Fall Glorious Fall-A Positively Tuesday Post

      Fall n Minnesota is the stuff of  Hallmark movie legends. While the colors haven't been quite as stellar as we'd hope, who cares when you can be outside on a morning walk with just a light jacket and shed it entirely by noon. Unfortunately, I slept wrong, woke up with a headache and am downing coffee as fast as my Keurig, who is still working by the way, can keep me caffeinated. No lectures that coffee might be the culprit. It's the last vice I'll ever give up. To perk up my day, I like to start Tuesdays off capturing 10 things that made me smile, give me joy, or are a simple pleasure from the days leading up to Tuesday. 

1. I will start there, with coffee, specifically the Aldi Vanilla. At $3.99 for 12 ounces, it is a bargain to boot. Normally I'd be drinking form my Paris cup on Tuesday mornings but it is in the dishwasher that needs to be emptied. I'm not trying to rush the season, but my hand landed on a Happy Holidays mug that is not particuallry Christmasy.
2. While I took last night out, the spare room is returning to a useable space for sleeping. I have stacked clean bedding to go back on, and that is a simple pleasure. 
3. This will be in Thursday's post, but I cancelled the Fab, Fit, Fun subscription box. It served it's purpose for nearly five years, a fun gift ever quarter for my girls and  me. Instead, I'd like to put the same money towards a quarterly outing like a thrift challenge ( I still owe you all that recap), a pamper and movie night, or trying a new restaurant. I had way too many things left in the boxes that were not used and it seems just wasteful. I will add though, we found a few products that likely I would have never tried but now really like such as the Ouai leave in conditioner. I also got my favorite black and white plaid shawl in a box, and a light weight sweater that has been m go to for two years now. It felt good though to hit the cancel button and eliminate one more source of stuff coming in my house, even if they are consumables. 
4. My daughter has been on vacation this week and  staying at the family lake cabin. She has shared a few terrific photos. I'm borrowing today's-it made me smile. 
   
   
   
5. My coworker that had the baby last May so we have seen her grow before our eyes, started child care so no more waves on meetings. She had a gltich last Friday during one of our meetings and no child care. It was so sweet seeing her little hand waving to us all on the screen after not seeing her for several weeks. 
6. DH really wanted to see the latest James Bond movie. I am luke warm at best about these kind of movies, but give and take in a marriage right. I'll add Daniel Craig makes me smile though. As does Ralph Fiennes but he's always a prick in the Bond movies.  I won't give away spoilers, but it took me a moment to see the Bond girl in Cuba was the young actress that was so fabulous in Knives Out, Ana De Armos, and another new to me actress, Lashona Lynch. Both should have a lot of screen time in future movies. The "love interest" meh, kind of a vanilla role. 
7. I successfully completed my 3 Meals at $3.00 a piece challenge. I was quite pleased with myself. 
8. I bought myself a bag of Child's Play, which is basically a bag of tootsie brand candies. I can suck on a small Tootsie roll and get a chocolate fix, or such on a Tootsie pop for  nearly an hour with very few calories compared to other chocolate indulgences. 
9. While walking pup, I  stopped to talk with a neighbor and had a good long catch-up. She's trying to  get her step son and wife to look at the place next door to me, which had a For Sale sign on by walk time. I think they better hurry as houses are turning faster than a pancake on a hot griddle. I wouldn't mind having them as neighbors. It's always nice t get a catch-up with this neighbor. Her husbands and his first wife and three boys were neighbors when we moved in, but divorced 23 years ago and both remarried. He stayed in the house, and had another son, the same age as our youngest. The wife also had another son, about the same age. Apparently it was an amicable divorce as we've seen coming and goings, child care sharing with the 4th sons, and have been at grad parties at both houses as they've shared hosting.
10. Wow-I am overwhelmed with the motivating comments on my purging progress, and support while I commiserated about m stiff muscles. It is motivating and appreciate the cheers in the back ground. I'll get it done. Readers make me smile. 

     I seem to be doing little story telling, side bars, and perhaps gossiping in my 10 simple pleasures. I hope you don't mind. My work day is meeting on top of meeting and I have an HR kerfuffle to deal with, but it will be smooth sailing once Tuesday is done. I hope your day is a good one. 

