Finding Joy/Coping

 They've been okay. I Skyped with Mum yesterday and as much as I love talking to her and seeing her I'm still struggling with the changes. It's really hard to let go of what was. It just seems  was not that long ago that she was fine and strong and funny and chatty. Even back in January we were talking of me coming to visit and (maybe, hopefully) of the things we could do.  She still has the same smile and I still see the love there, but she's not the same. Just so different. And I think back to the conversations we had about how she thought things would be and this just isn't it. I can't imagine how it is for my sister. I think of how strong she's being and I don't know if I would be the same. I think there are some decisions on the horizon, but I don't think any of us wants to make them. 

I went out for another walk yesterday afternoon after the Skype call. I love being outside. Just being in the sunshine and looking at all the renewal and growth certainly helped the worry and anxiety. For a time I could just forget. I came across some deer, males, with lovely new fuzzy antlers growing. They were grazing in the woods on freshly grown grass. One kept alternating between eating and looking up at me, raising his head and sniffing. I must admit to saying a few reassuring words. Afterall there was just me, the deer and the shaded woods.  He watched me for a while and I watched him and then we went our separate ways. 

Not a Bad Day

 I did make a list last night. I got a start on the sorting out winter to summer clothes. I didn't finish it all, but I've started. I think I'll have to buy another chest of drawers as the one I have is falling to pieces and is not efficient at all. I do already have a small pile to donate too. I am planning on doing more tomorrow. 

The weather certainly didn't feel too spring like today! It was pretty chilly when I was out for my walk. My walking friend hadn't checked the weather and wasn't dressed appropriately so was rather cold. I had put out the bird feeders and felt how cold it was so was well bundled up! I do bring the feeders in at night as otherwise the raccoons pull them all down and run off with them!

I sorted out two piles of books that had been sitting places where they shouldn't be. It felt good to have them put away. 

I have had this little garden kit sitting on my dining room table since I bought it. Today I read the instructions and got it started. I have a terrible green thumb so am hoping to at least get something out of it! It was rather cheap and sounded like fun. 

You have to put the little disks with some water and mix it all together until it forms a soft dirt and then sprinkle the seeds on the top and press them in. It said to cover with cling film but me and clingfilm are not friends and I don't have any so I put a food baggie over the top. You do have to keep the water damp. Hopefully the seeds will germinate. We shall see!

Hopefully I will have good news to share lol. I am planning on getting a few flowers to put in pots (that I purchased from the dollar shop).  I am hoping I will do better with potted plants. Maybe I'll even manage to keep them alive!

Beginning of Another Week

 It was rainy this morning. I almost gave up on the walk, but then the rain moved off and I texted my walking friend and we had a quick one. It was lovely and quiet and - admittedly - still a little drizzly, a light mist seeming to fill the air. We chatted about what we had done at the weekend and stopped to admire a blue heron as it flew across the lake and listened to the spring frogs and toads making their noises. I didn't take a lot of photos, but sometimes it's just nice to look and listen. 

Yesterday was a completely different date. It was sunny and quite warm. Husband and I had a lovely walk in the morning. In the afternoon I sat on the back porch and watched the birds in my garden for a little while. I've been waiting - quite impatiently I might add - for the Orioles to come back to the garden. I've had a little bit of grape jelly (sort of a smooth jam with no pips or bits in it) sitting out. The Orioles love this. I've had it out for a few days but I finally saw one! I can't believe how something so little made me so happy. 

Look at his lovely bright colour! Spring has definitely arrived!

Trying to start positively for the week I have put a notebook back on the little table by the side of my chair. If something comes to me - something I have to remember to do or lists I write them down. I have meals planned for the week and most of the food purchased (this will save on trips to the shops). I have also made a note to participate in Eileen's Photograpy Challenge and what the theme is for May. I always think about it and then forget and then I can't remember the theme. This month I shall try to do better. 

Hope everyone had a good Monday. 

A Little Crafty Project

 While I was in my craft room this week I pulled out an old paper pad that I had halfway finished and decided to use it for a project. I really like this paper. I modified a waterfall album's dimensions and used it to create a mini one. 

This is the paper pad

I think the papers are really bright and vibrant. 

I was so pleased to use up most of the bits. There were only a few small cut-outs left that I can use on daily pages. 

May

 

Happy May Day! I have such lovely childhood memories of dancing around the Maypole in primary school.  I loved doing it though I wasn't really sure why we did it. Weaving in and out. It was usually so much fun and so pretty. We had a huge hill in our playground that we weren't allowed to go up on a normal day. However when we had 'festivals' we could go up a few at a time. Later when I returned to the school as a teen I was dismayed to find that the hill wasn't really that big. I suppose it was the innocence of childhood - or perhaps the forbidden!

I am loving seeing all the blossom around. It certainly brings a smile to my face. The wind, not so much. Today, as I'm sitting in my house, I can hear the wind outside. It's really quite breezy! I sat outside for a little while watching the birds but the sun went in and it became quite chilly with that wind. 

I have decided that I'm going to write a few goals for the month. I am hoping that by having them written down I will at least accomplish something.  For starters 

1. Clear off the front porch!!! It is a screened in porch but we put up protective plastic in the winter to keep out the snow. It became a catch-all for the stuff I sorted that hasn't gone anywhere. It is time to take off the plastic and I need to get rid of the stuff. The library bookshop has shut again (as has the library) and I can't wait around forever so the books will have to go to another charity shop. Once gone I need to vacuum and pull down the plastic. We have a couple of chairs and a small table out there and it would be nice to sit out there in the evening and maybe read. 

2. Start taking vitamins! I bought some but have put off taking them as the last time I took them I felt quite sick. I need to give them a try. I am lacking something in my diet. Hormones are jumping around and I feel tired, stressed and just 'off' too much of the time. I am hoping that by at least taking vitamins it would help.  

