Life goes on...

Sometimes life seems a bit.... grey.

Lately, the days here seem to be more cool and grey than the hot and sunny we usually enjoy in these parts. It does not feel like summer is a week away!

In addition to that, I'm spending a lot of time on the computer, working to finish up the year. That's not always too much fun, especially when I feel I have better things to do!

And then,  sometimes I just get in my head too much and that can be a downer. So,  I decided it's time for a little work break, to focus on happy things for a bit. And why not blog about it?

It's the little things! And sometimes those are BIG things, too!

• This one deserves a drum roll... I'm a GRANDMA! Well, specifically I'm an "Oma", in keeping with my Dutch roots and coming from a long, long line of Omas :) 

Meet Clark Nicholas, born May 12th. Is he not PRECIOUS!!!??? He's a month old already. Wow, babies change fast! I don't know how many times I've been told, "Just wait till you have grandkids! ". I don't have to wait anymore! :) And yes, it's as wonderful as I was told..over and over and over again ;) He brings such joy to my heart. Love. love. love.

 Anything I write after this pales in comparison, you do understand. Grandchildren and coffee  somehow don't really belong on the same list.  They are in separate leagues.

•   I enjoyed a misto this aft.. that is,  hot brewed coffee with steamed, frothy milk added... homemade, of course. I don't know why but lattes and mistos are comforting, especially on cool days. No sweetener needed.

• Spotify - whatever the mood, there's something old or new to listen to! I'm enjoying Discover Weekly, listening to music I haven't heard before. Joy. I've enjoyed happy music that causes me to bop around in my office chair, and scare the dog! Then I listen to instrumental music to help me focus. Then back to something that will keep me alert!

• Enzo. Little E.  Prince.  Unseated from his throne since May 12th. But he has given up his status willingly. Such a good little dog. 

• Pickleball. Yes, Pickleball is a sport, apparently popular with 'older' people. I don't know why it has that distinction because it's just plain FUN! For any age, really. If you enjoy badminton or tennis, you'll enjoy pickleball. My girlfriend and I are taking lessons. I never really want to head out at the end of the day, but each time I go, I'm glad I did. It's a pretty good workout. You may want to try it.  I'm not sure why it's called PickleBall. It uses a Wiffleball. I think someone hard of hearing was confused about the name. 

Hey, June, want to play Wiffle Ball?

What's that? What's Pickleball?

No, Wiffle ball! 

Sure, I'll play PickleBall! I'll let the whole gang know about it! 

It's WIFFLE BALL! 

Hey, guys! Come play Pickleball!

Pickleball? Sounds interesting! Yes, let's play!    

       

Yay for the little things! 

         

Getting Through February

February is not my favorite month of the year, although I do like it better than January.With February the promise of Spring is that much closer. I know, we have almost another official month of winter, but around here the snow is gone and it's not really that cold out any more. Still hovering around freezing in the morning sometimes, but still, it could be worse!

So, what's gotten me through February, a month that finds me mostly indoors sipping coffee (one cup a day usually-- I really do sip!) whittling away at portfolios, and dreaming of warmer days?

A trip to the coast! We celebrated my mother in law's 86th birthday together with a slew of family. A great weekend.

This little guy. He is my companion. He is a blessing in my life. He makes me laugh. He gets me off my chair,  taking little breaks throughout the day. He sleeps quietly as I work. And he's always over-the-moon happy to see me when I return home from outings. Talk about an esteem booster! No, I'm not talking about my hubby although he does fit the bill in some ways!haha!

Books!  I've got a few on the go. Just finished Someday Someday Maybe by Lauren Graham. I saw it recommended on Goodreads and decided to finally read it. A twenty something tries to make it as an actress in New York. A cute, funny quick read with some great characters.
I'm also reading In the Land of the Blue Burquas by Kate McCord. It was written before Farewell, Four Waters, which I just finished a few weeks ago. But I don't think it really matters that I'm reading in reverse order. It's giving me more insight into the culture in Afghanistan, and the life of a foreign aid worker. Fascinating.
I am half way through The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown. Three adult sisters converge on their home town to visit their mother who is battling cancer. All about family relationships, importance of home, growing up, and figuring out life. The title refers to Shakespeare and the father quotes Shakespeare all the time (his daughters are named after characters) and all members of the family are book nerds. I wasn't sure I was going to like this book, but it's grown on me. It's my bedtime read.

