What Is Wrong With Being Idle?

Hello friends, how are you and how has your weekend been? I have had a really good one. It has been both relaxing and busy. You know what I mean? I had to work yesterday and that is a bit different. I usually am off on the weekends but I may have mentioned before that one of my mangers has been having some health issues and has been in the hospital and that leaves us a bit short handed.

Anyway, I worked yesterday, Saturday, I was off for a half day on Friday so I did my grocery shopping and errand running then in anticipation of having my Sunday free to do whatever I wanted.

I talked to my sister a couple nights ago and she said the same thing. ” On Sunday I am not going to do anything work related, I am going to do some things for me, YAY!!!!! I haven’t talked to her so I am not sure how that went for her.

For some reason I always feel a little guilty when I don’t do anything. Are you like that? I feel like I have to be doing “something” productive all the time. WHAT??? who can do that???

I wonder why we feel like we are only productive when we are busy? Taking time for us is just as important and productive. Working on things that may have no end or is just something we love to do is good!!! Right??

So today I didn’t get up until 7:00 AM which is really unusual for me. I watched some TV and snuggled with my Scruffy. (See the photo below) I knitted, I did laundry and I mopped the kitchen. I also made sure I had some more extra time for me. That is what a day of rest should be. Doing something that you like to do. Sometimes being idle is my best way of recharging and getting ready for the week ahead.

Poor Scruffy needs a haircut and he is getting one tomorrow. Can’t wait!!! He loves being snuggled in mommy’s arms. He looks at me so adoringly!!! I just love him.

My Kitty Kitty. Just watching her brings me peace and calm.

I made homemade biscuits and put some fresh strawberries on them. What a wonderful treat.

I think I had a wonderfully productive, restful day and I enjoyed it thoroughly!!!!!

Always remember

Love your day your way!!!

And Then Time Stopped.

Have you been tested for COVID-19? The tests are free and they are done now quite frequently. In the beginning you could only be tested if you had symptoms even if you had been directly exposed. It could take days to get scheduled for a test and then up to a week to get the results.

With more and more tests becoming available all of that has changed, in our area anyway, I am assuming it is everywhere. People are encouraged to get tested before returning to work, if they have been exposed to someone who has tested positive or had been around someone who has tested positive.

I spent a lot of time in quarantine. I wear my mask. I have been very very careful. I haven’t been anywhere I haven’t had to be. I haven’t been to a restaurant in over three months. I just got take out for the first time a couple of weeks ago. So I have felt fairly safe. The virus was sort of a bad dream that was in the back of my mind. I knew it was real but I didn’t know anyone who had even tested positive. Sure I watched the news and saw and heard the horror stories but I also knew a lot was being told that might not be true.

And then last week I had to hit the brakes. I received a text that someone I had been in contact, even though it probably wasn’t even within six feet, had been in contact with someone who had tested positive. I froze, what should I do? Should I wait until they got tested and see if they were positive? I called our local health department, I have a friend who works there and she said yes better to get tested and be safe, and set up a time for a test that afternoon. Luckily we had not opened back up at work at this time.

I went to the health department and joined the line of cars with people waiting to be tested. It took about thirty minutes to get to the tent where the nurses were administering the tests. It was really warm that day and they had on head to toe covering with a mask and a plastic shield over their faces. I felt so much compassion for them. They were hot. It was dusty from all of the cars going through. But the nurse doing the tests came bouncing out to the car and did my test quickly and with a kind word and such a great attitude. I then went on my way. They told me I should find out the next day but because it was a weekend it might take an extra day. It did.

I went home and started to worry about my husband, who takes immunosuppressants. I knew that I had been around him all week and if I tested positive then he probably would too. It almost seemed like time had stopped. I could barely think rationally.

I will say that even though I thought the odds were low that I would test positive I still had that worry in the back of my mind. I tried to stay busy on Sunday to keep my mind off of it. Early Monday morning the fear that I felt had escalated. I was doing the what if? what if? Just a couple of hours later the health Department called and told me I was negative. I couldn’t believe the relief that I felt.

I had to think about my friend Lori who works at our local hospital in the ER department. She is on the front line and she has been tested a couple of times. I know how she worries each time. It doesn’t stop her from doing her job day after day. These people amaze me and I am so very appreciative of them. Their fear is an everyday thing.

I guess there is nothing to say to tie this up in a neat bow. I am trying to say that the fear is real, the threat is still there. It really hit home with me when I was tested. And I expect, before this situation gets better, I may have to be tested again.

The Day Lilies are blooming. New growth always makes me feel hopeful.

Please be safe.

Always remember,

Love your day your way (But be safe)

Work, Sleep, Repeat

Hello friends how are you? I have been back at work now for a few weeks. I feel that all I get done is working and sleeping. I hate to say that I miss quarantine but man things were so much simpler then. Don’t get me wrong I am glad to be back to work and doing things day to day that I have done all my life. However, the quiet time that I spent in quarantine was not bad. I had a chance to recharge, reenergize, rediscover, etc. etc. It was an easier way of life.

