All Over the Place

"I need to live like that crooked tree --- that knelt down in the hardest winds but could not be blasted away." (Edward Hirsch)

 

Hello, my lovely friends!

 

    Looks like our power decided to take a vacation! I'm currently rocking the lantern life because the entire neighborhood's been dark for a couple of hours now, and it seems like we've got a few more to go. No idea what happened, but it's a total blackout.

 

    The silver lining? The sun's finally down, and it's way cooler than the 92 degrees we had earlier. I've got the windows open, and there's a fantastic breeze blowing through. I even hopped in the shower to cool off!

 

    So, with a full laptop battery, what's the best thing to do? Chat with you ladies, of course!

 

     This week's been a real rollercoaster of emotions, and my mom is definitely feeling it. It's tough watching her try to adjust to her "new normal" – not being able to do all the things she used to. Can you imagine getting to a point in your life where your body just won't let you do what you want? It must be incredibly frustrating.    This week's been a real rollercoaster of emotions, and my mom is definitely feeling it. It's tough watching her try to adjust to her "new normal" – not being able to do all the things she used to. Can you imagine getting to a point in your life where your body just won't let you do what you want? It must be incredibly frustrating.

 

    Mom's always been fiercely independent, so asking for help doesn't come easy, but she's actually getting better at it! I've been trying to find little tasks for her that she can do while sitting, like folding laundry or packing up meat for the freezer. It helps her feel useful, and honestly, it helps me too.

 

     You know how it is with chronic pain – my mom was back at it on Monday, getting those knee treatments. I'm really hoping this helps ease some of her discomfort! She's got arthritis everywhere now, so she knows it's not going away completely, but even a little less pain would be amazing. Seriously, all I wish for is some peace for her. Then, tomorrow, she's headed back to Kaiser for more treatments, this time for her back. Let's send all the good vibes and hope it brings her some relief. 

 

     Wow, the heat is seriously cranking up here! We might even hit triple digits this weekend, which, ugh, you know how I feel about that.

 

My big project this year has definitely been the yard. I've been tackling it all by myself, but honestly, I think it's time to call in the cavalry (aka the lawn service!). I've done my part though: everything's cleaned up, the water's on, and now I'm just wrangling all the containers.

 

    Of course, I'm late to the party with my garden again this year, but I'm counting on those lettuces to pop up super fast. I might even have to grab a big tomato plant if I want any actual tomatoes this season! At least I know I'll have plenty of fresh lettuce and herbs, which is a win in my book.

 

    Anyone else out there getting their hands dirty with a garden this year?

 

 So glad you stopped by! Wishing you the coziest morning/afternoon/evening ahead. Can't wait for our paths to cross again!

So glad you stopped by! Wishing you the coziest morning/afternoon/evening ahead. Can't wait for our paths to cross again!

Happy Father's Day In Heaven

 

Miss You Everyday Daddy

 

Well That Was Unexpected

 "There are things that we never want to let go of, people we never want to leave behind. But keep in mind that letting go isn’t the end of the world, it’s the beginning of a new life." (Anonymous)

 

Hello, my lovely friends! 

 

     I've been in a bit of a wrestling match with a cold for the past few days, but I think I'm finally pinning it down! Yesterday was a bit of a blur thanks to the cold medicine (you know how that goes for me!), so I spent a good chunk of the day in a cozy, sleepy haze. I was trying to play detective and figure out how this sneaky little cold snuck in, and then BAM! It hit me. The dentist trip we had on Monday. While Mom was getting her pearly whites taken care of, there was someone in the waiting room putting on a truly impressive (and slightly terrifying!) coughing concert. I bet that's where this unwelcome guest decided to set up shop!

 

     On Thursday I could feel something trying to creep in and decide to run to the store and get some things for a weekend of fighting a cold. I’m going to rest today as well, we’ve been watching all the Biblical movies this past week. Tonight we’re going to watch “Ben Hur”, my mom even has Mike watching it with us. 

    Oh my goodness, the weather here in Denver has been keeping us on our toes! It feels like Mother Nature can't quite decide what season it is. Just last weekend, we were bundled up with snow, and then BAM! Yesterday, we were basking in a record-breaking 86-degree heatwave! And guess what? There's a chance of snow again on Monday. Talk about a rollercoaster! That's just springtime in the Rockies for you – always full of surprises! We did manage to sneak in a few glorious days of open windows and fresh air though, which was absolutely wonderful.

 

    Tomorrow marks the eighth anniversary of losing my dad. It's hard to believe it's been that long – it honestly feels like just yesterday. You know how it is, you can't help but think about all the moments and milestones he's missed. My mom's been feeling it extra hard lately, and I'm sure the approaching date has a lot to do with that.

 

    I was talking to a friend recently who lost his mom back in October, and he asked that big question: does it ever get easier? It's such a tricky thing to answer, isn't it? I told him it's a yes and no kind of thing. Some days you're okay, and then out of nowhere, it can just hit you, and you're right back in that moment. Sending love to everyone who understands this feeling.

