End of Month Daybook . . .

 

Happy Spring! Spring has sprung in my little place on earth. The leaves are beginning to bud, my irises are pushing up through the dry soil, little bugs are starting to crawl, and the birds are singing. What more could I ask for? Rain. We are so very dry here in Idaho.

All of this feels early—these are things that usually don’t happen until the end of April or even the first of May. And while I love the promise of spring, I can’t help but feel a little worried. If everything blooms too soon, a late, wet, heavy snow could come and break the branches. It’s happened before, and I’m sure it will happen again.

For now, I’m choosing to enjoy the beauty of this early season… and hope the weather is kind to it.

On My Playlist - A few weeks ago, I went to a thrift store with my daughters and two of my granddaughters. The only thing I came home with was… you guessed it… vinyl records!

I love listening to vinyl instead of the radio or music from my phone or computer. There’s just something about it—the sound, the simplicity—that takes me right back to the “good old days.”

This is one of the albums I found and I am really enjoying it!

The Weather - Well, the wind is always bad this time of year, but it has been especially strong these past few weeks. Two weeks ago, we had wind gusts up to 70 miles an hour. That isn’t common for Idaho. It caused quite a bit of damage, including road closures and a number of car accidents.

We were fortunate not to have any major damage here—just a few broken branches from our big poplar trees—but so many large trees were completely toppled by the wind.

Last week brought very warm temperatures in the upper 70s. Truly, this is so unusual for Idaho! I loved it, but it dried things out even more than they already were.

Today the highs will be in the upper 60's, which is more like it should be.  But, the rest of the week will be slightly warmer, even into the upper 70's

Right now I'm - Well, it’s Monday, and I’m trying to reset my house from the weekend craziness. Life just seems to keep moving as fast as it possibly can, and I can’t seem to keep up with it. 😐

I’ve put a load of laundry in, changed my bed, and spent 40 minutes on my rebounder—trying to get both my house and myself back in order. There’s still more to do: something to figure out for dinner, floors to vacuum upstairs and down, and a kitchen that needs tidying.

Some days feel like this… a lot of effort to catch up, to put things back in place, and to find a little calm in the middle of it all. Maybe that’s what Mondays are for.  

Thinking and pondering - Lately, I’ve found myself thinking about the unrest in the world. War, wherever it happens, carries such a heavy cost—not just financially, but in the lives and hearts of so many people. It’s hard to take in at times, and it makes me even more grateful for the quiet, ordinary moments at home. I think, more than anything, it leaves me praying for and hoping for peace.  My thoughts just continually go to all the things that are happening in the world.  

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about the changes in my family. As my children grow older, I find myself holding on tightly to the memories we’ve made, while also looking ahead to all the wonderful moments still to come. 

A few weeks ago, we went to dinner with Brody, one of my grandsons and his girlfriend.  It was such a delight to finally meet her. She is charming, kind, beautiful, and smart—truly seems like the perfect match for him. A few days later, it was Brody’s birthday, and it felt so special to gather together and mark another year of his life. Moments like these remind me how quickly time passes, and how precious each memory becomes.

And then there’s Caleb, who just turned 18—I can hardly believe it! We went to lunch to celebrate, and just watching him, while enjoying the company of his parents and sister, filled my heart with happiness. At the same time, it made me long for the days when I could cuddle him and savor the simple sweetness of his youth.

Just being with him reminds me how quickly time passes, and how precious each memory becomes. I find myself cherishing the past, celebrating the present, and looking ahead with excitement to all the joys still ahead for him.

We also celebrated a birthday for my oldest grandson, Christian. It’s amazing how quickly they grow up—turn into adults, get married, and become such remarkable humans! Earlier this month, we were able to see him and his wonderful wife, Lisa, which was such a treat. They don’t live close to us, but when they are here, Christian and Lisa love spending time with my husband and I.

As a child, he and his sister spent six months living with us while his parents were at the hospital in another state with his youngest sister. During that time, we developed such a beautiful bond with him, and it warms my heart that he still treasures that connection. I love that he enjoys laughing with us, playing games, and asking for advice as he moves forward in life. Seeing him now, thriving and happy, reminds me how precious every stage of life truly is.

How I'm feeling -My health is improving more and more each day! A few weeks ago, I spoke with my doctor, and after reviewing CT scan results, he gave me the wonderful news that I’m free to get on with life—no visit needed for another two months! Rebounding has been such a gift, helping me improve my balance, build stamina, and strengthen my overall health. I still have a few areas to fine-tune, but every day I can feel myself growing stronger and more vibrant. Life feels brighter, and I’m so grateful for this progress!

In the kitchen - Tonight I'm making, Russian Chicken.  This recipe is so easy, and perfect with a green salad or a veggie of your choice.  Tonight we're having it with green beans and pickled beets.  

RUSSIAN CHICKEN FOR TWO

4-5  chicken tenders, cut into 2 inch cubes

1/2 cup apricot or peach jam

1/2 pkg. dry onion soup mix

1/3 jar of Russion salad dressing 

(All of these measurments are estimates - put as much or a little of the sauce as you like).

Simply put the chicken in a baking dish.  Then mix together the dressing, jam and soup mix.  Stir and pour over the top of the raw chicken, stiring to make sure the chicken is coated.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 40 min., checking with a thermometer to make sure chicken is done.  Enjoy!

We like to serve this chicken over rice or noodles, but it is perfect on it's own. 

Looking around the house -  

Today, looking around the house, I notice an empty wall where my old piano used to stand. Last Friday, I sold it, and I’ll admit it was bittersweet—I felt a mix of sadness and a little regret. I had that old piano for 35 years, and I loved it.  It was very old, most likely built in the early 1800's . . . And she was so pretty!  But now that it’s gone, I’m feeling much lighter. The people who bought it seemed so happy, and I know they’ll take good care of it. 

Now the real fun begins! I’m going to paint the hallway, dining room, kitchen, and living room. I’ll move the hutch from the dining room into the piano’s spot, which will open up so much more space around the dining table. Onward and upward!

Just sayin' - 

Have a  wonderful week!! 

Hugs and Love,

Barb