Thankful & Grateful

I apologize for not posting as per my usual Saturday. I sort of hit a wall last week, and ran out of gas in every way because I have been juggling quite a few things these past few weeks. I’d like to say that I feel a little more rested, but I’d be lying! Ha!

Anyway, as I’ve completely lost track of time this year, I was surprised to see that yesterday was the one year mark since finding the courage to be brave enough to step out into this amazing world of writing. I can’t believe it’s been a whole year! Where has time gone?

I’d like to thank all of you out there who’ve been reading, perhaps read something once, shared or discussed something I’ve written, maybe even contemplated something you never thought you would or reached out to me this year. I want you to know that it’s made an impact on my life and for that I am truly grateful. I hope that you all know that my appreciation is heartfelt and sincere.

As I wrote in the very first piece that I ever posted one year ago, I never thought I’d ever do something like this…ever, and it’s even more remarkable that I’ve managed to make it a year. It’s still a nerve wracking endeavor and I’m sure the rawness of my emotions as I try and navigate this phenomenon called grief, isn’t always the easiest to read. I am thankful for your kindness. My mother keeps saying that the second year is the hardest, as we’ve recently entered this point in our lives, but I don’t have the heart to tell her that I think it’s going to be just as hard every year.

In saying that, please accept my gratitude for your support, and know that I am beyond thankful.

With that, I just wanted to write and wish all of those celebrating Thanksgiving this weekend, a very happy Thanksgiving. Clem and I ended up staying at home with our daughters and our weekend has been full of salsa making, beet pickling and pie making. I swear, if my stomach sends out one single hunger signal, I will cry…I just cannot possibly eat anymore! The once cavernous innie belly button I sported, is now becoming quite the outtie and I feel like a stuffed turkey who’s ready to be taken out of the oven.

I wish we would’ve planned ahead better and been able to join our extended family this year but time had evaded us. Once school started, our girls were able to pick up one extracurricular activity, and I seem to have been headhunted and subsequently recruited to coach them. Both of my kids are on the same team this year (which is awesome), due to Covid-19, and I thought it would be more of a fun year than any, but as luck would have it, that’s not the case.

So, the past couple of weeks has had me floundering to navigate the waters within this new and bizarre world, while trying to maintain some sort of normalcy within the sporting realm. I can already say that things have to change and I don’t see this season moving ahead as the directors of the sport that be, need to remove their delusional heads from their asses. I’ve played for over 25 years and I can tell you that we will be inviting disaster if we don’t adapt accordingly…ladies can be very un-ladylike in sport as we are highly competitive ha! That’s all I can say about that!

I hope to have more time, once things get sorted out here in my nutty life, to not only continue to write, but to read the many great things being put out there within the world of writing by many of you. I feel fortunate to have been able to read and learn from others and I hope to have more time to do that in the coming months. As I look out my window today, it’s apparent that fall’s brief and beautiful appearance may be short lived and winter is on the horizon, which means I may have more down time.

That also means quilting, if I can even get what I need, and I have to do some more sewing for my guinea pig habitat. Caelan wanted me to formally introduce our newest little family member, who joined us a few months ago after losing our very old piggy in the spring. I’m sad to say that we never had the opportunity to work with an animal rescue society because the pandemic had pretty much shut them down and they didn’t have any older, single female piggies for us to adopt. They informed us that it would be months before they possibly had any, but gave us direction moving forward.

Our remaining little girl piggy, Cookie, became quite distraught and in her best interest, we felt we had to move quickly, so we ended up adopting a baby girl piggy we named Houdini. And what a little escape artist she is! Anyway, after doing all of the reading and getting the two acquainted and having to work through a few things, I’m happy to report that our girls are doing very well and our family is complete once again. Adopting Houdini has been one the best things to happen to our family in a long time.

With the change in seasons, Clem has already informed me that Hallmark Season is upon us and has already penciled in the important days on our calendar. There appears to be many, and I mean many, Christmas movies booting down the pipeline shortly…looks like all of November and…well hell, looks like right up until Christmas that my evenings have already been decided. At least he isn’t hiding it from me anymore!

As for Lola, well…she’s quite the teenager. I recently purchased a very cute little dolly that Caelan and I have named Rose that may be left in the middle of our kitchen one night before her official unveiling at Halloween. She’s super cute, I promise, and she rocks back and forth on her rocking horse singing Ring Around the Rosie in the most adorable and haunting way. Oh, and her eyes light up…blood red…icing on the cake! Yeah, I’m a stickler for a challenge, so game on Lola!

Caelan has been my little shadow, especially since the lock down. She has recently surprised me by taking more of an interest in her sporting activity and has filled whatever small amount of time I had this weekend, between cooking and canning, with helping hone in on her skills. I’m really looking forward to spending more time with her, and hopefully maybe Lola will come around too. Only time will tell.

Well, enough blabbering from me. I just wanted to thank you all and wish whoever is gobbling until they’re wobbling, a very happy Thanksgiving. Hopefully my week works out better and I will be back to my usual schedule. Until then, take care and I hopefully look forward to another year within this amazing community! Thank you!