Story Time

Happy Friday the 13th!

• Both of my parents are gone, but today would have been their 67th wedding anniversary… if I have the year right… which I think I do.  I hope they are enjoying eternity together.
• I know I have mentioned before that my mom used to work at Ames and Zayre department stores.  Keziah occasionally gets donations at her store with tags or in bags from these stores.  Both have been out of business for some time.  Today she found a notebook in a box of donations.  Many of the craft supplies that belonged to my mother will end up at Keziah’s store, but they haven't yet.  Anyhow, this notebook not only has a price tag on it from Zayre, it has my mother's name on it and a piece of paper inside has my niece's name on it all in my mom's handwriting.  This notebook used to belong to my mom and we don't know where it came from.  How weird is that?  I mean, I guess we must have somehow brought it there with other things, but neither of us remember doing so.  And how did it get into the middle of a box of donations?  Puzzling.

An Ames bag she found today.

THE NOTEBOOK. 

• Keziah asked me to do some sewing for her at the studio.  It has been a long time since I spent any time there.  I sewed a bunch of favors that she printed last week.  She will be giving them to the new SCA Queen of the East tomorrow.  It was good to spend some time at the studio.

• At Keziah’s store we stayed late because she had her first private function.  She got what used to be the pharmacy cleaned up and a group from Kimball Jenkins School of Art met there and did some artsy things.  They pulled stuff off the shelves and used them to create things.  Keziah and I took the time to stock shelves.  

Empty spots!

All filled up!

• The Inktober prompt for today is Rise.

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Currently reading: She's Come Undone, by Wally Lamb.

Currently listening to: Dark Lord of Derkholm, by Diana Wynne Jones.

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

Some More Sadness

This is supposed to be my blog for happy things.  However, there are times (twice this week) when sad things happen.  I found out today that my former partner of many years passed away yesterday.  He was about six months younger than me.  I know that he had health issues but hadn't realized they had become so severe again and don't know what happened.  He and I were not meant to be a forever couple, but I have many fond memories of him.  He will be missed. 

Some happy things from today:

• At work last night I inducted packages into the building.  One person unloads them, I put stickers on them and they travel down the belt to be stowed.  Anyhow, the person unloading for me and I did a little talking.  She knew about Keziah’s shop and is planning to go visit some time with her daughter.  That newspaper article Keziah was in really helped to get the word out!
• There is a purple flowering plant that I didn't get close enough to to identify.  Here are some pictures.  Maybe I'll get some closeups tomorrow. 

• Tonight was Open House at Gideon's school.  He walked us around the place like a tour guide.  It was great!  Here are some pictures from that:

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Currently reading: She's Come Undone, by Wally Lamb.

Currently listening to: Homage to Catalonia, by George Orwell.

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

Sleep

Happy things from today:

• Sleep is a wondrous thing. Today was so much better than yesterday. Work was good. They served waffles at mealtime.  Other than occasional mechanical difficulties with the equipment, it was a good day.
• At home I practiced on DuoLingo reaching a 1700 day streak. In all honesty, they have streak freezes that maintain a streak when a day is missed and I have used a few of them. For reaching this milestone I am getting three days of premium DuoLingo for free.

• It has been a while since I wandered the property. I only went to areas just outside the top driveway where things are overgrown and found three flowering plants.  I'm sure I'll get to the other twelve-ish acres at some point, but not today.  If I didn't already know what the flowers were, I used the Lens app to identify them.

Rabbit Tobacco

Platycodon grandiflorus or Chinese bellflower.

Hedge bindweed.

☮

Currently reading: She's Come Undone, by Wally Lamb.


Currently listening to: Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking, by Susan Cain.

• I have listened to this before and started reading it in the spring. I thought I would be able to finish it faster by listening to it and finally have my turn to borrow it through Libby.

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

Home

Happy things from today:

• We saw from the highway the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering. Keziah noted that it was a rather large building. I thought that it was funny for nanoscale to be in a large building.
• It was a long ride home today in a car without a working air conditioner. We kept going with music, conversation, and the scenery. One thing that Keziah commented on was how wonderful it is that states seem to be encouraging wild flower growth along the highways. She wondered aloud who thought of it. I suggested that Lady Bird Johnson may have been an inspiration. It was my understanding that she is why the Texas Bluebonnet is planted along the highways in Texas. Now that I am home I've done a little online research. It seems that Texas had the wildflowers growing along the highways in the 1930's. Anyway, the Highway Beautification Act of 1965 (under Lyndon B. Johnson) was a start for the rest of the country. It doesn't completely explain the recent blooming of flowers along the highways compared to when Keziah or I were growing up. It is still delightful to see.
• It used to surprise me that I would see leaves starting to turn on my ride home from Pennsic, now I look for them.  Autumn is coming.
• We traveled a ways on some back roads because of some traffic. The areas were pretty and there was more shade than the highway. There were also some parachutes that we saw coming down.
• We arrived home just after six this afternoon. It is so nice to be home. I'm looking forward to sleeping in my own bed. The cats seem to have forgiven us. Nanni took a little bit to forgive me, but she seems fine now. Winston seldom comes to me, and didn't today. He was all over Keziah though.

Flowers

Blue sky ahead.

Orange foliage.

Big cloud

Parachute

Nanni

☮️

Currently reading: She's Come Undone, by Wally Lamb.

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

Pennsic Travel

Happy things from this day on the road:

• When leaving the house just before 3:30 AM Keziah and Gideon pretended to be pilot and co-pilot by giving the two passengers a humorous welcome.  
• The long drive to the event site in Pennsylvania is long.  I'm at a point in my life where I am questioning whether or not this is something I want to continue doing once I am no longer Baroness.  I'm happy we made it to the event safely and with no mishaps along the way.
• Clinton County rest area is where I walked a little and tried to get a picture of a butterfly that wouldn't stay still.
• Wendy's in DuBois has a little gnome village to look at while waiting in line for the drive thru.

