Right Now- May recap

 Right now

I'm listening to the buzz of activity that comes in the final hours of the last full day with kids.   Opening and closing of file cabinets, laughter and happy chatter, and a generalized sense of euphoria as we celebrated making it through a very crazy year indeed! 

Last year, we were still under very restrictive "stay at home orders" so the opportunity to gather and celebrate the ending of a school year was skipped.   It's good to "hear" the sounds of normalcy buzzing through the building.

I'm loving how things are getting back to normal- to include that feeling of being slightly overwhelmed with keeping up with the household stuff because I've been so busy doing other stuff!   After over a year of staying home, in the past month I have...

Brunched with the ladies- in honor of Derby Day 2021

Made a house call to help out some friends...

Watched the sun set

enjoyed whiskey with the hubby 

and margaritas with  friends..

That found themselves stuck when their rig needed some TLC 

from the mechanic before they could continue on their journey west.

I made a quick trip "home" to check in on my dad..

Help feed the chickens

feasting on Friday Night Fish Fry (a WI tradition)

along with some other WI favorites..

and topped it off with a hug from my sister-

 as I passed through Detroit on my way back home

I'm feeling- READY....to go..to see what comes my way...and to let go of the frustrations of this past school year

Until next time

Right Now- April Recap

 I'm listening to:   the pitter pater of rain.   It seems like maybe   hopefully we've turned the corner on our spring weather from snow to just rain.   I'm also listening to an audio book- Outlander.   Yeah, that classic-it's a big book, never captured my attention on previous attempts but this time our Book Club is reading it so I figured I should give it my best effort this go around (about 1/3 in and so far-I'm not sure I understand the hype?)

I'm loving:   That 3 out of 4 Chang gang members are fully vaccinated (Team Pfizer) with the final member half vax'd (also Team Pfizer).   Many of our friends are also choosing to get vaccinated and so last weekend- I proposed a couples outing

.We headed to Paint Mines- it's a county park in a community about an hour southeast of our home

After walking around- we found a really good local eatery in the small town of Calhan, CO.

The food was served in epic proportions-here we all are- stuffed to the max!.

All in all...it was a fabulous fun day  exploring the colorful rocks with our spouses...

This adventure was my first time riding in Mariko- Hubby's 1987 Suzuki Samurai.   She was purchased at my suggestion (?insistence) based on my refusal to ride in a side car "ever again".   No, not just because one caught fire, but also over time I've found my body doesn't enjoy the ride.   Darn Rheumatoid Arthritis!  

Photo-courtesy of Hubby on his last desert adventure!

Anyways- my initial impression of Mariko were very favorable....she's bouncier than a car but way more comfortable than the tub of the side car.   Looking forward to hitting the road this summer with Mariko as our towed vehicle.  

I'm feeling- Ready to wrap up this school year and enjoy some time away.   It's been a long year, with so much focus on COVID.   While I'm not sure that we'll ever get back to what life once was, I am certainly feeling very optimistic that this summer I'll be able to resume some of the travel that is such a key part of who I am and what I like to do with my time off.

Until next time...

Where flowers bloom...so does hope!  

Right Now- March Recap

 I'm listening  to a book for my book club called The Other Einstein by Marie Benedict.   It's a repeat read for me, having read it a couple years ago.   Usually not one who re-reads books, I am finding since I know the plot, I'm really focused on the characters.   Good 'ole Albert may have been a genius in the world of physics, but yowza...this author sure is painting him as a jerk in the book.

Reading- be it through my kindle, a traditional book or an audio-book has become a stabilizing force for me during this past year.   I've always enjoyed a good book-but with so many restrictions on traveling, books have taken me places that at least for right now- aren't an option.

I'm loving:  Working from home on Fridays.    It is indeed one of the nice things to come out of this pandemic.   I highly doubt it will stick around too much into the next school year- so for now I am taking time to treasure the gift that it is.    On today's to-do list- laundry, update the blog, clean up the craft room and run Thing 1 to an appointment.   What can I say- it's hard to be a virtual school nurse?!

