2025
Terri Webster Schrandt

Sunday Stills Annual Year in Review: Memorable Moments of 2024

“The new year stands before us, like a chapter in a book, waiting to be written”.

Welcome to my annual Year-in-Review post, where we recall special thoughts, moments, and events that stood out in 2024. Because this is a photo challenge, please share your photos of those memories.

The year 2024 was marked by a leap year, non-covid Summer Olympic Games, a US presidential election….and wait for it… this was the Year of the Aurora, also known as the Northern Lights, at least for those who don’t live in Canada or Norway. The Northern Lights were seen all over the Northern Hemisphere.

Disclaimer: there is a LOT to this post…skimming is allowed. Note: the featured image was generated by AI.

2024’s Northern Lights

I saw my first set of Northern Lights in October 2021, and pleased as punch, I felt like a bucket list item had been checked off. Until…
…Well, you know I’m a geek for all things cosmic and celestial. In November 2023, I witnessed another aurora. Both were thrilling to see, as I understood that we are lucky to see this much as far “south” as we are in the Spokane area. Once again, I digress…

woman looking at northern lights
Me and the Northern Lights

Our local news channel teased a massive Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) in mid-May, a geomagnetic storm classified as a rare G5, expected to result in an epic northern lights show. In layman’s terms, the sun’s activity interacts with Earth’s upper atmosphere and geomagnetic field, causing the Northern Lights.

Green and pink corona northern lights
Green and pink corona
Aurora's Rays in pink
Pink rays of Northern Lights

People who inhabit the northern reaches of the northern hemisphere can expect to see the aurora more frequently, even with lower frequencies of CME storms. At any given moment, the sun is ejecting charged particles from its corona, or upper atmosphere, creating the solar wind. When that wind slams into Earth’s ionosphere or upper atmosphere, the aurora is born. Source

The Northern Lights are more active around the equinoxes, hence the stunning displays in 2024 in May and October.

Colorful bands of northern lights
Northern Lights descend on Eastern Washington in May
red and green bands of northern lights
October 10th Aurora in Skies Over Winthrop, WA

So after all that preamble…, I saw with my own eyes not one set of Auroras, but four, beginning mid-May. Another set graced us on Sept 16, Oct 7, then Oct 10. May boasted the G5 event, while October was a G4. Oh, GEE, they were all amazing!

Let’s see what else happened in 2024!

For this two-week photo challenge, looking back at your year in photos can be done however you choose. I’m sharing my favorites from each month of 2024, which include the wows, special memories, and notable captures.

“For me the end of the year is always a time to reflect and recharge my energies.” – Gisele Bundchen

Jam-Packed January

Chapel of the Holy Cross, Sedona AZ
Chapel of the Holy Cross

Over the years, we’ve spent a few winter days in Arizona. In 2024, we readied our snowbird flight feathers to enjoy sunny, warm Arizona for a few weeks. We mainly stayed with family near Scottsdale and a few days in San Diego. Besides meeting up with local bloggers…

Group of people
Fabulous group of Arizona Bloggers
Trio of women at diner
San Diego Bloggers

…I checked off some bucket list items by seeing Sedona’s Chapel of the Holy Cross and exploring Antelope Canyon. Notice my coat. January was unseasonably cold.

woman gazing in antelope cyn
Awestruck in Antelope Canyon
Wavy sandstone Antelope Canyon
Wavy sandstone textures Antelope Canyon

February Feedings

Dark-Eyed Junco Feeding Banquet Style
Dark-Eyed Junco Feeding Banquet Style

Once back home from our month-long trip, February was rather dull in comparison. I occupied myself watching the mule deer and birds, both attracted to our backyard feeders.

Mule deer at the bird feeder

March Memorial

casket and flowers
Saying a final goodbye to a family friend

In February, we received news that my brother-in-law’s long-time friend was diagnosed with cancer. Though she and I didn’t always get along for reasons baffling to me, we made our peace as she lay in hospice. We celebrated her life at the end of March.

