Happy Monday Blogging Besties 😊💕
Are you excited about the eclipse today? Here, we're not going to have any exciting moments as it's cloudy and raining...and it's supposed to stay this way all day. But I hope those of you in a zone to see it will enjoy!
It was such a fun and lovely weekend here. Friday Matt & Annie & I went out for dinner and then went to our local Home and Builders Show. It was fun to see exhibits and products for Spring.
Then Saturday Matt & I headed to visit my Aunt. She lived around my area for many years. But she retired and moved away more recently to a really fun town a few hours away from us. It's a big college area and it's so charming. She lives in a 55+ retirement community area that is on a college campus. So it's so dynamic and filled with fun energy. She does volunteer work at the chapel at the college. The whole area is charming and it's so nice because she can walk to just about anything she needs. So we did lots of walking around seeing the area. We walked around the campus. And she took us to her favorite coffee/sandwich shop. We also looked at shops and she showed us her favorite nature trails. She made us dinner Saturday night and then we walked to an ice cream shop. We went back to her place and played cards until late. Then Sunday she took us to a different university campus that has a monastery and an abbey.
We went to mass at the abbey and it had amazing architecture and stained glass. The monks did a lot of the mass and so there was lovely music and singing (almost chanting at times). We ate on the campus for lunch after. It was so fun to kind of remember college days. And to feel the fun younger energy everywhere. Her little area is truly like out of a Hallmark movie or something. Best of all, though, was catching up with her of course! (she's always been an extra special Auntie to me) We already look forward to the next visit with her. 💗💗💗
THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:
ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE THIS MORNING:
Sugar free iced coffee.
I now fast 16 hours each day and only do an 8 hour eating window. I love how I feel now that I'm getting used to fasting. I can tell it's shrinking my belly too, so I don't have as much appetite. So I'm losing weight faster. When I do eat, I choose healthier options and lesser portions. I'm determined to have less weight on my joints to help with pain issues with my arthritis etc. Just working on healthy and a lifestyle that can work for me long term....the weight loss is just a nice side effect. :)
I also do regular exercise throughout the week. Motion is lotion as they say in the arthritis world. 😉
ON MY TO DO LIST THIS WEEK:
make Ruby's vet appointment, help Annie with prom errands, run errands for senior soiree, Annie & I both have dental appts, pick up just a few groceries, more spring cleaning projects, hospice work
THINKING ABOUT:
the solar eclipse for obvious reasons - even though I won't be seeing it here...it's a pretty cool event to me (I've always loved astronomy and sciences)
AS I LOOK AROUND THE HOUSE
It's gray and rainy. But almost all the snow is gone and the bay is open! I just saw a group of wild turkeys go through my yard and I just took a pic (I'll share it below)
CURRENTLY READING
I have started the book The Collected Regret of Clover by Mikki Brammer. I received it as a gift from a friend and started it before and then got sidetracked. Now reading for real and it's so good so far! She knew it would be up my alley as it's about an end of life doula in N.Y. (although it's a fictitious novel and the main character is adorably unique)
ON THE TV TODAY:
Jeopardy, Call the Midwife, LPBW, The Good Wife, Grey's Anatomy, Survivor, The Rookie, Ghosts, Shark Tank, The Good Doctor, When Calls the Heart
ON THE MENU THIS WEEK:
MONDAY - cardamom bread french toast, bacon, fruit, eggs
TUESDAY - spicy coconut curry pork noodle soup (HF meal)
WEDNESDAY - tomato shakshuka w/ feta & pickled onion, pita bread, side salad (HF meal)
THURSDAY - creamy one pot pasta toscana w/ spinach & parm (HF meal)
FRIDAY - out for dinner
TO RELAX THIS WEEK I WILL:
read, craft, home projects
TIPS OR SOMETHING TO SHARE:
Did you know that your biggest organ is your skin? And I had read up long ago about all the chemicals in detergents and how your skin soaks up some of that from your clothing. So the past few years I've liked using all natural projects in the laundry. My favorite has been molly's suds detergent powder (they have liquid too) and their natural dryer sheets along with wool dry balls. This isn't an add or anything - I'm just sharing what I have found works for me to feel good about our healthier laundry situation. My favorite fragrance of detergent is molly's lavender (from essential oils). I have a subscription set up on amazon to make it even easier for myself. For towels and things I often add a little vinegar in the fabric softener compartment of the washer to naturally soften them. No, the clothes don't have that super smell other detergent's give or those weird scent booster ball things? But if I smell that on clothing I just think I'm smelling chemicals now and that doesn't smell fresh in my mind. My clothes just smell clean. Good enough for me. Lol
Anyway, just thought I'd share.
FROM THE CAMERA:
The recent visit to see my Aunt. The wall of stained glass was the whole back of the church up to the ceiling. Just such unique architecture. That's Matt admiring it in the first pic. And the other pics are of my Aunt's cute place (in one pic you can see her off to the right and her dog Luna). We had a lovely weather Saturday there and walked everywhere. Sunday was a rainy drive home but cozy and we did lots of chatting and singing. 💗
Some Spring moments: These neat pages in my planner for the April part. A recent Spring pedi because Annie and I go to AZ for her Spring break. And the wild turkeys in our backyard this morning.
