Five Simple Things (April 25)

 Hello.

Here are five things this week.

1. These muffins.

Making banana muffins instead of banana bread is a lot less of a task and easier to make. I haven't made a loaf of banana bread in years and I love the quick ease of grabbing a muffin in the morning when we head out the door. Definitely my go-to for banana bread. Now to work on perfecting the crumb topping. (Tip: Use the same recipe for banana bread, just bake them a bit lower, or higher depending on your oven.)

2. This kitty.

She was waiting on me to get up for the day. I love how she is always checking on me and making sure that I am keeping my routine. Cats love routine, and ever since I had my surgery, she has always made sure that I am okay. I love how she loves me.

3. This doggy.

This balance board comes in handy when we aren't able to go surfing. It helps keep our legs active and definitely has helped us when it comes to popping up on our boards. Hardy is getting better at it, too. 

4. This train.

We always love seeing the steam train scooting by when we are coming and going from the city.

5. This "snail."

My cream cheese on my bagel resembled a small snail. Maybe it was telling me to slow down lately. I have been running and going a lot this week, so I think I will heed that advice and slow down a bit and breathe.

One last thing:

How killer is this? You can go through NASA and have your name spelled out in Landsat satellite images. If your don't know what Landsat is, it's satellites that capture images across both visible and infrared spectrums, creating a continuous, science-grade archive of land use, water resources, and ecosystems. There are currently two satellites orbiting earth right now. The Landsat 8 (launched in 2013) and Landsat 9 (launched in 2021). I think I might get these printing in high resolution and frame them. I love how the earth looks in our names.

Positive affirmations this week:

Loving yourself and always being on your own side will help you stay on task with your healing journey. If you talk down to yourself, it will only bring you down more. Always talk highly of yourself to yourself. Saying statements like, "I am strong," "I am kind," "I am loved," and "I am enough" can help you change your own self talk, especially on days that are harder than others. You are your own best advocate to yourself. These positive affirmation and thoughts will help you love yourself, so that you can love others, too.

You can do this!🌈

Have a nice weekend.

A Walk Through Downtown Corvallis

 

With Jeff having Mondays off now we like to spend a day doing something together. We walked through downtown Corvallis, visited Sky High Brewing, and ate shrimp at The Depot in Albany, Oregon. Mondays are both of our days off, and running errands takes up a lot of the day, but I am glad we had a chance to just hang out and spend time in our own area this week.

Easter (2025)

Easter is always a pleasure in our house. I do my best to still bring the magic, even as Skylar gets older. I like to create the "illusion" that a rabbit was in our house and left footprints and small containers of jelly beans as it hopped through the house. I think I did pretty well, if I don't say so myself. Skylar told me a couple of years ago that his best memory of Easter is when I put jelly beans all through the house leading to his Easter basket. It warmed my heart that I did something that he loved and still remembers to this day. I tried my best to recreate it and I hope he enjoyed it just as much as the first time.

I also made chocolate chip cookies and created rabbits from chocolate buttons (similar to M&Ms, but without all the junk). They turned out well and were the perfect treat for Easter.

We enjoyed an Easter dinner, that I did not get pictures of, because I was enjoying the moment. We finished the meal out with some Key Lime Pie. It was a good day!🐇

Five Simple Things (April 18)

 Hello.

Here are five things this week.

1. This hunt.

We participated in the Natural Grocers Golden Easter Egg Hunt this week. They have this golden egg hunt every year, but this is the first year we've participated in it. We were afraid that we weren't going to find one, but as soon as Skylar came around the corner to where the cereal is, he spotted it. We ended up winning a $25 shopping card. It was such a cool thing to be part of. We also needed a few things, one being honey. When we went to pick the jar up it fell over in the cart and I noticed an outline of Arkansas. We picked it up and saw that the jar was made at the Arkansas Glass Corporation. Natural Grocers has a lot of products from Arkansas, and it's always nice to see things from my home state in stores in Oregon.

2. These rays.

The sun has been peeking out all week and everyone has been enjoying it, even Hardy.

3. This kid.

I have been dropping Skylar off at college lately and it's always nice to be able to still tell him to have a nice day. I also love the fact that he isn't embarrassed one bit to hug and kiss me goodbye each time. I will always be his biggest supporter in whatever he does in life.

4. These flowers.

A small bouquet with roses clipped from the rose bush in front of our house grace the fireplace mantel this week.

5. This anglaspel.

 

Given to me for free through Heirloom Art Company for being part of their insiders. It is such a wonderful, delicate thing, and we love watching it spin.

One last thing:

It's been a hectic last several months, but we are finally sending out Skylar's homeschool graduation announcements, and his Linn Benton Community College graduation announcements this week. Family and friends were excited to get them, too.

Positive affirmations this week:

Mental health issues sometimes get in the way of us showing others that they are important and loved. But, allowing ourselves to be open to others and still encouraging them helps our mental health, as well. When you need to, reach out for that support, too, but always show others that they are also supported. We can all get through these times together.

You can do this!🌈

Just a reminder:

1. National Volunteer Week is April 20 to April 26.🤝

2. International Dark Sky Week is April 21 to April 28.🌃

3. Lyrid Meteor Shower is April 21 to April 22.🌠

4. Earth Day is April 22.🌎

5. National Park Week is April 19 to April 27.🏞

Have a nice weekend.