Pages

Monday, March 18, 2024

Snow to Start the Week

Spring? What Spring? 

I think Mother Nature decided we needed another little burst of winter just to remind us that, although it's been rather mild this winter, there is still some cold to come! Yesterday on our Sunday adventure it was really windy and cold and well, there was either ice or snow blowing in our faces as we stood on the lakeshore when we stopped in Michigan City, Indiana lol. This morning when I went for my walk it was snowing and cold. It's been like that most of the day. Sigh. 

Yesterday we had thought about going to watch the herons nesting at a faraway Metropark, but the weather didn't look great, so we decided to take another (sort of) longish drive down the coast of Michigan over into Indiana, through Michigan City (stopping at the lighthouses there) and going to the Indiana Dunes National Park to renew our National Park Pass. The other year when we stopped at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park we were getting ready to pay and the man on the gate asked if we were certain things (you know students, oaps etc). He got to veteran and my husband says yes and he lets us know that we can get a free membership to the National Parks. At the time it was just for a year but they were bringing out a lifetime one so we could upgrade when it was available. 

There aren't that many National Parks near us but we do stop at Sleeping Bear Dunes once in a while and up at Pictured Rocks, so we thought we'd go to the one closest to us and get husband's lifetime membership. We've been down to Indiana Dunes National Park a few times. There are quite a few trails there to walk and a lovely homestead to see. 










We found a trail at the back of the property but didn't walk that one as we had plans to walk another. We've added it to our to-walk list lol. We saw a lovey pileated woodpecker drumming against a dead tree making a really loud noise, some bluebirds and robins flitting around. There were actually quite a few birds about. 

These are a few I caught while using my Merlin App. It's a great way to identify bird songs and is available everywhere, I think. My sister downloaded it to her phone and tells me what birds she hears while out walking at her local parks. 




I think I'll leave the lighthouse and beach visit photos until tomorrow.  It will give me something to talk about lol. 

Phone Photos - Things That Make Me Smile 77/366




A few little flowers peeking through the leaves! Made me smile. Despite the cold and windy weather, spring is around the corner!

78/366



Snow in the woods, but I think - maybe - just maybe - the daffodils will survive. It can only get warmer. Right? 

Is it Spring or still Winter where you are? 


Saturday, March 16, 2024

Ta-Da!!!

I decluttered over 50 books today!!! Can you believe it? I can't! 

What a pile!



The sad thing is it certainly doesn't look like I've got rid of any as I pulled out some others that were tucked in different places and the bookcase is just as full. I am determined to keep going and maybe - just maybe - one day I'll have no more books tucked away anywhere and there will be space on the bookcases. 

I'm sure I'll be able to get rid of a lot more. Hanging my head, but most of these ones I had Kindle copies of too. Sigh. I'm going to raise my hand and confess to being a book hoarder. 

Before working on a single bookcase I did go out for a walk. It was chilly, but sunny. It was nice and quite while I was out. I got to watch the beavers and the crazy geese. 

Things That Make Me Smile 76/366



Tomorrow we're off out for a bit. Not sure where yet. What are your plans for Sunday? 

Friday, March 15, 2024

The End of Another Week

Isn't this month just flying by? 

It's not been a bad week. I do feel as though I'm getting something done. Not as much as I hoped, but I can see a tiny bit of progress. I've started a small charity shop box and have filled it so have to get a bigger one. I'll feel better once that one gets filled up! I don't find it easy to get rid of things. Sometimes I just wish a decluttering fairy would come to the house and just whip it into shape. I'm not sure I'd miss a lot of the stuff. It's just hard to go through and choose what I'd like to get rid of!

I went for a walk this morning with my friend. Later I video chatted with daughter while she was in a store (she wanted to show me something). She showed me Baby A who gave me (or at least I like to think it was me) a smile. I miss her. Was lovely to see her again. Her hair is growing in so dark! Later in the afternoon I messaged with my sister. I forgot that our clocks had moved forward and hers hadn't yet (such a pain!) and I was an hour earlier than we usually message, but she was alright with it. She had two of her grandchildren today, so she was ready for a sit down and a glass of wine! She babysits one on Thursday and two others on Friday so by the end of the week she's ready for a rest! I enjoy catching up with her each week. 

Not sure what's on for the weekend. Tomorrow I'm off out for a walk by myself in the morning and I hope to do some more sorting in the craft room in the afternoon, or perhaps I'll tackle a book case. Sunday we'll do a Sunday Adventure, not sure where yet. The temperature - of course - is supposed to drop on Sunday and it will be close to freezing all day!

74/366



One of the few spring decorations I've got lol. It's a bird. Makes me smile


75/366



Daffodils. A sign of spring in the woods! Seeing these flowers always reminds me of Mum. She always had them growing in our front garden. 

What are you up to for the weekend? 