• Because we left when we did we got in later than I wanted.  The good part of this is that the line to get in wasn't very long.
• I'm so thankful for the people who helped out by getting here and helping with organization and setting up.

Some other pictures:

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We listened to Seedfolks, by Paul Fleischman.

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

Productive Day

Today's happy things:

• This morning I got up early to pick up Folke at the airport in Boston. She and my son, Bel, live in Maryland now. Folke is in NH for one week to do a residency with her college. She is going to college online, but sometimes things need to happen in person. It was great to see her and catch up.
• Seeing a boat propeller spinning wildly as it was pulled on a trailer down the highway. It was like the little propeller was trying hard to help push the vehicle along. Wee!
• Even though I was in the car a bunch, the day was fairly productive. After the trip to Boston, I had a short visit with my friend, Amy. She loaned me a few things for camping later this week. Keziah and I went to the storage unit to return some things and pick up the common tent. I also did some more sewing. My medieval clothes are mostly packed.
• There are some blooms in the yard that I got some pictures of.  

Pretty white flowers.

To the left is a butterfly plant- blooms mostly gone.
I'm not sure what the yellow flowers are.

Hosta

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Currently listening to: The Pilgrimage, by Paulo Coehlo.

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

Glimmers

On Facebook today I learned a new term, glimmers. It is what I tend to look for as I think on my day and write this blog. Tiny moments of happiness or hope. Welcome to my glimmers. Here are some happy moments from today:

• After two short days at work because of the holiday I was worried that today would seem extra long. It went well though and I am happy about that.
• When I got home I noticed some black-eyed Susans in the yard. Seeing the different flowers that pop up is a joyful thing.

• Gideon and Keziah made a hat for a stuffed creature. Keziah guided and Gideon used the sewing machine, I think for the first time. They did a fantastic job! Gideon was thrilled and has ideas for other things he wants to make now.

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Currently listening to: Under the Whispering Door, by T. J. Klune.

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

Goats

Today's happy things:

• A few weeks ago I tried to update my outdated credit card information to an account. Because I forgot my password, this required a phone call to the company.  The person wasn't able to verify who I was using my phone number. Today I called an automated number, with the same phone, and was able to update without talking to a person. Sometimes I guess automation works. Either way, one less thing on my to-do list!
• There is a game that Keziah and a friend designed to play at SCA events with children. It involves finding stuffed sheep. Last year she told another group that she would create a similar game for their group. Tonight we (four of us!) started making the goats.

• In an overgrown area by the side of a road I saw a plant with bright orange flowers. I didn't get close enough for a detailed picture to be able to identify it.

☮

Currently listening to: Becoming, by Michelle Obama.

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

Rubik

Today some happy things are:

• Last night and this morning I got involved with my rubik's cube. It had been sitting, forgotten, on a shelf and I stumbled upon it yesterday. For a bit too long I twisted and turned it last night. The same this morning. I've solved the original rubik's cube in the past, this is the larger version. I'm not sure if I will ever solve it, but every so often, it is fun to try.

• Last year I stated to the family that the yard is too much for me to care for by myself with my job. This year we are taking turns getting different parts mowed and it is working better for me.
• There were some pretty wild flowers out back, so I didn't have to mow them.

Possibly a Sulphur cinquefoil.

• A garter snake was in the lawn compost pile.

☮

Currently listening to: Becoming, by Michelle Obama.

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

Yellow Flowers

A few happy things from today:

• Last night I worked in the Problem Solve area. It went really well in the beginning and at the end. Towards the middle of the night I had help so I could finish what needed to be done around 8:30 AM. I was able to get everything else done in a timely manner so I didn't work late. The last few times I've worked in that area I have had to stay late to finish everything. Anyhow, I think that all means I had a good night.
• The lawn needs to be mowed. I can tell by all the pretty yellow flowers that are poking up.

☮

Currently listening to: Revelations of Divine Love, by Julian of Norwich

Currently reading: Maybe You Should Talk to Someone, by Lori Gottlieb.

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

Coronation

At some point in the night yesterday's rain became snow. Thankfully it was just a dusting and it turned back to rain before we headed south to the SCA event, Coronation. Here are some happy things from today:

• Since before I stepped up as Baroness I have also held the position of Regional Exchequer. Today at the event I learned that someone is willing to step up and take over for me, finally. I'm so happy that this will be behind me.
• Some pictures from the event:

The former King and Queen of the East.

Along the wall where we stood in line for food there were jokes.

New Royals, former Royals, and visiting Royals.

Kids.

• There were flowers blooming at the church where the event was. So pretty!

• There were lots of people to see but the highlight was getting to hold babies. I got to hold a one month old and a three month old. It turns out my arms are out of shape for holding babies.

The one month old with Dad.

☮

Currently listening to: Angela’s Ashes, by Frank McCourt

Currently reading: Camino Wandering, by Tara Marlow

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

A Storm is Coming

There is a storm coming.  Hopefully the last of the season.  Others have posted on Facebook about seeing crocuses and other early spring flowers coming up. I have no signs of crocus, but there are other plants popping through. I think daffodils and maybe lilies? 

Tomorrow they will be covered with snow.  Other happy things from today:

• Keziah was looking everywhere for her pen and couldn't find it… she had stuck it in her hair.

• After doing some quick math I figured out that today marks 42 years since I first got my driver’s license. What does this mean? I feel old!  😂

☮

Currently listening to: Angela’s Ashes, by Frank McCourt

Currently reading: Camino Wandering, by Tara Marlow

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