Five Simple Things (August 8)

Hello.

Here are five things this week.

1. These mangos.

We have been dehydrating our own mangos lately. It's not as difficult as you might think. We also dehydrate the overripe ones to use in smoothies, or just to eat the same day. Wash and peel the mangos and cut the fruit into bite-sized chunks that you prefer. We use organic mangos for ours because we prefer an organic diet. Preheat your oven to 175 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and bake for four to five hours, depending on your oven. Flip the mangos every 30 minutes. They will darken and some will darken more than others. Let them cool and they should be pliable and not sticky. If they are still sticky, or seem wet in texture, place them back in the oven for another 30 minutes.

2. This repotting.

We had these Dracaena Snake Plants in separate pots, so this week I decided to combine them into one large pot. Some are taller than others and I can't wait to see how well they thrive in their shared home.

3. This update.

We are ripping out the floor of the bus this week. We are starting in smaller sections and moving slowly as we remove the vinyl flooring and the plywood subflooring. It has been a smooth process so far. Our next plan is to sand off the rust that is visible and paint and reseal any leaks in the metal. We are pleased that the rust isn't too bad except in areas you would expect on an old school bus. We will update our progress on the blog here, our Instagram, Threads, and Twitter.

4. These covers.

Along with our Jackery we purchased tire covers for No Rain the Bus. We are planning on using these when the bus is parked at homebase and while on trips.

5. These inventions.

I recently came across a short list of black inventors from The Black Inventions Museum. It's incredible the things we take for granted every day that were invented by a black woman or black man. I am so proud to know that these inventors are getting the recognition they deserve. There are so many other items, and technology invented that we use and don't realize that someone black created. The bicycle frame was invented by a man named Issac Johnson. Not to mention, Marian Croak was the first self-made millionaire in America.

One last thing:

After removing the flooring it was an unpleasant trip to the landfill. We are happy to be done with this task on the converting, though. It was dusty, noisy, and tiring. Another to-do marked off our list.

Positive affirmations this week:

Having a daily routine is one thing I have been embracing for a few years now. I am a person that thrives best on routine. A few hiccups happen from time to time, but overall sticking to the main routine helps my mental health a great deal. This image below is a guideline to help you work on getting into a routine for yourself. You can add or remove anything you need from the layout, because you are ultimately in control of your own day to day activities. Be sure to add the selfcare, or even add a few more moments of selfcare to help keep your mental health in the right place as you navigate through your day. The main routine habits you need to always have in your list are staying hydrated, moving your body, and getting enough sleep.

You can do this!🌈