3. Eat better! I'm doing really good at planning meals for the guys but when it comes to me I usually don't bother with much which isn't good. They are both meat-eaters and I am not. 

4. Really try to be conscious about spending - especially stress spending. I am finding myself doing more of that recently and it's not good. I don't need more stuff!

5. Sort out my closet. It's getting to the time where lighter clothes are needed and some of the jumpers can be put away. I want to make sure to clear out any items to donate or toss away older clothes. 

I know it doesn't seem like much but it's a start! 

Been Another of THOSE Weeks

 But I'm still plodding on. Admittedly last week went very quickly.  I am chalking it up to a fail and starting again. 

There seems to be ups and downs each day. It's been a tough week for Mum and sister. We're beginning to wonder what comes next. I suppose only time will tell.  

Towards the end of last week the weather turned and we actually had snow. I got caught out one day when I walking. I sheltered beneath a tree along with some Rough Winged Swallows. It was quite funny really and gave me a nice little smile. I do enjoy my daily walks. There is just something about being outside in nature that makes my soul sing. 

I have been keeping up with daily tasks and actually doing some crafting. Hopefully I'll have some projects to share soon.

I have blogs to catch up on so I'm off to read them. Thanks for stopping by!

Dentist and Other Bits

 I had my dental appointment on Monday. I did okay. I had to have a filling in a very back tooth and it was quite difficult to get to. I felt at one point quite sick but I just tried to breathe through it and reminded myself that it was almost done. Ironically the bit that was the worst was polishing the tooth when done! I thought that perhaps my mouth would be sore today as it was wide open for a while but it actually feels pretty good. 

Today I had a haircut. I had it cut a bit shorter as we've had warmer weather recently and I was wearing it up all the time. Unfortunately today was a lot colder. We even had snowflakes.  Yikes. The couple of pot plants that I had outside I had husband bring in tonight as we have a freeze warning. Tomorrow is supposed to be bright and sunny (and cold) but there might be some nice frost to take photos of in the morning. I shall have to see. 

A little bit of news that I'm quite proud of. The local park where I walk asked permission to use one of my photos on the information boxes they have at the entrances to the park. Made me quite happy. 

My image is the one on the bottom right of the beaver. I was so pleased to see it. 

Tomorrow is Skype day with Mum. I will go into the day expecting ups and downs and feeling a little sad. I will try not to wallow in it or spend the rest of the day feeling sad. I hope she's having a happy day as I do like to see her smiling!

Weekend

 Well, made it to the weekend again. The last few days have been so-so, ups and downs, but I suppose that's how things will go. My sister said they had a bbq today but Mum wouldn't sit outside with the rest of them. She used to love sitting in the sunshine. 

I was supposed to have a haircut on Thursday but my hairdresser's children weren't feeling well so she had to cancel. It's been rescheduled for Tuesday. I have a (yuck) dentist appointment on Monday. Mum used to cheer me on for these as she knows how much I hate them. I'm just going to get it done. The haircut I'll be glad of. It's got to the point where I'm wearing it up more than down as it's bothering me. I ran out of hair tie thingys. I swear I bought some on Thursday but couldn't find them so had to buy some more. Luckily they are cheap enough!

Husband and son were out this afternoon/evening. I've had a quiet afternoon. Sat out in the sun and watched birds until the sun went in on the bit I was sitting in, took a nice long bath and then did some craft things - not a lot. I bought this lovely little topper set. I love these but they aren't popular in the US so are really difficult to find. This one I did manage to find on Simon Says Stamp. 

I started putting a couple together and will have to make them into cards at a later date. 

I think there are 5 designs, two of each in the packet. I enjoy putting them together. They end up looking 3D.

I was hoping to buy the new one that came out but that was snapped up! Still, I do have more than enough to keep me busy!

Hope everyone is having a good weekend!

 Yesterday was a pretty...productive day. I actually got some things done off my need-to-get-done-soon list. I pulled down both sets of curtains in the kitchen and washed them. I also wiped down the doors and walls. I actually feel as though I got something accomplished as well as the daily chores. It felt pretty good. I did get up into my craft room and did a couple of things. Today wasn't so great but I'm going to allow myself those sad moments and try to move on. 

I Skyped with Mum today. Before I began I had decided to try to stick to good memories and not ask so much about what she was doing, whether she was doing her exercises or talking about her flat (which ends up making her feel very confused and upset). She did okay for about an hour. I still came away feeling sad (and ended up buying two books when I went to buy groceries) but it went okay. Apart from going to the store after that I didn't end up getting much extra done. 

I have chalked today up to a blah day and will start again tomorrow. 

Photos - a couple of cards I made. Simple, but it's something. 

Another Week

 Well, we're into another week. I really don't have a lot to report.

I started off the week getting a couple of things done that I've been meaning to do. I shall mark that up as a plus. There are a couple more things I am hoping to get done this week but we shall see. 

It's been so beautiful here in Michigan. Well, there were a couple of days (the weekend of course) when it rained quite a bit, but Spring has definitely sprung early here. There was even some blossom blooming on the trees. It's really wonderful to see. 

I had my second Covid vaccine. No side effects. It's nice to know that it's done. My daughter got her first one on Friday too so pretty soon our whole family (on this side of the pond) will be fully vaccinated. It makes me a little more hopeful for things to come. 

Still not a lot on the crafty front. I am keeping up with my daily pages, but that's about it. 

I hope I will have more to report!

Photo for today - I took this with my phone Saturday morning. Husband and I were on our way out for a walk to a new park. We passed by the place I walk each weekday morning and saw the most beautiful sunrise. There was a slight mist and the sun just hit things right so we pulled over for this.