Washington

October 24th, 2018

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Today in North Idaho it is sunny with a high of 58°.  I am packed up and back on the road today heading out of Washington and back to North Idaho!  I will be taking a scenic route off of I5 and over to 20 through the Cascades. I’m hoping the weather holds out but I might run up against some fog.

It amazes me sometimes how my perspective can so quickly become tweaked. How a simple road trip can open my eyes and expand my heart. I imagine the lives of the people living in the towns I pass through. Some homes are so remote. What do they do for a living? Did they go to college? Do they work from home? Is there WiFi in these here parts?!?!  “Mow the lawn and find a tractor.”  And then the cities and the obvious loss of connection that the smaller towns can’t help but have.  The beautiful old architecture and massive manufacturing, a zillion shops, restaurants and pubs.  Different strokes for different folks.

How did I land in North Idaho?  Those little feet kept walking, my life had the same direction that all school children had in life.  After I graduated high school I married a man nine years my senior and went to college for stenography. I had my daughter shortly before I received my state CSR license. My mother had moved to North Idaho with her third husband about a year before I passed my exam and invited us to move up too. The area was beautiful so we packed our belongings and we went. My daughter was nine months old when we started life in North Idaho.  I must have sang Somewhere Out There from An American Tail a hundred times. Her favorite song and it kept her attention on the long drive!  The move was a big change. It was a new beginning.  Life was so full of promise and I’ll never regret moving to North Idaho and raising my daughter here.

My daughter has told me several times that she had a great childhood. I can’t begin to tell you the depth of peace that brings me. If I die tomorrow!  If I did nothing worth while with my life but give my daughter a happy childhood then I’m okay with that!! That is the only thing that has ever had my feet solidly placed on the ground. Her happiness was my only true purpose.

So know your purpose and fulfill it. It may take a life time!  It may be more than one thing!  Keep your focus because in the end everything else is just noise.

October 23rd, 2018

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Pallet Birdhouse DIY

 

Today in North Idaho it is sunny and 61 and from what I understand the weather in general has been wonderful for over a week. If you are located in a place where the summer forest fires bring in thick smoke then you will appreciate a few extra weeks of nice weather at the end of the summer in a seasonal area.  The last few years our summers have been downright miserable which is extra difficult when you have only a few months to be out on the lake. It is hard on tourism and local businesses. Also there are many hard working men and women firefighters away from their families and facing danger. Crossing my fingers that next summer is better.

Today I took a moment for a little DIY birdhouse project. I love repurposing pallets and birdhouses are easy, useful and quick.  People always love getting these little birdhouses and what bird doesn’t love a sweet little home!!

Joy comes in small packages! Just the smallest amount of effort can make all the difference.  I’ll give this gift to someone who will then gift me with a smile or a hug in return.

I make my future and so can you!

 

 

 

October 22, 2018

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Today in North Idaho it is sunny with a high of 61°.  I believe for the next week I can expect the same temperature in my current location in Washington.

It is interesting to be off on a Monday while the majority of the rest of the world is working, or maybe that is just the US.  Regardless, I walked to the store this morning and it was so peaceful and quiet.  The store itself was a little lazy which fit just fine.  I’m guessing the morning shift is probably the least interactive.  Purely speculation on my part.

Today I’m going to stay in and catch up on some day to day chores.  Also, a friend’s granddaughter is coming over around 11:30 so I’ll have company until around 5:00.  This young lady is twelve years old and is very intelligent.  I’m excited to spend time with her and see what the world looks like from her eyes.

Enjoy your day and be open to new possibilities.

 

October 20th, 2018

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nature red forest leaves

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Today in North Idaho it is sunny-ish with a high of 63°. My current location started out pretty foggy but ended up sunny and the perfect temp to go walk around town and visit shops.  You know the kind of shopping in which you buy absolutely nothing but enjoy yourself immensely by simply communicating with others and generally seeing what shopkeepers find to be the next big thing. I did find a few annual planners that I thought my daughter would like but decided I was unsure of the size she would need so I passed.  Sometimes it is nice to pass.

I find that at this point in my life I pass on a lot of things.  I mean, don’t get me wrong, I am a very social person and have stimulating people in my life.  I just mean that I no longer feel that I MUST participate.  I used to feel that if I didn’t join in then I would be ostracized.  I would find myself doing thing that I didn’t really enjoy year after year thinking Why Am I Doing This!?!?  Most of the time there were activities that I felt were personally unhealthy or people that I thought were unhealthy.  Unhealthy in lots of ways like they drink or smoke to much, they cheat on their spouses, they ignore or avoid their children, they look down on others and generally feel they are to good for people.  And how on earth are you a good person if you’re not in ONE of those groups.  Either your a good person or your a bad person… or are you just a person trying to figure it out!

It was just a lot of energy in the wrong direction.  So today I think long and hard before I commit to a project.  I make sure the time I’ll be giving works for my lifestyle.  I make sure I can give the project what it needs and vise versa.  I’m looking for connection and service coupled with smiles and a betterment of myself and whatever project I’ve jumped in on.  And things happen that are unexpected and that’s okay.  I’m okay with riding out the curves because nothing and no one is perfect.  I’m also okay with saying No Thank You and I Don’t Have The Extra Time.

Today take a moment to know your limits.  Yes, push your comfort zone but know how far you’re willing to go and know that you can and will find the next exit if that is to the betterment of all concerned.  Embrace the life that you create!

 

 

 

October 19th, 2018

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Bike and Basket

Fill your basket!!

Today in North Idaho it is sunny with a high of 62°. My current location has a high of 62° and I am grateful to slow down, unwind and catch up.  It seems doubtful that the sun will make an appearance but what the weather lacks in light it more than makes up for in fog!  Tea anyone!?!?

The last few days I have been flying by the seat of my pants.  No true plans except to move forward and enjoy the road and the countryside.  I had not been to the beach in a few years so knew I would need to make that trip happen.  The weather did not disappoint and the sand and water were actually warm.  The ocean air is so calming.  I observed that many people brought their blankets to spread out and lay on.  Several men brought chairs to sit in by the ocean and initially I thought they might have a line in but in fact appeared to be sleeping.  That really speaks volumes as to the relaxing nature of the ocean or water in general.

It is interesting to note that the air seems heavy and yet light at the same time. Even when the beach is busy there is a lack of weighty sea air on your skin.  Laying on the sand and catching a nap still holds the mental equivalent of someone partitioning your small area from everyone else.  It is as if we all have invisible boxes and we all attempt not to invade the other party’s box.  Don’t step on their blanket or towel and don’t kick up sand!!  Beach rules have not changed!

When I was a child living with my grandparents we would make a trek to the beach in an old motor home.  I specifically remember the sea air, sand buckets and shovels, bathing suites with towels hanging on the back of chairs, grandma cooking inside the motor home and grandpa cooking outside over the campfire, seashells of all shapes and sizes everywhere and late night potty breaks using a Folgers Coffee can.  I remember thinking how eating was such a bother when there was so much to do.  Such sweet simple life affirming moments to look back on.  Nothing else mattered and everything was right with the world.

Today I remind you to continue to play in whatever fashion that presents itself to you.  Play so long that you forget to stop and eat.