Hi Friends!
I hope you are all enjoying your spring and have had the opportunity to spend some time with family and friends as we move into 2021 with a little more hope of getting back to the lives we knew pre-Covid.
These last couple of weeks have felt like 2019 for me and it was soooo nice! Camping, dining out, time spent with friends and an upcoming vacation in a few weeks. It feels like life is moving forward verses the Chevy Chase Groundhog day it was imitating.
How about you? Is life moving forward for you? I hope so! Even if it’s just a few small steps.
My 11 year old granddaughter accompanied me and Effie to the lake recently to camp. It was Effie’s first time out this year and she did not disappoint!
Amiyah entertained herself with a glider that didn’t want to glide while I set up camp then watched over our Campfire Nachos Friday night.
Night one was a success, minus the glider gliding. I did one side of the pan for me and the other for her with different chip and topping options. I brought cooked taco meat and plugged in my mini crock pot when we got to camp. This made for a fun and easy dinner. The chips get warm and crispy over the fire.
S’mores (On Fudge Striped Cookies! Thanks Steph for this genius idea!) are required while camping. I did convince Amiyah to taste a toasted vs a charred marshmallow, and she claimed to be a fan. However, watching marshmallows catch on fire proves to be awesome entertainment!!
Saturday morning was chilly but we bundled up and with hot chocolate and coffee in hand, spent the morning at my favorite spot and skipped rocks. She’s a natural.
The sun eventually peeked out late in the day and she was way more entertained with the hammock than I realized was possible! This girls got tricks! I discovered a pizza place close to the state park, so we ordered a pizza for dinner. Pizza while swinging in the hammock around the fire? That works. Night two a success as well.
She is such a good sport and willingly goes along with any idea I come up with. We spent a little time inside playing games, one of the things I fantasized doing with the grandkids the day I brought Effie home. I remember playing Yahtzee when I was around this age with my grandma in her camper, so doing this gave me all the feels. When I pulled out the score sheets, the first one I saw had my grandmas name on it. She passed away about 12 years ago. Spending this time with Amiyah in my camper made me just a tad sentimental. We also got in a mini Jenga game, checkers and some watercolor fun outside.
Mornings were quiet curled up in Effie.
Planning our day……..enjoying the lake view out the back window.
Lots of girl chat around the campfire.
After two nights together, Amiyah went home on Sunday and my friend Renee joined me late Sunday afternoon for two nights with her ginormous Class A (this campsite is less than an hour from home, so super convenient) and if the two of us were not a pair parked beside each other! Effie is about a third the size of her big rig.
Renee and I have been friends for over 30 years. She is one of those people that has always inspired me to step outside of my comfort zone and try new things. Camping side by side and sharing our completely different camping experience was so much fun!
While Amiyah and I spent most of our time in coats and hats in some cooler temps, Renee and I enjoyed sunshine and no sleeves and some warmer weather! Talk about a few days filled with variety!
This has become one of my “go to” camp meals. Salmon (I fixed it in the cast iron skillet over the fire) with asparagus. I put everything in the aluminum pan to keep it warm and then Renee and I ended up just grabbing forks and eating out of the pan! lol
Early mornings inside with coffee or evenings around the campfire sipping wine. Not sure which one I like the most.
I was home from camping on Tuesday just in time to unload Effie and shower before attending a cooking class with a friend of mine. This particular evening was all about Anti-Inflammatory cooking. I learned a few things and enjoyed being out and about. This little Culinary Center is in the heart of Downtown Overland Park, Kansas and it is just as cute as can be. Chef Gary prepared for us Guacamole, Salmon Cakes with Dill Sauce, Black Bean and Quinoa Beef Chili and Pumpkin Cheesecake. He answered questions as he prepared each dish and it was fun to do something a little different. The salmon cakes were awesome!
I even snuck in a mini garage sale Saturday morning. The neighborhood was doing the annual garage sale and I literally had four large items in the basement that needed to go! I was in the driveway shortly after 7:00 with coffee in hand and my items were gone by 9:30.