March always brings the promise of spring and new beginnings, as well as the waterfall from which our town is named.

Nine Mile Falls Dam
Nine Mile Falls Dam
Equinox Sunrise Through the Trees
Equinox Sunrise Through the Trees

An Active April

purple tulips

In late March, my cousin, who lives in the Portland, Oregon area, called to ask for help with her father (my uncle) as he was to be admitted into an assisted living facility in April. We jumped at the chance to take another road trip, a mere 5 hours drive from home to Portland. I always enjoy seeing my cousin, and she graciously hosted dinner for us for several nights.

While there, we made plans to visit the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm, thanks to a post shared by Miriam Hurdle, with whom we had the pleasure of visiting in her lovely Portland home. We also visited Multnomah Falls, an hour’s drive from Portland.

two women
Terri and Miriam
Mt Hood and tulip farm
Mt. Hood Looms over tulip farm
Multnomah Falls sunburst
Multnomah Falls

We took a short drive to the Palouse Falls in southeast Washington the following week after returning home.

Palouse Falls Washington
First look at Palouse Falls

May the Maternal

Arrowleaf Balsamroot sunflowers
Arrowleaf Balsamroot sunflowers along the Spokane River

By the end of April, I look forward to the grand awakening and blooms of the wild Arrowleaf Balsamroot Sunflower that covers the forest floors in Eastern Washington.

But May held another big surprise, one that quickened my maternal instincts! Yep, I was to become a bird Oma soon! Say’s Phoebes (western flycatcher) visited our property for the first time and decided our patio cover was good real estate for their nest.

Say's Phoebe (flycatcher) bird
Say’s Phoebe (flycatcher)
Group of bird eggs
Say’s Phoebe Eggs
mama phoebe feeds her nestlings
Feed Us Mama!
Say's Phoebe Nestlings
Phoebe Nestlings Calling for Supper

May was also the month we saw the G-5 aurora borealis…

Jumpin’ June

If my calculations were correct, June was to be the birth month of the Say’s Phoebes.

Sure enough, on June 2nd, the Phoebes fledged!

Phoebe Fledglings
four light brown Phoebe fledglings

They fluttered from their nest on a cool, rainy day and huddled together for warmth and support.

Our backyard was popular with the birds this year. A swallow built her nest in a metal birdhouse and we enjoyed the bird show all spring.

Baby swallow about to leave the nest
Fledgling Violet-Green Swallow

When not home to enjoy the bird show, we also attended our first rodeo in a nearby rural town.

Horse riders at Rodeo
Barrel Racer
Women’s Barrel Event Race
Peewee Trick Rider on Horse
Peewee Trick Rider on Horse

Jazzy July

July is a month we traditionally stay home. The July 4th Independence Day celebrations can be nerve-wracking with abundant illegal fireworks nearby.

Fireworks Finale
Finale!
red white and blue dessert
Holiday Trifle

It was also time to replace our living room carpet with new vinyl plank flooring.

Floor remodel
Half way there!
New Living room floor
All done!

An Abiding August

August 2024 was a month four years in the making. When my mom passed away in March 2020, we couldn’t engage in a proper memorial due to pandemic restrictions. Family members started making plans and reservations in early 2024 to visit Yosemite National Park, specifically the high country of Tuolumne Meadows, to memorialize Mom and spread her ashes at her request.

Ashes loosed
Ashes Loosed!

The entire month was busy after our Yosemite trip when my brother and his partner visited us (and worked) at our home. They enjoy escaping the brutal Arizona summers as much as we love to escape Eastern Washington’s winter cold. We enjoyed dinners and day trips, including first-time visits to Spokane’s Manito Park and Metaline Falls, near the Canadian border.

