Indoors or Outdoors?

Indoors or outdoors? These choices are as easy to answer like paper or plastic? We answered outdoors, of course. While we can and while it's available.

The weather is decent this week we got to have the top down for a little bit while driving to Steamboat Springs and breathe (mostly, I hope) fresh air. The experience is so freeing unlike wearing a face mask inside a store, for example. 

I thank God, for the beauty of nature we can still enjoy. I thank God for our health that we can still hike a little bit and get to see the falls. 

We have harvested a few tomatoes untouched by the birds. Perhaps they are really afraid of Mr. Scare Owl especially that he looks scary after the ugly feathers I attached to him. :) Thank you, Mr. Owl.

I am having another batch of donations as I unpack more belongings from my move. I am thankful I am lucky enough to have some extras to share.

I am happy to find little plants for the fairy garden. 

With the 4th set of grow lights, my indoor plants are perking up. Perhaps in two weeks, I would have some lettuce to harvest.

I hope you all choose to be happy next week the best that you can.

August Thankfuls

It is August first. It is my mother's birthday. We would have been celebrating in Las Vegas today and having a reunion but because of the current circumstances of doing our part to keep each other healthy, we canceled the get-together. We celebrated in spirit and togetherness via Messenger video. 

Here's my gratitude list.

• A visit from my son in my new home. He stayed a bit and we talked and ate together. Just the two of us.
• My reservation in a nearby city went through however last-minute. It will be nice to get away but not have to fly to a new area. It has been months since I did something for fun away from home. I will be doing short hikes with Paul. The patio picture is a little glimpse of the place.
• A picture from 2018 with my mother in Vegas. We went swimming. It was a good day on her birthday week.
• My grandkids greeting their great-grandma with a video.

• This week's humble harvest and the near future's.

• Support from Lettuce Grow where I got my planter. I don't think my plants are growing fast enough. They gave me some tips. One more grow light. I don't see a lot of difference so far from weeks 1 to 3.
• A new hobby that makes me smile--miniature garden. It is a sort of fairy garden without the fairy. I want to use little animals instead.
• 8 days off from work. 
• My daughter and daughter in law helping me do my last boxes of packing.
• My family in the Philippines for making my mother happy on her colorful birthday.

Indoors

Hello. Another week has passed, and another opportunity has come for me to reflect on things to be grateful for. But looking at 3 years ago, I am reminded of a riveting experience but is so amazing for me--a live show. My favorite is the performance by Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas. I first saw this group in Denver. I am drawn to their story and acts as they gracefully move from swing to swing, suspended in the air most of the time, or "acrobatting" in big productions platforms, sinking ships, or whatever their plot is as I hold my breath most times hoping they keep themselves safe. Their performance is flawless. I am glad I got to see their shows twice. 

This week is supposed to be my family's reunion in Las Vegas for my mother's birthday. She cannot fly overseas because of restrictions. We want to keep her healthy. I am grateful enough for her health and that no one in our family is severely affected by it healthwise.

As we take things kinda slow and mostly indoors, here's the rest of my "thankfuls:"

• I am thankful for indoor plants that do not only add color in the house but clean air.
• Have you heard that it is good to have a minimum of 1 plant to every 100 square feet of your home for air purification? Whether that is a myth or a fact, my hydroponic tower alone has 36. With my other plants, I have at least 51 for a 2,400 square feet home. I am thankful for the probable-cleaner-air in the house.
• I am thankful that many of my indoor plants are hardy and low maintenance. Watering once a week is very doable.

• My hydroponic planter and seedlings are doing well. The left is about two weeks old, the right is one week old. 
• I harvested two tomatoes. They are perfect. 
• I have more eggplants, cucumbers, and peppers coming.
• The potato plants I grew from old store potatoes are doing well. I added more soil to mountain them. (My $17 potato seeds I bought has not produced seedlings yet).
• Yummy shakes delivery to our door.
• Mealtime app to guide me on what meals to prepare with free grocery service. I just have to pick up the groceries while waiting in the parking lot. The veggie burrito bowl was so delish!
• Pick up service for donating items we do not use anymore.
• Good pup app dog training service. Wally, my border collie improved so much and not barking on every living thing passing on the street. I like the app so much, I will gift a subscription to my son who just got a puppy.

That is all for now until next week.