April 2021 – Today's Blog

Animals, Creativity, Dogs, Emotions, family, Learning, Life, Nature, Photography, Reading, Thinking, Writing

Making A Way Forward

April 30, 2021April 30, 2021 1972italy

Have you ever gotten so much accomplished on your day off that you are exhausted the next day? That is me. I got work done on my novel, I got caught up on the chapters I am going over as a beta reader, I talked to both my parents, I did some housework and I finally caught up on the Supernatural series. The last one was hard. 15 years I have watched the series and it has come to an end.

The girls and I went to bed at a decent time but I still feel like I didn’t get enough sleep. I still have to go get groceries before I work this afternoon. I work at 1pm but I wanted to get groceries before since it is a fairly big list this week. Then I can come home and shower and head back out for work.

Essie has been coming out to get love from me every few minutes. I’m not sure why. Stella went right back into bed after she ate. I found two accidents in the hall. It was raining when we went to bed so even though I got both girls to go outside there is no guarantee that they went potty. I’m pretty sure it was Stella that had the accidents.

I keep watching all the birds go by outside. The sky is blue and the sun is out (for once). The grass is a lush green. I’m going to have to mow the yard soon. I know the battery is charged so that will make it easy. I need to check the bird feeder again today since it has been so busy the past few days. I also need to check my plants. When I did the other day no one seemed to need any water but it gets so dry in the house that I try to check them every few days.

The wind has really picked up outside. Must be why my mind feels so restless. It can focus but when it get s windy like this it just feels like it is pacing in a cage. I did get a few photos taken yesterday. Some of them turned out pretty good. I still need to sit down with my photography site and figure out what I want to do with it. All I have done it add photos here and there and occasionally share the link. If I am going to be serious about selling my photos I need to do a bit more than that. So some thing for my next day off. If I try it today then I will not have time to get groceries or get other things done before work. So on the check list for later.

Speaking of which I do need to get this wrapped up if I am going to get everything done. Oh please little bird don’t try to come in the house…. there is a small birch hanging around just outside the sliding glass door. Some times they try to come inside when the door is open. Ok, the little one flew off. So I will download some photos and get this posted. Thanks for reading and stay safe!

Aging, Animals, anxiety, Creativity, Dogs, Emotions, family, Learning, Life, Nature, Photography, Reading, retail, Thinking, Writing

Feeling Good

April 29, 2021April 29, 2021 1972italy

The first night of training is under my belt. It lasted about an hour and a half longer than if I was just on the floor but that’s ok. I did learn a lot. I just have to retain it. I have today off then I got at it again on Friday. On of my coworkers was so funny. He’s maybe 16 or 17 years old and kept going on about how I was growing up so fast when he learned that I was doing the training. He’s just a sweet nut! Lol.

I did manage to eek in my Morning Pages yesterday. That is also one of the reasons I was up so late. Between me and Stella getting up several times to go outside I think we got to bed around 2:30-3am. Essie was up and ready to go at 8am. So here we are. I am glad I have to day off. I plan to work on my novel as well as take notes on the book I am beta reader for. I am behind a few days so I need to reread atleast three chapters today. I also need to see if Dad will Facetime. He is having a very hard time of it lately. He is scared that it is an onset of Alzheimer’s. Living alone with no real contact with the outside (he lives in Montreal and they are under quarantine) is also a contributing factor. But it happened to his mother and he has been terrified of it ever since. And getting a response from his doctor is near impossible. So I will try to help if he can deal with the physical pain (he has arthritis in his neck and back as well as fused discs for starters). We’ll see.

I remembered to put in my events that I had for next week even though I got my physical therapy time wrong. I wrote 8:15am instead of 8:45am. I had forgotten to grab my note paper when I left for work so I was winging it. So I hope the schedule for next week is ok. I am paranoid that I got my days or times wrong. Which I did but not too bad. My brain is still worrying on it though. Unfixable mistakes is what the brain is worried about.

I am going to (hopefully) share a short video clip with you. We have the two ponds in the backyard. This year we have two peepers that are living there. Right now they are in the big pond but I have heard them in the smaller one as well. Last night I was able to record them singing together. I hope the clip posts!

