Monday, July 30, 2012

good stuff again...

Life is good. It really truly is. So why do I feel this funk coming on? I'm fretting too much over the fact that summer is flying by and I'm not getting nearly as much school prep done as I need to. I've fumbled the ball yet again in not keeping up with blog reading and had to do the old "mark all as read" thing. (I told myself last month that blogging would have to go if I let it become stressful again, so I'd better shape up on this front--I really don't want to give up blogging.) I am sick to frickin' death of feeling so scatterbrained and unable to concentrate, sick to frickin' death of hurting physically (though I'd take that any day over mentally/emotionally hurting), sick to frickin' death of being so. damn. tired. all. the. time.

So yes, to remind myself how good life is, it's time to indulge in a little funk-busting and put together another list of good stuff. It seriously ought to be a weekly requirement for me as it does my mind a lot of good.

*Reading a couple chapters of A Hero for Wondla with Max this morning. God, I love reading with that kid.

*Having my *favorite* summertime supper last night--baked potatoes, corn on the cob, salad made with greens fresh from the garden, and slices of watermelon.

*Getting closer and closer to having our reading room in a usable state. Might even have pictures to show later this week.

*Even though we weren't able to get everything planted in the garden that we wanted to this year, what we did get planted seems to be doing well. *knocks on wood*


The radishes have come and gone now. They were huge and delicious. We're eating lettuce greens like crazy at the moment. This is a good thing.


Looks like we'll be eating our first kohlrabi by week's end. Can't even express how happy this makes me.


We've got carrots that are looking big and bushy, but I've no earthly clue when we should pick them as this is the first year we've ever grown them. :P And we've got buttloads of tomatoes growing now...in a few weeks I suspect I'll be canning, canning, canning. Still no blossoms on the beans or peppers though, both of which got in the ground a little later than planned.

*Gray had a friend sleep over last night, and they have been amazingly non-rambunctious. *knocks on wood again*

*We went and ordered new appliances (stove, fridge, and chest freezer) over the weekend. Nothing fancy. Just appliances that will actually work (or so we hope anyway :P ). We had set money aside from selling our house for this and other expenses of the move, but it is fast disappearing. In a sense, that's a good thing, because it means we're getting some things done around here.

*Our butterfly bush. It's not that I think it's the most gorgeous plant alive or anything, but gosh golly, it sure lives up to its name! I wish I'd kept a list, but I'd say we're probably in the neighborhood of about ten different species (butterflies and moths) seen on it. This hummingbird moth is one of my favorites.


*The fact that so many of you are kind enough to share the good stuff in your life. I feel such a wonderful boost of happy when I read about the good things in other people's lives. So, if you're willing...pretty please...



9 comments:

Megan said...

Don't get funked! I pretty much just leave my GR at 1000+ all the time, and just pop in when I get a chance. I've taken an even more relaxed approach to blogging this year than ever before, and have felt less guilty about it than ever before. I don't post much, but it seems there are at least a handful of people still reading and that's plenty enough for me.

I love good stuff posts. How come it's so easy to focus on the bad, but you have to work on finding the good even when there's often so much more good than bad?

Here's my good stuff...

My town fire company had its first carnival since I can remember. It wasn't big, but it *was* in my back yard and I got to eat yummy food and hang out with friends and family.

My dad and I just came back from an excellent trip to Baltimore to see the O's and the A's play. He got to see his favorite team play (and win!) in person for the first time (the A's), and I got to spend time at a great ballpark, eat lots of yummy food (is there a trend here?), and spend some quality time with my dad.

Plus, I took an extra day off of work to recover and reorganize, and that is *so* good!

And this is the longest comment ever, hope the long time it takes you to read it will hold off that funk until you forget to have it! ;-)

Jean said...

First, I have no idea what kohlrabi actually looks or tastes like, just fyi.

Good news here. Steve is rescuing a Corgi. No, Steve is not here, but the idea of a Corgi grand dog is a good thing. Last week's karate bruises on my arm have almost disappeared, though the knee bruise remains. The flowers I bought on a whim more than a week ago still look nice. Today's bread is delicious. Yeah, it's a pretty god day so far..

DesLily said...

my good news is that although the stitches are out of my foot I have to "stay off it" for a while yet... why is this good news you ask?.. why it means I don't "have to" do housework!!! I get to sit on my fat butt and watch all the olympics I want! (legitamently!)

