Friday Already?

Hello, my friends. And Happy Friday! Do you ever feel like you want to say something like, "Stop the world, please. I'd like to get off." I mean, I would at least like to ask if it could slow down a bit! Jeesh! I remember as if it were yesterday, coming home as a teenager, popping my head into my parents' bedroom, where my dad would be acting as if he were watching TV, when we all knew he was waiting for each of us to get home before he fell asleep, and filling him in on my night. He used to tell me something at the time I couldn't understand, yet I never forgot. He told me not to wish my life away, because the older you get, the faster it goes. 

Of course, sixteen-year-old me smiled and kissed him goodnight before going off to my room to listen to my stereo and talk to my friends on my little white corded phone. We talked about an upcoming Chemistry test, prom dresses, and how many days until summer. Those days, school years lasted forever, and summer was three whole months of long, lazy days. I suppose we honestly thought they would last forever. Suddenly, I am fifty-six, with a sixteen-year-old of my own, memories of my mom and dad in my heart, and months and days that pass so quickly they feel like a dream. I keep a picture of my dad on my refrigerator and often tell him that I get it now. I do. And I think of what my mom used to say, too. Life is but a dream. So I try to remember those things in the midst of this roller-coaster ride of life. I try to slow myself and relish the small moments that make up these quickly passing days. Like these...

Madison getting me this precious bunny with a ribbon that matches my kitchen accent pwrfectly. Just because...

The beautiful pictures she and Nicolas send when they visit the ocean on a random Thursday morning...

The pictures I snap on an ordinary, cloudy day during my morning walk...

After-school wind-down time with pups that wait all day for this moment...

My ten-year-old puppy that is my shadow...

And cookies fresh from the oven...

There are so many more, like afternoon calls with Peyton on speaker, Rhett and I eating Panera DoorDash before he heads to work, Flynn and I sitting in our little schoolroom, talking, laughing, and learning, Steve taking all the puppies outside over and over, and Kyrstin organizing our evening Boggle game. Just little moments making up our ordinary lives.

And to add some lightness to all this seriousness, here are a few reminders not to take ourselves too seriously, courtesy of Pinterest. 

Happy Weekend!

And for a little treat to start off Holy Week, how about having a sundae bar for Palm Sunday? I mean, I don't need an excuse to eat ice cream, but why not, right?

Billie Jo

A Little Bit Of Easter

Well, the leprechauns and shamrocks are packed away, and cute little bunnies have taken their place. Steve brought me some pretty tulips, and Flynn baked cute and yummy cupcakes. I lit the Strawberry Bunny Shortcake candle, and just like that, Easter is here! 

I hope you have a cozy, bright, and happy spring day!

BillieJo

Monday Morning Coffee

 

Good Monday morning! I hope you had a nice weekend, whether it was outside doing spring, inside being cozy, or a combination of the two. We were at the condo this weekend, and while we stayed indoors for the most part, I did enjoy beautiful sunrises on both Saturday and Sunday.

Different days, but each beautiful in its own way. I also got some swimming in and was so thankful for the indoor pool. On both days, I was able to spend time alone, moving these old bones and clearing my head as well. Afterward, I showered and put on my housedress for the rest of the day until we had to go out. And of course, a little shadow needed to make sure I was close by.

This is my current read, and it is good. I am enjoying the steady pace and really like the characters.

I always take a quick picture to send to Madison before I go out!

Last night, we came home, got changed, and went to dinner with some friends. We ate at a new Brazilian steakhouse and had a really nice time. I was home in my jammies, face washed, toned, and moisturized by 9:30. All in all, good times.

Today, finally, I resumed my morning walk, and although the weather was overcast and cool, I felt happy to be out in the early morning again. After Mocha and I walked, I came back inside, made my coffee, threw a load of laundry in, poured my first cup, and started my prayers. Then I got my second cup, an English muffin brushed slathered with butter, and began this post. 

And that is about it, my friends. I have homeschool and laundry waiting for me, and dinner to decide. The sun is back out, and I don't have anywhere to be today.

I am looking forward to sitting down later and catching up with you! Have a cozy Monday, my friends!

Billie Jo

Scenes From A Week

I don't know about you, but March is slowly working its way up in my ranking of months. My younger self thought of March as one long, uneventful stretch of days, seemingly void of any excitement, filled with monotonous days of simply being. Today, while March itself has not changed, my feelings toward this month have evolved from disdain to complete appreciation and thankfulness. 

Young me wanted to rush through the March days, mundane as they were, and jump into a spring that would lead to summer. March was long, boring, and uneventful to a teenage me, always looking ahead to the next exciting time. Now, middle-aged me finds comfort and joy in the very same days I once found boring and simple. I am loving this month, sandwiched between the rush of the holidays and their aftermath and the business of long summer days. I am thankful for the days that follow one another without too much thought of what comes soon, because for me, March is fairly empty of commitments. While I know it is temporary, and April will bring a calendar filled with events, I am hunkering down in this wild, weather-filled, transitional month of March.

So what did this week look like around here? Aside from the St. Patrick's Day festivities, not much. Which, as you probably know, is perfectly alright with me.

Flynn and I worked on empirical formulas in Chemistry, and I remain grateful for my attentiveness to this subject some forty years ago.

Ask me to watch college basketball any other time, and I will politely decline. March Madness, however, is a whole different ballgame. Pardon the pun. I love watching it, perhaps because I enjoy getting to know certain players and their stories. Plus, I love rooting for the underdog. 

And how special is it when your son's girlfriend surprises you with a delicious iced coffee while you are watching the basketball tournament? Very. Thank you, Kyrstin!

A fun fact about me is that I have streaks with food. I can eat a certain thing for lunch for days on end, and then, for no apparent reason, I change course to something completely different. Case in point: I had been eating noodles and milk for several days now, which is a bowl of comfort consisting of noodles, hot milk, butter, salt, and pepper that my mom used to make. Yesterday, out of the blue, I decided I wanted a salad. No reason. But it was good.

Also, yesterday, Madison took Flynn so they could both get their hair done. I am so thankful that Madison loves doing that, and they have so much fun together. Speaking of fun, Flynn decided to go red for summer, and she loves it! While I was skeptical, I have to admit, I truly do think it looks great on her, and her happiness makes me love it even more. Sometimes, letting go and loosening the reins is difficult, but essential for our children to grow. And as my momma used to say, "That is their job...to grow!" My job? Roots and wings, right?!

Well, that is about it for this week. We are heading to the condo for the weekend, which will most certainly include basketball on TV, reading on the beach, Mass, and some good food. I hope you have a wonderful weekend, my friends. I will leave you with a few pictures I came across recently that have no context, except to say they make me laugh!

Happy Weekend!

Billie Jo