I am notorious around here for hating on school being out. Truth be told, it is less about the kids being around and more about me needing the routine of school days and school weeks in my life. During the school year there is just a certain flow to life that I adore. But friends, school is out. Lanette got done last Friday and Logan has a week and half or so. Thus, here is how I am coping.
- It will be nice to have the noise around. Maybe I will have some movie marathons with my little brother Logan. And maybe I will make some special lunches for my sister Lanette. All in all, I am trying to be thankful that they are around to liven things up.
- With the end of early morning nonsense, maybe I can get some real sleep. There is always racket in the morning as kids are getting up to go to school, even though I know they try to be quiet. So perhaps I will stop getting woken up at six a.m. by alarms going off.
- Picnic season. Now with after school activities over we can have more family picnics! I am salivating over the thought of grilled mushrooms.
- At the end of the day, back-to-school sales start in a month and half or so, right after Independence Day. So the end is always in sight.
- The noise of the summer is mediated this year with summer camps, EFY, work programs...so even if it weirds me out to have people home all day, there will be times where they will be off having fun.
Monday, May 20, 2013
The Stages of Summer
Stage One: Dandelion Season. Sometime mid-May around here dandelions take over. They are what tells me summer is on. This period runs through May and into early June. Then for whatever reason, the dandelions die down. Not many wildflowers are out though. It is the time where I am trying to be okay with school being out and the patio being open at work and the summer starting in earnest.
Stage Two: Mosquito Season. I really try to enjoy summer before mosquito season starts up. It seems like suddenly one day mosquitoes are everywhere. I hate the little pests. However, this is also the time where things get going in the garden, so that is exciting. But I call it mosquito season because it's when I realize that summer is definitely here and there are some things to get used to. It takes me until Midsummer, June 21st or so to really get my groove of summer.
Stage Three: Hollyhock Season. Around the fourth of the July things in the garden and the flowerbed really start going. The hollyhocks and shasta daisies are finally in bloom or almost there. It's when the garden has started producing tomatoes and zuchinni, the corn stalks are getting pretty high. It's also the time when I start either adoring the endless summer or despising it. It's funny because it goes either way in July. There are some July months that have been horrendous, some that have been delightful. The key has been me having a plan going into the month on what I am going to do to make it awesome.
Stage Four: Wildflower Season. Truth be told, wildflowers are around starting in June. But in late July all my favorites come out, namely Queen Anne's lace, Black-eyed susan's, and golden rod. There are always the signs in summer that no, this isn't going to last forever, so you had better enjoy it while it is here. I set out one morning every late July to just go wildflower hunting. Over the years I have gotten better at identifying them and discerning what they are telling me about how much summer is left.
Stage Five: School is Almost Back. School supplies go on sale in July, just after Independence Day, but somewhere in the second week of August, it really feels like fall is coming. There is always a time around then where you see a yellow leaf and you wonder, dying leaf or is the tree starting to turn colors for fall. THe timing of it is why I start looking for signs of fall around August 1st.
Stage Three: Hollyhock Season. Around the fourth of the July things in the garden and the flowerbed really start going. The hollyhocks and shasta daisies are finally in bloom or almost there. It's when the garden has started producing tomatoes and zuchinni, the corn stalks are getting pretty high. It's also the time when I start either adoring the endless summer or despising it. It's funny because it goes either way in July. There are some July months that have been horrendous, some that have been delightful. The key has been me having a plan going into the month on what I am going to do to make it awesome.
Stage Four: Wildflower Season. Truth be told, wildflowers are around starting in June. But in late July all my favorites come out, namely Queen Anne's lace, Black-eyed susan's, and golden rod. There are always the signs in summer that no, this isn't going to last forever, so you had better enjoy it while it is here. I set out one morning every late July to just go wildflower hunting. Over the years I have gotten better at identifying them and discerning what they are telling me about how much summer is left.
Stage Five: School is Almost Back. School supplies go on sale in July, just after Independence Day, but somewhere in the second week of August, it really feels like fall is coming. There is always a time around then where you see a yellow leaf and you wonder, dying leaf or is the tree starting to turn colors for fall. THe timing of it is why I start looking for signs of fall around August 1st.
