Eye Candy Friday

September 22, 2017 By Carole

Thank you SO much for all of the comments yesterday wishing me a Happy Birthday. You all came through in a big big way and it was a fabulous day! Really, everything was perfect, from working to a pizza party (to talk about health care options but still, free pizza), to a contract meeting with my boss, to interviewing for a library opening, to a brewery full of music and friends and great food to . . . well . . . everything. It was just wonderful.

And, speaking of wonderful, check out this Moses Basket, which is currently hanging out in our den. It’s draped with the baby blanket I knit and it’s just waiting for . . . the baby. 12 days and counting now!

Have a great weekend, friends! Enjoy every moment as if it’s your birthday!

Three On Thursday: The One About My Birthday

September 21, 2017 By Carole

Tradition has been that Dale writes a post for me on my birthday. This year, however, he didn’t meet the editorial deadline and I find myself having to write this one myself. You know what, though? It’s okay. If I have learned one thing in 52 years it’s that . . . wait . . . I bet I can come up with three things instead of just one thing . . .

I have learned that life is short and people matter more than things. I lost a brother when I was 17 and another when I was 31 and then my mom when I was 32. You don’t go through those kind of losses without realizing that there are no promises when it comes to your own longevity or anyone else’s. And what that teaches you is that you need to say the things you need to say while you can. Because no guarantees. Telling people you love them matters. A lot. Other things that matter a lot: forgiveness, trust, understanding, and recognizing that your own standards aren’t necessarily anyone else’s.
I have learned that the key to happiness is being satisfied with what you have. Would I love a fancy house with lots of closets and a gigantic master bedroom suite? Kinda. But on the other hand am I willing to sacrifice to get that? Not so much. I love that Dale and I have jobs that allow us to be together a lot even if they don’t pay us a lot. I love that our mortgage is low and that we live in the same house we have lived in for our entire married life. I love that we live next door to Jack, that both of our daughters live within walking distance, and that we can see our family frequently and easily. So, yes, there are things I would change, but I’m content with the way they are right now. And being content is way more valuable than a master bathroom. (maybe)
I have learned that it’s never to late to live an authentic life. To try new things. To go outside your comfort zone. To stand up for yourself and how you want to be treated. To spend time with people who matter because time is a precious commodity. To be true to yourself and to be present. Because being present is really all you have. And, best of all, it’s enough.

If I can add one more thing I have learned, it’s that birthday wishes make birthdays much much better. Yes, that’s a hint and I hope you’ll take it and leave gobs of comments today. Thanks, friends.

If you wrote a post for Three on Thursday please share it by adding a link below.

An InLinkz Link-up

Unraveling

September 20, 2017 By Carole

I’m joining with Kat and friends this week to talk about what I’m knitting and what I’m reading.

As I mentioned yesterday, I am knitting the hat that goes with the Hungry Caterpillar set. On Sunday when I finished the cocoon and showed it to Dale he referred to it as the baby’s first sleeping bag! Sounds about right and coming into this family of campers, I predict it won’t be his last sleeping bag either.

I haven’t touched the socks or the shawl or the Christmas stocking I am finishing for a friend who’s mom passed away while it was in progress. But I will be getting to all of those projects soon. Just as soon as I can back away from the baby knits, anyway.

I am reading Glass Houses by Louise Penny, the newest in the Gamache series. While I love the story and I’m eager to read it, I find myself not actually reading it much because I don’t want to be finished and then have to wait another year for a new book set in Three Pines. Those of you who love Louise Penny know just what I mean, I bet.

And that’s all for me. Want to see what everyone else is knitting and reading? Head on over to Kat’s!

Tuesday Things

September 19, 2017 By Carole

If we do 3 Things on Thursday can we still do other Things on Tuesday? I hope so because that’s what I’m doing today.

Mmmmkay?

I signed up for Michelle’s Just Five Things and it started yesterday. The idea is that you write a list of 5 things 3 times every day. Yesterday’s prompt was gratitude and I found it really cool to stop and think about what happened throughout the day that made me feel grateful. I’m looking forward to seeing where this goes for the next two weeks.

Yesterday was also National Cheeseburger Day. I indulged in a delicious cheeseburger at our local 99. It was bomb.

I finished the caterpillar cocoon over the weekend and I’m now working on the hat. The baby is due to appear on 10/4 and I’m just wondering how many more things I can knit for him before then.

I’m trying really hard to plan lunches ahead because so many times I find myself having to get take out at lunch time. This is not good for my wallet or my health so I’m working on it. Yesterday I got up early and made a sausage and rice dish in the Instant Pot and then packaged it up for 3 lunches this week. That’s a good start but I don’t want to eat the same thing for 3 days in a row so I need other ideas. Feel free to weigh in on what works for you!

The drawing class that I signed up for over the same is open for fall sign ups now. I can’t say enough how awesome this has been for me. I’ve gotten behind a bit on the lessons but I’m planning on catching up and I love what I’ve learned so far. If you’re interested you can click here to get more information and to sign up.

Today marks 18 years since I started working for the Town of Carver. It’s a terrific gig and I love my job, both as Library Director and Council on Aging Director. A lot has changed in 18 years (Hannah was 7 when I started working there!) and I’m so grateful to work in a beautiful setting with a fabulous staff.

And that’s all I’ve got for this Tuesday!

Weekending

September 18, 2017 By Carole

I have to tell you, this weekend was great! It was low key and mostly spent at home and it was just what the doctor ordered.

We started Friday evening in the usual way. It was warm enough to be outside, not just for cocktail hour, but right up until bedtime. Warm nights like that are numbered at this point so we’re making the most of them while they last.

Also, I baked a pie for our town’s Apple Pie Contest. I mostly followed my usual apple pie routine but I did make the crust with butter and shortening instead of all shortening. And instead of using all Cortland apples, as my mom always did, I used a mix of Cortland and Gala.

Those extra details must have made the difference because my pie came in 2nd place! The way this contest works is that after the pies have all been judged the remaining pieces are sliced and sold. Dale bought a piece of my pie and I remembered to take this picture before he gobbled it up entirely. I was very pleased with how the fruit filling held together.

First place went to Sean’s pie and I bought a slice of that one. It was delicious! He used lard and butter in the crust and a mixture of Braeburn and Honey Crisp apples, I believe. The fruit was cooked perfectly, not mushy but still firm. He totally deserved 1st place!

We had things we were going to do in the afternoon and evening but when we got home from the events on the Town Common we didn’t have a lot of motivation. Well. I didn’t have a lot of motivation. Dale actually mowed the lawn. I did get up off the couch eventually and I planted these succulents from Jessica’s baby shower. That exhausted me, though, and I was done for the day!

Cocktail hour was on the deck again.

And then we came inside to play Mexican Train. As you can see, Mason was quite interested in the game. Heh. Dale kicked my ass this time but I think it’s because Mason was acting as his spy.

On Sunday we went to visit Jack. It was a great visit and it’s wonderful to see him really improving. Yesterday he was just like his old self and that made me so happy. I just can’t wait for him to come home!

We spent the rest of the day watching football (yay for a Pats win!) and hanging out. I knit, Dale napped, we had a little time on the deck, and then we watched Outlander.

It was a really really good weekend. Hope yours was, too.