Positively Tuesday-Best Days of Summer

          

     Remember, I have no young kids at home anymore so the running around start of the school year, fall sports season, and early melt downs of homework and friend groups, doesn't impact me. Well, I get a bit of the workload melt down from afar, but don't actually witness it. So far so good though with college kid. She has an incredibly busy life, has already said she's pulled a few late nighters-early morning sessions to complete work, but otherwise seems good. I think she is so happy to have a semi normal college year, the busy is a gift. Where was I going with this? Oh yes, for me, the best days of this summer so far have been the last week. We've had fun days, and sunshine, and enough rain to keep things green, but not enough to ruin any plans. It's crisp in the morning, so drinking coffee outside on the porch with a sweater is pure bliss. Likewise, sneaking away from my desk late morning or mid afternoon if there is a lull in my meeting schedules to walk with pup doesn't mean I'm sweating and sticky by the time I'm back 30 minutes later. I get the midday sun and natural dose of vitamin  D for a bit of an energy burst.. 

     With me highlighting why I think the day after labor day through the real first day of fall on September 20th are the best days of the whole summer, I'll share my top 10 joys, simple pleasures, or things that made me smile in the last week. 

1. I tried a different meditation class-this one through YouTube last Tuesday night. I think the key  to feeling the benefit, whether it is 5 minutes, or  30, is to really relax, palms, up, eyes closed, and take in the sounds. I followed my little session with  a combination of some of the physical therapy  stretches and the office  Yoga moves my former coworker shared with us last spring. I've tried to keep this up each day-but not any consistent time. 
2. I skipped having any beer or hard seltzer at the brewery-having artisan sodas they are now carrying instead. I had a twinge of a headache all day before going to trivia and was glad I avoided alcohol. It was fun, but we had a horrible picture round-I think we maybe got 2 of 10 right. That's normally our best round. 
3. On Thursday, my daughter and I took pup for a beautiful evening walk. I shared a picture on Friday  she took with pup, and a panoramic shot. Happy dogs-can't get any more joy than that. 
4. We had some good news at work (even though this was the same day as the start of the big fiasco) and it means one of my team will get to lead a new effort. She has been wanting to take on a bit more project leadership and I don't want to lose her to another organization. Better, the timing won't start until October, so I'll not lose her hours for a few more weeks, and by then, my new staff will be ready to take on more things, so I shouldn't feel the burden. 
5.  DH texted Friday afternoon to say he had a gift card and would I like to go out for supper. Worked for me! We later stopped at my sisters where several were gathering after a golf tournament for cards and pizza, though no one stayed long. We were stuffed from dinner but think i might splurge on ordering pizza at some point this month if my take out/eating goal support it. 
6. Without details, I'll just share the  cabin ordeal is done. This gives me joy as I no longer will need to witness the stress and strain on DH and his mom.
7. I spent an unusually long time in my Dollar Tree trying to plan my $5 Challenge on Sunday. I will be making that tonight. I could have gone with a very easy pasta dish, but tried for something different. I think what I have will be different all right. I  just hope it is edible. I have a small  store, with a tiny refrigerator and freezer section and it was pretty picked over so I made due with what options were there. It's all for fun.
8. I enjoyed the people watching and several good conversations with other spectators and finishers while my daughter was on the run/obstacle course of her run on Saturday. There were staggered heats in 15 minute increments. There was really only a food hut with burgers and brats, along with a beer hut and nothing my daughter could really eat, so we ended up not eating anything there but the granola bars I brought and her post run banana. I did have her free beer though-she didn't feel like it after running. So for me, it ended up being a very fun and frugal day. 
9. Even with  my daughters Trader Joe stop for me, DH's rogue shop, my DT challenge, I stayed under by $4 my $57 per week average needed to stay on target to hit under $300 in grocery spending in September. When you are a competitive person, besting your own rules feels good. I friend myself of Monica on friends who was so competitive, she took over a silly ball drop game.
   
   
10. DH requested homemade macaroni and cheese on Sunday night. To be honest, I've not made it from scratch in a while, and mine turned out delicious and creamy, and gave him leftovers for his lunch yesterday. 

     It was a quiet week-kids next door at school so I'm not hearing the fighting that typically happens throughout the day, or the parents yelling out the window! Another reason why these early days f September are some of the best of summer. That alone is a joy. I like hearing the bus pick-up and drop off-my office  window catches the sounds-and it sounds like normal! My daughter and I might go apple picking this weekend, but we are waiting of honey crisp and the might not be ready by Saturday. She went on Sunday and got some zestars and blondes and has an abundance to share with me. I think I'll do a pie, but also prep and freeze a batch for a Christmas pie when DS is hopefully home. Both are something to look forward to.