2022 Happy To Be Here

If you read my blog regularly, you know we have a dog, Aesop, that we have been trying to re-home. He needs a home without cats and with more routine.  Earlier this week a couple met him for the first time and tonight they came to get him. They are taking him on a trial basis. They live in a city and are concerned that he won't take to city life. They committed to keeping him for at least the month as a test period. I'm sad, there were tears, but I know he will be fine.  Here are some happy things from today: There is a friend I have from my old job as a paraeducator that I got to spend some time with. We went for some walks and I showed her the studio. It was a nice visit. She even helped me warp my loom some. After she left, I got a new book to listen to on my phone and continued to work on the loom. It is now warped and I have started the weaving process. This introvert (me) stepped out and talked with a complete stranger today. Keziah and I were going into the grocery sto...

We are trying to re-home Aesop, our dog. It was a difficult choice but we can't seem to get the dog and the cats to tolerate each other and this creates much stress within our house. He is a cutie and when the cats aren't around he is generally a good dog.  Prospective new owners will be looking at hime later this week.  We are going to miss him. Here are some happy things from today: Aesop and I had a nice walk up a side street I hadn't ventured on before. There are a few trees that are showing their foliage.  For the first time in a few weeks TF and I were able to share our weekly accountability goals. Usually every week we go over our goals and encourage each other to get things done, it has been a busy few weeks for both of us and that got dropped.  Concerning the classes I am hoping to take next year; I did the next task in the process of being approved. It was a logic test and I feel like I did well on it. ☮ Currently reading: Pocketful of Miracles: Prayer, ...

Weaving should be my main goal, but I know my limits. I took Aesop, our dog, for a walk today. The amount of time that walk took, I decided would be the amount of time I would commit to weaving. We walked about an hour and forty minutes. I spent longer than that working on the loom. Goal achieved. Not all that time was weaving because I ended up having to give up (hopefully temporarily) on the red, white and blue band and put the green and white band on the loom instead. I was worried that it would be hard to put a project that had started on one loom and put it onto another. That took up some time, but it seems to be working.  The castle up is what I wove today. About eight inches or so before that was done three years ago. Tomorrow I hope to find a comfortable position and be able to weave more. Other happy things from today: While out this morning, before the walk, there was a bird in a tree that I think was a cat bird. During the walk someone's dog came out and almost a...

When I left to walk the dog, Aesop, this morning I didn't expect that he would want to go far. Boy, was I surprised. I didn't turn on either of my programs to map the walk or distance. If my memory serves, we walked about 3 miles. It was too hot for me to have done this without being better prepared by bringing water. Thankfully Aesop found a puddle. It was a good walk. Other happy things from today include: When I came across rocks on the trail that I could hop on, I did, as if crossing a small stream. It makes for a fun diversion while allowing me to practice my eye/foot coordination and balance. In the other room, Gideon and Zed are playing a game. The occasional words that I hear, as simple as "Yes!" Or "Nooo!" Bring joy to my heart. I finally started weaving for the event coming in a few weeks. I haven't done too much yet, but enough to know that changes need to be made and that I don't have enough on the loom to finish the projects....

Our couch has a cover for it that I am having a hard time keeping on right now.  It slips, I try to fix it and it slips again.  I need to pull the thing out to fix it right and I haven't taken the time to do that.  Anyhow, Aesop, our dog, decided he liked the cave that was created by the cover slipping and made himself comfortable. Here are some other happy things for Saturday: I decided to walk the four miles into the city today. It would have been slightly more pleasant had I remembered to wear a hat. Somehow I didn't get a sunburn.  Here are some pictures from the walk: Zed, Gideon, and Aesop were already in the city with friends. I thought they had left already and was pleasantly surprised to find them ordering some lunch at the new place in town. It was a nice short visit with all the people and Keziah came as well to bring and Aesop me home. There was a bunch of stuff that I borrowed from a friend for Pennsic. I visited with her and returned most of the s...

