Tuesday, May 31, 2022

Sad, Angry, and Tired

It's been a rough week. For all of us. The murders of 19 children and 2 teachers in Texas last week left us devastated. I'm not even sure I can find the words to talk about it.  I'm just so sad.  My very soul feels bruised..  And I'm so incredibly angry.

My own grandson is the same age as those murdered babies. Maybe that's why my heart literally aches when I think about the innocent children and their  teachers.  When I think about the parents,  and siblings, and grandparents. And I can't begin to imagine the pain their families must going through.  

Something like this never should have happened in our schools.  And it definitely shouldn't have happened again. And again, and again.  

I'm angry with the politicians who, instead of doing whatever it takes,  absolutely anything, to protect our children, make excuses and distractions to win favor with a special interest group that provides them with huge campaign donations.  All their thoughts and prayers might make them feel good, but they're just masks to hide how they're not doing anything substantial.

I'm angry with people who argue that this is solely a mental health issue, but refuse to support background checks or "red flag" laws which are meant to help keep assault style guns out of the hands of the mentality disturbed or individuals with violent tendencies. 

I'm angry at people that think it's perfectly acceptable to have children locked down in classrooms practicing active shooter drills which are shown to increase fear, anxiety and depression, rather than looking at how we can prevent the need for these measures. 

We have to do more. We have to do better. As Americans we have rights granted to us by the constitution. We also have responsibilities.  We must be willing to accept small sacrifices for the greater good. 

We have to stop putting a stigma on mental health and provide safe places to seek help. We have to find ways for people to get information to the proper channels when they see or hear something concerning or disturbing.  

I certainly don't have all the answers.   It's a complicated issue.  I'm just tired. Tired of the senseless killing. Tired of communities having to mourn children. Tired of the lip service and political posturing from politicians. 

I'm sad and angry and just... tired. 




Monday, May 30, 2022

Memorial Day

The last Monday of May is a day set aside to honor U.S. military personnel who have died while serving in the armed forces. While enjoying your cookout, watching the parade, or hanging out beside the pool or lake today - please take a moment to remember those who have fallen in service to their country.



Thursday, May 26, 2022

Thankful Thursday: May 26, 2022

 


I Am Thankful For:

Clean windows

My new dachshund water bottle from my son

Getting my stitches out

Catching up face to face

Ordering delivery for do

Picking my husband up at the airport

Birds singing

A clean house

Weekend coffee

Vivid red cardinal at the feeder

A hike with my husband and the dogs

Baby geese

An afternoon nap

My husband's Covid test was negative

Rain rinsing away the pollen

Days when I don't need to turn on the air conditioning

A productive day

My grandson

Wednesday, May 25, 2022

The Endless To Be Read List

At what point do you start thinking about what you’ll read next? 

I'm usually thinking about what I'll read, after I read the book I am going to read after the book I will read after the book I am currently reading! 

Confused?

Truth is - I never stop thinking about what I am going to read next.  Or after that, or after that!  My TBR (to be read) list is a mile long.  And never seems to get any shorter.


I often find myself thinking about a book I want to read and have to remind myself that I have 2 or 3 (or more!) books stacked up on the nightstand or waiting in my Kindle which need attention before I can get to the book I was thinking about.  So the TBR pile gets even bigger. 

I can spend hours at the library or the book store just wandering the stacks, picking out books I want to read.  Or on the the digital library or Amazon checking out the latest offerings for my Kindle.  Money constraints usually limit my pile from the bookstore or for the Kindle from getting out of hand.  But at the library I have to cut myself off at a certain point because I know I'll never get around to reading all the books I want to take home before they have to be returned.  And the TBR list grows longer.

It's a self feeding, never ending, circle of a cycle.  But I can't complain.  I love to read.  I have since I was a little kid.  I actually can say I have a fear of suddenly having nothing to read - and I plan to make sure I never have to realize that nightmare.  By keeping the endless TBR pile fed and growing.

So, tell me - when do you start thinking about what you’ll read next? 

Am I as strange as I think I am?  Or do others think that far ahead in their reading lists?

Monday, May 23, 2022

It Didn't Go As Planned

 Last week did not go as planned.

The Man of the House was out of town for a work thing, and I expected to use this time to accomplish some of the goals I had for myself this month.  But I had one or two unexpected (but not unpleasant) things come up that took precedence over what I had originally planned. So, a whole lot of things didn't get marked off my to-do list.

