Goodbye, August

Was August even real? It feels like we blinked and suddenly landed at Labor Day weekend, wondering where the month went. One minute it was Friday, August 1st, full of summer plans and sunshine, and now we’re staring down September with a pumpkin spice latte in one hand and a fall to-do list in the other. This August might just go down as the quickest month in the history of months—proof that time flies when you're in midlife.

The most read post on the blog this month was Mix, Match, and Imagine where we talked about how the fashion plates toy sparked my childhood creativity. This month we also explored why so many of us find ourselves itching and scratching through perimenopause. And, as usual, I shared bits of my gratitude journal every Thursday and a little quote each Sunday to hopefully inspire you for the week ahead.

One of the reasons August seemed to zoom past was that it was a whirlwind of remodeling, renovations, and rebuilds.

We finished installing the new cabinets in the kitchen. And by "we", I mean my husband with a teeny bit of help from me. He also put up the new over-the-range microwave. The kitchen was measured for the new countertops last week.  This week we went to see and approve the slabs of granite, and they are scheduled to be installed next week.

As I write this, our deck is still under construction.  And I'm hoping with every fiber of hope I can muster that it will finally - Finally - be done before the end of this week.  They told us this would take about 2 weeks. It has been over 2 months now.  I'm ready for it to be done so I can use this beautiful new space!

In August I finished reading: "The Sugar Queen" by Sarah Addison Allen. I also read "All the Colors of the Dark" by Chris Whitaker and "Legends and Lattes" by Travis Baldree. I have started reading "A Resistance of Witches" by Morgan Ryan. My husband and I are reading "Equal Rites" by Terry Pratchett. And I am listening to "Lightning Strike" by Kenneth Kent Krueger for September book club.

August had me going for my annual mammogram.  My first appointment had to be rescheduled because of a power outage at the hospital. Fortunately, they were able to reschedule quickly and the images showed no changes this year. Yay!

Some of my favorite things from August include the new rocking chair set we ordered for the deck, my new glasses (I went for the progressive lenses this time - what a difference!), and the cooler temperatures we've been enjoying over the past week. 

How was your August? 

Wrapping Up This Midlife May

As May draws to a close, I find myself looking back on a month filled with blooming flowers, longer days, and making plans for the summer months ahead. I reflect on the days I've enjoyed and the lessons May has taught me. It's a perfect moment to look back on the memories we've created in May and look forward to the coming season.

The most popular post on the blog in May (by a huge margin) was when I shared my April Empties.  I also told you about the Five Things I Would Tell My Younger Self.  And we talked about the real meaning of Memorial Day. 

In May we celebrated Mother's Day.  My family outdid themselves this year. I was showered with some lovely gifts and a great breakfast. My daughter planned a day trip for the two of us with coffee, pastries, crystals, and books.  It was a wonderful weekend. 

Of course, we had the long Memorial Day weekend.  Ours involved working on our home renovation project, some yard work, and delicious ribs cooked on the grill by my amazing husband.  

May has been ending on a celebratory note for 27 years now. Ever since the birth of our son. I couldn't think of a nicer way to say goodbye to the month. 

During May, I read "Weyward" by Emilia Hart, "The Light In Hidden Places" by Sharon Cameron, and "Two Old Women" by Velma Wallis.  Our read for book club was "The Marsh King's Daughter " by Karen Dionne. My husband and I have been reading Stephen King's  "The Institute" to each other just before we go to bed each night. And I am currently reading "Garden Spells" by Sarah Addison Allen.  I have also been listening to another Sarah Addison Allen book - "The Girl Who Chased the Moon."

Some of my favorites and finds for May include:

Laura Geller Jelly Balm Hydrating Lip Color: The wear is incredibly comfortable. It lasts surprisingly well for a balm. My favorite shade is "In The Buff," a lovely neutral pink. 

Peonies:  I was so fortunate to have inherited a patch of pink peonies when we bought our house. All these years later they are still thriving and put on a beautiful show every spring. 

HIXX Smart Bird Feeder with Camera: This was a Mother’s Day gift from my husband.  I am not exaggerating when I say that I am obsessed!  I should probably be a little embarrassed by how much of my day I spend on my phone watching the birds at my feeder.

