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Ecco, School of Rock Retreat, scrapbooking

It feels so good to be home!  After a glorious weekend up in Oakhurst at ECCO with twenty-two other like-minded scrapbookers (and one self-sacrificing husband), I am home, unpacked (sort of), and contemplating sleep.

Roxybonds Scrappers (including me) were an unqualified success with the School of Rock Retreat.  We even have three deposits for retreat #2, Winter Wonderland.

Lots of beautiful layouts and cards were created, but more important were the bonds of friendship and love that were strengthened as we worked and told stories.  Above all, scrapbooking is a relationship business, as was well demonstrated throughout the weekend.

Here are some of our usual Second Saturday ladies, all together at ECCO.

From left: Trina, Fawn, Amie, and Sherri, taking a scrapbooking break.

Adulthood, the next chapter

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adulthood, big purchases, Close To My Heart, Subaru Legacy Outback Wagon

Over the past several weeks since my wreck I have had to behave in an adult manner more often than not.  And it all culminated in finding a car that was interesting, test driving it, finalizing the finances (with help from dear ones), and — most adult of all — going to the dealer with a pile of cash to buy it.  I seriously felt like a minor drug lord counting out all that cash.

And here we have the end results of my search, goaded on encouraged by my children who wanted me driving something very safe:  my new (to me) 2005 Subaru Legacy Outback Wagon.  It is immaculate inside and so very roomy…Trina and I will be traveling in style to our scrapbook retreat this weekend with it packed to the brim with activities and Close To My Heart products.

My new Subaru, just waiting for her personalized plates.

Craft challenged

Here for your reading pleasure is today’s post from Photo Fun with Fawn.

Photo Fun With Fawn

I am totally “craft challenged”.  Even though I still do fairly “naked” scrapbook pages, I am still the slowest dancer at the party.  If I were being paid by the hour for my crafting, I would most likely starve.  But I craft anyway, and I like to think I am getting better!

I am the proud owner of a Cricut Expressions2 that I have had for at least five years and have plugged in twice.  I have every intention of learning to use it, and haul it with me on a regular basis when I scrapbook.  Perhaps I will actually use it this weekend at our School of Rock Retreat.

All that being said, I yearn for a dedicated papercrafting/scrapbooking space.  I buy every issue of “Where Women Create” when it hits the news stand, and pore over the beautiful photos of studios and “open concept” rooms, lusting after stacks…

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Writer’s ?

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blah, ennui, writer's block

I know some people struggle with writer’s block, which keeps them from writing anything of substance.  I seem to be suffering from a similar (but not nearly as serious) affliction known as “writer’s blah”.  This is the second day for this strange ennui, and I’m sick of it already!

I much prefer sitting down to write, having a subject float around in my brain for a while, then write my blog post.  But that’s not happening tonight.  Any ideas I might have had seem to have sunk, rather than floated.

Tomorrow night will be better.

Praying for Visalia

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prayer for Visalia, The Holy Bible, The Psalms

For the past several months a small group of Visalians have been meeting at Lincoln Oval Park to pray for our families, our community, and our world.  From 12:30 – 1:00 p.m. we read our Bibles, pray, write in our journals, or meditate.  There is no leader, no script…just an open invitation to pray.

Today I was the only one there, and I must admit to feeling a bit ill at ease.  I have been to Oval Park many times, but never alone — and that changes things.  But my Bible fell open to the Psalms, so that’s where I stayed.  I received some curious — even hostile — looks from Oval Park regulars.  None approached me, though, so I simply prayed until 1:00, then went home.

Next month we will be praying at Oval Park on Thursday, September 17.  You are most welcome to join us.

Neighbors

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Fitbit, neighbors, nosy neighbors, security cameras, Tour on Trafficking, walking

I went out this morning with every intention of taking a zillion-step walk so that I could finally reach that crazy 10,000 step/day goal.  I got off to a great start, even jogging the width of several houses’ yards.  Then I got to Ana’s, and couldn’t go any farther.  You see, I used to live next door to Ana, and we quite often began our day with coffee and tea together.  I miss those morning visits.  So all thoughts of a long walk went by the wayside as I stopped for a chat with my neighbor.

An hour later, when I resumed my walk, I discovered that 82 degrees (on the way to 106) was uncomfortably warm walking weather for someone who hates sweating as much as I do.  So I cut my walk short, went home, and sat in front of the fan for a while.

Tonight after the “Tour on Trafficking” event downtown, I went back out into the cooler evening to try walking again.  As I neared the end of the street I checked the temperature.  Sure enough, it was once again 82 degrees.  Why is it that 82 degrees in the dark feels so much cooler than 82 degrees in the bright sunlight?

There is another family who lives down the street (I won’t call them neighbors, as there is absolutely no relationship here) who have turned their house into a fortress.  With motor homes parked in both the front and back yards, swamp coolers in both of the front bedroom windows, and wall-to-wall “stuff”, they have chosen to decorate their fences with “Smile, you’re on camera” signs and security cameras pointed not only at their property, but onto the sidewalk and street.  Every time I walk past I have to stifle a powerful urge to make an obscene gesture into the camera (while smiling, of course).  I hate that they feel entitled to record anyone passing by, and am now walking all the way across the street to avoid their cameras.

The heat finally got to me once again and I gave up on today’s walking, falling about 800 steps short of my goal.  Perhaps tomorrow.