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

I went for a walk with my friend today. It was nice and sunny out and fairly warm. I was there really early to see the beavers. She came along a bit later. By then it was starting to get a little busy. I suppose people were making the most of the nice weather especially as it is supposed to rain all day tomorrow!

I did get everything on my list done today. Quite pleased. Granted, it wasn't a really big list, but at this point the goal is to stay on track and get things done. I am usually such a procrastinator. I get so easily sidetracked by other things. Sigh. I have already made another list for tomorrow.

I messaged daughter today. She said Baby A was doing okay. She was a little sleepy today apparently. I'm hoping that means that daughter can catch up on some sleep. I do miss that little girl. Hopefully it won't be long until I see her again. 

How is your week going? Spring has been in the air here the last couple of days and it's been lovely to get outside. I even had the window open for a bit this afternoon. It was lovely. As I am typing this the little weather icon in the corner of my computer screen is telling me there might be an inch of snow on Monday - ha ha!

73/366



Sunrise. Always a reason to smile!


Tuesday, March 12, 2024

Today

It was lovely out again today. I got out and early and took a walk. Not too long, but it was nice and quiet so I made the most of it. The beavers were out today and one swam around watching me as I sat on the shore watching it. 

You'll be pleased to know that I got everything done on my list. There wasn't a lot on there, but it kept me busy, helped me not dwell on something I was sort of dreading. 

At the end of last year I went to a meeting about the place I walk, Asylum Lake. I then got an email asking me if I was interested in being on the board of the association. I hate new things. I'm not really a fan of people and meeting new people makes me really anxious. But I decided to jump in and said yes. Today was my first meeting. Rather daunting and I spent most of the day anxious. Not dentist anxious, but I couldn't stop thinking about it! I had to drive to an unfamiliar place (I had planned out my route in advance), meet new people, drive back in the dark (something I also hate). It went...ok. As I said to my daughter later, I felt a little daunted. We introduced ourselves and everyone else was going on about what they do for work, their degrees and such and me? I just told them I liked walking there, it was good for my mental health, and I liked taking photos of the things I saw there. There was one woman there who seemed to be good at everything and very confident in herself. Daughter told me I had a different perspective and that the group needed diversity, not just degrees. BTW I do have a college degree, but it was years and years ago and I did nothing with it. 

Baby A had her first vaccinations today. Poor thing. Daughter said she was smiling at everybody before them, not so much afterwards. She's feeling achy and pretty grumpy. I'm hoping it will just last a day or so. 

Tomorrow looks to be the last of the good weather so another walk. I have a list to make before I go to bed. More tidying and a bit more sorting hopefully. 

71/366 Things That Make Me Smile 



From behind the beavers' lodge. Wonder how long that tree will last! 

72/366



My oldest son surprised me with a just-because present. It's a bird feeder with a camera! What a lovely surprise! I'm looking forward to finding the perfect spot in the garden for it. The camera is powered by a solar panel. 

Monday, March 11, 2024

Agh - Weekend and Week Ahead

My blog is being funny again. I can't keep signed in again so haven't commented on blogs until I can get it sorted. I don't know why it does this sometimes. I'm hoping it will at least allow me to post!

My first weekend back in Michigan and the weather was horrible. I really wanted to visit the lakeshore as I have really missed it and haven't been for - gasp! - three months. It was so cold! And windy! And there was snow/ice. Ugh. I did get out and walk anyway. Just for a tiny bit. Husband, being the sensible one, sat in the car 'keeping it warm'. I froze my fingers off. I was glad I had dressed in my long underwear, two pairs of gloves and hand warmers. Today was just as different! It's been sunny and warm. Sigh. Don't know why that couldn't happen on the weekend!

Here are a couple of phone photos from the walk yesterday




My Phone Photos Things That Make Me Smile (from yesterday 70/366)


I did not walk out on the pier. The wind and snow/ice was pelting my face and the water from the lake was blowing sideways. There was only one brave fisherman out there and even he ended up coming back!

I have got back to writing lists again. I need to get things done. I did well today, managing to get everything done and even a couple of extras! I like seeing things written down. I think it helps keep me on track. I just need to make sure that I write the list each day. Do you write lists? Do they keep you on track? 

There are so many things I need to get done around the house. If I think about it as a whole I can feel myself becoming overwhelmed. I'm trying to take it one chunk at a time and keep working through it. Hopefully progress will be made!




Friday, March 8, 2024

It's the End of Another Week

Time really is just flying by! Still no sunshine here. Today it rained most of the day. I had a dentist appointment first thing, and you know how much I like them! It went so-so. No work has to be done, but apparently my gums are not looking as good as they have in the past. The hygienist was talking about having me come back in four months instead of six, but it's smack bang in the middle of summer and I don't have all the plans finalised yet. Also, I'm not sure my insurance will pay for that. I haven't been as diligent as I should - long story - so I told her I'd rather stick to the six months and see if things were okay by then. She hadn't seen anything last time that caused alarm with my gums so I'm just assuming it's been all that's going on and not doing things as I should. Sigh. At least no work done! So I'm putting it behind me and going forward. 