Duncan Gardens, Manito Park, Spokane
3 acres Duncan Garden, Manito Park in Spokane
Pee Wee Falls
Closer Look Pee Wee Falls, near Metaline Falls, Washington

Serene September

The month of September brought continued warm temperatures and an opportunity to go kayaking with friends.

2 women in kayaks
Floating with Friends

The following week, my friend and her fiance from Sacramento visited us in their travel trailer as they continued their vacation to Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks. But not before we took a day trip to Couer d’Alene, Idaho.

boat slips Couer D'Alene
Boat Slips Couer d’Alene, Idaho

Yep, another Northern Lights show appeared, and this time, I captured my husband in the shot. My friends also got to see these northern lights in Glacier National Park.

man in Northern lights

Opportune October

silence of Autumn

October was another month full of surprises and helped boost my photography hobby! Not only did we experience yet another aurora, but TWO separate displays were visible to us.

We attended a family wedding in Winthrop, WA, in the Cascade Mountain Range.

wedding couple
Autumn lake in Mazama, WA

Once home, Autumn made a wondrous appearance, likely bothered by all the overhead sky attention from the auroras.

monochrome misty lake
filtered Yellow Norway Maples
blue heron

November Nailed Down

“You can get excited about the future. The past won’t mind.” —Hillary DePiano

sunlight in window
a Light Bursts Through

After a lengthy process that began in early August to set up and apply for our Medicare and Social Security benefits, and wade through paperwork for pensions and insurance, we finally nailed down everything by mid-November. Between using a notary public, sending and receiving applications via FedEx, and signing forms online, we felt like we were back to working full-time again.

Once we could breathe again, we took our first trip to the Saltese Flats, a local bird sanctuary in Spokane Valley. Unseasonably warm temperatures greeted us, as did many species of birds (Great Blue Heron and Canada Geese). We also took time to give thanks with our families and friends for Thanksgiving.

Blue Heron and Canada geese

Dashing Through December

Fire Station Santa
Local Fire Station Annual Santa Visit

As we dashed through December, we attended the local tree-lighting, were visited by Santa’s Sleigh, and celebrated my big 6-5 birthday.

man and woman christmas tree

We experienced a smattering of snow and planned and executed our road trip to Arizona and beyond. But the time spent on Christmas day with my family and, of course, my dear father, was precious. Matching PJs also helped.

man and women christmas
Dad and Terri on Christmas monring
matching pajamas

“At Christmas, all roads lead home.” – Marjorie Holmes

For this blogger, 2024 can be summed up as a year of northern lights, waterfalls, and wonderful moments in between.

Sharing for Cellpic Sunday, Weekend Sky, Lens-Artists, and Cee’s Flower of the Day.

Sunday Stills Photo Challenge Reminders

The Sunday Stills weekly-themed photo challenge is easy to join. You have all week to share and link your post. Please use your own original images, whether new or from your archives.

  • Remember to title your blog post a little differently than mine.
  • Please create a new post for the theme or link a recent one.
  • Entries for this theme can be posted all week.
  • Tag your post “Sunday Stills.”
  • Don’t forget to create a pingback to this post so that other participants can read your post.
  • I also recommend adding your post’s URL to the comments.

If you have already published a 2024 “retrospective” post, please feel free to link it to this post so we can see how everyone’s year went. You have two weeks to share your 2024 retrospective through January 5th. The January two-week color challenge will be published January 12-19th. I hope you join me again.

2025 begins the 8th year of Sunday Stills, and I am so grateful to everyone who has read my posts or participated and shared their creative energy in photos, poetry, stories, music, and art!

“Last year’s words belong to last year’s language. And next year’s words await another voice.” ~ T.S. Eliot

happy new year 2025

Wishing you the very best of 2025!

