Self-Care Day

Some happy things:

• It was mostly a self-care day. I did some writing to sort through my feelings about losing my step count streak.  It helped to write about it and to share some feelings with Keziah and TF.  

• In between rain showers I got some things out of the van and checked out the lilac tree. There are buds just starting to form for the flowers.

• Keziah and Gideon made overnight oats today and I got to watch and flavor up some yogurt for myself. It was fun watching them work together.

☮

Currently listening to: Warrior of the Light, by Paulo Coelho

Currently reading: Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking, by Susan Cain

Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe

Streak Broken

Some happy things and a not-so-happy thing:

• We left late for today's event. I still took a moment to notice that some of the variegated tulips had bloomed.

• Today I smiled a lot. The SCA event Keziah and I went to was in Connecticut. It was at a fairgrounds. It was cold, windy, and rainy. We mostly stayed inside one of the buildings where there were doors open on all the sides. It kept the rain out, and lessened the wind. All my smiles had to do with being able to spend time with people and hear their stories.

• That and the Yale that Keziah made.

• Unfortunately, with around seven hours in the car, rainy, wet, and cold weather, I broke my step count streak. If I calculated the days correctly, it lasted 988 days. 988 days that I reached my 10,000 steps a day goal. I did try and ended this last day with just over 9800 steps when the clock went to midnight. I'm not sure if I will start again or not.

☮

Currently listening to: Warrior of the Light, by Paulo Coelho

Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe.

Blooming Magnolias

Friday's happy things:

• People who can truly do improv amaze me. I've tried and just don't think as fast as I'd like or is really necessary. Dimension 20 plays Dungeons and Dragons and the imagination and creativity that these people exhibit is so much fun to watch.
• I took a walk near the studio and there are different types of magnolia trees in bloom.

• One of the tree's flower petals are dropping. The white petals have fallen onto a little evergreen bush and give the appearance of the tree being decorated for Christmas.

• After my walk I was back at the studio and took a nap. It ended up being about a four hour nap! Somehow, I'm still a little tired.

☮

Currently listening to: Warrior of the Light, by Paulo Coelho

Currently reading: Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking, by Susan Cain

Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe

Clouds

Yesterday my work day had a few happy things, today my happy work thing is that my work week is over. It wasn’t a bad day, just no wonderful highlights. Here are some other happy things from today:

• Keziah and I were on our own this afternoon as the boys were visiting friends. We went to Wendy’s for our lunchtime meal. I’ve been wanting their baked potatoes with cheese lately and I love the strawberry lemonade there.
• On the drive, Keziah mentioned how happy she was to see the pretty cloud shapes in the sky again. I took a picture of some later on. I see a rabbit and maybe the front of a horse. Discovering what form a cloud can take is one of the tiny things that can bring joy over and over again.

☮

Currently listening to: Warrior of the Light, by Paulo Coelho

Currently reading: Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking, by Susan Cain

Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe

Good Work Day (Night)

Some happy things from this Wednesday:

• Sometime in the last two weeks or so I started hearing the distant song of frogs at night when I leave for work. As I paused for a moment to listen to them before getting into the car, I noticed the moon. The moon was a slim crescent shape near the horizon. From my vantage point it was nestled between tree tops.
• At work tonight I was in the Problem Solve department, but not by myself. At one point the training person came by and told me that if I wanted, I could trade in my green Safety vest for a maroon Problem Solve vest. I told them I would need to think about it. I wouldn't be giving up being on the safety committee. I talked to another employee and I've decided that I still have more to learn before I want to wear the maroon vest. I've learned a bunch in the Problem Solve corner, but there are other aspects that I still need to learn. My supervisor also spoke with me today and he is pleased with my progress.
• About 45 minutes before the end of shift all the employees got to go outside for a cookout and to hit a wiffle ball if they wanted. It was fun to watch and a nice break from work.
• When I got home I checked on my plants. The basil is getting bigger and looks more like basil now.

