Monday Musings: Perspective

 Can y'all even believe that it's the last day of May!? Last year, during the pandemic quarantine, April and May felt as if they lasted about three years. This year, they seemed to go by in about three minutes.  That just goes to show - it's all about your perspective!

Speaking of perspective...  My "baby" turned 23 yesterday, which has me feeling especially old right now.  It suddenly seems like it was a lifetime ago that I was 23. I suppose in many ways it was. Twenty-three years ago, I was still in my twenties, with an almost 6 year old and a newborn.  Now, here I am with two very grown offspring and a grandkid. I worked over half those years at a career I loved, and now I run my own Etsy shop and love that.  A lot of living takes place in 23 years!

My goals for last week were mostly a giant bust.  The Man of the House and I didn't get back from the beach until about dinner time on Monday.  For some reason, I really struggled to get back on track and settle into my routines for the rest if the week. I think the only goal I marked off the list was ordering our son's birthday present.  Oh well, it is what it is.  All I can do at this point is focus ahead and work to be more efficient this week. 

Goals for This Week:

• Prep breakfasts for the week
• Do some type of movement/physical activity for at least 15 minutes per day
• Take items for donation to Goodwill
• Hang curtains in home office
• Work on "down" command with dogs
• Work on changes to Etsy shop: update About page and listings

Oh!  And, before I forget - today is Memorial Day.  If you are enjoying yourself at the lake, pool, beach, or a backyard barbecue today - don't forget to pause for a few minutes to remember and honor those that have served and lost their lives in defense of our country.  

What's on your calendar for thus week?

Sunday Inspiration: Who You Become

Thankful Thursday: May 27, 2021

 

I Am Thankful For:

Cardinals

Fresh ideas

Strawberries

Tuesday morning Bible study

Chips and salsa

Telephone calls with the grandkid

Clear blue skies

Pouncing puppies

Waking up before the dream gets too scary

Safe travels

Making good time to our destination

A day on the beach

Fresh seafood

Awesome little local restaurants

Sunrise on the beach

Dinner by the water

Learning new things

Home

What I'm Reading Wednesday: The Four Winds

 A couple of weeks ago, I started doing "What I'm Reading Wednesdays" on my Instagram.  I had originally planned it as a new feature for the blog, but, well - what can I say? - I'm a little slow to get that ball rolling.  But its time has finally arrived! 

This week I'm reading The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah.  

Texas, 1934. Millions are out of work and drought has broken the Great Plains. Farmers are fighting to keep their land and their livelihoods as the crops are failing, the water is drying up, and dust threatens to bury them all. One of the darkest periods of the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl era, has arrived with a vengeance.

In this uncertain and dangerous time, Elsa Martinelli—like so many of her neighbors—must make an agonizing choice: fight for the land she loves or go west, to California, in search of a better life. The Four Winds is an indelible portrait of America and the American Dream, as seen through the eyes of one indomitable woman whose courage and sacrifice will come to define a generation.  (Description from Goodreads.com)

I have previously read The Nightingale, Winter Garden, and The Great Alone by the same author and enjoyed each one.  Ms. Hannah has become one of the authors that I want to auto-add to my 'To Be Read' list as soon as I see that she has a new book being published.

Ms. Hannah writes beautiful stories- especially her historical fiction.  They are meticulously researched, and she creates characters that you learn to love (or admire, or hate) So far, this book is just as wonderful as the others I have read.  I hope it continues to live up to my expectations. 

I saw a few reviews that took issue with how sad the story is and how much tragedy the main character must endure.  The timeline for this novel is the Great Depression!  Why do they think it was called that?  The suffering and tragedy is what thousands - if not millions of Americans lived through every single day of that time period.  To sugar-coat it or cheer it up a bit wouldn't be true to the era.  

What are you reading this week?

Monday Musings: Mockingbird

 We have a mockingbird living around here somewhere.  I can hear it up in the pear tree from time to time.  It may start off singing the song of a cardinal, or a bluebird.  After a few (I don't know what to call them - bars? lines? notes?), it will abruptly switch songs.  I've heard it mimic sparrows, chickadees, finches, and even the call of a hawk.  It has had me thinking about all the different "voices" we use when speaking to different people. Maybe we're not so different from the mockingbird in that way.

Last Monday I got to spend s with the afternoon with the grandkid.  I've missed our days together since his school went back to in-person learning.   School lets out for the summer soon and I'm looking forward to plenty of Oma time this summer!

The Man of the House and I spent this weekend in Charleston.  We were supposed to go last weekend but postponed because of the gas shortages after the Colonial Pipeline shutdown.  A couple of lazy days on the beach was just what I needed to relax and unwind.  We were long overdue for a couple's weekend away!  

When it came to my goals for last week, I think keeping them small and easily accessible was the right move.  I did quite well at marking off the to-do list.

