Life at a "Swell's" pace

🠊 Crystal Springs, Arkansas

April 9 and April 10 we drove to my brother's new house he just bought. He had signed papers on the house a few days before and hadn't moved in yet. We got a tour of the house and the property, as well as the shop building on the property. It was in a good neighborhood, and that is one of the pluses, in our opinion. We sat on the back deck and waited for my sister and brother-in-law to arrive. Before we left my parent's house with my dad, we drove to Lake Hamilton School that morning to see how much the school has expanded. I graduated from Lake Hamilton and it didn't look anything like when I went to school there. I couldn't believe how much the school has even grown since I moved from Arkansas 20 years ago. After we spent the day with my dad, we headed back to my parent's house where my mom was making my favorite, chicken and dumplings. We all sat around my parent's dining room table catching up and enjoying the evening. We all still were talking about the eclipse and how incredible it was to watch together. (The sign below is a sign that still stands on the road my parents live on. It reads, "Crystal Springs Mercantile and Café" that my mom once owned in Crystal Springs. It was bittersweet to see it.)

On April 11 we went for a bike ride with my dad and sister on the Hot Springs Creek Greenway Trail and through areas of Downtown Hot Springs. It was a nice ride and a good time to spend with our dad. Downtown Hot Springs looks the same as I remember. I wish I could get home more, but living in Oregon it's hard. I am glad we were able to fit in this many days to visit.

On April 12 we cleaned up the bus and threw away trash, wiped down surfaces, and organized clothes and food. We ended up leaving a few things with my parents because they didn't work out on the trip. One of the items was a freezer basket we bought at a yard sale that we were using for sodas, but the amount of space it took up wasn't feasible. My mom said she would find something to use it for. We also let the ducks swim in my dad's pond and my dad said it was the first time that any ducks have been in the pond. Just knowing our ducks were the first made me really happy. My dad had a smile on his face while they were swimming around, and that made us even happier to see that. Later in the day we went to the kid's baseball game. My nephews and my brother did a great job at the game and I always love seeing kids play baseball. They always get distracted and play in the dirt, or with butterflies. It makes the games more enjoyable. After the baseball game we went to my sister's house and had dinner. Skylar and Natalie rode around on the ATV and Kendra showed me her garden, flowers, and some newly hatched birds in her birdhouse. She thinks they are Robins, but she wasn't sure. We ended the night on a good note and headed back to my parent's house for the night.

Pictured: Blakley (left), Henry (top), Harry (right), Jaxon (bottom).

Hello.

Here are five things this week.

1. This button.

Found on our eclipse road trip, I can't wait to see what I can make with it for my shop.

2. This stove.

It really came in handy while traveling.

3. This nightlight.

We are Stranger Things fans and this Hellfire Club LED light find was totally awesome!

4. This worm.

Inch worms are always my favorite. This one was hitching a ride on my Komuso Shift necklace at my parent's house this week.

5. This star.

This star was in El Paso, Texas. As we passed through on our eclipse road trip I looked across to the Mexico border. All of the people in Mexico just going about their lives just like all of us in the United States. I hate how awful humans are to other humans. We are all floating in space on a round ball, yet we can't seem to check our own egos in order to live in peace on the ball. I am glad I am raising my own son to respect all people, no matter where they are from. We have so much racism and discrimination in the United States, even in our own family, and I am just glad to know that I am putting forth into the world a good hearted, kind, caring, and compassionate human being. I wish others could see themselves through the eyes of people like us. I would like to think they would be ashamed and embarrassed by seeing their own actions.

One last thing:

This stuff has been incredible for me while we are on the road. I spray my pillows and the surrounding air. They name says it all, "this works." It helps me calm my mind and actually helps me to fall asleep faster and in a more relaxed state.

THISWORKS Deep Sleep Pillow Spray

Positive affirmations this week:

Sometimes alone time is necessary in order for our minds to be more relaxed and centered. Alone time can mean anything, from just being alone, to separating ourselves from family, or even taking time away from the internet and social media. If you are a person that is always high strung (which I totally understand), or someone that just needs a break, don't even feel ashamed at taking time for yourself and stepping away from whatever it is that is draining you. Selfcare comes in all forms, and alone time is one of those forms.

You can do this!🌈