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157 comments

  4. Terri, what a delightful and gorgeous post. I can’t say enough about it. Your information about the northern lights was “eye-opening” to say the least. What impressed me the most about this post is how fully you embrace life – which is my word for this year. Each picture depicted the love of life that you exude in person as well as over the blog. Your photography keeps getting more and more spectacular. I don’t know how many pictures I’ve seen of Multnomah Falls, but yours has that spectacular light effect. Your birds have so much personality, I could fall in love with them and take them home, and I don’t particularly like birds. I absolutely love your new flooring. It gives your home a totally new vibe. Gorgeous! As much as we talk, I learned so much about you and your life in this post. Such fun! Congratulations on a year well spent!

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    • Thank you so much, dear Marsha! 2024 sure had its moments. There was another aurora on NYE back home, I read about. I miss seeing my birds. Still very little snow at home–I love spreading sunflower seeds on the snow for the juncos and finches. I guess they don’t need me this year, LOL! Here in San Diego, there are two red-tailed hawks that perch in the trees of my daughter’s home. I have to try to get a pic! I need to get over and read yours–I’ve been lax. We’ll talk soon. Hope your NY is starting off “write!”

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  6. It’s incredible how celestial events like the Northern Lights can bring people together in awe, transcending borders and reminding us of the universe’s magic. Your mention of seeing the aurora as far south as Spokane adds a layer of rarity and excitement to the phenomenon.

    I’m curious—did the increased aurora activity inspire any new creative projects or reflections for you? And speaking of AI-generated images, it’s fascinating to see how technology can merge with nature-inspired storytelling.

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  12. These are just wonderful Terri! I laughed out loud at hubby and pooch in matching plaids – a great ending 😊. I’d need a year off after doing as much as you did this year! You GO girl!! Loved them all, terribly envious of your northern lights which it seems to me you were hogging up there! Loved your post – you should link to us, it’s a perfect favorites of the year review!

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    • Aww, thank you, Tina! We’re in San Diego now enjoying incredible weather. Sorry about hogging the auroras 😆. I tagged Lens-Artists in the post yesterday. But I will link to you soon, if that’s OK. Thank you, 2024, was a memorable year.

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  16. What a great recap Terri! I am still exciting for your excitement over the Aurora. Which I saw last night, i always take a moment to appreciate them for sure. You had a busy year but one full of so many positives.

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    • Thank you, Bernie! I heard the aurora made an appearance again, it was seen in Spokane. Alas we’re too far south. I’ll never get tired of seeing them. Sorry for the delay in reading, we were on the road Saturday. It was good to see my dad during the holidays.

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  20. I love the AI image at the top of this post, Terri. Did you use the WordPress AI Image tool to create it? I’ve tried it a few times and have had some great results, although when I add text, it doesn’t always come out right.

    Thanks for the trip through 2024. I love the picture of you with your dad on Christmas morning. The other pictures mark wonderful memories that I know you will always treasure.

    Happy New Year! I wish you continued success with Sunday Stills. (Is it really eight years since you took over as host?) It seems like only a few years ago.

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    • Hi Hugh! Thanks for reading! I can’t believe it’s been 8 years either. I’m glad I had that aha moment to resurrect Sunday Stills after I almost stopped blogging.

      We had a great time with Dad and Step Mom. I’m glad that we spent the holidays here. Dad is declining mentally and this could well be his last year at home. 😕

      I pulled the AI image from WordPress complete with text. It worked with the aurora theme 😆

      Tomorrow we drive to San Diego to stay with my daughter for 10 days. We’ve really enjoyed the record breaking warm temps here in Scottsdale. 🌵

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  21. A great wrap-up post Terri, all your monthly titles made me smile plus your photos are fabulous. How lucky are you to see the lights so many times in the one year!

    Thanks again for all you do in hosting this challenge and for being such a generous blogger with your time and comments.