Positively Tuesday- October is Confused

      Last year this week, DH, pup, and I spent the week at the lake for our fall retreat. I can't even really say get away. We have a week off in November but not sure what we'll do-maybe the same again. Maybe it will be a project week. It got down right hot yesterday. I was baking in the car in my way home from the office. No windy cold fall for us yet-October is more confused than September was so far. Well, I know it's Tuesday as I have that swirly feeling in my stomachs. To counter, here's my weekly recap of the joys, smiles, and simple pleasures of recent days. 

1. 
   Had a good time shopping with my daughter on Friday night. Since we're both bucking fast fashion and weren't in thrifting mode, we got our shopping therapy in grocery stores. I bought seasonal items for the college kid and she got new cinnamon brooms.
2. We bought the 10 pound bag of basmati rice in a bag that is reusable. It will be a good produce bag. Probably old school to most of you, but it made me smile. 
   
3. We had samosas outside the Indian grocer/ take out. The sweet dip they serve it with cut the heat if the spicy potato filling. We really enjoy the grocery store and the take out side. 
4. My daughters dentist added oral surgery to their clinic and it looks like she'll both be able to have two implants done in town and with no greater out of pocket. It's still astronomical but the last place she got a quote from were rude and condescending. She has liked this dental office.
5. My brother's party was a lot of fun and he was surprised. Food was good though the frozen chicken on uncooperating coals  delayed eating a bit. My Sloppy Joe's were devoured. 
6. We saw the first pops of color driving north. I'm not sure we'll get the vibrancy of years past because of the unusually warm fall, but I love the change of color..
7. Loved seeing our college kid and loved the concert. Double joys. Hearing the concert live was a triple joy-despite DH not being pleased with the mask I had for him. He felt it was triple thick, but the same kind I wear all the time. 
8. Had a texting conversation with our son on way home. He's working pretty steady and was going to be out of town a few days. His latest conversation was to make sure we don't have money with Bank of America as he thinks their about to tank.
9. I had my flu shot yesterday. If it cuts my risk at all, I'm good with it.
10. My daughter joined me for a walk with pup and a thrown together meal from refrigerator leftovers and odds and ends. It was a nice way to start the week. 

     The day in the office helped me see a plan for the move at the end of the year, and I am less overwhelmed thinking about it. We'll need everyone though to have a few days in office  packing up and labeling  shared file cabinets, most of which  contain documents that no one will ever need to see, but need to be kept for auditing purposes through a certain date. DH worked later last night and I had already crawled in bed, though wasn't quite asleep. I over did packing and moving boxes and was spent. I'm up and ready to go now though. The last two days I've splurged on take out coffee. It feels good to be drinking coffee made in my own kitchen in a favorite mug. I guess I am truly getting used to working from home. I hope your week brought you  some simple pleasures. Feel free to share in the comments.

Positively Tuesday-Waiting for # 3

      Oh glorious Tuesday. I get through you and the rest of the week is a breeze. I tell myself that. However, each day, I wait to see if lightning, or roofs, or jack hammers, will strike a third time. Last weekend it was electricity from a roof flying off and taking out a power line. Sunday was the workers taking out a gas line Saturday night-thinking it was resolved, and then not, and no gas for most of the day. Of course DH only learned the gas was not back on after trying off and on for over an hour to get the water heater going Sunday morning. swearing and muttering the whole time. The gas company actually had to go house to house and do something both outside and inside. 

     Pup, and apparently every other dog in the neighborhood was having none of this strange vans and men walking around the neighborhood so it was 1/2 a day of a barking fest. The teen at the end of the block who lives with just his dad was very worried how it was going to work as he had to leave and his dad was at work. DH helped make arrangements so that they circled back to their house when his dad would be back home. We don't know if that happened. Something must have still been amiss, as a truck was at the house on the opposite side of the dad and teen as late as 6:00 yesterday when I took pup for his walk. It's life annoyances like this that can make life seem more stressful than it needs to be, but it also motivates me to track the positive things, the simple pleasures, and the small joys in my life. I too easy get in a negative mindset when things go wrong.

