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A Slice of Life – My Corner of The World
Yesterday was heavenly. I decided to set aside my “to-do” list and just really focus on enjoying the day. I spent the majority of it outside. As you may have read (a thousand times) in earlier blogs, we have been waiting a very long time for summer weather. Well, it’s finally here and I want to soak up every possible minute of it. Plus, sometime soon, our life is going to get very busy, hectic, and even more stressful than it is right now. I want to enjoy our little “sanctuary” in the backyard before we move.
I sat out in the yard, sunned myself, and read for a while. This is one of the books I’m currently reading:
Have you ever read her books? They are based out of South Carolina in the “low country”. I love books about the south. They are amazingly comfortable and soothing, and make me daydream about living in a rich, flamboyant, atmosphere filled with southern tradition. I haven’t read a book of hers that I didn’t like.
While I was reading, I also sipped on this, because it was quite hot yesterday…in the low 90’s. I just simply added a scoop of the Lemon Sorbet I made a couple of days ago to a glass full of spring water and ice. Wonderfully refreshing!
After I read for a while I spent more than two hours on the phone with my husband’s sister, Alysia, catching up on life in my neck of the woods and hers. We don’t talk all that often, so when we do, it’s usually a phone marathon.
After I hung up, I thought, “I should probably do a load of laundry and run upstairs and make the bed…” But I stopped myself. Nope! Today is a NON “to-do” list day. You will go outside and enjoy the weather! And I did.
I ran across this bible study on the internet and it arrived two days ago. I really love to learn about why we are the creatures we are and how our bodies work. It’s good to learn about yourself and feed your mind and soul. But I don’t have to tell you that, do I? I think that people who blog already have that figured out. We love to learn from others who blog, see what they are experiencing in their lives, and share a bit of our own world.
I already know quite a bit about PMS and Perimenopause after working for a Naturopath for several years. Plus, I somehow was flung into the whole perimenopause thing when I was nearing my 39th birthday. Fun, fun. I love to arm myself with knowledge. I don’t like to treat symptoms without knowing the why’s and how’s and how I might manage things naturally. I bought this study because it was the first time that I had seen someone approach such a touchy subject for so many women (92% of women suffer from severe PMS and Perimenopause symptoms) that not only dealt with the medical aspects but also with the spiritual. We are feeling, emotional, living, beings after all. It only makes sense.
As I lounged in the yard I looked over at Abigail and for the millionth time, I reminded myself how thankful I am for loving pets in our life! They ask for so little and want to give so much. Abigail is always right by my side, just patiently waiting to see what I will do next, ready to assist me in her sweet little way and follow me from task to task.
Romeo was inside, lounging in air-conditioned comfort. He had quite enough of the bees chasing him around.
So basically, that was the majority of my day. Yep, I sat in the yard and soaked up the summer pretty much all day long.
A little visit with our son in the evening also blessed my day. He warmed my heart yesterday when he told me he wanted to “surprise” his Dad with a little something. My husband has already taken the job back east so he has been having to travel extensively. Life is stressful when you have to change time zones twice a week and are only home for about a day and a half. We have a motorcycle trailer that needs to be sold before we move, but it needs a little work. Of course my husband’s hectic schedule doesn’t allow for a lot of time to be spent on things like that. And that type of thing is way out of my realm of expertise. Brandon wants to spruce it up for him and put it up for sale as a surprise because he knows how busy his Dad is. I thought his suggestion was loving and thoughtful and frankly, it made an almost perfect day, absolutely perfect.
He’ll be over today to work on it. So I will pause for now…and add a bit more later today. I plan on making this day an extension of yesterday. A little cleaning and “to-do” list things here and there maybe, but otherwise, I’m just going to embrace the day and take it a minute at a time and see what it has to offer.
This was my breakfast this morning. A simple breakfast to go along with my easy-going day. It’s half of an Udi’s bagel with organic almond butter and my Aunt Judy’s (she’s really my husband’s aunt, but I have adopted her as my own) unbelievably delicious, homemade, strawberry jam.
I also made an organic vegetable salad to munch on for the next couple of days. The weather is hot and as much as I know I need to start whittling down that organic meat in the freezer…I just haven’t been feeling like making a big to do about dinner for me, myself, and I. A salad is just right.
Getting the trailer ready…he’s so resourceful! How do you just “know” how to wire things and what to buy and how to do it?
He has always been a fixer and loves to create things in the garage. When he was little he built a sprinkler system in his sandbox. Seriously. All the tubing and everything. All he had to do was screw a hose to it and it was a sprinkler system for his sand box army base.
