My Super-Busy January—Glad It’s Over!

February 1, 2026February 1, 2026 Larada Horner-Miller2 Comments

My super-busy January centered around my participation in the Ultimate Blog Challenge. The agreement was to post every day of the month, and Paul Taubman, the host, offered suggestions every day. You were free use them or do what you wanted. I had to complete four activities after writing the blog—I’ve listed them on the web page I created.

My Choice to Not Include My Email List

Just because I decided to make January a super-busy month, I didn’t want to inundate my regular readers with a blog post every day, so I only included you on Sunday, my regular day to post my weekly blog. I did post them on my Facebook pages though.

I hope that was okay.

Here’s What I wrote Super-Busy!

So, I created a web page with all the posts, except three because I missed three days. Look through the list—I hope you enjoy the vast choices you have to read from this list, if you choose!

This morning I had one regular reader message me about reading all of them, “Larada, you are an encouragement to me. I am in love with reading your blogs. I envy your commitment to work. And I was excited to see what you learned from the challenge. YES. You are a beautiful poet. Looking forward to your new book.” She apparently got them on linkedin.com – https://www.linkedin.com/in/larada-horner-miller-4a313261/

To get to the list of my 28 blog posts and the titles, go here:

Ulimate Blog Challenge, January 2026

Finally—Done with Super-Busy for Now,

Your opinion matters to me. Was I right in not sending you a link every day in the month of January for the Ultimate Blog Challenge? Would you have been offended? Or would you have wanted to receive them? I really need to know your answer, so please respond in a comment below or email me at Larada@laradasbooks.com

I certainly am glad it’s over. Midway through I thought it would never end, but I know I will receive many benefits from having participated—I’ve always been a participator and not an observer. It’s in my DNA!

February will be much calmer, I assure you, but be prepared for my rich, fascinating weekly blog! Also, Paul Taubman encouragedthe participants to post more than one blog a week—what do you think?

I do have an exciting experience coming up on February 17 I will be telling you about!

Larada Horner-Miller meme - super-busy — Whew! Glad it’s over, but what now?

My Newest Books

Time Measured Out!: Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry, Book #2 e-book

ISBN – 9798989688654

$.99 for limited time

Is My Truth Universal?: A Woman’s Poetic Odyssey e-book

ISBN – 979-8989688623

ALWAYS FREE

Was It a Dream?: Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry, Book #1 – e-book

ISBN – 979-8989688630

$3.99

Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Christmas Memoir e-book

ISBN – 978-0996614498

$3.99

Buy My Audio Books:

This Tumbleweed Landed

Let Me Tell You a Story

Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Memoir Audiobook

Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Christmas Memoir audiobook cover

Blogs · Memories · My Books · MY LIFE · My Thoughts

Day 31 – January Ends Today—So What Did I Learn?

January 31, 2026February 2, 2026 Larada Horner-Miller7 Comments

January ends today, and so does the Ultimate Blog Challenge. Whew! The challenge was to write a blog post each day for thirty-days. Here’s answers to Paul Taubman, the organizer’s questions.

Did you finish the Ultimate Blog Challenge?

I proudly finished the Ultimate Blog Challenge, but I missed three days: 13, 16, and 20. The part that excites me—I don’t feel guilty for missing those three days. The 13^th we went to La Fería Internacional de Las Flores y del Café (International Flower and Coffee Festival). We had a blast there enjoying ourselves and seeing Alejandro Torres, a major music star in this area. I was too tired to write that night but I wrote about it for the next day’s blog.

Alejandro Torres & daughters - January — Alejandro Torres & daughters

Again, we returned to the festival on the 16^th. I wondered if returning was a good idea because our first time there on the 13^th was so magical, but we weren’t let down. We saw dancers from Panamá and from over the world. Again, we stayed late, and I fell into bed exhausted that night. No blog post!

As I remember the 20^th, I feel embarrassed! When I got up on the 21^st, I realized I had completely forgotten to do the blog post. Nothing significant happened—oh, well!

But again, I reiterate—I have no guilt about missing them, and I feel exhilarated today in finishing this challenge. That’s new for this perfectionist! To finish a commitment like this reminds me of my determination. After each missed day, I had to continue—no question asked!

Again, I gleaned ideas from other participants to enhance my blog through this Challenge. The daily assignment of reading two other blog posts in the Challenge helped me see choices, personalities come out in playful and professional ways, and the passions we all have! Thank you to each one who participated!

Have You Accomplished Any Other Goals Recently?

On December 21, 2025, I released my tenth book, Time Measured Out!: Navigating Life’s Journey and am so proud of it. It is the second book in a five-book poetry series. During January, I have been promoting the heck out of it!

