HBD Week

Birthday week continues ...

I started the scent flight from Ode to Perfume. Did I talk about this? 

5 samples selected based on a questionnaire. Video explaining why each was chosen and instructions on how to experience them.

First -- spray the card, wave it, wait, smell. 

I did this with all 5 and put them in order that I liked them. Made notes on the back. I really liked 3/5.

Now I'm trying them -- favorite to least favorite to see how they do on my skin. 

My favorite on paper was AWFUL on me. I had to wash it off before bed. Totally different scent experience. I sprayed #2 on this morning and it's not as bad, but I don't like it enough to wear it out in the world. This is not boding well to find a scent I'll wear. 

I'm shocked, but now I understand my mistakes buying perfume. I can't believe how different they smell on me after a bit of time on my skin.

Duke hid after I sat down.
Don't think he liked it either.

This is very unscientific, but I think I have particular skin. A number of lipsticks turn a bright shade of pink after about an hour on my lips. I have to wear brown based lip color or put a base on my lips -- and even that can change if it's not enough of a brown base. 

I think perfume does the same -- a little presto change-o. Maybe this happens to everyone?!? I'm only wearing the perfume in the morning (before my shower) or when I change into pjs. I don't want to scent my clothes if I'm not going to like the perfume. 

A couple of plant things ....

Saw this beauty on a morning walk with Duke. 

Pretty shape, pretty color.

Looks like a phyllo pastry with slightly burned edges.

Thai basil is such a beautiful plant. Easy to forget it's a delicious herb too.

HBD lunch was really nice. We had a particular lively conversation. Had to call it at 2 hours because of parking limits in the town. I think they do themselves a disservice. I planned to stop in the vintage store before I left, but no time before we'd get ticketed.

Chatted with a good friend for another couple of hours when I got home. Also, lively, fun conversation.

Today is the only non lunch-out day this week. Volunteering for the local road cleanup again. Two hours walking the road -- weather is much cooler this morning so it should be nice. I enjoy spending time with this group of ladies.

Also chores! Watering my indoor plants -- such an effort in this house. I'm going to try and get some watered before I leave this morning. I saved a couple of good podcasts for the plant care today. Distract my way through it works the best. A few other little things too.

Picking up my grandson from school and back to his new house for the afternoon. Then the evening is mine. I finished a book yesterday -- "Woman on the Ledge." Fun, quick suspense. Twists, but not super believable. Library book so worth the read. 

Oh, and I watched this movie. The book was even better, but this was still so good (maybe because I also read the book). Cried at the end. This is one of the reasons I like alone time -- would never have cried if people were around (it's a me-thing), but it feels really good to cry at a movie. Cathartic, but no lingering emotions. 

I had a full day and it felt good. I made a cucumber and bean salad with all the garden things -- chopped my heart out. Baked banana bread for my grandson. It was a little bit of everything yesterday. Even though today is more obligation based, I want to find that same intention. 

Hope you also have a well intentioned day. Later gators -- I'm off to water plants. The good news is the level of dread is equal and opposite to the delight I feel when it's finished. I'll be positively skipping by this afternoon hah! 

Better(!!)

Quite a bit better. 

AND, the universe WAS all up in my business yesterday. Power went out 4 times while I was riding the Peloton and the internet went down for about 15 minutes. I powered on and eventually finished the workout. Duke threw up in 7 places on my new bedroom carpet during the never-ending workout attempts. Used every last drop of the carpet cleaner AND it's no longer available for delivery.

Yep, I declared EASE and UNBOTHERED and the universe is showing up to help me practice. Maybe I should retract that declaration.

But ... I did my sheets anyway. Hubby worked around it. I waited to help the kids until I tamed the garden a bit. Passed out a big bag of veggies to a neighbor (always my delight). THEN spent the rest of the day packing, cleaning, moving. 

Hubby and I tried a new bakery that opened 2 blocks from the house. Turkish treats and coffee. Family run to help an autistic son who has a passion for coffee. Lovely people and story behind the cafe. My neighbor gave me the heads up it FINALLY opened. I love that our neighbors are community minded -- all part of being a good neighbor. I passed the info along and am going with friends on Friday. 

