June is like the year's INTERMISSION. Although Summer Proper is still 21 days away, I must admit that the arrival of June always begins the celebration of summer-time for me.
Six Months into the year and a good time to review January's Goals which seem forever ago...
1. 10 Years as a Zen Buddhist. Still on The Path and couldn't be more at peace/happier. I can't even begin to list all the ways this philosophy has changed my life for the better.
2. Observing the 6:1 again, having lost last year's small gain between November and January. I am happy with where I am at and intend to maintain it. I'm neither too fat or too skinny.
I am healthy.
3. Continuing the $50 Project (...it is amazing what happiness or relief fifty dollars can bring someone at a moment of need...) and a little behind with the Yearly Saving Goal...but I will get there before December 31st.
4. Re-using,Re-purposing and Composting Daily. Made 30 gallons of Earth from last season and have been able to start the potting year without buying ANY additional soil or additives. Watering when necessary with grey water (used) and rain water. Public transportation at least 80% of the time. Jars saved to put up jams and dry goods. Buying the least amount of plastic packaging possible. Using a lot of fresh fruits and veggies. Healthier and less waste. Using canvas totes to carry (and when not, bring back plastic bags to recycle).
5. Enjoyed Alaska in March/April and finishing Hawaii May/June, Absolutely LOVE virtual travel and it has given me a way to finish the US.
6. Working on the items on my (Bucket) Life List and have crossed several off since January. Also added several!
7. Simplify...Simplify...Simplify! Better than it was...still not where I want to be but definitely more organized.
8. Six months left to finish the first draft of my first Fiction Novella (too short for novel length....too long for a short story) I have no doubt by the 31st I will be ready to start the editing and re-writes!
9. Spending a lot of time with both friends and family. Good quality time. And loving it. Nothing is more important in life than family and good friends.
10. I have the manual wheelchair now and am getting fairly proficient with it. No longer "Crash". Still ambulatory with a walker or with assist and do THAT as much as possible, and will remain ambulatory as long as possible.
11. Usually can reserve Sunday as a Zen Retreat (not always if there are family/friend plans) but about 90% of the time!
12. My Biggest Habit I am going to break this year is PROCRASTINATION.
Slow progress...but progress nonetheless.
So that is where I'm at....
June, the season spent basking on NPB and getting a start on my tan du jour. Assembling a summer reading list. Starting the seeds and sets for summer (and this year the frog bog and butterfly garden. Time to greet the tiny hummingbirds who are back, and thirsty. Breaking out the summer food fare. Fresh fruits and cold salads. Crisp veggies and ices. Lemonade, cold sweet peach tea and iced coffee! Love morning coffee on the patio listening to the songbirds. Finishing the last plate of Spring's Morels (well...the black ones which were brought late in the season to me, anyway)
Summer...natures way of telling us to
The week was busy, but good.
Sadly, Tina's Grandfather passed Monday after his battle with Cancer. She, Kimber and Chris have been helping one another through that. They were very close. She is doing better.
Tuesday, John and I had our brunch here...with Roast BBQ Pork Loin, Potato Wedges, Fried Mushrooms with Cocktail Sauce, Sweet Tea and Homemade Peach Cobbler with Whipped Cream. I turned him on to Solitaire Chess (that small square chess puzzle board with the cards) which he enjoyed a lot.
Lent him mine until he gets one.
Lent to me by Chris.
Amazing practice piece. Like the Cracker Barrel Peg Board for Intelligent People.
The gist of it is you must arrange the pieces as the card directs...then clear the board with chess moves completely. No wasted moves..every move must take a piece until you are left with only one. There are 60 cards and each one is different; varying from Beginner Level to Expert.
Harder than it looks.
He brought Shelby some of this
Gizmo (his kitty-master) loves the stuff.
Shelby (who will not even let the grass outside touch her feet) stared at it as if to say
"Good God...NOW the lawn has come into the house...come to kill us all!!!"
She did finally nibble a little around the edges. Cautiously.
Spoiled silly cat.
Going to put some of it in the edges of my bog.
Wednesday, Chris popped by with a drive-by chili (ing) leaving me a small pot and discussing his plans for the Network Plus and Security Plus Coursework and Testing. Is contemplating a Degree in Computer Sciences.
Thursdays have become Grandma Rose Day...and I am able to see my eldest and one (or several) of my grands in the afternoon.
Last week was pizza and board games, and guitar and such with Kaylee, Brenden and Hannah.
Kaylee is so TALL now!
Just popped up all at once.
Everyone had a fidget...and now I must have one. Found a tye-dye for sale!
Note: If these had been available in the late 70's we would have never left the house.
This Thursday the boys (Aiden and Brenden) came
He has started learning to play chess. The Game of Kings. Delighted in learning
"You know who else played chess, boy?"
"PIRATES"
And Shelby, who was so worn out from playing with them that she fell asleep with her mousie on a stick.
Friday, was Brunch and a bit of grocery shopping with Loretta, Judy and Sharon...our "Out to Brunch Bunch" We are like my friend Vicki's "The Pool People" only less wet, and more pie!
So, yes. It has been a busy week.
Being a hermit this weekend. Play in the plants. Paint a bit. Regroup and Recuperate.
Who wouldn't be a hermit after this week in Politics.
"And now WHAT..."
being displaced this week for a stronger term
Make no mistake...His Orangeness has been a busy boy...but perhaps he most egregious act of all was Pulling Out of The Paris Climate Accord.
Kathy Griffin was fired by CNN for Mock Beheading photos of the Tangerine Twitterer...which did cross the line...but no love lost, here. I remember Griffin interviewing sailors immediately after the USS Cole Bombing, and pressing until she caught their raw grief and tears on live camera.
Haven't cared for her since.
Good riddance to bad rubbish, in my opinion.
And there was COVFEFE.
Obviously a late night typo...but it was entertaining for a day or so,
And then Stand By His Man Spicer was pretty endearing trying to explain it away like it was a covert code that only a few insiders knew...lmao...
Cosa Nostra doesn't have THAT kind of loyalty, folks.
And they should look Spicer up...because I think he may be needing a job soon...sensing a shift in the wind.
Then the Marmalade Maurader decided to gamble away the future of OUR SPECIES for a fast buck.
Don't worry people....the planet is going to be just fine. Humans....er...maybe not so much.
And to their credit, many are saying...BS...we are going to observe the objectives of the treaty anyway...you, Cheeto Dusted, moron.
He has experienced backlash from pretty much everyone on this one. Even many in his own party.
You Want To Make America Great Again?
RESIGN.
Lennon has his flight and rental car arranged, and will be arriving soon! Can't wait! We are focusing on one day of the six to get everybody together all at once
(kids and grands and spouses/fiancé and me) So happy!
Engaged in a little escapism and saw
Which was fairly entertaining and tied up a lot of loose ends. Also created several new characters...and although they said this would absolutely be the last...the Easter Egg at the ending hinted to at least one more...we will see.
The book this week was the newly released
I wanted to read this from the first moment I read about it. Part memoir, part autobiographical, a nice biography of his mother, part cookbook...but mostly LOVE. A monument to the woman who raised him.
Outstanding read.
And (...because my friend Lisa, at the library, snags me anything newly released by Stephen King...) I was brought the short novella
So...that is it for the week.
Have a Wonderful Relaxing Weekend!
Looking forward to Nicole's Birthday on Tusday!!!