September week 2 - Getting on with my September plans

I asked my older granddaughter if she wanted to go to the local bookstore Sunday afternoon and she did. She brought the gift card we gave her last Easter and got a paperback Harry Potter book 6 for herself and a book for her sister leaving a bit of money on the gift card for later. 

I ordered the book above that my library didn’t have as a start to my Fall Personal Curriculum. The description is intriguing and on target for my 76th year theme.

A thoughtful and eloquent meditation that invites us to treat life like a grand exploration and illuminates the possibilities that await us when we do - from “a philosophical adventurer - or perhaps an adventurous philosopher” (The New York Times).

Monday we took the dog on a Canine Adventure which for him was simply a ride in the car and a sniff walk around a new park. He had a big doggy smile.

I’ve been working on my Fall Personal Curriculum and enjoying the process. I’ll share soon.

And I'm thankful the afternoons have been lovely weather so we can open windows and enjoy airing out the house. 

The little stuff:

• Hubby got a car door seal strip that was dislodged to go back in place,
• He also took the kick plate off the dishwasher and found we do not have a leak despite an occasional noise from the pump so, despite the outlet for it being behind the it so not to code, we will not be replacing it now, 
• I used up some of the bounty of salsa in the frig making Spanish rice with brown rice (ok but won’t be a repeat lol), 
• It rained Tuesday (!) so I wiped down the wet car saving a $10 car wash, 
• My Pilates trainer hurt her back so no session Wednesday saving $$ but darn. Yesterday I hurt my own back bending wrong to pick up the dog’s bowl (sigh).
• Found 35 cents in a parking lot for a YTD total of $20.98 
• We gave the leftover ice cream and whipped cream to the family across the street. We were give a gag of guavas by someone else and Hubby says they are ok on yogurt. Not my favorite so he can have them all!

September Plans - Better late than never

In contemplating how I want to approach this trip around the sun, I did decide that at this point in life I do better with "More/Less/Continue" and "To Do" lists than with goals or intentions. I think my theme for this year is “Exploration and Adventures” plus of course the usual get stuff done.

I let the month get off to a slow start including 2 days feeling very tired after getting a flu shot but I want every month of this trip around the sun to count. I did get started or complete a few things.

MORE LIST

More Consistent Healthy Habits
STARTED Eat more seasonally & locally via weekly farmer's market - went 9/7

STARTED Stretching exercises, Strength building exercises - muscle & bone, Foot & ankle exercises

More "Adventures & Exploring"

- Point Reyes day trip and/or Botanical garden visit
STARTED Family focused outings - took granddaughter to bookstore

More for Others

☑️ Monthly financial donations that help "local" people and organizations - local public tv/radio & county Meals on Wheels

- Continue to babysit older granddaughter monthly on parents' date night - scheduled for September 19th

- Dog focused outings (he loves to go places)

More Self Care

- Wardrobe Upgrade/Match to Climate & Current Lifestyle Better - Buy 5+ items of seasonal clothing from a list

- Start creating a Fall "personal curriculum"  around things I enjoy/would like to learn and that has some out & about components - use AI to help design it

Home To Do List

- Touch up paint on 3 outdoor benches or at least start!

- Fix DR hutch drawer that sticks or at least try!

 

Here we go! September week 1 of year 76

I thought warm weather might have arrived and stick around for the month as September is typically quite warm here, but after a few days it went back to being cooler again. It was nice for the few days it did hang around including when we had family visiting. I actually wore a few summer dresses. now the afternoons are nice but the long sleeves and fleeces are back in the mornings.

We are still eating up leftovers from the tostada bar for my birthday dinner party and will be trying to hand off the rest of the ice cream and whipped cream as it is an occasional indulgence for us not a regular menu item. It was fun to have ice cream sundaes though and when the older granddaughter was told by her Dad that she could have whatever she wanted her eyes really lit up. She made a fancy one (we had fudge sauce, whipped cream, sliced strawberries and small cookie sticks too) but didn't go overboard. The leftover lemonade and strawberry ice cream went home with the grandkids.

Yesterday I headed off to Kaiser to get a COVID vaccine or so I thought, but they haven't received any of the new one. Fortunately I was able to get this fall's flu vaccine instead saving an extra trip. The staff is so nice at this facility - we have been pleased so far. Had my usual immune system kicks into high gear reaction and thus a long nap and no desire for anything but bland food or ice cream for dinner lol. 