Spotify. I listen to music all. day. long. sometimes. Music to reflect my mood or to get me out of my mood! Or to motivate me to work.
Classical, contemplative, meditative, acoustic, counry, jazz, pop. Adele, Andy Grammar, Andra Day, All Sons and Daughters, Rend Collective, The Brilliance. etc etc.  If you're looking for some new music, check out Spotify. It's free and it recommends music based on what you like, so there is always something new to explore. 

Podcasts. I've added a few more to my list. Don't listen to every
episode but sure do enjoy them. I find the ones that are about 30 minutes in length are just about right. Any longer, and I skip them because I don't always have one hour to listen.  A few others I enjoy: The Essential Oil Revolution, Spark My Muse, Katy Says with Katy Bowman

Knitting. Been enjoying knitting a comfort shawl and socks this winter. And some bibs and dish cloths. Just small items but it's great to have something on the needles when I feel the urge to create something tangible. And they make great little gifts to give away.

Netflix. My hubby and I try to find something we both like to watch together one or two nights a week. We are not always successful. We did watch Making a Murderer together and I have to say we were sucked right into the drama of that documentary. Truth and justice and the miscarriage of it. Who knows what the the truth is when people lie through their teeth? Yes, it was a pretty biased documentary, but we had some good discussion while watching that. Still confused about what really happened. It was hard to watch at times, just seeing the depravity and awful lives some people live. Sad. I couldn't watch too many shows like this, that's for sure. We binge watched it for about 2 weeks.  I think I prefer fiction! He likes shows with zombies or war  and I would rather watch an episode of Downton Abbey or Mr Selfridge, but the verdict is still out on the latter. Haven't continued for a few weeks. Sometimes we watch  an episode of  the murder mystery Death in Paradise. It's good!  I'm waiting for Nashville Season 4 to come to Netflix. And looking foward to watching the next season of The Voice (on the CTVgo App) . Got any recommendations for must-see TV shows on Netflix?

Planet Woman - got a membership for one month because my kids encouraged me to sign up for a 5km trail run at the end of March, and how am I going to be able to do that if I don't grow my muscles and my cardio?! Don't always want to go but always glad when I do. Except when I'm sore afterwards. And recovery takes longer than it used to! Soon I must transition my workouts to the outdoors..actually running 5 km!! Doesn't sound like much except if you haven't done it in a while! I'm a little bit concerned... but --as my daughter in law mentioned "There's no shame in walking". I'll try to embrace that thought.

and finally...

Z is for Zumba. Imagine doing Zumba with a band of church ladies aged 19-50-something? To hip hop music? Imagine the fun and comeraderie. Yes, it brings some much needed levity to my Wednesdays. We don't do the moves very well at all, but it's good for a laugh, it's a workout, and it's a way to connect with those I mostly just see at church happenings.

What got you through February?

Getting my craft on..

With teaching Gr. K-2 children shape and space concepts every Thursday morning, I've been spending a lot of time researching creative, engaging activities. That leads to the fun part of teaching -- getting to watch the children enjoying the creative process.
Maybe it's due to it being the middle of winter (not getting out enough!), but I have been enjoying some creative endeavours. Besides knitting and a little furniture restoration, today I created a very cool craft which I am pleased to say turned out very well.

Our church is having a 'life group fair' next weekend, and I am promoting a "She Reads Good Books" book club. We were encouraged to add some pizzazz to our table spaces, so I decided to make this:

book fan

I experienced a twinge of regret as I worked on this, because of the necessary sacrifice -- a hardcover book. I was encouraged to think of this as 'repurposing', not ruining. I think I'll go with that. This was one of my  favorite read alouds from days gone by, but I'm pretty sure I have another copy somewhere. And besides, this 'fan book' can be undone in the future. No spine ripping required for this craft.

