previous year and talk about what the new year holds.

Surprisingly, 2019 was a great find year for me.  I say "surprisingly" because my husband ran for city council and it consumed 9 months of the year.  I felt like it was the only thing I did in 2019.  But it was actually my highest find year ever!  I found 315 boxes in 2019 and the last one was my 1500th letterbox, woo hoo!  My second highest year was 2015 with 225 boxes.

I totally credit all those finds to attending some amazing events.  In May, Daddy's Favorite Princess, my boxing buddy, and I attended A Walk in the Park at Shakamak SP in Indiana.  In June, Daddy's Favorite Princess, Boxing Turtle, and I attended the Big Top on the Prairie event in Ohio.  On the way home from this event we boxed in Spring Grove Cemetery and found many boxes.  In November, Boxing Turtle and I attended the Four Seasons event in Chandler, In.

In my last year recap post, I said that in 2019 I would be planting boxes that went with silly holidays.  My plan was to hide one a month.  I planted 25 of these boxes and a hitchhiker too.  Most of these were planted in my county but I did spread the love to Ky & Oh.

Events!

I made an average number of LTCs in 2019 (28).  Again, I expected this number to be lower with my husband running for city council.  I know there were swaps that I wanted to join but didn't because the timing was bad.  Sadly, there were a few that I dropped from because I knew I wouldn't finish on time.

All in all, 2019 was a good year.  I don't really make letterboxing goals.  I don't have any plans for this year and my planting will probably be down.  I am running out of ideas and hiding places.  I hope to get back to the Homerdoodle event in Il.  My 10th letterboxing anniversary will be in October and I have thought about hosting an event to celebrate.  But we will have to see how the year goes.

Unfortunately, my boxing buddy fell late in 2019 and she is not able to get out much.  She going to have to have her knees replaced.  The dr that she has chosen is so backed up that her surgery won't be until summer.  If you could say a prayer for her, I'd really appreciate it. 

I hope you all have a great 2020!

 

Back to the Ark and a Look at 2017

Light show on the side of the ark

A few days after Christmas we went to the Ark Encounter in Williamston, Ky.  The high was 15 degrees and we were happy that the ark was nice and warm.  You may recall that we went to the Creation Museum and Ark back in March.

Elephants :)

I follow them on Instagram and saw that they were having a big light show/display and I wanted to go.  We found an ark theme letterbox just before going to the ark.  I would like to plant one too.  Maybe I can find a good place right in between the Creation Museum and Ark Encounter for a box.  Something to think about in the new year.

Inside the warm ark

I usually take a minute to make a blog post about the past year.  2017 was a pretty good boxing year for me.  One of the highlights was that I found my 1,000th box.  I also boxed in 2 new states. 

Looking at my AQ stats, 2017 was my second highest year for finds.  I found 207 traditional boxes.  My highest year is 2015 with 225 boxes.  I credit these large numbers to the events in Greenville, Oh.  They put on great events with lots of boxes to find.  I also get away from home so there are other boxes to find in the area or going to/from the event.

My traditional plants were down in 2017.  I hid 28 boxes.  I hosted an event in 2016 so my plants are huge.  I planted 42 in 2015, 19 in 2014, and 40 in 2013.  So, my numbers are all over the board.  I started 2018 off on the right foot by planting my Secret Santa stamp yesterday :)

I participated in 2 postal rings in 2017.  I can't stand the wait for postals and I think I am going to stop doing them.

I made 33 sets of LTCs in 2017.  This is pretty average.  My highest year was 2013 with 35 sets and my lowest year was 2015 with 20 sets.  I will stick with LTCs because they are lot of fun and most hosts are good with getting cards back quickly.

I don't have any boxing goals for 2018.  I plan to attend the Great Lakes Gathering (GLG).  It will be about 30 minutes away from me.  I am also thinking about going to the Homerdoodle event this year.  I would like to make it back to St Louis to box.  And my boxing buddy and I have been talking about going to Casey, Ill where they have a lot of large things (Worlds Largest wind chime, rocking chair...) So we will see how it goes :)  Happy New Year to you <3

New Year & Box of the Month

BOTM Fall 2016

Happy New Year!  We spent the first day of the new year like we would any other Sunday.  We went to church and out to lunch.  We tried to see the movie SING but were turned away because the seats were full.  They have recently remodeled one of the theaters in town.  They took out every other row of seats and put in reclining seats.  So, less people can see the movie.  Sounds like a bad idea to me but they didn't ask what I thought :/

BOTM Fall 2016

I participated in BOTM for 2015 & 2016.  I got to thinking, that I posted about BOTM every month in 2015 but almost never in 2016.  I guess 2016 was pretty uneventful as far as BOTM goes.  It didn't go missing like 2015, it was a drive by and much easier to get to by all.