After the appointment I ran a couple of errands and then came home and caught up on the rest of the washing. In the afternoon I messaged with sister. It's Mother's Day in England on Sunday. A day I dread each year since losing Mum. Sister is going to Mum's bench on Sunday and will take some flowers from me. I miss her. A lot. 

I'm moving forward with house things. It's very overwhelming, but I'm trying to focus on little things and keep going. I was really happy to read - in an email - that the library is now accepting donations without an appointment so perhaps I'll be able to load up the car and take them to drop off there. I used to always donate my books there and then they changed their donation rules once Covid hit and it's taken them this long to go back to the original. 

Phone Photos - Things That Make Me Smile 67/366 



It was as cold as heck sitting on one of the downed beaver trees and there was no sunshine, but it was lovely just sitting there listening to the birds all around me. I have missed that! Made me smile. 


68/366



These little gift bags made me smile. They were at the dollar store (1.25 store lol). There are two in the pack. I picked them up to send one to Granddaughter with a little money (well, an IOU I'll fulfill when we visit as I don't want to send cash) for Easter. She doesn't really need anything, but daughter and son-in-law are starting a bank account for her, and I'd like to add a little to it each holiday so maybe when she's older she'll have a nice little bit. 

Hope everyone had a good week. Do you have plans for the weekend? 

Wednesday, March 6, 2024

So-so Sort of Day

How are things going for you this week? 

It was a so-so sort of day here today. I was disappointed to find that it was cloudy when I woke this morning. No chance of a sunrise. I did get out once it was light and took a walk at Asylum Lake. There were lots of geese around, a pair of Trumpeter Swans and a pair of Mute swans as well as some ducks and quite a few muskrats. I did catch glimpse of two beavers as they returned back to the lodge for the day. There were not many people around, which was really nice. 

I did manage to get all the clothes unpacked, washed and put away. I did a bit of other sorting. There are still too many things that I have to put away. I shall work on more tomorrow. 

Daughter did a video call with me today. It was nice to see Baby A. She looked a bit grumpy though. Apparently, she didn't sleep very well last night as she was very windy/gassy. She didn't sleep this morning either but had taken a little nap at lunchtime. Daughter was quite tired, but she sounded upbeat. I think it helps that Baby A smiles at her in the middle of the night when the tiredness is getting a bit much. 

I'll be up and about early tomorrow for another walk. Hopefully there might be a sunrise. 

66/366


It makes me smile to be back walking the trails despite everything looking so dull and gray. 

Tuesday, March 5, 2024

Rainy Day

My first day back in Michigan and it rains. One thing I did really like about Minnesota was the amount of sunshine there was! Lots of quite cold days, but plentiful sunshine. I really was looking forward to doing an early sunrise, but it was not to be. I did manage to pop out for a quick walk in between rain showers. Tomorrow is supposed to be better!

Confession time - I am not all unpacked or sorted. My son was off work today and was doing his washing. I'll get mine done tomorrow. I still have to put away all the things I took with me too. I did get all the post/mail sorted today. I also went and got a few groceries, at least a couple of days of meals planned. I have to get back into the meal planning thing. 

I'm missing Baby A. She really did give lovely cuddles. I'll be a bit more on top of things (hopefully) by tomorrow. 



A photo I took of Baby A and Sierra on Saturday for my #1day12pics. I was playing with Baby A on the floor on her playmat and Sierra came and laid down right next to her, not even moving when Baby A flailed her arms. Adorable. 

Phone Photos - Things That Make Me Smile 65/366



Was really lovely to be back at Asylum Lake despite the weather! The beavers have been really busy. They even managed to bring one tree down on top of their lodge!


Monday, March 4, 2024

Quick Update - Back in Michigan

Sorry for the absence. Husband and oldest son came to stay for the weekend and then bring me back to Michigan today. I meant to post, but really wanted to spend as much time as I could with daughter and baby A before I had to come back today. 

It was really hard to say goodbye and I miss her. 

I'll catch up with blogs and posting over the next few days. I have a lot of things to catch up on here at the house, sort out and organise, so it might take me a few. Hoping that keeping busy will keep me distracted from missing the baby too much. 

Thanks for your understanding. 



I've got some catching up on my Phone Photos Things That Make Me Smile, but here is today's. Baby A had just finished eating as we got ready to leave and was sort of burping and dozing. I got to hold her one last time, so this is my smile for the day. I'm so thankful that I got to spend these two months with her. You hear so many stories of grandparents not being welcome to visit with baby or spend lots of time with family and I am so thankful that daughter and son-in-law love me enough to ask me to stay a while!