I can't complain about the weather this past week. I've been outside for both getting yard work done, but also for home coffee and happy hours and backyard fires, and lots of walks. The bugs are annoying though! Little critters love to find my ankles. That aside, here's some of my weekly joys, simple pleasures, or just smile worthy occurrences.
- Yes, the wall repair is not complete, but taking a shower with the new shower head and not hearing a drip was almost magical. DH did well selecting the shower head- like a mini spa. I'm planning to make sure to do a vinegar dip weekly to make sure no hard water minerals clog it up.
- DD2 feels better about her summer situation after making the commitment to get her TEFL certification. She's going to look into the options for online teaching with the possibility she might be able to do some in Spain. Of course she'd need to look at the rules of online through an American school, but her physically located in Spain.
- My older daughters back to back arts event on Saturday was successful. They had some attendance, but better yet, expanded reach and network.
- Delicious egg rolls again thanks to my neighbor. Of course I made them lunch Saturday.
- We had a lovely fire Saturday night. I had to run to get more wood because what we had was so dry, it burned like paper. I think it had been there as firewood for two years.
- I'm getting some sprouting of the wildflower seeds planted in pots last month. Maybe they'll never get to flower stage, but just seeing something makes me smile.
- This is a weird one, but I'm going to have raspberries literally on my deck! Scattered seeds have caused the bushes to root and grow in the side of the deck and the vines have twisted on the wood floor. I'm not cutting them off since we'll be pulling down the deck next summer, so why not go with the novelty of it! We never go on the deck barefoot because of splinters but we'll need to be careful not to scrape a leg.
- Work days have been long, and I can't take my flex day this week, but I'm trying to stay of the mindset that I'm fortunate to have a good job, no costly commute, and gorgeous evenings to look forward to. A walk, even for 10 minutes at some point of my day, has been thoroughly needed and enjoyed.
- We got more purging done on Sunday and my daughter to dropped off for me a whole lot of donations. I can't even describe how emotionally draining the chaos of clutter has been and the joy with each load that exits the house brings.
- I feel like one of those YouTube knobs that raves about a gorgeous day as if it's their personality. But I got to tell you, coffee on the porch in the morning, a bite of lunch on the deck, long walks, and reading by sunlight in the evenings is such a gift to be appreciated after the longest winter in my memory.
When we think about places to relocate post retirement, I can't forget how perfect Minnesota can be some months. May, this past one excluded, through October I am happiest. Maybe we find someplace to spend November through April? Maybe we'll just find enough both long and short vacations to get through the post holiday slumps? I'll be complaining again next January, but for now, my home is also where my heart is.
While I enjoyed living in SW Florida for the most part I missed not having four true seasons and frankly June-October could be brutal. Here in Southern Illinois we do not have the LONG cold winters that you do so it is very doable. I love winter but I've never lived anywhere like Minnesota so not sure I could do it.
ReplyDeleteThere's always four seasons, but not a true four seasons like we have in the northern states. Maybe we need to look border/ not the north not the south?
DeleteI think having raspberries growing through the deck would be so much fun! The only thing we get through the boards on our deck is mosquitos
ReplyDeleteI hope your summer is fabulous. I think ours might be seriously hot.
We'll get hot too- just not days and weeks straight. The birds will probably get any berries.
DeleteI actually cut off a pair of socks and wear them over my ankles when we are out by the fire. Little buggers love my ankles. I think it is the Norsk blood. We are having a beautiful day here, as we have had so much needed rain. Decluttering is an ongoing thing here. Where does this crap come from?
ReplyDeleteThat's clever. They like the ankles and the ears! Maybe we have a fine vintage coursing through our veins.
DeleteOur weather has been quite nice as well, although today is cooler and rainy. Perfect weather to work all day lol. I’m thankful for the school stuff to have calmed down, I’ve checked off a bunch of my to do list although the biggest box remains. I’m happy to be getting more sleep since I’m not up early to drive my daughter to school although I was beat last night and in bed by 10:00. I also realized I missed a few days of my iron supplement so that could be why. Today is my niece’s 6th birthday, crazy how time flies. I miss them all so much. The raspberry bushes are so neat, we had tons of wild blackberries, raspberries, elderberries and grapes in our backyard growing up. I wish we had some where we live now. JoAnn
ReplyDeleteWe have had the "tamed" bushes forever on the side yards, but these just grew wild. Well, the planted ones need serious weeding and attention. I've sort of let them get mangey. I realized I hadnt been taking my Omeprazole or vitamins and felt both nauseous and sluggish.
DeleteMy mulberry tree just stopped producing fruit this week. I do enjoy berries. It is 92 in south Alabama where I work during the week. I don’t think anywhere has the perfect climate and Minnesota sounds fabulous in the summer and early fall. Maybe be snowbirds? Your suggestion of long trips in January sounds good tho. Cindy in the South
ReplyDeleteI don't know if I've ever had mulberries. What do you do with yours? Agreed- no where is perfect, but there's perfect days to enjoy.
DeleteI freeze them and make use just like blackberries, in a cobbler, fruit smoothies, etc. Cindy in the South
DeleteThey sound delicious!
DeleteI love the raspberries through the deck. Will you get any of them for the yard so they will be sort of permanent when the deck goes? I love our weather except for the dark of winter. I would probably die in Minnesota. I would be exhausted before I got dressed warm enough to go outside. We have four seasons, so we miss nothing. When you have grandchildren you will probably want to stay closer to where they are.
ReplyDeleteWe already have intentional raspberries along the side yard. These are just wild growth. If someone want to dig the up, they'd be welcome to them. I have no way of knowing where my potential grandkids might be living. We'll make plans for ourselves and visit if they are in different places. I don't think you'd die in Minnesota, but you might have to wear shoes and socks.
DeleteHow exciting for your daughter to be heading to Spain (possibly). Beautiful country and lovely people!
ReplyDeleteThis time it should work for fall semester. She could probably have made spring work but things were still so unsettled in November. I'm excited for her.
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