Summer is in the Air

It's June! I haven't fully experience spring yet and it's almost summer. Where did the spring go?

It is still here, I guess. I am between what to plant outdoors? Spring plants or Summer plants in relation to the best season to plant them. Oh, well, maybe both. At least, the probability of frost may be over. It is usually by Memorial day in Colorado.

I have many reasons to be thankful aside from the nice weather suitable for planting. It is also a good season to hike. Look at my two-year-old grandson. He is a natural hiker. He just loves exploring the outdoors, perhaps more than my son, his dad, wants. He would pick up anything interesting in his eyes. Bugs? Dandelion? To me, as long as he does not try to taste them, is OK. :)

My son caught a fish after trying so many times. Simple fun.

My daughter playing "hair" with a Fuschia headpiece my niece, gave us something to smile about.

I am planting again. My outdoor tower planter is full of tomatoes both from store brought starters and seeds I sowed. The flowers in pots is from the store for the instant garden while I am waiting for the seeds I planted to grow all around the backyard.

Simple pleasures. Candies to my eyes. Even my husband likes them.

Have a pleasant week.

Easter 2021

It's that season again

when the breeze is warm enough

To go out in nature

And the hike is not so rough

The ground is dry enough

The rock's not so slippery

As we climbed the trails above

Not so muddy but rocky

There's not much greenery

But a hint of good scenery

With young growth below, yet premature

Give a hope that reassures

Then Easter Day we were looking forward to

Came by and flew through

A few weeks of preparation

With our three generations

Putting up decorations

Getting gifts all ready

Making food for everybody

Some are healthy, some . . . just yummy

The egg hunting that used to be for our children

Some many years ago 

are now enjoyed by our grandkids

Who reminds us of those early years

The happy birthday days of festivities

The joy from those activities

Makes me grateful for simple things 

That has not changed

Spending time, playing, and eating together

Can bring joy altogether

Volunteer

Hey. We are a small group of nurses volunteering in Colorado called PNACO. Our group is non-for-profit for the state and United States. We have grouped all over the US and in the Philippines benefitting local communities. 

Our next fundraising is BINGO online via zoom best used with a computer. Join us! Let me know if you want to join under comments.

Birthday Month

Here are some random photos I picked

From my collection that makes me think

The smiles and laughs shared

With the people who care

I share my birthday month with some loved ones

Some close, some far

With distance or heart

In my thoughts they are present

Sometimes that's all that matter

The experience, tastes, and feelings matter too

Simple things like easter bombs "cocoa"

A manicure with massage

And more sweet happy birthday cakes

A workout in different virtual destinations

I cannot go there for real but virtually I can

New Zealand, Spain, the Pacific Islands

All in one day

Imagined or virtual

They can bring joy

Happy birthday Birthday to . . . Me

I turn golden this year and celebrated with my forever soulmate. Years ago, I did not anticipate celebrating the day with a group of 2 :). It is happy, nevertheless. We had a weekend get-away to a city nearby, in a hotel, and eating out twice a day in selected restaurants we managed to get reservations at. We are grateful we were able to do this.

Another time, we spent the evening with a vaccinated couple with wine tasting and dinner while we join a Zoom get-together with other wine-taster couples and the Wine producers in California (if that's what you call them). We had good bottles of wine - Zinfandels and champagne of some brands I did not think I would have tried.

This afternoon, we had my volunteer meeting via Zoom talking about our fundraising  to benefit a scholarship and COVID victims. Then, we played BINGO online. It was a good way to end our rather serious meeting.

I feel grateful for good food, volunteers, my husband, my friends, and all the mediums we use more often than two years ago to get around the inconveniences of the pandemic.

Comfort

I harvested some greens from my indoor hydroponic planter. The greens can't get fresher than these, harvested right from my dining room. They are perfect with the Costco-size beef and pork. 

I cooked six dishes. Most left-overs will be frozen for later like after-work dinner when most times, we are too exhausted to cook.

I am grateful for the memory of cooking comfort I remembered from childhood in the Philippines--peanut stew, adobo, pork chops seasoned with lemon pepper, and sour soup. 

I am grateful for the recipes readily available from the internet, the oven, instapot, and air fryer. I was able to cook 6 dishes in 2 hours, preparation time included. You'd think I was in a cooking contest under time-pressure. Only the judges (my family) are more forgiving and very appreciative of my cooking.

I am grateful for the simple things I get to enjoy with my family--walking outdoors, however cold, before the snow hit--picture taking, and watching TV together.

I am even thankful for a friend and a co-nurse who is finally resting after two-month hospitalization from COVID. She must be in heaven.

Until next time.

Visit

Surrounding 

Visiting

Spending time with the people you love

Takes a chunk of your time

Yet the pay off is worthwhile

I did these just yesterday and the day before

While the days were bright, no rain, no pour

So today it’s wet and we could not go out 

I am thankful we did as we all look up

New Year 2021 Gratitude

Welcome to my first post in the New Year 2021. Most of my off days are still spent indoors. It is cold outside. 39 degrees in Colorado. With still some social distancing, I still have many things to be grateful for this second wave of COVID.

• A family member was hospitalized in December but released in early January in better health.
• The COVID population in my hospital is low.
• I completed my 2/2 COVID immunization. It is something to be thankful for being in Tier 1A as I work in the intensive care unit.
• A working fireplace to sit close to - at home.
• A pedicure service for me and my daughter (and a cheese grater for callus removal *laughing out loud*)
• Chair massager at home to go home to after a long day at work.
• My family loves the chair, even little Josiah who is not even two.
• Funny Josiah whatever he does. He eats like a dog with a spoon and fork in his hands. Who needs those spoons and forks? They are just props.
• Kiddie masks fitting Josiah. He does not mind much wearing it. For many things, kids are easier to train.

