The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Oh...school has started and I both hate it and love it at the same time. I love getting back into some type of a schedule. I also love seeing my friends on a daily basis. I love the kids. My class is pretty good, talky, but sweet. Also, big, I have 28 kids in a tiny little room. UGH! I hate getting up in the morning even though it hasn't been too bad so far. I also hate the drama! There is so much drama at school that I can't hardly stand it anymore. I am choosing to stay in my room and avoid certain areas and people. That is really hard considering I use to love my school. Things need to change and there is nothing I can do about it. We use to be a family, but not anymore. It is so sad. What a loss.

Life Goes On

Well, I found my first caterpillar. I've looked and looked through my milkweed and haven't been able to find any Monarch caterpillars. I was starting to believe that they left me this year, but I kept hoping. Day after day, I would check the milkweed to no avail, until Thursday. I saw her, a huge caterpillar who is about ready to make her chrysalis. Since then, I have found seven more, so I know there are a lot more out there. I am so happy. Mom loves the caterpillars. She was amazed at how they were caterpillars, then a chrysalis, then emerge a beautiful Monarch butterfly. She loved to watch them emerging them waiting as their wings dried. It is an amazing site. This all brings me closer to Mom. I miss her so, think about her daily, and wish she was here to watch our Monarchs emerge.

10 Things to Be Happy About Right Now

1. There are a few weeks left of summer vacation!

2. There is a fair somewhere going on right now where you can go and eat fair food to your heart's content!

3. Sleeping in until whenever...even during the week!

4. Fresh fruit and vegetables at a roadside stand.

5. Friends that stick by you even when it is tough.

6. A good chick lit book...The Saving Graces for one!

7. Air conditioning!

8. My hosta that are about ready to bloom so my yard will smell wonderful!

9. Bella greeting me at the door with a "meow."

10.Gas prices that are a little lower than the beginning of the summer.

Stop and Notice

People are always rushing around saying they don't have enough time. I am one of those people lately. I feel as if I am on the go constantly. These last few weeks before school starts up again, I want to slow down. That is hard for me to do at times. I went out in the yard to water today and I stopped to take a close look at my Passion flowers. They attract June bugs...uck!...but also fabulous bees. Huge ones at that. So I ran in and got my camera. I love taking pictures of my flowers and even have quite a few up on my walls. I wanted to capture these beautiful bees at work. It amazes me that they know exactly what to do. And if it were not for them, there are so many beautiful things on oour Earth that would no longer grow. Stop, take a breath, and take a look at your surroundings. What little thing is at work there that you have never noticed before?

Rainy Day

I love a rainy day. It lets me be lazy without the guilt. It's best when it rains all day, but a few hours will also do. I love getting out a book and reading while the rain hits the living room windows. I also love being curled up on the couch with a blanket covering me and a cat on my hip watching a good chick flick. A rainy day also gives my flowers and plants a much needed drink...and I don't have to do the watering! A slow steady rain during the night is the ultimate! Listening to the rain patting the roof lulls me to sleep and if I awake during the night, it is so soothing. We need a few more rainy days in the near future!

Time Alone

I treasure my time alone. You would think that as a single person, I would have a lot of time alone. Not so! I feel like I run, run, then run some more and I am never spending time in my house alone. I love to be alone, with a book, magazine, movie, or with just the cats. I hate feeling like all I do is sleep here, and that is how I have been feeling lately. Tomorrow should be a day for time alone. Let's hope!

Stress

In the life of a single woman in her 40's, how can there be much stress? I can't answer that, but I feel it every day lately. I am feeling pulled in so many directions lately. I feel like summer is running out and I haven't really taken a lot of time out for just me. That sounds weird in a sense since I just got back from vacation two weeks ago, but when you go on vacation with six other people when you are use to time alone, it's tough and I feel like I just need to be by myself for a bit. No people, no thinking about work, no yard, no cleaning, nothing. I can't seem to get away from my thoughts though. I guess I just need to picture Maui in my mind and maybe that will help. Let's see if it does. Picture it with me now........