Friday Thoughts: Currently
Hi, friends. How are you? I’ve been off the grid for a while (I’ll explain more below), which is why there has been a short break from recipes. But I have been anxious to check in with a Friday Thoughts post! I LOVE connecting with you in the comment threads of these posts, and with so, so much going on right now for all of us, it’s time to have a friend therapy session together, wouldn’t you say?
Today, for this Friday Thoughts post, I’m sharing what I’m up to currently (both physically and mentally). And then it’s your turn to tell me what your “current” status is!
1) Currently eating all the things.
It took a good six weeks but I finally fully healed from the gum graft surgery that kind of rocked my world. Because the surgery involved slicing the roof of my mouth to extract the tissue used for the gum graft on my front lower teeth, the healing process took a bit longer, and I was only tentatively eating soft foods at week four (I also had a few issues with parts of the graft slipping so I was on extra strict orders).
However by week six, everything had healed, and I’ve been well on my way to making up for all the lost eating time since then.
Mostly, chips.
I pray mightily I never, ever have to have that surgery again. So much compassion and respect for those of you that have had it multiple times! It was not a pleasant experience for me. Now I’m prepping to get a crown redone as a result of the domino effect that is dental work.
2) Currently listening to a lot of audiobooks.
Right now, I’m halfway through The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden; the storytelling is captivating. I just finished Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson and have enjoyed talking about it and processing it with Brian and my kids who also read it (we’re watching the movie this weekend), and The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown is next.
Any favorite audiobooks to share?
3) Currently spending a lot of time with our quarantine-acquired, new-ish kunekune pigs.
I share more details about them on my @melsfauxfarm account, but they have been a fun addition to whatever you call the random hybrid lifestyle of country and suburbia we have going on.
Also, I’ve never scratched so many piggy bellies in my life. If you can’t find me, I am 100% most likely out in the pig pasture, which has become my favorite, peaceful place in all the world (except if the pigs are hungry, and then watch out) and best way to detox from the day (and chaos of the world as of late). Highly recommend kunekune pigs to all the world.
As a sidenote: we have four purebred, registered kunes. Two girls/gilts: Olivia and EmmyLou. Two boys/boars: Benny and Eddie. Three of my kids invested money from their savings in these pigs as breeding pairs. So, next year some time, we will probably be swimming in adorable piglets for sale. (Kunes are raised for breeding and meat.) They are friendly, gentle, *mostly* non-rooting and non-wallowing pigs that eat our pasture grass and make us very happy.
4) Currently hoarding all the huckleberries while enjoying short hair again.
I dragged the kids up to pick our annual supply of huckleberries (the last few years we’ve picked near McCall, Idaho, but don’t ask me where we go specifically, because if you huckleberry regularly, you know revealing your secret spot is an unpardonable sin). We pick them solely to make huckleberry milkshakes all year long.
Huckleberries are the best, and I missed them every single day of every single year we lived in the midwest. Also, I got eight inches cut off of all of my hairs, and I feel like a new woman (especially now that it has grown a few weeks and is *just* long enough to fit in a ponytail again).
4) Currently gathering books to donate to our middle school and elementary school libraries.
In a small effort to involve my kids in affecting change for racial equality and justice in our own community, we decided to research, gather, and donate 40-50 books to both the middle school and elementary school libraries.
Books that promote, champion, and highlight diversity, black lives, and racial issues and equality. We’ve been working with both school librarians to figure out what books they already have in their libraries. Thanks to a well-stocked middle school library, we’ve expanded the middle school list to include a few other books that champion diversity in other marginalized groups as well.
Photo credit: Jane Mount
If you’re interested in the full list of books, here you go. (Disclaimer: I haven’t read every single book on this list; use your own discretion if checking these out for you or your child.)
We are trying to source and purchase most of the books from independent and/or black-owned book sellers across the country, and hopefully, we’ll be able to get them to the school libraries ASAP. It has been a fun and rewarding project to work on together.
My secondary goal is to also get these books circulated among individual classrooms and also volunteer in the elementary school to highlight and read these books in the library and classrooms so these books don’t get forgotten on the shelves – all of this is dependent on how school will look this year due to covid, but we’ll take it one step at a time.
5) Currently learning that my anxiety is at an all-time high.
