2022 Happy To Be Here

Keziah and I were able to go to the studio today. I had wanted to spend most of last weekend there but didn't because of covid in the house. Since we are symptomless and so much time has passed, we should be okay. I'm not holding my breath… but we spent some time at the studio today. Here are some other happy things: Keziah has completed the steps she needed in order to start her own business. I think she has done them all anyway. I'm happy for her and proud of her. I was able to take a few hours in the middle of the day and play Minecraft with TF. We each died gloriously, fought monsters, and mined. Kezah helped me to cut fabric for a new chemise to go with the Viking dress I've been making. I started putting some of the pieces together.  Progress was made! The milkweed that I have been letting grow to attract monarch butterflies, finally attracted one today! In order to get my step count, I chose to walk most of the way home from the studio. Along the way I saw a plan...

My day at work did not go as well as I would have liked. I dropped things or bumped into things or things bumped into me. That day is over now and I am happy that my work week is over. Other happy things for today include: Keziah and I are still testing negative for covid! Zed seems to be recovering well and Gideon is in good spirits. We have big plans next weekend, as long as we continue to test negative. As Baron and Baroness in the SCA, Keziah and I have meetings every few weeks with our chiefs of staff. We talk about things going on in the Barony and what we might need or reminders of what we should be doing. Having them close to an upcoming event helps me get into the mindset for the event. It is a fun way to anticipate the fun. This evening I took a short walk just in time to see the sky fade in colors from shades of orange to darkening blues.   ☮ Currently reading: Pocketful of Miracles: Prayer, Meditations, and Affirmations to Nurture Your Spirit Every Day of the Ye...

It is my thankful Wednesday. Today is all about the dishes. For starters, I’m thankful for them–dishes, plates, bowls, silverware, cookware, bakeware, serving utensils, all of it. Where would we be without them? Eating with our fingers and cooking over a fire, maybe. I’m not saying that there aren’t things to eat with our fingers, but not everything, at least not for me. I like to be able to clean my fingers soon after eating something messy. It is just the way I am. There are also disposable dishes, bowls, etc. They have a place and I am thankful for them. I do prefer the real stuff that can be washed though. I’m not sure if one has a lesser environmental impact or not, I like to think that ceramic that needs to be washed is better for the environment as a whole. Many people don’t like to wash dishes. It may not be my most favorite thing to do, but it isn’t usually the worst. When I am not in a rush, or the dishes aren’t completely gross, I find it enjoyable. For one th...

Most people have cookouts and watch fireworks, we watch the movie musical 1776 . Okay, we had hotdogs cooked outside, but that isn't a given for us. The movie is loosely based on the months leading up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence.  Parts of it they got right, other parts are dramatized.  Other happy things from today include: It is quite possible, for about five minutes, I caught up with the dishes where anything not being used was clean. The dishwasher is broken. I'm usually the person who washes them, they are mostly my responsibility with others pitching on days that I work. All too often there are more dishes to wash when the drying rack is full. We let them air dry, and Gideon puts them away. With five people, it is a never ending cycle. Five minutes is good. So far, Zed's covid symptoms are cold-like. He has only had a mild fever. Keziah and Gideon both tested negative today. These are all things to be happy about. I'll be testing...

It has been a high anxiety day. Zed tested positive for covid this morning. Keziah and I both tested negative. This meant most of today was spent doing self-care.  Here are some happy things: Finally I have finished my note taking for the first chapter of the book I am reading: Live Your Bucket List , by Julia Goodfellow-Smith. The result is that I am giving myself until the end of the year (or when the snow/cold is too much for me) to finish seeing the rest of the NH Fire Towers. It is a specific and measurable goal that I believe I can achieve. It is fitting as it is a step towards other dreams and I have put a deadline to complete this goal to help me stay motivated. What I need to do is schedule the times to complete each tower. Making time is my biggest stumbling block. The crescent moon hung low and the stars shone as I took a walk this evening. It was peaceful. In the backyard fireflies danced like fairies. ☮ Currently reading: Pocketful of Miracles: Prayer, Medit...

Here’s to fairly relaxing days! It is weird being exposed to covid to the point that I feel I should have it by now. There have been passing exposures, but none like this where I spent hours in a car with someone who presented with the symptoms a few days later. With two of the four of us having tested positive at this point it seems like it should be inevitable, but who knows? Because of this, I toggled my day between work and relaxing. I started by playing a computer game this morning, that was fun. Other  happy  things from today: Part of the morning and part of the afternoon I spent mowing and doing some yard work. This will make me feel better, if I get sick, knowing that the yard isn't as much of a mess. I noticed baby grapes and baby raspberries while I was out.  I didn't mow them all down. In the evening I sat down with the puzzle that I haven’t worked on for months. I love that I can roll it up to store it. It was a relaxing way to finish the evening. ☮ Curren...