He was born with computer knowledge and has been doing computer repair work on the side for years…and he just turned 20. When he was in the 5th grade, my paper shredder died. He took the entire thing apart, rewired it, put it back together and it worked like new. Since he was in middle school, he has been our computer and technology guru. He wires things for us – new lighting, cable, he was the one who set up our entire television system with all of it’s boxes and speakers and whatever it’s called, while I stood there handing him tools that he pointed to, that I didn’t even know the names of.
Two weeks ago, he completely rewired and re-plumbed my mother’s sprinkler system. He’s amazing…if I do say so myself. And believe me, he didn’t get these skills from his father and I!
Like a lot of young people, he’s a carb addict. So to thank him for his hard work on his Dad’s trailer, I baked him a delicious pan of corn bread that he could slather with honey and butter. You can find the recipe here.
This is the cornbread I was telling you about this morning, Smidge. To. Die. For.
Sometimes we just absolutely need to set certain things aside temporarily so we can truly appreciate life. We all have our responsibilities but let’s be truthful, a lot of things that take up our time can really be saved for another day.
The little things in life are sometimes what have the most impact. Like taking the time to enjoy the weather and read in your back yard. Learning something new. Being thankful that you have a loyal pet by your side to love on. Sitting in the garage for the afternoon and watching your “grown” son work on a surprise for his Dad. Just taking life minute by minute instead of rushing, rushing, rushing… and instead, being thankful for every little thing and savoring each slice of life.
13 Comments on “A Slice of Life – My Corner of The World”
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gluten free zen 
I’m so glad you put things aside to enjoy a heavenly day. All those things like making the bed and tidying up can wait. Great that you spent some time doing a Bible study and reading a book and enjoying the sunshine. How handy is your son! What a help he must be to have around and yes, teenage boys just love their carbs! xx
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It was a great day, for sure. He’s “usually” helpful…but I know I don’t have to tell you about teenagers! Ha! Iove reading about your family adventures.
Have a lovely day! ~April
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Lynda, A wonderful restful day outside is a gift, and so is that son of yours!
Lovely,
~Lynda
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I’m not sure if it’s a typo or not…but you keep calling me Lynda! LOL My name is April, but don’t worry, I knew who you were referring to. 😉 And you’re right, a restful day outside is a gift and our son is a true blessing! Have a nice evening. ~ April
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Ouch. I’m sorry April, I am tired, and dreadfully embarrassed. Please correct my error and imagine that I was wishing to be you today. It really did sound idyllic! xo, Lynda
PS: I do try so hard to remember all my blog friends names and to keep them straight. I had no idea I had done this once let alone more than once… 😦
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Don’t worry about it, Lynda!! I just wanted to let you know, but believe me, I know how hard it is to keep up on all of the blogger’s names that I follow.
I just thought maybe you thought I looked like a Lynda! 😉
Have a lovely day and get some rest! ~ April
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April, what a marvelous day you have just described. I am feeling very lazy with the hot temps…and your day could really work for me right now. Maybe tomorrow or Saturday! Isn’t it wonderful to have a grown son who is so talented and resourceful. God did such a good job on that sweet son of yours. Happy summertime, April! Loved your post today. Gay
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Thank you, Gay. Hope you are doing well and happy summertime to you too! 🙂
~April
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I don’t know why.. but your post brought tears to my eyes while reading it. How often does a mother get to watch her son helping out in a selfless act of love for a parent. He may not have gotten “electrical and computer” skills from you.. but it is clear that you two did an awesome job raising your son. You will remember this day for… ever!
xo
Smidge
ps.. omy gosh.. that cornbread.. ❤ ❤
pps do you happen to have a GF brownie recipe??
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Oddly enough, I was a little teary yesterday too. I think when your kids start to really mature it just makes you so reflective…and teary! Thank you for your kind words.
I don’t have a GF brownie recipe on my blog. I’ve never even attempted one because I love the Namaste mix so much. It’s very versatile, you can use it in many different ways.
You have a lovely day, Smidge 🙂
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Everyone should follow your lead and pick a day, any day, and enjoy it. Just stay in the moment for one day. We’d all be better for it.
Your son’s “gift” is really quite special. Good for him and the parents that raised him. 😉
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Thanks John! It’s interesting how hard it is really, to set aside a day like that. Once I made my mind up, I was so happy that I fought off the urges to allow things to distract me from just enjoying each moment. Our lives have become too busy and too cluttered with “stuff” that doesn’t matter. I’m going to try to have days like these more often and I hope you do too! 🙂
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