It’s been a weird, hard, rough, enlightening, chaotic, frustrating, stressful six months for me. The uncertainty of everything has me feeling stretched very thin, and I’ve had to dig deep for coping skills that I haven’t had to use in a while. I wish I had the answers and all the solutions and, mostly, A Detailed Future Plan to Write Firmly in a Spreadsheet and Follow Daily.
I don’t have any of that, dang it. But I just want to say that if you are feeling like some days you are drowning in all of the noise and chaos and uncertainty and hypocrisy (on every side) and fear and stress and judgment, you aren’t alone.
As someone who has googled “am I having a panic attack?” more than once in the last few months, I can also personally attest that there’s a lot of peace and happiness out there, too. It actually hasn’t gone anywhere, it’s just been pushed and nudged aside by the louder, dominating, noisy voices.
I’m learning that for me, one of the keys to finding my inner peace and resilience again is to disconnect. From social media, the internet, and technology in general. (And even from real life people who tend to bring me down.) It’s an almost instantaneous, shoulder-relaxing effect when I log off everything. And I’ve learned that, guess what, I actually don’t miss that much when I’m not checking Instagram daily.
And then once I disconnect, I try to simultaneously connect with what I already intrinsically know brings a longer-lasting peace: God, my family (like, really connecting with them one on one), the outdoors, and sometime just being alone if I can manage it.
As a verified introvert, I’ve been challenged big time since March. Listen, I love my kids and husband. They’re great. I want to live with them forever. And I genuinely would choose family time over just about anything else (as in, family night out over girls’ night out any day of the week). But all disclaimers aside, I am mentally rejuvenated when I have a degree of quiet alone time. And that has been noticeably absent the last little while especially since I’m in the parenting phase of early rising kids (who are too old to take naps) and late bedtime teenagers. {Admittedly, the aforementioned quiet pig pasture has helped with this introvert initiative a bit even if a kid, or two, tags along sometimes.}
It’s a process and a cycle – this disconnecting and connecting thing – and definitely not a one time thing. It’d probably be better if I could just learn to balance it all on the daily, but I don’t do that very well, so when I reach my peak, I just disconnect, restabilize, and move on. It’s meant I’ve been a little hit and miss here on the blog and on social media this year. Quality over quantity, right? 🙂
What coping skills are working for you right now?
Edited to ask: if you have kids at home, what are your school plans for fall?? The school year here was slated to start this coming Monday but it has been delayed until September 8. At this point I’m planning to send my kids back to school (although it’s doubtful they’ll be *at* school very often, if at all, based on our #’s and the district’s plan to keep them home if we are in the yellow or red zone).
6) Currently traveling across the wilds of Northern Idaho and Montana in Thor, the behemoth RV we rented on rvshare.com (not sponsored).
It was a whim of an idea. With so many of our other plans canceled this spring and summer, the normally unimpulsive Brian-Mel pair looked at each other a couple weeks ago and decided on the spot to rent an RV and drive around with the family, self-contained and fancy free.
It has been dreamy so far (except for when the concentrated family time has proven a bit too much – and also, I’ve learned which of my children have a serious stinky feet problem).
Most of the time we’ve been without cell service in places where beauty and hygiene standards are wonderfully, acceptably low. And we’ve done a mix of dry camping (no hook ups) and RV park glamping (full hook ups). Hi, lukewarm shower, I’ve missed you.
We left with a general idea of where we wanted to go and what we wanted to do with all the flexibility of changing those plans at any minute thanks to driving a creaky house on wheels.
So far we’ve been up by Redfish Lake near Stanley, Idaho (which now ranks as one of our favorite places in Idaho), Cour d’ Alene (the most gorgeous place on earth), and we rode the Hiawatha Trail yesterday on our bikes (a bucket list item we have now checked off and hope to do many times in the future – AMAZING).
We’ll have to get back to real life eventually, but I highly recommend the RV adventure-on-a-whim experience for regenerating good family vibes, forcing a break from technology and the chaos of the world right now, and showing your kids, especially The Teenagers you are still grand master of all.the.card.games and corn hole.
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Ok, this was a long one. I have a lot more to say, but I’ll let you get on with your life. Ha. Remind me to tell you about our dusty living room/kitchen remodel, my new favorite pants (and the shoes I’ve been living in all summer), a cookbook idea and question, and a few other things!