    Happy New Year to you and Hans. May 2025 be a good one for you x

    I’ve just finished my post and linked to yours.
    https://debs-world.com/2025/01/03/happy-new-year-2024-reflections-for-sundaystills/

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  35. Terri,

    A busy year indeed! I missed your birthday, but I assume it was a happy one. Your pictures are fabulous, as usual, and the Northern Lights gave us all something to envy. We’ll be in Sedona and Cottonwood, AZ, in a few weeks. Will you still be around? We’ll also be in Coronado in late February. We would love the opportunity to meet up. My summary of 2024 took the form of listing the best of the best. Thanks for hosting. Here’s a link: https://www.easingalong.com/fun/15089

    All the best for an excellent 2025! Joe

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    • Thank you, Joe! We got to experience a few new places but spent more time with family. I’m afraid I’m going to miss your arrival in AZ. We head back north at the end of January. But please let me know…

      Wishing you a wondrous new year to you and Helen. Safe travels!

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  36. Thanks for sharing your beautiful year with us Terri. You had me at a great memory – the Chapel of the Holy Cross. I’d recognize that photo anywhere. 🙂 Happy New Year to you and yours my friend. ❤

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  39. We enjoyed scrolling through your year, Terri!

    Here’s to the next one.

    💫🌟✨🥂🍾🥂💫🌟✨

    Wishing you a wonderful New Year
    The Fab Four of Cley
    🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

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  54. You sure had an exciting year Terri! It was hard to pick a favorite image here as there were so many nice, as well as unique ones. The range of colors from those at Antelope Canyon to the tulip farm and of course the Aurora were fabulous. I sure hope to get a glimpse of the Aurora the next occurrence here. Most times when we might have had a glimpse here in SE Michigan, we had overcast skies or some other weather annoyance. 🙂 Our weather today is pretty odd and for that reason I’m going to hold off posting my longish (okay long) post because the next two or three hours we are slated to have raucous thunderstorms followed by a chance of light snow overnight. Right now it is almost 50 degrees. So I did include your post, so that will be later tonight.

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    • Weather annoyance…that cracked me up, Linda! The weather in Scottsdale is a boring 70F with sun languishing all day. Back home the snow may beginning there this week. 50 seems very warm for your area! Take your time with your post. December isn’t over yet 😆

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      • Well the latest weather annoyance is over. I scheduled my post for 9:30 p.m. as I thought it might linger and I usually shut down in a bad storm even though I have an all-house surge suppressor, I’d rather not fry the computer (or me). I could take a boring 70F Terri and even though we had almost 60 yesterday, it still was not that warm heat like you have in Spring or Fall. I actually did my post a couple of days ago and held it as a draft for your post and to add how many words I have in Duolingo since I mentioned learning French. Every over day we are learning another 25-30 vocabulary words … I thought it was 558 words, but I think they are counting verb conjugations, so I was impressed! It’s like being in school sometimes (without the pop quizzes)!

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      • Yes you should have Terri! Learning a language is a lot of work … the few words I remember from my college days are a mere drop in the bucket. Tonight we learned how to tell time … I cannot say “heure” which is “hour”. Over and over again I repeated it … I think the “bots” finally gave it to me so I could move on! 🙂 Thank you!

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      • I have a set of 5×8 spiral notebooks I use for duolingo. I write down the vocabulary list, look at the little notebook icon at the start of the lesson and write the tips in there too. I also write sentences in German with English equivalents, especially the ones I get wrong. But you’ve inspired me to write a Frohes Neues Jahr post this Wed and Include images from duolingo as a way to start out the new year. Thanks for the idea!

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      • I probably should have done a hard copy of my words, rather than putting it on the computer but I have just copied and pasted the vocabulary lists into my document into three columns, then for the nouns I put the gender in the middle column. I have a good verb conjugation site which I use … they mostly tell you the conjugation in each guidebook at the bottom, but I have added this to my document. Glad to provide the inspiration and that would be a fun “wrap-up for 2024 part two” post, especially since you’re now starting a new language – go for it Terri!

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  56. Terri, you have some amazing captures that inspire me to keep trying for a better shot. It was a lovely, easy, recap of your year and I’m envious of your aurora experiences- I was always in the wrong place at the wrong time to see the southern lights.

