Positively Tuesday-

     

     After my money blog stroll, I wanted time to think through why I blog, does it help me and does it help anyone else. I guess if someone reads, and comes back, at least it gave a bit of recreation. For me, it's accountability, record keeping, and an outlet to let me unwind. To those that had concerns about my tone and mind, I assure you, I'm fine. Just like anyone, I have moodiness, sometimes more days in a row, and it comes out in what I write. I read it in  comments people leave as well. It's life. I'm going to keep Positively Tuesday for that reason, an outlet. It's my weekly reminder that even in darker times, money, job, family, there's good things that rise from the bottom. Since last Tuesday, here's at least 10 positives for the week.

1. Finally got together with some of the trivia group Wednesday. It was good catching up, and fun to get 2nd place.
2. Finding the work audit files and getting them scanned in short order was a huge relief. I'm almost ready to transfer all on Today. Barring a lot of additional questions, hopefully that audit is in my rear view mirror. 
3. An old favorite coffee house is near my new office. As I didn't have time to drive home and the space in our new offices was a construction zone still, I did two meetings with head phones from the cafe. Unfortunately, they no longer carry soups and sandwiches so it truly will be just a coffee spot, but it's small and independently owned, roasting beans on site. 
4. The farmer's market yielded my first local summer squash, zucchini, and cucumbers. I almost splurged on fresh flowers, but resisted. I will before summer is out and for my MIl's birthday in August.
5. I finally pulled weeds in the front porch area and got rid of the dead flower remains. I don't know how people managed to keep flowers from dying in the late June heat, but I'm sure I watered them wrong or not enough. I think I'll get just a few flowers to replace just for a little color. Maybe they'll keep for a while. I decided I'm risking animals and going wild with bulbs this fall- and more hostas. 
6. Sunday was an odd day, mix of clouds, sun, storms, repeat. I started the day though with coffee, muffins, and reading outside, then joined by my daughter and pup. I read more later and we didn't go to the cabin, but that was ok.
7. DH's schedule changed for this week so not doing lake stuff until Wednesday. He tackled the tree in the yard. It's bittersweet as I am sad about losing our Maple tree, planted 31 years ago. But the dead tree was an eyesore. DH said we'll go look and buy two replacement trees, one for the lost maple, and one for the river birch lost 15 years ago. I guess we'll have firewood for a while, once it dries out. There's still a lot of chopping to do, but my daughter, a neighbor, DH and I got branches hauled to back. DD2 is getting assigned stick detail.

   

   Goodbye lovely tree. 

   
   
8. I made a successful orange chicken last night. It's one of my favorites and I usually buy Trader Joe's frozen. I'll share my twist on a recipe making the Facebook rounds  tomorrow. 
9. I picked a few more raspberries from a surviving side plant. I still hate yard work, but I vow to get that mess cleaned up this fall and have the yard next spring looking better.
10. A good night's sleep. I unplugged as they say you should, and didn't stay up too late with the television. I never heard the expression sleep hygiene, but I admit to having terrible practices some nights.

     On Instagram I follow someone named Nana Hoffman, aka Sweatpants and Coffee. Her daily memes speak volumes and are quite relatable. Sweatpants and coffee They make me smile. I have been in a slump but for many reasons, and all merge at times and become a bigger challenge. Pithy memes about coffee don't solve the progressively painful knee, overload at work, and societal discourse that gnaws at me, but I'm guaranteed a smile. Some days, that's enough to fuel me forward. Have a Positively Tuesday.