I have about 99% of my yarn stash organized.  And the sewing table is cleared off.  This whole cleaning and organizing project for my home office is taking much longer than I anticipated I began.  Truthfully - much longer than it should.  But now I can see an end in sight. Finally!  

I caught up on the laundry.  But, we all know that's one of those tasks that just about as soon as you get it finished up - you have to start all over again.  So... 🤷‍♀️

I also started teaching the dogs the "Down" command.  Max seems to be catching on much quicker than I expected.  Ziggy - not so much.  He'll finally do it and I think "aha, he's finally catching on!" Then the next time we practice, it's like starting all over again.  I keep reminding myself that this is a process.  

Goals for this week:

• Walk at least 3 times
• Take items for donation to Goodwill
• Hang new curtains in home office
• Order the Male Offspring's birthday present
• Continue daily work on dog training

How was your week?  Any goals for the week ahead?

Sunday Inspiration: Measuring Time

Thankful Thursday: May 20, 2021

 It's been a good week so far.  So much to be thankful for.  The gas crunch is starting to improve.  Slowly, but much better than this time last week. The weather has been mild. And I've been feeling especially creative.

What are you thankful for this week?  Here's part of my list:

I Am Thankful For:

Family silliness

A new patio table

A great online Bible study discussion

Books

Quiet moments

Finding gas for my car

Naptime for doggies

Being surprised by the Man of the House

Plans rescheduled

Rainy days

Spotting a fox

The Man of the House taking a Friday off

First dinner out in over a year

A pretty new cup

Getting my haircut

Simple Sunday dinners

Margaritas

Monday Musings: A New Beginning

Mondays have sort of a bad reputation. The Monday Blues.  A case of the Mondays.  A certain orange cartoon cat grumbling "Mondays" from under his blanket.  People seem to dread Monday.  Maybe it's the tradition of having to return to the workweek after a few days off.  Perhaps it's having to adjust the natural rhythms and schedules of our bodies to meet the demands of work and/or school life.  Or it could just be that society tells us that Mondays are bad.  

But, I kind of like Mondays.  It's like a fresh start every single week.  Like a mini little New Year's Day.  A new beginning! 

I like to take time on Sunday to set my goals for the coming week and get things off to a good start with a shiny new To-Do list ready and waiting for me on Monday mornings. 

To help kick things off on a positive note, I am going to start sharing a few thoughts each Monday.  A review of the past week.  My goals for the week.  And hopefully, a little motivation to get us through the week ahead.  Let's go!

I started a new online Bible study last week based on Philippians. It was amazing!  The group that met for the Tuesday morning Zoom discussion was lively and thought-provoking and just SO GOOD.  I'm already looking forward to what the meeting tomorrow morning might bring. 

Here in North Carolina, the panic buying of gasoline in response to the Colonial Pipeline shutdown had most stations out of fuel by mid-week.  Fortunately, we had enough gas in our cars to get us through the crisis. Unfortunately, the Man of the House and I had reservations to go to Charleston for the weekend - but we had to put those plans on hold since we weren't sure if we would be able to find gasoline for the drive home. 

On Friday morning, I was making a cup of coffee when I glanced out the sliding glass door and something trotting up the road caught my eye.  My first thought was "That's a big cat".  Then - "No, that's not a cat.  A dog?"  Which is also about the time that I realized I was looking at a fox.  Prancing up the road with what might have been a rabbit or squirrel in its mouth.  Now, we get all kinds of wildlife in our neighborhood.  Deer, turkeys, groundhogs, bunnies, opossums, raccoons, and hawks are common visitors.  There's even the occasional bear sighting. And I have heard coyotes howling at night over on the mountain ridge. But this is the first time I have ever spotted a fox!

The excitement didn't end there.  Around lunchtime, someone was pounding at our front door.  Not knocking - pounding.  The Man of the House answered the door to find a young girl - maybe 14 years old - sobbing on our front porch.  She had no shoes on and she was so distraught that it was difficult to understand most of what she was saying, but after she told us that the voices in her head were telling her to kill her mother and that she wasn't supposed to tell us her name and she didn't know where her house was - I quickly ducked inside to call 911 while the Man of the House tried to get her to talk to him and to calm down a little.  That's when she took off running, through our yard, the neighbor's yard, and down the road.  He hopped in his car and went to follow her at a distance, just to keep an eye on her and make sure she was safe until the Sherriff's deputy arrived where she was currently down the road and began talking with her.  After that - well, I guess we'll never know what happened to her.  I can only pray that she was able to get the help she needed.  

The day ended on a more positive note when the Mand and I went out for dinner.  That was our first restaurant dinner in over a year that wasn't delivered or take out.  It was nice to sit and be served while we just relaxed and talked and enjoyed our meal.

