And still counting ... (14,746-14,865)

 a first fire in the school room, dogs vying for closest spots to the blaze, November skies, the Halloween picture from our neighbors porch, a first Halloween that we all stayed home

packages in the mail, hot coffee, skinny and warm fleece blankets, schooling with Erin, physical therapy

longer darkness for hibernating and hunkering down, time with my girls, buttermilk pancakes, drive time with Lanie, sunrises in the woods

voting with Lanie, the cheers in the room, first flurries, a poem for autumn texted, fleece pullovers

enough, food in the fridge, clothes for our bodies, this time together, the chorus of traveling geese

the registrar who spoke German, Nora who prays, Jenne, mini ornaments for a mini tree, a quicker mile

Shane, holiday mood, two fires burning, shampoo, Erin's curls

hugs from Lanie, her smile, her focus, her hard work ethic, her love

running shoes, running shorts, boundaries, good books, texts with Christy

a solid 5k run before the 5k run, a turkey race gone virtual--at least I dreamed irl!, blinking white lights on the fireplace mantel, a candle in the school room: joy and laughter, mocha coffee

December vision, Harry Potter wrapping paper, cowbells, a word this year that helped clear a path, new cookbooks

a hike with Sharon and Ashlei, Hedwig's theme on recorder, online running groups, a blazer over a sweater on a chilly day, warm boots

clementines, apple, pears, gf brioche from Trader Joe's, a turkey to roast

November skies (always!), windy runs, naps on the couch by the fire, chats after dinner with Shane, a wintry feel run with the balaclava on

candy canes and chocolate covered cherries on display as I first walked in the store, seasonings, Christmas songs that made our hearts sing with premature delight, little flashing lights wrapped around HOME, leftover pizza for lunch

brown bagged books on hold at the library, a cheery greeting from a library patron, the very good feelings of being home, the warmth of the fleece blanket and the hum of heat at night, a gratitude for the woman whose delight it is to poison the punch--and to suffer no harm from her actions (a trigger disarmed, swiftly, and I am thankful to see it for what it is) 

clarity in friendships, a mini fridge from 1987 that became a point of contact, time, a turkey run that went virtual, the deadline it set before me to get back on my feet 

holidays in this senior year, a season to savor, these years on 66 Books, the realization of the mighty men I've had all along, cranberry sauce gifted by a neighbor

Lanie running too, a thankful celebration with turkey and all the goodies, a table for four, mac and cheese leftovers, long-sleeve compression shirts

family time, a text from Tracey, chocolate kisses, cinnamon rolls and Nutella rolls, lazy Saturday mornings

a family hike, laughter, steep hills, rushing water, a smoothie detox challenge

"Back to the Future" and popcorn, Ruth sleeping in, mild days, the returning writers for 2021, the realization that God's plan is perfect--even when I feel resistance

a foggy drive in rain to the library, Christmas trees on car tops, ornaments in our windows, reciting scenes to a favorite movie (mine--Half-Blood Prince) to Erin's delight, a smile cracked from a cranky face

the way a book bent my mind, the gold of silence, music stands with recorder music books, plans in my heart for a 14th birthday girl, Ruth in pursuit around the living room--oh, the laughter!

Get in my belly burrito bowl

I recently checked out some cookbooks from the library. I have been so uninspired by the things I've always made. I tried a grilled chicken recipe that called for chicken thighs seasoned with 2 T brown sugar, 1 teaspoon each: salt, chili powder, oregano. I seasoned the top of each chicken thigh and grilled it plain side down. When I flipped it over, I sprinkled more of the mixture on the top. I still had some seasoning leftover (I had doubled it).

On the stove, an undrained can of black beans. I tossed onions, garlic and the remainder of the sugar chili mix into a pan. In another pot, a double batch of rice. 

When the rice was done, a juicy squeeze of lime, a sprinkling of salt, and a generous flourish of cilantro. The hot beans, cheddar cheese, a plop of sour cream, two heaping spoons of Trader Joe's mild pico de gallo, the grilled chicken and a quarter avocado. I'm the only one who eats it loaded. Shane and Lanie had variations of this. 

It was so good. Blog-worthy good. Go-back-for-more kind of good. Look-forward-to-leftovers-for-lunch good. In the past, I used to use rotisserie chicken and pinto beans seasoned with cumin. But this was all kinds of wonderful and new. I'll never go back to the old way.