☮

Currently listening to: Warrior of the Light, by Paulo Coelho

Currently reading: Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking, by Susan Cain

Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe

Today the Color is Orange

Some happy things from today:

• I remembered to request vacation time for when I go to Pennsic this year. It isn't approved yet, but the request is there. Yay!
• Winston, the orange tabby cat decided to sit on my legs this afternoon. Neither of the cats generally stay on people for very long.

• There is an orange tulip blooming. I'm so glad I chose a variety of tulip colors.

☮

Finished listening to: The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho

Currently reading: Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking, by Susan Cain

Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe

Happy Monday!

A few happy things from today:

• It was a good day to do something for someone else. I drove a bunch of empty boxes to someone who is getting divorced and needs them to remove the soon-to-be ex out. Their situation isn't ideal and I hope this was helpful in some small way.
• They live north and there were some pretty views.  I was driving, so no pictures.
• The rhododendron in the back yard has some buds starting and so does the azalea.

☮

Currently listening to: The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho

Currently reading: Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking, by Susan Cain

Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe

Rainy Sunday

Some happy things from today:

• The rains of April are here. To be fair, today wasn't the first rain in April, but it felt more like April. It is my Blog, I don't have to make sense. 😉 All of us in this house are happy that the rain waited until today to fall. Having rain during the yard sale would have been unfortunate.
• I went to the cafe with friends today and had a delicious, but a little messy, caprese panini sandwich.
• After TF and I had our accountability phone meeting I finished my step count for the day and took a nice nap. Naps seem extra special on rainy days.

Nanni, before she decided to attack
my head as I walked under the bridge.  😂

☮

Currently listening to: The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho

Currently reading: Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking, by Susan Cain

Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe

Happy Earth Day

Last year for Earth Day I was in Texas and I hiked up Enchanted Rock with my friend, TF. This year I spent most of the day outside for the SCA yard sale. Here are some happy highlights from today:

• Before the yard sale I walked around the front of the house and saw daffodils and something else growing there. A little research and I am unsure of the variety of the other flowers.  It appears to be part of the same family as the daffodil which is the Narcissus family.  Whatever the variety, it is pretty.

• To help draw attention to the house, we put out my SCA banner. It hangs in my room over the bed normally. I love the way it flutters in the breeze.

• Being cold takes a lot of energy. I dressed warm but I have a hard time being warm when it is chilly and I am not active. It seemed like there were lots of people at the yard sale today. I got to visit with some friends I don't see often and it was good.  By the end of the day, I was exhausted.  It was a good, exhausted feeling.
• One friend came and built buffer weapons for kids to use. She came all the way from Connecticut to spend time with us.  I was blessed with the time to sit and talk with her for a while.  It was a good day with good friends, new and old.  

☮

Currently listening to: The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho

Currently reading: Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking, by Susan Cain

Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe

It's Friday!!!!!

Happy Friday! Tomorrow we are having a big, group, yard sale. Today I paced by mowing the lawn. Gideon did a great job getting most of the yard mowed yesterday and I did some of the problem areas. It felt good to get outside for a while. I am lacking in energy lately though.  Here are some other happy things for today:

• For a little while I went around with my hair down.  There is a lot of it.

• Gideon had a good time outside today on his swing.

• More tulips are blooming!

• I saw the first bumblebee of the season in our yard.

• We were all tired enough this evening to go out for dinner. It is so nice to not be the one to clean up after a meal.
• Yesterday I wrote about having the heat off, tonight it is back on. I’m thrilled.

☮

Currently listening to: The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho


Currently reading: Quiet:The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking, by Susan Cain


Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe

Titles Complete

Some happy things from today:

• It was 59 degrees in the house when I got home from work. I turned the heat off last week when the temperatures were in the 80's. We are trying to tough it out since winter is technically over. When the sun comes out, the porch gets warm. The warmth of the porch was a very welcome place for me this afternoon when the house and outside were chilly.
• While sitting on the porch I admired my seedlings. I'm not the best plant mom, I hope to do better this year.  From the first bunch of seeds I planted I got one marigold.  It seems to be doing alright.  