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Nature Hike!
Right now is the golden time to go walking in the marsh in early summer. Things are turning green but the mosquitoes aren't out yet.
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Tulips In My Garden
I went away for a week and came back to my garden being filled with blooming tulips. How lovely!
Sunday, May 5, 2013
Things I Need To Do Before Hitting The Road
- Work two shifts at work. I am excited about my new job but not when it is standing in the way between me and Albuquerque. I was feel anxious about work today, until I realized it was because I really just want to jump to Wednesday.
- Pack my bags...including flip-flops!
- Create a perfect airport soundtrack to play as I chill there waiting for flights.
- Charge up the camera, Ipad, and Ipod.
- Try and get sleep Tuesday afternoon because I have an early morning flight Wednesday.
- Get a haircut. My hair is finally long enough to require a trim. Not on top, but the sides are looking shabby.
- Do laundry...and decide what I am going to wear while there. The forecast looks lovely.
- Watch the Rupaul's Drag Race finale. I don't get to watch it until I download it Tuesday morning, so no one ruin it for me!
- Pack my bags...including flip-flops!
- Create a perfect airport soundtrack to play as I chill there waiting for flights.
- Charge up the camera, Ipad, and Ipod.
- Try and get sleep Tuesday afternoon because I have an early morning flight Wednesday.
- Get a haircut. My hair is finally long enough to require a trim. Not on top, but the sides are looking shabby.
- Do laundry...and decide what I am going to wear while there. The forecast looks lovely.
- Watch the Rupaul's Drag Race finale. I don't get to watch it until I download it Tuesday morning, so no one ruin it for me!
Saturday, May 4, 2013
Summer To Do List
- Go on a lot of picnics. My family was on a picnic kick last summer and it was lovely. And I can't wait for more this summer. Sometimes we just have dinner at a local park, but Wisconsin is lovely in the early evening in summer.
- Have a magical vacation to Albuquerque!
- Turn 29. What a weird age.
- The Third Annual Summer Netflix Project!
- My pumpkin patch. I have a really fertile area for this summer's pumpkin patch, which makes me super excited. This year I am trying a new variety in addition to my standard jack 'o lantern pumpkins: rouge vif d'etampe. They are super pretty and magical looking.
- Growing sunflowers. The only thing that can parallel my love for growing pumpkins is growing sunflowers.
- The annual reading of Gone With the Wind.
- Going on a lot of walks. My favorite is to go on them on windy days along the marsh. The tall grass moves like the ocean and the feeling is epic. And mosquitoes aren't as bad when it is that windy.
- Farmers' Markets: I sincerely love that weekends in my town are defined by the Festival Foods parking lot being taken over by farmers selling their crops.
- Long drives with the windows down. There is nothing like driving through the country on an afternoon with the wind blowing into the car. Sure, you have to avoid driving by the dairies...but otherwise, the smell is amazing.
- Walking around barefoot. Summer in Marshfield really does feel like The Shire, and part of that is because shoes are negotiable. My favorite is to go barefoot looking for wildflowers on Sunday afternoons after dinner.
- Playing in the rain. We have some epic late afternoon thunderstorms here in the summertime. And it is lovely to go stand in the rain while everyone is freaking out about tornadoes.
- Lurking in stores in order to celebrate back to school sales...which start shortly after the 4th of July.
- Have a magical vacation to Albuquerque!
- Turn 29. What a weird age.- The Third Annual Summer Netflix Project!
- My pumpkin patch. I have a really fertile area for this summer's pumpkin patch, which makes me super excited. This year I am trying a new variety in addition to my standard jack 'o lantern pumpkins: rouge vif d'etampe. They are super pretty and magical looking.
- Growing sunflowers. The only thing that can parallel my love for growing pumpkins is growing sunflowers.
- The annual reading of Gone With the Wind.