I didn’t get any photos before work so I don’t really have much new to share. I did get a cute picture of Essie with my phone. I was shocked that she actually posed for the phone photo. she normally won’t look at the camera if she knows that I am using the phone camera. I will make it a point to get some new photos today. I do need to download photos onto my laptop both off my phone and camera. My phone has over 11,000 photos. Holy crap! And yes most of them are dogs photos. Don’t judge. Lol.

I’d better wrap this up so I can get it posted. Thanks for reading and stay safe!

Animals, anxiety, Creativity, Dogs, Emotions, family, Friends, Holiday, Life, Love, Nature, Photography, retail, Thinking, Writing

Treating Myself

April 28, 2021April 28, 2021 1972italy

It has been a busy morning after a rather sleepless night. Last night was filled with late night Stella barkings and early morning storms so I didn’t get much sleep. We had rumbles of thunder all afternoon and early evening yesterday. But it really hit last night in the wee hours. With Moose gone both girls pant and shake during a storm.

I woke to find several messages (that I still need to reply to) from friends and I have written the article for last night’s meeting and sent it in. The skies are grey and the weather is cool. I am glad that I filled the bird feeder yesterday. It has been busy this morning with a multitude of feathered friends!

We went to Moose and Stella’s for lunch. I had a Moose burger that was called the Bad Boy. Yes I cried (several times) and the burger was delicious.

Yesterday was actually pretty fun. I did get all my running done (except for going to Bath and Body Works, I caved and ordered online after I came home) and arrived at lunch on time. My friend was in bad shape worried that her cancer may have come back. She had two doctors appointments that afternoon. But we sat and talked for a long time over lunch (I was concerned because she hardly ate anything despite being hungry). As we were getting ready to leave she asked if I wanted to go to a resale shop. Well yaaaa! Lol. So off we go! A pile of books and a trinket box later we part ways with the promise to make this a regular thing. We are heading to a used bookstore in Interlochen for our next adventure.

The trinket box is in the right top corner

I got a lot accomplished once I got home too. I got things ordered that I needed or wanted to as well as finally getting the printer hooked up to the new laptop. That last part took some doing. I had two plugs that were supposed to go into the laptop but I did not have the right sized port for on of them. I was pretty sure that I could do the wi-fi thing with it and not have to plug it in to the laptop but Mom didn’t give me any paperwork so I had to wing it via menus and my install wizard on the laptop. But it works! And I think that Chris can use it from his office as well. We haven’t tested that yet.

I also treated myself to several things. I got a pair of very fun shoes (I usually don’t do much in the way of clothing or shoes I just wear the same stuff til it wears out) that are really comfortable. I’ll wear them to work today (my first day as a manager on the floor). I also ordered some research books for the novel and a bikini. Now that last item might not seem like a big deal. I live in my bikinis during the warmer months. A few years ago I found a place that makes bikinis that fit everyone, not just the tiny models. It is called Fused. I have wanted to try one for a long time. I belong to their group online and it is a very warm and supportive community of women. This is my dream bikini. I hope. I opted for a surprise bottom piece. But I am very excited! I also treated myself to my coconut scented lotions from Bath and Body Works. When I worked at Younker’s one of their stores was just outside our front door so I could get them when I ran out. Sadly I have been out for probably a year or longer. But I couldn’t justify spending the money on myself. So I splurged on myself yesterday.

I will share pictures of everything as it comes in. I should wrap this up before it gets much longer. I hope you all have an awesome day! Thanks for reading and stay safe!

Animals, Creativity, Dogs, dreams, Emotions, Exercise, family, Friends, History, Learning, Life, Nature, Photography, Reading, Thinking, Writing

The Little Engine That Could But Chose Not To

April 27, 2021April 27, 2021 1972italy

I said I needed to be out the door by 9am today. I hurt and I really don’t’ feel like rushing around on my day off. The girls are stuck out here with me. When I leave and it’s not for work they will go in and out of the bedroom until I get back home. So I said I would shut the bedroom door to keep them out here while I do my running today. I had several places I was going to go today but I just hurt so my list keeps getting smaller. I would whittle the list down to one place but I need to get a few things before I run out. Sooooo…. But I am seriously thinking about not going all the way into Traverse to the bank. Problem is that is the closest branch. I am hoping I can scoot in and out quickly. I have to deposit cash otherwise I would be banking via my phone app. Looking at the clock tells me that I won’t be leaving at 9am. Oh well.

