Ode to April: Conjure, Cultivate & Currate Delight

Wherein I enjoyed my first 3 day weekend in I don't know how long and my son took me to brunch .   I purposely did not sign up for a weekend shift so that I could relax, recharge and regroup.  I love my four 10 hour shifts, and feel energized.  We received the admission date for the cub's trade school, as well as the pack list.  I will greatly miss having him home, but this will be a good experience for him.  He is asking for for an x-box for his birthday and tools for his graduation so I guess I will work start picking up extra shifts again.  A local symphony orchestra played Beethoven's 9th so I bought myself a ticket and was joined by a mighty girl and her mom.  I cried at the same spot that I always do, the strings slay me.  After work I grabbed my travel hammock and headed to my secret spot for awhile.  The coral honeysuckle bloomed in time for the arrival of the first hummingbird.  The apple tree bloomed, and things are getting lively in the garden. 

Just when I think Amaryllis is dead, it blooms!

Impeccable timing

WITH ALL MY HEART!

Ode to March: Deploy Strategic Joy...

Wherein we had more spectacular skies, a tornado watch and insanely loud hailstorm.  I watched the lunar eclipse from my bedroom window.  I went kayaking with two mighty girls to celebrate M's birthday with joy and pizza.  Charlee had a visit from a lovely travel vet to get her rabies shot because she freaked out so badly trying to take her in that it took several weeks to come back to herself.  She's almost there, but remains quite anxious.  She did GREAT with the travel vet!  A friend made me Brazilian beans and we enjoyed an afternoon at the lake.  A neighbor surprised me with Kasha Varniskes.  The cub's car broke again, and he rode his bike to work at the restaurant while saving for the parts to repair it.  He and our neighbor fixed the car in his garage.  We are so proud of him. 

We begin planning for the path ahead.  The cub starts trade school in May and I begin my four 10 hour shifts at the clinic in April.  The health coach at the hospital, as well as friends and colleagues, have urged me to cut down on all the extra shifts, and start taking some time for myself.  I have been working nearly every weekend for over a year and have not taken any of my PTO since I was hired.  At the end of this year I will start losing PTO if I don't take it.  I gave it some consideration and my plan is to cut back on the weekend shifts during the Spring and Summer since I love being outdoors.  Then load up on the extra shifts in Autumn and Winter when it's too cold to be outside.  In addition, I will begin taking PTO, while keeping a reserve.  I will be taking 1 wk this summer.  I will be strategic and discerning with my time.

A text from a dear friend said, "I love that you still grow towards the light".  This made me smile.

Apprehensive of Dr. Debbie

Upstairs

A panther in my duvet

Cinder killed another toy mouse

The March Hare: Rabbit Rabbit

Ode to February: Deploy Strategic Joy

Wherein we had more snow and colorful skies and Venus.  Took a hike by the lake and marveled over the patterns on the ice.  I begin tapering down the hours at the second job to allow myself time for rest and enjoyment.  It's time to move from surviving to thriving.

Ode to January: Something Sacred

Wherein we had two beautiful albeit dangerous snow storms.  I planned ahead and brought the clinic lap top home in anticipation of the a closing, and was fortunate to be able to work from home as the roads in my neighborhood were not passable.  The juncos arrived marking the official start of winter.  I filled the feeders before, during and after the storm to help the feathered kin. Due to a are arctic blast, temps dipped down into the single digits which is highly unusual for this area.  A retired pilot who lives in the neighborhood did a flyover and drew a smiley face in the sky which was oh so enchanting.  My hope for this coming year is ease, balance and vitality.  May it shift from survive to thrive.  May some gorgeous twist of fate remove the monsters hellbent on destroying all we that have built, and may decency, peace, and hope return.  So may it be for me, so may it be for you, so may it be for all. 

vv

Wherein I was spotted!