We've taken up the trend of growing avocado trees from seed. We have been saving our avocado seeds throughout the year and trying our best to get them to root. We've has a bit of success and therefore we've planted them in small pots and then combined them into a large pot all together. They've struggled a bit, but they are growing. We haven't read about how long it takes for them to grow larger, but for now we are happy with what we've created. The plants currently share a pot with some ginger found in the back of our refrigerator a few months ago. Waiting to see what happens with that, as well.
There's different way to get them to root, but I've always found that the toothpick balanced on the top of a glass has worked best for us.
I like to wait until there's a good group of roots showing and a small sprout coming from the seed before transferring them to soil.
These are the plants that the seeds above created. This is about a year's worth of growing. There is ginger in the pot with these, but overall there's definite success with the seeds. It's kind of satisfying to know that you can eat the avocados and with a little patience allow it to continue on with life. Everything in this world has a purpose, and I feel that sometimes giving other living things a chance to continue on living, is a great way to appreciate life on a different scale.
Sugar cookies are one of the first things I learned to bake once I was out on my own. But having to ice them and decorate them, is mostly something for holidays and special occasions, unless you have the time and patience. Just having a simple sugar cookie on any day of the year, or even just a quick cookie to take somewhere, or to eat on throughout the week, is something a lot of us enjoy. Sugar cookies, just baked and left by themselves, is such a simple cookie to mix together. The key to these easy sugar cookies is to roll them in sugar before baking, without the hassle of cookie cutters, or icing. Here is my version of "Easy Sugar Cookies" that you can make any time of the year. And the best part, they're soft.
Here's how to make these easy, soft sugar cookies:
2 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp. baking power
3/4 tsp. sea salt
2 sticks butter, softened
1 1/4 cup sugar
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk
Mix dry ingredients together and set aside. Using a stand mixer, mix wet ingredients together starting with the butter. Combine butter and sugar, and add the eggs. Combine dry ingredients into wet ingredients and mix well. Form into balls, about two tablespoons for each ball. Roll in granulated sugar, or colored sprinkles, flatten just slightly and lay on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate for about 30-45 minutes, or freeze at this point to bake later.
Bake for 12-16 minutes at 350 degrees.
I would add to allow them to cool before eating, but nothing is better than a warm sugar cookie straight from the oven, so enjoy!
He is so proud to finally get a sweatshirt to the college he has been eyeing.
2. These lights.
We drove through Bend this week and as we were driving these lights caught my eye. I had to turn around and check them out.
3. This sign.
I want to believe, too.
4. This moment.
As we drove back from Bend this week a storm rolled through during our drive. We stopped at a rest stop and as Skylar and Jeff were watching the sky, it lite up so bright that both of them ran back to the car in a rush. It was good that they did, because the clouds opened up and dumped so much rain we were stuck at the rest stop for about 30 minutes before the rain let up enough to see to drive. I love moments like this. The unexpected little joys that don't hinder anything and allow you to pause for a moment and realize how small your issues are on the grand scale of things.
5. These boxes.
This week Mighty Nest, and the first box of resubscribing to Birchbox came. I had Birchbox when they first started, but ended up canceling because I had other subscription boxes that I enjoyed more, at the time. I decided to resubscribe to them because honestly, I love them, and I have a subscription box habit that I can't kick. Not yet, at least.☺
Mighty Nest was a great delivery this week. We got our boxes of bamboo toilet paper, and paper towels, as well as the Might Fix for this month. These scrub brushes are starting to earn their place in my cleaning supply bucket. They are eco-friendly and hold up under the most vigorous scrubbing. Plus, the samples that came with everything was perfect timing, as we ran out of laundry soap that morning. And, Dirty Labs smells amazing! Side note: My favorite product in the Birchbox shipment was the Beauty Protector Protect & Detangle spray. This was my go-to during my breast reduction surgery in 2020. I loved how it smelled, and I loved even more that it works!