• I finished both the books I've been working on today. I'm happy that An Elderly Lady Must Not Be Crossed is behind me.  I struggled with liking the main character of that book, I didn't like her.  There was no struggle with The Choice.  I really enjoyed The Choice and the other books in that series (The Dragon Heart Legacy).  According to my Goodreads I have read 17 books so far this year and I am in the middle of three others.  Perhaps I should pick one of those up again.

☮

Finished listening to: The Choice, by Nora Roberts

Finished reading: An Elderly Lady Must Not Be Crossed, by Helene Thursten

Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe

New Life

The problems that had to be solved last night at work were greater than the night before. I got a little frustrated because of the quantity and time limitations. The odd thing is that I still feel like I enjoyed it. My other happy things from today are plant based:

• Plant life is starting to thrive. There are some dandelions in the yard. They are good for pollinators.

• A regular yellow tulip has bloomed and it looks like a red one near it will be next.

• The basil that I planted from seed seems to be doing alright. It looks like some of the peppermint seeds I planted are sprouting, too!

☮

Currently listening to: The Choice, by Nora Roberts

Currently reading: An Elderly Lady Must Not Be Crossed, by Helene Thursten

Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe

Tired Today

Yesterday I went to bed at a good time. I didn't fall asleep for close to two hours though. Today I am exhausted. I think I'll fall asleep easily though. Some happy things for today:

• At work I was assigned to the Problem Solve area again. I needed help during the last part. The place got slammed with items with problems to solve, so I don't feel bad about needing the help.
• At home, outside, I noticed another hyacinth near some of a different patch of daffodils.

• There is either something wrong with the forsythia or it is just maturing at different rates. A couple of the branches are fully bloomed, but most of the plant is not. I'm happy for the bit of color it is providing.

☮

Currently listening to: The Choice, by Nora Roberts

Currently reading: An Elderly Lady Must Not Be Crossed, by Helene Thursten

Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe

Soup

Some happy things for this rainy Monday:

• The book I'm listening to, The Choice, is the third in a series I started back in January. I got it out through the library on the Libby app. Unfortunately, I only get it for one week and so many people are waiting, I doubt I can get an instant renewal. So I've been doing quite a bit of listening and I'm already three quarters of the way through. Listening at a slightly faster than normal speed is helping.  There were other tasks I should have worked on today, but being in the book was more entertaining.
• It rained off and on today. Instead of walking on a trail, my friend, Amy, and I met at the mall and walked there. For various reasons it has been a while since we have been able to get together so it was really great to see her.
• The maple tree outside my bedroom is blooming. Soon it will be covered in leaves and things will be green again.

• One of the things I was supposed to do today was get food for myself.  I chose an early bedtime instead.  I was really happy when I mentioned to Keziah that I needed soup and she pointed to some that hadn't been put away in the right place.  The rest of my list can wait.  I'm going to try to go gluten free, at least mostly, again.  The soup, instead of sandwiches, is a big step in that direction.

☮

Currently listening to: The Choice, by Nora Roberts

Currently reading: An Elderly Lady Must Not Be Crossed, by Helene Thursten

Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe

Tulips and Periwinkles

Today's happy things:

• Some Sunday mornings, friends meet at a local cafe to write and visit. This morning I joined them and was able to knock a few things off my todo list.
• The cafe has a delicious egg and cheese sandwich on a croissant.
• Walking to the parking garage I noticed these pretty flowers.

 They looked familiar but I couldn't place them. When we got home, there they were, periwinkles!

• What else was blooming? A pair of tulips! And the trees are getting closer to having leaves. Spring really is here.

