Appreciations…Starting year 5

This year I will continue to notice appreciations, but I might not post every day. I’m happy to report that my neural pathways for appreciating and gratitude are firmly established. Yay! It’s been incredibly helpful this year! Depression and anxiety from the heart trauma this past spring have tried very hard to trick me into a different, more negative way of looking at life, but my sweet little brain always nudges me back toward happiness eventually. 🙂

Here’s the start of Year 5…

1. Farmer’s market produce – yummy! Plus, the fun of seeing new friends from Friday group at the market. Turns out they only live 2 blocks from me!

2. Fun cars seen in my neighborhood!
cool car

3. Another gorgeous night for a walk. I love these cooler night temperatures!

IMG_48194. Luna, who is taking full advantage of the chaos up here as we work to incorporate 2 stories worth of stuff into the upstairs. 😉

5. Amazingly beautiful weather. Walks at this time of year are the best!!

Appreciations 4.353-365

353. The hilarious Star Trek DS9 model kit David got for me. I love it! 😀 Fresh corn on the cob for dinner with the kids last night. ❤️ Legos.

bunbun walk354. Learning to nap. 😉 Lack of sleep has made things pretty challenging the past few months, so I am actively teaching myself to nap. So far, I’ve done 2 10-minute naps. It’s a start! 😛 Bunbun walk.

355. Another really helpful session with Lynne. I so appreciate her help during this crazy time in my life.

356. Wonderful afternoon and evening with Ruby! It’s always such a treat when we get a long day together. ❤️ Bedtime snuggles with Ruby. There is nothing like cuddling with a 6-year old who loves you!

357. Fun trip to Glam Doll with Katie, Cina, and Mckenzie. Fun way to start the day. 🙂 Nice neighborhood walk. Yummy dinner with the Delaneys.

358. Driving Terri & Ruby to airport today. It was so nice to see them… and to feel useful for a change! Much progress on project Duncan-Move-In. Lots of clutter upstairs, but the new space is looking better and better. 😉

359. Walk up to farmer’s market this morning. I love farmer’s market days. Finally putting paint on walls. So much prep before we actually get to start painting! Katie and Cina for knocking out the first coat on the entire basement in under 3 hours! Amazing!

farmers market haul.jpg

360. Last night’s beautiful moon lighting up my nighttime walk. 😀


361. The thrill of the hunt… for anything in my house these days! Moving all that stuff upstairs has turned my space into a giant find-the-hidden-objects game. 😉

362. Basement is looking better and better… getting closer to finishing all the tasks!

363. Amazing lightning show during late evening walk with Mckenzie. Gorgeous!


364. Phew! Got all the painting, cleaning, and moving of furniture done…just in time! Delicious brunch with the kids to reward our hard work. ❤️ I so appreciate all time and energy Katie, Cina, and Mckenzie put in to help me get this project done!


365. Move-in day! How exciting to see the newly fixed-up basement filling up with its new household! 🙂

Appreciations 4.341-352

341. Walk with the kids. Bird tree!

342. Nice visit and walk with Jeff.

343. The amazing symmetry of this flower. More amazing nature… just how did this whirlybird seed get impaled on the spiky plant? Wow!

344. Amazing trees in my neighborhood… faces and Easter Island heads!

345. Super fun and delicious dinner with the Delaneys. Body art by Ruby. 😉 body art 7-31

346. Good night’s sleep. Productive day.

347. Surprise coffee with Cina who showed up this morning and said, “Hey, it’s mom coffee date day.” Sweet!

348. Thundery morning. Helpful appointment with Melinda.

349. Good check in appt with my heart doc. Staying the course, no bad effects from meds. Plus, Amy is sweet and so fun to talk with. I like having a good health team.

350. Surprise visit from Katie and Cina — they even brought me coffee! Nice visit with my brothers as we drove down to Rochester. Good to see Debb, Tim, Beth and Blair — even if it was in the hospital waiting room. Glad Dennis is improving!!

351. Multi-colored flower. Beautiful weather.


352. Farmer’s market walk with Sarah and Ida! Yummy farmer’s market tomatoes. Afternoon of sorting through Katie’s papers and mementos with the girls. Lots of funny stuff! So. Many. Drawings. Luna cat and her wonderful poses.