Memorial Day 2020

I had a really great weekend. I took Friday off to make it 4 days. At first I thought why waste vacation days when I can’t go anywhere, but I’ve decided this year will be different. I’ll waste them if I want to. After all, I was lucky enough to get to go on my big vacation. Plus, I’m still working and having time away from work really does help. As it turns out, I was out of my house every day this weekend and it felt so much like “normal’ life and it was exactly what I needed to get out of a little funk.

On Friday I took some flowers up to my grandma’s grave in Wellsville and then in the afternoon/evening went up to my sister’s house where we had a family sleepover. It ended up raining and snowing that night so I was glad we were indoors. Saturday morning after breakfast we all went to the Brigham City cemetery. It was cold that morning and early enough that there were not a lot of people. We walked to all the different family graves we put flowers on. After I got home I did some housework and then took a nice long nap. On Sunday I rearranged my bedroom. I had to take my bed apart to move it. Still, it didn’t take as long as I thought and I had been putting it off. I haven’t had my bed in it’s new position ever so it is taking a little bit of getting used to but I like the change. It makes my bedroom feel bigger and it was plenty big before. Then on Monday I went with my brother and sister to explore Blacksmith Fork Canyon. Dad used to take us up there fishing a lot when we were young. I haven’t been up there in many years. It was so beautiful and felt good to get out. Of course, with crying and complaining kids, it was also nice to get back home. It’s supposed to get hot this week which means I missed the best temperatures but summer’s coming and I’m really going to try and get outside more.

Flowers and Donuts

And life during a pandemic goes on...
I planted flowers this weekend. I've got grand plans for a small garden box at the back of my house, but for now I did my normal planting in my front flower garden and my pots. And by pots, I mean all my pots. I normally try to hold myself back a little bit but I did not at all this year. I bought every flower that took my fancy. And a bunch of herbs. They used up every pot I had, plus new ones I bought.

It was a perfect day for flower shopping at the nursery. By that I mean it was raining and there were not very many people there.  I loved it. I've got ideas to turn my back patio into a miniature flower garden too, with pots and plant stands. I figure I might as well. It makes me happy and since I'm not going anywhere this summer, there's no reason I can't water them and keep them healthy and happy.

A few weeks ago I decided I had to have a stand mixer, even though I've gotten along just fine without one until now. I got a wonderful Bosche compact mixer. I finally used it this weekend and the first thing I did with it was donuts. I cooked them up and delivered fresh, homemade donuts to my family. It was fun. I'm not sure I loved the donuts and they were kind of a lot of work, plus my house smelled like fry oil for days...but I really loved seeing all my family as I delivered them.

A Small Change and Random Thoughts

So ever since my vacation I have pretty much had vacation hair. I mean, you plan to when you are on vacation. I don't ever take my "normal" things to do my hair on vacation. It's basically wash and go. When I had to quarantine for 2 weeks after I got back, there was no reason to do anything with my hair. And I've been doing nothing with it ever since. It feels kind of good and I am thinking I may keep doing it. My hair is naturally wavy and rather than blowing it dry, I've been drying my bangs so I can get them to fall the right way (and sometimes still using the flat iron) and maybe the top of my head a bit. And I'm spraying on a little leave in conditioner or wavy styling product and letting it go. They gray has definitely shown up and I'm not even bothering to cover it up either. Before, I was covering all the little gray spots as I waited for my next hair appointment. It's kind of freeing, really.  I'm thinking I'm still going to get it colored when I go back to the hair salon because I like the color. I'm just not going to stress about it as it grows out. I rather like the low maintenance hair style (let's face it, I wasn't actually high maintenance before) so yeah, I think I may keep it.

As for other things that make me happy, I started following some historic and old homes people on Instagram. I love old houses. Then I read a book with a cat in it and started thinking about cats and houses.  LOL - if this virus doesn't stop soon I may do something drastic. I do not need an old house, and I definitely do not need a cat.

It was my sister-in-law's birthday last week so we gave her a "heart attack". My other sister and niece did the banner and a few hearts and I did more hearts and wrote some messages on them. Then I drove to their house at 6:00 am and stuck them to the windows and doors. It was kind of fun and she was definitely surprised.

Is It May Yet?

Things that are making me happy right now. Well, one thing anyway. Music. I went for a nice drive into the mountains this weekend and listened to some old favorites again. Sara Evans among others. And this morning I listened to the Sweeney Todd soundtrack. I really love that musical. The songs are fantastic. While it may not have the happiest ending, it’s still one of my favorites.

I am just doing what a lot of people are doing and trying not to go stir crazy. I am often alone but seldom lonely. Right now I can definitely say I get lonely. I was at a conference when I heard a speaker say that social media is the junk food of connection. It will fill you for a small time but has none of the nutritional value you need. That feels very true right now. I don’t want social media, I want real people. My people. My sister sent pictures of her family in the backyard with their fire pit. My other sister set up her tent in her living room and camped out with her babies. Now I’m jealous I don’t have a fire pit or a tent.

I’m dying to go somewhere. I was finally able to re-read some old favorite books so right now I’m going places with music and books. A pie shop in London for one, and an archaeological dig in Scotland for another. 😊

Up Next...