1. Made a batch of PB, oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. I dropped off a plate to  my daughter, and she and her friends were still there so I got to see them. Her friend L is so sweet. I later got reviews that they were delicious. I made just nine for DH and myself and froze the rest in unbaked dough balls.
2. My young nephew got hurt at the end of his game on Saturday (not the joy). Later I had a text from his mom that he was wrapped up. lying down and wearing his sweatshirt we gave him for his birthday because he loved it as it was so soft. 
3. Treated myself to three small mums to replace the long since dead trio of plant for a planter. Now I have a couple places with pops of purple color. 
4. DH and I went out for dinner and had a very pleasant and efficient server. There was also two tables, one of boys and one of girls, with  teens, each celebrating birthdays. It was fun to see some normalcy for young people. I laughed at the difference. The girls sang Happy Birthday, but from the boys table we just heard, "you get a free desert  because it's your birthday." 
5. Had a long call with college kid who needed another copy of her passport, but we chatted about other things. DD1 let me know the Renaissance Fair was a lot of fun.  I also was text chatting with my son during the Vikings game, and then later the Packers as he was making himself dinner. It was nice to hear from all three kids on Sunday. 
6. The Vikings finally won, and I didn't have as crabby of a football watching  spouse. We were both frustrated that San Francisco let Green Bay  move the ball enough to kick a field goal to win. 
7. While the evening football game was on, I scrolled around the local arts council's silent auction site. It closed at 8:00 p.m. and I bid on and won a couple good things for gifts-one for DH for our anniversary and either a Christmas or birthday gift for my older daughter. I need to run at noon to pick them up. I love a good silent auction. I would have gotten a Farmers market gift pack, complete with all the jams and honey and syrup, but someone slipped in right before the bids closed. I was going to give to my brother for his birthday, but now I'll just do an actual FM shop myself. He is a very minimalist kind of guy and treats would be more his style than a piece of clothing or other such stuff.
8. Since I couldn't shower until late Sunday due to no hot water, I did some deep cleaning I neglected on Saturday. I dusted with polish, not just dry dusting, took off cushions, and vacuumed under furniture and truly perspired! I was happy to see that my living room looked presentable enough if someone stopped by. It has been neglected for quite a while. 
9. The new season of the British Baking Show started. I was  pretty tired Sunday night when I remembered, so watched only episode one through the technical challenge. I really enjoy the show compared to US baking and cooking stuff which seems so fabricated and all for money, not joy of baking. I think the winner gets a cake plate.
10. With the sun setting so early and me watching too many episodes of Criminal Minds, I ordered both girls new screeching key chain panic alarms. I hope they never have to press the button, but making sure they have one gives me a touch more peace of mind.

     There's the top of mind things that  brightened my week. Most are mundane, but appreciating the mundane and not feeling like everyday has to be a wow is important to me feeling satisfied and content. I'll keep recapping these week to week for myself. 

Positively Tuesday-More Summer

      Here's a good photo to usher in what I consider the change of the season, the first day after Labor Day. This was from our solo week at the cabin last October, and as case rates  are growing, this may be where we spend our time off this year as well. There's still may weeks until then and the weather man says it is still summer with glorious sun and temperatures in the 70's-creeping towards 80 by Friday. I wouldn't be a Minnesotan if I didn't talk about the weather. Tuesday's, especially after a long weekend and mine was extra long, are my "just get through it" day of the week. I've tried to turn it into my  glass half full day and recap my joys, smile worthy things, and simple pleasures of the last week. There were a lot and I should be starting the week with a hop in my step, figuratively speaking. 

