walking at sunset.

"Open my heart," I prayed.  

"Help me to feel, see, experience the present.  Help me to be right here, right now."

New and renewed.

Just sprucing things up a little bit, indoors and out.

Sometimes I think that Fall is my favorite season, but no, it's definitely Spring.  Spring brings new life, new beauty, renewed hope and things to look forward to.

The sentiment is obviously nothing new--it's been said many times before.  I don't have any grand or eloquent words about it.  I'm just experiencing it and enjoying it for myself.

Being outdoors and doing yard work these past two weekends has felt great.  Some new flowers (rieger begonias).  Our normal herbs.  Some fresh flowers (ranunculus) for the dining table.  Feels special.  Makes life feel slow.

perhaps a bit more energy.

Last month I had some pretty extensive blood testing done and finally learned the results this past Monday.  With all of my skin issues and the intense fatigue that I've been experiencing, I learned that I not only have thyroid & immunity issues, but also severe deficiencies of Vitamin B & D.  I've been starting a new regimen of supplements as they've arrived in the mail this past week--and I'm still waiting on the actual prescriptions to come in--however I'm already noticing a bit more energy.  I'm not jumping through the roof or anything, but I'm starting to feel more like my normal self.

In my last post, I mentioned that I haven't been cooking very much--at all?--recently.  Well, I've found myself making meals for 3 days straight....!  That's breakfast, lunch AND dinner...ALL three days.  Taking this whole year into consideration, I'd say that's erring pretty close to a miracle.

Standing in the kitchen, realizing that I'm actually cooking for once!

Yep, that's me in the tea kettle.

Yep, the meatloaf crumbled apart.

While I cook, her royal highness lounges around.

And finally, I normally don't like (taking or looking at) mirror photos.  But, I'm kind of proud of myself for putting together a new outfit today, so who cares!

taking care of me from afar.

Christopher travels a lot.  And, by a lot, I mean a lot.

Sometimes I'm really good at being home alone for extended periods of time.

Other times it's the absolute worst.

Over this past year, with all of my health issues, it's been especially difficult for me to make the effort to cook for just myself (or even for both of us, ha!).    Thankfully, he's getting really good at making sure there's things for me to eat while he's away.

He's finally getting home this evening from a "short" (1 1/2 weeks) trip.  YAYYYYY! :D