Day story

 November 2020

Outside my window, springlike temperatures. Sunny skies and a high of mid-seventies, but still, it's ten degrees cooler in the shade in the woods, and always in the 60s in my old, cold house. This morning I took the time to stand at the school room doors and look into the woods to anticipate the sunrise. Some mornings I miss them in the routine. But today didn't disappoint. A burst of pinks at the horizon, and over within seconds, but I snagged a picture.

Giving thanks for friendship. Today, Erin's friend Vivi is over. They've been friends since kindergarten, and Vivi was in my class that year. Her mom sometimes dropped her off back then on home days for the girls to do work together, but it always ended in two giggly girls sneaking off when I looked away and running through the field so the fun wouldn't end. My favorite memories. Today, I overhear them exchanging numbers to text each other. Jackie visited a little before leaving, and said maybe when she came to pick up there could be time for coffee and more talking. I'm baking a pumpkin bread. Music plays in the rooms and windows are open. Could my heart be anymore full? This is symbolic of the best of my memories, and I cherish them all the more because I truly know how fast it goes.

In the school room, I built in more time for other reading besides historical fiction. We're cruising through The Outsiders, which I've had no context for--not even the movie. But it's a brief break. This year we are full into American history and government. And this year was a first for Lanie to vote. We went together, and stepped outside into the season's first flurries. I'm so thankful to do that with her. Thankful for all the things I get to do with my daughters, and I realize the losses my mother never even knew she suffered, and I pity her one chance at life. I get to be part of teaching my daughters how to drive. I got to accompany one to vote. We navigate college roads together and talk about classes and future and priorities. I love everything about being a wife and mom, and I feel sorry for my own mother who always looked into someone else's life with longing instead of valuing her own.

From the kitchen, lemme just say, I am in love with Trader Joe's whole milk European-style plain yogurt. I add a sliced banana and a dollop of pumpkin butter and it is all goodness. Made a Trader Joe's run today and also scored Advent calendars--a very first. I snagged one for a neighbor's daughter and a few for Jackie's girls. Every day, I focus on the little things like this. I may not be able to change the course of the world, but I can affect the quality of my world by my own thoughts and actions. 

I am happy. I commented to Shane that since this summer when I purposed to read more instead of looking back, I have been so happy. I love all the books I'm going through. And even when the past reached to pull me back, it just fueled my resolve to be done. There is no room for toxic in my life. I truly am counting my days, and I won't lose them to people who never valued them to begin with. 

I don't want to forget coffee mornings with Lanie. Cold morning running. How good a mile feels on my feet. The warmth of fleece. Wood smoke smells and luscious heat. Family traditions--and this year, all the more precious. All the more precious.

I am reading The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton; The Fit Foodie Meal Prep Plan by Sally O'Neil; The Gift of Forgiveness by Katherine Schwarzenegger Pratt; The Good Neighbor: The Life and Work of Fred Rogers by Maxwell King; Agents of Babylon by David Jeremiah; Collected Poems for Children by Ted Hughes. More to come on hold at the library.

Around the house, getting back into my groove after several weeks off running from an injury. I am now adding resistance training to strengthen hips and hammies. And I'm trying to get my head around rest days, but truly I DON'T WANT TO. Race day is in a couple of weeks, and I am not at my former pace yet. I'm working so hard on getting there. We are ornament shopping this weekend instead of after Thanksgiving to avoid the crowds. But I am looking forward to putting the tree up after Thanksgiving, and enjoying plates of sweet potatoes and marshmallows, pie, and turkey. 

I am hearing friendship, and it's a beautiful sound. How we've missed our friends. (How I've missed hospitality!) Next week a weather-pending hike. And after that, another encounter with a long-time bestie. 

A view of my favorite things:

This came up in email as a memory--oh my gosh.

We voted!

My hair stylist shared this with me after I told her how I pressed on through pain on a long run and wrecked my hammies

She took care of the roots for me

A plant gifted by Cindy. I'm so thankful I live in her former house. I'm so thankful she's part of my life.

Doesn't do justice to this morning's sunrise.

 

At the table, chicken burrito bowls (recipe to publish next). This weekend, making batch meals. I've got serious goals: health, nutrition, endurance.