What’s Been Happening With Me?

Or should I say ‘Welcome Back Linda?’

Yes, it had been several months since I have posted. Why? Like many of us life just happens and can be both exhilarating and exhausting.

winter days pass slowly into spring

This winter, the days passed slowly into spring. The unusually bitter cold temps gave me a reason to not venture out unless necessary.

Eventually, spring came. We weren’t back fully to our usual activities yet. With the blooms that graced our yard, I began to come out of the winter fog so to speak.

Were there constants during this winter and early spring?

Yes, thankfully. The weekly women’s study continued to meet each week. First, we have worship and teaching from the platform from several gifted women. Then we have table time for discussion and prayer.

We still had family celebrations. Birthdays were observed and celebrating. As Jim recovered family visited for the day. Except for Amy who trains in for a weekend, the other kids are in town of a few hour drive away.

Meg and I drove to a March birthday but no other road trips.

So what was different for us?

Surgery and recovery for JIm

Jim, my husband, had knee replacement surgery and weeks of not driving to all those PT appointments. I was thankful he could make it to the car using his walker. We don’t have a garage and must park on the road.

Now he is out in the yard every day possible, taking mile long walks and on the road to a full, hopefully, pain free recovery.

Jim’s birthday celebration was delayed but still festive.

Season Hightlights

One season highlight this winter was Emma, one of our granddaughters and 3 of her aunts enjoyed a private glass blowing class. It was her Christmas gift of experience from Jim and I. She got the bonus of time by herself with the aunts.

Amy found one, Burning Branch Studio, about 45 minutes away that met all the requirements including age. Most glsss blowing classes are for 18 years and older. Emma’s not that old yet!

It was a success because she had a wonderful time and so did the aunts. The finished pieces were pretty wonderful too.

Moving furniture in the living room

To facilitate Jim’s recovery, we moved furniture around in the living room. We added a recliner from Nancy’s house and a Facebook Market Amazon bed. Having room in the living room to rearrange was a blessing. Once he felt able to climb the narrow stairs, we moved the bed up to the now guest room (Meg’s former room that didn’t have a bed. She took it with her when she moved into her house.)

Watch for that room update once I get it done!

Blissfully Balanced

Now the room is blissfully balanced with the move of the dining room credenza under the window next to the fireplace.

There are 2 windows on each side of the fireplace. Moving this piece in created a difference sense of balance that brings a sense of blissful balance to the room.

Once the bed was moved upstairs, I sat looking at the empty space for a few days before making any moves. The space was now bare and we could use another lamp in the living room.

Moving the credenza from the dining room to the other window on the side of the fireplace in the living room brought balance to the living room. Having another piece that was similar under this window was a good decision. The credenza is reproduction Italian renaissance style. The other piece under the other window is a small Chinese antique buffet that we brought back with us when we moved back to Pennsylvania.

Now the room is blissfully balanced with the move of the dining room credenza under the window next to the fireplace.

We like it.

One fun outing cowboy wedding

It was a unique wedding that perfectly reflected the bride and groom’s style…a cowboy theme. The dress code was cowboy style.

Jim borrowed a bolo tie from Nathan. He wore jeans with his sport coat and his Australian bush hat, a gift from an Australian friend years ago.

Amy and I went shopping for an affordable cowboy hat for me. Luckily, Boot Barn recently opened up about 5 minutes from our house.

Cowboy hats can be very expensive but the sales girl directed us to the right spot to find a very affordable one. We even found a dress for me! I added my blue jean jacket We were ready.

Amy turned out in cowboy style including Facebook market cowboy boots with pink embroidery. Sadly, Meg was so sick she couldn’t make it.

I may have found my style of hat. In the past when I would try on hats, my children would laugh. To be fair, I didn’t like them either.

But I liked this hat. Maybe it was my long hair. It started out with curls but the wind was not kind to them. Next, I’m going to try a baseball hat.

Buying that cowboy had was fun because it was so different from my usual. Turns out that in my retirement, hats are becoming part of my wardrobe!

Mother’s Day starts a new season

Mother’s Day capped off this season of recovery and reflecting.

Not everyone came home this year. Once our kids move out and pursue careers in other cities when and how we do celebrations for any holiday changes. This year was at Nancy’s. Nathan and the kids cooked. It was an especially nice day.

Here are 2 of our favorite dishes recipes we often serve at family meals. Grandpa’s Hash Brown Casserole is the side that is also good as a leftover if there is any left.

Strawberry Pretzel Salad is another dish. It has been called retro but it is still around because it is so good.

Pausing to take a break

Pausing to take a break caused me to consider all of the projects floating in my mind, Resetting so realistic priorities of what I want to accomplish and to do in the days to come.

Retirement isn’t from life; it is a different season with shifting desires and priorities. The pause I was in is similar to maybe a spiritual retreat and like a conference retreat for a hobby or work. Whatever label to put on it, I feel refreshed and ready to be more focused.

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There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens Ecclesiastes 3:1

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