Gave Turkish coffee a go
even with the caffeine hit.
Hubby got the biscuit.

I feel better. Just getting a few things off my plate helped -- mostly helped my mental load. I feel ready to enjoy my birthday week. 

Today??

Another Peloton workout (too humid for a run).

Birthday week meditation.

Lunch with my HS friend at a favorite restaurant. 

Reading this afternoon. 

Reflection time for an intentional year. 

Quiet and fun -- I love this combination.

On that note, time to workout. 

Have a good Monday and start to the week. Later gators.

Not yet ...

Not quite MY time yet ... still helping the kids today. Grandson with his other grandparents and we're on moving duty. Apparently, not everything (like the entire kitchen) was boxed and moved (not sure why THEY didn't help with that yesterday), but here we are. 

MY list of chores is growing LONG. I really, really don't want to spend my birthday week doing chores. 

There's some lesson somewhere in all of this. I'm not sure where. 

Go with the unexpected flow? (Ease and unbothered ... I'm looking at you.)

Set stricter boundaries with my time?

More downtime built into my schedule?

Just accept this happens?

It's really frustrating because I'm trying to get my things worked on and I get blocked at every turn. I've needed to wash my sheets since before my trip to Asheville. Everyday has been some reason I can't get at it. I planned this morning, no exceptions and hubby said he was too tired to do wash yesterday and needed the washer and dryer all morning before his trip. 

Seriously?!? It's things like this. Now I need to fit it in tomorrow morning which is already a push and a growing list of to-dos. 

It seems like everyday there's some add-on or left-over that's pushing my chores further into my birthday week.

Goodness. I didn't plan on this being a rant, but I am feeling a bit desperate to get my life organized and room left to get back to my routines. 

BTW -- such a great day with our grandson yesterday. Hubby went to the house to help and I got the day with our little 2 year old. Park, library, cars and more cars. No room to squeeze in any work, but it's always worth it. 

On that note, I'm going to get moving. At least I'll get a workout in this morning. Hoping for a little garden time too. Tomatoes are OUT OF CONTROL and the storms broke the trellises. I hope I can stake them without braking the main stem. 

Fingers crossed. Wish me luck. Happy Father's Day.

Later gators. 

Chasing a Two Year Old

Home and busy as ever. 

Kids are moving this weekend and we're on babysitting duty. Yesterday was a joy and we're at it again today. Two year olds are hilarious and we laugh the entire time we're with him.

Then ... tomorrow it's all about my stuff and getting my act together. Storms hit my tomato plants HARD and they need some TLC before the main stem breaks. I need to organize my week. Organize my stuff. Get back to a morning routine. Get back to meditation. Get back to eating veggies!!!!!

Hubby is out of town from Sunday afternoon through Friday. I have lunch plans everyday next week for my birthday and a few little extra straggling things in the afternoon. 

The week is MINE and the evenings are quiet. I want to get back to basics -- rock painting, reflecting, hiking, reading. QUIET, ME time is a must.

June has been a bigger month than I expected and I need a recovery.

It's been a lot of loud life and I'm grateful, but I need to mix in the quiet things now. 

Duke had FOMO of the napping tent and tried it out last night. He hates confined spaces and sat in there with the flap down until I found him. Oh boy. Poor little Duke.

Hope you have a good day. Later gators.

Heading Home

Heading home today. 

Yesterday was a recovery day that I didn't know I needed. 

First up -- manicure. 

My fingernails got too long. 

I forgot my manicure kit. 

I SUCK at clipping my nails.

When they get that long, I get tempted to rip them. 

Made an appointment at a local place.

They were so nice, but something was lost in translation. No big deal. Got a fast, inexpensive manicure and it was just what I needed to shape my nails without ending up with wonky nails (from clipping them wrong or tearing them off). Manicure was 15 minutes -- speedy, but they look good. 

Light pink.
Won't last, but it's fun for
a couple of days.

Drove to park and walk to the teahouse and everything was PACKED. No parking in lots or street. I gave up and went back to the house. I have no idea what was going on with parking late morning on a weekday. 

Then a surprise 3 hour nap ... dang. I guess I needed it. I laid down with the intention of resting for a few minutes and I fell asleep immediately. I worried about sleeping last night, but also slept long and hard. Oura says I might be getting sick. My voice is scratchy this morning. 