How are you celebrating the closing chapter of this beautiful month and preparing for the summer days to come?

An End to April

April was a much needed month.  It was quiet for the most part. It gave me a chance to catch my breath. And it breathed a little sunshine into my soul.

April brought my little sister's birthday.  I would have liked nothing more to celebrate with her. But since that wasn't an option this year, I sent her a gift that I hope was meaningful. She's such a great gift-giver and it was hard to come up with something even close to the amazing gifts she has given to me recently.  

We celebrated Easter with our kids and grandkids.  I made up a little basket for the dogs, because I'm silly like that. It was a beautiful day. And spending time with the grandkids is always a joy.

It was a quiet month in the blog. Other than Sunday and Thankful Thursday posts there wasn't much for midlifers. But I have a couple of good things lined up for May, which I hope you'll enjoy.

In April, I read "Two Twisted Crowns" by Rachel Gillig, "The Last Train to Key West" by Chanel Cleeton, "Everything is Tuberculosis" by John Green, and "The Hobbit" by J.R.R. Tolkien. I finished listening to "Brooke Shields Is Not Allowed to Get Old".  And in the last couple of days, I started reading "Weyward" by Emilia Hart.

We put up our greenhouse in April and have started growing some vegetables.  We're keeping it small since this is our first year.  Tomatoes, cucumbers, spinach, cabbage, peppers, and a couple of strawberry plants. I am looking forward to later this summer when we can start harvesting some of our own produce!

How was your April? Let me know in the comments!

The Best of March

In like a lion - out like a lamb.  That's what they say about March. March is carried in on the cold winds of Winter. And flies out on the warm breezes of Spring.

March celebrated Mardi Gras. It had us changing our clocks for the start of Daylight Savings. She brought us a lunar eclipse during the full Worm Moon. And saw the balance and rebirth that hails the Spring Equinox. 

March is a busy month for birthday celebrations in my family.  I wished my mother, my son in law, my cousin's husband, and my uncle a happy birthday this month.

On the blog we talked about keeping your knees healthy in midlife and beyond. This was inspired by an unexpected trip back to my Orthopedist when I once again experience pain in the knee I had surgery on last fall.  

I put my love of books to work in March and started volunteering at my local library.  It is a dream come true to spend a few hours each week shelving books and reading the shelves.  It's not doing my endless TBR list any favors though as I discover interesting looking books in the process.

In March I read "One Dark Window " by Rachel Gillig, "Treasure Island" by Robert Louis Stevenson, and "The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek" by Kim Michelle Richardson. I also started listening to  "Brooke Shields Is Not Allowed to Get Old" by Brooke Shields. 

At the end of the month I went to west Tennessee with my father to visit the town where his biological father grew up. We visited his grave and those of his parents.  We spent time at the local historical and genealogical library and learned some things about the family.  It was a worthwhile trip.

All in all, March was a good month.  The world may be burning down, but I am still able to find joy in my little part of it.

How was your March?

January Wrap-Up

Honestly, has this been the longest January that ever januaried - or am I the only one feeling that way?

This month, the most popular post on the blog was "Aging Gracefully... or not" where I explored what the idea of aging gracefully means to us as women.  I also shared ideas for combatting the winter blues, making a simple London Fog for sipping on the cold January days, and dealing with sleep problems in midlife.  

On the first weekend of January the Man of the House and I went to Baltimore, Maryland. We did some sightseeing, ate some delicious seafood, and on Saturday evening we went to the Ravens game. The game was FREEZING! The whole weekend was honestly. But the game was a night game and very windy, which made it feel that much colder.  We had originally planned to leave Monday evening, but there was a winter storm forecasted to move through on Monday morning, so we switched our flight and came home Sunday evening to beat the snow.

Like much of the country, we had some brutally cold temperatures this month. And we did see a little snow.  But it has been a crazy winter.  When the southern snow storm hit, it went way south and east of us.  While they had several inches of snow along the coast - we didn't see any of it here in mountains! 