Heather said...

I have the biggest smile on my face. It makes me so happy to see you concentrating on the good stuff. Something I could probably stand to do….

I always peek at my carrots…I don't pull them up, I just pull the dirt away from them a little bit. They don't seem to mind.

Hurray for new appliances! I'm jealous! And I love your butterfly bush! Hummingbird moths are sooooooo cool.

Eva said...

Yay for all your good things! Altho if you ever need to vent/rant, you know I understand.

My good things:
*getting to spend lots of time with my niece before she and my sis move out next month (inc going on several pirate adventures and at least one library trip a week)
*my mom gets home tomorrow night! she's been gone all month and I miss her
*Thistle bounding/leaping around the backyard like a gazelle/bunny on speed
*figuring out how to recreate my favourite melon licuado from trip to Mexico
*getting two pairs of comfy, high quality new shoes, both on excellent sale!

Debi said...

Megan,
I positively *love* your good stuff!!! And you made me think of the carnivals that our volunteer fire company used to put on when I was growing up! They were the highlight of every summer! Small town living at its finest! :) Even though I usually worked in one capacity or another much of the time because my Dad was so involved in the fire company, there was still plenty of time for fun! And yummy food!!! Oh my gosh, I hadn't thought about the "Bazaar," as it was called, in ages--so thank you!!!

Jean,
We must rectify the kohlrabi situation!!! It's one of my favorite veggies in the world! We just eat raw slices with a little salt. When you slice it up raw, it sort of looks like and has the texture of raw potato. But it far more flavorful. Not sure what to compare the taste to, but it has a little bit of a bite like a radish. Oh, you're just going to have to get up here before kohlrabi season is over to try it for yourself!!! :D Oh my gosh--and you're going to have a grandpuppy!!! Yes indeed, that is most definitely some good stuff!

Pat,
I hope your good stuff also includes an end to all the shit you've been going through lately!!! It's past time for you to catch a break, dear lady! I can't believe I haven't emailed you back yet. Anyway, enjoy every second of the Olympics!!! (Unfortunately that damn housework is still going to be there when your foot is better and the Olympics are over.)

Heather,
Thank you for the carrot advice! I should have just emailed you to start with, my gardening guru inspiration! :) And yes, those hummingbird moths are just sort of wild, aren't they?!!

Eva,
Sweetie!!!! I've missed you!!!! Just a couple days ago I was telling Rich that I *really* needed to email you. Which I still do. :) I adore your list of good stuff! HOORAY for your Mom getting home!!! But oh no! I can't even imagine how sad it must make you that your sis and niece are moving out. They're not moving too far away, I hope! And the image you painted of Thistle made me laugh out loud! Okay...off to google melon licuado because I have no idea what it is but its name alone sounds sort of heavenly. :)

Care said...

Good things in my life: cool online friends that say nice things about me, dogs in my life, my new sports shoes, the cooler temps in New England compared to the heat elsewhere, my boat, my wonderful friends who like to chat about books, modern plumbing, food in the fridge, flowers everywhere (even if called weeds), a check I know will be in the mail today or tomorrow, a full choice of stamps and stationery, electricity, a body that moves and a schedule that allows me to chose when I exercise it, my awesome hard-working husband, and... lots of things...

Care said...

Good things in my life: cool online friends that say nice things about me, dogs in my life, my new sports shoes, the cooler temps in New England compared to the heat elsewhere, my boat, my wonderful friends who like to chat about books, modern plumbing, food in the fridge, flowers everywhere (even if called weeds), a check I know will be in the mail today or tomorrow, a full choice of stamps and stationery, electricity, a body that moves and a schedule that allows me to chose when I exercise it, my awesome hard-working husband, and... lots of things...

Susan said...

Your butterfly bush is gorgeous! My blossoms on mine are just forming, still a few weeks away from blooming. I'm not sure why it's so slow this year, we've been so freaking hot all summer.

Things I am grateful for in my crazy year:
- that I've managed to read 45 books so far!
-my kids, always
-I can walk up to 2 miles again
-I have a permanent job
-I'm writing poetry and working on a story
-I'm alive
-chocolate :-)
- watching the Olympics is always inspiring and fun!