Easter Sunday on the porch...

 What is the best thing you have going on in your life at the moment? 

My daughter’s children are in their teen years. They are intelligent. vivacious, brilliant people. I feel like they have so much to give to me. They are willing to share their lives with their Gran. It is so much fun to discuss what they are reading, first jobs  and first cars. Dreams and their future plans. After a year of not traveling I have been able to travel to see them. Florida last week and Texas next week. I appreciate my girls in Escanaba as well. They are maturing right before my eyes. It keeps me young. 

Easter Sunday was quiet compared to other years. We shared supper with our Escanaba daughter and her girls. Good food and good company. And chocolate. A pie with the last apples I picked in Isabella in the fall. 

Day 3 on my porch...

 What does your inner voice tell you? 

Wow, these questions are hard. Really making me dig deep. 

My inner voice says “Listen to me, for a change.” If I listen carefully I hear, stop feeling anxious about aging, mortality. It will happen no matter how much I drag my feet. Being quiet and thinking tells me to take each day, each minute as it comes. Enjoy my little life. 

I rode my bike with Haven today. Visited Cammy and girls. I told her how lucky she is to live with teens. They are so smart and creative. “Your big dream bags are all packed up and ready to go.” Morgan Wallen Haven’s quote for the day . Dream big  my girl. She has so much to look forward to. I love their youth.

I cut hubby’s hair today. I have been cutting it for a year. I never cut hair before. Thanks, YouTube. 

Sunshine on the porch...

 What do you hope everyone has the chance to figure out in their lifetime? 

I hope everyone figures out a way to accept love. Connection with another person. Intimacy. Figure out how to be kind to the people who are in your life. It will enrich you. 

I read a lot. In almost everything I read the underlying story is about seeking connection with other people. 

Saturday before Easter. Sunny and 43 degrees. Spring might be in the air.

My hubby makes a fab cup of coffee for me every morning. He sets out a plate of strudel and eggs. All I did yesterday was comb my hair and put on lipstick. He told me how great I looked. I feel loved and cared for. I hope I give that back.

Two hours off my daily post...

 If you can complete one important task this week what would it be?  It is important to me to do a blog post every day until my 70th birthday. I already missed my second day by two hours. I’m now writing at 2a.m. to make it up. So my task this week is to blog each day. I can do it.

This is a random question from 75 questions to ask yourself. 

I am listening to Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi. Bonnie Turpin the reader is so good thatI wonder if she makes the book better than it actually is. Read Harder, 2021. Read a book that demystifies a common mental illness. Read with Jenna. She picks good books. Reese Witherspoon picks some good reads and some really awful reads. 

I have cleaned and dusted the house for Easter. Baked an apple pie. Made Hasselback potatoes for supper. I really do enjoy cooking for my family. It is on my list of favorite things to do. 

April Fool’s Day on the porch...

 

First birthday dinner of the celebration at Squid Lips. Yes, that is the name of a restaurant. Made the Daily Press with Aunt Joanie at a high school basketball game. 

I set my Easter table with my wedding china and my Mother’s wedding silverware. Shopped at Saykyllys hand made candy store for chocolate rabbits, fish, moose and cats for the kids. Double dipped malted milk balls for the adults. A traditional Easter dinner on Sunday with my oldest daughter and family. 

Today is barely (1am) the first day of the last month of my 60th decade. April 29th will be the first day of my 70th decade. I just read in AARP magazine that one’s 70th birthday is a shot to the throat. I wonder what that means? 

Question from the last page of Vanity Fair, I read it for the articles. Also there is a pair of slippers in the magazine for $6,400.  Ok, back to the question “What is your current state of mind?” Anxious. I am thinking about my mortality. 70 for god’s sake. I enjoy my life. I love so many people. My ten Grands. How could I ever leave them. My daughters, my hubby. My friends have mostly died by 70. I would like to live forever. The song by Jason Isbell-If We Were Vampires is my battle hymn. Listen to the lyrics carefully. Sums up the story of my life.

I am going to start a health and wellness program tomorrow. April Fool!

Another Birthday from my porch

 2/29/21

So here we go again. Another decade has faded into the ether world. I think that is a place. I hope so. Otherwise where have my years gone? I was just writing my last month of my fiftieth decade before I turned 60. I am now going to blog every day of the last month of my 69th year before I start my 70th decade. Who knew I would live so long. 

I am obsessed with reading challenges. I love reading whatever my teens are reading in school. Booker Prizes, Pulitzer fiction and biography, Women’s Book Prizes. I like the Proust Questionnaire. I have already read what I think will be my best books of 2021. Shuggie Bain and Hamnet. I am working on The Read Harder Challenge as well as the Pop Sugar Challenge and the Advanced PS Challenge. 

I plan on riding my bike 🚲 again as soon as it stops snowing... 

I have weathered a pandemic. Developed a case of agoraphobia. Taken the Covid vaccine. I feel younger than 70. Not sure if I look younger. 

This is just an intro to 70. My last month in this decade starts on April Fools day. Is this a joke? No, I think not. 

Book Challenges 2020

 

I completed The Pop Sugar Challenge and The Read Harder Challenge this year. Finished before midnight December 31st. 

The best book I read this year was On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong. The Other Americans by Laila Lalami and East of Eden by John Steinbeck were a few other five star reads. A reread of Salvage the Bones was amazing again. Valentine, Hidden Figures (so much better than the romanticized movie) Writers and Lovers by Lily King,  Nothing to See Here. So many good reads. It astonishes me that every year I find amazing books to read. I am so very picky. I have good luck with the Booker Prize long list. The National Book Award list and The Women’s Prize for Fiction. I already finished a book for 2021’s challenge. 2020 winner of the Booker Prize. #ShuggieBain by Douglas Stuart. I think it will be the best book I read in 2021. 

Wow, this has been a tough year. Covid has hit close to home. Prevented me from seeing our children. No football or plays or track and X-country. No concerts or sledding or swimming. Isolation and loneliness. Thankfully I have had a good partner for quarantine. My husband stays positive no matter how dire the news. 

I watched ( %#%#) the Netflix fireplace constantly while I wrote out Christmas cards, decorated my tree worked a very difficult Christmas jigsaw. Now I want a real fireplace! 

Looking forward to a better year. Happy New Year.