We celebrated our oldest grandson's 13th birthday this month.  I know what you're thinking - I'm not old enough to have a teenage grandson.  You're right!  At least that's what I've been telling myself. 

I finally decided to do something this month that I've been thinking about for a while.  One morning I grabbed the scissors and cut some bang. I know, they say you should never cut your own bangs. But I have been doing it off and on for years. And I'm actually pleased with the results. 

In January I read two books and listened to one audio book.  I read "Somewhere Beyond the Sea" by T J Klune and "A Curious Beginning" by Deanna Raybourn. The audio book I listened to is "The Dressmaker" by Kate Alcott. 

Some of my favorites and finds for January included:

- The Rydir band: it kept the tote bag I used on our Baltimore trip clean while traveling (airports and planes. IYKYK) And kept it attached to my carry-on luggage while on the move. 

- A London Fog: Earl Grey tea, vanilla, steamed milk. A delicious treat on a chilly afternoon. 

- The Quilted Koala Town Crossbody Bag:  It's roomy enough for all the things, including a book, my Kindle, or a small crochet project for when I'm going to be doing some sitting and waiting somewhere. The detachable crossbosy strap keeps me hand-free when I'm running errands. 

How was your January?   Any special moments, favorite finds, or stand out memories? 

Goodbye, October

What. A. Month!

October was filled with challenges.  Looking back, it feels like a blur. It seems as if there is so much to say and so little to say all at the same time. 

The month began with our area starting the recovery from the destruction of Hurricane Helene and the floods that brought to western North Carolina.  Those first couple of weeks - every day just blended in to the next. 

We finally had our power restored on Day Twelve.  There were cheers heard throughout our neighborhood  that evening as everyones lights came on. Because we are on a well, once our power was restored - we also had water restored.  After almost two weeks without, you have a new gratitude for being able to flush a toilet with the push of a lever, flip on a light switch, and take a warm shower. 

Our internet came back for about two days mid- month before going back out again.  Optimum hasn't been very good about communicating any sort of updates or information and at this point no one seems to have any idea when service will be restored. 

That weekend, the kids and grandkids came for a dinner and to celebrate the Man of the House's birthday. There was white chili, corn muffins, and banana pudding. Best of all - it was an afternoon just enjoying having our family together. 

The Man of the House and our son had planned to go to Charleston for a fishing trip this month.  With everything going on after the storm they considered canceling, but since they had elected not to get the insurance, they would be unable to get a return of the money paid for the rental. So, instead of just the two of them going - I brought the dogs and we tagged along.  We even had our daughter and the grandsons come along.  It turned into a nice weekend of just getting away from all the stress and chaos we had been dealing with. 

On the 18th, I had my knee surgery.  The Man of the House drove me to the surgery center early that morning, before the sun came up. I was extremely nervous before the procedure, but it all went well. I was surprised by the amount of nausea I had after coming out of the amnesia, and the pain was much more than I expected.  My recovery isn't going as quickly as I would hope. But let's be honest - it was unreasonable to expect I would be completely back to normal in less than two weeks. 

I had my follow-up appointment on Monday and things are healing well. The stitches are out. Continuing pain/discomfort is normal, but should continue to improve little by little.  I was given some exercises to do for strengthening the knee. 

The Man of the House has been my absolute rock star through the entire situation. He nursed me through the nausea and pain of that first afternoon. In the following days, he took over my share of the house work, all of the cooking, grocery shopping, caring for the dogs, and helping me as needed. All while continuing to carry all of his usual responsibility, including those of overseeing the company's return to normal production after the hurricane temporarily shut it down. I couldn't have done this without his care and support. 

And that was the month in a nutshell.  How was your October? 

August Ends

Is anyone else feeling like August was just a complete blur?  I honestly feel as if this month was about two weeks long!

My father's birthday was earlier this month.  We celebrated with a lunch at his favorite fish place.  Last year, we found his biological mother's family just a few months before and I gave him a framed photo of her for his birthday.   This year, I was able to give him a framed photo of his biological father.  