One last thing:
This is my love post for the last Blockbuster located in Bend, Oregon. It is the last in the nation and is still overflowing with old school nostalgia. Even the smell is a core memory locked in.
Positive affirmations this week:
Listen to your supporters, not your critics, no matter who they are.
We've been running back and forth a lot this week and a quick meal has been a salad more than anything else. We have been trying to incorporate some healthy ways to make salads better and peaches have been the side of those salads a lot. Plus, they are just delicious and in season right now, too.
2. This paper.
I've been a subscriber to The Good Newspaper for almost three years now. I love seeing my name in the supporter's section of the paper. The Good Newspaper was founded in 2017 to put a spin on news being reported that was always bad, or gave people a sense of hopelessness. The Good Newspaper is always about news that brings a bit of hope to a chaotic world that we live in. It has articles on everyday life, politics, as well as world wide good changes. These articles help give a sense of purpose in the world. With every day being something negative or disappointing, The Good Newspaper is trying to hold onto the great things happening around the world that help our mental health stay grounded. The print newspaper is $8 a month and the digital edition is $5. You can sign up here and get your name added to the subscriber section of the paper, too!
3. This moment.
I just love them so much! Animals have helped me with my past trauma and abuse. All of my pets, past and present, have shown me so much love and affection that I don't think I would have turned out the way I did from my mental health issues. The love I give them they give back double. The world is such a wonderful place with animals in it. Both of them came from abusive situations, just like me. We are bonded on that aspect and we respect each other's healing. Plus, you can tell a lot of someone by how they treat animals.
4. These roses.
Our neighbors, that always do the most ridiculous stuff, built this haphazard fence to stop foot traffic through our yard. When the wind blows the fence rocks a little, so we decided to place yellow rose bushes on our side of the fence to help with the movement, and to brighten up the area. I'm looking forward to seeing them grow taller and bloom this coming spring.
5. These cover.
This magazine started coming to our house about a year ago addressed to someone else. I normally just flip through them and then throw them away. But this one, I will be keeping. I hope Jill Biden knows how much of a role model she is to women of all ages. I loved all of the first ladies, until Melania. I don't like talking politics on my blog, but she seemed to be the only first lady that didn't really know what to do. Her "Be Best" campaign is strange. I get the message, but the delivery should be better. I loved Laura Bush and Michelle Obama, and I am loving Dr. Jill Biden. I hope we continue to have great first ladies and the time of elegance hasn't ended.
One last thing:
I found these ice cube trays as was going to keep them for myself. I am working on building a bar cart and I thought these would be great additions. But, I decided to give them as gifts this year instead. Since working on the bus and deciding to maybe live in it for a time while we travel, the bar cart is being downsized. I am still going to have one on the bus, but I am working on a new strategy for it. I will share all of those plans soon.
Positive affirmations this week:
Be sure to always give yourself some positive feedback every day. These mantra cards from Dae are a good start to remind you of self talks you should be saying to yourself. These cards are
I think my favorite treat from the garden, right off the vine is cherry tomatoes. Nothing says summer more than the smell of tomatoes and the scent the vines give off. I just love it!
2. This sandwich.
Always with the Dagwood sandwiches.