Walking with a purpose

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A-Z Challenge, exercise, Fitbit Charge, time together, walks

When Lily was a tiny baby, we started taking daily walks.  This gave us time outdoors, exercise for the new mommy wanting to reshape her body, and, most importantly, time together.  Our pace varied depending on the quality of sleep received the night before, and most of the time it was fairly brisk.

Once Lily was old enough to voice an opinion, our walks became more investigative than aerobic.  I will never forget the morning she saw a fuzzy black caterpillar crossing the sidewalk in front of us.  I picked him up and placed him on Lily’s arm, so that she could both feel up close and feel how his zillions of little feet felt crawling on her.  I remember how soft he was, and how tickled Lily was to have him.  We did the same thing after Olivia was born, but without the regularity to our walks.

Now my purpose has changed, as I walk for a combination of aerobic exercise (still trying for that elusive 10,000 steps) with pushing myself to walk faster and longer each day.  But I am enjoying the “up close” view with my neighborhood, learning which houses have barking dogs, which have owners gone all day, and by all means enjoying the flowers blooming in the yards.

Today’s walking was confined to work, so I didn’t get very far.  I’ll be back at it in the morning.  Sweet dreams.

Venturing out

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exercising, Fitbit Charge, jogging, new ventures, running, seasoned citizens, walking

The strangest thing started happening as I was walking through the neighborhood a couple of days ago.  I tried to ignore it, but it just kept fluttering around the edge of my consciousness.  It got worse yesterday, but again I pushed it aside.

It wandered through my dreams last night, too, but felt entirely too alien to acknowledge.  Finally, I told Georgia.  “Walking has gotten easy enough for me that I have been having this funny urge to try jogging a bit.  But it scares me!”

“Go for it, Mom!” she encouraged. “What’s the worst that could happen?”

So I got up and out this morning, and although I felt as though I wanted to try it, I didn’t really remember how.  I was walking quickly, as I generally do these days, but my brain was resisting, telling me not to take any risks.

Finally I told my body to respond the way it would if I were hurrying to catch a ball one of the girls had thrown (knowing it wouldn’t take very long).  And my knees and feet cooperated with each other.   My heart-rate surged and I immediately remembered how long it had been since I last ran anywhere.  I didn’t fall down.  I didn’t hear or see any of my neighbors laughing and pointing.  It only lasted for a few seconds, but it happened. And then, a few blocks later, I tried it again.

A year ago I wouldn’t have imagined ever attempting to jog again, let alone run.  But I am so thrilled with how my body is responding to regular exercise, and how much better I feel from head to toe, that I can sense the possibility.

Just promise if you see a seasoned citizen jogging (however briefly) in your neighborhood you won’t point or laugh.  Feel free to cheer her on as she ventures into new territory.

Promise

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family, First day of school, fourth grade, granddaughters, Kindergarten, school, SCICON, The Kissing Hand

Was there ever a day more full of promise than the first day of school?  All those shiny scrubbed faces, new clothes, fresh backpacks and notebooks, ready to take on the challenges of a new school year.  And the questions asked by each child:  Will I make a new friend today?  Will the teacher like me?  Will I fit in?  Will I have fun?

Not just on the first day, but each day when I pick Lily up from school, I ask:  “What was the best thing that happened today, and what was the worst thing that happened?”  Typically Lily’s best thing involves reaching a goal or achieving a new level of learning, and her worst thing is known by the acronym BFP, or “Best Friend Problems”.  My hope for Lily this year is that the BFPs will lessen, based on the friends that are (and are not) in her class.

Her best thing today was discovering that she will be going to SCICON with the fifth graders in her class this year (she is in a 4-5 combo).  SCICON is  our local science camp in the mountains, and the fifth grades go for a one-day trip to tease them into wanting to go for a week in sixth grade.

Olivia’s teacher read them the story of The Kissing Hand, and they each drew a kissing hand to leave with their parents when they went to school.  That was her best thing about the day; she said there wasn’t a worst thing (although she told us she didn’t learn how to read today).  She discovered three children she knew in her Kindergarten class, and she really liked her teacher.

All dressed up and ready for fourth grade and Kindergarten. How quickly time flies!

Olivia got a special message from Mom in her new classroom.

I can hardly wait to see what tomorrow will bring.

Once bitten

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exercise, Fitbit, steps, Valley Gardens, walking

I think I have been bitten by the Fitbit.  In a couple of weeks’ time I have gone from being a fairly sedentary (as in “sitting happily for hours at my computer”) person to being one who looks for reasons to take steps!

Yesterday at Daddy’s I got up and took a walk all around our Valley Gardens neighborhood, and then I did it again at dusk.  I enjoyed observing the homes first thing in the morning, as well as watching them get ready for bed.  I encountered no yapping dogs, nor no loose ones, but did meet two pair out walking with their owners.  It has been years since I have walked that neighborhood, but I felt so comfortable and at ease.  It still definitely feels like home.

Today I was up and on the road early, as my rental car was due by 1:30 p.m.  I didn’t walk before leaving Arroyo Grande, but took at break at the rest stop east of Paso Robles and walked the perimeter of the property.  And although I took a walk once things cooled off here in Visalia, I was still short of my 10,000 step goal.  I guess three hours behind the wheel took up too much stepping time!

I am amazed by how much easier it is for me to move, and how effortless walking throughout the neighborhood has become.  And the only one I am competing with is myself.  I love watching the steps rack up, and find it easier and easier to push myself to walk farther.

Will I reach that elusive 10,000 steps tomorrow?  If I walk in the morning and work tomorrow night, I should at least come VERY close.  We shall see!