Weekend Coffee Share....Come Sit with Me

It's another week of Weekend Coffee Share. I always love everyone's posts. Are you like me and try to visit everyone? It doesn't always happen but I try. I have loved getting to know different bloggers and I figure if they take the time to write a post, I'll find the time to visit, even if it's a week later. I truly enjoy what you all share and I often learn so much. 

Check out all the other posts on Weekend Coffee Share, hosted by Natalie the Explorer. I'm off to go visit some now. #weekendcoffeeshare.

If we were having coffee we might talk about: How loopy I am....I, once again, did NOT notice Natalie saying we weren't posting this week...until I went to put in my link. Ugghh...so I'll just make this a two part post. 

The Weather: 3/8 Oh my!!! The last 3 days have felt like spring. It's been cold but beautiful and dry. I'm starting to hear birds and frogs...and I LOVE it. It's supposed to be rainy the next 4 days or so but then have about a week of nice, even warm weather. I'm so hoping the forecast doesn't change. Now it's Sunday, and Saturday the rain came back at full force! Along with some wind. 

3/15...We are supposed to have a string of beautiful, mostly rain free weather the next 6 days. I'm pretty excited. I'll take what I can get. 

What we're thinking about:  3/8..I need to remember to turn in my voters ballot this Monday. I feel like I have found myself "dragging" into March. It's been a struggle. I read something today that said, "When you realize that the real New Year begins in March when things begin to sprout, bloom and grow. When everything comes alive and baby animals are born. So you give yourself the grace to spend winter in a resting hibernation phase just as Mother Earth (or God) intended." I had listened to someone share something similar and I thought it was so good. The encouragement was to wait and set intentions in the spring, but to use winter has the time to prepare your soil. 

3/15...voters ballot turned in. Lately I've been preoccupied with thinking about a few physical things going on. It's interesting how worry and even fear wants to creep in and take over our thoughts. 

What we're thankful for:  3/8 You know, without sounding sappy, today I'm thankful for all of you and the community of bloggers that I have found through various link parties. I'm thankful for those who take time to comment. I've laughed, been inspired by, encouraged by and I learn so much from each and every post I read. My goal is to be able to go around and read more posts from everyones blogs, but that just isn't possible right now in the phase of life I'm walking through. I literally could spend all day reading blog posts and writing blog posts. Haha!!! So for now, I'll do what I can, when I can. 

3/15...I'm thankful for a FaceTime chat I had with a friend yesterday that gave me some perspective and gave me a bit of peace. I'm thankful for being challenged to not settle for who I am, but being willing to continue growing and letting go of things that have limited me. 

Around the house: 3/8 We got the desk put up in the office...it'll do. Also a fan in the living area. We have a ceiling fan still to install in the master bedroom. I don't have a pic of the desk to share...still a lot to do in that room. 

3/15....we had to send back the ceiling fan for our room and ordered a different one. We also ordered some mirrors to try in our bathroom. I hate ordering those kinds of things because the return process is kind of annoying. I need to get out and do some caring for the yard. Photo below is new fan. 

With the weather looking nice, I need to get out and do some clean up in a few areas of the yard.

For the love of food: 3/8..I had several new recipes on the menu last week but didn't get them made. So they'll move to this week. Thursday was our youngest daughters 25th birthday so we had homemade pizza and I made peanut butter pound cake. I did try a new curry recipe that was really good. It wasn't the most appealing look wise, but the flavor was great. Tonight (Saturday), my hubby has some guys up to watch the fights, so I made chocolate chip cookies and we picked up some food items from Costco. PSA...Costco chili is really good. 

I also made easy, 2 ingredient protein bagels. They use just self rising (or I make my own self rising flour) and plain greek yogurt. 1 3/4 c. self rising flour and 1 c. greek yogurt. Mix together, from into a rope and seal two ends. Brush with egg and sprinkle with whatever you want or leave plain. Bake at 350 for 20ish minutes. Sometimes I turn the temp up so they brown more. 

3/15...this week I made at least one new recipe (no pic). It was this Chinese Chicken Salad, and it was a hit. I prepped everything in the morning so all we had to do was put it together when I got home from work. I think the rest of the week was kind of hit and miss with what we had...today I'll be putting together a menu for next week. 

What we're reading or wanting to read:  3/8..We'll be picking our next book club read this next week. For now I'm working on finishing up a book, working through reading my e-group book (Do the New You), and I started a cozy mystery on Kindle called Out of the Frying Pan. I'm struggling to get into the book I have for my 12/12 that I started, Everything Sad is Untrue. It's not an easy book to follow...I'm not that far into it, but I'm struggling through it. I'll keep trying, but may need to put it down and check it out at another time. There was a book that I've seen a lot of people read, and recently it was on a Kindles deal for either 1.99 or 2.99 I don't remember. It was River Sing Me Home.

3/15...The River Sing Me Home book that I mentioned above ended up being our next book club read so I just started it. I wrote a post for WOYBS here. 

What we've listened to or watched: I've caught a few episodes of shows my hubby has been watching while I was working on my puzzle. I've also listened to some podcast episodes. I started a new one, The Paul Young Podcast. Paul Young is the man who wrote the book The Shack. We've met him (had him over for dinner) and what a genuine man. Also, The Cabincast...if you like cabins, living in the woods, this is fun. It's hosts live in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. I follow Kristens blog, White Arrow Home. Also, These are Good Days, and Curl Up and Clue In. 

I'm almost done listening to Brene Browns Book Daring Greatly. It's really good, though I'm not a fan of her reading style. 