The day started well, I worked on mowing the lawn and pulling some weeds. It was a good new beginning for the yard care. Then I found out that one of the people we went to see the fabric store with last weekend has Covid. So the rest of us (who were still basically symptomless) tested. Keziah and I are negative, but the other person also tested positive. I've canceled my plans that involve being with people outside of the household for the weekend. But, here are some other happy things from today: Keziah and I went to the studio. We were the only ones in the building and she had some things to finish up and bring home. One of those things was to sew some things on the machine so she would have hand sewing to finish them up. She asked me to help by sewing them while she worked on something else. Unfortunately, the sewing machine didn't want to work properly. I decided to check and see if some thread or something was stuck inside. It turns out, what was stuck insid...

It rained off and on last night and is raining as I write this. The plants need this. When I take my breaks at work I go out to my car to be alone. If Covid didn't exist, I wouldn't do that. If Covid didn't exist, I'm not sure I would have left my job as a paraeducator. Anyhow, during each break there was evidence of rain, but it wasn't raining. That is something I am happy for, that I stayed dry when I went outside for breaks. Other happy things include: The rose bush is showing signs of blossoming very soon. At least one bud is starting to open and others are not far behind. The cool pre-rain air was refreshing and helped me feel more awake for the drive home from work with a window down.  That crisp, clean smell before a rain can still be invigorating, even since Covid.  😊 ☮ Currently reading: Pocketful of Miracles: Prayer, Meditations, and Affirmations to Nurture Your Spirit Every Day of the Year , Joan Borysenko. Currently listening to: Seven Surrenders , by ...

The title for today is Lawn Day, but I have a feeling there will be many of those ahead.  It was only a tiny portion that I mowed and raked today.  I'm behind on the yard, but moving forward and that is all I can do.  This morning, when I worked in the yard I raked out the area where the butterfly weed grows.  It was about 1.5 inches tall.  I didn't take a picture.   I like to have at least one picture for my blog though so I made my way back outside.  Much to my surprise,  the plant has doubled in size!  They must have been having a hard time breaking through all the leaf litter and are now happy with the natural light they are getting. Other happy things from today: -We were out and about with people this weekend and today started the covid scares.  Keziah tested negative and I will test before work tonight.  We aren't really having symptoms, but are trying to be cautious and conscientious.  -My insurance cov...

 Today was a day that I seriously considered ending my 18 month-ish 10,000 steps a day streak.  I didn't.  Going to work today I felt okay, but soon did not.  I felt bad enough that I came home.  After sleeping a few hours I took a Covid test and it was negative.  I'm still not feeling 100% but I hope to make it to work tonight.  Other happy things for today: The tulips are still making me happy.  I bought another plant today when I was out shopping for groceries.  I'm not sure yet where I will plant it. Keziah had things to do at the studio so I went too.  I patched up the other knee on a pair of jeans so now they sort of match. ☮ 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.

Birka memories have been all over my Facebook feed lately. This SCA event is the big one that, prior to Covid, we held at the end of every January. This event is where Keziah and I were invested and Baron and Baroness three years ago. Keziah would have attended her first Birka event as a three-month-old. This is an event that is near and dear to my heart. We made the decision early last fall to cancel the event. I am so very happy that we made the choice early on partially because it would have been canceled last minute anyway. However, the amount of preparation stress I did not endure because we made this choice early is immeasurable. Other things I am happy for today: Our dog Aesop is home from being boarded over the weekend. Other than the cats, everyone is glad he is home. Not the best Aesop picture, but the only one today. While walking Aesop in the backyard this afternoon I found some tracks that I think are a mouse. The imprint in the snow is pretty much the entire a...

 Friday is Minecraft Day.  Today we did things a little differently.  TF and I were nearing the end of the quest and Gideon decided to join us.  The entire quest was not working properly so parts of it went easier than they should have been.  My character still died multiple times.  The one monster that kept killing me was called a wither.  Gideon is the one who finally killed it.  Yay, Gideon!  We also played for most of the day.  Other happy things from today: Keziah and I took the RV and filled the propane.  Now there can be heat in there again. I bit the bullet and got the Covid booster show today.  So far the only side-effect is soreness on the arm where the vaccine was administered. After the vaccination I took a walk on a new-to-me trail.  Part of the trail follows power lines and part goes into the adjacent woods.  I hope to be able to explore the area more when I have more time. For day 26 of the A&S cha...