After I had mowed some of the lawn, done some dishes, and started some of the more intensive unpacking task, Gideon said he wanted to have a lazy Saturday.  Sometimes the young ones have the best ideas. I was hoping for a little Geocaching with him but he wanted the lazy day.  Instead, he played games or watched videos on his phone and I did dishes, unpacked, and had some lazy time while Keziah and Zed went out.  There is something to be said for lazy days, especially when it is hot out.  Other happy things from today: -- The mowing happened in the late morning.  After I came in, hot and sweaty, I went up to Keziah's room to talk with her.  Opening her door and stepping into her air conditioned room was refreshing.  It felt so good I forgot what I wanted to talk with her about.  -- My lazy activities today were reading, watching some Netflix, and taking a nap.  -- We made rootbeer floats for dessert.   -- Gideon wasn't interested in...

August 14th Yesterday, perhaps because packing was the priority, I forgot to post about the milestone I hit.  Everyday, for two full years, I reached my 10,000 steps a day goal.   I'm not sure if I will continue with this streak or not, but two years!  Other happy things from today in no particular order: --Amid the green in the following picture is a part of the Appalachian Trail that is between east and west Interstate 90 in Massachusetts.  There is a walking bridge to cross the highway. --We drove east on interstate 90 through New York to get home.  We passed by a quarry.  I'm not sure how big a quarry tends to be but this one seemed really large.  To sate my curiosity,  or boredom,  I went to the internet to research the quarry a little.  What I found was the customer comments list.  It was full of rock puns.  Here is a sample... --We had two cars and three drivers for the trip home from Pennsic...

For whatever reason my motivation is failing me in the mornings again. I want it back. My best guess is that I have a general lack of sleep. So this morning, I went to the dog park with Keziah and Aesop in hopes that it would jumpstart my day.  He wouldn't stay still. Afterwards, I tried to take a nap. As usual, naps are good, even short ones. Other happy things from today: There was enough energy for me to do a little lawn mowing. Later in the afternoon I went to the studio. I'm going to estimate that the chemise I am making is close to halfway finished now. Yay studio time! Keziah and I have been watching the Obi-Wan Kenobi miniseries and we finished it tonight. I really enjoyed watching it and getting a glimpse at the middle years between the movies. ☮ Currently reading: Pocketful of Miracles: Prayer, Meditations, and Affirmations to Nurture Your Spirit Every Day of the Year , Joan Borysenko. Currently listening to: The Will to Battle , by Ada Palmer Thank you for...

It was after eight in the evening by the time we finally left for the event.   I say we, but Keziah made the trip twice. She left earlier in the day when it became apparent that all the things and all the people were not going to fit. We had two extra people and all their camping things, plus our stuff. Keziah went early with the two extra people, their stuff, and some of our stuff. She set the tent up, unloaded, and came back for more. We also had to get the thrones out of storage and they are not small. Zed and I got the thrones out of storage while Keziah made her first trip. Here are some other happy things from today: -Highway 93 has seeded wildflowers along the median.  A week ago they were mostly daisies.  Now they are mostly brown-eyed Susans.   I love that states do this and beautify the areas. - I'm at an SCA camping event.  I haven't attended one in over two years, I think.  It is good. -The sky is filled with st...

This blog is about things that I am happy for.  What is unspoken (unwritten) is that I am thankful for everything that has brought me happiness each day.  After working ten hours it is sometimes hard for me to come up with things that made me happy and I generally look for things to include here.  The more tired I am, the harder it becomes.  I could have had a marvelous day but be too tired to remember the details.  All that said, I am going to change this up a bit on Wednesdays and concentrate on things that I am thankful for.  This may or may not last, but here goes. Today I am thankful that Aesop, our dog, is feeling better.  He has had some intestinal problems this week but he is doing better today.   Thankfully I have a job.  I may not be in love with my job, but I have one.  It has good benefits and it pays enough.  The job keeps me very physically active and it is one of the reasons I haven't looked elsewhere. ...

Often on weekend mornings, Aesop, our dog, will end up at the dog park.  Today this excursion left him muddy.  He got a quick rinse with the hose.  While trying to get him dry Keziah brought him into his fenced area where he got the zoomies.  That little dog is fast.  Keziah decided to let him run through the towel like he was a bull before catching him to towel dry.     Other happy things from today: Keziah, Gideon, and I played a game called Fluxx . I like to describe the game as Calvinball  but as a card game. Calvinball is a game from the comic strip Calvin and Hobbes where there are no rules and so any rules are made up randomly during the game. Fluxx has many different versions. We played the Chemistry version so many cards had elements on them. There is a goal to reach for to win while players change the rules, and goals, during the game. One of the cards had to do with Helium. If a player had a helium card they had to talk wi...

