2022 Happy To Be Here

Walking outside to go to the mailbox this afternoon I pleasantly inhaled the smell of rain. It hadn't started yet but the fragrance and the pressure change between the inside world and outside world were grounding for me. It was energizing and calming somehow at the same time.  Other happy things: Naps. Working overnight and then wanting to do things in the evening when I can, makes having naps important.  I'm happier when I have had some sleep. There was a small SCA tournament tonight hosted by a local SCA knight. It was fun to watch. As Baroness I keep trying to find ways to be more involved with the fighting without actually fighting.  Right now that mostly means being a presence in the community. For day 88 of the A&S challenge I was looking for something different to embroider and Keziah handed me a pin to use as a model.  I've pulled out parts to redo a few times and I still don't have it right.  ☮ Currently reading: Pocketful of Miracles: Prayer, Medita

After yesterday's dog escapades it was late and I would have only had about two and a half hours of sleep before going to work. I thought about not going in so I checked the app to see if there was any voluntary time off available. There was, and even better, there was a part day time off available so I went in four hours late. I really needed sleep. Other things I am happy for today: Aesop, our dog of yesterday's escapades, greeted me when I got home from work. Yesterday we weren't sure we'd find him. Sometimes he ignores my coming home, others he barks, today he seemed happy to see me. Monday night Keziah made carrot soup. I wasn't awake to eat it but I had the leftovers today. Yummy! It is Weaving Wednesday. I made a mistake, which took some time to fix, so I only wove two repeats of the pattern. Day 87 of the A&S challenge is done. ☮ Currently reading: Pocketful of Miracles: Prayer, Meditations, and Affirmations to Nurture Your Spirit Every Da

 What a day!  I worked a full shift which means I got out of work around 11:50 this morning.  For some reason I was very tired today.  I hoped to get to sleep early, but I also knew that we were expecting company.  Words are sometimes hard, so here is a list of happy things for today: My cousin's daughter (my 'niece') flew in from Idaho and came for a short visit.  It had been at least five years since we had seen her and seeing her today was wonderful.  My niece, Keziah and I went out for a late lunch.  We were going to go out for ice cream but then... When we got home Gideon was in a panic, Aesop, our dog, was gone.  While Gideon was in the bathroom the back door had been blown open by the wind.  We all went on a search for Aesop.  My niece helped for a little while but then had to leave.  Soon after she left, Zed and Gideon found Aesop playing in the backyard of a pair of poodles.  The owner of the poodles said that Aesop had been there for about an hour playing and he

Today was all about the studio. We packed more things into the van and brought them there. We sorted through a bunch of the boxes and threw away things that were trash or no longer serve a purpose for us. I found some cool things that I should have taken pictures of like tiny hand sewing machines and old wooden spools of thread.  I only photographed the things I'm getting rid of since I'm keeping track of those things for Lent. We ended up with four empty boxes of things put away. Things I got rid of. I'm counting these as five of the seven things for the week.   If a few hours sorting craft supplies wasn't enough to count towards my 15 minutes of A&S for the challenge, I watched a few videos on how to make jewelry with polymer clay. So day 85 is done and I only have 15 more days to complete the challenge. This challenge has been wonderful for getting my brain working on a more creative level. When I was home I remembered to check on the plants in the greenhouse.  S

Taking our dog, Aesop, out in the morning can be very peaceful. We just wander around the yard a little and I look around for prints in the dirt and notice how tall the trees are. Other happy things for today: More crocuses have pushed themselves through the soil and mulch to open up to the sun. After looking at the various crocuses and beginnings of tulip leaves breaking through I turned and got the mail. There was a small package for me containing my booklet to keep track of mileage walked during the month of April. This challenge is to encourage people to get out and walk, possibly in medieval garb, as much as possible.   The afternoon and evening was spent helping my friend do her taxes. We snuck a walk in as a break and followed it up with pizza and pleasant conversation for dinner. Her cat, Heather, had taken over the loveseat. I stayed late. On the drive home I pulled over for a quick nap. Sitting at the rest area in my car I pulled out my embroidery so I could honestly s

 Sometimes, words are hard.  Here are some happy things from today: For Lent I am attempting to get rid of at least seven things a week.  I've had a hard time making the time to give this task the attention I was hoping for.  I did find things today though to fulfill that goal for this week. This was my mom's jacket. Gideon said he would like it for next year. Most of this has or will be donated. The doll clothes are going to my friend for her grandchildren's dolls. Keziah went through a bunch of craft supplies today and we brought them to the studio.  Next week we will do more organizing there.  It was wonderful to hear her find things that have been packed since we moved. For the A&S challenge day 83 I worked on the rug braiding. A few days ago I didn't have a picture of what I worked on for the challenge.  I took a picture today of the flat cap I was working on. TF and I reached 'The End' in Minecraft and killed the dragon.  Yay!  It isn't really th