I actually like the outcome of this folding craft so much, I'm planning to keep it up on my desk shelf for a while.

I don't mean to sound grinchy, but

It's too early to even think about Christmas festivities.

 Let me continue on my merry way until December 1st and then I'll bring out the Christmasy mugs, seasonal music, we'll set up the tree and decorate a few days after that. But please, not till December! 

The more Christmases I've experienced, the less excited I am about all the hoopla. All I really want is to do some small but meaningful activities to celebrate and focus on the true reason for Christmas. And that gets me to thinking. It's really a 365-days-a-year celebration, isn't it?

I read a great  post this morning from Susie Davis's blog. An excerpt: 

There are 365 days in a year to remember people in thoughtful, inexpensive and free ways. A call, a text, a funny photo shared. An old fashion letter or a handmade loaf of bread. A hug, a smile, an unexpected visit. There's so many ways we can love one another... and so many days to choose from (my emphasis). 

My thoughts exactly. Don't get me wrong. I do love giving gifts to people, but I don't enjoy the time pressure for determining 'what to give' and the rules for 'when to give'. 

Thankfully, my immediate family are all on the same page when it comes to simple. We choose names and keep the spending limit to a minimum. We have a few traditions that we enjoy each year, and that's it. And we are understanding when we can't have everyone around the Christmas Day dinner table. With married children and those who are far from home, it's impossible to expect that every year.

Still, even with simple plans, it gets busy.  

I hope I can set aside some hours to create a few handmade items, but time is limited in November/December due to work deadlines (and all the extra social outings at this time of year). I should have started last January. But usually the gifts I make early are already given away by the time December rolls around!

I am trying to determine how to keep it simple, yet special. With little stress. Time with family, friends, meaningful giving, laughter and celebration, and remembering those in need.  

To begin with, I hope to stay far from shopping malls for the next month or so! 

Productivity 101

Did you know that taking regular breaks makes one more productive?

Studies have shown that taking a 15 minute break four times during an 8 hour period of work will INCREASE one's output. Essentially, you are getting more done in less time.

And since sitting (and apparently standing in one place) is the new smoking, it probably makes sense to get up, step away from the workstation (or couch), and move.

The Pomodoro method is another way to increase efficiency. Basically, if I am feeling very distracted when I should be focusing, I set my timer for twenty-five minutes. (There's a little more to it than that, but that is the Coles Notes version).  When it rings,  I am allowed five minutes to do whatever I want. Then back to work. It really works! Sounds a little Charlotte Mason-y (for you homeschoolers out there), doesn't it? I've had feedback from a family I work with and it works for her girls, too. :)

And, sometimes when I REALLY can't focus, I change gears completely. Leave the house. Have coffee with a friend. Clean. Get some fresh air. Working from home allows me this freedom, for which I am thankful. :)

What do you do to keep yourself focused on the task at hand?

Settling into a new routine

Now that I'm back home after a job-related road trip, I really AM focused on settling into a new routine... Summer is winding down and Fall is certainly in the air, isn't it?

The air is chilly in the evening. The days may be warm, but certainly not HOT recently, and mornings are... brrrr! How did that happen so fast? Mind you, I am thankful for cool nights. Sleeping is so much more comfortable now!

And, believe it or not, I pulled on my wool socks today! Good bye flip flops, hello closed toed footwear.. hopefully a few more days of summer heat to come, though.

Thoughts move towards a morning routine. I want to make the most of the hours BEFORE noon. This means I have to begin getting up earlier. Last year (or was that the year before?) I was an early riser for quite some time and felt so organized and productive. Then, last year in the dead of winter  I found it harder to drag my body out of bed in the early hours. Dark room, cold floor, furnace barely on. Warm blankets enticed me to stay in bed longer. It's going to be tough to break my habit of 'just a few more minutes of shut eye'. But I know what it's like to be up early when the neighborhood is still mostly quiet and asleep. It's a good feeling. Time for quiet moments to start the day off right and not feeling like I am behind the eight ball when my feet touch the floor.