 

     Keeping my fingers crossed that I'll be feeling top-notch soon! We've got such an exciting week ahead with two plays and, get this, Wrestlemania! Hope your Sunday is a good one!

 

Thank you so much for stopping by! Hope your morning/afternoon/evening is extra cozy and delightful. Until our paths cross again!

Is It April Already?

 April is a time of wonder, when the spring peepers emerge from hibernation and begin to call, when robins and redwing blackbirds come back north, and when new green life appears. That is one of the greatest of all wonders, the growth of a bud and a leaf from a seed or a root that has lain dormant in the earth all winter. ~Hal Borland

Hello, my lovely friends!

 

     Okay, so here it is April, and it's always a tough one for me. Part of me is so ready to shake off the past and get back to really living, but it feels like a cruel twist that this feeling hits just as this month rolls around. The 14th... that'll be eight years since I lost my Dad. Sometimes I sit here and think it's only been eight, you know? It can feel like yesterday. Honestly, there isn't a single day that goes by where he doesn't pop into my head, multiple times even. It used to be that those thoughts were tangled up with a lot of sadness, guilt, and regret.

 

    It's funny, isn't it? For so long, when I thought of Dad, it was just... his death. A black hole of sadness. But over time, that's shifted. Now, when he pops into my head, it's not just about that last day. It's about him.

 

    I find myself smiling at the silly things he used to do, the way he'd always call me "Paula Rachel" – just him, no one else ever did that. And I can almost hear his voice sometimes. Sure, there's still a pang, a sadness that he's not here. But I try to steer my thoughts toward those happy, funny memories. That's who he really was, you know? Not just the end, but all the life he lived.

 

     It seems Mother Nature has decided to take center stage this week, orchestrating a full-blown symphony of rain, snow, and a persistent chill that's going to keep us indoors. Monday's brief window of sunshine feels like a fleeting intermission in her grand performance. With the outdoors essentially off-limits, I'm seizing this opportunity to immerse myself in the world of my garden. I'll meticulously sort through my seed collection, envisioning the vibrant tapestry of plants I want to cultivate. I'll sketch out detailed plans, mapping the garden's layout and considering companion planting strategies to maximize yields. I should also make a trip to the local nursery to pick up some high-quality potting soil, ensuring my seedlings get the best possible start. And I'll need to organize the grow bags I acquired, figuring out the optimal arrangement for each, taking into account sunlight exposure and plant needs.

 

Thank you so much for stopping by! Hope your morning/afternoon/evening is extra cozy and delightful. Until our paths cross again!

 

Honoring My Dad on His Birthday

 

 “In the grief of losing someone,
Why do I feel like the lost one?”
(Terri Guillemets)

 

Hello, my lovely friends! 

    Tomorrow would have been my dad’s 80th birthday. I thought I;d share some more crazy things about my dad.

 

1. When I was five I went Christmas shopping with my mom and I really wanted to get my dad a basketball, not because he played just because. All the way she kept telling me not to tell my dad and I said okay. Well, we got home and I told my dad we got him something but I can’t tell him what it is. I did tell him its round, orange and goes bouncy bouncy. 

2. Every time we would finish dinner my dad would say all that was missing was chocolate cake. He did this for years. One day while grocery shopping with my mom she bought a chocolate cake and hid it in the pantry. When dinner was finished that night he did his usually saying all that was missing was chocolate cake. I ran to the pantry and got the cake and we all had a big laugh about it. 

3. He had season tickets for the Denver Broncos and would always take a friend, my mom, his brothers or my sister to the games. When I was five I wanted to go so bad and he decided to take me. I’m not fan of football and still not. Through the whole game I was reading a book and then when the hot dog guy came I didn’t want one, but when he left I wanted one. I did the same thing with peanuts. Well, that was the first and last time I went to a game. 

4. As kids we collected pop cans and my dad would take us to recycle them twice a year, Christmas and 4th of July. We would split the amount and go buy fireworks. I would get the bag with mixed fireworks and there was always the ones you could put in cigarettes to make them explode. My dad smoked and I would always put them in. One time he was watching a horror movie and it went off and scared everyone.

5. When my oldest nephew was born my dad decided to stop smoking and did so quietly. A month passed and no one realized what he did. One day he asked all of us if we noticed anything different about him. We’re all looking at him and nothing clicked with us and when he told us we were shocked. He never smoked a cigarette again. 

6. When I was in second grade our school was going on a field trip to Casa Bonita on St. Patrick’s Day. I came home from school and asked my dad if he wanted to go to Casa Bonita for his birthday and he said yes and thought nothing more of it. Days before his birthday I let hi know what time to be at school and he was puzzled. Being in second grade I failed to tell him he volunteer to be a parent chaperone for our field trip. On the bus trip there I informed everyone it was his birthday and we sang to him. 

 

Thank you so much for stopping by! Hope your morning/afternoon/evening is extra cozy and delightful. Until our paths cross again!