"Think what a better world it would be if we all, the whole world, had cookies and milk about three o'clock every afternoon and then lay down on our blankets for a nap." (Barbara Jordan)
Hello, my lovely friends!
Oof, what a absolute whirlwind of a week it has been around here. Our hearts and our home have been completely full, especially with my sister, Renee, and brother-in-law, George, flying in to stay with us. The occasion itself wasn’t the easiest, as we all gathered together to say a final, bittersweet goodbye to my uncle. But honestly, having the family under one roof was the ultimate comfort. There is something so incredibly healing about sitting around a table with the people who know you best, sharing old stories, laughing through the tears, and just leaning on each other when things get tough. It was a heavy week, absolutely, but it was also wrapped up in so much love and connection that I wouldn't trade for the world.
By the time Monday afternoon rolled around and we had to drop Renee and George back off at the airport, the house suddenly felt incredibly quiet—you know that distinct echo a house gets after a lively visit? We desperately needed a collective moment to just catch our breath and process everything, so we dedicated the entire next day to the art of doing absolutely nothing. No chores, no to-do lists, no rushing anywhere—just pure, unadulterated rest to recharge our emotional batteries after such an intense stretch. If you’ve ever survived one of those emotionally draining weeks, you know that a designated, guilt-free "couch potato day" isn't a luxury; it’s a necessary survival tactic!
Of course, Mother Nature has been keeping us on our toes
because our weather lately has been downright crazy. Right
after we walked through the door from dropping Renee and George off at
the airport, the sky turned a wild color and we were hit with a massive
rainstorm accompanied by hail. I think we both collectively held our
breath and froze, because we literally just finished having the house
repaired last year from the catastrophic hail storm we took a beating
from two years ago! Luckily, the universe showed us some mercy this
time; it was just small, pea-sized hail, but boy, did it come down fast
and furious. Thankfully, everything is safe, the sky has cleared, and
now I’m just looking forward to brighter days ahead.
Once the mental fog finally started to lift, we braced ourselves and tackled the massive job that had been patiently waiting for us right outside our front door: the yard. We spent hours cleaning up the last of the winter clutter, stray branches, and random debris. Let me tell you, stepping back and seeing that space looking tidy and fresh again felt like a massive weight lifting off our shoulders. Best of all, clearing out the old has officially cleared the way for the good stuff. After such a heavy week, getting my hands dirty, digging into the earth, and prepping the soil for new growth was exactly the kind of grounding therapy my soul needed.
Speaking of new growth, my green thumb is officially tingling, and I’m so excited to tell you that I'm planning a whole blog post dedicated to my garden next week! I recently took a little retail therapy trip to our local garden center and came home with a trunk completely loaded with beautiful things to plant. I’ve been sketching out some really fun, ambitious plans for both the summer and fall garden harvests here, and I can't wait to take you along for the ride as everything starts to sprout.
Thank you so much for stopping by.
I wish you a good morning, afternoon or evening wherever you are.
Until next time… Ciao!
I wish you a good morning, afternoon or evening wherever you are.
Until next time… Ciao!
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Oh wow! I am looking forward to the gardening posts, I am sure they are going to be really interesting and special. As she said in Steel Magnolias - "Laughter through tears is my favorite emotion" spoken by Truvy Jones. So true and only through good family together remembering all the joy there was and it sounds like you had such a gift. Which of course meant once it was over recovery was so important by having a rest day and absorbing all the love shared. Huge hugs and have a wonderful week.
ReplyDeleteIt's Kathy. I'm sorry for the loss of your uncle but I know how nice it is to have your family together for even a short time. And wow, what a storm you had. It's good that it started after you got home. I think we're expecting some storms later today - it's pretty gray outside. Tom and I have to meet with the lawyer to sign our wills this afternoon. Not looking forward to that but it has to be done!
ReplyDeleteSorry for the loss of your Uncle, but it is nice you were surrounded by family to honor his memory.
ReplyDeleteHUGS and enjoy your garden planning!
hugs
barb
1cd
So many echoes of emotions mixed in a loving family setting. These rites are for a reason. Glad you got to be together and share... it really does help in the process of saying good-bye! I'm sure you are looking forward to nurturing that garden, and I'll look forward to peeking in, via your blog posts.
ReplyDeleteThought about you when I saw something on the news about hail out your way last week. The kids greatly enjoyed their time in your fair city, but they were back home before that event.
Hugs,
Barb
OKM