1. I got a smile out of my 14 year old nephew, with help from his mom, buying lottery tickets for his brother for his 18th birthday. Apparently no big wins, but both were pretty pleased about the possibility as he scratched off the football helmets on the  cards.
2. I had a stomached bug for several days starting Wednesday morning.  While I didn't take any sick time, I did lay down mid-day to let some Pepto kick in, and pup was right there to curl up with me. Pet's know when they might be needed, whether you'd like it or not. 
3. We had a few mornings of rain, but it made for nice coolish weather to get pup out before starting work. I feel like I have clearer head when I get a walk in before starting. And yet, I don't make time to do this enough. 
4. I felt like I was playing hooky from work on Friday afternoon, even though it was my flex day off, going to a movie with DD1. The 15 year old inside me thought this might not be a bad thing to do for real some afternoon for a mental health break. This is actually allowed and even called out as a need under our sick time provisions. 
5. I didn't buy flowers at the Farmers market on Saturday since we were splitting our weekend time between home and the lake. I spent a few minutes just appreciating the beauty and will get some next weekend. The people I saw buy them, had smiles on their faces and that gave me joy.
6. I bought a lovely butternut squash at the market and when I went grocery shopping, I purchased nutritional yeast. I couldn't really find a recipe for he Trader Joe's vegan mac and cheese, but Big Box Vegan had some hacks to help improve part of the flavor that some find  might be off-putting. I think I can  come up with my own sauce using the squash, nutritional yeast,  milk beverage, and perhaps some white beans like I used for a pizza sauce last fall.  I found this version from the Veganista that doesn't use any milk product, but cashews. I get excited to experiment, and I love squash so even if not quite the same, I can't imagine that it won't be tasty. 
7.  Saturday night could not have been better way to spend an evening. My sister  sent out a group text to see if anyone wanted to join her for dinner outside at a restaurant overlooking the river. DH and I, the texting sister, another widowed sister, my single brother, and my oldest brother and his wife joined. Service is slow at this place in normal times, but they were very short staffed and busy, which worked to our favor as we could spend nearly 2 1/2 hours without feeling guilty occupying the table.
8. Should I shut up about the weather? Sunday was even better than Saturday! DH and I took the boat for a final summer ride before his BIL helped him get it on the trailer to take to a place for winterizing. It would have been nice to keep out for a few more weeks, but the guys had one day only ample enough help to get the large dock in, and there would no longer be a good place to secure the boat. The pontoon will stay through next weekend, moved temporarily to the smaller dock at the other cabin. That other dock is much easier to take in. DH has someone come get the pontoon and winterize, and then they'll bring back in the spring. DH will get his boat and park at the cabin once it is winterized. As we decided to keep it, he will invest in a few things to make next summer easier such as a fitted cover and cleats for the dock for securing it instead of the gerryrigged process he used this summer. 
9. Yesterday I wanted to use up some bananas that were taking over my freezer and yet more of the plain yogurt lingering in the fridge. I made three small bread pan loaves, using  baking mix, yogurt, assorted spices, and the bananas. I realized when I ate my first piece that while it was tasty, it wasn't very sweet, but the banana, cinnamon, all-spice, and nutmeg flavors really came pleasantly through. I had forgotten to add additional sugar! Well, I guess I invented a new bread- sort of a cross between a biscuit, a scone, and a quick bread. 
10. While I was working mid day (and I got one major task off my plate), DH and DD1 met up for a walk by the river. After I finished what I intended to complete, I cleaned the porch while pup kept me company, watered my flowers which are trying to hang on, and then pup and I played a bit before relaxing until they got home. It was a satisfying end of my last day of calendar summer. 

     I'm in no hurry for true fall. My days don't change with the start of the school year, other than what my work day consists of. I'm happy to hold onto summer for many weeks. I'll be avoiding pumpkin spice in my baking and will slip out later for a walk and my lunch outside. How about you? What simple pleasures, joys, and smiles have you had this past week? Are you ready for fall or wanting to hold on to summer  a bit longer like me?

Positively Tuesday-Loveable Pup, Friends, and Food

      Pup had an all day vet appointment yesterday between tests, shots, and his sedated shave due to his high anxiety. DD2 came in calling for him, as she had forgotten he was gone. Several times I found myself talking to him... and he was not there. I don't think it means we'll get another dog to replace him when sometime in the hopefully way distant future he leaves us, but it sure is a sign I need to love the little fellow up and appreciate him for the years we have with him. Too many friends in real and on-line life have lost pets and my heart hurts for them. I know our time will come, he's 10 already, but I'm hoping he's one of those long lived little guys. With that, I'll start our my week of simple pleasures, joys, and things that make me smile. 