 For many, many, many years I would not go to see a dentist.  There were lots of reasons, the biggest one being money.  With all the things that happen at a dentist visit... well, it isn't necessarily the most pleasant experience.  All that said, I LOVE when my teeth have been cleaned.  The process that it takes to get there, not as much.  It also is wonderful to have the fresh, just brushed teeth.  Today I got my teeth cleaned.  Today, thanks to the job I have, it cost zero dollars.  Today I have happy teeth.  Other happy things from this day: -Last fall I bought a raised bed for closer to the house to plant herbs in.  Today I finally assembled it.  It is in the living room.  Ideally I will gather enough energy after work tomorrow to make space for it outside and start the process of moving it.  For now, it will gently fill the living with the scent of untreated wood. -My friend, Amy, came up to the house...

This morning Keziah and I helped some friends get some items out of the SCA Baronial storage unit for an upcoming event. One of these friends is the person that I like to geocache with. We took a few minutes and found a geocache that was in the area. I really should go geocaching more often. There was a lovely tree in bloom near the cache. Other happy things from today: I made it into the front yard today to see the flowers. Somehow the front of the house seems to get the least amount of attention. With the beginning of the yard clean up time of year, I decided to make a different place for yard waste. I mowed down a bunch of Japanese knotweed and put up a partial fence. That is where I’ll be dumping most of the leaves and grass clippings this season. I am pleased with my progress. Aesop, our dog, was curled up on the comfy sac with his tail over his nose and eyes. ☮ Currently reading: Pocketful of Miracles: Prayer, Meditations, and Affirmations to Nurture Your Spirit Every Da...

It has been a very tiring day. Two days ago I was in Texas on a mini vacation and today I was back to work. Keeping my eyes open after work to complete DuoLingo was not possible. Eventually, I got it done but sleep happened too. Now, when I should be relaxing for sleep I am suddenly energized by considering my future. I’m 57 years old and I don’t know what I want to do when I grow up. My place of employment will reimburse a limited amount of money for me to go to school and get a bachelor’s degree. Somehow, I managed to narrow my focus down to three possibilities and when I am done writing this I will research these more. Ideally, that will help me fall asleep. I’m happy that, for today anyways, I feel a little bit of direction. Other happy things from today: Aesop, our dog was all excited to see me today. He was at doggy daycare yesterday when I got home so we didn’t see each other. The leaves on the lilac and the part that will become the flower are more than twice the si...

Aesop, our dog, and I walked around the backyard for a few minutes. Aesop just wanted to sit. So I stood, listened, and watched. I was somehow able to block the street noise out for a few moments and hear the birds. There was one that sounded different. I've heard it before but today I wanted to place it. After some standing still and observations, I'm fairly certain that the sound came from a tufted titmouse. Aesop stayed mostly still while I made my observations, he was watching a different bird, the Robin. Other happy things for today: Another observation was the presence of buds on the trees in the distance. They are still quite small, but now they are noticeable. Keziah, Gideon, and I went to a local game store. Gideon used some birthday money to get a book about Dungeons and Dragons. I saw extensions of games that I have that I didn't know existed. It has been a while since I looked at games. It might be time for me to budget money and time for games...

 There are still nights below freezing but it is still spring, so freezing nights are expected.  The flowers I planted in the triangle last fall seem to be doing okay.  Many of the crocus came up, there are tulips that have pushed through the soil and either the lilies or the iris are coming through as well.  Last year I thought I planted so many things, the area still seems a little barren to me.  I know things will come in as time goes by. Other happy things from today: It was up to me to give Aesop, our dog, a shower today.  He was such a good dog.  All day, when people have pet him, I have received comments about how soft, white, or nice smelling he is. Zed and I took Aesop for a walk.  Good conversation with my son-in-law. Gideon, Zed, and I had a video call with Bel to play D&D.  Folke couldn't make it so we mostly talked about things rather than play.  It was a nice virtual visit. I had a goal during Lent to get rid of at leas...

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...