See what I did there? Ha! I slay myself.
Seriously thought, can you believe that we are already at the end of May? I think I said it last month, but it totally bears repeating; this year is flying by. I wasn't complaining about that last month, nor am I complaining about it now, because, who can complain about putting The Year That Shall Not Be Named even farther in the rear-view? Not this girl.
What We're Eating
In an effort to spend more quality time together, Hugh and I jumped back on the HelloFresh train. We cook three meals a week together and, shockingly, I haven't felt compelled to kill him and bury his body in the backyard.
I mean, I've considered it, but I wouldn't call it a compulsion.
Anyhoodle, the meals have been pretty tasty and quick to prepare, and, we've both learned a lot. Hugh has learned what it means to zest an orange, what a "drizzle" of olive oil should look like, and that a "squeeze" of lemon does not mean juicing the entire lemon and tossing the juice into the recipe all willy-nilly. I have learned that Hugh is incapable of cooking without making a gigantic mess of the kitchen and, that I am a fairly decent sous chef, if, one's definition of sous chef is "kitchen cleaner-upper".
But it's all worth it for the time together.
What I'm Reminiscing About
Queen B and the Rodeo Princess have been living in Texas for almost three months now; its hard to believe that they have been there this long already, but, 'tis true. The reports that I am getting all indicate that they are doing really well, settling in nicely, making new friends, and taking care of each other; all of which thrills me.
I do, however, miss having Queen B closer by, especially this time of year, when we used to be able to spend days together, doing fun girlie things like taking a picnic on a bike ride, sipping wine and noshing on a charcutterie board at a local winery, or hunting treasures at thrift stores and antique shows. So, those are the things that I have been reminiscing about.
What I'm Loving
The Boomer Dog and I have been taking frequent walks in the park here in Petticoat Junction. In addition to the fresh air and exercise, I have loved seeing the pair of Great Blue Herons that have been nesting in the area.
Boomer Dog loves the walks as well; he has taken the challenge of marking his territory in all of his favorite spots on the trail quite seriously. He has also made a few deposits in the park, one of which required a double bagging. Dog ownership is not for the weak of stomach.
What I've Been Up To
Self-care! It was my word and intention for 2021 and I am pleased to say that I am following through. So far this month, I have increased my physical activity by walking in the park...
...I've been to the chiropractor for a long over-due adjustment of my hips (my left leg was 1/2" shorter than my right and one hip was both cocked upward and rotated inward; no damn wonder I have been having so much pain in my leg and numbness in my feet)...
...I spent some time at the local day spa, getting a Dermaplane facial (the top layer of skin is basically surgically removed with a scalpel, leaving behind fresh, new skin); the fruit-infused water served to me in the waiting area set the tone for the experience, which, (despite the way the treatment sounds), was quite relaxing...
...I also have a massage scheduled for Friday afternoon, which will start the long Memorial Day weekend off on a great note. I honestly think this is the best resolution I have ever made for myself.
What I'm Working On
I've been getting the porch ready for Porch Night season; after waiting an extraordinarily long time for a set of cushions to come in from Lowes online, I finally cancelled the order and went with a second choice from Amazon. Surprisingly, I like the second choice better than the first. That's serendipity, my friends.
Hugh helped out by replacing the lights that had been hanging on the porch for the past decade or so and I freshened up my antique wicker planter with a fresh coat of paint. I plan to repaint my oldest wicker chair as well, but am waiting for the color I like best to be restocked at the hardware store. I hope to have everything done and the porch opened for Memorial Day.
What I'm Dreading
I am not actively dreading anything at the moment. How freaking refreshing!
What I'm Excited About
I am researching luaus for when we are in Hawaii, celebrating the Man-Cub's graduation. I am also looking into local catering for the small dinner party that we will be hosting after the graduation ceremony; I would love to hire a food truck but I'm relatively confident that the covenants in the neighborhood that our rental is in would forbid it. Of course, if worse comes to worse, we will cook; I am just hoping to avoid that if possible (first vacation in two years, folks! Not missing a single chance to relax!)
What I'm Watching
I can't believe I actually sat through the entire first season of Jupiter's Legacy. I love me some Josh Duhamel, but folks, this was just bad.
I had to cleanse my palate with several episodes of The Great British Bake Off just to recover.
What I'm Reading
The act of reading for pleasure continues to elude me; as a lifelong bookworm, this is quite distressing to me. I've decided to show myself some grace, however; the desire to read will return in its' time.
What I'm Listening To
Two words: Murder podcasts. I just can't quit the true crime. What is wrong with me?
What I'm Wearing
Walking shoes. My ass and my gut thank me; my calves and my feet, not so much. Countdown to a slimmer me for Hawaii has officially begun!
What I'm Doing This Weekend
We are celebrating the long Memorial Day weekend by doing basically nothing. Hugh is busy with clinicals all weekend, so boating was off the table. Instead, I'm planning on relaxing, catching up with household stuff that I have been meaning to do for ages, and, hosting a Porch Night with a taco theme (Man-Cub's request).
What I'm Looking Forward to Next Month
I have so much to look forward to! For one, I will be reuniting with The Girls for our first Girls Weekend since 2019. We have a date, Reese has her plan ticket, and we have a few options as to how we want to spend our time: Tee's camper on the lake, the winery tour in the vineyards just south of Neighboring City, or Phoebe's cabin. We've done two out of three of these things and loved them both, immensely. So, perhaps the winery option will win out purely for the novelty it provides. We shall see. Whatever we decide to do, time with my best friends of over thirty years is never boring.
Also, in June, Hugh and I will be flying to Texas to see Queen B and the Rodeo Princess! As I mentioned earlier in this post; I have been missing time spent with my daughter, so, this trip won't happen a moment too soon. Also, we are planning to make the drive to Waco to check out the Magnolia silos, which is something I have wanted to do for quite some time; I can't wait!
What Else is New
Nothing that I can think of! Fingers crossed for a more exciting post next month!