Are you ready for Fall?

Look at this lovely plant my daughter bought me. If those aren't colors to invite the Autumn season in, I don't know what is. Beautiful!!

ornamental mini pepper plant

The Easy and Comfortable Life

It's at this time of the year that I can feel my stress levels start to inch up just a little, in anticipation of all the commitments coming up in the next few months. The sweet slower paced summer days will soon be over, monthly meetings reconvene, work gets into full gear again, church activities increase, ministry commitments begin, decisions on community classes of interest need to be made.. well, I'm sure you can add to this list.

It feels like the easy, comfortable life is over and REAL life begins again. And I'm not anticipating it, but rather dreading it just a little, to be honest.

This short video reminded me that the 'easy, comfortable' life is really not the goal and if I make it that, I will always be striving towards it and become dissatisfied with the everyday challenges and commitments that make up my one, precious, unique life. Do I really want everyday to be a day without something to stretch and grow me? Do I want to live in my own little selfish bubble where comfort and ease is king?

I was reminded that these challenges and commitments ahead of me, if I keep my attitude in check, are what can make for a fulfilling, passionate life.

It's in the giving that we receive.

My prayer is that I will remember this as I begin to plan and implement my goals and schedule this next season.

What did you think of this little video?

How to Lose Blog Readers for Dummies

Here's how:
1. Don't publish comments
2. Blog very rarely

As I was catching up on emails, tidying up my inbox, I happened to check my email spam folder (who knows why? I usually never do!) and found a comment for my blog, waiting to be published! That means this particular person (who happens to be a faithful reader of mine) might have thought her comment was not worth publishing! How far from the truth! Everyone who comments on my tiny little blog in the corner of this ginormous blogiverse is valued and worth publishing! Unless, of course, you really ARE a spammer. You know what happens to spammers.. I won't go into details!

So, I went directly to my blog and checked the 'comments awaiting moderation' page. Oh. dear. All this time I have been publishing comments from my phone, but it turns out I have missed a LOT. Well, a LOT for me, means about 20. :)
So, my apologies if you have ever commented on my blog and then noticed I never published your responses.

Which reminds me of a blog I had started following several months ago, and commented on. One of her reply comments was found in my 'awaiting moderation' file today! Earlier this year, I read one of her posts about commenting on blogs and comments not being published and how that didn't feel very affirming (I agree!).  Was that my doing? Oh, I know, small potatoes in the world we live in. But it did make me think. We are an insecure group of people, aren't we? Or maybe it's just me.

Anyway, haven't been blogging much. Life, you know. Busyness. And mood. They say that when you journal, the spaces between your entries are as important as what you write. I think it's the same with blogging. Are you a fair weather blogger? I guess I am. I don't go into too much detail about struggles (I do share that with close friends and those I trust) and for me, that just feels right. Everyone blogs differently and that's good. The truth is we all have struggles and we all have times of celebration. We are all unique and we have different reasons to blog. In this season of my life, it's very random (no pressure to write) and usually light hearted. I do love to laugh, and sometimes I have to use my own life as fodder!

Have a great day, all, and remember to check your spam and comments awaiting moderation!

Spring Things

Did the best thing I could possibly do today--  spent some time outside, in the sunshine. Ridding the lawn and lilac bush undergrowth of soggy, matted Fall leaves and yellow, dried pine needles, and other unwelcome odds and ends that have blown into our little piece of the world over the last few months.  There's always more we could do to beautify this 1/3 of an acre, but we're both not perfectionists when it comes to our yard. I like it clean and tidy, but there are a lot of 'little wild spaces' which might always be there  and I'm okay with that. Better Homes and Gardens need not check out our property!

After an hour or so of  back-tiring labour, I decided it was time to lay down on the sloped lawn and look up at the sky.

It reminded me of a quote I heard today.