Outside of work- this past month brought a few lovely things our way...

Snow...lots and lots of it fell right as I had planned a little Spring Break adventure.   With 2 feet forecasted (and the forecasters were correct), I ended up cancelling the trip to help support the Things during this record breaking trip.  I kept telling myself "we need the moisture, we really need ALL this snow"

Normally- when snow is forecasted, we sit back and just watch it fall.  Another perk of being employed by a school district.   However, Thing 2 is a critical employee at our local University affiliated hospital and as luck would have it- she was scheduled to work all 5 days (or more specifically-night shift) during the storm.  

We managed with the generous help of a childhood friend, PK, and the kindness of a neighbor who helped carve paths to everyone's entry point in the cul-de-sac

Bonus perk- I figured out how to operate the snow-blower...but when it started to spew some black droplets (oil), I had to return to the old-school way of removing snow manually.  

My take-away lesson is to not fall for the tease of Mother Nature when she comes by with her unseasonably warm weather late in February- early in March.   She's likely still got some mischief planned for our "snowiest months" here in Colorado.

I'm feeling refreshed and ready.  For it is during the season of Spring that we are reminded- just how beautiful change can be!  

Owen reminds us all of the value that comes with balance- a cat nap and then some playtime

A perfectly crafted spring-time cocktail

Along with a drag-queen delivery service...of pies and quiches

Make for a picture-perfect way to get this new season of spring underway...

Until next time...stay well, and keep smiling!

Right Now- Jan/Feb Recap

 I'm listening- to my heart that says you've got to pull yourself out of this Covid-funk.   As we round the corner to 1 year of living in a Pandemic- I feel like this is a good time to  reflect on where I've been (nowhere-at least  literally speaking), what's worked, what's not and what next.   

I'm loving- that we are moving forward

Whether that's in the form of "Taking my shot"

or

Hanging with my friends....

I'm loving that some normalcy seems to be returning to our lives

I received my first shot on 1/14, my 2nd on 2/4 and as of 2/19, I am no longer required to quarantine after an exposure- only if I myself am symptomatic.   I can't begin to describe what a feeling of relief this has offered to me.   No longer am I timing every encounter with a student, being skeptical of all around me (especially if they aren't wearing a mask).   I feel like I can breath.  

In January- my tribe and I gathered for a belated Christmas celebration and gift exchange.   This is our 2nd year doing an after-the-holiday gathering and I have to say- I much prefer it.   It gave me something to look forward after the Holiday rush was over and well, it's always a good time when the BAGS are involved.   

In February- I gathered again with friends to celebrate Mr. B's milestone birthday.   Good eats, great laughter and even some wine was greatly enjoyed by all!   I had done "dry January" (giving up alcohol in an effort to get my health back on track-I'd found that the alcohol was causing my RA to flare with persistent swelling and soreness in my joints).   Bring on that glass of wine come February!

The ladies and I ventured out for a day of shopping and lunch.   We commented that it just felt so normal!   I found myself going for some retail therapy- picking up this adorable set from the Polish Pottery Factory.   Much like when I first discovered Longaberger, Creative Memories, Pampered Chef...I felt like I wanted one of everything.   But instead- settled on this cute starter set.   Hoping the pretty pottery will help inspire me to put some good but healthier eats on my plate.  

I'm feeling- weary.  

 Usually the January blahs hit me hard and then February I pull out of it.   But this year, the blahs were a little delayed in arriving.   

 In January- I was committed 100% to some wellness goals- and then February hit and I was thinking "why bother" and reverted to a more sedentary and snacking mode.   

Then, this past weekend- this showed up on my Instagram feed.   Talk about divine inspiration.    