3/15....I finished the Daring Greatly  and started Wake Up with Purpose by Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt...a 103 year old Sister/Nun. I haven't listened to any podcasts this last week. Just couldn't seem to find the time. 

Favorite quote: I missed last weeks #WQ (3/6). I just had too much happening and no time to really sit and put time into it. The theme was animals. At first I was thinking along the lines of pets (which we don't have), but then I thought a little broader...I love animals in general. I especially love animals in the wild. If asked my favorite animal, I'd probably say a horse. Would I have a pet? Maybe someday, but I don't know. My hubby isn't a fan of pets in general and definitely not in the house. I've gotten used to not having them or the responsibility of them, that it might be hard to get one. 

Here are two quotes I found: 

Animals are born who they are, accept it, and that is that. 

They live with greater peace than people do. 

~Gregory Maguire

There is something about the outside of 

a horse,

That is good for the inside of 

a man

~Winston Churchill. 

Then, since I forgot there was no Coffee Share last week, I didn't publish this. This weeks theme for #WQ was actions that inspire...I don't know what it is about March, but I'm struggling with posting everything I want to post. I think sometimes I let this one go by the wayside because if I don't have a decent amount of time to put thought into it, I just decide not to participate. And sweet Marsha is probably the only one who ever comments...lol. Not that I do it for the comments. I got a post done...here's a link for that. 

Favorite photo(s): 3/8 I feel like I just haven't taken many pictures lately. I need to remedy that. I had a fun conversation with a gentleman at work about photography. I was bringing him out some packages and he was taking a picture of something so we got to chatting. It was a fun conversation. 

Last week the grandkids came over and we did a bunny craft. It was fun and easy. 

Celebrating our youngest. The last few years, my hubby has stopped and bought her a goofy hat that she has to wear when we sing to her. 

3/15...My dad had this gun that was his dads when he was young. He wanted it well taken care of so he gave it to my daughter and son in law for Indy one day. My son in law had it out cleaning it and took a picture with Indy. He (Indy) thinks it's pretty cool and told me he thinks Papa would smile if he could see him. (My dad passed away in 2021).

Random or not so random things: 

3/8...This morning we caught a break in the rain and went to the farmers market. I can't wait til more booths are up. We picked up some apples and I bought a scone to eat while we walked around. 

I was trying to get my taxes done this weekend. I was all ready to file, but Turbo Tax decided my banks routing number has too many characters and won't accept it. Uggh. Not sure what I'm going to do. I'll try again, and if it doesn't work, I'll just have it mailed to me, or I'll ask my bank on Monday. I tried called support, but it was a bad connection. 

Last week we celebrated our youngest daughters 25th birthday. I brought her flowers and a balloon to work. Hubby picked up more balloons on the way home and some silly gifts. We had pitched in for her weekend away with some friends, but I also got her a candle and a few things for her hair. Boy sometimes I think "wow, I have a 25 year old." I teased her that she was half way to 50. 

I was realizing that I rarely go back to see replies when I comment on other peoples posts. I have so many emails with replies that I haven't gotten to. I really should go back and read them. 

I have a few physical things that are bugging me, so I'm going to make an appointment with the naturapath and hope they are nothing. I also need to go to the chiropractor. 

A few friends wanted to start a group and do the "Couch to 5K" challenge. I'm not a fan of running, but said I'd do it, to hopefully kick start myself with exercising more. I just finished the first week. There are different variations of it and we found one that seems like a good fit. 

I'll end this here. I'm tired and definitely ready for bed. 

3/15....Boy, what a week. nothing really bad, but just "a week"...It started with me working on my taxes last Saturday. It was going well until it kept telling me my routing number was too long....and me talking to the computer saying "no it's not". I called tech support..the connection was terrible and he had a thick accent that I struggled to understand....I tried on my own Sunday, but no luck. I called Monday morning and got an amazing lady who after scratching her head decided to think outside the box, and that was literally the problem. I had to delete the routing number, take my cursor out of the box, then put it back and re-enter. Problem solved. Only to receive an email that it was rejected because I failed to enter our IRS given Pins...uggh..I never saw that spot at the end. I called another person after fixing my hubby's I knew mine would need to be fixed but I couldn't find where. She was basically scratching her head...when I say "oh, it says here to click this tab, maybe I should do that"......no, she says, just do what I say....Okaaayy...guess what? I needed to click that tab...haha! FINALLY taxes were filed, and no more rejects. Sheesh! 

And it was just a weird rest of the week. Today, Saturday, hubby and I went to Hood River. There were a few hiccups that definitely tested our attitudes and I can't say that we passed with flying colors, or even passed. Ha! But it ended good, and it was a nice day. 

We pulled off the side of the road for a moment so I grabbed a pic of Mt. Adams (I think).

On the way home, we crossed the Columbia River, from Hood River and drove home on the Washington side. This is a view of Mt. Hood. 

On the way there traffic was pretty backed up getting off of I-205 and onto I-84 towards the Dalles and Hood River. Then we saw this (this was a few minutes later)...a huge wind turbine blade was being transported. WOW. I would not want to be driving the truck pulling that! They are around 165+ feet long. There was the truck and then it was basically suspended and then rested on a rear trailer. I've seen them going down the freeways before but never have I been behind one. I shared a video over on IG.

Came home and fed my sourdough starters and organized my spice cabinet. 

Now I'm trying to get the rest of my steps in and then going to bed!!!!

With Joy Unquenchable,

Kirstin