Tuesday already?

Well, summer is here!  Whoo whee has been pretty muggy and warm.  We are having above ave temps here.  I know it won't last all June (maybe).  And I am learning to just accept that it will be hot and muggy most of the summer here in the (mid) south.  I hope you all are not getting too much Cristobel damage!  Sure seems like hurricane season is early!  We are also above ave rainfall here too.  Weird weather, virus, rioting, etc.  I feel bad for all the people who are reeling from all the virus damage and now rioting damage.  I support the sentiments, I just wish it would stay peaceful.

My husband got an inflammatory email about the BLM movement.  I see people I know on FB post things and I feel sad and hopeless.  I cannot even imagine how people feel who have experienced racism their entire lives (and generations!).  I feel bad for our kids who are going to have to pay for all this deficit and heal our country.  I do worry because I feel this is going to require a spiritual solution and it seems like people and families are moving away from churches.  Maybe I cannot envision the future and I just give it up and pray for God to heal us all.

I feel sorry for old people locked away in their quarantines (like my dear granny).  I feel for all the animals being neglected...I am a real ray of sunshine but the important thing is...that DH and I had a talk about it and we both feel comfortable to support BLM and my DH is a former homicide detective.  So, enough about such weighty subjects!  I am just working and doing my yoga couple evenings a week and walking few times a week...I am enjoying my structure.

Structure for me brings order and peace and quiets my mind.  As so does my devotional readings, meditation, exercise, music and mindless escapes like podcasts and Netflix!  And blogs!

Here is a picture of my patio sitting area.  This makes me feel peaceful.  I hope you are finding your own oasis in the heat of this strange summer.  Peace!

P.S.  My brother in law came down and got grand dad's homemade cabinet.  I got all of DH 45 years old huge wooden furniture moved out and I am waiting for a chance to run to closets IKEA for better/lighter/more efficient/brighter storage solutions for our sweaters and sweatshirts...and more importantly, my treadmill has been moved and I got my sitting room back.  I will be working (and yoga-ing) in here more, so I am happy for the space.  

I truly loved this lovely one of a kind cabinet, but I just cannot afford the space.  It is going to the brother in the family who has kids.  They have some really cool WW2 artifacts to store in it.  Pictures on the room make over soon!

Here is my cute sitting room

Here is the same small guest room before we bought the house.

Before I go, just wanted to share a delicious thing I have been doing with fresh veggies, greens, frozen veggies - whatever you have!  I have learned that I prefer my arugula cooked.  So I cooked it in generous amount of butter.  Sauteed some slivered almonds and then I toss it with cooked pasta (I have used rice noodles for less gluten option) and I throw in some vegan faux cheese, and or feta cheese and or goat cheese and it is DELICIOUS.  My In laws loved it.  I have used fresh and frozen veggies (carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, zuchhini, etc) and greens - kale, spinach and/or arugula.  

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Rain, rain, rain!

Early this am DH had to get up and drive to the city.  He still has not gotten a doctor in our new area.  To his credit, it is not easy to find someone here.  He also takes a lot of medications and his doctor is very thorough.  But for this trip I really hated to see him drive so early in the dark with the storming going on today.

He called when he got there.  Made it fine.  The weather 3.5 hours north sunny and nice today.  He played golf with his brother.  His brother recently bought my old convertible.  DH took him our paperwork file with all the maintenance stuff, including window sticker.  I also gave him the car cover and my Pontiac hat.  Any chance I have to get rid of something...hahaha

Yesterday and last few days we have sold more stuff (sporting goods, motorcycle, hunting, camping...etc).  I am saving up for my backpacking equipment.  Depending on the events around doing stuff outside and coronavirus CDC recommendations, I am supposed to go on an overnight backpack thing for beginners.  If it is cancelled, I will just hold on the my money for a while and uy things more slowly.  It is crazy his expensive.

Today I cleaned house and washed the dogs.  This is them looking at me through the door while they were outside.