1. All went well with pup and you can see his fancy new haircut. He definitely looks like a sheared lamb. He'll be slow moving for a few days and I will pamper him fully.
2. We had a lovely long weekend at the cabin, even getting most of Friday night to ourselves. Our friends joined us on Saturday and we had  a good time on the water with our boat. Yes, the boat has been a bit of pain, but if we can get a couple days like that a summer, and more once DH retires, I will consider it a good purchase. I'll add, it gets phenomenal gas mileage. We have not put gas in again after putting on the lake with a full tank and should easily make it through the rest of summer.  He'll want to start with fresh gas next year. 
3. A simple pleasure was that DH's friends wife is very into  DNA and genealogy stuff and had a long conversation with my mother-in-law who also likes to discuss these, and often tells the same stories over and over. It was nice to let them talk, and MIL's stories were new and interesting to our friend. I got the side stuff prepared while DH was grilling, not feeling like I had to  entertain every minute. My MIL later commented how much she enjoyed meeting her, as she had never met his second wife, though of course knew DH's friend since they were both 15. 
4. We splurged on the food items we made this weekend at the lake-steaks, a beautiful parmesan crusted chicken and wait for it-name brand potato chips. With all the splurging, it makes my frugal brain happy to calculate that I still spent probably  half what it would have been to take our friends out. We even had a meal of leftovers and there is plenty of wine and beer left for the next few weekends. 
5. While I'm on a food  pleasure kick, at the liquor store, I found little already mixed bottles of Chi Chi's margaritas. We didn't drink them this weekend, but I think I'll save for the weekend and pull out my fun margarita glasses. I love margaritas but I hate mixing them up as I never get the ratio quite right. 
6. Since we really didn't do any traveling for vacations, I am saying forget the Visa, and enjoying eating out if we feel like it, or splurging on little somethings last week and this. I'll make September a challenge month and call it good! 
7. There was a semi-emergency at work, but I didn't have to be overly sucked into solving it. It is nice to have good and reliable people to work with.
8. DD2 is done with her summer job now. She of course has plans most of this last week before school. She's also been crashing at her sisters some nights, including Sunday, but she came home yesterday and we had lunch together.
9. DD1 led her non-profit board meeting last night and it was a good and on point meeting. The other board members had some great ideas (with offers to help her carry the load) for her to add some social media presence and build awareness of the  mission. With the latest Covid Delta variant slowing things down again, programming needs to be delayed, but she's still making progress. One guy already had followed through and sent her some examples of his idea within an hour of the meeting ending. 
10. While I still have ripping down the deck and getting a new  patio poured is in our list, it was still a nice break having coffee outside yesterday and this morning. I need to give myself permission to start every morning, not just days off mornings, getting grounded to the day with fresh air and morning sunshine. 

     That is my week of  joys, smiles, and simple pleasures. I have this week to get things done, though yesterday admittedly was less productive than I wanted. Today is starting out better. Supper tonight will be my favorite chicken and rice, with broccoli and cheese hot dish (casserole to you fancy folks) and that will be one more simple pleasure to enjoy. Here's to you having a positively Tuesday. 

Positively Tuesday Staycation Recaps

      As part of my staycation recap, but also building on my positively Tuesday Simple Pleasures, I'll give a little  look at one of our day trips.  St Paul has a wonderful  conservatory, linked to the Como Park Zoo. DD2 and I were able to get reservations last Friday for a self guided one way, no backtracking tour. I can't even recall the last time I was in the conservator part and the greenery and flowers were stunning. I didn't really take any pictures of the animals-most were sleeping and getting bored with people. 

Imagine a pineapple growing in Minnesota! 

 

Pretty cool that these ferns have been identified
as back to the Jurassic age.

Loads of wedding, engagement,prom and graduation
photos are taken here. In fact, I guess small wedding
 ceremonies can be done. Saves a lot on flowers! 

Just more lush greenery around a fountain.

Up close-so pretty.

and mor eup close.

The outside of the conservatory.

This was not a bonsai, but I don't recall the name
-located right before heading outside to the Japanese Garden.

A shot of the Japanese Garden, a gift to St Paul. 

One more inside.