Today I am off to get a haircut. Does your hair seen to grow from nice too really need a haircut seemingly overnight like mine does?

I watched a friend's YouTube video on creating her capsule wardrobe for fall in Georgia (Fall Capsule Wardrobe) and decided to start the process for myself knowing I need to buy some tops, etc. As always, watching and thinking about this reminded me of several things - I need to be sure not to go too dark given my coloring yet keep the colors I enjoy and that give me energy, I never include enough tops, the idea of planning ahead to buy a set number of clothing/accessory items (the French 5) twice a year to refresh your wardrobe is great, and I can limit my color choices each season even more than I have been. Btw, that is Hunter green next to the charcoal at the far right. I still need to try on a few things as I haven't lost any weight, decide what is actually worn out and make a thoughtful shopping list.

Five on Friday - the end of my own 3rd quarter, family, birthday

Just a boy and some of his toys

I turn 76 on Monday and (don't laugh) every time I think or say that I think of the song 76 trombones from the Music Man! It doesn't really feel like a milestone - more like a laugh or shrug.

1. Took the newly 3rd grade granddaughter out to dinner Friday at one of her favorite restaurants (parent's date night - the 2 year old stays at daycare for Kids Night Out) which was a fun girls time before we headed to our house and joined Papa. She chattered about 3rd grade, liking having homework for the first time, being a big sister, her swim team practice schedule, and foods she likes/doesn't like. So nice to have one on one time. 

I remember being 8 and liking to spend time with my local grandparents which makes these times extra sweet. Hubby didn't have that close experience with his grandparents but is a great Papa to both girls (and wanted to watch a WNBA game as he's a fan).

2.  When our son picked up his daughter he brought us homemade Mai Tai's in jelly jars! We waited until Saturday afternoon to have them and they were delicious & potent.

3. My older son and DIL arrived Wednesday evening and leave on Sunday. It is so lovely to have time with them and still rather shocking that they are in their mid-50s. We had lunch with both sons &DILs yesterday at a local Berkeley brewery with a nice outdoor seating area. Today the visiting DIL and I will go to an art reuse store in Oakland followed by ice cream perhaps.

4. Planning my birthday celebration for Saturday evening as the older son and DIL have to drive home on Sunday. Trying to keep it as low effort as possible and pleasing to adults and little kids so we will have make your own tostada bar plus sides followed by ice cream sundaes. The 2 1/2 year old is insistent that she not sit in a high chair so I need to get out the instructions and convert it to a booster seat. She will hopefully be happy with that, but she is 2 1/2 so who can predict!

5.  Something to look forward to - we are going to take a day trip to Point Reyes, CA after Labor Day.

51st book of 52 book challenge

Prompt 42: Non-human Antagonist

I really had trouble settling on a book for this as climate disaster books were too depressing as were ones where animals were the antagonist. I settle on the Cuban revolution as the antagonist! Stretching it. I know.

Now just one prompt left - read in a "ber" month. Easy!

Oddest book read this year

Odd, but true and an engrossing read! Apparently there is also a movie and song inspired by this hockey player and robber who now makes pottery. I also had no idea Hungary was such a mess after the fall of Communism.

 

Five on Friday - power outage, pruning, new neighbors & more

A quieter week overall except for the local schools starting Tuesday and lots of middle schoolers walking by twice a day. We stayed mostly at home and enjoyed warmer weather.

1. A brief power outage Saturday that I only recognized was happening because of the clicking of things shutting off. The power company has an easy to use outage reporting tool online and then shows you a map of the outage and sends updates via email. We were on the periphery of the outage and got our power back rather quickly.

It showed me that one of our plug in emergency lights needs replacement so I ordered 2 so the garage could have one too.

2. We both were motivated to do some pruning and I spread the third & last bag of bark to top up where it had gotten low. 

3. We also scheduled the arborist to come give us an estimate on pruning the trees we planted and the giant oak growing over the fence from the back neighbors.

4. The pup and I met the new neighbors on the other side of the street who say they are moving in a month or so. They both seem friendly, very cheerful and young lol. The house was sold over 2 months ago so we have been curious.

5. Lunch with our son at the brewery with outdoor seating. No Pilates as trainer has COVID as a result of her vacation - yikes, it is trending up here. Dog "spa day" on Thursday - he was so happy as usual.