353/365

 

Today...

"It was a good day," Logan said to his dad when I took him home. It was a good day with my Logan. We had breakfast together, watched PJ Masks, and then made a snowman ornament together. Then, as a bonus, I got to hold, feed, and play with Paisley too. Oh, and Jesse bought me lunch. 

296/365

 

Today...

I had a great brainstorming call with my personal marketing "Consultant," aka my Melissa. She gave me some suggestions, several ideas, and great advice on social media and additional income streams. Things I have been thinking about, yet it's nice to talk to someone so enthusiastic and willing to help. 

290/365

“I must have flowers, always and always.”

~ Claude Monet

Today...

I listened to another great Brene Brown podcast on my walk. 

I wore a light jacket, thinking it was cold out, and it was, a little, in some spots. Then there were pockets of warm air like a heater was blowing. It was odd. It reminded me of a coast camping trip that was uncharacteristically hot.

By the time I got back home from my walk, I had decided I want to sort, cull, and make photo albums with my boxes and boxes of photographs. I think that would be a great winter project. 

286/365

Today...

Photographing flowers always brings me joy, even on a Monday, even when I'm wiped out from cocktails and too much bread over the weekend. These little globes gave me enough energy to get through the rest of the day. Night night.

282/365

 

Today...

I spotted splashes of fuchsia in the neglected yard of a neighbor. I almost continued on my walk, but it was such a juxtaposition I had to stop. There, in the middle of dirt and disarray, stood a Hibiscus blooming as if no one told it the tenants are gone now. 

268/365

Today...

Found some much-needed color in my backyard this morning.

Jesse, Bri, Logan, and Paisley were over today!

I got to hold that baby.

Logan and I had an art date while Dad and Mom took Paisley for her two-week checkup.

We played with clings, stickers, lots of stickers, made a Pumpkin, colored pumpkins, painted with dot markers, and watercolor. So fun!

Jesse and Bri came back with lunch so they hung out for a while.

Jesse reinstalled our office A/C.

Chatted with my Sister.

Roasted sausage and vegetables for dinner. And wine.

256/365

Today...

CynCyn made us egg, bacon, and cheddar cheese sandwiches for breakfast.

We got to meet Miss Paisley Jo today!

So tiny, sweet, and adorable. 

Logan wants to hold her as much as everyone else.

If he's not playing PJ Masks with CynCyn.

Jesse and Bri are in love and much calmer this time around. 

Took CynCyn to see Mike's office.

Deneen came to visit. We all wore our masks.

We had 'whatever' for dinner. 

Wine and chocolate cake for dessert. 

 

248/365

Today...

One last cool morning before the heatwave.

A trip to REI and the grocery store.

Dahlias at Whole Foods!

My Sister checking in. 

Listening to Kenney Chesney.

My Logan came over for a few hours.

Snuggles and kisses.

Playing camping and construction site.

Getting to see Jesse and Bri and that baby bump too. Six more days, or less?

Paleo Potsticker Stir-fry aka Eggroll in a bowl for dinner.

231/365

Today...

A morning walk before 7 am.

Watching the neighborhood flock of turkeys.

Catching up with a neighbor.

Getting the grocery shopping done.

Getting some food prep done before the heat of the day.

Roasted chicken and artichoke for lunch.

Listening to 70's pop while editing photos.

Learning about the Golden Torch Cactus flower and how lucky I was to walk by when I did.

Watching Deadliest Catch with Mike.

Roasted Chicken Caesar salad for dinner. 

229/365

Today…

Waking up to an epic thunderstorm

Sitting outside, under the patio cover, just watching the show.

It went on for hours.

Sunday.

Paleo waffles, homemade pork sausage, and berries for breakfast.

Texting with my girls.

Power and air conditioning.

Researching the history of Abiquiu, New Mexico.

Listening to 70’s pop while editing photos.

Leftover Sausage and Kale soup for dinner.

And again, air conditioning.

 

222/365

Today…

The sun is coming up later and later.

Watching all the birds come in while watering this morning.

We had a whole family of Bluebirds eating mealworms at the patio table.

My Mammoth Sunflower is blooming. A little short but it’s perfect for photographing. 

I found three different things I had been looking for over the last few weeks/months.

All because the garbage disposal broke. Silver linings.

Took an early morning trip to Walmart.

Then a late morning trip to Lowes.

The garbage disposal has been replaced. I am so grateful my husband is mechanically inclined. 

Grateful to our new neighbors, who have spotted two fires in the creek behind our house before they got out of control.

Laundry done.

BLT’s for dinner.

217/365

Today...

Woke up, made some coffee then sat on the patio sipping while watching the sun come up over the trees.

A Black Phoebe joined me. So did Miss Cleo.

Wrote in my journal a quote about how we gotta start romanticizing our life. Yes! 

"...start believing...even the smallest most mundane things are exciting and new because that's when you start truly living."

Basically, be in the moment, all of them, and be grateful for all that you have.

Working on it. Everyday.

Then I had some breakfast; two eggs, a slice of bacon, a little avocado, some spinach, a couple blackberries, and blueberries. Yum.

My Sister called and I took her on my walk with me.

Stopped to talk to Jim for a bit as he was watching the birds. Got caught up on the neighborhood. 

Made a run to Whole Foods and found they had Dahlias. Joy spotting for sure!

Wanted to buy them all but settled on one bunch. I took pictures with my phone of all the others and then finished my shopping.

Dropped off some donations at Goodwill. 

Got home and put the Dahlias in water before I put the groceries away then, had some leftovers for lunch.

Did a photo session with these beauties in my front yard. It has the best light in the middle of the day and lots of green foliage for backgrounds.

Edited photos while listening to my 'Girls' playlist.

Got my posts done for today and tomorrow.

Mike came home just in time for dinner. Chicken Verde in the CrockPot with cilantro lime riced cauliflower, avocado, cabbage, and tomatoes.

Now I get to read before I go to bed.

208/365

Today...

Sleeping in till 8.

Watering and photographing my flowers.

Wrapping up another refi on our mortgage.

Working on rearranging the guest room and more.

Purging.

Helping Jesse and Bri some more today.

Getting to spend some time playing with Logan.

Chatting with my Sister.

Listening to Led Zeppelin while editing photos.

Grilled steak and Caesar salad for dinner.

206/365

Today...

A good nights sleep.

Took a trip to the garden center. Only a few people were there.

Hanging out with Bri while she packs up their stuff.

Reading in the afternoon. Rare for me.

Mike and Jesses working together.

Los Panchos for dinner.

Finally getting to see Jesse and Bri's new home.

Super cute, tiny house in a neighborhood of old tiny houses.

Seeing them so excited and happy.

205/365

Today...

Another morning photography session with the sunflowers.

Breakfast with my Logan.

Reading books, playing PJ Masks, hanging out, having fun.

Dinosaur shaped peanut butter sandwiches for lunch.

Bribing him with chocolate chips to change out of his dirty "PayJays"

Jesse told Alexa to call Melissa and Logan talked to her and Sofia. So cute.

Escrow closed today on Jesse and Bri's house.

Tonight is their last night here. 

I'm looking forward to quiet and more space, but I'm also going to miss them being here.

Watching Mike and Logan feed the birds and then sit on the patio watching them together.

Pork chops, mashed sweet potatoes, and fresh green beans for dinner with my boys.

201/365

Today...

Sunday.

Got out of bed, grabbed my camera and lenses, and headed to the backyard to photograph the wild sunflowers in the morning light.

Brunch with Mike.

And a short walk together before it got warm.

Finally, talked to my Melissa. Must not wait so long between phone calls.

Catching up with my Sister.

Editing photos while listening to Led Zeppelin.

Finished Wolfpack. It was a quick, inspirational, and empowering read. Lots of highlighting done.

Grilled Chicken and corn on the cob with a Greek Salad for dinner. Made by Jesse and Bri.

199/365

Today...

Friday!

My dahlias a blooming!

Got out in the backyard with my camera before tea and before Logan woke up.

Breakfast with Mr. Logan.

Another two-mile walk, round trip, to go see the ducklings. We saw all of them.

Accidentally startled a Green Heron out of it's hiding spot, but I got some great pictures.

Logan and I had a picnic lunch in the living room while watching a Lego movie.

It was a good photography day.

I love it when I get to edit photos that take my breath away.

Just started reading "Untamed" by Glennon Doyle. I'm doing a LOT of highlighting, it's that good.

Crispy spicey Turkey with riced cauliflower, lemon, almonds, and herbs for dinner.

Our flock of turkeys visiting tonight. Haven't seen them in a while.

196/365

Today...

Went for a two-mile walk before breakfast.

Visited Jim for a bit. Talked about flowers and birds.

Laughing Cow cheese in my eggs for breakfast.

Enjoyed a much cooler day.

Ordering clothes online and picking them up via curbside.

Weekly Whole Foods trip.

Got our taxes done and filed.

Tacos and watermelon for dinner.

Listening to Mike read books to Logan.

 

181/365

Today...

Waking up.

Sunshine,

Tea.

Picking up an Apricot Cobbler from the produce market.

Buying these sunflowers.

Photographing these sunflowers.

Checking on my sister.

Painting and playing with stamps with Logan.

Steak, baked potato, and Caeser salad for dinner.

Chocolate ice cream for dessert.

Going to bed early.

176/365

Today...

Eight hours of sleep.

My Purple Penstemon is blooming.

Breakfast with Logan.

Playing Chutes and Ladders.

Chatting with my Sister.

Being presented with a lesson, a chance to practice having a hard conversation with a fellow white person about anti-racism.

Jesse and Bri making dinner.

BBQ burgers and tots.