And this transitions perfectly into my final prompt

I'm needing- to make some changes. 
 The days are getting longer, the weather is stabilizing (forget about that mini-blizzard we had last week- dumping some unexpected 10 inches overnight).  

Owen was not amused by all that snow...

But he found a way to cope with his annoyance...when all else fails...take a nap

I shall take a lesson from Owen-and find some better ways to cope.   Regular exercise, planned meals, hydration and less coffee are all actions I can and should be taking. 

So for now- I shall hit the publish button...having clearly stated my intention-

.

  

2020- The Year that it was....

A New year....a time to say goodbye and a time to say Hello...

This past year we seemed to have a lot of good-byes to process- not just the earthly passing of several family members and friends but the more figurative good-byes as the restrictions of COVID continue way beyond that initial "stay home-flatten the curve" situation we started with back in March.

But there were plenty of HELLOs to be savored during this past year....

Hello Family-    It's been a bumpy year at times for our family unit- navigating new courses both academically (both Things are hitting pause on their post-secondary education- as online learning is just not their thing), and socially.   Yet at the end of the day (or rather year in this case) we are stronger as a unit than ever before.

Thing 2-and Hubby checking out the new ride..

Cuddly things- with the hit Christmas gift of snuggle-sacks...

Excuse me while I past myself on the back...

It's been a few years since Mama Bear has totally hit the mark on present purchases

Hello Hubby- November marked 25 years as husband and wife.   November anniversaries have always translated to "we'll celebrate later"...dating way back to a delayed honeymoon in April of the following year.    We did treat ourselves to a new furnace- if treat is the right word- since the old one ceased to work.    Fingers crossed that some day- we can resume our favorite activity as a couple- traveling the world.   But for now- we are content with the small excursions we managed to take while "socially distancing" from those not in our pod.  

Hello Friends-there is an old quote that friendship isn't necessarily about who you've known the longest (although I will say I have a couple friends that I've known a long time that still match this definition) but rather who walked into your life and said "I'm here for you" and proved it.     This past year- time and time again, the friends proved to be that rock that helped me navigate new paths, find comfort in new norms and well just have fun with.  Granted, how we gathered saw some  changes ..from in-person coffee chats to zoom calls, group texts and exchanging of funny memes.  But they were still there and that's the important part!

The six-pack, minus a few and with a substitution-took in the lights at the Botanical Gardens 12.30.20

A surprise visit from a long time friend- he was in town to buy a plane?!

Mountain shenanigans- COVID be damned (Oct 2020)

When the restaurants are deemed not safe, you bring the chef to you!  Rocky Mtn. Raclette (10/2020)

Hello Solitude- a lot of people found themselves home alone way more than they prefer.  However, for me, I've really enjoyed all the "excuses" to stay home due to the Pandemic.   I managed to read over 60 books, take countless walks (the better the audio-book, the longer the walk), I've even found myself finding time to play in the craft room from time to time (no epic projects just some puttering around.     

Using up my  stash and actually make some cards like I planned to when I bought the stuff..

perfecting the art of the charcuterie ..otherwise known as lunchables-for-grown-ups.

Mastering the art of mix-master...with supervision courtesy of Owen

A spot of tea?   Sounds lovely...

A river walk- at the tale end of the Fall colors (Avon, CO October 2020)

Working from home during December- meant I had the time and inclination to pull out the holiday dishes

Hello Owen   I've always enjoyed my friends' pets but just couldn't be bothered with having a pet of my own.   And technically- I still don't have a pet- the kitten belongs to Thing 2...but seriously- who's believing that statement?   Owen is 100% a family pet- he enjoys snoozing with any of us, any of our feet are fair game, and you'd best hold on tight to your cocktail as he's quite the little sip-and-spill master if you don't watch yourself.  

So while some have referred to 2020 as a dumpster fire (or other equally colorful descriptive terms) for us it was fine...just like we shared in the Christmas card

..It's fine, we're fine...everything really is fine...

really it is...I promise!

Until next time....