Physical therapy was a mess. Everything we tried I could only do for a limited amount of time if at all. One of the exercises that I did on my first day I can no longer do. Everything they have suggested I have tried doing before I even decided to go to a doctor. And things are just getting worse. I told the gal I had yesterday that I felt bad because it was like I was giving them too much information. She was very nice but I think she was getting frustrated.

I did my morning pages yesterday as well as going over another chapter for the author I am beta reading for. My goal is a chapter a day (or more) so I can get my notes together and send them out. I am hoping to do some more work on my novel today. But I seem to be doing mostly research, which is fine, but I feel that I am not working on the story (even though I am). I am making progress just not in the way I normally look for. I have managed to pick places that have limited info available on what I need. I hate to make things up (hahaha) but I like to base my work with some bits of truth and history in them. So I toil away at finding just what I need.

Alright, I guess I ought to wrap this up and get myself out the door. I am only running a few minutes late. Stella is upset with me. She has curled up on the couch as far away as she can get from me. Essie is asleep in the man cave by the sliding glass door. Here’s to hoping that I can get it all done and be back to meet my friend in Kalkaska by 11am. Thanks for reading and stay safe!

Animals, Cooking/Baking, Creativity, Dogs, Emotions, Exercise, family, Food, Life, Nature, Photography, retail, Thinking, Writing

Why Is It Snowing?

April 26, 2021April 26, 2021 1972italy

This morning is very dark. I would need a light on if I were reading. And cold. It got cold yesterday but when the sun came out it made all the difference! I played as best I could with the girls. My back was very bad yesterday. Today is a repeat. I have physical therapy at 10:45am then work at 2pm. I will be doing the gas an courtesy counter so I’m not sure how that will go.

Yesterday I spent mostly working on my werewolf novel. (Good gad…. there is snow blowing across in a straight line outside.) I got research done and I worked on a few characters nd some back story. I am extremely happy with myself! I also went through the first chapter of the novel that I am beta reading and did my notes. Yay! I am not sure if I will be able to work on anything before work. It will depend on how physical therapy goes. This cold isn’t helping either.

I did get some really nice shots with both my cameras yesterday. I find it funny that I seem to use both my Nikon and my phone camera for things. I don’t exclusively use one or the other. For a while it was just the Nikon on the phone camera was for when I didn’t have the Nikon handy. But I find that each has it’s purpose in my photography. I like having both to use. I would like to figure out why the Nikon doesn’t pick up colors as well as my phone camera. For sunset colors I usually always use my phone camera. the Nikon either doesn’t pick up any color or washes out what it does pick up.

The snow is coming down hard enough that I can’t see past the line of trees on the other side of the back fence line. Yuck. Not a fan.

Chris made an amazing dinner last night! It was essentially marinaded beef. With it was refried beans (with herbs etc added) and Spanish rice. He did the beef on the grill. Yum! The flavors were all the way through the meat (which was wonderfully tender)…. sigh. No leftovers! Lol

I keep looking out the window at the sideways snow. Blah. I will wrap this up and get some photos downloaded. I hope everyone has a great day! Thanks for reading and stay safe!

*edit* In the short amount of time it has taken to download the photos we have gotten about 1/2 an inch of snow.

Life

Setting the Mood

April 25, 2021April 25, 2021 1972italy

This morning we woke to snow on the porch. It is chilly enough that the birds are singing a lot less and no one is sure if it is rain, snow or ice coming down from the sky. It is in constant flux. As we all are. One day things are fine and the next nothing can go right.

I brought home two candles from work. They are locally made and soy based. I really enjoy the subtle scents from both. I have one lit beside me as I type this. It is called Sail Away. I can envision myself on a warm beach somewhere watching boats in the distance. With a soft warm breeze…. The other candle is Lavender Dreams. It has a very soft scent that is very relaxing. I got them both free because they were “damaged.” The tops had melted a bit so they looked a bit messy when you took the lid off. They each also have a cool carved Petoskey stone. It is carved in the shape of the lower peninsula. For those of you unfamiliar with the state of Michigan we have an upper and lower peninsula.