• Zen time painting cards for a cause (to support some COVID families). My nursing group is starting this project to sell for our fundraising.
• My coworkers still in the fight defending our patients from COVID.
• Ventilators.
• Trimmer to cut my husband's hair. He let me! 
• YouTube for hair trimming instructions. Shhh
• Cupcakes too good to eat. I ate the pearl-like thingies anyway. Delish.
• Chesla the Tesla my husband gifted me. 4 days a week I am on the road for two hours so the self-driving feature on the highway helps a lot and decreases my stress driving.
• Audiobooks to listen to while on the road.

Christmas Gratitude 2020

I will keep this short as I will miss the posting deadline. We are grateful for what we have. My little grandson has not fully realized it yet as Santa carries him. 

Overdue Gratitude

Hello, hello. I am here after two months. I have been meaning to write my gratitude but did not get myself to sit down and actually type and post it. My daughter turned 21, an adult but still young at heart and spirit. She is my forever baby and youngest and smallest. 

We celebrated 2020 style, just me and her in Estes. We stayed in a condo with a nice view. The place was by the stream and the water was not all frozen yet. We could hear the water flowing with its relaxing nature sound. We walked outdoors in with the cold breeze. Surprise, surprise, we were the only ones outdoors. The masks, I must admit, felt good to wear as our breath, at least, bouncing back on our face felt warm.

Paul and I celebrated our two-months anniversary in a neighboring state and ordered takes-outs. We hang out (in?) ate, drank, and talked. The drive was beautiful passing by packs of rams unsuspecting of the cars passing by.

We finally got our professional wedding (and video) shots. They are all beautiful in my eyes. The memories are even more beautiful and the photos are great reminders.

I got my first of two COVID-19 vaccines. I have never been so excited about a shot in my life for myself. But here I am, forced to sit down a day after. I have chills, fatigue, and left arm pain worse than after getting a flu shot. Whatever I am feeling, it is still better than getting sick from the gruesome COVID like my patients suffer from. 

Outdoor with Leaves (and Fire)

the trailer making experiment--

the texts are random, 

and we are not in Mexico. :)

In the unique climate of Colorado with cool morning and eves but up to the 80's-warm during the day, my vegetable garden seems confused about the weather. Should they strive or give up? The tomatoes and eggplants seemed to stop growing. The thermometer changes in such a wide range. The leaves continue to fall but not all at once. 

I took it upon myself to make raking and blowing leaves my Saturday workout donning a headcover, glasses, mask, long sleeves, and long pants. I must look suspicious with a powerful weapon--the leaf blower only to be defeated by the strong wind and nature the next day. By Sunday morning, it looked as though I did not clear the leaves the day before. What more? The strong wind seemed to have blown the whole blocks' neighbors' leaves to the end of the cul-de-sac, in front of my house. But at least, I had a proof--some 8 bags full of fallen leaves. Nevertheless, I have a list of gratitude to share.

• Workout from clearing the fallen leaves
• Audiobook, podcasts, and music to block the noise and entertain me while working
• Live mass online to listen to
• Fire table to warm us while eating outside in the backyard on cool autumn nights
• Smores
• One or two friends visiting after a few years
• A leaf blower, rake, lawn paper bags, and garbage day
• Proctor online to watch me take my midterm exam to the comfort of my home
• Funny shows on TV (I like Schitt's Creek, Married with Children, Friends . . . )
• Cheesecake delivery, pecan cheesecake was so good!
• Chinese food delivery
• Online shopping and delivery people
• New decors for the house Paul is sharing with me -- pillows, and wall decors stuck up high on used-to-be bare walls
• An extra (body) pillow (because Paul does not like small decorative pillows on the bed).
• Everybody in the family is staying healthy

Resistance

What resistance's about? We think we know

We watched the media, and they said so

The resistance's not fresh, but dark and deep

Let's pray from sunrise until we sleep

Whichever side we are on, our fate we own

Stay kind, do good, we're not alone

Raking Leaves

It is October and the weather and color of early Fall show some hints here in Colorado. I try to create some beauty around me to share with family and friends and use nature and circumstances as instruments of creativity.  I have many things to be grateful for. Here is my list.

• My son and family came to visit with his family. I have this backdrop in the backyard for them. He showed the kids how to rake and help clean up in the backyard to which his little boy made a face * I am not raking the leaves because you ask me to* kind of attitude. 
• Grandson later did it when not asked. :)

• We are still receiving unexpected wedding gifts even when we did not have a reception. 
• I am thankful for all the gifts and best wishes.

• Wally the dog earns his certificate for dog training 101 (online). 
• I thank him and the trainer for the video training. He learned to close the door, "stay" longer, and be better with "leave it." Human dad Paul is teasing us that we bought Wally's diploma. We did not!
• Nuts from the employee recognition team for staff. 

• Paul is (kinda) letting me slowly decorate the house. It was such a "man house" and so naked of decor. It is safe to start outside.
• Family pictures. Grandson is more interested in looking at the backdrop than being a part of it for photos. :)

• Free flu shot from work.

• My friends, family, and I are keeping healthy.

Read about gratitude from other bloggers here.