Eagle Birthday 🎂

We decided to accept the invitation of the Smileys earlier this week and head up to Eagle for my birthday weekend. We drove up Thursday, worked on Friday and enjoyed birthday cocktails and dinner in the evening. 

Even though it was a busy day at work, it was so nice to be here and kick off the birthday celebration with everyone. I enjoyed slack messages at work from my team, several texts from friends and many Facebook messages. With so much uncertainty and challenges in the world right now, I am aware how fortunate we are and feel blessed to be turning a year older. 

Balance had been a word for me to live by for the past couple of years. This quote speaks to me even more today. 

Birthday view 

Coffee and homemade breakfast sandwich Thais to the smileys. Feeling the love on my birthday 

Birthday cupcakes after a yummy dinner 

Happy Birthday to me! 

Find Your Rainbow

Last night there was a fabulous rainbow after a pretty decent downpour. I enjoyed just taking it in. I always enjoy rainbows, but as with many things during Covid, you enjoy the little things a bit more. 

Some of my most recent rainbows: 

• A 3-day weekend with a round of golf 
• My daily walks with T-man
• Finally getting Netflix and watching Outer Banks with D-man 
• Friends dropping off birthday gifts 
• Our health, gainful employment and family 
• Playing online pitch with Mom and Dad 
• Our “new” outdoors spaces 

Playing virtual trivia on Saturday night 

Ready for Memorial Day

The baby ducks splashing in the water - and then following mama up to the grass for camouflage - can you see her? 

A super nice note from one of my employees

#MonarchStrong

Today was the last day of school - we made it.  It certainly wasn’t the end of the year that we expected, but both boys persevered. The PK8 teachers had a parade through the neighborhood that went right by our house. It was so great to see so many familiar faces. Both boys came out to cheer on the teachers and staff. After the parade, the neighbors had an ice cream truck and the boys enjoyed the treat. 

We ordered Mod Pizza take out to celebrate and D-man and I ran out to get Sweet Cow and movies to wrap up the school year. So thankful for our community. 

Monty the Mustang (photos credits to Alana as I missed taking a pic at our house) 

Backed up parade 

Police escort 

Signs for the teachers and staff at their homes 

RIP (Rest in Pieces)

We said goodbye to our puzzle table tonight. So little time to take down and so much effort to orig ally complete. We have added a couple more since we covered the table. Here’s to more outdoor activities (but will likely still finish the last two puzzles we own). 

Accelerated Backyard Construction

We had a productive weekend getting the yard and patio and front porch ready for summer. On Saturday, I planted flowers and T-man and I hung some lights over the front porch. I have had these lights for quite some time and it feels great to get them hung up.  Marshall and I also got the pole in the backyard in the cement to be ready to go for Sunday. 

Today, D-man, Marshall and I got the lights up over the back patio. We were so motivated that D-man and I got some more plants and dirt and finished up when we got home. Marshall got the yard in tip top shape and we enjoyed the fruits of our labor with homemade pizza on the grill.  We are all looking forward to many more evenings enjoying our improved outdoor spaces. 

Front porch 

Love it and my handsome company

Sanding out the wood - empty planter 

Full planter

Finally did something with the sandbox. We will put flowers in the wagon too 

Looking good

The lights at night

Over the back porch

We finally put up solar lights we have had for awhile

Fishing Fun

The boys decided they wanted to go fishing again today so we headed to Waurenburg Fishing Pond after school/work. I walked around the open space and the boys starting casting away. I circled back by the pond and the boys said they caught a fish and I didn’t believe them. They said they weren’t able to get a picture and kept saying they caught a fish. And then T-man pulled out a picture! That kept them interested for awhile longer while I took another lap. I don’t think any of us really thought there were any fish - it was a sad looking pond, but we were proved wrong (and we didn’t even have worms!) 

Poles in the backpack 

Getting ready 

A 🐟 

Baby geese out for a walk 

A bench by the pond - certainly true these days 

Mother’s Day 2020

Marshall and the boys did a nice job ensuring that I had a nice Mother’s Day. I slept in (after initially being awakened by a dead carbon monoxide detector), had coffee in bed and enjoyed lox and bagels for breakfast.   

After waking T-man at noon, we got motivated to head out for our picnic. We ended up at a nature preserve about seven minutes from our house. The boys fished, Marshall and I did a little hiking and we enjoyed the picnic by the lake. No motors of any kind allowed so the plans for the RC boat were foiled once again. Fortunately, the fishing adventures kept the boys entertained. 

The day wrapped up with finishing a puzzle, a trip to Home Depot for outdoor house projects, and take out from the local Mexican restaurant. 

While I didn’t spend much time thinking about it, the thought that I am lucky to be here to celebrate being a mom to my two great boys did cross my mind. I. am. grateful. 

Lox and bagels buffet! 

Fortunate 

Boys and the fishing loot

Casting 

Thank you Claudia for the masks 

Picnic 

Fishing troubles.... 

Fishing magic?? 

Our 5th week off exploring 

The new reality 

Fascinating and Frustrating

I’m still continuing my therapy and every time I go it is a new adventure. I thought this might be my last visit based on what I was seeing. The injury has been healed for a few weeks which is great.  The resting point of my thumb has moved (thanks to building strength). The strength is still not equal to the left hand, but with use it should get there. The problem is not really the strength at this point per se. There are some small muscles that just aren’t “connected” yet and I have worked around those with even smaller muscles. So I’m working hard to make those connections again to prevent another injury and eventually arthritis in a specific thumb joint.

So, I continue. I’m still doing the clothespin exercises and REALLY focusing on the right form. I also am working on simply lifting my thumb “correctly” up from a large ball. I can lift it correctly if I do not have it extended away from my hand, but once I extend away from my fingers, it is almost impossible. And I continue on. Frustrating and fascinating all at the same time. 

Let this continue to be a reminder of how far I have come and a reminder of not giving up. The last mile is the often the hardest and as I said right after the stroke, this will not beat me so I continue to fight. 

It’s hard to tell, but my left thumb is much higher than the right. Let the fight continue. 

Moments to Savor

Definitely things to savor during this crazy time. 

Yummy margaritas on cinco de mayo

Coffee after therapy

Mountains at sunset 

Moonrise over the cows in the pasture