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    • Thank you, dear Donna! I could have never imagined seeing the aurora so many times in one year. It’s funny how we retired folks have more to do than when we worked, right? I’m enjoying 75F temps today in Scottsdale, AZ. Before we left, there was only one day of snow. I suppose it will wait for us upon our return. Happy New Year, my friend.

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  59. ☆｡¸ ⭐️.`•.¸ *★ ♫ *´. ¸｡☆ ♫ ♥ ¸｡☆
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  60. That’s quite a year, with all those ‘northern lights, waterfalls, and wonderful moments’ 😀 I loved seeing some of the beautiful US scenery in your images of waterfalls and Antelope Canyon, and those pretty birds too!

    I was planning a round-up of my year’s travels and had even titled my sections ‘memorable times, memorable sights’ etc., so when I saw your theme I just had to link up: https://www.toonsarah-travels.blog/looking-back-at-a-year-of-travels-2024/

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  63. Oh, Terri, so many precious moments caught with your camera. You have such a gift. Never have been a bird fan but you make me want to take up bird watching. Afraid we don’t have many colorful interesting birds here, though.

    The canyon pictures are stunning. Casting your mom into eternity at Yosemite. We are taking mom and dad to Creede, Colorado in May for their send off. Dad has been waiting a looong time to be at peace.

    The photo of the light streaming in around the Christmas decorations on the window sill!! Christmas-card worthy. Enjoyed seeing your darling dad and hubs in matching PJs. Good sports, those two. Trying to talk my fam into doing the same thing when and if we all get together for Christmas again.

    Thank you, thank you for hosting this link up and for making the world a pretty, gentler place with your art. Happy 2025.

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    • I can always count on my former librarians to leave such eloquent and wonderful comments, dear Leslie. Thank you for your beautiful words.

      When you cast your parents into eternity, be prepared for an emotional stability out of nowhere! I’m so happy to spend time with Dad. He’s still such a character. I’m afraid we’ll be scattering his ashes in Yosemite sooner than later. At least he’ll join mom, but that might be bad since they divorced in 1987. 😢 We’re enjoying him while we can. Happy New Year my friend! Enjoy the last few days of ’24.

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    • Oh it’s fun…not, Jodie! Get a good Medicare advocate. Ours was free. He came to our house multiple times to assist with the ridiculous paperwork.
      We are here! Enjoying Dad and helped my brother move into their new home. Vacation? Hmmm. I’ll text you to see if we can meet up this week if you’re available!

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  65. What a beautiful year and summary. If you wrote earlier about Sedona, I missed it. Love that place. So scenic in such a different way than Washington. Happy New Year. Tracey

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    • I can’t complain about 2024 much, Graham. A lot can happen in 365 days, most were good! Yeah, the auroras were really special. We felt so lucky to see them even if the lens made the difference. Nice and warm here in Scottsdale. Already 75F today. Good thing I packed the right clothes this time!

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  70. Wow Terri, you took so many beautiful photos in lovely places! Wonderful! I’m sorry about your mum and your friend. 🙏🏻 Wishing you guys all the best in the new year. Have a great new week! 😎😊

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  71. Terri, your year reflects a life well lived. Family, friends, travel, home improvement projects, nature, and the heavens opening up in your own backyard—so many joyful moments. You captured them beautifully in your photographs. I especially love the photo of you and your Dad.

    Thanks for stopping by Picture Retirement this morning. I now have your link attached. Here’s mine for anyone interested in our year. https://aslifeevolves.com/2024/12/29/our-year-in-review-2024/

    Happy New Year!

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    • 2024 was a good year, Suzanne. Isn’t it strange to look back and see a detail triggered by an event? I’m so blessed to see Dad again today. They live about an hour’s drive away from my brother’s home where we’re staying for now. Dad’s our only living parent now.

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