Looking Back | February 2020

Looking Back | February 2020

In looking back at February, I am grateful it is not a longer month! However, I am appreciative of the lengthening days! In twenty-nine short days, we gained over an hour of daylight!

And, there was so much more sunshine this month than in January, but we also had a good bit of precipitation – both rain and snow.

I continued to track the temperature in my area which continues to shock me…we had 1 day in the 60’s, 7 days in the 50’s, 14 days in the 40’s, 8 days in the 30’s, and just 2 days in the 20’s. I wonder if all those knitting Tempestry Projects are feeling as I do (and if they have run out of warmer colors yet!)


The Best Part of the Month:

Flowers…inside and out! And, my wee little snow drops weathered February and are still hanging in there as March begins!

Something New:

There was a new thing this month… on the spur of the moment we decided to head to New Cumberland, WV to visit Mountaineer Casino. And, it was a productive trip in that left the casino with more than we came with! (And, we also visited the Fiesta Outlet and left some of our winnings there…as you can see on the 25th)

Best “Oh, Wow” Moments:

I had worried after losing our Knitting Leader in January that our little knitting group would fall apart. I have stepped in to the “leader” role (if you can call it leader – I actually just send out the text message reminding everyone that it’s Knit Night Day and ask who is joining me!) However, I have grown our little group by one and I am working on recruiting some more to join us. I have also become the “fixer of dropped stitches” and the “finder of free patterns.” And honestly? Any time I spend in my local library makes me so happy. It is a place I truly love.

What I did Well and What I can do Better:

In February I made a concerted effort to “love myself.” And, I did so with my “public ready” (read with makeup!) face as well as my “private” (read no makeup!) face. To start the month, it was not easy at all, but it did get easier as the month moved along. I can stand here today and tell you than I am worth the effort it took!

However, the days of moping are over and so are the days of not moving my body. Yes… I did not walk or do any Pilates for the entire month. So, while I worked on loving myself, I did not engage my physical self at all. In hindsight, moving my body might have helped me love my emotional self more easily.

And there you have my February, over in the blink of an eye! What was your best February Moment?

 

 

Looking Back | January 2020

Looking Back | January 2020

Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year. — Ralph Waldo Emerson

The Best Part of the Month: Realizing that there was more sunshine than it felt like. January is long, and it felt so sunless and seeing that there were more pockets of sunshine than I remembered brought a smile to my face! Also, to celebrate the gradually lengthening days was something very worthwhile!

Something New: Finding a faith home after struggling and avoiding for far too long.

Best “Oh, Wow” Moment/s: Settling into feeling uncomfortable, unsettled, and out of place…and discovering peace there and all kinds of room for growth!

What I did Well and What I can do Better: I found joy in the small things. I nourished my body with healthy choices (most of the time) and I spent more time meditating. These were all the very best parts of the month. And, those things that I could do better? I need to spend more time stepping outside of my comfort zone and I need to push myself to do that more.

What about you? How was your January?

Looking Back | November 2019

Looking Back | November 2019

I have come to regard November as the older, harder man’s October. I appreciate the early darkness and cooler temperatures. It puts my mind in a different place than October. It is a month for a quieter, slightly more subdued celebration of summer’s death as winter tightens its grip. — Henry Rollins

Henry Rollins certainly has November pegged! This month saw the most dramatic changes, I think. From colored leaves to bare trees. From gently warming days to repeated frosts. And, rain… a colder wintry rain, no longer the warm rains of summer and early fall! There was one day (the 6th) that the photos were so spectacular, I could not pick just one! It was a month that in looking back upon, there was much to be full of gratitude for, which if you asked me before this post – I would have been was hard pressed to say there was much to find gratitude in at all! I am profoundly grateful for these images that have helped me refocus.

November in 58 seconds was not bad either!

There was moving my body – indoors and out! There was so much good food and even a bit of snow! I sadly missed one day of video – so you get a double dose of Steve in his Jerome Bettis super-special and amazing jersey… only in Pittsburgh is this such a big deal! (Also, please note that though Steve hates modeling knitwear, he is eager to show off his jersey… just sayin’ lol)

I hope your November was spectacular as well! See you all back here tomorrow for a bit of Unraveling!

Looking Back | October 2019

Looking Back | October 2019

October is the fallen leaf, but it is also a wider horizon more clearly seen. It is the distant hills once more in sight, and the enduring constellations above them once again. — Hal Borland

My October images had a clear pattern of almost daily changes – I watched the trees go from green to glorious in slow motion – the color beginning at the top and gradually flowing down the course of the leaves. We had our first frost. We also had such amazing skies and, happily, very little rain! It also included a quick Michigan trip to visit some of my favorite people. And, movement… lots of movement.

The video last month has to be one of my favorites. There were so many butterflies all month long! Our butterfly bush just seemed to be hanging on just for this purpose and it was magical to head outside each afternoon and find dozens of them covering the blooming panicles.

Thanks for looking back at October with me! How about you? What did your October hold?

Looking Back | September 2019

Looking Back | September 2019

September was an incredible month…there was baking, and the first day of school, and so many amazing skies (most of which were captured on my morning walks!) and there were good sips, Pilates, Sherman, and a new do! One thing struck me in looking back was this: even though the daylight hours were waning, the light itself was truly spectacular! Especially for taking pictures because it is softer and warmer and I definitely noticed that in this months photo images.

The video shares 1 minute of a September that felt like it began and ended about that fast!

And, that  is a wrap for the week! I am heading off to Michigan bright and very early tomorrow morning. (Okay, really dark and insanely early as I will be on my way long before the sun rises!) I will see you all back here next week in time for Unraveled Wednesday!

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