Also, I have a marketing plan I’m following, so I have been promoting my first book, This Tumbeweed Landed, the month of January. To be honest, I started a little late, but I have already started my promotions for my second book, When Will Papa Get Home?, and I feel so much more organized than I have ever been.

At the end of 2025, I received notification my book, Was It a Dream?: Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry, won a bronze award in the Global Book Awards so I have been also promoting that book. It is the first book in the series.

I’ve scheduled a promotional experience with Let’s Fix Stories on February 17. I sent them the first 10-15 pages of my new book project which is an AutoFiction. The tentative title is Eye Witness to Life/Healing. I’m excited to see what they have to say about the beginning of my book. As we know, the reader either gets hooked by then or drops off! I want professional help on making it the best.

Why Did You Joined the Ultimate Blog Challenge?

In November 2021, I participated in my first Ultimate Blog Challenge, and I wrote every day. I gained so much from that challenge, picking up ideas from the blogs I read like the use of headings and subheadings and the use of coloring them. I have adapted these ideas and use them regularly.

Because my blog is on wordpress.com, each post is scored for SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and Readability analysis. When I looked at the other blogs, it spurred me on to be more detail-oriented on my blog, so I investigated the relevance of both of these scores. I realized their importance and work hard each blog post to be sure I receive a “green smiley face” instead of a yellow or red one.

Achieving Your Goals

I believe deeply in goals and have used the idea for years. Goals colored my work as a teacher and the computer coordinator at Washington middle school in Albuquerque, New Mexico. One year, I asked my committee to dream without limits for the next year—brainstorm the ideas possible. When I typed up the list, it was long and ambitious!

The next year, we achieved every goal on that list, even the outrageous ones! That’s why I believe in goals.

So, set some goals. Do something you’ve never done before like the Ultimate Blog Challenge then follow through. See the follow through is the important part. On my dream list at Washington middle school, we submitted our list to our senator, we canvassed him, we showed why everything we listed had importance—in other words, we did the footwork!

Finally,

January ends today. This is the last blog post for this Challenge, but I have my weekly blog post to do tomorrow. I’ve shared some vulnerable truths here, some fun-filled activities and my life in general. I will return to blog readers refreshed and invigorated by this month of writing, thinking up topics and sharing my life with the world. Yes, it was a commitment—a hefty one, but it fed my soul, because writing does!

Larada Horner-Miller - Janaury — Join me on my weekly blog at **https://laradasbooks.com/my-blogs/**

My Newest Books

Time Measured Out!: Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry, Book #2 e-book

ISBN – 9798989688654

$.99 for limited time

Is My Truth Universal?: A Woman’s Poetic Odyssey e-book

ISBN – 979-8989688623

ALWAYS FREE

Was It a Dream?: Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry, Book #1 – e-book

ISBN – 979-8989688630

$3.99

Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Christmas Memoir e-book

ISBN – 978-0996614498

$3.99

Buy My Audio Books:

This Tumbleweed Landed

Let Me Tell You a Story

Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Memoir Audiobook

Memories · MY LIFE · My Thoughts

Day 30 – Sewing Brings Back Memories: Another Necessary Project

January 30, 2026January 30, 2026 Larada Horner-MillerLeave a comment

This afternoon, I started a sewing project. I needed to shorten some drapes my husband bought while I was gone. Here’s what happened.

Lin Bought New Drapes—Wrong Length

When we first started furnishing our new home in Panamá, we began with drapes. There were no drapes on any windows, but none on the living room windows made us feel so vulnerable and exposed. We bought lovely green and gold ones and our landlord put them up for us. I thought we were done.

Then we realized we needed more because they didn’t completely cover the large window facing Vulcan Barú. The gap felt ugly and open again, exposed.

While I was gone in November to the states, Lin went to David shopping. He couldn’t find our original green and gold ones, but he found a beige one that worked. He texted me pictures of them choices, and I agreed with him on the beige ones, so he bought two panels to fill the space more evenly. When he got them home and hung, they were too long and drug the floor—4 inches longer than the others.

Larada’s Sewing Project Birthed

After listening to his dismay about his oversight of the length, I assured him I could fix them. See there’s a reason. I started sewing at nine years old in 4-H. When I was in high school, many of my friends and I made our own western pants—skin tight with yokes on our butts and down on the bottom of each leg—they were fantastic in our eyes. In my early adult life, I made all my clothes, but life got complicated when I divorced and went to the university, and they sewing stopped.

On occasion, I have returned to my sewing machine to do simple projects, because the deep seamstress knowledge was long gone.

