Autumnal Weather on the Way?

We shall see. It's supposed to get to 70s today, down to 50s this weekend. I shall believe it when I feel it! ;)

Mother Nature, are you listening?

Um, hello, Mother Nature? The leaves are changing, but the weather is not. I'm looking forward to chilly mornings starting with a cuppa or hot cocoa, and soups. I want to wear pants without sweating. This 80 and 90 degree weather, this prolonged Indian summer, I'm really ready to let it go now.

Hmmm... maybe Persephone and Hades are having some issues, or Demeter isn't cooperating. ;)

Anyone else out there ready for Autumn weather? This warm weather wouldn't be so bad if the pools wer still open! ;)

Peace and Serenity

I just got an email from a friend letting me know how impressed she's been with how serene and peaceful I seem to be over the last few months. Normally, I would've wondered what she was talking about.

However, this time, I stopped and looked at my life.

And yes, I could see what she was referring too. Compared to how I used to live my life, and what I used to fret about, I am much more serene and peaceful comparatively.

A while back, I made the intention to live a life that was more peaceful and serene. And then, I forgot about it. I think it's funny that on some level, I've been making decisions to reflect this.

My life isn't completely serene and peaceful; however, it has it's moments, and my perspective has changed a lot. It was really refreshing to be reminded that I want a life of serenity and peace, and to see that I'm getting there. It's a process, a lovely process, and it's really aperspective. And I see it when I my lips touch those of my husband, and I am grateful, oh so very grateful that he is my partner, my love, my support. When Pook touches my cheek to hers, and tells me she loves me. When I look around my house and sigh contentedly, because I am home and it feels like a home. When I'm outside, breathing in the fresh air, glad to feel the sun on my face. When my heart spills over with love and gratitude for my friends and family.

There are moments of chaos in my life (my friends will attest to this!), but it's how I see things that radiate peace, serenity, or those times when I have a major freak out (and I do!). But, with my intention, each step I take brings me closer to living a peaceful and serene life - by my definition at least! ;)

What comes next?

This past weekend, the new curtains went up in the guestroom. This past weekend, I realized that aside from painting, the fence, and the space that needs to be cleared in the back... I was done with the house projects.

I've been through my books, and until I start reading through my shelf of books "to read", I'm really happy with most of those that are left. There are small projects I could do - a personal scrap book I could work on, painting a picture frame, reading those books on the shelf, plotting out Christmas gifts (I have some, but it just doesn't feel right to wrap them until November at least!).

But, in regards to the house, I'm pretty much done with the rearranging and decluttering. And, you know what? It scares me. (Okay, I know that some of you are snickering while you read this! ;) )

But it does. What do I do next?

For so long, decluttering and rerranging, and planning have been such a big part of my time and schedule, and now... I'm almost not sure what to do with myself?

Oh, I'm sure I could find more things to decluter or rearrange, but I don't want to. On the same level, I'm not sure what I want to do. I feel weird, almost empty not working on the house in some way. And yet, at the same time, I am sort of excited, almost anxious, yes, anxious not having something to do.

This makes me wonder, how will I be in a few months? Will I start seeking out things to declutter or house projects? Or, will I get comfortable with just settling in?

Only time will tell. For now, I'm just hoping the anxiety will pass. I'm trying not to come up with more projects... as is my usual custom. Why does this feel so unsettling?

Ah... sweet Friday!

Finally, a day to stop, rest, and regain my footing. It's been a splendidly full week, but full nonetheless, and for those of you who know me, I like being laid back and not having a lot going on.

Many of you might think what I think of a full week as being rather tame, but for me, it's full. :) It was fun too, but full.

Today I'm looking forward to being able to do laundry, putter about the house, snuggle on the couch with Pook, and not have to shower until the afternoon, when we'll go grocery shopping. I'm thinking of baking leaf-shaped sugar cookies later. Yum!

Tonight, I get to watch Another Thin Man movie from NetFlix and snuggle with hubby. (I'm all about the snuggling.) Tomorrow, we've planned a picnic at Valley Falls with the ILs. Lovely, just blissful!

And this is an aside, but I came across this post on How to do it with kids today, and it's so true. Being a parent, you can choose what to focus on, be it the positives or the negatives. And, in focusing on the positives, it seems like you've got it all together. Even though, in reality, you probably don't have it ALL together. :)

Being Hard on One's Self

Oh, I could write on and on about this one. Particulary because I'm so good at setting marvelously high expectations for myself to meet, then getting angry at myself for not meeting them.

Sound familiar to anyone?

Recently, I've been on a bad streak of picking on myself for a variety of little things that "I'm not doing good enough." (And no, I haven't read my Radical Acceptance book in a few days, thank you very much! Nor have I been taking time out for me either. Ah yes... there's that trend again!)

At least, I'm more aware of myself when I start to do this. I'm not sure why I do it. I don't like doing it, and yet, I catch myself doing it. So, now I'm exploring ways to stop doing it, or to at least find a way to deal with it.

I have noticed, I tend to do it a lot when there are many things going on in my life. Somewhere, somehow, I've gotten the notion into my head that I am superwoman. Fact is... I'm not. (Wonder woman... maybe...)

Hardboiled Eggs and Sticky Kisses

Today, we took the car in so that they could figure out and fix the lovely grinding noise coming from the right front of the car. Turns out it was the rotors. Bleh. And then, since the brakepads were getting down, they needed to be replaced as well.

Now, I'm not going to mention about how many times I've been in to get my car fixed this year - both cars have had their fair share of work. I'm hoping this will tide us over for a while. Really. Or, I'll need to win the lottery to help pay for all this stuff!

This week has just been amazing for me. It really has. I've discovered that running all over the place has given me a new appreciation of my home. :)

I did manage to find inspiration to hardboil some eggs, and we got a bag of mixed beans for Pook to play with. She's already glues about half of them to two pieces of paper. Daddy's going to love it. Really. :)

Next week is looking fun too, with a princess tea on Monday, the usual school stuff, and on Wednesday, we get to celebrate SUKOT with friends. And, it's supposed to be outside. And, it's supposed to rain. Friday, we may or may not get a visit from the ILs. If they don't come up then, they'll be here Saturday.

And then, it's into October. And, the official beginning of fall. Whoo hoo.