He who keeps his nose to the grindstone
gains nothing but a sharp nose.   (Barbara Mahaney)

My thoughts exactly!

Done

Enjoyed a great few hours this morning with the family over for Saturday brunch and then a lively discussion on which candidates deserved our support. 

Drove up the hill to vote. 

 Done. Won't have to think about that for a few more years, thankfully. 

And now, after several hours of  work, I'm going to make some tea, put my feet up for a bit,  eat a few of these:

grab my knitting needles, flip open my iPad and watch a movie.

Home alone.

And don't mind at all.

Driven to exhaustion

I'm tired today.

 It was one of those days that really wasn't very productive. I got up early. Left the house at 8:15 a.m. Drove for 1.5 hours to a town to meet up with other teachers for a regional staff meeting (which, in my opinion, could have been done over computer chat, but that's just my introverted self speaking). We spent approximately 2 hours together and I drove 1.5 hours home. 3 hours of driving for a 2 hour meeting.  And by the time I got home, I was exhausted from the drive, so I had a nap. Not much work done today. And that is a pity.

But I did get to enjoy the drive. No snow on the road. Bright blue cold November sky. I took the quiet, scenic route.. oh wait, every route around here is scenic. :)

And I listened to podcasts to my heart's content.

At our meeting ,we were encouraged to regularly meet up with other teachers in our area for some face to face encouragement and support. As an incentive, we were all offered a $10 Starbucks or Tim Horton's gift card! Cool school I work for, eh? Guess which card I chose?

Holding onto Fall

Autumn is certainly in full swing, but today winter was threatening to move in. At least it sure felt that way. The wind didn't tickle, it sliced! Not nice.  My girlfriend who lives an hour and a half away told me she saw snowflakes swirling in the air. No.. !! Say it isn't so!! 

I have enjoyed our autumn weather so much, and I think I was in denial that our beautiful Fall weather would actually end. So, in honor of the dwindling autumn season... 

I managed to work through most of this bin. A few pies made, bags of apple slices frozen for later, and containers of homemade applesauce. These apples were so sweet, I didn't even have to add sugar!

Our huge lodgepole pine dropped its nasty needles a few weeks ago. Not a fun job to rake those up. 

picking a pail of painful pinecones

 (step on one of these with bare feet and you'll know what I mean!)

I stepped out to check for mail later in the day and was greeted by a pile of lost, lonely leaves pushing pathetically against the door. I was sure they were begging to be let in, 

away from the cold wind! 

 View from my desk, which I was chained to for most of the day. The sun tempted me to go out, but I could hear the wind's warning whistle.  Wimp that I am, I chose to stay indoors.  I think it's time to bundle up a bit more before heading out! 

Not sure if you noticed or not, but I have been using alliteration in this post.

Couldn't help myself. 

Poetry on the brain, what with planning for this week's lesson. 

I spent an hour writing a 'found poem'. I figured that if I asked my students to write one, I should probably write one, too. It was rather fun, I have to admit. Although it took longer than I expected. Creativity is hard work! 

Less Margin

"Marginless is being asked to carry a load five pounds heavier than you can lift; margin is a friend to carry half the burden.
Marginless is not having time to finish the book you're reading on stress; margin is having time to read it twice."      Richard Swenson

I'm just squeaking in here to get a post in before the day passes by. Not much margin today! How about you? Do you have margin in your life?

Better than a Birthright?

It's been a long day at the office (which is steps away from the kitchen), so I'm glad I started this 'soup' yesterday, which has been simmering for hours and has morphed into a lentil stew (thanks to my blogger friend for the recipe and the idea!).  

You know the story of Esau giving up his birthright to his brother Jacob in exchange for some yummy lentil stew?  I understand, I really do.

 Not a wise move, but understandable. 

Carry On and Keep Calm

Wow. I read over my last post and it was obvious I wrote that in the heat of the moment, or close to it.  Today I don't dislike Google Forms as much anymore. In fact, I actually figured it out and think that this app might be my friend, after all. Yes, I could have started over with another document creating program but instead I decided to work through the issues I was having.