Today Was the Day for Sewing

So today, my husband, Lin, and I began this project. First, we took the two panels of longer drapes off of the curtain rod. Then, I laid one panel on our bed, folding the top half up so I had the bottom smooth and even. After much discussion about how much to cut off, we decided to cut off 4 inches. So, I marked on the panel every couple inches with a marker so I would cut it evenly.

Lin worried I might cut our bedspread, so he helped me by hold the panel up. I did the cutting, and it worked.

Marking what to cut off - sewing — Marking what to cut off

Because that worked so smoothly, we cut the second panel immediatley.

The Borrowed Sewing Machine

I didn’t bring my sewing machine with me—we came with only six large suitcases, so there was no way. So, I borrowed one from a neighbor, Ruth Howell. She kindly lent me all of her sewing supplies too.

So, it took a while to find the power switch on the machine. The instructions are in Spanish, so that was not easy because I don’t know sewing vocabulary. My next task was putting thread on the bobbin which was fairly easy, I thought. Then, I threaded the sewing machine and the needle.

Part of the reason I gave up sewing recently—my eyesight and threading a needle. But this time I did really well.

First Stitches

So, I laid out the panel and started the hemming with turning up a ¼ inch hem to make the edge look good. When I began, the sewing machine sewed a few stitches and stopped totally. The bobbin side looked horrible with huge knots.

Then we began to wonder if the drape material was too heavy for the machine. After this debacle, we had almost decided to go to a seamstress in town tomorrow. That would be the easiest—I’m busy. I don’t need to be doing this.

Sewing & My Determination

But I couldn’t stop! I rethreaded the bobbin three or four times and nothing seemed to work. I used Google Translate and translated the instructions for threading the bobbin, but I had done it right. So I wondered if I had threaded the top part right. I looked more closely at the instructions and dove deeper into my memory. I realized I had missed a very important part.

Once, I did that and rethreaded the needle—easily again, I might say, the machine worked like a dream. Luckily, I got the 1/4 inch turn-up done on one panel.

Before we went any further, we decided to measure the green and gold drapes we bought initially. Both of us thought they were 84 inches long, so that’s why we cut off the 4 inches. To our surprise, they are 82 inches long, so I had to change the hem in the beige panels to four inches. I’ve pinned up one panel.

Final Decision

So, tomorrow I’m going to finish this project. The sewing machine took over our kitchen table, but I really want to do this. It stems from a saying my dad repeatedly shared with me my whole life, “Winners never quit, and quitters never win!” Even when it’s a sewing project like this.

What do you do when you face a task like this? Give up? Grit your teeth and jump in? Let me know.

Larada Horner-Miller - sewing — I really do love sewing!

My Newest Books

Time Measured Out!: Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry, Book #2 e-book

ISBN – 9798989688654

$.99 for limited time

Is My Truth Universal?: A Woman’s Poetic Odyssey e-book

ISBN – 979-8989688623

ALWAYS FREE

Was It a Dream?: Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry, Book #1 – e-book

ISBN – 979-8989688630

$3.99

Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Christmas Memoir e-book

ISBN – 978-0996614498

$3.99

Buy My Audio Books:

This Tumbleweed Landed

Let Me Tell You a Story

Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Memoir Audiobook

Gratitude · Memoirs · Mom · MY LIFE · My Thoughts · square dance

Day 29 – A Picture of Me—On My Wedding Day

January 29, 2026January 29, 2026 Larada Horner-MillerLeave a comment

One of my favorite pictures of me is on my wedding day, October 22, 2011. The sheer joy shines in my eyes. And here’s the reason why!

Back Story

My ex-husband and I separated in 2008. We divorced in early 2009. My best girlfriend, Kathi Raver, in square dancing died in November 25, 2009. My ex-husband and I did lots of fun activities with Kathi and her husband, Lin—we went to square dance festivals and dance together. We played games in each other’s homes. Also, we danced weekly at our three club dances.

After the first of the year, Lin called me asking if I would like to dance with him at the three club dances. Because we were friends before, the dancing moved into more of a relationship.

So, we officially started dating in May 2010 and married in 2011. It might appear that we rushed this, but Kathi had said repeatedly to me when my ex and I broke up to get over it—give it six months and go on.

Lin proposed to me on Christmas Day, 2010 in Branson, Colorado in front of my mom and my aunt—what a precious day that was!

Then he spent the year telling everyone at square dance festivals were at all over the country to come to our wedding! He evenly got up on the microphone at some and made the big announcement.

Our Wedding Day

Because of our love for dancing, we got married at the Albuquerque Square Dance Center. My brother and mom gave me away. He had two best men and I had eleven brides’ maids.