No teahouse because I slept until 3 o'clock. The rest of the day was making up beds and getting the house ready to leave.

I have no idea what I'm going to do on the way home. 

Breakfast?

Stop for coffee?

Drive straight home?

Looking for a little delight. 

I hope I'm not getting sick. I have a full birthday week ahead and it kind of starts tomorrow (in my mind). 

More on the birthday things soon. I still haven't done the mid-year review and reflection. That's for next week. I have 2 birthday TREATS that will be waiting for me when I get home. I'm excited to chat about them. I plan to save both for next week too. 

Time to get packing up. 

This was a great Asheville week.

Checked so many boxes and I'm grateful.

Hope you have a good day. Later gators.

Beautiful Hike

The hike was SO GOOD (!!)

I figured out a connector trail that added a couple of miles of rolling hills to the mountain climb and let us park at the inn for the start. 

The drive up was no problem at all. It's actually scarier as a passenger. I had nothing to be worried about.

Here are some pictures from the hike -- found amazing mushrooms along the way. 

Lunch was very nice at the Inn. 

A man choked and I gave him the Heimlich maneuver-- good deed for the day. 

Dinner was also a hit. We walked through downtown on a beautiful evening with a cool breeze. Picture perfect mountain summer weather. 

I woke up this morning not feeling particularly well though. Nauseous, shaky. Both have passed, but I'm not sure if I'm getting sick or the activity was a lot on me. I certainly had a relaxing, fun time. Oura ring stats were off too, sleep was shit. Could a nap be in my future today? I'm not a nap girly, but it's tempting.

My girlfriend leaves this morning and I have the day to myself. A few cleanup chores and that's it. I'm not sure what I want to do, but the teahouse is calling me if my stomach holds. I'd like to long walk, but I need to watch my back. I've had 3 strong workouts in a row and I don't want to push it. 

It was a really nice mix of things this trip. Exactly what I wanted from this week. THIS was the trip I was worried about and it was the best of the three. 

I'm ready to go home though. I briefly thought about leaving today, but I don't want to rush myself and I want to enjoy the mountain air a minute more. Weather is heating up in GA and in Asheville so this will be the last of crisp air for a bit. And I didn't sleep well, so a quiet day (maybe with that nap) might be just what I need. 

I actually thought about going for another massage today, but the massage therapist I wanted is off. Wasn't meant to be, I suppose, but still ... probably not, especially if I'm not sure how I'm feeling. Man, but I wish!!!!

Time to plan my solo day. What to do, what to do ...

Have a good one. Later gators.

A Good Day

Another really good day.

8 mile mountain walk in cool, crisp air. We ditched coffee to keep walking because it was so nice. Sadly, no bear sighting. 

Left by construction equipment.
Looks like HUGE bear claw.

Mountain flowers.

Come on -- beautiful!!

Massage was incredible. I was so relaxed and had to fight falling asleep for most of it. I was half awake, half dreaming -- worried I'd start dream talking. My friend said it was the best massage she's ever had -- everyone I bring there says the same. It's a different style of massage and it's ridiculously relaxing. 

We ditched shopping for a drink on the patio, rocking in the chairs -- lovely, but I missed going to the teahouse. Guess that's a solo moment for Wednesday. Probably better since I like tea and a book better than tea and talking. 

Dinner at Chai Pani for Michelin Star Indian street food. Amazing.

Bed by 8 o'clock. The massage left us like mush and neither of us could form a sentence after the massage and big dinner. 

Today is the hike. We're doing the short, but hard out-and-back up the mountain. Then lunch at the Pisgah Inn -- views, fresh food. It should be a good day. Weather is still awesome (tomorrow the heat comes back). Dinner at one of our favorite places downtown.

I'm getting more relaxing downtime than I expected and that's been a pleasant surprise. We won't leave for the hike until 10 o'clock and we're doing a breakfast here on the patio again. Turns out we're good travel companions. 

On a last note, the 'u' key was not working at all and I gave it an aggressive pounding -- it's fixed. Hah -- guess it was a little dislocated. Maybe that weird little black cloud energy has passed. Healing powers of the mountain. 

Have a good day. Later gators.