I had the MRI on my knee in mid-August.  The results weren't exactly what I was expecting.  There was no tear to the meniscus.   But that didn't mean I was out of the woods.  I have some seriously messed up cartilage in there as well as a couple of cysts. And a few "loose bodies" (probably pieces of cartilage.) I am probably looking at arthroscopic surgery to remove the "trash" in my knee and see if any repairs are possible to the cartilage. Waiting on the orthopedic surgeon office to call and schedule my consult.  

I also had the follow-up appointment for my endoscopy.   There are some changes to the lower esophagus due to reflux, but nothing alarming.  I need to continue to make sure my gerd is well managed to avoid further damage and get rechecked in three years. I am also able to try cutting back on the dosage of gerd medication.  So, that was all good news!

The oldest grandkid started back to school this month, which means I'm not getting to spend time with him a few days each week anymore.  We did some baking during those last couple of weeks: chocolate chip cookies, brownies, and pumpkin muffins.   

One of my little dogs hurt his eye earlier this week.   I was out running errands and when I came home I noticed that he was squinting one eye. Looking closer, it seemed a little puffy and had some discharge.  Fortunately, I was able to get a same day appointment for him that afternoon.  He has a corneal ulcer (probably from a scratch to the eye).  We've been having to apply drops a few times a day and he has to wear a cone to avoid further injury.  He has a follow-up next week and hopefully it's healed by then.

Also, happening this week: my Canadian cousin and I did some more "together, but apart", cooking.  August brings the anniversary of our grandmother's passing. So in her memory, we made one of my cousin's favorite things that Grandma Janina used to make -  Racuchy Z Jabłkami (Polish Yeast Apple Pancakes).  They were SO delicious!  

I can't brag about my goals for August.  I still haven't cleaned and reorganized the linen closet.  I'm still trying to figure out my morning routine.  And while I did write or journal more often this month - it certainly wasn't an every day thing.  

All in all, I would say that as far as months go - August gets a C+.  

How was your August?

Until Next May...

May is wrapping up and preparing to disappear for another year.  We're heading into the summer months now. Hot days. Long evenings.  And the relentless humidity. (At least where I live)

The Man of the House and I started May with a trip to Folly Island, just outside of Charleston, SC. It was just for a long weekend.  But a couple of days just relaxing on the beach was exactly what I needed.  Sitting in the sand with a good book, listening to the waves is so soothing to my soul.

I was able to have a short visit with my aunt, Lisa, and her husband.  She stopped by my dad's house on her way back to Canada.  I wish it could have been a longer visit, but I am glad I got to see them while they we're here.

May's weather was a mixed bag. There were days when the weather was unseasonably warm, causing concern for what the summer holds in store. And days that were cool enough to make me wonder if I had somehow slipped back to March. And of course, there were some "Goldilocks" days. You know - the ones when it's just right. 

I finished both the cross-body bag and the vest I was crocheting this month. I'm so pleased with how both turned out.  I admit that sometimes I miss the little bit of income my Etsy shop brought in.  But it is so nice to be able to work on what I want, when I want, instead of always creating things for other people.

I was a bit over 50/50 on meeting my goals for the month.  Like I said, I completed the vest I was crocheting.  And I did get the pantry cleaned out and reorganized.  I meditated a few times this month, but not the three times a week I was aiming for. The plan to walk three times a week didn't happen either.  I would blame it on all the rain we had this month, but that doesn't excuse mot getting on my treadmill. It's still better than I did on my April goals, so I'm calling it a win and moving on. There's always next month.

How was your May?

Goodbye, April

Oh, for goodness sake, April - what were you playing at?  After March left me feeling more than a little exhausted,  I was really hoping to catch some sort of a break in the month of April.  Apparently April had different plans!

The month started fresh out of the gate on the heels of Easter.  Easter was something in, and of, itself with all plans for the day going completely topsy-turvy at the last minute. But as they say - all's well that ends well, and we made the best of it.

At the beginning of the month, every week looked like it was going to be quiet and I would have a chance to catch up on a few things.  But it never seemed to work out that way.  Life happened, as it always does. 