Because of our multiple marriages my Episcopal priest couldn’t marry us, so we found someone on the internet, and she did a beautiful job, weaving our story into our vows, even referencing recovery quotes for me.

So, we had a short ceremony and a big dance party afterwards! Three hundred of closest friends attended with some flying in from Florida and Tennessee.

During the ceremony, I read Lin a poem I wrote for the occasion. Here it is:

Larada reading her poem to Lin - picture — Close up of Larada reading her poem to Lin

Close up of Larada reading her poem to Lin

It’s Here! Our Wedding

October 22, 2011

It's here!

Our life together starts today

The past is behind us
The future looms positively in our view!

I have labored over the words to say to you.
How do I find words to describe what has happened 
Between us

There is not a container to hold it 

We come from 2 rich, full lives 
a small town New Jersey boy and
a country girl from Colorado
Other places, other times
Other husbands, other wives

We arrive here today
From tragedy 
The loss of Kathi
Your dear former wife
And My dear friend

We arrive here today
From joy
In our newfound relationship,
Having been friends for years!
I knew you and liked you before
I fell in love with you!

Thank you for proposing to me
On Christmas morning, 2010
In front of Mom and Aunt Willie, 
My 92 year old aunt 
and 
making It official.

When You met My dear Uncle Tanky 
After you proposed, he took me aside 
And said he's the best!

I agree—I have no doubt.

Many of our friends here today have 
Told us that they will be glad when we get married,
So we would stop kissing and hugging each other
All the time!

I will never stop!
Each kiss and each hug heals my soul at a deeper level
I want more!

Lin, to me
You are a cool mountain breeze
Deer stopping by for nourishment & comfort!
You are laughter!  Every Wednesday night at 
     round dancing when you refer to the foxtrot 
     as the F word, I laugh deeply!

I know that the life we will start today 
Is rich
blessed
And oh, so good!

As I look out over
Our family and friends,
I know we have the support
And power to make this marriage
Become a fascinating adventure.

Today we become husband and wife
And some of you may wonder
"why?"
At our age.

Here's my reason—
I wanted to stand today before
My family and friends and God and profess 
     my love to you.
To me the sacrament of marriage 
Has a different value today!
I wanted the protection for us
That marriage offers.

I commit today 
To be Larada
Creative, messy, wacky and fun!

I ask you to be Lin.
Creative, neat, linear and goofy!

Together we form a "we"
That's dynamic!

I could site a long list of thank you's today, 
     but I want to thank you mostly for one thing—
     choosing to
Share the rest of your 
Life with me!  It's here!

After I read this, Lin played, I Cross My Heart, a George Strait song for me—George is my favorite.

Finally,

The joy on my face in the picture below shows exactly what this day was for me—the best day of my life!

Larada Horner-Miller on her wedding day - picture

My Newest Books

Time Measured Out!: Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry, Book #2 e-book

ISBN – 9798989688654

$.99 for limited time

Is My Truth Universal?: A Woman’s Poetic Odyssey e-book

ISBN – 979-8989688623

ALWAYS FREE

Was It a Dream?: Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry, Book #1 – e-book

ISBN – 979-8989688630

$3.99

Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Christmas Memoir e-book

ISBN – 978-0996614498

$3.99

Buy My Audio Books:

This Tumbleweed Landed

Let Me Tell You a Story

Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Memoir Audiobook

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Category: MY LIFE

My Super-Busy January—Glad It’s Over!

My Choice to Not Include My Email List

Here’s What I wrote Super-Busy!

Finally—Done with Super-Busy for Now,

My Newest Books

Buy My Audio Books:

Goodreads reviews for Coronavirus Reflections

Day 31 – January Ends Today—So What Did I Learn?

Did you finish the Ultimate Blog Challenge?

Have You Accomplished Any Other Goals Recently?

Why Did You Joined the Ultimate Blog Challenge?

Achieving Your Goals

Finally,

My Newest Books

Buy My Audio Books:

Goodreads reviews for Coronavirus Reflections

Day 30 – Sewing Brings Back Memories: Another Necessary Project

Lin Bought New Drapes—Wrong Length

Larada’s Sewing Project Birthed

Today Was the Day for Sewing

The Borrowed Sewing Machine

First Stitches

Sewing & My Determination

Final Decision

My Newest Books

Buy My Audio Books:

Goodreads reviews for Coronavirus Reflections

Day 29 – A Picture of Me—On My Wedding Day

Back Story

Our Wedding Day

It’s Here! Our Wedding

Finally,

My Newest Books

Buy My Audio Books:

Goodreads reviews for Coronavirus Reflections