In the fall I took a few pics of changing leaves in the cemetery but never posted them.  I tried to take more pics but my phone died.  I am thinking of carving a stamp of the Celtic cross and hiding it near by.

A local boxer is taking my place in BOTM in 2017.  I am so excited!  I get to be a finder this go round.  She posted the new box yesterday and we found it today after we saw the movie SING.  We loved the location of the box.  The kids goofed off while I stamped and I had to have a pic of the wall.  The box had a HH in it and I had 2 but they were are home.  I will make sure to drop them in my bag so I can pass one on next month.

BOTM January 2017

As for 2017, it will probably be pretty low key.  No planting 100 boxes for an event.  I have joined the "Google Doodle" postal, I am back in the ornament swap, I have some event donations in my pile of stamps to carve,  I hope to make it to the Ohio prairie event, of course LTCs and a few traditional boxes.  TTFN :)

Happy New Year :)

First plant of the new year :)

I spent part of the first day of the new year out boxing and caching.  I planted a new box in Santa Claus, In and did maintenance on 3 boxes.  I also found 3 geocaches while I was out.  I have a feeling that I will find more geocaches than letterboxes in 2016 :(

I will be participating in Box of the Month again in 2016.  I know, I said I wouldn't do it again but I love getting the stamps.  I have already had one finder on my 2016 BOTM.  The last stop for my 2015 BOTM was St Louis.  I hope it didn't wash away in the floods.

Lumpy Cards: Peacock Plumage

I am using my 2016 BOTM stamp for an LTC swap. These are my cards for the "Lumpy Card Lovers" swap.  They are called "Peacock Plumage."  Fun name.  They have cardboard, encyclopedia & music pages, paint chip, burlap, twine, and a rind stone.  I really enjoyed making these.

The Peanuts Gang: Typical Linus

I guess 2016 will be the year of the postal.  I am already signed up for 3 (counting BOTM).  I am in "The Peanuts Gang" and "Star Wars Characters."   My Linus is ready to go and I have my Ray image transferred and ready to carve.

I have been carving a lot of Etsy stamps lately.  Last year it slowed down around the holidays but not this year.

I hope everyone has a happy & safe 2016 :)

Reflecting on 2013

Lil Ewok and I at my 300th find

2013 was a good boxing year for me.  I didn't reach my goal of finding my 400th box but I am ok with that. There are two boxes within 10 minutes of my house that I could easily run out and get but I am trying to show the planter that I have standers.

Nashville, Tn

In 2013, I went to my first out of state events.  In August, the whole family went to an event in Nashville, Tn.  We had fun meeting new people and finding boxes.  It was interesting to see how other people do things.  Then in November, my boxing buddy and I went to an event in St Louis, Mo.  We enjoyed going over before the event and boxing.

GS Camp

I taught Letterboxing at two events.  I had about a dozen people show up at a class at the library.  Then I helped 85 Brownie Girl Scouts earn their Letterboxing Badge at Day Camp.

I love making LTCs!  In 2013 I made 35 and "found" 554.  I also hosted my first LTC swap.  It was a Christmas swap and I quickly added a few more that are due in 2014.  I have 2 Kids Only trackers and a Life is good one.

In 2013, I stuck my foot in the door of the postal world.  I have gotten 9 postal singles and I am thinking about joining a ring.  I am also pondering sending out a postal single.

Over all my find count was down from last year.  We have less boxers now and that means less people planting for me :(  In 2012 I found 154 traditional boxes and in 2013 I found 148.  I planted quite a bit more in 2013 than 2012.  In 2012 I planted 26 traditional boxes and in 2013 I planted 39.  I am about ready for my first plant of the new year.

Another new thing in 2013 was my Etsy store.  My husband had been bugging me about selling stamps so I gave in and started a shop.  I had 3 sales in 2013!  I thought for sure that it would so nowhere.    I have some new logbooks coming out soon.

I have no letterboxing goals for 2014 but I am excited to see what will come.  My noxer husband often bugs me about wasting gas while letterboxing.  I have promised to cut back and there isn't much for me to look for anyway.  I am thinking about making a quilt.  I recently joined a Facebook group where everyone made a mystery quilt and it looks like so much fun.  This has also got me to thinking about barn quilt squares.  There is a whole trail in a county near me and I want to check them out.  And maybe plant a box or two ;)