May 9, 2026 A.D.

Baseball season ended this morning. This has been my favorite season yet. I am not sure why, but I do think playing at the older fields which are smaller and renovated this winter made it seem a little nostalgic for me. We tried to go to one game a week each for Tucker and Palmer. Next year, Miles will be old enough to enter the games, so more of this is in my future. I missed another season of Auburn baseball. I am a little bummed that we didn't get up for a game this year and think that I am going to prioritize that next year. 

We have had a real spring this year. There have been many cooler mornings than usual. I have to give all credit for any flowers in pots this year entirely to Jeff. I just was not feeling up to it, but gave him a little freedom to choose colors. We will be a colorful house this year rather than my traditional "white is right for summertime." I have to tell you I am liking it. We have a mixture in each pot up front of pink and white vincas. I think I am liking it! Rather than pots of roses downstairs on the deck we have an array of colors and I am loving it as well. Sometimes I suppose we need change. Jeff has a good little salsa garden going to with tomatoes, peppers, and cilantro.

I shared I was walking in the afternoons like my past days. I am really loving it. It has helped with giving me some alone time to walk, think and pray. I don't exactly have the best location to walk in my neighborhood, so Jeff and Gus, the Springer drive me to parks around town and keep an eye on me for safety while I walk. We have so many wonderful parks around town. I mean really nice ones, but I still feel better knowing Jeff is around to ward off trouble if it should arise for a 65 year old female out by herself. I have been mostly rotating between 3 because 2 of them are by the Sound (water views) and all are shady. The shade will be important as the summer heat is coming. When school is out I will add the beach to my rotation. 

This is one of my spots. The Gulf is just on the other side of the buildings across the water, so I get a salty breeze.

Jeff bought me a FitBit which has been extremely informative to what is going on with my energy levels. For instance, it warned me I needed to rest on this day and I heeded that advice. 

I have noticed in the 2.5 weeks I have worn it that when I don't sleep I feel awful. Duh! Big surprise there, but I'm 65 and I do think my autoimmune issues haunt the sleep patterns. I knew I was off weeks ago which had me thinking I needed to make some changes. I am getting some beneficial information and am changing even my big cleaning days around and trying to even those out some. I was so hoping the doctor would change my thyroid dosage but he did NOT. I am trusting him, even though I know in my heart it is not all just right. I think I have to look at changing some other things too. As with any medication there are side effects -so adding a higher dosage magnifies osteoporosis issues. I do take supplements that benefit me and those were in accordance with doctor advice. I see so much out there, but I do know you can mess up stuff royally just going rogue with additions. For now, I am walking working on that stress relief and listening to my body on the days when I have done more than is considered beneficial.

I am oddly just itching to put all my patriotic decor out. I swore off rushing seasons years back. I usually put it out the week before Memorial Day so it is very soon. I might just go for it this next week. I did put out some ribbons on the swans and light pole to go with Jeff's new flag he bought. I ordered the ribbon off Amazon. I just didn't see any at Michael's quite like that. I also ordered my flags to decorate in the house with from Amazon. See, I am telling you I have the itch this year. I even ordered the kids some patriotic shirts.

I took my stitch to be framed. It should be ready on Friday. I can't wait. I took it in with one idea and completely went another direction with my choice. I hope it all works!

I finally got my 2 little pillows all finished up.

Feather Flock by Plum Street Samplers

Let Freedom Ring by Needle Treasures Nook

I am stitching 2 things at once. Breaking all my rules.

The first is what are called Animal Crackers. This is a whole series of animals finished up to look like animal crackers. I chose the rabbit Maggie Mae and started it. 

Then I saw the goose called Olive which I just had to buy the pattern. I told you my stitching mojo was back. I am so happy about that! Anywho, I like her way more than the rabbit, but I am gonna finish the rabbit. I am doing the rabbit on 28 count which is making it larger than the patterns intended. I felt like I needed to experiment with these before I did a small one and even if I enjoyed them. Stay tuned.

Have y'all noticed the goose resurgence in the decor. I am gonna be back in style in so many ways! HA!

Then I got sidetracked when I saw the next pattern finished by someone on Instagram. I think it will be last patriotic stitch except for the Pledge of Allegiance which is a large stitch and I didn't plan to try and have it finished for this summer. I want to add it to my sampler wall but no timeline on finishing it.

Now I usually stick to one stitch at a time, but reading is a whole different story. I can and do most of the time read multiple books. I am reading 4 good ones at the moment. Yes, you read that right. 4 - I will let one really captivate me and finish and then go back until the next one grabs me, etc. I should have some to share soon.

The Bible study I picked and shared in the last post is actually very good. It Is Well I have enjoyed reading through it. Like I said, I didn't think it had any earth shattering information, but very good reminders to keep the mind on track with the coming times.

My last item of the post is the word discernment. I never ever pick a word of the year. I have read the book that inspired that idea and it is not that I don't think that is a wonderful idea, but I am just never put together to ever come up with one. My mind is all over the place! HA! However, the word discernment was laid on my heart at the beginning of this year with so much incoming information all over the Internet. Honestly, I miss the days pre Internet when I just had my library and the World Book Encyclopedias. I am a total researcher always loving to find answers and read about anything and everything. I think the Internet can be good and not so good for a "me." I do know this, there is some crazy stuff out there, so discernment is wise to pray for!!! 

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there. I am expecting my family over tomorrow afternoon to grill out. We will celebrate the generations of moms tomorrow. 

Grands....