Days off can be the best. Also the most tiring. I've been awake too long. The evening ended with friends and games. We played a different version of Kill Dr Lucky. We also played a new-to-me-game called Codenames. Other happy things from today: In the morning Aesop (the dog) and I took a walk around the back property.  There were wisps of clouds rising from the trees in the distance. I started a walking group on Facebook and a few of us met up for our first walk today. We walked a little over four miles on a rail trail. It was a beautiful day to be outside. Sometimes little things can drive me crazy (figuratively). One such thing for me are the towels in the bathroom. We have them hanging on hooks on the door. The problem is when people close the door they sometimes fall to the floor. I've been thinking for a while that I could add loops to the towels and they would stay hanging better. I began the process today with some of the towels. It isn't pretty, but it shou

On work days I have four alarms that go off.  The first one has three math problems for me to do or the alarm will get loud again.  The second one is like a snooze to the first, with no math; it is when I get out of bed.  The third alarm is a check in so I know whether or not I am on track.  The last alarm gives me five minutes to collect my stuff and head out the door.  The last alarm is exactly one hour after the second alarm.   I give myself a lot of time to get ready.  This morning I was ready to go except for breakfast but my third alarm hadn't gone off yet.  Thinking that I must be ahead of schedule I looked at my watch to see that I was actually very late.  Somehow I slept through the second and third alarm and got up with the fourth one, not realizing it was the fourth one.  I quickly got onto the work app and sent the message that I would be an hour late.  The end result of all of this is that I was better rested than I have been this week and had a good night.  I've a

The lilac buds seem a little larger today.   The plant that I am impatiently waiting to bud out is the forsythia bush.  On more than one YouTube video I have heard that the right time to prune roses is when the forsythia blooms.  I want to prune them in the fall, but they are supposed to be pruned until spring... it has been a long winter for me and the roses.  Other things I am happy for today: The local ice cream shop is now open for the season.  I had a nice large amount of my favorite, peppermint stick ice cream. Weaving Wednesday brought me to day 80 of the A&S challenge.  Only 20 days left!  I did the normal weaving, three repeats of the pattern.  It took me over 30 minutes to do that.  I'm still having tension problems.  I'm kind of determined to get this finished, unless a warp thread breaks, then it will be done early. ☮ Currently reading: Pocketful of Miracles: Prayer, Meditations, and Affirmations to Nurture Your Spirit Every Day of the Year , Joan Borysenko. Cu

 Last fall I planted a bunch of things in the driveway triangle.  Today some of the crocuses are blooming.  I planted a lot more than what I see, I'm hopeful that more will sprout as the days and nights get warmer.   I'm pretty sure there are also some tulips coming up and some other things as well.   Other happy things for today: Pets.  The cats loved the cat grass--maybe too much.  Next time I may cut some off for them instead of letting them graze.   It is day 79 of the A&S challenge and I did some embroidery.  I'm not sure it is coming out quite as I had hoped, until it is done, I guess I won't know.   ☮ Currently reading: Pocketful of Miracles: Prayer, Meditations, and Affirmations to Nurture Your Spirit Every Day of the Year , Joan Borysenko. And The Middle Ages: A Graphic History , by Eleanor Janega and Neil Max Emmanuel. Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe.

 It was a partly cloudy, blustery day.  Taking a walk with my friend, Amy, was a perfect part of the day.  There are signs of spring with grass starting to ever so slightly be turning green, ice melting, and the sounds of birds busily preparing their homes.   Other happy things from today: There is a large SCA event at the end of July into August.  It was canceled the last two years because of the pandemic.  I am in charge of a small encampment within this event.  Today I realized that I make the rules for that small area of the event.  Normally my rules are general reminders to be nice.  This time I will also have some rules around covid.  Safety is important. At the studio I worked on making another hat.  No pictures, but I found a different YouTube video to watch and learn more from.  Then I modified it so it really didn't work again.  I'm learning bunches though!  That is day 78 of the A&S challenge. ☮ Currently reading: Pocketful of Miracles: Prayer, Meditations, and A

 Happy spring!  I spent most of the day inside doing exchequer (treasurer) things.  The good news there is that I finished everything I could with the information I had.  Other happy things for today: I did get out for some short walks.  On one of them I checked out the triangle area at the end of the driveway.  Last fall I planted nips, tubers and bulbs there.  Some of these are starting to sprout!   a The basil I planted is sprouting.   Day 77 of the A&S challenge is done.  Along with helping Keziah I did a little bit of embroidery.   ☮ Currently reading: Pocketful of Miracles: Prayer, Meditations, and Affirmations to Nurture Your Spirit Every Day of the Year , Joan Borysenko. And Tracking & The Art of Seeing: How to Read Animal Tracks and Sign , by Paul Rezendes. Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe.

 Most of today was spent at the Peabody Essex Museum .  Keziah and a friend planned to go and the group kept getting bigger.  Four people in Keziah's car and two others joined us there.  At the museum we ran into another couple and one other, all that we know from the SCA.  It was a great time and that visit is counting as my day 76 of the A&S challenge.  Here are some happy highlights from the day: The first thing that I fell in love with was a dress- black and gold and striking.  Nothing I would wear, even in my younger years, but something about it drew me to it.  The back was not displayed and I wish there had been a way to see it.  Even if it was plain, then at least I would know. Another item that I saw was a woven piece.  After looking at it as closely as I could without touching, I found that the piece was woven sideways.  The warp threads were horizontal instead of vertical and the weft were vertical instead of horizontal.  I just thought that was kind of cool. We went