Happy December!

I am mainly just happy the sun is out today!  We have had about a week and a half of gloomy, gray raining AND WINDY! days.  I woke up at 5:30 am Thanksgiving to drive 4 hours to see my Granny and it was 36 and raining and 32 north, where I was driving.  I decided to call off my trip.  I know she was relieved, cause she worries about us.  My sister (and niece and nephew) were going to go, we were disappointed, but used the extra time to sleep and relax.

I went ahead and got up, I was wide awake.  DH and I just had a quiet day at home.  His family celebrates on Sat after Thanksgiving, every year.  So, we had a nice visit and meal Saturday.  Then, we ate 2nd helpings before the family from the city drove back.  It was in the 60's when they left Sunday.

One of my favorite things to do with Thanksgiving leftovers is to make bone broth with the turkey leftovers.  I take the entire mess and put it in my crockpot with water up to the top and I slow simmer for 24 - 36 hours.  Then I pour into a large container, strained with a sheet of cheesecloth.  I then dispose of the stuff and rinse out the cheese cloth and I freeze the broth.

Today I froze half and used half the broth to make a yummy soup of sautéed onion, yellow squash and zucchini.  I ALWAYS have to look up how to spell zucchini!  Anyone else?

I just flavor it with salt and pepper and rosemary.  Then after it has simmered 30 min and all the veggies all soft and tender, I use the immersion blender to blend it all up.  So good!

I gotta get back on the bandwagon of no sweets, less carbs, less processed food.  After all, I am training for Christmas!

My Baby's (DH) Birthday

I don't really have a baby.  My dogs.  In this case, I mean my baby birthday is my DH.  Today he turns 65.  I think it is a milestone bday for him.  He is sort of thinking it is a big number.  But he seems to be doing ok with my working during the week.  His back is really bothering him a lot.  I think he needs to try some different things, like stretching exercises and holistic approach, but I cannot make him want to do this.  So, he complains.  We have worked a lot on the house/yard.  Maybe it will ease off.  I hope.  I told him when I stop working again, we are doing daily yoga in the morning. 

We had a nice weekend.  We watched the John Wick 1 and 2 movies Friday at home (rented off Amazon Prime).  Then Sat I got up, walked the dog (should have made DH go with me).  My dog was worn out!  It was humid Sat.  Still seasonably cool (and so much rain!), but when it does start to heat up, it is humid! 

Then we drove to busy side of the county and saw John Wick 3.  Then we had lunch out.  It was nice.  My friend met us.  I hadn't seen her in a while!  I gave her and her sister (vegetarian and my sometimes dog sitter) bunch of lettuce, chard and kale from my garden.  I picked it after I walked the dog.  They will enjoy it! 

Then we drove home and got our convertibles and went to our little town 'cruise night'.  It was a hoot.  We decided to join a local mustang group to meet people and I think we will enjoy that a lot.  DH got a kick out of talking to some of them there at cruise night and then joining the group on FB.  We wanted to get the bikes out too, but the new battery we just bought in April is not a good battery.  We were disappointed, DH going to take it back and exchange it this week.

I offered to stay Monday and take the day off, make it up Tues - Friday.  He told me he would rather I get to come home early on Friday.  So, Sunday we slept in.  I had coffee in bed (raining tons!).  Then I went to store and bought him some things for the week, put a nice pork roast in crock pot with some veggies for him and baked him a cake.  I made enough for a smaller cake to take my aunt and uncle.  They all said it was good.  I also indulged in an apple fritter I got DH from our favorite little bakery.  It was sooooo good.  So, I just had a smoothie for dinner, after the gym. 

I ate too much junk last week, so I am doubling down this week.  No sugar for the week.  Wish me luck.  Have a great day.