My work opened back up Saturday. We had a soft opening with very few customers. All of our employees are required to wear masks. We have sanitizing stations throughout the property. We have 4×8 feet panels of Lexan, it is better than Plexiglas, between the registers and our customers. Only ten people per tour. I guess this is our new normal for awhile.

I have had so many things to deal with at work, when I get home I feel mentally unable to do anything but eat dinner and catch up for a minute with my husband, care for the fur babies and collapse on the couch or go straight to bed. Luckily this is all I have to do right now.

During the time I spent in quarantine I noticed that my stress level had gone down considerably. I mentioned that in a previous post. I decided then that when I did get back to work full time I was going to leave work at work. And that once I got home, home would be my sanctuary and a place to rest and relax. I have done pretty well. This helps me to recharge and be ready to start the next day.

Of course I always take time to stop along the road and take pictures. That will never change.

This field is full of yellow wild flowers. It makes the entire field look yellow. I love it.

My daisies. I love having them for as long as I can. They last for only a short time. I have an entire field of them behind my house.

Fields of hay. I love the look. I can stare at these bales for hours. I am quite intrigued by them for some reason.

And now the honeysuckle are blooming. A sweet welcoming smell.

I think that taking pictures is sort of an outlet for me. No matter what is going on in this crazy world some things like nature and beauty never change.

A friend that I know from another attraction quite suddenly quit her job last week. She had only been back to work for a week. She had been at this job for about fifteen years. She said that being quarantined had made her realize how much her stress level had been reduced. She didn’t want to go back. Man, that is pretty powerful. I don’t think I have the courage nor the means to do that. I am not sure about her financial situation but she is not near retirement age. Oh well!! If it works for her it works. I am happy for her and maybe a little jealous. I always thought I wanted to work forever but after being at home for three weeks I am not so sure. I love being out around people I always have, but there is something to be said about the solitude of being at home and nowhere to go. Ahhhhh life where will you lead me? I shall see. It will be an adventure no matter what.

Always remember

Love your day your way!!!

Happy Mother’s Day!!

Hello friends and Happy Mother’s Day!!! I hope you have had a wonderful day with your family and loved ones. It has been a beautiful day here in the south. It has been really really cool. I told you last week we were in Blackberry Winter so the mornings here have been almost cold. If you missed my post about the different winters in the south check it out here This morning it was only 36 Degrees F. A lot of people have covered up their outside plants to keep them safe.

The roses are blooming. This one was at my father in law’s house.

A full weekend. I did the Saturday morning grocery run yesterday. Things are still somewhat tense at the grocery store. It’s like if you get near anyone you jump back like they’re on fire or something. Still very uncomfortable.

In honor of Mother’s Day, I decided to wear my Dog Mom cap to the grocery store yesterday. Please excuse the no make up look.

My little mother in law lives in an Assisted Living Center in Sweetwater. Because of the quarantine we haven’t been able to visit her in over two months. She has been dealing really well with it. We call her every day. For Mother’s Day I have been taking photos all around the house of us and the babies and the flowers and things. Walgreens had a special on 4×6 photos, .10 per copy if you printed over 100. I did, no problem. I got a photo album for her and put all the photos in it. I also took her some of her other favorite things and some flowers. We took all of the things over to the Center yesterday so that she could have them today. She called me and told me how much she liked the photo album. She said “Do I get to keep it here with me”? I laughed, of course you do, I said. It is so funny how happy you can make someone with a small gesture since she can’t see us she can at least look at the pictures. We also took flowers to the cemetery for my mother’s grave and Mark’s grandmother’s grave.

So today was Mother’s Day and usually it is a hard time for me. I did a post a couple of years ago called I survived Mother’s Day. You can read it here. I don’t have human children and Mother’s Day has always been sort of a hard time for me. But you know what? This year it wasn’t at all. I am trying to figure out exactly what is different. Of course dealing with COVID-19 this year has put a lot of things in perspective for everyone. I also think that as I get older and more comfortable in my skin I am happy with me just the way I am. Instead of thinking about surviving I rejoiced in the day. I am happy with the way my life is. I had a wonderful day. I cooked a rack of baby back ribs in the crock pot, they were amazing!!! I will share the recipe for the rub I used soon. I worked on some cross stitch and some knitting. I read. I spent time outside, I spent time with my precious sweet family and it was just awesome!!!

This is the heart cross stitch I have been working on for quite a while. I had hoped to have it done by Valentine’s Day. But it will probably be next Valentine’s Day, maybe, HA!!

Me, my sister Carolyn, My Mom, my sister Sandy, My sister Pat. This picture was taken a few years before my sister Carolyn and my mom passed away. We were on one of our famous “Sister Trips”. These women have played such a role in my life. I can’t begin to tell you how they have guided me and made me the person I am today. They were and are amazing mothers!! They mean everything to me.

Always remember,

Love your day your way!!!