Love your guts. Thanks for being here. And don’t leave me alone in the comments! I want to hear about YOU and how you are doing.
Totally understand the need to disconnect… I’m a teacher and today I was so wound up, I got up at 5am (no alarm clock!) and had to go for a walk. At one point I was walking so fast because my mind was racing so much, I realized I should be running instead. But by the time I finished, my mind was at regular speed and I could think straight. Crazy Times! Love the last minute RV vaca! You are making memories with your family that will sustain you in these crazy times. Love your blog and use your recipes all the time.
Exercise has definitely gotten me through, so I know what you mean about getting to a more regulated spot after exercise, although if I exercised as hard as my mind was racing most days, I’d be sprinting marathons. Haha.
Grew up eating bologna on white bread with French’s yellow mustard, then piled high as possible with potato chips. The exciting part was putting the top slice of bread on and smashing all the chips. Compress and eat. Best thing ever. Would hate to say how many of those I ate growing up in the 50’s-60’s. Pretty good with ham too.
Haha, I love this! Especially the “exciting” part.
Mel, when I picture you with your pigs, I get the same sense of peace I felt as I read my favorite book as a child, “Charlotte’s Web.” I loved how Fern just sat quietly by the animals and observed their personalities and relationships. You are in my prayers as we sit with the highs and lows of this strange season. I’m working to to see reasons for gratitude daily and to just hold plans lightly. Easier said than done some days!
I am going to imprint your words of wisdom on my heart (and probably write them on my hand, too). Thanks for such a gentle, wonderful comment, Colleen!
Glad to see you back! Just a quick thought on homeschooling or school in general…BYU has full middle school and high school classes. Some are done independently and others can be teacher-led. There is also a private school out of Pleasant Grove, Utah that has been doing virtual options for a long, long time. It’s called Liahona Academy. I’ve used them to supplement my kids’ homeschool for a few years. They are accredited and they do K-12. You can watch live and ask questions in real-time or you can watch later. They also do four day work weeks. So we get three day weekends every weekend. Good luck figuring it all out!
Thanks for the resources and recommendations, Amber!!
PLEASE tell me about your favorite pants and shoes!! I was going to read the Boys in the Boat but heard it was dry. “Unbroken” was excellent though!!
So many people down thread say Boys in the Boat is their favorite book! My husband just finished it on audible and loved it! I’m excited to start it. Also, I’ll get a post up about the shoes and pants, promise!
Hey there… what are the cookies and frosting at the beginning of this post? They look scrummy!!! Thanks!
The recipe is going up Monday! Promise! Peanut butter sugar cookies with chocolate frosting.
Looks like a dream family vacation! I am struggling. We did all the “right” things – wore masks, socially/physically distanced, cancelled several trips….and now my husband and son are battling Covid. We are on day 8 of self isolation in our house, and it’s hard. I can’t physically comfort my sick son, I can’t hug my 11 year old daughter as I’m doing everything I can to protect her from getting sick. I’m mad, I’m sad, I’m jealous of everyone that has been able to go on with life….. then grateful my daughter is not sick, grateful my boys are not sick enough to need hospitalization, grateful for internet that allows us connection to each other and the outside world. It’s an emotional journey! I don’t even want normal life back. I just want to be in the same room with my family and not worry that it will make one of us sick. Thanks for letting me vent. Well wishes to you and your family!
Oh, Marisa, I am so, so sorry. I’ve heard from several people that they also followed all the recommendations and when they ended up with covid, it was devastating and so challenging. It’s no wonder your emotions are all over the place! Are your husband and son able to be together? Hang in there, my virtual friend, hang in there!
Mel, you have really had some challenges lately. Thanks for sharing. I grew up in a large farm family so can relate to many parts of your life. Was wondering what happened to you as I enjoy your recipes, learning to make homemade vanilla, etc.
Sometimes it becomes necessary to take extra good care! My escape used to be a walk 3/4 mile to the main road or to the creek before that or just as far as “The Tree” so highly recommend alone time to decompress. Sounds like you are doing creative fun things so that is a healthy healing approach physically, mentally and emotionally.
I have been making quilts for clients as well as family. Just started making bread again and had forgotten how incredible it tastes. My mother-in-law who is legally blind now really really liked the bread I brought for Mother’s Day and again 4th of July when we had to get our dog Maggie to the farm to avoid all the fireworks going on even before the 4th!