- Going on a lot of walks. My favorite is to go on them on windy days along the marsh. The tall grass moves like the ocean and the feeling is epic. And mosquitoes aren't as bad when it is that windy.
- Farmers' Markets: I sincerely love that weekends in my town are defined by the Festival Foods parking lot being taken over by farmers selling their crops.
- Long drives with the windows down. There is nothing like driving through the country on an afternoon with the wind blowing into the car. Sure, you have to avoid driving by the dairies...but otherwise, the smell is amazing.
- Walking around barefoot. Summer in Marshfield really does feel like The Shire, and part of that is because shoes are negotiable. My favorite is to go barefoot looking for wildflowers on Sunday afternoons after dinner.
- Playing in the rain. We have some epic late afternoon thunderstorms here in the summertime. And it is lovely to go stand in the rain while everyone is freaking out about tornadoes.
- Lurking in stores in order to celebrate back to school sales...which start shortly after the 4th of July.
Friday, May 3, 2013
Can I Stop Worrying?
I have a horrible habit. I worry. I look into the future and I stress about what is approaching on the horizon. For instance, instead of focusing on today, I saw the schedule at work and I am literally stressing about a shift that is two weeks away. It's not even a bad shift...just one that I am not 100% comfortable with yet. But what I need to do is focus on my job today and doing that every day between now and then will allow me to do what I need to do.
Or for instance, I am going to Albuquerque next week. I am so freaked out I won't sleep while I am there. I am slightly neurotic in my pre-sleep OCD rituals, so I am worried that without some of those I won't be able to sleep at a time when I am supposed to be stress-free. I get so worried about it that I don't sleep now. I am literally posting this at around midnight, worrying about sleep next week.
I don't know what to do about it. I just know that it needs to stop. My life cannot be dictated by the what-if. Things are going to be okay. I keep retelling myself that. It is all going to be okay.
Or for instance, I am going to Albuquerque next week. I am so freaked out I won't sleep while I am there. I am slightly neurotic in my pre-sleep OCD rituals, so I am worried that without some of those I won't be able to sleep at a time when I am supposed to be stress-free. I get so worried about it that I don't sleep now. I am literally posting this at around midnight, worrying about sleep next week.
I don't know what to do about it. I just know that it needs to stop. My life cannot be dictated by the what-if. Things are going to be okay. I keep retelling myself that. It is all going to be okay.
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Albuquerque!
This time next week I will be in Albuquerque! The days can't go by fast enough.
Here's what I am excited for:
- Seeing Stacie, Kevin, and Henry. Henry has probably gotten huge since I saw him last December. And he's walking now! I miss these f*ckers like you wouldn't believe.
- Seeing Scott and Chandra again! I have seen this awesome power couple since almost 18 months or so ago. Henry wasn't even born back then!
- Tucano's. I realize that my Wisconsin audience doesn't appreciate this. But all you need to know is it is a restaurant where there are flaming swords of meat. And grilled pineapple. And fried bananas. And pao de queijo. Brazilian orgasm.
- Green chiles. I adore that they are almost everywhere in Albuquerque. Last time I was there I had green chile on a hot dog.
- Blue skies and warm weather. True, Wisconsin got lucky this past weekend with some warm weather. But now we are back to cold and rainy. So I am excited for the desert goodness where there is a huge blue sky and heat.
- No work, no worrying, just play time!
Here's what I am excited for:
- Seeing Stacie, Kevin, and Henry. Henry has probably gotten huge since I saw him last December. And he's walking now! I miss these f*ckers like you wouldn't believe.
- Tucano's. I realize that my Wisconsin audience doesn't appreciate this. But all you need to know is it is a restaurant where there are flaming swords of meat. And grilled pineapple. And fried bananas. And pao de queijo. Brazilian orgasm.
- Green chiles. I adore that they are almost everywhere in Albuquerque. Last time I was there I had green chile on a hot dog.
- Blue skies and warm weather. True, Wisconsin got lucky this past weekend with some warm weather. But now we are back to cold and rainy. So I am excited for the desert goodness where there is a huge blue sky and heat.
- No work, no worrying, just play time!
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