Saturday, we went out to run some errands. And I got my first haircut since last July! It really feels as if life is starting to get back to something that resembles "normal" (meaning: pre-pandemic)

My goals for this week are short and simple, meant to be steps that will help me get closer to completing my goals for May:

• Clear off the sewing table in my home office
• Finish organizing yarn
• Catch up on laundry
• Begin teaching dogs the "Down" command

What are your feelings about Mondays?  Do you have any goals for this week? Share in the comments!

Sunday Inspiration: Time for Everything

Thankful Thursday: May 13, 2021

 

I Am Thankful For:

Thunderstorms

Our Disney Magic Bands arrived

Healthy breakfast

Early morning walk

Psalm 37:4

Taco salad

Lunch with my dad

Sunshine

A chance to crochet something for myself

A patch of sunlight on my favorite chair

A pretty peace lily

God's guidance

Yellow and black butterflies

Library books

Individual bundt cakes

The return of the annual Mother's Day dinner

Fresh flowers

My family

Not having to cook

No one was near the patio table when it shattered

Happy Mother's Day

 

Thankful Thursday: May 6, 2021

 Running a little late getting this week's thankful Thursday post ready.  But better late, than never!

I Am Thankful For:

Binge-watching TV shows with the Man of the House

Perfect weather

Vacation reservations made

The sun on my face

Inside jokes

Tiny little birds at the feeder

Greek salad

New leashes for the dogs

A long walk before dinner

A completed to-do list

Chilly spring mornings

Yellow wildflowers growing along the creek

Delicious salads

Meals prepped for the week

Currently... May 2021

 Oh, May... what a bright and beautiful month!  Usually not too cold, or too hot.  Usually. I recall a few years when it froze us and others when it was as if we were walking on the sun.  But typically, May is the baby bear of months - just right!

I did pretty well with my challenges for April.  I'm still working on my home office, but I'm making progress.  Eventually, I will have it exactly how I want it to look. I ordered some cute honeycomb print curtains that I will put up as a reward to myself when I get there. 

 I can't claim that I have been taking daily walks.  But, I did take more walks in the evenings with the Man of the House and the dogs.  It's nice, but I can honestly say that no one loves it more than the dogs.  They enjoy exploring the neighborhood - especially when we let them get in the creek! I also cleaned off my hand weights and have been incorporating a little strength exercise into my days.  So... that's good.  

The thing I am most proud of is that I achieved the next weight loss goal I had set for myself.  And I am VERY pleased about that! Looking forward to meeting the new one I have planned!

And now... looking at the month ahead...

Working On:  Well, obviously I am still working on cleaning and organizing my home office.  And getting my cholesterol and blood sugar back to acceptable levels is at the top of the priority list. 

I'm also working on getting the doggies trained.  The Covid pandemic hit just about the time Max became fully vaccinated and was able to start training, which meant there were no lessons available.  And we got Ziggy in the middle of the pandemic.  So I have declared this "The Summer of Training".  I have a feeling this isn't going to be easy because Max especially is one stubborn little pup.

Celebrating:  This year Mother's Day should look a lot different from last year.  We might even be able to have our moms over for dinner or something since everyone will be "fully vaccinated" by then!  Much nicer than last year when we couldn't visit each other.  

My oldest nephew celebrates his birthday on Cinco de Mayo.  The month ends with the celebration of the Male Offspring's 23rd birthday.  

Wanting/Needing: Other than about four or five more hours in the day?  And sleep?  Hmmm... ideas for new blog posts.  Cute and comfortable sandals that don't break the bank.  And some good salad recipes.  (more on that last one in just a minute)

Reading: I completed The Lost Village by Camilla Sten.  I wasn't sure I was going to like it at first. Was it a psychological thriller?  A mystery?  A ghost story?  I'm still not completely sure.  It certainly wasn't the best of any of those genres that I've ever read.  But it did get to a point in the story where I stayed up far too late reading because I wanted to see what was going to happen next.  And for that, it got an extra star.  

I'm now reading Stardust by Neil Gaiman.  Because I always enjoy a little Neil Gaiman.  I also plan to read one of the books on my 5 To Do Before 52 list this month.  Probably The Count of Monte Cristo.

Loving:  Salads.  Not your basic lettuce-tomato-cucumber-dressing salad (although I enjoy those too).  I'm talking about an interesting salad.  With some protein added, such as chicken breast or fish.  One of my favorites is a salad of spring mix with some shredded carrot, sliced cucumber, a seared tuna filet, and a sesame ginger dressing.  Yum!!  Or a salad of greens, cubed apple, walnuts, and sliced chicken with a balsamic vinaigrette.  Or greens, strawberries, cucumber, pecans, and chicken with poppyseed dressing.  Or... well, you get the point.  I'm very into salads.  What's your favorite salad?  

Personal Challenges for May:

• Complete home office cleaning/organization project
• Weight is down another 5 lbs
• Walk at least 3 times per week
• Meal prep breakfasts/lunches for the week each Sunday
• Journal every day
• Teach dogs 2 new commands

What are your personal plans and goals for May?

Sunday Inspiration: Big and Small