Be well and can’t wait for next post! You are amazing!
You are amazing, Judy! I love how you are finding ways to be creative with your time and energy. Making quilts and baking bread! Sounds like your life is full and rewarding!
OH i have CHILLS just reading about ID/MT again. It took us 2 years for us Georgians to head up there but when I heard the Hiawatha was a thing that exists—- We couldn’t WAIT. and it did not disappoint, as you well know. We stayed and loved the quaint little town of Wallace. We headed to Couer d’ Alene on our way to fly back home from Spokane. What a lovely area! I would do it again in a heartbeat. It is hands down one of our best vacations. So glad you got to do all of that on a whim. Much needed. I hope you continue to heal- in all ways!! Thank you so much for posting!
How amazing that you made the effort and traveled to experience all of that! I agree, I would do it again in a heartbeat. It’s one of our top family experiences/vacations to date!
It has been a crazy six months! I loved hearing the update!! I am so jealous of the RV trip. I loved Couer de lane when we visited a few years ago. Hayden Lake was my favorite, but I am dying to try the bike trail! Looks amazing! Books are my favorite thing to discuss ever and I loved Boys in the Boat. I am super into nonfiction right now (and some historical fiction) on a variety of topics. A few of my favorites:
Forty Autumns (a true story about a family separated by the Berlin Wall)
Roots (a TV series. The book is long, but worth it)
The Giver of Stars (a book about the Packhorse Librarians who rode horses in the back country of Kentucky delivering books in the 1930s.)
Thirst (a book about how an organization gets fresh water to villages in Africa)
The Day the World Came to Town (a book about a town when flights were grounded on 9/11..I now want to visit this Canadian town!)
Call the Midwife ( a Netflix series is based on this book and it’s based on actual characters who I just love!)
Bad Blood (about how the CEO faked technology and became a billion dollar business)
Princess Bride (so much funnier than the movie! How did I not know this was a book?)
I will stop now, but I don’t want to! I love books!!! There are just too many I want to read and not enough time!
LOVED all the book recommendations! I’ve read some but not all and am excited to check those ones out! I loved the Call the Midwife netflix series and was so sad when it ended.
I have never been to Idaho, but now I want to go! Thanks for telling and showing us where you have been! It looks heavenly
Az schools began on aug. 4 with remote online learning. I knew our family wouldn’t like it and we sure don’t, it’s been worse than I imagined. So, yesterday, my elementary aged kids and I came to the decision to return the laptops and try real traditional homeschool! I’m really excited and the kids said they are relieved! I use to be a teacher so I feel pretty confident in my abilities to make it a great experience for us! Now we can go on an rv trip and bring school with us I decided to use mostly the good and the beautiful curriculum! And, I’m trying to get a Co op group together because I need kid breaks too! Wish us luck! My 7th grader wants to stay with online school and we are hoping and praying they move to modified (school and home mix) model soon! She’s in band and hearing flute practice everyday from 3-4 is not my favorite
Life has been crazy, stressful, and I was struggling with all the unknowns, but now I feel at peace.
I’m sorry the online learning has been awful, Heidi. But good for you for doing the right thing for your family! Good luck! I’m sorry, though, I did giggle at the hour long flute practice with the online band class. Oh boy.
I relate to this post soooo much. This pandemic has made me discover just how much anxiety I have, but it’s also forced me to find ways to deal with it. Sink or swim I guess. I want to know about this road trip! All the places that you went!
So true! I’m being forced to look at some of my anxieties face to face and figure them out. I guess I’ll consider that a blessing. About the road trip, I shared a few details over on Insta stories tonight…we kind of flew by the seat of our pants (and ended up back home!) but it was so fun. We thought we’d end up near Glacier National Park but we stayed in Idaho for the most part doing Redfish Lake, Cour d’Alene and the Hiawatha trail. Lots of driving and lots of beautiful scenery!
Oh girl, I am with you. I got my wisdom teeth pulled on Tuesday. So over soft foods! Hope you continue to recover well.
Ugh!!! I hope you heal quickly!
I LOVED The Boys in the Boat!! I blazed through it, which I normally don’t do.
You most definitely are not alone in your feelings. I’m pretty sure every mom on the planet feels the same way right now!