☮

Currently listening to: The Choice, by Nora Roberts

Currently reading: An Elderly Lady Must Not Be Crossed, by Helene Thursten

Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe

Tax Day

The rest of the family are off visiting friends today and that left me alone. I expected to spend the day feeling down but once I got my taxes filed I started feeling pretty good. I don't think I realized the shadow not having them done had cast over me. Here are some other happy things from today:

• I worked with the roses again. I pulled one out and have potted it in hopes that I can plant it elsewhere if it lives. I also put some mulch in the rose bed.
• Last year, after the beauty of my spring flowers were gone, I let the triangle part of the driveway go. I gave that area some attention today. I think there were at least three wheelbarrows full of leaves and weeds from there that I pulled out. I wish I could say it was done, alas, it is just better. There will be tulips blooming soon there I think.

• After reading and taking a short nap I watched a movie. It was a good self-care day.

☮

Currently listening to: The Choice, by Nora Roberts

Currently reading: An Elderly Lady Must Not Be Crossed, by Helene Thursten

Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe

Short

A few happy things from today:

• Summer should not be here yet but the temperatures were again in the 80's today. Keziah and I got some yard work done but it was too hot to do much.
• The daffodils are open.

Daffodils

• The roses are a little bit pruned and a lot weeded. There are some leaves just starting to open..

Before/during the rose clean up.

After.

☮

Currently reading: An Elderly Lady Must Not Be Crossed, by Helene Thursten

Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe

Farewells

We all said goodbye to Kimberly and Dennis today.  

Keziah, earlier in the day because she went to the funeral for our friend, Isa; Zed and I had to work. Kimberly and Dennis left with their RV and trailer on new adventures across the USA. We have so much space in the driveway now. In September they will go to Cambodia to continue their tour of the world. Here are some happy things from today:

• More daffodils have bloomed.

• Kimberly and I had a nice last visit when we took a three mile walk this afternoon. We tried to follow a trail and make a loop, but ended up losing it and turned around. I should really just go to the town hall or library and see if there is a map to the local conservation lands.

• Zed and I considered going to a craft night tonight but changed our minds. Instead we did fast food and Dairy Queen Blizzards for desserts. It was a nice way to end a very warm day.

☮

Currently reading: An Elderly Lady Must Not Be Crossed, by Helene Thursten
    So far, I wouldn’t recommend this book.

Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe.

Daffodil

Some happy things for today:

• Two nights ago at work I was at the Problem Solve area by myself for the first part of the night. Last night there were two of us there and we still couldn't get everything done as fast as the bosses would've liked. However, I now have a computer login and can do some more things without asking for help. Yay!
• At home the first daffodil has bloomed. There are also some tiny flowers in the yard, and the forsythia has a few yellow blooms starting.

Daffodil

Forsythia

Some tiny white flowers

• My friend, Kimberly, and I went for a short walk after work. They plan to leave tomorrow so this was probably my last day for a good visit.

☮

Finished listening to: New Dimensions Radio-- Julian of Norwich: A Mystic With a Vaccine For Our Time with Father Matthew Fox and Justine Willis Toms.
    This was a podcast interviewing the author (Matthew Fox) of the book (A Mystic With a Vaccine For Our Time).

Currently reading: An Elderly Lady Must Not Be Crossed, by Helene Thursten

Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe.

Hyacinth

Some happy things for today:

• At work I was put at the Problem Solve desk by myself for the first part of the night. It was busy and I wasn't able to keep up and I ran into new problems. Thankfully there were people to help out.
• The daffodils are very close to blooming.

• A purple flower, maybe a hyacinth, has popped up next to the daffodils. I think I remember hyacinths being there last year.

• There are some small leaf buds starting to show on the lilac tree. Spring seems to be taking its time, probably because I am looking for it.

☮

Currently listening to: New Dimensions Radio-- Julian of Norwich: A Mystic With a Vaccine For Our Time with Father Matthew Fox and Justine Willis Toms.

Currently reading: An Elderly Lady Must Not Be Crossed, by Helene Thursten

Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe.