Starry night on the prairie

I am still trying to type October instead of November. Need to catch up with the times! Time seems to be flying by right now. The weather changing doesn’t help. It is the low 70s today. Feels more like September or October. It is to stay in the 60’s and 70’s through mid week next week. I’ll take the warmer weather any day even if it does confuse me.

I don’t think I got two hours of sleep last night. It was one of those nights that I could not fall asleep and if I fell asleep, I couldn’t stay asleep. It was after 6:00 this morning before I got any sleep at all. Thinking it will be an early bedtime tonight as I have to be up at 6:00 to leave the house by 6:45 in the morning.

Kathy and I worked on the materials for the Health Fair tomorrow. I got copies made of the description of what we do. Made drawing tags and found something to put them in. Gather up the rest of the stuff I need to take tomorrow. Kathy made a sign for our table and figured out a door prize. I think we are ready to go. It will be fun seeing people and interacting with them. I’m grateful it is only for the morning though. An all day event would drain me completely.

I laid out a pot roast to thaw. I need to remember to put it in the crock pot before I leave in the morning. I got my new beef late August and have only had a couple packages of hamburger. I haven’t been eating much beef lately and need to get started using it. I remembered to buy some carrots last week at the grocery store so I can put them in with the pot roast. I don’t eat potatoes much so won’t bother with those.

Still feeling some remnants of last year in my body. Doing my best to honor the feelings as they come up so I can feel them and then release them, It was a very difficult time for me a year ago and I am so grateful for the friends and family that had my back and supported me through all of it.

I called the window people again but had to leave a message. I’m getting a bit concerned as they had told me they should be here by November 1 and I haven’t heard anything from them. I had told the EFIS guy he could start November 10th, Hoping I hear Monday.

I got a call from the KU research team and they opened up the enrollment for women. They are to call me next week and do a phone interview and hopefully get me set up for the gym. I’m excited that this might be what I was looking for to get me motivated to get to the gym and start working out. The hiking trip to Himalayan is still on my radar but I can’t book it until I work out for several months and know that I will keep that up.

Have a free week next week except for Monday afternoon when I am volunteering to work the Friends of the Library book sale. I don’t have anything else on my calendar for the week. I have some projects to work on at home if I can find the motivation and energy to do so. They seem to wait patiently for me to get to them.

The results of the ultrasound of my throat came back and they are normal. All the thyroid stuff is looking good. I see the Endocrinologist in another ten days or so. She won’t have much to do or say which is a good thing.

Feeling a bit restless this afternoon. Most of it is due to lack of sleep but there is something in my body that is trying to get my attention. It may be old feelings from a year ago. Have been taking some time for silence this afternoon so whatever it is can be heard. Sometimes that is all I need to do and this restless feeling goes away. The weekend will be a busy one so hoping I will settle down before the busyness hits.

Grateful for warmer temperatures today, grateful we are ready for the Health Fair, and grateful I can go to bed early tonight.

I went to Emporia this afternoon to watch Ellexia cheer. She looked more relaxed and confident today. It makes me nervous to watch her fly but she loves it. One of the players on the team had an ankle injury. They were taking her in for X-rays. Always hate to see that happen.

I took Ellexia home afterwards so got to spend a hot minute with her. I sure miss seeing the kiddos daily and feel like I don’t know what is happening with them now. I am out of sight – out of mind!

It is a beautiful day on the prairie. I put a coat on to do the chickens but really didn’t need one. It is windy though. Loving the bright blue, clear skies and warmer temperatures. It is to be even warmer the next couple of days.

Nothing on my calendar for tomorrow. I do need to gather up the supplies for the Health Fair we are doing Saturday morning. I will get my car loaded up so I don’t have to remember anything but me Saturday morning. We have to be there at 7:00 to get set up for the 7:30 opening. Man, that is early!

Got a note from the coordinator and she let us know that we have to take drawing paper and pens and a basket for people to put them in. I’m glad she told us as I had assumed they were handling that. Still need to put together our drawing prize.

I’m going to have to figure out when and what to eat Saturday. I usually don’t have breakfast until between 10 and 11. Since I am getting up so early I know I will be hungry before then. Guess I will pack my breakfast and take it with me. I can have lunch when I get home.

I’m still fasting between 16 – 20 hours a day. I really don’t get hungry often and I like the convenience of only fixing two meals a day. Seems to have simplified my life.

Got my rent check from my renter in Cottonwood Falls. I meant to check the mailbox on the way to town so I could deposit it while I was in town this afternoon. I forgot to get it. Now I get to go back to town tomorrow or else I will wait and deposit it Sunday when I go to KC. Dang it anyways. I swear my memory isn’t what it used to be these days.

This last week or so has been a bit tougher for me then I anticipated it might be. It has been a year since Jim left the house and divorce proceedings began. I have found myself ruminating about that time and have struggle to let go of it. And this too shall pass….. Looking back I know I did what I had to do to take care of myself. I had fallen down the rabbit hole so far I didn’t know what was reality anymore.

Today is the birthday of Nicole’s first husband. These are always bittersweet days for her – and for us. Grateful for the wonderful memories we have of him and grateful we were part of his life.

Anyone know of a place where I can donate some fresh eggs? They are piling up and I need to move them out.

Excited I get to see all my kids together Sunday. It will be a hard day as we are joining Craig’s family to celebrate the life of his brother Joe. We will make the best of it and enjoy our time together. I need to remember to find a date and time for our Thanksgiving and Christmas while we are all together. It seems to get harder every year to find a time that works for most.

Grateful to see Ellexia cheer today, grateful for the wonderful memories I have of Chris, and grateful for my healing journey.

I had trouble falling asleep last night. Got out of bed at 1:00 and stayed up until 3:00. Took some Tylenol and that helped me finally fall asleep. I slept long and hard once I got to sleep. Have felt hungover all day though. Should have tied one on if I am going to feel like this all day.

Haven’t gotten much done today. It has been a low energy type of day for me. Brought up 18 eggs from the girls today. They are enjoying this touch warmer day. It got up to the mid 40’s today but there has been a stiff wind that has made it feel colder then that. It is to be in the upper 50’s tomorrow and mid 60’s Saturday.

I got a notice from my internet company that they are taking my service down between 5:30 and 6:30 tonight so they can do some maintenance on it. I appreciate them notifying me in advance.

Found out Ellexia is cheering Thursday afternoon at 3:30 so plan on going to town to watch her. I enjoy watching her fly when they do their special cheer between quarters. Her years of taking gymnastics is paying off. I will need to deposit a check so it will make a trip to town more fun to get to watch Ellexia. The games only last an hour or so.

Saturday Kathy and I have the health fair to go to. We are both looking forward to it and trust there will be some interest in what we are doing. I don’t look forward to having to get up at 6:00 though so we can be there by 7:00.

Sunday I am going to KC to attend Craig’s brother’s celebration of life gathering. The kids and I are meeting for lunch before the event. That will make the day a bit brighter for me. I want to stop at Costco before I come home. It will be a quick trip up and back.

Next Monday I am volunteering to work at the Friends of the Library book sale in Emporia. It will give me a chance to get some more books for my winter reading. Lord knows I have enough I haven’t read already but that has never stopped me before.

Still haven’t heard back from the window people. Frustrating that they haven’t kept me informed of when they might be here and that they haven’t returned my call. I’ll call them again tomorrow afternoon if I still haven’t heard from them. They had told me they would be here on or before the 1st of November.

Best get this wrapped up before my internet goes off and I lose what I have written.

Grateful for warmer temperatures on the prairie, grateful for my girls who give me 16 – 20 eggs a day, and grateful for sleep finally finding me last night.

Happy Halloween. Craig and I were married in 1979 on this day. Makes it easy to remember the date! I’m grateful for the years we had together and the years since. We are both happier now then we were together.

Went to Emporia this afternoon. I needed yogurt that Walmart and the other grocery store was out of yesterday. Luckily they had it today. Since I went inside to get it, I happened to see some things that reminded me of the big Thanksgiving Dinner I will be fixing soon. I picked up some canned goods and a few other things to get that shopping started. Makes me feel like I don’t spend as much when I do the big shopping trip the week of Thanksgiving.

Gathered up the trash and took it down to the curb. I am slowly removing a bunch of trash from the barn. I need to get some big trash bags and bag some more stuff up. Our trash guys only take bagged trash. Still have a bunch to go but am making progress getting rid of stuff. Throwing things out gives me great satisfaction and there is a lot of satisfaction to go in the barn!

It is a beautiful but cold day on the prairie. It reached 40 today so the warm front is starting to come in. It is to be in the mid 60’s in a few more days. This cold blast reminded me that winter is coming. I will enjoy these next few days of the 60’s as we won’t see many more before spring. Hoping we have a relatively mild winter.

Got my thyroid thyroglobulin results back. This is the test that checks for cancer and the results were less than 1 which is normal and means no cancer detected. I’m always grateful when I get those results back and this is the result. I’m grateful my Endocrinologist still checks them and is keeping a close eye on me for the rare chance that the cancer comes back.

The other Thyroglobulin test came back excellent too. My levels had been less than .1 for months and had risen to .2 for a bit. This time they came back down to less than .1. Not sure what made them rise but grateful they are back to almost non-detectable levels.

I roasted a whole chicken in the crock pot today. I had some before I went to town. I love chicken cooked that way – it is very tender and juicy. I will debone it and have good tasting chicken for several days. Sure made the house smell good all day.

I have had a thought stuck in my head for a couple of days now. I can’t seem to make it go away. I’ve tried several of my tricks and none have worked so far. Guess it will leave on it’s own time and not mine. I got a bit down thinking about the situation on my mind this morning but was able to shake that off and get back above the neutral level. It isn’t even a realistic situation that I am ruminating about – it is possible but not probable. Wish I knew how and why that happens and how to turn it off.

I remembered to call the window people to get an update. I had to leave a message and they haven’t had time to call me back yet. Still hoping they are coming this week. It would be a good week for it. I would love to get them in and the EFIS fixed before winter hits.

Grateful for great blood test results, grateful my yogurt is restocked, and grateful for the smell of chicken cooking.

I almost forgot to blog today. I came home from happy hour and got started doing something and time got away from me.

I went to Emporia mid afternoon and picked up my grocery order. I had stopped at Bruff’s for lunch but I was there for 10 minutes and never saw a wait staff person so I left. I went to Wendy’s instead and got a chili. Not quite what I wanted but it worked.

Went through the car wash and got my car wash. It had gotten really dirty from the rain last week. Stopped at Good Savers to get some ice. I also checked to see if they have my favorite yogurt as Walmart was out of it. They didn’t so now I will have to go back to Emporia later this week to get some. Not sure why Walmart seems to be out of it every three or four weeks.

After I got home I put things away and did the chicken chores. Then Kathy and I went to a friend’s house for happy hour. It was fun talking to our friends for a bit. I love when we can get together and visit.

I spent some time today reviewing my Doula Care Consultant notes. I haven’t work on this stuff for a bit and needed to review some of it. It came back easier then I expected it to. I’m excited to be back using the material and putting it to good use.

I don’t have any plans for tomorrow. I will spend some more time on the Doula material to make sure I haven’t forgotten anything. I need to do a bit of housecleaning and take care of stuff like that. I need to give the chickens a bit more straw. They have crushed down what we put in there when we cleaned the coop a while ago. They need a couple inches of straw to help keep them warm when it gets cold again.

I have no plans for Halloween. We won’t have any trick or treaters so don’t need to prepare for that. I thought about doing the truck or treat thing in town but it will be way to peopley for me. Craig and I got married on Halloween so it is a weird day for me now.

I’m still enjoying all my empty space. It did feel good to get out this afternoon and visit with some friends. It was good for me to get out again. It feels like it has been a long time.

The moon has been incredibly beautiful the last couple of nights. It was full Saturday night and has been putting on quite a show since. I don’t need to turn a light on when I get up at night as the moon is so bright.

Kathy sent me a document via Google documents today. When I tried to open it, it said I needed permission to open it and that they would send me an email when it was granted. Hummm…. Who grants me permission? I expected that they would send Kathy an email to respond but she said she didn’t get one. She figured out a different way to send it to me so all is good. It is a head scratcher though. Still don’t understand Google.

Grateful for the beauty of the moon on the prairie tonight, grateful for being able to share time with my friends, and grateful for empty space in my life right now.

Burrr….. It has been windy and cold on the prairie today. There was some sleet acclimating earlier today. Low 30’s with wind which makes it feel like the low 20’s.

I bundled up to go down to do the chickens. I put on my insulated overalls and kept nice and warm. Luckily the girls didn’t need water today so I didn’t have to haul it down. They gave me 18 eggs. What else do they have to do on a cold day but lay an egg – right?

I’m watching the Chiefs game this afternoon. They don’t look so good so far today. I heard Mahomes has had the flu. Wonder why they let him play. Hope the rest of the team doesn’t get it this week.

Haven’t even attempted to do anything today. I’m in the mood to sit and stay warm. I don’t like cold weather and I am protesting it today. Lot of good that will do but …….

I am going to Emporia tomorrow afternoon to pick up a small grocery order. I only needed a few things. Trying to think of other things I need to do while I am in town but haven’t come up with anything yet. I don’t like to go to town for only one thing.

Have several projects I need to work on. Hoping tomorrow I will get my ass moving and get with it. My get up and go got up and left today and I’m not going to push myself. Sometimes it is best to read my own energy and go with the flow rather than trying something and not being successful.

We are to be back in the lower 60’s by next weekend. That is more my type of weather. I will be able to turn the hose back on for water for the chickens. I hope the warmer weather sticks around for a bit.

I’m still fasting 18 – 20 hours a day. I really like it. It has simplified my life as I only have to fix two meals a day, instead of three. I have lost over 10 pounds so far but have 30 to go. 25% there! I can do this, I can do this. At least, that is what I keep telling myself.

Feeling a bit lost and unmoored today. Grateful the eclipse was last night and the collective energy will be calming down over the next couple of days. It has been a wild ride the last couple of weeks. It has left me feeling empty again. I’m grateful I have lots of empty space on my calendar this week so I can refill and recharge.

Grateful the chicken chores are done for the day, grateful the house is warm and toasty inside, and grateful it is to warm up in a couple of days.

I had trouble finding sleep again last night. Not sure if I even got four hours of sleep or not. I am tired this afternoon but going to try to avoid taking a nap. I will go to bed early and hopefully sleep long and hard tonight.

I went down to take care of the chickens this afternoon. We have a light rain falling on the prairie and it is cold. The rain may become a wintery mix before it is done. I had to take down the heater thingy that the water container sits on so it doesn’t freeze. That means hooking up a long extension cord and getting it all sorted out and plugged in.

Then I had to disconnect the garden hose. I needed a pair of pliers to get it undone as it was starting to freeze. Mission accomplished and the chickens are ready for winter. I will need to hook up a heat lamp when it gets colder and stays colder. The water can heating thingy works until it reaches about 20 degrees and stays there for a bit. Hate the thought of having to carry water down to them now but that is winter on the prairie. I won’t bring in the hose until I know it is going to stay cold for an extended time. I still might be able to use it another couple of weeks if it warms up and stays warm for several days.

I plugged the dogs heated water bowl in. Those things usually only work for one season so we shall see if it works this year or not. I turned on the heating pad that is in their dog house in the garage. Roxy was sitting on top of the steps leading from the garage into the house to stay warm. The dogs are eight years old and are starting to feel the cold more than they used to. They love colder weather but do like to warm up once in a while.

I decluttered the living room, kitchen and dining room this morning. Things had piled up again and I hadn’t taken time to declutter. Feels good to have those three rooms free of visible clutter. Now I need to dust them and make them free of visible dust. With the rain we are getting, the dust may stay quiet for a few days and they would remain dust free for a bit.

I have my fireplace on so the living room is nice and toasty warm this afternoon. The rain looks and feels cold today and the fire helps keep me mentally as well as physically warm.

The internet is down for some reason. I will go turn it off and reboot it when I get done blogging. Maybe it just needs to be reset. This cold and wet weather could have caused problems for it though. I’m glad I can use my iPhone as a hotspot when the internet goes down.

No plans for the weekend. I will need groceries within the next couple of days but plan to wait until it clears up before I go to town. The forecast is showing Monday and Tuesday are to be cold but dry and clear. I will go then.

I have a quiet week ahead of me. Nothing on my calendar until next Saturday. I will need to find something to do and someplace to go. I don’t think it is good for me to stay home for that long of a time. I bet something will come up that calls me out sometime this week.

Sitting with a deep peace and contentment this afternoon. Feeling very grateful for my healing and recovery journey this past year. I am in such a better place then I was a year ago. My life feels fuller and richer in ways that I didn’t expect to feel. Possibilities are possible again!

Grateful for the rain on the prairie today, grateful the dogs and chickens are ready for winter, and grateful for where I am in my life right now.

What a long day. I left the house this morning at 11:30 and got home this evening at 11:30. I’m out used to being gone from home that long.

First stop was at the clinic to have an ultrasound of my neck. I always find it interesting how the different technicians do the ultrasound. This one did the sides of my neck but didn’t do the center of it. I have had others that do the center but not the sides and some that do both.

Next up was a stop at a different clinic for a blood draw. I got the results of two of the three tests they did today back and my TSH was 2.7 which is exactly where I like it. Not sure why it raised a point from last time but grateful it did. I take the same dose of medication at the same time everyday but get different results from it most times.

I then went to Chipotle for lunch. It is my reward to myself for going to the medical stuff. I think Chipotle is my favorite place to eat.

I then drove to KC and met a friend for coffee. We hadn’t seen each other for quite a while but are always able to pick up where we left off last time. We visited for two hours. Does my soul good to have deep conversations like I had with her today.

Next up was dinner with Nicole and Geoff. Mary wasn’t able to join us but Nicole, Geoff and I enjoyed a nice dinner. I’m glad I made reservations as the restaurant had a 30 – 45 minute wait and we were there at 5:20. It was a hopping place. The food was good and the service nice.

Nicole and Geoff went me to the football game. They stayed for the first half and got to see Tagen play one play. It was cold tonight. I’m grateful I remembered to take a blanket as the bleachers were aluminum and cold. I never got really cold but cold enough for me. The restroom was very warm so I went in there and warmed up.

Emporia got beat bad again but at least they scored twice tonight. They ran the clock for most of the second half so it went fast. It was Tagen’s last high school football game.

After the game I waited for Tagen and he rode home for me. He wanted to eat at Raising Cain’s so we went north a bit to find one. He said the food was good. It was nice to have company on the ride home. I hadn’t gotten to talk to him much since he moved out a month ago so it was nice to catch up with him.

It was a fun day. I always appreciate getting to spend time with Nicole and Geoff and getting to see my friend and spend time with Tagen was great. I will be tired tomorrow but it was worth it.

I woke up in the middle of the night freezing. I had opened my windows as it was warm yesterday. The cold front came in a day earlier than the forecast predicted. I don’t think it got out of the high 40’s today. By the time I got home tonight, it was 37. Yikes! I’m not mentally prepared for cold weather.

Going to call it a day and get to bed. I’m tired tonight but grateful I got to spend time with some people I love today.

Grateful for a safe trip for all my travels today, grateful I got to see Tagen’s last football game, and grateful my TSH levels are right where I like them to be.

What a beautiful afternoon on the prairie. It reached into the 80’s today and we got to see the sunshine and blue skies again. Enjoy while it lasts as it is to possibly snow on Sunday. Don’t like Kansas weather, hang around a day or two and it will change.

Second day without water. They got the pipes repaired in town but the water flow hasn’t reached my house much yet. I get a bit out of the pipes downstairs but there is not enough water pressure to have my booster pump on which means no water upstairs. Hoping by morning it will be back up and running. I could really use a shower.

I turned the well water on and was able to get water for the chickens. Not sure why I didn’t think of that yesterday. I hope the water is potable and won’t hurt the chickens. I have never had the well water tested and only use it for watering outside.

I went to Emporia this afternoon to watch Ellexia cheer for a basketball game. She got to be the flyer for the cheering squad and did a great job. She told me afterwards she was really nervous but she hid it well and I didn’t see a trace of nervousness. They did their thing twice and she nailed it both times.

I took her home afterwards. We had to stop and get her some food on the way home as she was starving. Somethings never change!

I stopped at Bruff’s and had my lunch/dinner before the game. I get a grilled chicken breast and two servings of veggies. It makes a nice change for me to eat there and I know it is on plan. The waitress remembered me from earlier in the week when I stopped.

Tomorrow I have to leave for Topeka around 11:30. I am having a sonogram on my throat done and then I have to go to a different building and have a blood draw. Both are routine, annual tests in preparation of me seeing my Endocrinologist in November. I like to have them done before my appointment so she has the results and we can talk about it in person at the appointment.

After that I am going to KC and meeting with a dear friend for coffee at 3:00. Then I am meeting up with Nicole, Geoff and Mary and having dinner before we go to Tagen’s football game. It will be a full and busy day for me. It will be good to see the people I am meeting up with.

No plans for the weekend. It is to get cold and staying home sounds good. I don’t like to be out when it is snowing and icy. Perhaps the moisture will go around us but the cold will be here, ready or not.

I have nothing on my calendar for next week. I have two or three projects I need to work on so will have lots of time to do that.

As expected, the universe offered me a chance to practice what I have been learning about boundaries. I keep reminding myself I am not responsible for their reaction. It felt good in one way yet different in my body then I am used to. This is a new feeling for me and will take me some time and practice to allow it. Finding one’s voice and then acting on it, takes practice. Grateful for the lesson and that I was able to react differently then I would have in the past.

I finished my classes on boundaries. There was one that showed me a roadmap on how to build intimacy in a relationship that is built on mutual trust and respect. I see now where I went wrong with Jim. This is good stuff and am ever so grateful I am learning it. Better late than never.

I am feeling the changes happening within my body. I feel like I am reconnecting to my body and the signals it gives me in a new way. When my nervous system got stuck on fight or flight, I couldn’t feel my body giving me signals. It feels like I have come back home to my body again.

Grateful for the opportunity to practice one of my lessons on boundaries, grateful to get to watch Ellexia perform this afternoon, and grateful water will be here soon!

Rain! Rain has arrived on the prairie at long last. My Tempest weather station is reporting a little over 4 inches. Others around me are reporting more – up to almost 8 inches east of Matfield Green. It is so wonderful to have a rainy day all day. You can hear the earth drinking in the moisture. We have a chance for even more rain tomorrow and then again next week.

We don’t have any water in our pipes though. There was a water break in Cottonwood Falls this morning that stopped the water flow to Strong City and the Rural Water District I am on. We might get it back sometime tomorrow.

I need to go down and do chickens. I may have to go to Emporia to get water for them. I have two cases of bottled water but do I really want to take a case down and dump it bottle by bottle into the chicken watering can? Ummmm… I’ll go down and do the chores in a bit and see how much water they need and then decide what to do. They might be OK for one day but by tomorrow afternoon they will need eight gallons of water to fill their containers.

I have spent a quiet day at home listening to the rain. It woke me up a couple times during the night. It sounded funny and I finally figured out that without any working guttering, the rain falls off the roof differently then it does with guttering. I kept thinking water was dripping inside the house until I figured it out. Grateful it was not inside dripping.

I fixed another 65 favors for the health fair. The coordinator told me they are hoping for around 150. We shall see if that many come. I’m doing a game type thing and they can win a prize if they are willing to play. I may end up handing them out though, we shall see how it goes.

Listened to another boundary class last night. It kinda freaked me out. She was describing how relationships can go bad and it was if she was talking directly to me. She even mentioned how many pictures on a wall is too many! Wow! She nailed it on the head.

When two people join in a relationship, there is a myth that they become one. However, if that happens, you can get lost in it. There is usually a giver and a taker and the taker can take over and the giver usually then plays smaller and smaller to keep the peace. The giver ends up empty and the relationship falls apart. Yep! I felt that one!

This is such good stuff. I need to watch the whole series again when I get done. I want to make sure I don’t miss something. I have two more lessons to go before I am done. Both of those sessions look interesting too

There is a chance we will get some snow over the weekend. We should get a hard freeze Sunday night. The high temperatures next week will be the mid 40’s. Dang! Not sure I am mentally prepared for that.

Starting to feel a bit disconnected from the rest of the world. I have been isolating myself lately and haven’t reached out to very many people. It is time for me to start rejoining the real world. Not sure how I will do that yet but starting to feel the urge. This nesting time has been good for my soul but too much alone time is not healthy for me.

Grateful for rain on the prairie, may it fill the ponds and wells, grateful for a quiet day at home, and grateful I am not too old to learn more about myself.

I went to the Vo-Tech this afternoon to have my teeth cleaned. I had a new student (to me) do it this time. She was good. It was her first time using the sonic blaster thingy but she handled it like a pro. It had been eight months since I had my teeth cleaned and they were bad. I usually get them cleaned three times a year. The student I had last year got sick and had to cancel my May appointment and it was the end of the school year for her so she couldn’t reschedule it. Feels good to have them clean again.

I stopped and filled the car with gas on my way to town and then stopped and dropped a package that had come for Michelle off. Afterwards I stopped at Bruff’s and had my meal for the day. It was delicious and a nice treat after sitting in the dental chair for over two hours.

Came home and did the chicken chores and took the trash down. We are getting a bit of rain on the prairie today. Unfortunately most of it went east of us but we have gotten about half an inch. Sure need more but I will take what I can get. Still have a chance for more rain later tonight and tomorrow.

The high for Sunday is to be 40. Yikes! I’m mentally not ready for that after having it be in the mid 80’s earlier this week. We might get a hard freeze overnight Sunday. My allergies will appreciate that.

I haven’t had a reaction to the flu shot. My arm is a touch sore but hardly noticeable most of the time. Grateful I didn’t feel icky today. Still need to decide if I want to get the new shingles vaccine or not. I’ve been told you can have a reaction to that vaccine that is not pleasant. There is also two different Hepatitis vaccines out now. My risk is low for that unless I do some international travel so will wait on them to see if I decide to go somewhere exotic or not.

I had trouble falling asleep last night but finally did around 3:00. I slept really good for about three hours and then off and on for another two. I don’t feel quite so sleep deprived today. Maybe with the cooler temperatures and rain, I’ll sleep really good tonight.

I don’t have anything on my calendar for tomorrow or Thursday. It will be good to have two stay at home days. Friday I have to go to Topeka for some medical stuff and then I am going to Overland Park so that will be a long and busy day. I’m meeting a friend for coffee in the afternoon and then meeting up with Nicole and Geoff to go to the football game.

Don’t have anything on my calendar for the next week until Saturday when Kathy and I are going to be at the Chase County Health Fair. Good to have lots of empty space ahead.

Still feeling in my body the memories from a year ago when the breakup with Jim was going down. Funny how our bodies store those memories. I am in such a better place now then I was then. Grateful I made the decision I did and have put myself on a path to recovery. I learned so much about myself during that time and since. It sure was a hard way to learn my lessons though.

If I don’t hear from the window people by Friday, I need to call them and get an update. I’m anxious to get the windows installed and then get the EFIS guy on the calendar. This hail damage restoration project has dragged on long enough. I’m ready to be done with it.

Sitting with the feelings of possibilities opening up for me. I don’t have much on my calendar for the foreseeable future and am exploring some options. I do better when I have a bit of structure and purpose in my life. Feeling ready to take on a new project. Things have finally settled down here on the prairie and it is time to look towards my future. It feels like I have been given a new blank slate to fill in the blanks with.

Grateful for the gentle way the girl did my teeth today, grateful for the rain we received, and grateful for possibilities for myself in the future.

I had trouble finding sleep last night. When I did sleep, I had very vivid dreams which is unusual for me. I would wake myself up to change the dream channel. Sure makes for a long night when that happens.

I went to Emporia this morning to get my flu shot. My arm is a bit sore this afternoon. Trusting I won’t crash tomorrow as I have to go to the Vo-Tech in the afternoon to get my teeth cleaned. We shall see what happens.

I didn’t have anything else to do in Emporia. I picked up a few things I needed while I was at Walmart and then came home. I fell asleep in my chair and took a nap this afternoon. I feel very short on sleep as it has been a hot minute or two or three since I have had a restful night’s sleep.

Found out Tagen is playing football in Overland Park Friday night. I have to go to Topeka Friday for my ultrasound and blood draw so think I will go to KC after that. I sent an email to some friends to see if they want to hook up Friday afternoon. If not, I will find something to do. I do need to stop at Costco and pick up a few things before I go to the game. It will probably be Tagen’s last game as it is the state playoffs and they are playing a very good team. Not sure if he will get to play, but I feel it is important I go support him.

It has been very windy on the prairie today. I have doors and windows open. The dust has found a new home inside my house. You could write your name on my coffee table with your finger in the dust that is covering it. No use cleaning it up until we get some rain. We have a good chance for rain this week. Crossing my fingers and toes we get a couple of inches.

It reached the mid 80’s again today. Tomorrow the high is to be 69. Hoping this is the last of the 80’s for the year. It is a touch too warm for me today.

I let the Pella guy know I had gone with a different window company. He sent a rather nasty letter to me complaining about my decision. Oh well. If he is going to act like that, I’m glad I didn’t go with him. I haven’t gotten an update on when the windows will be installed. Trusting they will be here sometime next week. If we get rain this week, it might delay them. I will take a delay if it means we get rain.

I haven’t watched another boundary workshop class yet. I’m still letting the last one sink in. I keep thinking of situations where I can apply the formula that my responsibility is equal to my power to change the situation. This feels really big to me and freeing. The way life usually works for me when I get a new understanding and learning, is that life will offer me an opportunity to apply this new learnings in the next bit. Once that happens and I am successful, I got it! Wonder what this opportunity will be?

The lady coordinating the health fair let me know that the last health fair had about 150 people in attendance. I will need to make 50 more giveaways. No real problem if we run out but I didn’t want to make lots more then we need. I still need to come up with a gift for the drawing.

Don’t have an abundance of energy today. Thinking the lack of sleep is catching up with me. Not sure what it is going to take to get a good night’s sleep. The sleep aide that I was using is no longer helping me. Kathy reports she is struggling with sleep right now too. I’ll be grateful when the lunar eclipse happens Saturday night and the collective energy settles back down again.

Still staying on my eating plan and using fasting. I usually fast between 18 – 19 hours a day. I eat breakfast and one meal and then start fasting again. I rarely get hungry and am continuing to lose weight. I usually drop a pound or two and then stall out for several days and then drop another pound. It will be several months before I get back down to where I want to be.

Grateful for afternoon naps in my chair, grateful for what sleep I did get, and grateful for the good chance of rain over the next couple of days.

I watched my boundary class last night. It was one of the best ones yet. The main point of it was the equation “Your responsibility is equal to your power”. Meaning, it you have the power to change a situation, then you are responsible to do so. If you have no power to change it, then you have no responsibility.

If someone asks for your help, you can make a choice to help or not. Their issue/situation remains their responsibility as they have the power in the situation. If you agree to help and that situation becomes intolerable for you, then you can make a different choice and back out. They are the only ones that have the power to change the situation.

When someone won’t accept responsibility for their own behavior and healing, I need to shift my relationship with them. My love for them will not heal someone else’s wounds and is not my responsibility.

My own trauma that I have suffered through is not my fault. However, it is now my responsibility to heal it as I am the only one with the power to do so. Therapy, friends, etc. can offer advice and support, but ultimately the power to change myself lies only within myself.

As an overly responsible person, I now see where I have assumed responsibility for things I had no power to change. It ended in frustration for both the person I was attempting to help and with myself. Once you know better you can do better!

This is good stuff to learn. Sure wished I had learned it years ago. I would have saved myself and others much pain. As I was watching the class last night, I felt things leave me. Things I had been carrying responsibilities for that I had no power to change. Things that had weighed me down and I now know I no longer need to carry.

I’m grateful I am taking this class and learning new things about boundaries. If you don’t know where you begin and end, you can get taken advantage of and spend lots of time in frustration. Letting go of other’s things frees me up to do more internal work on myself.

I still have a couple more classes to watch. Wonder what else new things I will learn? Getting more and more tempted to take the whole class.

It is another beautiful day on the prairie. Low 80’s today and light wind. It is to drop to the lower 70’s on Tuesday and the upper 40’s by Saturday. We have a chance for rain this week. I have my fingers and toes crossed that it will rain for several days.

I’m watching the Chiefs game. At halftime I will need to go down and do the chicken chores. I got a fairy egg yesterday – hadn’t seen one of those for a long time. They always make me smile when I get one. I have lots of eggs if anyone needs some. I’m coming to Emporia tomorrow and would be happy to bring some in. I’ll be at Walmart at 11:00 if you want to meet me and get some. They are $3 a dozen.

Tomorrow I have to be in Emporia by 10:45 to get my flu shot. I checked and don’t need any groceries. I have to go to Topeka Friday so if I need anything by then, I will get it then.

Kathy and I are working on getting our materials ready for our booth at the health fair November 4. We are both getting excited about the possibilities that this might open up for each of us. Together, we can cover most anything that comes up surrounding death and the time before it happens.

I feel like I am becoming who I was intended to be. I love learning new things and knowing that they are changing how I will choose to behave in the future. Feeling freer and more open then I have for a long time.

Grateful for the boundary class I am taking, grateful for this beautiful day on the prairie, and grateful I am never too old to learn and change.

Another perfect fall day on the prairie. A little warm but I will take it. It is to get colder next week and I will be wishing for the warmth again.

Had trouble sleeping again last night. Finally figured out part of my problem though. We are between a solar and lunar eclipse period and the collective energy is all stirred up. It can cause one to have trouble sleeping, react without pausing, feel like you are on a roller coaster of emotions, etc. Makes perfect sense to me! Kathy said she has been feeling it too.

This is also the time a year ago that Jim and I were going through our breakup. I do believe our bodies store certain memories in them and remind us of things that have happened. A year ago I was discovering some new truths about our relationship and it was one of the hardest times I have ever faced. I am so grateful for those that walked that journey beside me and helped me cross that bridge and get to the other side.

Kathy and I worked on our Health Fair giveaway today. Not sure how many to prepare. We fixed 100 but not sure that will be enough. I sent an email to the coordinator and asked if she had any idea how many people might come. We might need to fix another 100 or so.

I am really starting to notice how early it is when it gets dark now. 60 more days of getting a bit less daylight each day. The last 60 days always feels long and dark to me. I do some of my best internal work during that period but man is it hard sometimes! I look forward to December 21 when the sun begins its cycle towards more daylight.

KU Med Center called me today to tell me the fitness research program I wanted to enroll in has been delayed yet again. They are enrolling men, but not women right now. There is a possibility that they will open it up to more woman after the first of the year but they don’t know for sure yet. I’m grateful they called to tell me. I had been waiting to hear from them as they offered a free gym membership as part of their study. I no longer have an excuse to call the gym in Cottonwood and get my butt moving.

Monday I get my flu shot. I trust it won’t knock me on my ass the way the Covid and RSV shots did. I have a dental appointment Tuesday afternoon that I really don’t want to miss. Since I am going to town Monday, I need to place my grocery order and get it that day. Not sure I need much but will check. My grocery bill has certainly gone way down since the kiddos moved out.

My back pain is all but gone. It gets stirred up a bit when I lift things or move around a lot but quiets right back down. I think my body is telling me I need to start using it or it will protest louder and louder. Time to hit the gym next week! No more excuses!

I’m struggling to think that Christmas will be here in just a little over two months. That means Thanksgiving is only a little over a month away. I will be hosting a dinner again this year and welcome any and all to come. Will post when I know for sure when I am doing it this year.

Still enjoying my empty space. I feel my soul refilling and expanding. Change is headed my way but not sure what that might look like or be. It feels important that I protect this empty space for a bit so I will be fully charged and ready to go when the change appears. I know that sounds weird but that is the closest I can come to describing what I am feeling.

Grateful for this fall perfect day, grateful my back pain is gone, and grateful for my personal growth over this last year. I am in a much better space now then I was just one year ago.

I am not having the best of days. Things felt hard for me today. I had trouble falling asleep again last night. By 2:00 I was getting exasperated. Finally fell asleep and slept hard. Still feel tired today but at least I got some sleep late last night.

I remembered to send a text to the plumber about the broken drain pipe in the rental house back yard. He needed a picture of it before he could tell me if he could put a sleeve on it or not. I went to Emporia to take a picture of it. He can fix it and will put it on his schedule. I know better then to ask when.

I stopped at Bluestem and got 6 bags of chicken feed. They load it for me off their back deck. Sure makes it easy for me.

I stopped at the grocery store and picked up a few things so I could make some chicken and noodles for a friend that has Covid. Came home and put things away and made the chicken and noodles. Kathy had to taste test it for me as I had started fasting. Sure hope it turned out OK. I used a new recipe and I never know how that might turn out.

I delivered the meal along with a dessert I threw together to my friends. They are doing better today but it has been a long five days for them. Covid is no joke and is hard to deal with. I trust they are on the mend and will be better quickly.

When I got home I couldn’t find my phone. I went to grab my watch so I could ping my phone and discovered the watch had fallen off the charger and was dead. I used my iPad and had it ping my phone. I found my phone but then I couldn’t stop the iPad from constantly pinging my phone. I finally turned my phone off to stop it. After I stopped cussing, I had to laugh at myself. It is usually the little things in life that trip me up!

I have one load of dishes washing in the dishwasher and need to clean up the kitchen and do another load. I sure like to dirty dishes when I cook. It looks like I fixed a five course meal with all the dirty dishes.

Got notice that the house insurance for the house I am selling to Michelle is due in one month. Trying to decide if we can close in a month or if I need to pay it and then request a refund for most of it. I’ll decide late next week. If we haven’t sent papers to the title company by the end of the week, I will need to go ahead and pay it. The title company said it would take 30 -45 days to close. Not sure why it will take that long but good to know, I guess.

I haven’t watched my class on boundaries yet today. I may still do so but feel like I am operating on limited brainpower today. I have eight weeks to finish the class so it can wait till tomorrow.

Man did it warm up again today. It reached the mid 80’s today. Upstairs is warm in the house. I opened the doors to let some fresh air in but there is little to no wind today so not much coming in. Days like this I wish I had a whole house attic fan.

The pain in my back is still there although it has quieted down for the most part. I took a muscle relaxer last night hoping it would help me sleep but that didn’t work. I really couldn’t tell that the muscle relaxer did any good so I doubt that I take any more of them.

Don’t feel like I did much today but make a huge mess in my kitchen. Just one of those days where things weren’t easy. If I could get a good night’s sleep, I think things would go easier for me.

No plans for tomorrow or Sunday. Monday I am getting my flu shot. Tuesday I go to the Vo-Tech to get my teeth cleaned. Friday I have to go to Topeka to have my throat Ultrasound done and a blood draw. Thank heavens I have some free days for empty space. After going to town today, I am peopled out for a bit.

The business cards I ordered for the health fair came in today. At first glance, I think I got everything right on them. I need to pull some material and get myself ready for the health fair. Hope we get some interest in what we are doing.

Feeling a bit stirred up tonight. Having trouble relaxing and letting go. My energy level wasn’t very high today again. Hoping tomorrow will be a better day for me and I can get somethings done. I feel better at the end of day when I know I did something during the day.

Grateful the chicken feed is restocked, grateful I have the App Find my Phone, and grateful for the beautiful fall (or is it summer) day today.

Last night threw me a small plot twist. The pain I had in the afternoon in my kidney area continued to increase. Kathy and I decided I better go in and have it checked out. I thought I had a kidney stone.

The ER was not busy so they took me right back. They drew blood and put in an IV. After a wait of over an hour, the doctor comes in. He doesn’t think it is a kidney stone as I don’t look like I am in enough pain. He ordered a back X-ray.

The blood and urine work came back and didn’t show I had a kidney stone. It took about three hours before they came to get me to take me back to x-ray. The results of that came back within 30 minutes.

It showed some minor compression and the doctor concluded that I had a pinched nerve. They had given me some IV muscle relaxer and Tylenol. The pain diminished and I was able to go home.

While we were waiting for the doctor to come in and tell me the results of the blood and urine labs, I got on the hospital chart site and found the results myself. Love that you can do that!

We were there about four hours all together. Felt a bit silly for having gone in but I’m grateful it wasn’t a kidney stone.

I had a fun conversation with the X-ray lady. She had to take me to the X-ray machine in a wheelchair. I asked her how many steps she walked a day and she said it varied but she always managed to get at least 10,000 steps a day. I mentioned when I walked the Camino one day I had taken over 34,000 steps. That led to a discussion about the Camino, which she had heard about. She was a sweet lady and it was fun to talk about my experience.

I had trouble falling asleep once we got home. I got up around 2:00 and took a second bath and that did the trick. I sure was sleeping good when the alarm went off this morning at 7:00.

Cody came out a little before 8:00. He was very good today and we had a quiet day with him playing in the living room. I was not very high energy today but he was able to entertain himself. He didn’t have any melt downs today and seemed to have had a fun day.

I had a bit of trouble finding him some kid friendly food. I fixed a cheese quesadilla but he didn’t like that. I had some string cheese and he ate that. He asked me later for some ham but I didn’t have that. I did have some turkey and he said he would try that. He put pepper on it and ate it right up. Glad he found something he likes. All the kid friendly food is out of the house with the other kiddos gone.

The doctor prescribed some muscle relaxers for me so when Kathy got home from work she went to Emporia and picked those up for me. I haven’t taken one yet as the pain is almost gone. I might take one before I go to bed tonight and see if I can totally knock the pain away.

After Cody left at 4:00 I laid down and slept hard for about an hour. I’m still very tired but hoping that I will get a good night’s sleep tonight and be back to normal tomorrow.

Both Kathy and I were tired today. Poor Kathy had to go to work early this morning. She didn’t get much sleep last night either. She went to bed early tonight as she has to work tomorrow. I will head to bed early tonight too.

Still staying on my eating plan. I am eating two meals a day and then a snack and calling it good. Sure is easier only having to fix two meals a day instead of three. I don’t get hungry when I fast. My first three weeks on this plan I have lost eight pounds. I am betting the weight loss will slow down a bit but am pleased with what has happened so far. Lots more to come off but I am off to a good start.

Tomorrow I need to go to town and get chicken feed. Not sure if Tagen will play football tomorrow night or not since he missed a day of school this week. I may not go to the game anyways. It will depend on how tired I feel tomorrow.

No plans for the weekend. I have lots of cleaning that needs done if the mood strikes. I never have finished doing my fall deep clean in each room. I have a good start on it but need to get that finished up.

I didn’t do a lesson on boundaries today. With Cody here I didn’t have the time. I was too tired anyways. I will do one tomorrow. There are only eight lessons in this series and I am halfway done. Then I need to decide if I am going to take the full class or not.

Last night made me remember that I am so lucky to be in relatively good health. I need to start moving my body more and get into shape. At my age, I can’t take my good health for granted. I’m grateful I am back to eating on plan and taking off this weight again. Maybe 2024 will be the year that I get into shape. I need to find some exercise that I enjoy and make it part of my daily routine.

Next week I need to dig out my death doula material and refresh my memory on it. The health fair Kathy and I are going to have a booth at is the first Saturday of November and will be here very soon. I have lots of empty space on my calendar again next week so will have lots of time to prepare myself.

Grateful I didn’t have a kidney stone, grateful for the gentle care I received at the hospital, and grateful to have spent a day with Cody.

This has been a quiet day at home today. I haven’t gotten a thing done yet today and may not. It is cloudy with a few sprinkles and it feels like it should be a rest day. Unfortunately our chances of getting some real rain look slim to none.

I didn’t sleep well last night. I wold kinda fall asleep and then wake back up again. I finally got up a little after midnight and stayed up until 2:00. Did a bit better after that but never did feel like I got much sleep. I am tired this afternoon but I can’t take a nap today. My grandson Cody is coming at 7:30 in the morning so I have to get up early. If I take a nap I might not be able to fall asleep until late tonight.

Friday I need to go to town and get some chicken feed. I forgot to do that when I was in town yesterday. I still have a full bag but I get nervous when I get that low.

Kathy got rid of 10 dozen eggs for me today. That will pay for one sack of feed! Still have several dozen waiting on a new home. I’ll bring up more than another dozen today when I do chores.

I was fixing lunch and had a sharp pain across my back around the kidney area. Not sure what that was about but it still hurts. I can stretch and it doesn’t change anything so not sure what happened. Hope it quiets down soon. I’ll take some Ibuprofen in a bit if it doesn’t quiet down.

I have a chicken roasting in the crock pot today. It sure smells good. I was hoping it would be ready so I could have it for lunch but it wasn’t done yet. I’ll have some of it tomorrow for lunch.

My lesson on boundaries yesterday talked about what to do when someone brings their business into a community space. It then becomes your shared business and it needs to be addressed. The instructor reminds us that when someone violates boundaries, they are the one that committed the violation so our speaking up is a response, not a defense. Ummmm….. This is going to take some practice.

As a chronic people pleaser, confronting someone that violates boundaries is going to be hard for me at first. I need to remember the slogan of “Honor Self and Honor Others”. There is a way to honor both and still confront boundaries violations. If the other person doesn’t respond well, then I get to make a choice on what to do. I can leave the situation until things cool down, not spend time with them again, etc. I am not responsible for their reactions and feelings after something is said to them.

The instructor also urges us to be aware of boundary violations in the greater community and speak up against them. When someone (county commission, state representative, US Senator, etc.) gets away with what they are saying, they are likely to continue to violate boundaries thinking our being quiet is consent.

Lots to think about and start practicing. I will see what today’s lesson will teach me. Giving me lots to think about and start to change about myself.

I got my second package from Ireland this week. Everything I had purchased arrived in great shape. I was so grateful the stores offered free shipping as I didn’t have luggage space to bring home many things. Part of my Christmas shopping is complete!

I got the rest of the yard mowed last night. Soon I will need to call John Deere and have them come pick up the mower for it’s annual tuneup. If we don’t get more rain before we get a hard freeze, I won’t have to mow again this year. I will wait until we get our first hard freeze before I send the mower off.

I need to get up and move my body before I fall asleep in my chair. Sure wish I could be this tired at night when I am in bed. Sometimes I think sleep is one of the 10 Wonders of the World. I wonder if it will find me most nights!

Grateful for a quiet day at home, grateful my package arrived safely from Ireland, and grateful for the lessons on boundaries.

I went to Emporia early afternoon to pick up my weekly on-line grocery order. Didn’t need much again this week. I remembered to wash the car while I was in town. I stopped at Wendy’s and got some chili. I enjoy their chili and it made a great lunch.

Michelle had received a package late last week so I took that by her office and gave the package to her. Then I headed home.

Kathy went out this morning and cleaned out the chicken coop for me. I helped a bit but she did the dirty work. I kept an eye out for the rooster but he left us alone. Sure feels good to have a clean coop again. It was way over due for a good cleaning.

I still need to get out and mow. I had forgotten about it until I took trash down. I stopped at the barn and got two bags of trash Michelle had fixed up and saw the mower and then remembered that is on my to-do list today too. When I get done blogging, I will go down and get that little job done. It shouldn’t take more than an hour to do it.

Craig let me know his brother died yesterday. My heart is hurting for Craig and his family. Joe was well loved and will be very missed. Joe was Craig’s first and best friend and I know Craig is hurting right now.

My Camino friends from California face-timed me today. It is always a good day when I hear from them. It had been a bit since they had called and it was nice to catch each other up on happenings in our lives. Every time I talk to her I find out about a new baby or newly engaged grandchild. Their life revolves around their huge family and it is always fun to hear what their group is up to.

When I get done with mowing I will go watch another class on boundaries. It is so good I could watch the whole class in one sitting but am giving myself some processing time between classes so the information can sink in. Sure wish there had been a class like this years ago. It feels like it is life changing type of stuff.

While I was down helping Kathy clean out the chicken coop, my blood pressure dropped. Sure wish I knew what caused that. Came back up to the house and sat for a bit and drank some water and it came back up again. I hadn’t drank much this morning so I might have been a touch dehydrated. I don’t like the feeling I get when my blood pressure drops. It hadn’t done that for a bit. This afternoon it was 123/74 so back to normal.

The weather today has been fall perfect. Mid 70’s with very light wind and lots of blue skies and sunshine. They just don’t get much better than today. It got down to the upper 30’s last night. First freeze isn’t too far away. I’ll be glad to get some allergy relief when it freezes. I’m not a big fan of winter weather though so not looking forward to the cold.

I got home from my UK trip three weeks ago today. A lot has happened in these three weeks. It sure feels good to have a very quiet week this week ahead of me. My body and soul needed to slow down and rest.

My eating continues on plan. I am liking fasting. It adds a challenge to my day and I seem to be adapting to it easily. I do have to pay attention and make sure I eat enough calories though. I am only eating two meals a day now and I added a fruit snack before I started my fast. I will see if that helps.

I have’s heard if the windows have arrived yet. They should be at the store getting stained and ready for installation. The last update I got they said they would be here before November 1 to install them. It is almost here so hoping they are still on schedule. Looking forward to having them installed as well as the EFIS repaired.

Thursday Cody is coming for the day so that will keep me busy. Ellexia is with her dad this week so she won’t be able to come out. Maybe I can sweet talk Tagen and Lily into coming out for a bit. I will entice them with a meal.

Tagen stayed home sick today so don’t think he will get to play Friday night. That means I won’t go to Junction City Friday night. I won’t mind if that is the case. He has one last JV game next Monday if he wants to play in it and then his season is over.

No plans for the weekend. It feels so good to have lots of empty space on my calendar right bow. I will need to get back out there sooner or later but right now my soul needs lots and lots of quiet home time.

Grateful for this picture perfect fall day, grateful the chickens have fresh linens, and grateful for the love and life of Joe.

What a beautiful day on the prairie. A touch cool for my liking but I am loving the bright blue skies and lots of sunshine. It is to be in the low 70’s tomorrow – perfect!

Tagen didn’t go to the football game today so I didn’t have to drive to Topeka this afternoon. That freed up some time for me. Not sure why he didn’t go but am grateful for the extra empty space.

I did some desk work today. I hadn’t gone through my desk for a bit and some things needed tended to. I printed out copies of my blog from March 16, 2023 to present. I lost three years of my blog several years ago when the web site I use changed platforms. I learned my lesson and print out a copy now. I bind them in big three-ring binder books. Not sure what I will ever do with them but some day my great-grandchildren might have fun reading them.

I watched another lesson on Boundaries today. The on-line instructor I am taking the class from is really good. I still may sign up for her longer class. I’ll wait and decide when I finish this one.

I feel like I owe everyone I have ever interacted with an apology. I learned today how I violated others boundaries in the past. I didn’t realize what I was doing. When you learn better you do better! I also learned how others have violated my boundaries and I allowed it to happen not realizing what was happening. This is good material and am grateful for the lessons. Her website is boundaried.com if you are interested in learning more about boundaries. Her slogan for the class is Honor Self and Honor Others.

The wind has quieted down a bit today and is to be even quieter tomorrow. I will put cleaning out the chicken coop and finishing up the mowing on my must to list. Both of those things need to get done and I have been waiting for a quiet, warm day to do them.

I’ll probably go to town tomorrow or Wednesday and pick up a few groceries. It feels go good to stay home that it is hard to make myself go to town. I was going to stop on the way home from the game tonight and get what I needed but since I didn’t go I will have to make a trip sometime this week. Don’t need many groceries. Feels weird only buying a few things a week again.

Still staying on my eating plan and experimenting with fasting. I am finding that if I fast for 18 – 20 hours, I am less hungry and don’t eat as much. I only eat two meals a day now. I do try to increase the amount of protein I eat so I can make sure to get enough protein in the two meals. I’m losing about two pounds a week and trust that will continue. It will take me to February to get back down to where I want to be. Dang it anyways! Wish it would come off as fast as I can put it on. Hoping I have learned my lesson and this time it will stay off.

Still need to make an appointment with the gym trainer and get started with that. I was hoping the KU Research team would call me and tell me they have gotten the free gym and workout program started but they haven’t called yet. Don’t know that they will so best get my butt in gear and get started at the gym in Cottonwood Falls. The Himalayan hike is still calling to me! I am so out of shape it is going to take months to get back into shape.

Starting to remember how glorious it is to have lots of empty space. Something is shifting in me and I feel like I am getting prepared for something new to come into my life. Not sure what it might be, but welcoming what ever comes.

I listened to a blog the other day on happiness. The guy was making the point that happiness is a choice and acceptance of reality. If you are unhappy it is probably because how life is doesn’t match with your expectations and wishes of how it should be. That rang a bell for me. When one can accept whatever is going on in their life with grace and acceptance, the chances that you are happy is much higher then if you are in resistance to what is happening and wished it would change. I need to tattoo that on me to remind myself. Accept what is! See if for what it is and leave my expectations behind. When I can do that, I do experience more peace and happiness.

Grateful for the teachers I have found on-line, grateful my desk is cleaned, and grateful for the sunshine today.

I took a day of rest today. It is cold out and cloudy and I am having a low energy type of day. Nothing on my to-do list is pending so decided to not even attempt to cross something off the list. Somedays you need to give in and go with the path of least resistance, which for me was a day of rest today.

I did get my chicken chores done. The girls are giving me between 18 – 22 eggs a day. I have a big stack of eggs if anyone needs some. $3 a dozen. As Cody says they are Yummy for the tummy!

Tomorrow late afternoon I am going to Topeka for Tagen’s JV game at 6:15. Hoping it won’t be quite so cold then as it is now. I will remember to take a blanket this time, just in case.

I am enjoying having lots of empty space in my life again. I can feel my body getting more relaxed by the day. As an introvert, I need lots of quiet, alone time to recharge myself. It does my body good!

Have someone interested in renting space in my barn. He came to look at it today and sounds interested. We shall see if he takes it. I need to get down there and do some rearranging if he decides to rent it. I have a trailer that needs sold, a doghouse to take to town, and lots of trash to get out of there. I forget about the barn most of the time and forget to go down there and clean it up.

It is to warm up this week and the wind is to slow down some. Maybe I can get out and get the chicken coop cleaned out and the rest of the yard mowed.

I turned my furnace on earlier last week. I hope I can turn it back off again this week. Way too early to be burning propane but it got cold! I need to go down and check the level of propane in my tank to make sure it has enough to get me through another cold spell or two.

Feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the little things that need done around here. I let the yard get away from me this year and the flower beds all need some tender loving care to clean them up for the winter. I need to get the weed wacker out and clean up the edges of the yard before winter too. Lots of cleaning needs done inside and the barn needs cleaned out. Unfortunately none of it is urgent and pressing so I tend to put it off again and again. If I don’t get to some of the outside work, I won’t be able to get it done before the snow flies.

Feeling very content and full this afternoon. I feel like I have finally gotten all the way home from my trip and am finding my new rhythm without the kiddos here. I trust I won’t have any more emergency home repairs for a bit and things can stay calmed down around here and I can deal with normal stuff. I kinda lost knowing what normal feels like.

Grateful for a quiet day at home, grateful for my fireplace that has helped keep me warm today, and grateful I allowed myself a complete rest day today.

What a fun gathering of friends we had today to watch the solar eclipse. My friends that came were just as excited about seeing the eclipse as I was. It was very cloudy but the clouds would part just often enough that we got to see the sun become eclipsed by the moon. Amazing really since it was so cloudy. The sun looked more like the moon during the eclipse process. We didn’t get to see the ring of fire that others way south and west of us got to see but we definitely could see the progression of the moon covering the sun and then retreating.

I served a taco lunch that went over well. All of us enjoyed eating and the company around the table. I need to do this more often. I really enjoy having good friends over.

I’m tired this afternoon. I felt weird this morning and finally realized it was from the energy of the eclipse. I have felt better as the day went on but feel drained this afternoon. A good nap will fix that!

I am so looking forward to a couple days of empty space ahead of me next week. I am going to Topeka for a football game Monday evening but have the rest of the week free. I will continue working on getting my house deep cleaned and puttering around the house. It will feel good to not have much on my to-do list.

Thursday Cody is coming to play for the day. I asked Ellexia if she wanted to bring a friend out and come out for the day too. She will help me keep Cody entertained. He is easy to entertain if I let him watch TV all day. I try not to do that though.

It is only to reach 51 for the high today and tomorrow. Man! Where did the warm weather go all of a sudden? It is to warm back up a bit next week. This time of year you never know what the temperature will be from day to day. I am looking forward to the wind calming down a bit. The last two days have been very windy on top of this hill.

I can’t believe Christmas is only a little over two months away. This year has flown by. I guess I need to start thinking about the holidays and what I want to do with them this year. Last year I was in a fog and didn’t do much. I never did get my Christmas tree put up. We didn’t have our Christmas celebration until January and by then it was too late to put the tree up. Not sure I will put it up this year either. We shall see what my mood is and if I do or not. I don’t think anyone missed it last year – at least if they did they didn’t say anything.

Tagen got to play a couple of times during the game last night. Unfortunately his team lost big again. They had some good plays but never did find the end zone with the ball. It has been a very tough season for them. So proud of him for sticking it out to the end of the season. He has one more varsity game to go and two more JV games. Trusting he will make it through them without an injury.

Doing my bet to stay grounded and above neutral level on the chart of consciousness. The world feels scary and out of control right now. I am limiting myself on how much news I read daily. Fear does not serve me well and I need to stay out of it. I am hoping with the eclipse over, things can start to calm back down a bit. It never ceases to amaze me how humans can hurt each other. Preferences have become confused with truth. Not sure what it will take to change the global tide. Staying out of fear and in love is the only thing I know I can do.

Grateful for friends that appreciate the wonders of the universe and celebrate them with me, grateful for empty space that allows me to recharge and refill, and grateful for a warm house on this cool, fall day.

I had trouble sleeping last night. I slept for two or three hours and then woke up and couldn’t go back to sleep. Finally got up and stayed up for a couple of hours then took another hot bath. Went back to bed and was able to get a second sleep. I woke up not feeling very rested though. Why is sleep so hard to find sometimes?

The wind is in a big hurry today. We had a 52.2 MPH wind gust today and it is averaging in the high 20’s to low 30’s. Sure hope it blows in some rain.

I’m afraid the forecast is calling for cloudy skies tomorrow. I am still going to host a solar eclipse watch party but am thinking we won’t be able to see the ring of fire. We will, however, feel the effects of it. It will be fun to see my friends and reconnect with them. It feels like it has been a long time since I did that.

Kathy and I are going to Tagen’s football game tonight. It is at Emporia. It is Senior night so Tagen will be recognized along with all the other senior players. They have had a tough season and haven’t won any games. I am so proud of him for sticking it out though even when he doesn’t get to hardly play at all. The summer season of football started with him getting a concussion that took three weeks to clear. The kid has more guts then I do to keep playing.

Next week looks fairly quiet for me. I will be watching Cody on Thursday as there is no school. I might see if I can talk Tagen or Ellexia to come out that day and help me entertain him.

Monday night Tagen has a JV game in Topeka that I might go to. If Michelle can’t go then I will go. Friday the team plays in Junction City so I may go visit my friend in Manhattan and then go to the game. We shall see how the week shakes out. Going places sounds fun until it is time to go and then I can talk myself out of going.

It will be delightful to have a quiet week. I have some things to continue to work on around here. I also want to get back to my death doula material and review it to prepare myself for the health fair that is the first Saturday in November.

I signed up for a class on Boundaries that I will spend some time with next week too. The lady that does these also does an eight week class but I wanted to see if I like it well enough before I spend the dollars to do that big class. This class feels more doable both time wise and financially. She teaches how boundaries are an inside job. They are not to be put in place to control others. They are to teach yourself what to do if someone invades your personal space and time.

As a recovering people pleaser and co-dependent person, I have not done a good job setting and maintaining my boundaries. I give too much of myself to others – sometimes even if they don’t want it. I am doing much better about that but a few lessons and tips won’t hurt.

The leader teaches it is important to know where you start and stop and where others stop and start. I have to tend to my own boundaries and let others tend to theirs. When both parties have clear boundaries, a real intimate relationship can develop.

The only thing I have control over is myself and my reactions to others. Happiness and peace are inside jobs. No one can give you that. It has taken me a long time to figure that out. Better late then never. Or as the saying goes – when you know better, you do better.

Grateful for a quiet week ahead, grateful for teachers that help teach me about myself, and grateful to have come this far in my life journey.

Happy birthday mom. She would have been 94 today. Hard to believe she has been gone 16 years. I think of her daily and am so very grateful for all the things she shared with me.

This has been a much better day. I slept most of yesterday. My temperature finally broke in the late evening. I was surprised I was able to sleep last night since I took three naps yesterday. It must have been a reaction to the RSV vaccine as what ever it was is gone today. Usually if I have a reaction to a vaccine it only lasts for about 24 hours.

Have gotten some cleaning done today. Am taking a short break and I will get back at it. I am working on the living room, dining room and kitchen today. Decided to wait on my bedroom as the company coming Saturday won’t go in there.

I have been decluttering my kitchen, dining room and living room. It amazes me how stuff piles up. I usually do a pretty good job of decluttering daily but for some reason had let stuff pile up. It feels so good to have empty tables and counter tops again.

I had gotten notice three weeks ago that one of the packages I had shipped from Ireland should be arriving and they gave me the tracking number. They said it would take three to four weeks to arrive so I kinda forgot about it. I saw the email today and clicked on it so I could track the package. To my surprise it said the package had been delivered October 4. I guessed it might me on my neighbor’s porch so I drove down there and there it was. It had been sitting out for over a week. Grateful we hadn’t gotten wind or rain. Grateful the package got here and everything is safe. Still waiting on one more package from Ireland to arrive. Most of the stuff in the packages are Christmas presents.

Sure hope the wind and clouds today blow in some rain. We only have a slight chance for some. Maybe I need to go to town and wash my car again. We sure need rain. Many locals have wells that have gone dry and are having to haul water. Time consuming, expensive and frustrating experience for them.

Still eating on plan. I am on a weight loss plateau this week. I remember from five years ago doing this. Frustrating but I have to trust the process. I will lose two or three pounds all at once and then not lose any more for another week or two. I sure feel better now that I am back on plan. Sure wish the weight would come off as fast as I can pack it on.

When I was walking the Camino I was in Santiago on this day eight years ago. My feet were absolutely trashed and hurting. However, something told me to make my way back to the Cathedral for noon mass. I am not a Catholic but there is something about churches that pulls me in. I got to the mass late but actually I was just on time as they just started swinging the Botafumeiro. It is not used in every mass and it was a special treat to get to see it. I was grateful I had listened to my inner guidance so I could see it.

I had planned my walk to leave KS on my birthday and to arrive in Santiago on my mother’s birthday. I actually arrived a day early but I stayed over till the 13th when I left for a week in Paris. It seemed fitting to bookend my trip with those dates.

Loving this empty space day. It feels like it has been ages since I have had one. I work a bit, sit for a bit, work some more and repeat. I am taking my time and doing a very deep clean and cleaning things I normally don’t stop to clean. The house is feeling lighter already.

Thinking of those in Israel and the innocent Palestinian that are caught in this mess. When will we as a nation learn that war and violence doesn’t ever solve a problem? My heart aches for all in danger and who’s lives are being disrupted and threatened. We all have more in common then we do differences. It is time to really see and hear each other and get over our personal preferences and judgements of those that have different ones. Personal preferences are not truth.

When I think about all the world’s problems I can get overwhelmed and depressed. I have to keep reminding myself that the best thing I can do for the world is to continue to do my own inner work. When I don’t show up full of love and light, I add to the world’s negative energy. When I am conscious and aware, I can stay above the neutral level on the chart of consciousness and help raise the vibration of all. Some days it just doesn’t feel like that is enough though. However, if everyone did that, the world would be a much better place.

Grateful what ever I had yesterday is gone today, grateful for the cleaning I have gotten done so far today, and grateful for the life and love of my mother.

This date is forever burned into my body’s memory cells as the day I completed the 500 mile Camino de Santiago. I still don’t know where I got the courage to attempt it, let alone finish it. I just knew deep in my soul that it was something I had to do. I am eternally grateful that I set aside my fears and did it.

The lessons I learned during the walk still remain with me today. When I get overwhelmed with life I remember to take things one step at a time. I have a tendency to try to eat the whole elephant with one bite and take on more then I should. When I tackle things one step at a time amazing things can happen.

Today has been a wipeout. I am running a temperature this afternoon. It must be from the RSV vaccine. The arm where the shot was given is very sore too. The pharmacist told me they hadn’t heard of anyone having issues with it. Leave it to me to have this reaction.

I had trouble falling asleep last night. I have restless leg and it felt like my insides were restless. I finally took a second bath and some Tylenol and some restless leg medication. It worked and I was able to sleep hard for several hours. I had a phone call this morning and it woke me up. I couldn’t go back to sleep so I got up. I was low energy this morning so gave myself this morning off. My plan was to hit it hard this afternoon but that didn’t happen. I slept in my chair for two hours and woke up with a temperature. I have that bone chill that I can’t warm up. Better days are ahead. This should be short lived.

Trusting that tomorrow I will be feeling better. I have to get some things done. We shall see what my body feels like tomorrow.

Taking what feels like a mandatory day of rest. I have been going very fast and hard since I got home and probably was overdue for a rest day. I will allow myself to relax into the rest and enjoy the evening.

Grateful for my Camino experience, grateful I could take a day of rest, and grateful for getting lots of sleep today.

Today has gone a bit differently then I planned. I got a lot done though. I finished washing up all the linens from the two guest bedrooms downstairs and started on my bedroom.

I went to Emporia a little after noon. I dropped off Tagen’s pillows and some blankets he had forgotten to take. I picked up the order I had placed with Walmart yesterday. I wanted five things and they only had three of the five and then ended up shorting me one thing today. They are shipping the other two things.

I went in the store and got some groceries. I wasn’t organized enough to place an on-line order so did it the old fashioned way and got things myself. I managed not to over shop and impulse buy much.

I loaded my car and had some time to kill before my vaccine appointment at 3:00. I took my car to the car wash and got it cleaned up a bit. I bought the once a day monthly pass this time. I will see if I remember to use it enough to pay for that. It was only $6 more than a normal car wash so if I use it even one time it will pay for itself. As I was driving home we got a few sprinkles. Maybe I need to wash my car everyday if that will help it rain around here.

I went back to Walmart and got my RSV vaccine. When I checked in they thought I was there for my flu shot. My email reminder clearly said the RSV vaccine. Not sure what happened with their system but they were able to get me the RSV vaccine. The lady said they have a short supply of them and never know when they will get more in. I asked about a reaction to it and she said no one has reported any yet. We shall see if I am the exception.

I scheduled my flu shot for two weeks. I refuse to take more then one shot at a time. If I have a reaction I want to know which one caused it.

When I went out to the parking lot to go to my car I had trouble finding it. It was clean and I was still looking for a dirt covered red car.

On the way home the guy that is getting rid of Tagen’s truck called me. He needed the title signed in a different spot. I came home and unloaded the car and put away the refrigerator stuff. I loaded the car with the recycling material and went to Cottonwood Falls. I dumped the recycling and then went to the shop to pick up the title.

I drove back into Emporia to get Michelle’s signature and then drove it back to Cottonwood Falls. The guy wasn’t there when I got there but showed up about 10 minutes later. He gave me the cash for the pickup and I wrote a check for his repair job.

I finally got home around 5:00. I had to drive the trash down to the curb and do chicken chores. Came in and fixed dinner and am finally sitting in my chair for the first time all afternoon. I feel like I ran circles this afternoon and didn’t get near done what I wanted to.

Feels good to have the truck taken care of though. I will give Tagen his dollars next time I see him. He came out of this deal better then I did!

I still want to get downstairs tonight and put the two guest bedrooms back together. I’m tired of the linens sitting in my dining room and laundry room.

Tomorrow I hope to get my bedroom and bathroom deep cleaned and then Thursday do the living room, dining room and kitchen. Friday I will finish up the upstairs and do the hallway, study and laundry room. We shall see if I get all that done or not. I have company coming Saturday for lunch so need to get the worst of it done before then.

I think I get to stay home until I go to the football game Friday night. I have lots to do here. I haven’t made it out to finish the mowing or to clean out the chicken coop. Too much to do and not enough energy to do it all. It will get done – just not sure when.

I have been home from my UK trip for two weeks. Not sure what I have done with myself but time is flying by right now. Sure hope things can slow down next week. I miss having empty space in my life.

Something has shifted in me. I noticed my self-talk lately has been more positive then it has been for a long time. I have climbed out of the muck pond and feel like I am ready to fully embrace life again. It has been a long time since I have felt this way.

Tomorrow is my 8th anniversary of walking the Camino de Santiago. What an adventure that was. The last day on the trail was full of little miracles that make me smile 8 years later. Kathy joined me in Paris for a week after the walk was over. That was an adventure too! I am so blessed!

I got a letter from the Breast Center at the hospital today telling me my mammogram was normal. My doctor’s office had called to tell me that the day of the mammogram. I appreciated the written confirmation of it though.

Six years ago I was recovering from having my thyroid removed and being told they discovered cancer in it after they removed it. Other than struggling to manage my TSH levels I have done well post-op. Each year I stay cancer free decreases the odds of the cancer reoccurring. I rarely think about it and often forget I am a cancer survivor. My Endocrinologist is good about doing bi-annual checkups and monitoring my condition so if something does pop up she is on top of it.

Feeling an overwhelming amount of gratitude for all the ways that I am blessed tonight. Sometimes I deal with life a day at a time and forget to look back and see how far I have come and how much I have changed.

Grateful Tagen’s pickup is taken care of, grateful for vaccines, and grateful I have two quiet days at home ahead of me.

Long day. It is almost 10:00 and I just got home. I went with Tagen’s girlfriend to Wichita to watch Tagen play football. He got to play one set tonight. Grateful I was there to watch him.

After the game we went to Freddy’s for dinner and then made a quick stop at Costco. Costco was out of the chicken tenders that I went there for so got the frozen ones instead. Picked up a few other things and then headed home.

The plumber was able to make it to Michelle’s house to fix her toilet today. The roofer came and fix some shingles that were not attached correctly. At least two things got crossed off my list today, if nothing else got done.

I did finish washing up all the bedding from the two guest rooms downstairs. Tomorrow I will get those two rooms cleaned and put back together again.

I placed an order for pickup at Walmart. I started the order differently then I normally do and couldn’t figure out how to change the pickup time. The site said they would hold the order for three days so hoping it will be ready for me tomorrow afternoon when I go. I needed five things and they were out of stock on two of them. I think they are shipping the two items to me, if I understood the site properly. We shall see.

I am getting the new RSV vaccine tomorrow afternoon. I read an article today that said the flu, Covid, shingles and RSV vaccines help prevent Dementia. Wow! That would be ever so helpful if that study turns out to be true.

I need to pick up a few groceries while I am at Walmart tomorrow too. I haven’t placed an order for them so will just do it the old-fashion way and go pick them up myself since I have to go in the store anyways.

I need to take the two boxes of stuff I have found the kiddos left behind. One of the boxes has some pillows in it and Tagen told me tonight he doesn’t have a pillow for his bed. I will drop those off while I am in town tomorrow.

Thankfully the rest of the week I get to stay home and clean. I am ready for a few quiet days at home. It feels like it has been very busy since I got home from my trip and I haven’t had a lot of quiet time.

Friday night is Senior recognition night for the football team. I will go to that game as it will be Tagen’s last home game. He has one more away game the following week and I’m not sure if I will make it to that one or not. If Michelle can’t go, then I will go otherwise I will probably skip it. He didn’t get to play much this year but he hadn’t gone out for football for two years. I’m proud that he stuck the season out even when he didn’t get to play much. It would have been easier for him to walk away earlier in the season. They haven’t won many games, if any this year so it has been a tough season for the whole team.

I ordered some new business cards for Kathy and I so we can pass them out at the health fair in November. It is exciting to think that together we can get a business going and offer death doula services. It is a much needed service in this area. I need to get my books out and refresh my memory on the ins and outs of planning for your death.

I’ve needed something that has a bit of structure to it to keep me busy. Getting that business up and running will fit my need nicely. I’m excited to see where it goes and if we can get it up and running.

I can feel that things are opening up for me in a new way. This last year has been a healing year for me. I feel like I have found my footing and grounding in a new way and am on more solid ground then I have been on for a long time. Time for me to fly and get back out and live big.

Grateful to see Tagen play football tonight, grateful he stayed safe playing tonight, and grateful some things got crossed off my to-do list today.

I have done countless number of loads of laundry today and the laundry floor is still covered. I brought up all the linens from the two guest bedrooms downstairs to wash. It will take me most of the day tomorrow to get it all done and then I get to put the rooms back together after I wash them all down.

I didn’t make it out to mow this afternoon as Jason, Melissa and Cody came out for the afternoon. It was fun visiting with them. I hadn’t seen them since I got home. They have a lot going on in their lives and I appreciate them taking an afternoon to come see me. Jason replaced one of the light bulbs in the living room for me. I can use the extension pole and do it but having him do it was much easier. Jason made it look super easy.

Cody helped me gather eggs today. We both kept a close eye on the rooster to make sure he didn’t come after us. Cody took home the eggs we gathered. He said the eggs looked yummy.

I spent almost 11 hours in bed last night. I was asleep by 8:00. I woke up at 10:00 and at first thought it was 10:00 in the morning but then realized it was dark outside. I had one of those nights where I would sleep for an hour or two, wake up and be awake for an hour or two and rinse and repeat all night. I did feel rested when I got up this morning though.

I need to remember to call a plumber first thing in the morning and get them over to Michelle’s house to check out her toilet. The tank isn’t filling correctly so it doesn’t flush well. Hopefully it is an easy and quick fix. I still need to call and get the glass people out to measure the broken window too.

Tomorrow afternoon I am taking Tagen’s girlfriend to Tagen’s football game in Wichita. We will go out for dinner afterwards and then I need to make a quick stop at Costco. I won’t get a lot of cleaning done tomorrow either.

Tuesday afternoon I am getting the new RSV vaccine. I will pick up a few groceries since I will be in town. Hopefully this vaccine won’t knock me out for 24 hours like the Covid one did.

I don’t have anything on my calendar for Wednesday, Thursday or Friday so should be able to get lots of cleaning done those days.

It has felt grounding for me to clean the house and wash everything up. It feels like it changes the energy in the house somehow. It will be wonderful to have the whole house clean by the end of the week.

Still feeling a bit out of sorts today but things have been a bit easier for me today then they were yesterday. I feel energy moving internally today and know that things are resetting. It was a huge change for me having the three extras in the house for almost four months and I will need time to process all of that and release it and then adjust to them not being here. I’m grateful I understand what is happening to me and that I know to allow it to unfold as needed. I can’t rush a process like this and never know how long it will take.

I’ve managed to stay on my eating plan everyday since I have been home from the UK. Still detoxing a bit from the flour and sugar I have eaten over the last six months but that is getting easier too. This time I am also trying fasting for 14 – 16 hours a day. That seems to be going well. Sure wish I could take weight off as fast as I can gain it. Feels good to be back on plan and doing something to take care of myself.

I need to call and make an appointment with the trainer and get that process started. It is time for me to get this body back into shape. That Himalayan walking tour is still calling to me and I have to get started getting into shape if I want to do it next fall.

Grateful Jason and his family spent the afternoon with me, grateful to be back on track with my eating plan, and grateful for this beautiful fall day.

I had trouble finding sleep for the longest time last night. I finally fell asleep around 4:00 this morning. I slept good for a short time but woke up and couldn’t go back to sleep. I still felt tired when I got up.

Michelle texted me this morning to tell me her toilet isn’t flushing properly. Dang it anyways! I am getting tired of having to figure out how to get things fixed. Between Michelle’s house and this house it seems I can’t catch a break. Enough already! I will have to call a plumber first thing Monday morning and see if I can get someone out to look at it.

I got one bedroom completely reset and cleaned today. I lost count how many loads of laundry I did to accomplish that. Feels good to have one room done. I’m not going to count how many more I have to do. I would get too overwhelmed. My goal is to do at least one room a day until I get done. It might take me till the end of the month to accomplish that.

I have been cranky today. I’m still tired and have felt uncomfortable in my own skin today. Not sure what that is all about. I got cold this morning and had the hardest time warming up. I got up and moved my body and that helped but the crankiness didn’t go away. Just one of those days, I guess.

I did go into Cottonwood Falls to listen to the live music. I only stayed for about an hour. The music was delightful but it was too peopley for me. There was a lady that came up to talk to the person in front of me and she stood up for over 15 minutes blocking my view of the music. I found myself getting cranky and decided to come home for the safety of those around me.

I don’t like when I allow someone else to push my buttons. I certainly had options and could have moved but I wasn’t in the mood to play nice. I decided the best thing for me was to remove myself completely.

It was a perfect fall weather day for an outdoor celebration today. I wore a sweater and sat in the sun and was very comfortable. They have more music at 7:00 tonight followed by a firework show but I don’t think I will go back in. It did me good to get out of the house for a short bit and sit outside. I was hoping it would help me shake off my crankiness but so far that didn’t happen.

Not much on my calendar for next week. I am getting the new RSV vaccine on Tuesday. Hoping I don’t have a reaction to it. I had a foster daughter a long time ago that spent a week in the hospital due to RSV. I seem to have respiratory issues when I get sick and want to avoid RSV.

It will be good for me to have a very quiet week. Kathy came home from her housesitting job this afternoon. It is nice to just have the two of us in the house again. The house feels a bit big and lonely without the kiddos around. I think cleaning it good will help reset the energy of the house.

Monday Tagen has a football game at 4:00 in Wichita. I am taking his girlfriend and we are going to stop at Costco after the game. I don’t need a lot of things so it will be a quick stop.

Saturday I am having some friends over so we can watch the eclipse together. That will give me a reason to keep cleaning house as I will need the main part of the house done by Saturday. It will be good to see my friends again – it feels like it has been a long time since I have connected with them.

I have been practicing good self-care today and offering myself lots of grace. When I get unsettled I can usually calm myself and it doesn’t last too long. I know I have lots of emotion to release from the trip and from having the kiddos here for almost four months. Today feels like that is what happened. Not comfortable to do by any means, but necessary. If I can fully feel something, accept it for what it is without a story, I then can release it and be done with it. It is when I stuff things and resist them that I get myself into trouble.

The girls gave me 20 eggs today. That seems to be there normal these days. One day soon I need to clean the coop out. It is way past time to do that job. It is to be nice and cool most of the week so the weather will be perfect to get it cleaned out. The rooster ignored me today. I am on my guard watching him while I am down there. I hope he learned his lesson but I sure don’t trust him any more.

I need to remember to go out and mow tomorrow and finish up the yard. I have about half of it done so it won’t take but an hour or so to finish it up. Unless we get some rain it may be the last mow of the year.

Today reminds me of Pema Chodron’s book “Welcoming the Unwelcome”. She reminds me to accept anything that happens without judging it as good or bad but rather as it is. Some days are easy ones but days like today are just plain hard. It is what it is and when I can accept that it does make it a bit easier. Everyone has good and bad days. My life lesson is to react with equal grace to both types of days. Not sure I was successful at that today but I caught myself and did better. Tomorrow is a new day and a new chance!

Grateful for the beautiful weather today, grateful for the beautiful music I heard today, and grateful one room in this house is clean.

The movers ran into a scheduling conflict last night and were unable to unload Michelle. She and the two kids had to come back and spend one more night with me. Thankfully Michelle had washed a load of laundry and had forgotten to take it so they had clean clothes to put on this morning. Everything else was packed and in the truck. I happened to have some spare toothbrushes and toothpaste so they were good to go for the night.

I woke up at 4:30 this morning and couldn’t go back to sleep. I didn’t go to bed until after midnight so didn’t get much sleep. I got up a little before 6:00 as Tagen had to get up at 6:00 so he could leave by 6:30. I was able to chat with him a bit before he left.

I couldn’t pack him a lunch today as I had packed all the chips, etc. I had sandwich stuff but no lunch box – it was packed too! I gave him some $$ so he could buy his lunch today.

After Michelle and Ellexia left at 7:30 I sat in my chair and fell asleep. I was grateful for the extra sleep. I’m tired this afternoon but am releasing the tension I have held for the last bit and that is making me sore and tired. It will take me a week or so to find my new rhythm and routine with the kids gone.

I took my car to Dieker’s to see if I had a rock in the brake shoe. My car has been squeaking at times, but not consistently like it had the last two times this has happened. Sure enough, I had a rock in the break shoe. They didn’t even charge me for fixing it! Great service!

I forgot to check to see if Tagen’s truck is still at the repair shop while I was in town. I still need to settle with the repair man and give Tagen the dollars the junk man will pay to take his truck away. I’ll try to remember to do that Monday.

Went to Emporia after Cottonwood Falls. I needed a bag of ice and Michelle wanted to borrow a hammer and screwdriver. I stopped at the Hardware store and got her a took box and put some basics in it – hammer, tape measure, screwdrivers, pliers, a picture hanging kit, and my favorite – some zip ties. I took that over to her along with a car full of things that still needed moved to her new house.

Michelle is going to come out tonight and get the remaining TV’s and the dog. The poor dog’s food got packed too. He has been eating cat food and my dog’s food today. I’m sure he will be glad to get back with Michelle. I will be ever so grateful when he leaves.

I have done a few loads of laundry today. It is the time of year where I will wash up all the bedding in the house. Since the beds have all been used by the kiddos it is a good time to wash it all up. I have one bedroom almost done.

I will take next week and deep clean every room in the house. I need to wash away the summer dirt and dust and prepare the house for winter. Trust we get some rain soon to quiet down the dust so it will stay clean for a bit.

I turned my fireplace on this morning. I got a chill and couldn’t get warm. I’m not used to it being 55 for the high for the day. The wind has been in a big hurry all day and that makes it feel colder to me.

Tomorrow Cottonwood Falls is having a big 150th celebration of the Court House. They have live music most of the afternoon and I plan on going in and enjoying it. Several of my favorite local groups are performing. It is to warm up a bit tomorrow and be clear so it is a perfect day to sit and enjoy live music.

I still need to mow the rest of the yard. I got about half of it done yesterday. It is too cold to mow today so I will get the rest of it done this weekend.

Kathy’s housesitting job ends tomorrow so she will be back tomorrow night. I have missed seeing her since I have been home from vacation. She has been dropping by for a short time each day to check on her cat but otherwise has been at the housesitting job’s house.

Sitting with a lot of gratitude this afternoon for the time I had with Michelle and the kiddos. This time with them gave me a chance to get to know them on a deeper level. I had missed so much time with them during Covid. This helped me catch up a bit with them. I am grateful my house was big enough to offer them a sanctuary during their time of transition. I’m so excited for their new beginnings in their new house.

Eight years ago I was almost to finish walking the 500 mile Camino de Santiago. My Facebook memory pages are full of things I posted while I was walking. What an adventure that was. I think part of the reason I was a bit disappointed with my UK trip was my comparing it to the Camino. I don’t think anything I will ever do will beat my Camino experience.

Taking the rest of the day as a rest day. I am going to offer myself some grace and ease into my new routine. Today feels like a new beginning for myself in some ways. Not sure where this path is going to lead but it feels like the right one to be on. That is enough to know!

Grateful Michelle’s move is all but complete, so very grateful for the time I had with the kiddos, and grateful for new beginnings for all!

Moving day for Michelle. I packed up Ellexia’s room this morning and then helped Tagen finish up his. Michelle worked on her room and down in the barn. She took two car loads to the new house.

Michelle worked at the new house while the movers were here loading up. They didn’t show up until 1:00. One guy showed up then another joined him. The second guy had to go to town around 3:00 and hasn’t made it back out here yet. The other guy is finishing up. He only has a bed to load and then he will be done loading. I sure hope they plan to unload tonight. They may wait till morning.

I did some mowing this afternoon while the guys were loading. I was anxious and needed to move my body. That way I was available if they had a question – they just had to flag me down and I didn’t have to stand around and watch them.

Ellexia is cheering this afternoon so when the movers leave I will run into town to watch her and then take her home. The kiddos may have to spend the night here again depending on what the movers do.

I was pleasantly surprised when the A/C company called me today to tell me they could install the new blower motor this afternoon in Michelle’s new house. That was easy!

One thing at a time we are getting things done. Michelle took a huge step today moving into her own house. I trust this new beginning will work well for her and the kiddos.

A year ago Jim went to Colorado to give us a break from each other for a few days. I had finally figured out what was going on between us and needed a few days alone to make a decision on which life path I wanted to walk. Both choices were hard but one had a light at the end of the tunnel. I am grateful I chose the path I did as I am now seeing and feeling the light.

It took me a long time to figure out why I kept falling into the muck pond and why I had trouble getting out of it when I did. It is interesting because now that I have healed a bit, I rarely fall in the muck pond and if I do I don’t stay there very long. That helps me know I made the right decision.

Grateful for moving companies that do the heavy lifting, grateful for making the decision I did a year ago, and grateful for the time I had with Michelle and the two kiddos.

I slowed things down today. I woke up feeling as tired as I was when I went to bed. The storm had woken me up last night and I didn’t get a lot of sleep. It was fun to hear thunder roll and crash across the prairie last night. Wished we had gotten a good rain out of it. We got a bit but not much.

I had to reset the internet this morning. The storm must have knocked it off. Luckily all I had to do was power it off and then back on and it worked. Funny how that fixes most everything. Unplug for a bit and you can get up and going when you get plugged back in.

I went to Michelle’s house to let the HVAC man in. He was waiting for me in the driveway when I got there. I was there 30 minutes before they said he would arrive. He said he hadn’t been there long.

The heater checked out fine. He showed me how to change the filter. The existing one was very, very dirty. I don’t think it had been changed in a long time. I took a picture of it so I know the size to get for Michelle. The A/C needs a new blower motor. The existing one still works but he said it is going out. They are to price it out and give me a call to get permission to order it. Hopefully it isn’t thousands of dollars.

I painted most of Ellexia’s closet while I was waiting on the HVAC guy to get finished. I still have the very top of it to paint. It may need a second coat as I painted over a dark blue. It was hard to paint as there are some built-in shelves in there. I got too tired to finish.

I stopped at Walmart and got a few groceries. My grocery bill will be going way down now that the kiddos are moving out tomorrow. I only had to get what I needed for the next week which wasn’t much compared to what I had been buying.

I came home and took a nap. I slept good for over an hour. I think I will do chicken chores and fix dinner for Tagen but nothing else tonight. Tomorrow will be extra busy with the movers coming for Michelle’s things and I need a bit of rest today. Not sure why I ran out of gas today but I did. Sometimes it is easier to go with that then trying to fight through it.

Michelle’s financing for the new house got delayed for two weeks today so will put everything on hold for a bit. I’m grateful I am the seller so can be as flexible as needed. I hadn’t taken the contract to the title company yet so nothing official will get changed. This will give her more time to get moved in and make sure she likes the house before we proceed anyways.

I sent an email to the guy that is going to repair the Efis and gave him the projected time table for the windows. I sure hope he can get out here mid November and get this job done. I really don’t want to go through the winter without having the Efis repaired. We shall see how things work out.

I don’t have anything on my calendar for the weekend. I would like to go into Cottonwood Falls and see what all is happening with the 150th celebration of the courthouse. There is a concert Saturday night that I would like to go to. I’ll see how the move is going and if It still sounds like a good idea when it is time to go.

The organizer of the Chase County Health Fair called me today and invited Kathy and I to do a table at the upcoming Health Fair the first Saturday in November. We are both Death Doulas and I specialize in death planning and Kathy is well trained on bedside help. It will give me an incentive to get with the program and refresh my knowledge and start working a practice. Both of us are interested in being of service to our local friends in Chase County and this will be a great way to get the word out.

I managed to do a whole week of intermittent fasting. I lost four pounds which I am pleased with. I’m sure the weight loss will slow down some as a lot of it was water weight that I had from the trip. I don’t get hungry and I can tell my body seems to like this way of eating. I am back to eating my Bright Lines way, I eat my meals a couple hours apart and then fast for 14 – 16 hours a day. We will see where this gets me and how long I can continue it.

I promised myself that next week I will get back to going to the gym. There is a guy that is a great trainer that owns the Cottonwood gym so will get an appointment with him and get started. It is time for me to get this body back into shape. I don’t have much on my schedule for the next couple of months and I have all the time I need to get started. Time for me to focus on myself again and do what I need to do for me.

Still thinking about the walking trip in the Himalayas next fall. I need to get started working out now if I want to do it. I will have until March to make a final decision as that is when the payment is due. I’ll see if I can get with a workout program and stick with it so I know I would be successful walking.

The house already fills big and empty to me. I have had a rare afternoon with no one home. Kathy has been at her housesitting job since I have been home and I haven’t seen her much. With the kiddos moving out tomorrow I am already feeling the quiet. It will take me a bit to adjust to living here without several others. Kathy will be back this weekend and we will have to find our new “normal” together.

Taking a day of rest to allow my body to get 100% home from my trip. I kinda hit the ground running when I got home and haven’t stopped since. Balance can be hard for me to find sometimes. I think after today the jet lag will be gone and I will be home completely. – body, mind and spirit.

Grateful the closet is almost painted, grateful for a rest day, and grateful for what rain we did get last night.

Another busy day where I haven’t had a chance to sit down much.

Phil came out as I was leaving this morning. He replaced the circuit breaker for the dryer. I put a load of towels in the dryer this afternoon and it didn’t trip the breaker so thinking it is fixed.

I went to the hospital in Emporia this morning for my annual mammogram and bone density test. It was quick and painless.

Came home afterwards as I forgot to put the ladder in the car for painting. I did some laundry and gathered up trash to take to the curb, ran a load of dishes and picked up a bit here.

I went to Cottonwood Falls to deliver six dozen eggs. I checked on Tagen’s truck but it was still at the repair shop. Not sure when the junk man is coming to take it away.

A little before noon I had lunch and then I headed into town to paint. I got Ellexia’s bedroom painted. I still need to paint inside the closet but that is going to wait for another day. Today I did all ladder work and my arms were tired when I got her room done.

While I was there I tried to use the internet and discovered it wasn’t working. I called ValuNet and they came over to fix it. The modem was bad so they replaced it. I was impressed with their quick service.

Sutherland’s delivered the new oven while I was painting. Glad those two things got taken care of.

I noticed some shingles on the east side of the roof at Michelle’s new house were hanging on by a thread. I sent an email to the company that did the roof a couple years ago. The roof is still under warranty so they are going to send a crew over soon to fix it. That was a pleasant surprise that there would be no charge for that.

The guy that is moving Michelle later this week came by to look at how much stuff she has this afternoon. He is an old family friend so it was fun to visit with him.

I got 21 eggs from the girls today. I sold six dozen today but still have a bunch if anyone needs some.

Tomorrow the HVAC guy is coming to Michelle’s new house to check out the A/C and heater around 12:30. I will go in and wait for them to show up and learn how to change the furnace filter. I will paint on the inside of the closet while I am waiting for them.

I still need to call the glass guy and get him out to measure the window that needs replaced. I will try to remember to call him tomorrow

Looks like most of Michelle’s stuff will get moved on Thursday sometime. Not sure if she will be able to get the day off or not so will stay available if needed to help direct traffic for that. I’m sure that will be a very sweet day for Michelle. I trust this new beginnings for her will be productive and this house will serve her well.

Once the dust settles from the move, we will start the process so she can buy the house. There was too much going on to rush that. She should be able to close on the house sometime in November if she can get loan approval.

Maybe Friday I can start cleaning this house and resetting it from the kiddos moving out. The dust and dirt seems to be patiently waiting for me to get at it. As hard as the wind is blowing today and with how dusty it is, maybe it is a good thing I didn’t get a chance to get it cleaned before. Sure am hoping for some rain tonight to quiet down the dust.

Tagen requested chicken strips and macaroni and cheese for dinner. That boy sure does like those and can eat a bunch of it. He is bringing his girlfriend out for dinner so will need to make a bit extra.

I have been eating my dinner early so I can start my 14 – 16 hour fast by 5:00. I don’t get hungry in the evenings but I do get hungry mid-afternoon. I try to eat breakfast between 8:00 and 9:00 and then have dinner by 5:00 at the latest. It seems to be working well for me so far.

I’m not used to being so busy. I’m grateful I had a free week so I could take of some things for Michelle. It has been a stressful week for her. Sometimes it takes a village to support a family.

Grateful Ellexia’s room is done, grateful the roof repair is under warranty, and grateful the oven got delivered today.

What a day! I am sitting for the first time all day.

I got Tagen’s lunch packed and he left for school. I headed into Emporia to paint Ellexia’s room. I made a quick stop at Sutherland’s and then went to the new house and painted her room. I forgot my ladder so got all but the top part of the room painted.

While I was there, the internet provider came and hooked up internet service for the house. I’m glad I was there when he came so that job could get done.

I came home and Kathy helped me take the two dogs and cat to the vet for their annual shots. Kathy was able to get Sophia in her car without issue so we took her car. Her car sits much lower than mine does and it was easier to use. We managed to get both dogs and the cat in and out without incident. We kinda destroyed the exam room. Left lots of dog hair and slobbers from the dogs. All checked out fine and all got shots.

We stopped at Michelle’s house on our way home so Kathy could see the house.

Came home and got everyone unloaded. The cat was very happy to be free at last. I had made her spend the night in the laundry room so she would be easy to catch this afternoon. She was pissed at me for making her stay in.

I called and have the HVAC people coming Wednesday to Michelle’s house to check out the A/C and heater. The oven will be delivered tomorrow afternoon. Things are getting done.

Tomorrow I have to be at the hospital at 8:45 for a mammogram and a bone density test. Then I will go to Michelle’s house and finish painting Ellexia’s room and wait for the oven to be delivered. I think the woodwork in that room would look better if it was painted so will need to check with Ellexia and ask her about that. Not sure when the oven is coming so might have lots of time to kill waiting for it. I might as well be doing something productive while I am waiting.

Michelle officially sold her other house today. She is still waiting for her payout due to some complications but that should happen tomorrow. Grateful that the house closed and that part of things is almost settled.

Slowly things are moving forward for all of us. It is easy to get overwhelmed with all that is going on right now. Sometimes I need to just stop and take some deep breaths and remind myself all is well.

My handyman is going to come replace the circuit breaker for the dryer to make sure that isn’t the problem. If it still trips after he does that, then I will have to call for warranty service for it. I’m glad it still works as long as I go down each load and flip the circuit breaker.

Tagen is having dinner in town tonight. It is his girlfriend’s birthday. That means I don’t have to fix dinner as Ellexia is with her dad. This is a good night to get a night off from cooking.

Feeling a bit overwhelmed with all that is going on. Still struggling a bit with jet lag. It feels like there are lots of moving parts and I’m not sure how things fit together yet. Good thing most of the things are flexible and we don’t have a definite time line for things to be done. If I can remember to take things one at a time and cross them off the list, all will get done – sooner or later.

I have managed to stay on my eating plan since I have been home. That feels good although the detox process is showing up. I forgot how tired I got when I went through this before. Not sure if I am tired from jet lag or the detox process. Either way I’m tired! Offering myself some grace and limiting what I feel I have to do each day. It will all get done, just not today is my new mantra.

Grateful most of Ellexia’s room is painted, grateful the dogs and cats appointment is done for the year, and grateful for Kathy’s help today.

I can’t believe it is October already. September flew by since I was traveling for three weeks of it.

Michelle got the keys to her new house this morning at 11:30. We loaded up her car and mine with kitchen stuff. It was good to get in the house and see what it is like empty. We discovered the oven that is there is very old and needs replaced. There is a broken window that needs replaced and the heating and A/C units need checked out.

Michelle is going to rent the house from me for a bit until she makes a final decision as to buying it. If she decides to buy it, we can start the closing process so she can own it officially. I want to make sure she is going to be happy there before I sell it to her.

Ellexia and Tagen both gave it a thumbs up. They both will have nice big bedrooms. The house is on three levels so they will have to get used to doing steps. There is a washer and dryer in the house which was a nice surprise. That will save Michelle some dollars up front.

Ellexia and I went to the hardware store and got a gallon of paint for her bedroom. I told her I would get it painted either tomorrow or Tuesday. The rest of the house could use a fresh coat of paint but I will wait and see what Michelle wants to do.

While we were at the hardware store getting paint, I found an oven that will work nicely. They are going to deliver it Tuesday afternoon. That was easy! I will call the HVAC people and the window repair place Monday and get those things taken care of.

Michelle is spending the afternoon putting the kitchen together. I brought Ellexia back to the country house with me. It was too crowded in town today for me. I came home a bit cranky and decided I needed to put myself into time out.

We still aren’t sure when Michelle will be moving. She is waiting on the mover to let her know when he can work her in. She has purchased some new furniture and isn’t sure when the beds and couches can be delivered. Guess there is no rush but now that she has the house she is anxious to get moved in.

I am feeling much better today except for the cranky part. The body aches, raging headache and temperature are all gone. I still feel tired but this feels like a normal tired and not the bone tired I was feeling yesterday. I am having trouble sleeping in since I have gotten back from Ireland. Still have a bit of jet lag I suppose.

I will get started cleaning this house sometime this week. It needs a really good clean where I wash all the woodwork, etc. Maybe with the kiddos moving out it will stay cleaner longer. It will be good to reset this house this week and next with the kids moving out. Kathy will finish her housesitting job this coming Saturday and she will be back. We will have to find a new normal with just the two of us in the house.

Michelle is to close on the sell of her house tomorrow. It will be good for her to have that behind her. She can make a new beginning in the new house and find a new routine and structure for herself and the kiddos. It has been a long almost four months since she moved in with me for her. I’m glad she has a new place to start over fresh.

Tomorrow Kathy is helping me take the two dogs and cat to the vet for their annual shots. Sophia can sometimes be stubborn about getting into the car. She will jump right in after we come out of the vet’s office. Hoping the two of us can handle the three animals.

Tuesday I have a mammogram and a bone density test in the morning. It will be good to get those done and over with for the year. I will get started painting in the morning tomorrow and finish up if needed Tuesday afternoon.

I don’t have anything else on my calendar for the rest of the week. I will have plenty of time to clean house here. It needs it badly. I love having a completely clean house but hate putting the effort into making it clean. I have procrastinated on it long enough and it has to be done this week.

My dryer is still causing the breaker to flip. I will need to call an appliance repairman. I am thinking the thermostat on the dryer may be the problem. Anyone know of an appliance repairman? The dryer is less than a year old so will need to check on the warranty to see what I need to do. I hate dealing with things like this. Dang it anyways.

It was about this time last year that Jim and I began our breakup. In some ways it feels like a lifetime ago and other times it feels like it happened yesterday. Life sure can turn quickly and take you on a different path. I’m pleased with how far I have come in a years time and am ever so grateful for those that have supported me through this.

Grateful Michelle got a house, grateful I like to paint, and grateful I can stay home the rest of the day in time-out.

I took Ellexia and her friend and Tagen’s girlfriend to the football game in Manhattan last night. Manhattan is hard to get to due to road construction but we made it, although we didn’t get to see the opening kickoff. Tagen got to play last night, although briefly, so I was glad I had gone to the game.

Afterwards Tagen rode home with us. We stopped for a quick meal before we headed for home. We didn’t get home until almost midnight so it was a late night.

The Emporia High football team is not having a good season. They haven’t won a game yet and have rarely even scored. I feel bad for the team and coaches. It is painful to watch them play. They got beat last night 51 – 7. At least they scored last night.

The kiddos slept in this morning. When they got up I fixed them pancakes and eggs. I hadn’t done that for them for a while. They enjoyed them.

I woke up feeling like I had been run over by a truck. My arm where I got the fall Covid vaccine is sore. I had a bit of a temperature this morning and was aching all over as well as having a raging headache. I finally took some Tylenol and then took a short nap in my chair and feel better this afternoon. I’m sure by tomorrow I will feel much better. The effect on my body from the vaccine usually lasts for about 24 hours. So grateful I didn’t get more than one vaccine yesterday.

Still haven’t gotten the keys to Michelle’s new house. The old tenant has until midnight tonight to be out and it is looking like we won’t get the keys until tomorrow. The kiddos are anxious to see the place and Michelle is anxious to start moving. I was only in the house once and don’t remember much about it. I hope it will be a good one for Michelle and the kiddos to nest in.

I haven’t attempted to do anything today except fix breakfast. I didn’t have the energy or strength to do anything. I do feel better this afternoon so maybe I can get started cleaning yet today. I need to go down and do the chicken chores. I had thought I would try to get the chicken coop cleaned out today but that isn’t going to happen. No use pushing myself when I felt so bad. I don’t have much on my calendar for next week and I can get it all done then.

I have managed to stick to my eating plan for three days in a row. I am trying intermittent fasting this time. I eat my three meals within a six – eight hour window and then fast for the rest of the time. So far I am liking it.

Seriously considering doing the walking tour in the Himalayas next fall. It would give me a goal and a reason to start getting into shape. The tour has one very challenging day where you walk in the mountains over rough terrain. The other days they consider moderate and then one easy day. I would enjoy a group tour like that much more then the one I just did. The only problem is I am a slow but steady walker and when you walk with a group you have to keep up to the group pace. I will continue to sit with the idea and see if I can get myself started on a fitness program and then go from there. I have to decide by March which gives me plenty of time to see if I can get myself into shape.

My dryer blew the circuit breaker again today. Now I need to decide it I need to call an appliance guy or an electrician. I don’t know an appliance guy. The dryer is less than a year old. I’ll have to see if it is under warranty.

It has reached over 90 again on the prairie. Sure doesn’t feel like fall with it so warm out. Hopefully after Tuesday the temperatures are to fall and only be in the mid 70’s for the high. I am ready for fall weather but not ready for winter.

Tomorrow we should be able to get the keys to the new house so will spend the day there helping Michelle clean it if necessary. If I don’t need to clean there, maybe I can start cleaning here. I’m excited for the kids that they will get to move home again but I am sad that they will be leaving. I will miss fixing dinner for them most evenings.

I will need to go through my pantry and pack up all the kid friendly stuff I have in there so the kiddos can take it home with them and get it eaten. Most of it is stuff I won’t eat and there is no use keeping it around to go bad. My pantry will be almost empty again when I get that task done.

Grateful I could take a day for rest and recovery today, grateful for a safe trip home from the football game last night, and grateful to be feeling better this afternoon.

I woke up at 5:30 this morning and couldn’t go back to sleep. I finally got up at 6:00. I’m glad I did as I had forgotten this is Tagen’s early day to school and I needed to get up and pack his lunch. He left around 6:30.

I drove to Topeka today and got my Fall Covid booster shot. Emporia doesn’t have them yet and something was telling me to get it and not wait. The pharmacist tried to talk me into getting three other shots today too. I told him I only do one at a time. There is a new RSV vaccine for seniors out, plus the flu shot and the shingles vaccine. I had the old shingles vaccine but haven’t taken he new one yet. I’m still on the fence for that one. I’ll have to put getting the rest of them on my calendar. I will space them out at least two weeks apart. I don’t think it is good for my body to get more than one at a time.

Traffic was congested in places due to road construction. Wonder if the federal government shuts down if it will delay the road construction work.

Tonight I am driving to Manhattan to go watch Tagen’s football game. He hasn’t gotten to play yet this season but hoping tonight will be the night he gets to play. His girlfriend is riding with me and maybe Ellexia and a friend. It will be a late night as the easy way to Manhattan is closed due to road construction.

I went to Cottonwood Falls to deliver six dozen eggs and to take the title of Tagen’s pickup to the repair guy. We are hoping the pickup will get picked up soon and sold for scrap. I got the tag so Michelle can get a partial refund of the registration fee.

I have lots and lots of eggs if anyone needs some. The girls are laying between 20 – 22 eggs a day right now and the eggs are piling up. Holler if you want/need some.

No cleaning done yet today. Maybe tomorrow? The longer I put it off the dirtier it gets. I am about to jump over the cliff. When the house reaches a certain point I can’t take it anymore. I’ll get to it very soon.

Next Monday I take the two dogs and cat to the vet for their annual shots. Tuesday I have my annual mammogram and a bone density test. I don’t have anything else on my calendar for next week so will have plenty of time to clean.

I may take a short nap before I go to the football game tonight. I am finally feeling like I am home all the way but am still a bit tired. Part of it is from the detoxing that I am doing to get all the sugar and flour out of my system. I still have a bit of jet lag but not too bad today.

One of the people that was on tour with me last week sent me a link to a tour that is an eleven day walking tour in the Himalayas. Oh my that sounds tempting. It would give me an incentive to get out and start walking. Anyone interested in going with me?

It hit the 90’s again today on the prairie. The forecast is showing another couple days of this heat and then a cool down is headed our way. Doesn’t feel much like fall yet. I’m ready for sweatshirt weather.

Hoping to hear soon when Michelle can get into the rental property so her move can begin. She will get the house Sunday if not before. It will be good to get into it and see what needs to be done, if anything. The kiddos are getting anxious to get moved in to their own house again.

It sure will be different around here without Michelle and the kiddos here. Kathy and I will have to find a new rhythm for us. It sure will be quieter. I hope to pick back up my death doula material and get that off and running again. I had to set it aside when Jim left as I didn’t have the brain power to do it. Just as I was about to pick it back up again, Michelle moved in and I knew that wasn’t a good time either. Maybe now I can get back to it.

Last night I watched the full harvest moon rise. Unfortunately it came up as the sun was setting so didn’t get to see the full effect of it. I’ll try to catch it again tonight. This morning the moon was setting as the sun was rising. Reminded me of the lesson of balance that can bee found in Mother Nature.

Grateful the Covid vaccine is in my arm, grateful for my chickens and all the eggs they are giving me right now, and grateful for the beauty of the full moon on the prairie last night.

Re-entry into the real world is hard! It has been one of those days where things have not been easy for me. Hoping this will be the last of the jet lag and things will start going easier tomorrow.

I went to Emporia mid-morning. I needed to go to the Vet and get flea and Tic medication for the two dogs and cat. I made appointments to take all three in for their annual check next Monday. Kathy has agreed to go with me and help me handle all three of them in one trip. Wish us luck!

I then went to Walmart to pick up a prescription and a few groceries I forgot to put on my on-line order. I then went around and picked up the stuff I had ordered. Came home after all that and unloaded the car and put things away.

I did manage to get my suitcase unloaded and put away today as well as transfer my stuff back into my regular purse. I had gotten a big travel bag to take with me and a wallet I could use while there. The big purse is too big for everyday use but was handy for traveling purposes. Grateful I am back to my tiny purse.

I still haven’t gotten any cleaning done. It seems to wait for me. I’m still tired today and am running on low energy. The cleaning will patiently wait for me until I can get to it.

I am making spaghetti and meat balls for dinner tonight. It is one of the kiddos favorite meals so I know they will eat well tonight.

I got back on the wagon and am back on my eating plan. I have fallen off the wagon the last couple of months and it is past time to get back on track. I gained weight as a result of the side effects of taking the antibodies when I had Covid for the second time. It depressed me and I gave up on my eating plan and gained even more weight. Time to get it off. I ate on plan yesterday and so far today have stayed clean. I ate way too much food that had flour and grains in it while on my trip. My gut is swollen and complaining. I have to go through a detox process to get it all out of my system. It will take a week or two and I will have headaches, low energy and will be extra cranky. I know I will feel much better on the other side of it but the process is not easy.

I was trying to get a jar of marinara sauce open and was struggling. I finally got it after I said out loud a few cuss words. Then I went to the office to type up a contract and said a few more. Kathy cautiously came upstairs to check on me. It has been one of those days where things have not been easy for me. Good thing those don’t happen a lot.

Still don’t know if we will be helping Michelle move this weekend or not. Not sure when the house will be available. Hoping we can at least spend Sunday cleaning it if needed. Michelle has ordered some furniture that will be delivered next week. The big move will probably happen next weekend.

It will be an adjustment for me to not have the kiddos around. I will miss them. I have treasured this time I have gotten with them. I know they are all looking forward to being in their house where they belong.

I’ve had a rare day of having the house mainly to myself today. Kathy is housesitting for a friend and only comes here for an hour or so when she gets off work. It is weird having the whole house to myself. I am going to have to give some thought of what I will be doing with myself once Michelle and the kiddos move back out again.

Tomorrow I am going to Topeka to get the new Covid vaccine. Tagen has a football game in Manhattan tomorrow night that I will probably go to. Saturday I want to go into Cottonwood Falls for the big Courthouse celebration weekend. Sunday we will probably be cleaning at Michelle’s new house. It will be a busy couple of days.

I’ve been home for almost 48 hours now and no Covid symptoms so thinking I am good to go. When I got it after coming home from Vegas I was sick within 48 hours of getting home. Grateful I dodged that bullet as one couple on the trip came down with Covid the day after I had sat by them on the bus.

September flew by with me being out of the country for most of it. Can’t believe it is October Sunday which means the holidays aren’t too far off. I love Thanksgiving but could easily skip Christmas.

I got the insurance money for the deposit for the windows and doors that are being replaced. I need to call the window company and find out if I am on their schedule yet and if so, when. Sure hoping to get the windows in and then the Efis repaired before winter weather hits the prairie. We shall see if I can make that happen or not.

I don’t have much on my calendar for October. I have a small project I want to work on so should have lots of time for that. It will be good to have some empty space ahead. I will have to adjust to a new normal with the kiddos moving out.

Still unpacking the trip in my mind and working to learn the lessons it taught me. Getting out of my comfort zone and experiencing new things it good for me. I don’t always appreciate the lesson in the moment but if I stop and evaluate things, there is always something helpful to me to learn and grow from.

Grateful the pantry is restocked, grateful I am back on my eating plan, and grateful for some empty space today.

I got home a little before midnight last night. It was a very pleasant drive home from KC under the light of an almost full moon. It did my soul good to get to the prairie and see wide open spaces.

Nicole and Geoff picked me up at the airport. They found me without much wait or issue. My suitcase was waiting for me when I got to the claim baggage area. Can’t be easier than that.

I ended up walking over 10,000 steps yesterday – most of them in airports. My gate got changed three times in New York City and it was an almost a one mile walk between gates. Good thing I had lots of time to walk back and forth and back again.

I slept long and hard last night although I was up at 7:00 this morning and couldn’t go back to sleep. My body still thinks it is on Dublin time and it was 1:00 pm there.

I packed the kiddos their lunches and got them off to school. I have done a couple loads of laundry and partially unpacked my suitcase. I took a load of recycling to Cottonwood Falls and stopped and got some milk. Haven’t managed to do much else yet.

The dryer was tripping the circuit breaker so called Phil and he came out to see what the problem was. He cleaned out the vent shaft and then discovered the circuit breaker was loose. He tightened that up and we are hoping that was the problem. So very grateful for Phil and his vast knowledge and fix-it skills.

The insurance adjuster is sending me part of the window money within a day or two. He had gotten hold of the Pella guy and they went over the bid. Turns out the Pella guy had made an error and the insurance adjuster actually increased the amount he is paying. He processed the paperwork today and I should get it soon.

I went through the mail and dealt with a few things that needed taken care of. The pile wasn’t too bad considering I had been gone for almost three weeks.

I need to do some housecleaning this afternoon or tomorrow. The floors need done but they might wait until after I take a nap this afternoon. I’m really sleepy this afternoon.

It was good to see the family this morning. The kiddos actually seemed to have missed me. Thinking they missed the food I fixed more than me but it is sweet to think they missed me too.

I need to make a grocery order to pick up tomorrow. I have a prescription that I need to pick up so will venture to Emporia tomorrow and get both of those things taken care of.

I don’t feel like I have gotten all the way home yet. I’m operating on limited brain cells today. Hard to keep my focus and remember what I go to do. I get distracted very easily.

I’m fixing chicken strips with macaroni and cheese for dinner tonight. Tagen was excited to get his favorite meal for dinner tonight.

I still need to take care of Tagen’s pickup but that might wait till tomorrow. I did manage to talk to the title company about what I need to do to sell one of the rental properties to Michelle. Need to decide which way I want to handle it and get that taken care of tomorrow. Just don’t have the brain cells to handle that today.

It feels so good to be home again. I’m still unpacking the learnings and lessons of the trip. I’m struggling with orientating myself to the proper date and time. I woke up in the middle of the night and didn’t know where I was. I’ll offer myself some grace for the rest of this week and slowly will get all of me home.

Grateful for a safe journey home, grateful to see the family again, and grateful for a slow ease into returning to life on the prairie.

I am in New York City at Kennedy Airport. My flight left Dublin at 10:00 Dublin time and arrived at 11:30 New York time. My how time flies when you travel.

I came down to the reception of my hotel 15 minutes early and my cab driver was already there so got an early start to the airport.

He was a delightful Irish man that kept me laughing all the way to the airport. He told me he was divorced but his ex was a good lady and a great housekeeper. She kept the house when they divorced!

He shared that the difference between the Scottish and Irish men is Scottish men wear skirts and the Irish wear pants.

He showed me the Irish humor that I was expecting to see on this trip. He kept throwing things at me and kept me laughing all the way to the airport.

Things have changed since I have traveled internationally before Covid. I cleared customs and immigration in Dublin so when I arrived in NYC I just had to walk to my gate that will take me to KC. If I had known that before, I would have taken the earlier afternoon flight. They wouldn’t let me change flights as I had checked my carry-on bag. Dang it anyways!

I managed to sleep for a short nap on the flight from Dublin. Hoping I can take another nap on the flight to KC so I can drive home tonight. If I am completely wiped out I will spend the night at Nicole’s and then drive home in the morning.

The mechanic I had Tagen’s pickup towed to called me just after I landed in NYC. The transmission on the pickup is blown and it would cost way too much to have it replaced so the mechanic is going to contact his contact and have them come haul the pickup off to have it scrapped. Dang it anyways. Tagen is disappointed that he won’t get more money for the truck. He will get a couple hundred from the scrap guy but he sure wanted to sell it and get more than that. I have to take the title to the truck to the mechanic tomorrow and get the tag off the pickup.

Michelle’s house is still scheduled to close next Monday. The rental house I have will be available for her to move into this weekend. She plans to buy the house from me so will get that paperwork started tomorrow. Hopefully we will get that house closed sometime next week.

I need to call the insurance adjuster and find out where the money is for the replacement doors and windows. He had told me I would have those funds two weeks ago.

It will take me the rest of the week to get all the way home. The jet lag thing will be real and I have a six hour time change to adjust to. Feels like I have lots to do the next couple of days too so will need to find some brain cells to help me get through all of it.

What an experience I had though. So grateful I got to cross off going to England and Ireland off my bucket list. I need to revise my 70 things to do before I turn 70 list to 80 things to do before I turn 80. Dreams do come true when you are clear on what you want.

Grateful for a safe trip across the pond, grateful Nicole is meeting me at the airport in KC when I get there, and grateful for my fun taxi driver this morning.

I head home tomorrow morning. My transportation to the airport is to be at my hotel by 6:15. My flight leaves at 10:00. I will arrive at Kennedy Airport in New York around 12:30. My flight for KC leaves around 6:30 and I should arrive in KC around 9:10. Fingers crossed for on-time and smooth flights.

I went down for breakfast this morning and got to say goodbye to several on the tour. There was only one couple that I would like to stay in touch with. We exchanged email addresses. Not sure I will ever see them again but who knows.

I walked down the street for a bit to stretch my legs. I happened across a church and I popped in for a minute. They were finishing up a mass so I slipped into a pew at the back and waited until they were done. I took a picture of the beautiful altar and then left.

I stopped at a phone store and found a charging device for my iPad so I can use it on the plane on the ride home. The one I brought with me connects to a plug-in and the airplane only had a USB-C port. Being able to use my iPad on the flight will give me something to do on the plane.

I came back to the room and hung out for a bit and then went back out to find lunch. I went back to the Chipotle like place for lunch. I then came back to my room. My room key didn’t work so I had to go back downstairs to the reception. Since I stayed over an extra night they had made two separate reservations for me and they handed me a new key.

No plans for the rest of the day. I may go back out and walk some more later. The sun was shining when I was out this morning but clouds rolled in while I was out at lunch time. It is to rain later this afternoon.

I sure lucked out on the weather. I only had to walk in light rain once or twice. It was a picture perfect day on the Ring of Kerry and the views were magnificent. Rain seemed to fall when we were on the bus and would stop when we stopped. I heard that doesn’t always happen that way.

A guy on the tour got his wallet picked off of him yesterday. Not sure if his passport was in it or not. Grateful I haven’t had to experience that.

Not looking forward to the two flights tomorrow but I am looking forward to getting home.

This has been a grand adventure and am so grateful I had this chance to come. Visiting England and Ireland were on my 70 things to do before I turn 70 list. The trip was a month after I turned 70 but close enough.

Others on the tour kept asking me what is next for me in regards to travel. I don’t have anything on the horizon and am not sure where I want to go next. Staying home right now sounds like heaven on earth so will get home and get through the holidays and go from there.

Hoping the airport in NY has a place that has iced tea. I am craving a big glass. I only got iced tea here twice. Once at a hotel where they made a cup of hot tea and put one ice cube in it and sold it to me as iced tea. Another time at the restaurant we had lunch in while touring the Ring of Kerry. It actually was cold although they didn’t serve it with ice. Close but no cigar! Oh how privileged and spoiled I am!

Grateful I am heading home tomorrow, grateful I stayed well and healthy on the trip, and grateful for the memories this trip gave me.

Lazy day for me in Ireland today. I slept in a bit and then went down to breakfast. Sat with a couple from the tour I had not had a chance to visit with. They live in Wheaton, IL which is a neighbor to Naperville, IL where I lived in the mid 80’s.

Got to see the couple and their sister that I hung with a bit on the trip. Was nice to get a chance to tell them thank you for allowing me to sit with them at meals. Since there were three of them, they usually had an empty chair near by for me.

Came back up to my room after breakfast and did some reading. Went out for lunch a bit ago. Found a Chipotle type restaurant and had a burrito bowl for lunch. Almost tasted as good as Chipotle. I got an extra bottle of water to bring back to the room with me.

My goal today is to drink 6 – 8 bottles of water. I feel very dehydrated as I haven’t been drinking near as much as I normally do. Hard to drink a lot when toilets are not handy. I need to get rehydrated before the plane trip home dries me out again.

It is rainy today. It wasn’t raining when I walked a half block to the Mexican Restaurant but started raining again when I got back to the hotel. Good day for it to rain as I have no plans to be out and about.

I noticed very little traffic or people out and about. The shops are closed although some will open for a bit this afternoon. I have all the things I wanted already so no need to shop. I would like to go find some more bath salts for tonight and tomorrow night but no big deal if I don’t get out and get them.

I had trouble falling asleep last night. I slept for about an hour and then was up for a couple of hours. I finally took some Tylenol and took another hot bath and then was able to fall asleep and slept really good for several hours.

I have been reflecting on this trip and trying to put my finger on why it was so very hard for me at times. Still haven’t figured it all out but am getting some insights.

This is the first time since Jim left that I have felt lonely. I was the only one on the tour group that didn’t come with someone else and several of then came with a group of people. Funny that I felt it so much this time. When I walked the Camino I never felt singled out for being single.

Most of the people were close to my age. Some a few years older and some a few years younger. Many have traveled a lot around the world. Many were obviously wealthy and used to being waited on. I was the only person from a rural area on the trip. All the others live in big cities.

It makes me wonder if being from a rural area is becoming uncommon these days. I realize most people live in suburban areas now but still. I guess I haven’t been out much lately and most of the people I interact with these days live like I do in a small, rural area.

I struggled to find someone on the group that had done any type of experiential trips, such as walking the Camino or doing an Ayahuasca Retreat. Most had simply been tourist either with a group or alone but just seeing sites.

This is the first international trip I have gone to where English is the primary language of the country. I kept forgetting I was overseas. Dublin feels a lot like KC to me. London felt more like New York City since it was much bigger than KC.

Having English as the primary language makes ordering food, etc. much easier. I could follow the road signs and not have to guess at the meaning of words. But it took me a bit to figure out what was missing from this international experience and that was hearing a different language being spoken.

This has been an incredible experience and I am grateful I came. I remembered I do better when I can have an experience in traveling and not just seeing things. I was challenged on this trip in a different way that felt uncomfortable for me at times. It is always good to get out of my comfort level and have to get uncomfortable for a bit. It will take me some time once I am home to fully unpack all that happened and understand it.

I plan on staying in my room most of the rest of the day. I need a day alone to completely fill myself. I will probably venture out tomorrow when the shops are open and walk up and down the streets around the hotel and see what is here. It is to rain again tomorrow but it is Ireland and that happens a lot here.

Grateful for a quiet day alone, grateful to have had this incredible experience, and grateful I get to go home on Tuesday.

Last night at the hotel I went to take a bath. I turned the water on and then went to my suitcase to get my bath salts. I came back to the bathtub and there was hardly any water in the tub. I fiddled with the plug and made sure it was working right. It was. It took over 30 minutes to get 2 inches of water in the bath tub. I was pouring little cups of water from the bathroom sink trying to fill up the tub.

This morning I went to take a shower and there were barely sprinkles coming out of the shower head and the bathtub faucet. I didn’t get a shower as I couldn’t have gotten wet enough if I stood in the shower for 15 minutes.

I got my hair wet in the bathroom sink and called it good. Sometimes things don’t work the way they are supposed to. At breakfast I was asking the others on the fourth floor (the top floor of the hotel where I was at) and they all had the same problem.

When I told the desk clerk when I checked out, he acted surprised. I was surprised he was surprised. I am guessing this has happened before.

The hotel I am in now in Dublin is having a light issue. You have to put the room key in the little box by the door so the lights turn on. I did that and after five minutes the lights go out. I have to get up, take the room card out and put it back in again for five more minutes of lights. I can’t get the bedside light to work. I will be in this room for three nights. This might get old quick!

Today we started our day in Waterford and then drove to Kilkenny. We had three hours in Kilkenny. I walked down the street for a bit and then back up close to the bus park. There was a Kilkenny Design shop across the way so I went in there. I managed to fill another box that they are going to ship home to me. I hadn’t gotten anything for myself this whole trip and I found two sweaters that I liked so I bought them for myself. Got a few other little things too. I should get the box in about 3 – 4 weeks according to the clerk. She actually said God Willing it will arrive in 3 -4 weeks.

I walked back down the street and had a meatball Sub from Subway. Not the same as home but close enough. I then walked back to the bus and boarded it over an hour early. I AM DONE! Just stick a fork in me and call it good. I am totally peopled out.

We then rode from Kilkenny to Dublin. We played a quiz game on the way back to Dublin. The Guide asked 20 questions and the three people that got the most right won prizes. I didn’t win. The things that he asked about are about names and places and those aren’t things that I choose to pack into the limited number of brain cells I have left to play with. I got about half of them right.

I will be at this hotel until Tuesday morning. There are lots of little shops and restaurants in the hood to visit and I can always use an Uber or taxi if I want to go somewhere in the city. Right now a full day in my room alone sounds like heaven. I will venture out for food occasionally but other than that I am ready to hole up and build up my energy for the trip home.

This tour has been painful for me at times. There were no other single people on the bus and with the exception of two couples most ignored me. I have forgotten how to make small talk and be social. Many in the group were with several couples traveling together so they hung with their small group.

I forgot how herded one can fill when you go on a group tour. We were given several hours a day to be free to roam in the various cities along the way. That saved my sanity.

There is a group farewell dinner tonight but it is someplace away from the hotel and there is a music show as part of it. Sounds like absolute torture to me so I told the guide I was going to skip it. I tipped the bus driver and the guide earlier as I may not see them again. The guide will be hanging around tomorrow and then will be around Monday to make sure everyone that is leaving Monday gets their proper transportation. He is to leave me a note on my door with the time that my transportation will be here Tuesday. He won’t be here that morning.

I need to call down to the front desk and find out what I am doing wrong with these lights. I will go crazy if I can’t get those straightened out.

I will be home Tuesday night – God willing. Ready for my open skies, little people and freedom.

Grateful for another safe travel day, grateful the group part of this tour is done, and grateful for this experience to see all that I have been blessed to see.

My days are all starting to run together and I can hardly remember at the end of the day where we started and where I am. I am having the hardest time remembering my hotel room number.

We started the day with a two hour bus ride to go to the Blarney Castle. We were advised if we wanted to kiss the Blarney Stone to do it first thing when we got there.

I headed over to the castle and was pleasantly surprised to find the line wasn’t too long. We were able to walk into the castle before the line started. We had to climb 125 steps to get to the top. Some of the steps were really high and narrow and it was a winding up type of staircase.

When it was my turn, I had to lay on the rock floor and put my hands on some poles they had rigged up. You push yourself backwards until your head falls off the cliff (At least that is what it felt like) and then you raise up a bit and kiss the Blarney Stone. There was a couple from the tour behind me and they kindly took a picture of me doing the deed.

The castle people also take a picture and give you a proof which you can then buy a bigger portrait at the bottom of the castle. I skipped that.

As I was pushing myself out of the hole my head fell in, I banged my glasses on the rock above me. For a minute I thought I was going to have a bloody nose but I was OK. Maybe it knocked some sense into me!

Then you get to walk down the 125 narrow, winding steps. There is one staircase for going up and another one for going down, thank heavens.

When I got to the bottom of the staircase and walked out of the castle there was a line hundreds long. The sign post said they had a 90-minute wait and they were lined up beyond that. Grateful I didn’t have to do that.

After the kiss on the Blarney Stone, I walked around the grounds for a bit. The grounds were beautiful with lots of blooming flowers. I wasn’t in the mood to explore much so headed to the Woollen Mills Store.

The store was the biggest knit ware store I have ever seen. I got a bit overwhelmed trying to figure it out. I finally took a break and went and had lunch and then came back and was able to get what I wanted.

We had another rain on, rain off type of day. Luckily all the rain happened while we were on the bus and while we were on the castle grounds it was dry. It started raining minutes after I got back on the bus.

We then drove to Waterford, Ireland for a tour of the Waterford Glass Factory. We saw the artisans blowing, etching, cutting, and polishing the pieces. They showed us some of the custom pieces they have made. They always make two in case the first one breaks. They had some amazing pieces.

In the lobby of the workshop is a grandfather’s clock made from crystal. Amazing! They had quite a showroom full of pieces that ranged in price from $50 to $26,000. I didn’t buy anything as I didn’t see anything that caught my eye. Several in the group got some pieces though.

We then came to our hotel. We are staying in Waterford for the night. This hotel looks very old but the room is spacious and will do nicely for my one night stay.

Tomorrow we end up in Dublin with some stops of some sort along the way.

There is a group dinner tonight but I am not going down for it. I am peopled out for the day. I was done after the Blarney Stone and got fried trying to shop in the Woollen Store. I am not a very good shopper.

Tomorrow night we have our final farewell dinner at some place that also will do a show of some sort. I really don’t want to go to it but I’ll see what mood I am in tomorrow night. I enjoy a tune or two of Irish music and then I am done with it. Not sure I want to experience a whole show of it.

Sunday and Monday are free days in Dublin. Not sure what I am going to do. I’m still not sure where my hotel will be and what is going to be close to it.

Tuesday I fly out of Dublin at 10:00 am and land in New York around noon. Oh the magic of time traveling. I have a five or six hour lay over and then fly to KC landing around 9:30. It will be a long day of travel. Sure trusting all will be on time.

I hear the prairie got some more rain this morning. So very grateful to hear that. I have been so envious of all the green here and all the rain I have seen while here. Wish I could pack it up and bring it home with me.

I’m tired tonight. I slept well last night and was lucky I woke up when I did this morning as I hadn’t set my alarm correctly and it didn’t go off. We have only had one time this entire trip where someone was more than a minute late getting on the bus. I don’t want to be the cause of holding up the whole group. I’m grateful the group has been respectful of the time and with the one exception have not slowed us down.

I need to remember to ask my tour guide what time my ground transportation to the airport will be on Tuesday. We won’t see him after tomorrow night

It isn’t even 6:00 pm here but I think I will take my bath and put on my PJ’s and rest. We have lots of driving time on the bus again tomorrow. At this point, I just want to get to Dublin and be free again.

This tour has been a great way to sample three countries so if I ever get back this way I will know where I want to go. I sure hope I get to come back to the Ring of Kerry again. That was by far my favorite place on the whole tour.

Grateful for another safe day of travel, grateful I didn’t oversleep this morning, and grateful for a kiss on the Blarney Stone.

Now I know why I came to Ireland. The Ring of Kerry was beyond amazing. We had a rare perfect, blue sky day to travel. The guide said he hadn’t seen such a perfect day for the Ring of Kerry for a long time. We did drive through some rain at some point but not when we were off the bus and the rain never lasted very long.

The view was incredible and you could see for miles. The temperature was perfect and it wasn’t windy today. You can’t ask for a better day in Ireland.

We stopped several times at scenic places for photo shoots. Each view kept getting better and better. We were actually able to be seaside at one stop and hear and watch the waves crash on the shore.

We stopped for lunch at a delightful restaurant that was well run and had a wonderful view of the ocean. I had Shepherd’s Pie that was delicious.

We stopped at a sheep farm on the way back to our hotel. They demonstrated the skill of a dog and it’s master herding about ten sheep around a pasture. We then watched a guy shear a sheep. I didn’t watch the sheep much because the guy was delicious eye candy. He had the most attractive eyes. Alas, he was way too young for me but he was fun to watch and adore.

The road we traveled on today was narrow and winding. There were times when the bus had to back up to let someone pass it. We had a very skilled driver that never seem to get rattled. I appreciate the skill he has driving our big bus on these narrow roads.

I got the front row on the bus today. It was a glorious day to have gotten a front row seat. About halfway through a lady from the back of the bus joined me. She was sitting behind someone that had too much perfume on and she had a headache from it. I happened to hear her talking about it and invited her to sit next to me. It was nice to have someone to converse with today.

It is mid-afternoon and we have a free evening tonight. Not sure what I will do. I will need to find a bite to eat at some point but may order room service. I have to stay dressed as I have to go down to the lobby to get my laundry around 7:00. I would be tempted to take my bath now and just chill in my room for the evening. Guess I will do that after 7:00.

Tomorrow we leave at 8:00 for Blarney Stone. We will have lunch and get to spend a couple hours there, Afterwards we go to Waterford Crystal Museum and will spend the night in Waterford. Somewhere along the line we get to go to a Woolen Goods Store that is supposed to have the best prices in Ireland on woolen goods. I could skip the crystal factory and spend my time at the woolen goods store. Saturday we go back to Dublin where I will spend three nights before I head home Tuesday. Sunday and Monday are both free days so I will have time to see some sites in Dublin if I decide to. I will have lots of time to do some shopping if I can’t find what I want at the woolen goods store.

The scenery today more than met my expectations of what Ireland would look like. It was magnificent.

When I started thinking about coming to Ireland last January I had first looked at a walking tour around the Ring of Kerry. Unfortunately you have to book those about two years in advance to get prime spots to stay. When I looked there was going to be days where I would have had to walk up to 20 miles a day as that was the only openings available for overnight accommodations. I chickened out and did the group tour thing instead. The price of the walking tour was higher than the tour I am on and I wouldn’t have been able to see England and Scotland.

Part of me regrets that I changed my mind. I sure could have spent eight days in this area. However, with all the rainy weather they have had the last week or so it is probably a good thing I didn’t attempt to walk it. The trail is considered moderate to high-challenging and I wasn’t in good enough shape to manage that. Maybe another time and year I will come back and walk it.

So very grateful for the beauty that I saw today, grateful for the company of a fellow passenger on the bus today, and grateful for another day of safe travels.

Today was another long day on the bus. But we made the best stop of Ireland so far – the Cliffs of Moher. The Cliffs of Moher are described as an impressive wall of rock that towers some 700 feet above the Atlantic Ocean.

We drove in and out of rain going to the Cliffs of Moher. While there we hit a dry spell and were able to climb up to see the cliffs in dry weather conditions. It was even clear enough to see quite a distance which the guide told us is not always possible. It started sprinkling on the way back to the bus.

It was, however, very windy. I didn’t bring a heavy jacket and it was nippy cold. I didn’t stay outside very long but climbed high enough to get a good picture and then went to the visitor’s center. It was a magnificent scene with the water crashing into the cliffs. Absolutely breathtaking!

We then went to Bunratty Castle. I could have skipped this two-hour visit. It was a recreated Irish Village of old. The food selection was poor and there were not many places to sit down. They had pigs, ducks, chickens, goats, etc. The buildings didn’t have anyone demonstrating their craft. I can see pigs, ducks, chickens, goats, etc. at home. Oh well, you win some and you lose some.

Those were the only two stops we made today and they were 30 minutes apart. We had a two hour drive from Bunratty Castle to our hotel and a two hour drive from our morning hotel to the Cliffs of Moher. I saw four rainbows today. None were complete rainbows like I see on the prairie but they were beautiful.

We drove in and out of rain all day. The skies would clear up, then cloud up and it would rain, then it would clear up and then cloud up again and it would rain. Repeat often throughout the day. I’m a bit jealous of how much rain they get. Sometimes it would rain when it appeared that there were no rain clouds. Hard to get a full view of the sky sometimes though.

The scenery at times was so green it almost hurt my eyes. Lots of dry-stack limestone fences. Made me feel right at home.

We have a group dinner at 6:00 tonight. Not sure I am going to go down for it. I am about grouped out for the day. We leave in the morning at 8:30 so will need to go downstairs at 7:30 for breakfast. Thankfully we are staying in this hotel for two nights so won’t have to pack and take my suitcase down with me in the morning.

Tomorrow we are doing the Ring of Kerry Tour. This is the place that I originally had planned to come and walk and then changed my mind. With the rainy weather it is probably a good thing I shifted my plans but I know I would have enjoyed walking it more than the group bus thing. I’m not sure where we are stopping for lunch and other stops during the day. They usually tell us ahead of time but didn’t for this day. I’m sure we will make a few stops on the 111 mile Ring of Kerry Tour.

Friday we go to Blarney Castle where I will get to kiss the famous Blarney Stone. Then we go to the Waterford Crystal Showroom and then we will spend the night in Waterford. There is a Blarney Woolen Mill Store I am looking forward to visiting.

Saturday we head back to Dublin and will have our farewell dinner. Sunday and Monday I will be on my own in Dublin. Tuesday I fly home.

When I was coming up the tiny elevator when we got to this hotel, a man spilled a small bit of beer on my sweater. He wiped it off and offered to pay to have it cleaned. I told him not to worry about it. This hotel offers laundry service at a much more reasonable rate so I fixed a bag of laundry and took down to the reception. I put the sweater in there so it will be clean for the rest of the trip. I don’t want to smell like a brewery for five more days.

I need to give some thought about how I want to spend my two free days in Dublin. If I had realized I had a free day before I flew home anyways I probably wouldn’t have stayed over an extra day. I’m not sure what hotel I am staying at and where I will be in relation to things to do. If I remember I will ask tomorrow and then do some research and make a plan.

I have a feeling these last few days are going to go by quickly. Six more days and I will be home. The three weeks has flown by. It will be ever so good to be home again though.

Grateful for yet another safe day of travels, grateful for the beauty of the Cliffs of Moher, and grateful for affordable laundry service.

I had the best conversation with a couple at breakfast this morning. They are a couple that was with me on the England part of the tour and we have sat together and chatted a couple of other times. This morning it was just me and them having breakfast at the same table.

He mentioned that after I left the dinner table early last night, one of the others in the group mentioned that I had done lots of traveling. He asked me what was my favorite trip and I told him about walking the Camino de Santiago. I shared with him a few stories and lessons I had learned along the way.

That led to a conversation about mindfulness and connecting to like-minded people. His wife has been able to find her tribe but he is still looking. We talked about beliefs vs truth and other such things. If felt good to be able to go a bit deeper with someone on the group.

Today we headed out at 9:00 to go the Connemara National Park. We made a potty stop at a cute shop along the way. We ended up at Kylemore Abbey. The nuns were originally from Belgium and their order started in the early 1600’s.

I was lucky enough to notice that the nuns were leading a mass at 12:15 so I went to part of that. I love to hear them sing their prayers. I didn’t stay for all of it as I needed to eat lunch before we had to be back on the bus at 1:30. The mass that I did see was beautiful. There were 10 nuns doing the mass. Two of them looked like they had just joined, two others looked like they had taken a bigger step towards becoming a nun, and the others looked like they had been nuns for a long time. The ones that looked like they had just joined looked young.

There is an old church, a beautiful garden and a mansion on the grounds. I toured part of the mansion but it wasn’t my thing. The old church was beautiful. I didn’t make it to the garden as the weather was not garden type weather.

We drove back to Galway at 1:30 and arrived around 3:15. The guide took the group on a short walking tour around Galway. Most of the group stayed in Galway for the evening and will have to take a taxi back to the hotel as it is quite a walk to town. I opted to stay on the bus and wait for the group.

Today has been more typical Irish weather. We had rain on and off all day. I only got caught in the rain for a short bit when I was walking at the Abbey grounds. The high has been 58 so it has been a bit cold for me.

The countryside was beautiful as we drove through the Connemara National Park. Lots of sheep, a few cattle, and lots of waterfalls coming down the mountains. We saw the Atlantic Ocean for the first time on the trip. There were huge white caps on it today as it was very windy. The mountains were making clouds today. We were high enough up at times that we drove through the clouds.

We got back to the hotel around 4:00. I went to the bar and had dinner and then came up to my room for the night. I am going to take a hot bath in a bit and warm up and then tuck myself in for the evening. Tomorrow we leave at 8:00 so I will have to be up and dressed by 7:00 so I can have breakfast before we leave.

My clothes I washed out yesterday are still not dry but hoping they will be more dry by morning. I tried using the hair dryer on them this morning and over heated the hair dryer. I will try it in a bit and see if it will work again. Oops!

Tomorrow we are going to the Cliffs of Moher and Bunratty Castle. We will spend the next two nights in Killarney.

Five more days of tour plus one bonus day for me in Dublin before I head for home next Tuesday.

I haven’t gotten homesick yet and haven’t given much thought to the hail damage process. Trusting the insurance adjuster is meeting with the window guy and will get me some funds for windows soon. I will be home a week from today.

I am struggling remembering what hotel room I am in. I try to remember to carry the jacket they put the room key in with me as it has the room number on it. After this many nights in different hotels, the numbers are starting to run together in my head. It is all I can do to remember what time I am to meet the bus in the morning.

This group has been very punctual so far. I’m surprised that with 42 people on the tour that everyone has shown up on time. I’m grateful for it though.

This trip has been wonderful for me to see sights I have never seen before. I have been a bit disappointed that I haven’t connected to many people on the tour. I have forgotten how to be social and make small talk with strangers. I have found the best part of the day is when I am in my room – alone!

Grateful for another safe day of travels, grateful for the beauty that I am seeing, and grateful for the faithfulness of the nuns and the work they do.

We boarded the bus this morning at 9:00 and took a bus tour throughout downtown Dublin. We saw from the bus several green spaces they have in town. One was over 1,700 acres and is where there President lives. We saw the Guinness beer plant and St. Patrick’s cathedral but were unable to go inside it.

We stopped at Trinity College at 11:00 for a walk around and lunch. We went to see the Book of Kells at noon and then had some more free time until 1:00.

The Book of Kells is a manuscript and Celtic Gospel book in Latin containing the four Gospels of the New Testament. It is believed to have been created c. 800 AD.

Getting to the Book of Kells was a big, narrow room full of information about what the Book of Kells is all about and how they came into being. Unfortunately for me, the room was jam packed and was over crowded. I just wanted to get to the Book of Kells and then get out of there.

They keep the Book of Kells in a darken room in a glass surround display. I took a peak at it and left. I needed to get away from people.

I went out to the streets and walked them for a bit. I went in some beautiful knit ware shops. I was very tempted to buy a sweater but decided to wait. I’m sure there will be lots of opportunities for that later on this trip and if not, I have two free days in Dublin on the back end of the trip that I can go back and get it then.

We had a rare, blue sky sunny morning for our bus tour. We did drive into rain while on our three hour trip to Galway this afternoon but when we got to Galway the rain stopped and it was clear again. The temperature in Galway was 58 for the high today and 55 when we got here. It feels like fall to me. The leaves in the parks were beginning to turn. It is raining again now. It seems to rain, clear off, rain, clear off all day long.

We stopped at the Cathedral of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven and St. Nicholas. We were very lucky as the organist was playing while we were touring the church. Very beautiful music and a very beautiful cathedral.

We got dropped off at our hotel for the next two nights and got checked into the room. The grounds of the hotel are incredible filled with glorious flower beds. We aren’t close to any shops so will stay close to the hotel tonight.

We have a group dinner at 6:30 tonight but I’m not sure if I will go down for it or not. I’m not very hungry and I am peopled out for the day. Last night I went to the dinner but only stayed for the soup and then left early.

The bus for this part of the trip has 44 people on it counting the driver and guide. Last leg of the trip only had 24. It feels crowded and a bit loud to me. There are several couples that came with a group of friends or family and they converse back and forth across the way on the bus. The guide played Irish music this afternoon which was fun for the first tune or two but got old quick.

Our potty stop was at a rest area, similar to the KS Turnpike rest areas. There was a McDonald’s so I got some chicken tenders. They were good and service was good. I did have to use the self-service kiosk to order. I haven’t gotten any local money yet – everywhere takes my credit card. I tap it and go. Easy! Meals are usually about $20 – $30 US. I haven’t purchased souvenirs yet. Just haven’t seen anything that called to me.

Tomorrow we are going to visit the Kylemore Abbey in the heart of the Connemara National Park. We will get several hours there to explore it and have lunch. We get to come back to the same hotel tomorrow night.

When I got to the room, I did my laundry using the bathtub. About half of the hotels I have stayed in have had bathtubs so was grateful this one had one. As rainy as it is here, I hope my clothes will be dry by Wednesday morning. I can always use the hair dryer on them if needed.

The Irish countryside so far isn’t what I had kinda expected. It looks like England so far. Lots of sheep and more cattle than England, although their fields of cattle only have 10 – 20 head instead of the hundreds I am used to seeing. It is very green due to all the rain they get.

Grateful we were able to go inside the cathedral this afternoon – my soul needed that respite today, grateful for another safe travel day, and grateful for this chance to see Ireland.

Shortly after I finished blogging last night the connecting door between my room and the next room opened. I heard a man’s voice and the door quickly shut. I went out to the hallway and poked my head out. One of the couples from the tour are in the room next door and the husband had opened the door. He was looking for a closet. I think he was a bit embarrassed. He stuck his head out in the hallway too and apologized for opening the door.

I went downstairs to find some food and stopped at the front desk and asked them to come up and lock the door. I ate dinner and then went back up to my room. The door was still unlocked. I flagged down a housekeeping staff member that was in the hallway. They said they would text someone to bring a key.

About 15 minutes later a man comes into my room without knocking. He had a key to lock the door. He was startled to see me in the room when he turned around. Needless to say, I was startled he had just come into my room without knocking. He apologized about five times and left.

That is the second time on this trip someone from the hotel staff has entered my room without knocking. What is up with that?

I stayed in my room last night and didn’t go to the dinner. We had to be down in the lobby by 5:45 this morning and I didn’t want to eat after 7:00 which is when the dinner was to start. I went to bed around 8:30.

I was up and ready by 5:30 so I went to the lobby. Not long after I got there a couple and her sister came down. We were visiting for a few minutes and a taxi driver comes in and calls all our names. No one else had shown up yet. We all four got in the taxi and headed to the airport. It was about an hour and one half drive to the airport.

Traffic was fairly light this morning and the trip to the airport was smooth. We didn’t fly out of Heathrow airport this time. There was not a lot of signage at the airport to point us in the right direction. We asked a worker where to go and he kinda gave us directions. We asked another one further into the airport and found our way to the bag drop area the worker told us we needed to go to. We stood in line for the longest time and then got to the front of the line and discovered we were at the wrong place.

We found the right place and stood in line again. Once we got to the counter we got checked in easily as all of us had gone on-line and checked in last night. They don’t tell you the gate number until about 15 minutes before you board the plane. We found a spot to sit and wait for our boarding time. We had over an hour to wait. I got a sandwich and drink and had a late breakfast.

The bathroom was at the back of the area we were in and then we had to walk down a long hallway. I turned the corner and there was another long hallway. I turned another corner and finally found the bathroom. Surprisingly there was a long line for the men’s room but none for the ladies room. When I came out I mentioned that to another lady that was waiting for her partner to come out of the men’s room. She said she was thinking of taking a picture of it as she had never seen that happen before. I laughed and agreed with her.

The flight to Dublin was only an hour of air time but we taxied for 20 minutes both before and after the flight. We didn’t have a gate when we landed so had to use the stairs and then a bus. It was quite a hike through the airport to baggage claim. My bag arrived and I headed to immigrations which was a no-line process. They stamped my passport and I headed to the exit.

A Gate One person directed us to our bus driver. We had another long hike with the bus driver to get to the bus. 16 of us came as a group from London. He filled the back of his smaller bus with luggage and ran out of room so I carried mine onto the bus with me. We had about an hour drive on the bus to get to the hotel.

Our new tour guide Liam, met us at the entrance of the hotel. We got checked in with him and then into the hotel. We had a short meeting with the tour guide and then were allowed to go to our rooms. Luckily, the rooms were ready and we could get into them early.

I got to my room and then went down and found some lunch. I came back to the room and plan to take a short nap when I get done blogging. We have a meet and greet with the whole tour group tonight at 5:30 followed by a dinner. Unfortunately we found out that there will be 42 people on this tour. The tour in London and Scotland only had 22. 42 seems like a lot of people.

I haven’t been given the time table for tomorrow’s trip. I know we are starting the day with a bus tour of Dublin and then are going to Galway where we will spend two nights at the same hotel.

It feels nice when we get to spend two nights at the same place. I can kinda get my bearings when we do that. I struggle to remember my room number when we change hotels every night.

It was lightly raining when we arrived. The forecast is calling for rain most of the days we are here. The guide told us we will see the sun sometime while we are here if only for ten minutes at a time. Rain is very common and expected and life goes on when it rains. Wish I could figure out a way to bring the rain home with me.

Feels good to be in Ireland. I’m anxious to get out and into the countryside tomorrow. Everything is spring green colored here. It is a bit cool and forecasted to stay that way all week. I may have to buy myself a warmer jacket.

Grateful for another day of safe travels grateful to be in Ireland, and grateful I was able to get in my room early today.

Halfway through this trip. 10 days to go. It has been an adventure!

We left Leeds this morning at 8:00. We stopped at a rest area type place for a potty break and then went to Cambridge. We had three hours in Cambridge to explore and have lunch. The weather was perfect today with no rain and temperatures in the mid 70’s.

Cambridge has several hundred different colleges – some only have 150 students and some have thousands of students. There was row after row of colleges housed in old buildings.

The downtown square of Cambridge was full of people, sights and smells. They had an open market with everything from t-shirts to food being sold. Most of the major US brands seemed to have a shop in Cambridge. Lots and lots of shops and eating places. The only thing I purchased was some laundry powder so I can wash some clothes out. It is the one thing I forgot to bring with me. The container I had to buy is too big so I will put some in a zip lock bag I brought and ditch the rest of it. It was the only size and brand available. We really haven’t been where locals must shop for everyday things.

I had lunch and then walked around for a bit. I spent most of my time at St. Catherine Cathedral. I went inside and sat in a pew for the longest time. People were respectful and quiet inside the church and it felt good to sit and reflect on things.

We had a two and one half hour bus ride after we left Cambridge to return to London. We are staying on the other side of London tonight. This side is closer to the airport.

A taxi will take me to the airport in the morning at 6:00 am. My flight to Dublin is at 9:35 and lands around 11:00. We will be met at the airport and taken to our hotel. We will have a welcome dinner with our new tour guide tomorrow night.

We have a dinner tonight at 7:00. I am strongly considering not going to it. I don’t think I will be hungry and I don’t feel the need to get any closure with this group. Very few have even spoken to me and the ones that have are going on with me to Ireland. The dinner won’t be over until 9:00 or so and I want to be asleep by then.

Sure hoping the hotel room will be available tomorrow when we get to the hotel and I won’t have to kill most of the day waiting to get in a room. I tipped the bus guy when we got off this afternoon and I will see the tour guide in the morning so I can give him his envelop then.

I love the English and Scottish countryside. It is so green and hilly with lots and lots of sheep. There were some cattle but not big pastures full like I see at home. I was surprised at how diverse their restaurants are. Not sure there is a typical English meal or restaurant. Most restaurants represented many different countries and tastes from around the world.

Looking forward to going to Ireland. I trust it will be a highlight for me of this trip.

No one else has come down with Covid – at least not officially. I was a bit concerned last night I had it but felt much better today. My tummy was a bit upset this afternoon but that is normal for me and it settled back down pretty quickly.

I haven’t done much souvenir shopping or gotten gifts for anyone. Just haven’t seen anything that caught my eye yet. I gave up forcing myself to get gifts for family members a long time ago. I would end up focusing more on that while on a trip then enjoying the sights and sounds of where I was at. If I see something I think someone would like, I get it but don’t worry if I don’t find something.

I think I will take a shower and get refreshed and then decide what I am going to do the rest of the evening. Staying inside my room sounds wonderful right now It is a pretty day out and we are in a beautiful area so may go out and take a walk. We shall see what I decide to do.

Grateful for a safe journey through England and Scotland, grateful I felt better this morning, and grateful to be moving on to Ireland tomorrow.