Tuesday Again

So, for the last few days I've been out-of-sorts.  About everything.  I've been discontent and grumpy and just plain sour.  It feels like nothing will lift my mood.

And then I got to wondering. I've been spotty with this blog lately, and that means I've been spotty with my expressions of gratitude. Spotty with my soul-enriching searching for things to be grateful for. Could that possibly be the source of my woes?  Have I brought this all on myself? I'm thinking about that.

Cute, aren't they?

Life still feels strange.  The Husband's lack of formal employment is so different it's hard to feel comfortable. It's wonderful to have him jump up, ready to go with me whenever I head out.  At the same time, I think he feels a bit adrift.  He has so much he wants to do that I'm not sure he knows where to start.  He's been sleeping in a bit more, and actually it feels like he's having to nap a teensy bit less.  He re-hurt his back the other day and is walking like the leaning tower, though I think today might be a tad less lean.  I fuss so in my head when he's hurting and unable to function like he usually does.  I think it's going to take us a bit longer than we'd expected to "find our stride." He does, though, seem more lighthearted than over the last couple (stressful) years.  And that's a very good thing.

Fake, but still creepy.

We grew pumpkins in the garden this year, on a whim.  We only ended up with two, but they're hefty guys.  The Husband wanted to do something with them so over the last 24 hours, he's carved faces in them, they're so cute on the front porch, just waiting for a candle inside to welcome the little munchkins as they come begging for candy.  :^) (Between Halloween (my least liked "holiday") and the midterm elections, I'm looking forward to the second week of November!)

We were given some treats from a local bakery that came with a spider on the top.  Which The Husband promptly put on a quilt I've hanging on the wall.  Totally creeped me out.

I finished up a raggy blanket for our youngest grandchild.  I've made one for each of our grandchildren (at least I think I did) and they've been great fun.  This one is full of trains and cars and I managed to use some fabric I already had.  It's all snipped and ready to go to the laundromat in time for Christmas gifting.  It was actually really fun.  When I'm away from my sewing machine for too long, I actually forget how much I enjoy that process.

Hope he likes the blanket.

Looking South

I've been to yoga class at the Sandy Senior Center (the only class almost early enough for me that I could find) twice, now and I really like the teacher.  And still going to yoga at the neighbor's.  At this morning's class I caught myself thinking:  I think I might be finally "getting" this, it's kind of fun.  I like that there are people my chunkiness in the class so I don't feel so homely-ugly.  I'm just hoping for some increased flexibility and bone strength.  And I think I'll keep going for awhile.  The classes at the Sr. Center are free-donation-only (so a couple $ per class is good) and the neighbor gives a discount for seniors like me so it isn't awfully expensive.

Looking North.

And my mornings are on the trail as much as I can manage.  I took these two pictures last week - it was a stunning morning.  One picture was taken looking south and one looking north.  I'll be glad when Daylight Saving Time (I abhor it!) is over next week and it'll be a bit lighter in the morning when I go.  I'm still pretty scared of going out by myself in the dark.

We've been to dinner (going cheaper these days) with friends, and signed up for a couple one-time classes (they might be absolutely worthless) about finances-Social Security - Medicare, have a play to look forward to and the Symphony.  And I've still found some time to read a little, and stitch a little.  Both favorites of mine.

And I loved this article.  It's a good reminder to me not to hold on to things, even when I'm grumpy.  Forgiveness is For You

So the gratitude?  I'm so grateful that The Husband's back is doing marginally better.  Grateful for a neighbor who had a door hanging bar (and didn't hesitate to loan us) that we can use for him to try the back exercise we found online that seems to help his back recovery a bit.  I'm grateful that we still have some time before Christmas for me to figure out what to get for the family on our smaller-than-in-the-past Christmas budget.  I'm grateful for a new R.S. presidency in the ward that I think will be just wonderful for the sisters.  Change is often good even when it's hard. I'm grateful we managed to get a bunch of the leaves raked up in the yard before garbage day.  I'm grateful that I manage to do pretty well at yoga class, that means I'm not totally too old for things and still retain enough youth in my body to do stuff. And I'm grateful for The Husband's patience when I'm grumpy.