As the middle of the month rolled around,  my calendar was full and fuller.  Between the dogs and myself - I will have been in some sort of doctor's office 7 out of the last 14 days.   The last one being today for my mammogram.  That's a lot of appointments. I hope not to see the inside of any more medical offices for a while. 

My stomach issues continue. They improved somewhat with the medication, but not as much as hoped/expected.  So, I'm starting a different medication and I am scheduled for an upper endoscopy in July. 

There was beauty in April.   We saw some amazing sunsets. The cherry trees, tulips,  lilacs, and dogwoods blossomed. The trees shifted from bare lacy branches to lush green. 

My goals for April were mostly displaced, postponed, or abandoned.  Too many other things came along to take their place.  And some days nothing more than a weariness and a longing for rest made my to do list seem somehow unimportant. 

Looking back,  I suppose I would describe April as a very long month that went by very quickly. 

How would you describe your April?

Farewell to November

Remember last month when I said October had been a fast-paced whirlwind of activity? Little did I know what November had planned for us! It feels like my birthday was about five minutes ago. Yet, here we are - already at the end of the month!

The Man of the House did more traveling for work this month. In fact, he had to head off to Boston on my birthday (November 1).  And he was in California for several days right before Thanksgiving.  Hopefully the travel schedule will slow for the remainder of the year and I can enjoy having him at home in the evenings. 

The nice thing about his travels is when I am able to tag along. While he was in Boston at the beginning of the month, I flew up on that Friday to join him. We spent a Saturday exploring Boston - walking the entire Freedom Trail and ending the day with dinner at a historic tavern in Charlestown. Sunday we took the train down to Foxborough to catch a football game at Gillette Stadium. It was my first time visiting Boston, and I very much enjoyed the city. 

While I was a little disappointed that the Man had to be away for my birthday,  it was still a nice day.  I had lunch with my dad and his wife.  And that evening my daughter's family took me out to dinner. The next day when I realized that I had not even treated myself to a single piece of cake on my big day, my sister sent me a lovely tower of cakes from Nothing Bundt Cake to remedy the situation.  

Just before Thanksgiving we were finally able to get the last two replacement windows installed and the damaged patio door was swapped out.  That same day, the install of our new siding began. It's still an ongoing project and sometimes it feels like one bump in the road after another. But hopefully by the end of next week everything will finally be wrapped up. 

Our Thanksgiving was nice. The kids and grandkids were here.  I enjoyed seeing the youngest grandbaby enjoying some Thanksgiving foods for the first time.  On Black Friday,  the female offspring and I did some Christmas shopping.  We didn't head out at the crack of dawn which was just fine with me! I was still able to get a good start on the gift shopping.  

November seemed like a quick month.   But it was a good one!  

What is your favorite memory from November?

Good-bye, October

You know how some months are slow paced and easy going? This was not one of those months. October felt like a mad whirlwind of activity!

The Man of the House has a birthday in October, and the first weekend of the month was dedicated to celebrating him.  On the Saturday before his birthday, we went for lunch at a local barbeque place and the a matinee of the new Exorcism movie. The original is probably his favorite scary movie, so he was quite curious about this new chapter. Was it great? No. But it also wasn't as terrible as I expected it to be. And movie theater popcorn is always yummy. 

On that Sunday, (his actual birthday) we had some family over for football, pizza, and birthday fun. Our daughter made a Fruity Pebbles cheesecake. Yes - as in the cereal.  It was a whole lot of sweet, but tasty.

He also had to spend a week in California during October for work.  Since he was there over the weekend, he did find time for a little sightseeing. He walked the Golden Gate Bridge and visited Alcatraz while in San Francisco.  I didn't tag along on this trip because a day after he got home I was off on a little trip of my own.

My youngest sister and I spent a lovely week in the low country of South Carolina on a sisters getaway. We stayed at an RV park near Beaufort, which was convenient for day trips into Charleston, Savannah, and Hilton Head. Since it was just about a week or two before Halloween and we were visiting what are considered two of the most haunted cities in America - we decided to roll with that and declared it our "Spooktacular Sister Getaway". We visited historic cemetaries, ate at reportedly haunted restaurants, and took a ghost tour in both Charleston and Savannah. We laughed, ate too much junk food, and had an all around great time.