     It took roughly 90 minutes for us to do the walking tour of both. While there I got a text that something urgent was going to need my attention, but I pushed it off for a few hours. We stopped on the wa home for lunch at one of our favorite places, Cosetta's, and Italian deli, market, and bakery. There is an upscale restaurant on the premises as well,  just a few streets off downtown St Paul. With food to take home, including fresh cannoli, it made for a really nice time with my daughter. If you find yourself in St Paul, know reservation will be needed, but worth the time to book for part of a day. We'll travel again, but getting a little jump start on spring was an excellent simple pleasure. 

Positively Tuesday-Find a Happy Place

I am sorry that every week I seem to be moaning about the long drawn out Minnesota winter.  The marketing slogan from the Super Bowl, the bold north, seems to be more than a spin on our climate. A white knuckle drive home from Missouri in snow and sleet with a dodgy commute yesterday morning and the week started like a bear. Rain and snow is predicted for the weekend. Yes, I am moaning, but it feels like there is no end in sight. But of course, there will be. Until then, I look at past pictures of sunnier days, days spent at the beach, at the lake, or walking in a great regional park, one of my favorites. 

Good things are abundant even when winter more than overstays it's welcome. We attended the National Honor Society banquet and induction ceremony last night for DD2. She remains stretched with school and activities but the thought of giving up anything bothers her more.She has put her private violin lessons on hiatus until track season is done. My older kids have adult challenge like bills to be paid, rent increases, with stagnant pay, but they are independent and making lives for themselves, pushing to not settle for just a paycheck. I admire them both in this. They both too find their happy places, beaches and parks, and quiet spaces in their modest homes. DH is starting to think about life after retirement. Granted, it's more than five years away, but we know that will come in a blink, and figuring out how he will spend his days when I will have probably at least another four years in the work place is a lot to ponder. He will do much of that pondering on Wednesday nights and Thursdays at the lake, his happy place.

Wherever you find solitude, peace, and comfort, I hope you get there this week. If like me, it i just a glimpse of it in a photo, keep thinking about that place. I'll  be there soon. 

It's Tuesday-Affirmative!

 

I'm crap at coming up with regular series blog post titles, but think I've landed on calling my Tuesday posts, It's Tuesday-Affirmative! Once each week I log at least five things that are affirming for my sense of health and well being. I get in funks and know some weeks it is a struggle to think of things, this one being one of those weeks, so join me at the end and add your own please. 

1. DD2 is overly stressed right now with work, her friends wedding (which thankfully is over on Saturday), her former boyfriend, and just trying to make a life for herself away from home. I messaged an old friend from high school who lives in her general area to find out about networking opportunities in her community for young professionals and those in the arts, just on a hunch she might know of such things. Almost immediately friend, who I haven't really spoken to since our last high school class reunion in any detail, got back with a person for my daughter to connect to, big in the arts community, plus an invitation for dinner for DD. My friend said people think of her in her town as a connector, so I guess I reached out at the right time to the right person. Real friends, no matter the time or distance, still are there. 

2. I'm so far feeling good, not deprived, on my latest healthier eating attempt. I'm holding off weighing myself more than one time per week, so I don't get discouraged by the ups and downs, but generally, feel like this time I might have success dropping the pounds I must. 

3. I found a new cool outside yard game for my nephew, who loves playing yard games at the lake, and he approved. He also loved the basketball shirt, and we got a big old hug from the cutie. If anyone is looking, it was sort of a lawn dart/boccie ball combo, with weighted balls instead of the sword things. I might actually pick up a second one to just keep at the lake as I think we all might enjoy it. I'm looking for ways to be excited about lake time with DH's family.

4. I did a bit more research on possible options for a Europe trip next year and came across a VRBO listing, or several, for a whole Paris apartment at rates lower than I had been estimating. It would give us a home base, kitchen to keep the cost of eating out at bay, and save funds that  if we chose to add a night for a side trip elsewhere, I could still create a trip within a budget we could afford. I love the magic of the Internet with information at my fingertips to help create real possibilities.
 
5. Coffee. 

Please comment your thoughts below. I'd like to hear if anyone else has used VRBO.