My initial reaction to this frustration reminded me a lot of what children do when facing a challenge. Let's face it, sometimes adults act like children (yeah, me).

What happens when a child is frustrated? Voices rise. Harsh, loud words are spoken, often without forethought.  Stomping feet are heard. Doors are slammed. Withdrawal. Feeling defeated. Hopeless. Words like 'never' , 'always'  and 'stupid' are spit out once or twice.

So, what have I been reminded of from this experience? There's a better way to handle my frustration when learning new things.

1. Walk away.
2. Come back later when cooled down.
3. Take time to think. Mull over.
4. Ask for help.
5. Try, try again.
6. Baby steps.
7. Share little victories.
8. Celebrate!

 “I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.” ― Thomas A. Edison

It's been busy...

Hi there, faithful readers. I know, this is bad. How can I expect to keep readers if I post so sporadically and have no real focus on this blog? I guess I'm not too worried about it.. otherwise I'd have posted more than I have. Was my last post really March 11??

I've been in one of those set of weeks where I spend so much time on this computer that the last thing I want to do is... spend MORE time on it if I don't have to. Oh, I still compose blog posts in my head, but if they aren't captured and written down.. *POOF* they zip off  to wherever all my midlife thoughts go... usually never to return. And some of them are soooooooo good. Pity.

And to think I considered doing the April Blogging A-Z Challenge this year. I almost committed myself to it.

I think one becomes a better blogger by blogging more often. I should really take that to heart.

I may not be a great blogger, but I AM a great blog reader, so keep on blogging, friends!

I'll be back.  Probably soon.

In Full Swing

Yes, I'm on the ground running, now that September has pulled ahead of August. I was reluctant to engage with this month, but now that Fall activities have begun, I am feeling quite okay with it all.

It's the little things that make days extra special, don't you think? Take this, for instance. My sunflower bloomed!

 It is huge and beautiful and makes me smile when I peek out the back window in the morning. It's already starting to droop (I should've taken the photo a few days earlier!), but it's amazing, nonetheless.

Our home exterior renovations are coming along so nicely. It looks so much better! I don't know how many times I've opened the front door just to have another look at our great new covered area and steps.

 I can't wait to have a flower garden in the Spring. Husband is going to build the planter soon. I'll be buying fall tulip bulbs so something colorful will pop out of the earth to greet me early next Spring! I'll add other perennials and such next year, as well. I have a friend down the street who has the most amazing green thumb, so I'll be asking her for ideas and tips, no doubt about that.

And.. my work as an online support teacher has begun again (it's been a whirlwind this last week!), and I am purposefully not letting myself get overwhelmed with all I have to do. There is SO much to do! As I'm telling everyone (well, mostly myself), I am only ONE person and all I can do is what I can do. One day at a time. One task at a time. And here are a few tips that have helped me stay sane so far..

1. Getting up early - Yes, I've been getting up as early as 6 a.m.!!! I used to get up at 7:55 religiously, and that was because I had to ensure my dear hubby had a lunch to take to work. I now have up to two extra hours in my day... it has made a difference. I'm not always up at 6, but I'm batting a pretty good average right now.

2. Making a list - I keep it simple with 2 columns - Home and Work. As thoughts come to mind, I add to my list, and check them off as they are accomplished.
 
3. Choosing to have a good attitude -  I don't want to be a complainer! The reality is, there are good and not-so-good aspects of my work. I am choosing to focus on the good ones, and to frame the others in a more positive light. Believe me, it's hard.  Being a 'cup half full' person is who I aspire to be, but I'm not there.. yet. I have caught myself wallowing a few times.

I also want to be more organized with meals, etc... but that always seems to be the thing I let go.. I sort of fly by the seat of my pants. Don't enjoy that, but oh well.

Hope your September has more good than bad days so far! What are your tips for staying sane in the back-to-school (or homeschool!), back-to-work, or busy-times-at-work time of the year?