I did take a nasty fall after tripping on one of the many uneven sidewalks in Savannah. At the time, I thought maybe I had escaped with just some scrapes and bruises. However after waking up early the next day with a considerable amount of pain in my left hand and wrist - we spent an afternoon in an Urgent Care, followed by xrays at the outpatient radiology center to determine if I had broken something. Fortunately, the images were negative for any fracture. Just a severely sprained hand and wrist. It could have been much worse and I am very grateful that it wasn't. 

Unfortunately, October wasn't all celebrations and travels. My 16 year old cat crossed the rainbow bridge this month after a short illness. It was very sad and I'm still coming to terms with him being gone. 😞

And that was October. A lot of highs and lows and activities all stuffed into one month.

How was your October?

So Long, August

August is drawing to a close and we're about to head into the "ber" months. I know some people aren't quite ready to see the end of summer. But, I am personally looking forward to cooler temperatures, longer nights, and cozy clothing. 

I started August by playing catch up after being gone for the last week in July. And it felt like I stayed a little bit behind for most of the month. 

During the second week of August, we had our new windows and patio doors installed. We've been waiting months for this to finally happen. There were a few hiccups with the installation - two windows were the wrong size and have to be reordered, and there are some issues with one of the doors, so they are also ordering a replacement for that.  But for the most part, it is done. And once the corrections are completed the final step of new siding and gutters can begin!

That was the same week that my youngest sister came to visit.  We always have a great time together.  Not only is she my baby sister, but she's one of my best friends.  At one point during her visit, we were laughing so hard in the greeting card aisle at Target that I could hardly catch my breath. We can have fun and adventures together, but we're also comfortable just sitting in the same room, quietly reading.

Our dad's 77th birthday  was on the 10th. We celebrated with a dinner at his house that following weekend. There was lots of good food and even more laughter.

The Man of the House and I drove down to Atlanta to attend the preseason football game between the Falcons and the Cincinnati Bengals.  As you may remember,  we have a goal to attend a game at every NFL stadium in the country. This marked Mercedes-Benz Stadium off our list. And what a stadium it is! The nicest one we have visited, so far. Before heading home the next day, we had brunch at Atlanta Breakfast Club (chicken and waffles- yum!) and visited The World of Coke. 

The heatwave that hit western North Carolina at the end of this month was trying. This peri-menopausal body doesn't tolerate the heat very well.  Not that I ever did, but it's worse now than ever before.  Thank goodness the window installation was mostly complete and the a/c was functioning! 

How was your August?

So Long, June

 Since I never got around to writing a June post at the beginning of the month, I thought I would take a brief moment to recap the month as it winds to a close. It's been a busy month. Certainly busier than I anticipated when it started.  

June was a month of birthdays, Father's Day, and fun.  We took walks. We cooked out (ok... the Man of the House cooked out - I enjoyed what he cooked). We planned a trip for later this summer.

We got some bumps and bruises.  The Man has been bee-stung every single weekend as he mowed.  For some reason the ground nesting bees are loving our yard this year!  I ended up with marks where the dogs were playing in their walk and ran around me - essentially leash whipping my ankles. I bruised my bicep when I managed to hit myself with the refrigerator door. And I gave myself a rash of lovely petechiae inside my elbow from trying to carry too many heavy shopping bags in from the car.

I finally finished storing away my winter clothes. They've been out of the closet sitting in a pile in the bedroom since May, but every time I thought about packing them up - it would get chilly again. Or I would forget. 

I didn't have a set reading list for June. I decided that for this month, I would must read whatever struck my fancy. Or whatever hold became available at the library.  I ended up reading "Lessons in Chemistry" by Bonnie Garmus, "King's Mountain" by Sharon McCrumb, and "Dust" by Kara Swanson. I've also been reading "The Menopause Manifesto" by Dr Jen Gunter in bits here and there.

So, that was June. A lot of good. A little bit frustrating at times. A little surprising. But over all, a good month.

How was your June? Are you ready for the second half of 2023?