Saturday Mike and I went with some friends to a neighborhood bar down the street that opened a few months back. This particular location has had the worst luck with a successful bar/grill, but this place actually opened during 2020 and is thriving! The patio outside is large, great atmosphere and the menu had a lot of tasty options on it! We shared four apps with our friends, so it was an app kinda night , but I look forward to going back and working our way through the menu.
We were there on Saturday and unknowingly got to watch the Kentucky Derby. Wished I realized it was Derby Day, I love a good hat!!
Food
Still keeping things pretty simple here food wise but here are two recent recipes I made and recommend them both!
Sheet Pan Chicken with Veggies
The sauce on this was soooooo yummy! Will be making this again soon for sure.
Ranch Roast over Cauliflower Mash
This was super easy and included instructions for Instant Pot or Crock Pot. I did the Crock Pot cuz ya know, I’m still afraid of that dang Instant Pot, but this was better and better each day after making it! For the leftovers, I served it over a bag of Green Giant Caulirice.
The next two weekends we will have grandkids as their parents are also getting back to socializing and have a few trips planned, so I’ve got some meal planning to do that needs to work for Mike and I and little ones!
Self- Care
I’m doing PT three times a week right now for the thumb to break up this dang scar tissue that has developed. I was a little worried I wouldn’t be able to hook up the trailer, unhook the trailer and set up camp, but I was able to do it all with just a few adjustments. My thumb bends right now at about 10 degrees and the hope is to get it to about 20, so while it feels weird, it’ll work. It’s still incredibly swollen and weak and I think I’m fighting a flare up of the auto immune crap going on in my body. My weight is slowing creeping up and I can’t seem to stop it. I know that is going to get to me and affect my mood.
I’m currently reading two books that are helping with some recent struggles, but just when I start to feel better mentally, I pull something out of the closet and realize that it is too tight to wear and that negative self talk creeps back in. We leave in a few weeks for a beach vacation, so not really digging this body right now. Trying hard to remember to appreciate it for what it CAN do and not so much about how it looks and feels. That’s hard.
Both books have been extremely helpful recently. The Gift has some great exercises around the “choices” that we make. Some big “aha moments” in here. Good Morning, I Love You is all about mindfulness and habits and how we train our brain according to what we spend our time thinking about. Very interesting!
Both highly recommended if your’e struggling right now in any areas of life.
The last paragraph on the first photo and the first paragraph on the second photo are great examples from the Good Morning, I Love You book.
“How you focus your mind can change the physical structure of your brain!”
These books pair well with a long bath and either of these two items.
Monthly reminder!
Now, go feel those tata’s for any lumps, bumps, or anything unusual. Look for any dimples or changes in skin color. Make a monthly self breast exam a part of your wellness journey. Put it in your calendar on your phone. Tell you friends and family to do the same. Feel or see something unusual? Call your doctor. It could change your life!
Sending all of you a great big hug!
Comment and share what you’ve been up to this spring!
Until next time!
“love the life you live, live the life you love”
Jennifer, your comments always make me feel so good. Thanks so much for taking the time to share your thoughts on my blog post. 😊❤️We were at Ironhorse bar and Grill at 151st and Nall. Great menu! Great atmosphere! Live music regularly. Maybe I’ll see you there?
Such a great camping getaway! That little 11-year-old is like your 30-year-old BFF! Willing to do whatever, whenever.🥰 thanks for reading Diane! 😘
How fun camping with your granddaughter and what wonderful memories you are making! Thanks for all the pictures that share your story, feelings, and struggles. I love reading your posts!
Would love to know the name of the place you went to with friends. The outdoor area looks wonderful!
What a treat to catch up on your week, and especially your camping getaway with your granddaughter! Who is BEAUTIFUL, by the way. Can’t believe she’s only 11! It sounds like the two of you had the best time, and I loved all the campfire/food photos. You are the best grandma! (Or is it Gigi?) Effie must have been beaming with the two of you all weekend. And the photos of Effie with the ginormous RV in the background was a hoot! But how fun for you and your friend to hang out that way. I also love your posts, Julie. Thanks for taking the time to share with all of us!