Our kids are all starting online due to Covid numbers. Because our county has had so many cases I decided to choose an entirely online option for my two youngest this year. I feel like it’s going to be a waste of an academic year for all of my kiddos. Still searching for the good, but at least there’s lots of time for life lessons!
So true! Pack in those life lessons. I’m worried it’s going to be a pathetic academic year, too, and that scares me, but I’ll channel your positivity and focus on the good that can come from it!
I am glad you are healing and feeling well again, Mel! We spent time in Redfish Lake this summer, as well as Grand Teton National Park. 2 of my very favorite places!!
We start homeschooling on August 24th. I am excited and nervous. We’ll see how it goes!
Ah, good luck, Kelsey!
So glad you had such a rejuvenating and unplugged vacation. I loved Boys in the Boat. I also recommend The Only Plane in the Sky (although it’s best listened to rather than reading
the printed version), Call Sign Chaos and Dear Mrs. Bird. Your library project sounds so fulfilling. Our family rode the Hiawatha Trail two years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. We’d love to do it again but it’s a good 12 hours away from us. Having grown up in Idaho, Cour de Lane is a favorite place of mine too.
Enjoy time with the kiddies and the piggies and whenever you post a recipe, I’ll be thrilled but totally support you dialing back too. You do what’s best for you and your family!
Thanks for the other recommendations, Holly! And for your kindness. Appreciate you.
The Boys in the Boat is on my Top 10 favorite books list (so far)! We listened to it on Audible, but bought the book because there were so many wonderful quotes we wanted to remember/save!
I love audio books—multi tasking at its finest!
Thanks for your blog—your recipes & your thoughts.
❤️❤️
I’m glad to hear it! My husband just finished listening to it on audible and loved it so I’m excited to start!
Loved The Boys in the Boat. My parents were contemporaries of these people, and I appreciate the “nothing given – nothing expected – get up and get on with it” attitude. For me, the non-rowing parts of the book illuminated this character. ….. Other books: Educated, if you haven’t already been riveted by it. Anything by Bill Bryson, but you might start with A Walk in the Woods or A Short History of Nearly Everything or his Australia travelogues. And … strongly recommend … The Long Walk by Sławomir Rawicz. This person was a prisoner in a Soviet POW camp in Siberia during WWII. He escaped, and walked across China, Tibet, and the Himalayas to reach British India. There’s some controversy about the authorship, but it appears that the story is true even if the names are not accurate. You may have to get this one on interlibrary loan, but it’s totally worth it.
I want to add a book: Vision of Light, by Judith Merkle Riley. A young woman in the 13th century tries to live a good, godly life. It’s not an easy time. A transcendent book.
Thank you for the recommendations, Margaret!
What?! I don’t think we can wait to find out about favorite pants and shoes! I’m also interested in kitchen remodel since i just ordered my new cabinets last week. I inquiring minds need to know
Ok, ok, I’ll try to get another post up soon!
I totally feel you fellow introvert! At first I was happy that I got to cancel everything on my calendar. At the time, It didn’t dawn on me that my kids and hubby would also be around constantly! Our parks are even closed so I couldn’t even get a break that way. Plus, we spent this summer redoing our flooring and baseboards throughout the house. Everyone is on top of everyone with stuff everywhere and I’m loosing it. Thankfully we are almost done. I love your suggestions to disconnect and reconnect with family in a positive way. We also headed up to northern/central Idaho and hit Stanley Lake. Less busy then Redfish Lake and still just as beautiful.
Oh boy, Keri, I have a certain amount of anxiety just hearing about your baseboard/floor project in the midst of being at home because I totally understand! We started a home remodel right as quarantine started and the dust and chaos in my house was epic. It was one of the more difficult times for me as a mom even when I could see how blessed we were during it. I’m glad you are almost done! I’ve heard Stanley Lake is awesome, too, and way less busy than Redfish Lake!
I am with you on the disconnect.I couldn’t sleep at night with my worry for the future. I scroll more, skipping negative articles and am so much happier.
My kids are moved out of our house but I love reading about the great family life you are giving your kids. You’ll have few regrets when they are adults, as you’re raising them right and having great experiences together.
Continuing to love your site and recipes,
Lori
Thank you for your kind comment, Lori! I agree, also, that skipping the negativity helps me sleep so much better at night!