Rainy Spring Day

I was going to do some more working in the yard today.  But it is rainy.  Yesterday was warm and sunny, beautiful!  Moved 3 rather large azaleas with DH help.  Despite his bad back.  HOpe they survive.  Not planning to work outside, but the weather dictated I get outside!  Also was frustrated about a couple of minor things with my DH.  Felt good to take it out with a shovel and digging some holes!

Did my first organized hike/walk with a hiking group I joined.  I am SO GLAD I DID!  Loved the women, there were 4 of us.  Loved the potential.  They walk a lot and go out to eat, day trips to the city to go to Trader Joe's and Costco, even travel.  We hiked a 6 miles on the pavement.  Not hard for them, but was a challenge for me.  Much of it was up pretty steep incline.  I had over 18k steps that day!  Sunday.

My birthday was Saturday.  I did hot yoga in am, then took a nap.  Put my favorite top on and waited for the possibilities.  My good friend was supposed to drive down, but she told me Thursday had to postpone one week.  My other good friend, local.  Was out of town.  Did DH or in laws have plans to take me out for my birthday...evidently not!  To be fair, I do carry a pretty busy schedule and did not indicate to DH that I wanted to go out for dinner.  So, I improvised and opened a can of soup.  Viola.

But seriously I have had some minor annoyances that have interfered with my serenity that I will blog about soon.  I also plan to blog at my 6 month of retirement milestone.  Just perfect timing with some of my thoughts of doubt lately...stay tunes.  Nothing serious.

I continue to worry about some family members and good friends with serious problems.  Mine - not so much.  One of the ones I continue to worry about is my DH.  He has persisten anemia that is worrying me.  I will just keep putting it in God's hands.

What about you all?  Anything you want to talk about?  My neck and back and moved into my shoulder and now my lower back.  Geez.  I am going to check out our small town chiro tomorrow.

See you all later!

Rainy Monday

We get back 5:30pm last evening.  We had to keep tabs on our football team before and after flight.  We won!  0 and 5!  Bought my Aunt dinner.  Then spent some time with her in her basement helping her with couple minor things.

Got an alert on our phones middle of the night.  Flooding alert.  They have gotten 5 or 6 inches in our former city, expecting 2 to 3 more.

DH has appt to get his perm crown then I get some labs done, then we drive south.

Our pet sitter/house sitter has been sending us pics of our dogs each day.  We really miss them.

Heavenly Father, how great the variety of living things, You have put at our disposal! You told our first parents: "I give you all the animals of the land." Bless this animal. May it carry out the function it has been given and may it aid us to think of You its Creator and give praise and thanks to You forever. We ask this in the name of the Father.  Amen.
   -Lesli White

Update on the Extended Stay Saga

Rained almost 2 inches Sunday afternoon into night and was still rainy Monday morning.  I have learned to walk the dog before I do hair and make up, then come in and finish getting ready for work.  DH walks the boy dog separately.  He is getting old and slow and does not want to walk as much as the girl.  So, I walk the girl and then get ready for work.

Work was uneventful.  They hired 2 more temps to work on my project, but no one mentioned to me (I work on a separate floor and its not like I see anyone on my team).  My work is still steady, but we are winding down I thought.  I just have no idea of the magnitude or implications.  I just hope I don't have to train them.  I feel like I don't know enough.  I just do few very specific parts of the project.

After work, it was still rainy, so I knew I would not walk.  And I was hungry and restless.  So we went out to eat with our friends B & B.  We go to this Asian buffet place.  We used to really like it, they have suchi rolls and hibachi, typical Chinese, shrimp, prime rib, etc.  But when I was having lots of issues with my tummy, I would eat various combinations to see if it helped...just sushi, just salad bar, just hibachi, just meat and veggies...even just fruit one time.  Well, we have pretty much decided this place must just bathe the food in MSG.  After we eat there, we feel bloated and sluggish and last night I drank 3 large glasses of water and woke up every 2 hours or so.  It is crazy.

