A Tale with Tails

Hi Friends!

I hope you all are well! Spring has sprung here in KC and it’s making for some gorgeous walks these last few days.

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Every spring I’m fascinated by this tree trunk!

We were able to have a family gathering outside at Mike’s parents for Palm Sunday. My mother in law was so happy to have her children, grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren over for an egg hunt! We really missed having Tess and Manuel there but look forward to a huge family gathering later in the year.

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Miss Kate down over 100 lbs!!

Our Easter was unusual but wonderful. While I drove my dad to Bella Vista, Arkansas to visit his sister and her husband and some friends for the weekend, Mike drove his parents to Winchester, Kansas on Easter morning to visit his moms sister and a few extended family members. Typically Mike and I spend Easter in Winchester with Mikes incredibly large catholic family for a pot luck dinner. We look forward to being able to do that again! It was great to be able to drive my dad and spend time catching up and visiting family. We spent the morning sipping coffee on the sun porch watching the birds, squirrels and deer have breakfast and the evening sipping wine watching them all have dinner. Their backyard view is gorgeous.

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It’s been so nice outside I was excited to host a little Birthday Happy Hour for a girlfriend on our deck this past weekend. She turned 50 this week and a celebration was in order! I’ve made small charcuterie trays before, but I must say, I out did myself here! lol I do miss entertaining and I’m looking forward to being able to do that this year! There were only six of us but I think I made a board for 20!

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A Tale with Tails

While preparing the deck for the Happy Hour, I also decided to pull out the cushions for our patio furniture incase we decided to sit in the sun on the patio. I discovered evidence of mice in the area where we are storing our cushions. Droppings, okay, like lots of droppings.

On Monday I decided I needed to completely clean out the new storage area under out deck. One at a time I was removing items and putting them in the yard. Yard tools, wagons, the mower, etc. At the back of the storage area Mike built a shelf to store the cushions on. I had now removed all the cushions one at a time, waiting for a little mouse to jump out at me. I was talking loud the whole time hoping to scare them out and I would never see one. I said loudly things like, “You’re not welcome here”, “This is not your house!” “Pease leave” and “Please, please do not jump out at me!” It was time to pull out my hammock, which I store rolled up. I grabbed the hammock. The one hand doesn’t grab well so basically I had the hammock under my arm and against my body. I then quickly tossed it into the yard. As it landed, mice scattered. DYING!!!! Remember when I got locked in that storage area just a couple of weeks ago and I ended up kicking open the door because I knew if I saw a mouse or a snake, I would freak?? Well turns out I was down there with a whole dang family of MICE!!

So, daily I’m thinking about mice and what more do I need to do keep them away.

What would this blog be without a good story?

You’re welcome.

Spring Fun!

Our youngest grandchild, Kapri, turned ONE Tuesday and I enjoyed some time celebrating her at a park with five of the grandkids plus one extra kiddo. Sunshine. Playground. Waterfall. And an adorable little 1 year old that apparently cries more than her three siblings cried in their combined infant hood. lol

I don’t believe it but Mom says it’s true.

Happy Birthday Kapri!

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Yesterday I enjoyed another beautiful sunny spring day at the Arboretum. Lots of trails and birds and sunshine! If you are local you absolutely must head out there for a gorgeous walk!

Mike and I watched Manuel propose to Tess on this bridge there in 2017. Ahhhhh……memories.

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Food

I was in the mood for comfort food that was easy but something different. When I came across this recipe for a Squash & Ground Beef Curry, I had most of the ingredients and decided to give it a try. I used ground turkey instead of beef and frozen butternut squash instead of acorn squash and I made this in a skillet, not the slow cooker. This was exactly what I was wanting. Different. Easy. Healthy! There’s actually no curry in it, but the 9 spices that are in it made such a great flavor!

Slow Cooker Squash & Ground Beef Curry served over caulirice.

Still over here enjoying eggs and avocado. Filled this omelet with sautéed spinach and 1 slice of bacon crumbled. Who loves a Cara Cara Orange?? Me!! They are SO sweet!

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Yep. More eggs and avocado. Now on a turkey burger with a side of sweet potatoes. I like to bake a sweet potato until barely fork tender, then slice and finish in the skillet with a little Olive Oil. Burger and fries right here.

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Self Care

I’ve been struggling a bit these last few months. My WW job over the last few years has made me feel like I had a purpose. With so many workshops during the week, I had an opportunity to help people, encourage people. Now with only two workshops a week, I find myself with a lot of free time. With Covid and less interaction with family and friends in person, then the ongoing thumb surgeries and complications, I was spending too much time in my head and starting to feel really down, like I lost my purpose. I scheduled an appointment with my therapist. She’s always on call (her name is Hope and she is amazing!) and I’ll go months, years, with no need to see her, but when I do feel the need to make an appointment, she always guides me in the right direction. Based on what I’m feeling, she recommended this book and it has been SO helpful!

Edith Eger is an Auschwitz survivor and a professional therapist. She became an author in her 90’s! How inspiring is that?

My therapist explained how people can struggle and feel worthless without extreme things happening, like being an Auschwitz survivor, but that the pain is still worthy of attention. That is exactly how Edith writes this book. Addressing struggles and how we have the power to make the choices that can help us move forward.

Highly recommended.

“It doesn’t take courage to strive for perfection. It takes courage to be average. To say, I’m okay with me. To say, good enough is good enough.” Edith Eger

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Until next time!

“Love the ice you live, live the life you love”