I am right there with you! I love my husband and kids, but I recharge by spending time alone. And I haven’t had much alone time since March. My youngest is going into 1st grade this year and I have been looking forward to the day when all my kids would be in school full time since he was born. I teach college from home and it was going to be such a relief to be able to do all my work while they were at school. But we’ve decided to do virtual school all year for our kids. It was a difficult decision, but we feel right about it. I’m learning to ask my kids for more help around the house. I’m also planning to “wear one hat at a time.” When my kids were doing distance learning in the spring I always felt pulled between helping them and doing my work. My current coping plan is to have certain hours set aside for doing school with them and other hours for doing work. We’ll see how it goes!
I am loving (and learning) from your strategies, Emilee! Good luck with executing that plan. Even if it ebbs and flows, you’ll be able to make it work. I’m glad you were able to settle on something for your kids that feels right for you and for them. That’s the most important thing!
Love your brutal honesty! So many people can’t admit to the feeling of helplessness and are forced to continue as if all is well. The disconnect during these past few months has taken its toll on many. Our family loves to cook and eat and we have spent many days and nights in the kitchen. This pandemic has given us time to garden and use our harvests in ways we haven’t imagined. Spending more time together is truly a blessing except when it gets to be a bit too much
I’m glad you’ve been able to find those blessing amid challenging times, Dina! Your family is lucky to have you! But you’re right, it can still take a toll. I’m glad we are all in this together even if we don’t know each other in real life.
Redfish also needs to stay secret, just like the huckleberries!! It is my favorite place on earth, but it sure has become so busy! Glad you could disconnect, thank goodness it is so easy to search your archives to dig into all your old goodies! Thank you for what you do! Love from Texas (but an Idaho girl by heritage).
You’re right – it was so busy and the camp host there told us it gets busier every year. Kind of a bummer!
I’ve been listening to a lot of audio books too! I’m a fan of non-fiction, so I’ve enjoyed and recommend Deep Down Dark, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Running For My Life, The Stranger in the Woods, and Little Princes: One Man’s Promise to Bring Home the Lost Children of Nepal. I really enjoyed Just Mercy also!
Thank you so much for the audiobook recommendations, Lisa!
Welcome back, Mel! I’m a definite introvert – and INFJ on the MB scale – and the past few months have pushed me beyond my limits of peopling ;). Three boys + husband working from home = LOTS of overstimulation for Mom. Our district is doing 100% remote learning this year, so we decided to homeschool all three (1st, 4th, 6th grade) in lieu of online learning. Realizing now that I will need to be purposeful in the way I build in quiet time for myself in order to recharge.
So much good luck to you, Sarah! Be purposeful and get in that time for YOU!
I’d love to know how you handled the food situation in the RV! I feel like food takes away from the spontaneous aspect because you have to figure it out beforehand! We’re planning a trip in an RV soon, and this is the part that intimidates me the most.
For someone whose life revolves around food, we did the RV food thing super low key and basically ate the same thing for breakfast and lunches every day (cereal and yogurt and granola for breakfast/sandwiches and snacky stuff for lunches). And then for dinners, I premade tinfoil dinners for one night of camping, we did hot dogs another night, and then I had a few Costco-type shelf stable meals for other nights (lentils and rice, etc). It wasn’t fancy but it was filling and no one complained! We also had access to a grocery store midweek where I picked up some bread and fresh foods.
The Boys in the Boat is one of my very favorite reads…don’t miss it! Love all your recipes and the time you put into writing the notes up. Stay safe!
Thank you!
I have also struggled with anxiety during these times. My husband & I have a 2 year plan to move closer to our daughter and her family(& our 11 month old granddaughter). We are part way through year one. We just sold our lake cabin of 18 years and many family memories. It was a place of such peace. Change is sure hard sometimes. The new owners have 3 young boys and they will make many memories there which makes us both happy.
It’s fun to see what is going on with your farm animals and busy family. Enjoy the rest of your vacation.
Oh, Laurie, I don’t know you in person but I almost got a little teary-eyed reading about you selling your lake cabin where your family undoubtedly made so many memories. Change IS hard, but isn’t it remarkable to look back and see how those changes have led us to even better things? Thank you for sharing.