I also brought home two more Gerber daisies. Don’t judge. They were only $1.99 each. And they asked me to bring them home. Lol. With the weather the way it is I guess I will have to make my own Spring! We had a lot of rain yesterday but if the temperatures dropped enough to make snow I can only imagine what it did to the plants and such as they essentially froze. My clump of daffodils is defiantly done. They are droopy and wilted. The flowers look like they are made of a dirty clear wax. I worry about the local farmers. This has got to be reeking havoc on their plants!

I am trying not to think about my back. It hurt enough while I was sleeping that I dreamed I had been in an accident and pretty much all my dreams after that I was in pain in my dreams. I’m not quiet sure what I did to cause this. I have physical therapy again tomorrow morning (please let me remember) so I guess we’ll see what happens. I think I have yet a third person for my therapist tomorrow. Sigh…

I didn’t get any new photos yesterday. I’m not sure what today will bring. I need to try to relax but there are things that I want/need to do. Tomorrow is my first day as a manager in training. Wheee… Everyone seems pretty happy for me so I feel better about things.

I think I will wrap this up for now. I’ll add a few new pictures from the other day that I didn’t share. Thanks for reading and the wonderful comments! Stay safe!

Animals, anxiety, Creativity, Dogs, Emotions, family, Holiday, Life, Nature, Photography, Reading, retail, Thinking, Writing

Rambling…

April 24, 2021April 24, 2021 1972italy

I got to sleep in for the most part. We did stay up rather late again. Today is my last day before I officially become an manager trainee. I have mixed feelings. However I’m trying not to think too much about it. That being said I’m meeting up with a former coworker on Tuesday to catch up. She too has gotten a promotion at her job. I texted her out of the blue last night and we got to chatting. We haven’t seen each other for several months.

I took a lot of photos yesterday and played a lot with the girls but not much else. No writing. No research. Nothing constructive. It felt good to do nothing but at the same time I was disappointed in myself. I am trying to follow a new writing system but I did nothing with it last night.

I did find an awesome bit of fossil in the yard while I was taking photographs. I believe it is a bit of coral. I shared it on a rockhound page that I belong to to see if anyone had any ideas. The twin centers are filled with crystals that sparkle when you move it. I am very excited about this find!

This weekend is the Annual Trout Festival in Kalkaska (about 10 minutes away). I don’t know how busy we will be at the store. I am curious as to how busy the festival will be. I guess they will be bussing people in and masks will be required, even outdoors. It can go either way. Regardless it is the beginning of trout season up here so there may be some flyfishing gear that will be coming out of the closet soon (and no it won’t be me).

The clouds have come out thick this morning. It was sunny when the girls and I got up but now it looks like someone covered the sky in great wads of dirty cotton batting. The temperature is nice though. I have the door open. My mind is wandering. I think I will wrap this up and then go outside and read for a bit. I should be writing but…. I hope all of you have a great day! Thanks for reading and stay safe!

Animals, Creativity, Dogs, Emotions, Exercise, family, Learning, Life, Nature, Photography, Thinking, Writing

Keeping Up

April 23, 2021April 23, 2021 1972italy

I was dead to the world when my alarm went off this morning. That rarely happens. My brain usually wakes me up a few minutes before. That way I don’t wake everyone else up too. Essie got up with me and Stella came out a few minutes later. After breakfast and going outside Essie went back to bed with Chris and Stella is out here with me.

Physical Therapy was an exercise in frustration. Not only did I have a new person I was working with (so I had to explain everything over again to clarify the notes of my original therapist) but he was almost 10 minutes late. Once we got talking he also gave conflicting advice. So.

Once I got back home I proceeded to knock out my list (my physical therapist would’ve given me grief… I was told I needed to not try to knock everything out all at once) I got the floor swept, mouse cage cleaned, dishes done, trash out, laundry done (and put away except for the comforter in the dryer), plants watered, bird feeder filled and the house vacuumed. The house feels better for the cleaning I got done. I got everything on my list done except for working on the notes for the novel I am beta reading. So that will probably get worked on tonight and Sunday (my next day off). I did get some photos taken as well.