When this whole thing started, I quickly read a few books just to help cope. Books are great for that and I can think of other times in my life when reading has helped.  But as more and more time goes on and nothing is getting better, my reading has gotten less. I’m having a hard time figuring out what I want to read next and my attention span seems to be much shorter. I haven’t even really turned to the good old favorites like I’m wont to do when I can’t find anything else to read. Instead, I’ve been watching tv, looking at social media more, and baking things. I have enough treats in my freezer to last a while, that’s for sure. I’ve made it through 12 episodes of Warehouse 13. I’ve actually watched them. Not just on in the background for noise. Plus, I’m almost done with Ms. Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries. It’s not normal for me. I’ve been on social media more just to try and connect a bit and watching weird stuff on YouTube, but yesterday I realized I’m tired of it again. That didn’t last long. I’m trying to keep up with the positive but too many judgmental and negative things interfere. I think for this long Easter weekend coming up, I’m going to stay off it except for the family chat.

I know that really the best thing I can do for stress is to exercise, but I’m having a hard time doing that also. I always struggle with it and now it’s even worse. My favorite places to go are either over crowded or closed off right now, but that’s really just an excuse. It’s up to me to take care of myself, regardless. Any maybe if I was doing better at that, I’d settle on a book to read. Who knows?

General Conference Thoughts

This was general conference weekend and we all participated in our own homes as the pandemic is still ongoing.
I just have some thoughts I wanted to get out.

First off, I was thinking about a news article I recently read that was about churches trying to get an “essential” exception because it’s vital that people can continue to worship. I happen to agree that people need to continue to worship, but I would argue that it still has to be distant from each other to slow the spread of COVID-19. Which just makes me grateful for my church and the prophet and the inspiration to make us more home centered. This is our 2nd year of Come Follow Me and even though we aren’t together (and I do miss the being together) we are still studying the same things worldwide.  I do miss the Sunday worship, but as I have been trying to make my sabbath day different from the rest of my week, having my own little devotional, I have had some good time to focus on some things like stories in the Book of Mormon and of course on Jesus Christ, and I have to admit that it’s been good for me and I have grown because of it.
And then of course, there is conference weekend. I never did go to Salt Lake to see it live, so in my own house is normal (although I miss being with my family). I can’t help think how we are being guided if we listen to the prophet. I don’t know if he foresaw this exact pandemic, but President Nelson (and many of the apostles) have taught many things that have helped me personally. Even just with food storage and savings. Also, they have said this is temporary. The temples are closed and I can’t help but think that they won’t stay closed for long as there is still a lot of work to be done. As they announced 8 new temples, I have confidence that we will get through the pandemic and get back to normal. Or at least normal with a bit more gratitude and lessons learned to make us better people.

Which brings me to myself and the things I need to do and I’m refocusing on things that are important. My recommend expired at the end of March and we weren’t going to church for me to get it renewed. I should probably contact my bishop anyway to see if it’s possible right now. The prophet called for a worldwide fast on the last Sunday of March (29) and now he has called for another one this coming Friday on Good Friday. I participated in the last one and I must admit it was the first time in a while that I had seriously fasted. I don’t know what good it did the world, but I know it did me so much good. The renewal I felt was absolutely worth it. So with faith, I will participate in this next one.

Things I have gotten out of conference: I need to put some effort into my religion. I need to go to the temple. I need to remember I can’t do everything at once, but it shouldn’t stop me from doing the one thing I need to do at that moment and I should seek the help of the spirit to decide what that one thing is for today. And after this pandemic is over, there is still so, so much in the world that is wrong and has to be faced and good people everywhere (and me personally) need to do our part. And it’s ok that I am not perfect (not even close) and I have to keep trying.

I loved the one of the first songs from the choir. They sang It is Well With My Soul and I don’t remember the first time the they sang it but man, it was powerful to me this time.

And wow! A temple in China! And Dubai! The work is going forward and I want to be part of it, even if it’s just in my own circle and sphere of influence.

Egypt, Part 3 - Aswan

The last part of my trip was Aswan. The cruise ship docked there and we saw more temples. Ha ha, yes there were a lot of them. We also drove to the high dam and got to look out on Lake Nasser. Learning about the politics behind that dam was interesting. We also got to shop for perfume oils and aromatherapy and spices. Then some of the group took a short trip to Abu Simbel. I decided not to go even though I heard it was amazing. The truth is I had never heard of it when I booked the trip and it was an extra 400 dollars. Instead I got to take a motor boat trip on the Nile to a Nubian village. I loved the boat ride. The village was kind of fun but it was a little strange to be walking into a person's house and taking pictures. Although it does get them money. I don't know...

Finally, we all flew back to Cairo and on the very last day we went to Giza and saw the pyramids up close. I have to admit that even though this is the iconic Egypt, once we got there, it was not my favorite part. It was really cool, but it didn't outweigh everything I had already seen. Part of that could be that it was the last day and I was ready to go home. Also, we didn't get to walk everywhere. The parts I saw were where the bus took us. If my sister and I had been doing it we would have walked a lot. A lot. It's a huge place.

It was such a fun trip and I'm so, so glad I got to go. The group was great, and if I ever have another trip I don't want to bother planning, I would definitely use the Women Traveling Together tour group again.