3. This garden.
Our little garden always makes me so happy. Gardening and growing plants and flowers helps my mental health so much. It's a way to be in a place where people aren't talking, or saying things to me that affect me. It's also a great place to think about things without distraction. There's a lot of people, some I'm related to, that say things that hurt a lot. Through years of therapy I have realized that those people don't realize that what they say to someone has great impact. When I am in my garden area I think about those times. We all are guilty of saying things that we don't mean, and have our words come across hurtful. But not taking time to correct those words, is where the disconnect lies. Reaching out to people that you hurt, or that you feel you may have upset, is a way to grow with that person in a better way. Unfortunately, I've had to come to accept that the people that say these hurtful comments, are doing it on purpose. Mostly because, the reaching out never happened over those years. And that's okay. It's more of a reflection of them than it is me. I used to get upset, and cry for hours as to why I couldn't get these people to see me for the person I am and not the image they have of me they created, or allowed someone else to create. It hurts still, but accepting it has been a journey. Being an empath, you try so hard, even at your own expense, to mend these rifts. We try and try, but eventually, we get to a point where that attempt is not met with success and we shut that door. We don't just shut the door, but we lock it. Even through an apology, which we will accept and be grateful, we will never unlock that door again. That is where I currently am with those people. Behind a locked door wondering why, all of these years, they didn't want, or have the key. For now, I will enjoy my garden and spend time with the ones that actually walk through that door. And, Hardy is a good garden assistant likes to taste the snap peas and blueberries. Our garden therapy is good for him, too.🫛🫐
4. These boxes.
This week was a week of gifts. Nécessaire came on Monday, with the best bodywashes ever. Skylar and I love the eucalyptus scent, and Jeff loves the santal scent, but their rosemary haircare options are my absolute favorite! I do miss their metal bottles, though, so I hope they switch back soon. Kiwi Eco Box came on Wednesday and my favorite thing in the box this month is the body brush. I've been needing a new one for awhile now and it was perfect timing. And Misfits Market shipment came and this one was mostly centered around vegetables and fruits. I am looking forward to trying Misfits Market's own brand of organic peanut butter labeled Odds & Ends. We got the crunchy version this week, and it's a favorite in our house.
5. This lunch.
With the sun out and the weather not as hot, Skylar and I decided to have some lunch outside on our picnic table. Of course, where there is food, Hardy is right there to see what he gets. We just love how much he enjoys being with us. He loves us as much as we love him.
One last thing:
We love when we go to Lowe's to grab a few things needed for the bus or the house that they offer these Build and Grow Kids Project Kits from Lowe's. They are a great way to enjoy a quick and easy activity and build something that you can play with, or use. This one was a hit, because we all got to play and keep score. We all tried to beat each other's score and the quality of the activity is great. It is solid wood and actually holds up under competitive gaming that happens in our house.
Positive affirmations this week:
You still have time and you aren't too old. Remind yourself that your life matters and the end has yet to come. Keep going!
The different faces of Eleven. I've had a lot of cats growing up, and two others as an adult. Eleven is the only cat that I have had that acted human on different occasions. Her personality has been such a nice thing to have since losing my last cat, Meia. Meia was my best friends, regardless of being an animal. I believe animals come into our life, similar to humans, to help us. Eleven has helped me during some of my worst mental health days. I hope I have helped her on her hard days, too.
2. These peaches.
It's that time of year and I am loving it. In season fruits are the best right now.
3. This sunset.
West coast sunsets are the best sunsets that I have seen. The pink/red/orange skies are breathtaking. No matter where my life takes me, these are the skies that I will always talk about for the rest of my life.
4. This soap.
I have been having issues with redness on my cheeks and recently found out that it could be Rosacea. Which comes with age in some people. No one in my family has Rosacea, and a lot of times it is hereditary. I am leaning more towards it being the water in the house we are in, because of how old it is, but this rose facial soap from Dr. Botanicals has helped lessen some of that redness.
5. These sheets.
My mom gifted these sheets to Skylar when we were in Arkansas back in April. He is going to use them on his bed on the bus, once his room is completely finished. He is excited to be using them and how they remind him of where he was born. Go Hogs!
One last thing:
We have been downsizing things within our house the last few weeks and this week we took three large boxes to Safe Haven Humane Society. The same place we adopted Hardy from back in 2011. We have donated to this place for several years and with a location now in our city, it makes it so much easier to give back to a place that does so much for animals.
Positive affirmations this week:
Always been kind to your mind. You deserve the love that you give to others.
Life at a "Swell's" pace is a lifestyle and travel blog chronicling the life and travels while living in Oregon's beautiful Willamette Valley. It is mostly written by Shelly HW. Click the image to learn more»
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