Back to the hotel saga...evidently the police did arrest a man in the hotel we are staying in...it was in the 5 and 6 oclock news stories.  He had a wife and kids and checked in Sunday and when the police knocked on the door, he jumped out the 3rd floor window onto the awning below where he was shot with a police bean bag and fell on down to the ground where he was apprehended.  Crazy.  Oh, and this morning the elevator is broken and as I was leaving at 6:30 a man and a woman were yelling at each other because the elevator was broken and so we all have to use the side doors which require a key and sometimes don't work with a key...we gotta get out of this place!

Excitement at the Extended Stay

So we were golfing yesterday afternoon.  It rained, pretty steady.  We have devised strategies for keeping our hands and feet and clubs as dry as we could.  We just laugh.  But my 2nd BIL played with us yesterday, which is rare.  He told us we were crazy.

It was nice being together, doing something silly and frivolous.  It was nice being outside.  The rain really cooled things off, but it was humid.  The course is about 3 miles away from extended stay hotel.  We heard quite a flurry of sirens.  Never thought much of it. 

So, we get take out on the way home.  Still a very steady constant downpour.  Some woman on the elevator up to our room said we missed the excitement at the hotel.  Some man had been apprehended by police?!  What?  We could not find any news story about it.  I will keep my eyes and ears open!

At 9pm last night on last dog walk of the day, there was a man with a wife and 2 children.  Another rough looking man yelled and pushed him.  I did not see what started this.  There were about 15 people all standing by front of the hotel, besides these men and their wives (one with 2 kids).  Both men were yelling and took their shirts off...the kids crying.  It was scary.  The woman of the aggressive man yelled him to stop "...not in front of his babies...!"  DH and I were just incredulous.
I felt so bad for the kids.  I just felt so upset and rattled by just seeing this.  I can't imagine kids that have to live in chaos like that.  I wanted to stay up and watch the news, but decided sleep was calling. 

Ephesians 4:31-32  ESV
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Summer Solstice

Last night, the clouds came from the north and moved south, in 15 min it was dark and pouring rain.  It cooled down an already pretty nice day.  Good thing I was outside visiting with the neighbors...I ran and walked the dogs first!  They hate rain.  This is the last Wed we will be in CH.  Next week we will move stuff to extended stay hotel Tues and Wed and stay Wed night there.  Can't believe it.  Just wish I would hear something confirming/telling us what time closing is.  I have emailed 3 times and left 3 messages.  What is it about not returning someone's request for information?!  Uggggghhhhh.

Hot Yoga

Had a great hot yoga session last night.  I needed it after schedule the radon inspection complication, instead of installing 2 days before reg inspection, they will come get Monday - after inspection.  I could tell my sinuses were affected by allergies though, because I could not do eagle or warrior three on my right side.  I usually sleep really well after yoga but I was wide awake last night.  I went down to basement and plugged in 2 fans to move the air for radon testing.  It really seems arbitrary and unregulated in our CH state.  I just hope they find nothing and we all move on.  I will open all the windows now that I am pretty sure it won't rain through Monday.  It was not supposed to rain last night, but it did - right at dog walking time, of course.  But I managed to get them out after it slowed to a sprinkle.  My male dog barked at the front door at 10:30 and then stopped but kept looking at the door.  I was creeped out, then I realized if someone were there, he would keep barking.  But he just sat there...then it dawned on me...he was looking for DH!  So funny how animals are.  They know when things are out of their routine!
So, DH will be home tomorrow.  I packed a couple areas last night, but that is all.  I separated out a few more clothes to pack and take.  We already have the load packed in our large SUV for the 5/18 weekend.  So, I guess I am working on the load for Memorial Weekend.  I think if we take a full load every weekend from now to June 27, we should be able to get it all without help and without a trailer (other than open trailer for the bikes).  I am pretty sure we do not have such an involved move "in us" again.  My DH seems to be really tired all the time.  I am worried about him, I hope it is just all this stress and anticipation and activity surrounding our renovating one house, selling the other and moving (and his retirement!).
Have a great Wednesday!