I got a really cool shot of a bird flying and the moon coming up. I will have to tweak it to get everything so you can see it the way my eyes did. I hope I have enough time before I need to get ready for work. I am downloading as I type this. For some reason my keys are not backlit anymore on the laptop. Damn it.

Stella is pulling an Essie. She is in and out of the bedroom and outside. I need to get going for my day. Thanks for reading and stay safe!

I saw a lot of dinosaur clouds yesterday….

Life

The Rollercoaster

April 22, 2021April 22, 2021 1972italy

I had hoped to sleep in today. But Essie had me up at 7:30am because she needed to go outside. She was out there for around 15 minutes. Long enough for me to wake and not be able to fall back asleep. So here we are. Stella has come out here with me. I have covered her up on the couch with a blanket. Essie is in and out of the bedroom.

Yesterday was a roller coaster of a day! To start with I was offered a promotion which I accepted. I am one of the night managers now. I do get a raise and that will start on next paycheck. I am excited but there is a voice in my head that is asking if carrying keys again is really what I should be doing. But there it is. I am excited to try and do this.

The second big hit yesterday was that I saw Moose. Yes, my baby boy that dies in January. A truck pulled into the gas station that had a dog that looked exactly like my boy. When the gentleman came to pay at the window I handed him some treats and asked him to give them to his dog as well as giving him some love from me. I explained about Moose. He gave his sympathies and thanked me. I went on to another customer at the counter. When I turned around his wife was at the window…. with the dog. She looked at me and said, ‘He wanted to come say Hi” as she patted the sill for him to put his paws on there. So I got kisses and I got to love on my Moosie. I am crying as I type this. I miss him so so much….

The third to happen yesterday was physical therapy. I got there and I wasn’t on the schedule. Yep. Apparently the gal that I talked to forgot to put me in the system when I called on FRIDAY to change my Monday appointment to Wednesday. And no one was available. So. Instead of recooping today I will have PT at 10:15am and then come home and take care of the household stuff. I have my little list going. So far there are seven things on it. There are the simple things like laundry, dishes, watering the plants, filling the bird feeder… then there is vacuuming (I gotta move a lot of things around), cleaning the mouse cage (both tanks I use in the process are heavy and awkward) and finally writing the critique for the novel I am beta reading.

I should probably get this wrapped up before it gets too long. I also need to get some photos downloaded. I want to thank everyone for their comments and advice over the past several posts. I really appreciate it! Thanks for reading and stay safe!

Animals, Creativity, Dogs, Emotions, family, Life, Movies, Nature, Photography, Thinking, Writing

Early Morning Whatsits

April 21, 2021April 21, 2021 1972italy

I’m not sure what will fill the page this morning. I don’t have any new photos. My brain is still trying to process being awake this early. I’ve actually been awake since Chris came to bed at 3:30am. I woke up and could not fall back asleep. I stopped looking at the clock at midnight last night.

Stella is asleep behind me on the couch and Essie has gone back to bed. A bit of a roll reversal. Essie also ate all of her breakfast while Stella did not. Odd. But I told both the girls that I would be home early even though I will need to leave about an hour and a half later for physical therapy. Essie just came out and took a quick tour out here. I haven’t heard her hop back on the bed though.

I started watching a lovely horror period piece called “Crimson House” last night. I am half way through it. I didn’t realize that it was a two hour movie when I started it. It has a stellar cast and I am really enjoying it. It’s a Victoria ghost story so far with graphic death scenes. But it is a part of the story. The graphic isn’t to be graphic. It is just what happens. If that makes sense. I can’t wait to get back to it tonight!

Mom and I are not hooking up this afternoon. She is trying to get her house ready to be seen by a realtor friend of mine to possibly sell it. The big dilemma at this point is what to do. She wants to move out here closer to us but she has to sell her house to have enough to make an offer on anything she might find out here. Soooooo if she does sell we need to find her a place to stay while she finds a new home out here. Normally we would have said she could stay with us but one of her dogs and one of my dogs wants nothing to do with the opposing side of dogs. We have tried several times to get them acquainted but so far no luck.

I have tomorrow off so this will be later (I hope) than I normally publish tomorrow. Hopefully I will have some new photos as well. But since I have no new photos this morning I will use some that I like from previous posts. Thanks for reading and stay safe!