Life is just like that sometimes. When it happens, you have two choices:

1. You can get stressed out.  

Sure, I could have made myself crazy trying to complete my list and enjoy the unexpected all at the same time.  I could have gotten frustrated that my plans were changed.  Or I could beat myself up over all the goals not checked off this week.

But, honestly, what good would any of those things do?  None.

2. You can go with the flow.

Enjoy the unexpected. Make the most of it. The goals will probably still be there when you are able to get to them. If not, maybe they weren't that important to begin with. 🤷

Now, I can't say that I don't hope that this week goes smoothly and I can get everything completed that I need and want to do. But, if it doesn't go as planned, hopefully I will accept that will grace and joy.

Goals for this week:

  • Complete 2 new items for Etsy shop
  • Photograph 3 new items for Etsy shop
  • Write 3 blog posts
  • Separate cotton yarn
  • Rearrange and Spring clean living room


Thursday, May 19, 2022

Thankful Thursday: May 19, 2022


 

I Am Thankful For:

The little sounds the dogs make while they are asleep

Starting to read a new book

Black bean hummus

Cardinals

Rainy mornings

Lavender plants

Prayer

Lunch out with my husband

Clouds

My husband making dinner

French-press coffee

Love

The peonies are blooming

Foggy morning

A warm breeze

A clean car


Thursday, May 12, 2022

Thankful Thursday: May 12, 2022

 


I Am Thankful For:

Sleep

Access to dental care

Ice cream

My fall on the stairs wasn't worse

My husband fixing dinner

The sound of thunder

Saturday mornings

Chickadees

Finally falling asleep

My grown "children"

Feeling loved

Pretty pink purse

A fresh new week

Mercies new every morning

Relief for my itchy eyes



Thursday, May 5, 2022

Thankful Thursday: May 5, 2022

 


I Am Thankful For:

Fresh vegetables 

Curiosity

Waking up before the alarm

Puppy kisses

The grosbeaks are back

Browsing the craft store

When my husband makes me laugh

BLTs

Buds on the peonies plants

Stinky dogs

My little jade plant survived falling off the deck railing

Finding the crochet book I thought was lost forever

Phone call from my dad

A completed to-do list

Breakfast

Dreams

Ice packs





Monday, May 2, 2022

Currently - May 2022

Hooray for May!  

It's a brand new month and I am hoping and praying that things quiet down a little and give me a chance to catch my breath. But, if I'm being honest with myself, I think it's going to be another crazy and busy one. 

Working On:  I have been busy working on new items to build up the ready-to-ship stock in my Etsy shop. Lots of new cotton washcloths and dish cloths will be added in May!

I am also still working to purge my wardrobe and get it reorganized. Last month I completed the closet and this month I am on to the dresser.

Celebrating: The usual May happenings - Mother's Day and Memorial Day. Maybe a little Cinco deal Mayo, because any excuse to eat tacos works for me. And May the Fourth because my family are a bunch of Star Wars nerds. One of my nephews has a birthday this week. And my own "baby" turns 24 at the end of the month.

Needing/Wanting: I have a beautiful handcrafted iron hook rack that my father made for me several years ago when he took a blacksmithing course.  It hangs in my kitchen/dining area and right now it has a few aprons hanging from it.  Recently, I have been looking at it and thinking that I would like to do something a little more styled and polished with it. Make it a little more decorative. I have been scouring Pinterest and Instagram for inspiration and have a few thoughts. If you have any suggestions, be sure to share them in the comments!

Eating:  One if my favorite things about the warmer months is all the fresh fruits. I am eagerly awaiting watermelon, peaches, and nectarines. Until then, I have been enjoying fresh strawberries like they're candy.

Loving: Plants.  My spring flowers - daffodils, tulips, azalea, and lilacs have done especially well this year. And after taking a break because of being transplanted, the peonies have buds and I look forward to them blossoming this month. My houseplants are also doing well and showing signs of growth!

May Goals:

  • Rearrange and Spring clean living room
  • Paint wall in stairwell
  • Purge and reorganize dresser
  • Write 3 blog posts per week
  • Read 3 books
  • List 15 new items in Etsy shop

What are your plans for May?