Hi…. so sorry to hear about your dental issues…. my granddaughter just had her jaw re-aligned, and now at 6 weeks, she is eating some…. it’s been 6 weeks…. hope you are doing better…. of course, YOUTH does help…
DID I mess the cookie recipe at the top of the blog? they look yummy… can you send?
thanks
Phyllis
Hi Phyllis! I hope your granddaughter has speedy healing. That does NOT sound like fun! And I’ll be posting that cookie recipe Monday! It’s a good one!
Hi Mel,
I’m a long-time follower and maker of your recipes, but have never commented. I’m also an introvert, so much so that I rarely reach out even to comment. However, your mention of your gum surgery drew me in because I also had that surgery many years ago (the roof of my mouth took a good while to heal), and your mention of collecting books on racial equality and justice to donate to local schools spurred me to finally respond. I love that you are doing this with your kids. I’ve been especially burdened lately about these very things and have wondered what in the world I could do in these times to affect change. Purchasing books from black-owned businesses and donating them to schools is a wonderful idea. I feel like I was meant to read your post today and I just wanted you to know that I’m thankful for your voice.
Amy, thank you so much for your comment. Honestly, it meant a lot to me. I’ve felt those same burdens. It’s been uplifting for me to make small changes and involve my kids. Maybe it won’t change the world, but it is certainly changing us. Thanks again.
I think we all know what you are talking about! We all love our kids and husband’s but we do NEED our quiet time so we can recharge. I am so glad that you were able to go have a fun and escape for a little while! We loved riding the Hiawatha trail, alot of fun for everyone! We start school in a week and a half, the boys will be going! We love you guys and we miss you all! Tell your kids to stop growing, I tell mine all the time but they just don’t listen! Keep enjoying those cute pigs and rub their bellies for me!
Haha, I tell mine that, too! We miss you guys! For pete’s sake, we aren’t that far apart, we should plan something together when everything calms down.
Hey Mel. I’ve been following your blog for years and enjoyed your recipes along the way. I just want to say thank you for sharing your thoughts, and pointing out that we are all not alone in this “covid thing”.
Gord
Thanks so much, Gord!
Highly recommend taking the tine to watch this.
Just finishing up “Just Mercy” with a group from church. Discussions are disturbing (as they should be) & profound.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MyBfOX5OHRQ
Thank you for sharing that!
I’ve wanted to do the Hiawatha trail for SOOO long! It will probably have to wait a few years though since Andrew 100% flat out REFUSES to learn to ride and bike and he’s now too big to throw in a trailer behind me 🙁
Love the book project you are working on! Such a cool thing for your kids to be a part of.
My boys started school Monday! So far so good! They were so ready to go back and I was so ready for a little quiet time! I’m just praying that the next couple of weeks go well so that the rest of the schools in the valley can see that it’s okay to be in school.
Haha. Andrew. Little stinker. 🙂 I’m glad your kids are back at school and doing well! Crossing fingers things continue to go well for them!
I loved Boys in the Boat! One of the best books I have ever read. I am 71 years old and had never heard of this true story. I have been hoping they would make a movie of it, but it hasn’t happen yet. I was on a vacation while I was reading it and whenever anyone would see what I was reading they always said that they loved it too. One guy said he hates reading, but he loved that book! I have recommended it to many people and they always tell me the same thing, love it! The hardest part for us has been not being able to be around our family because of our age, but we have loosened up and we have actually had some great times with our family. The backyard works great with this time of year! Thanks for all your great recipes!
I’m glad to hear that! And it makes me excited to listen to the audiobook!
Redfish Lake is THE BEST!! That is my spot! Went there every summer growing up. Such great memories and a spectacular place. So glad you went and loved it.
Hang in there and keep healing!
I hope we can go every year! But man, it’s become so popular it’s hard to find a spot to reserve. But worth trying for sure!
I loved Boys in the Boat! I understand Krista’s comment about lots of extraneous info. However, in some ways it gave depth and background to the individuals. It was personally interesting to me because I lived 52 of my 62 years in Western Washington. Let us all know if you like it.
My husband has listened to the audiobook on our trip and he loved it! I’m excited to start. From the comments below it sounds like the audiobook is maybe a bit more captivating than reading the book?
I also get so quiet time with livestock. Mine have been bummer lambs . Even though they are weaned i have been known to still go out and just sit with them in the shade. They’re a little more manageable to love on than the baby calfs LOL
How in the world did you get away from your pigs to go RVing. Sounds like a dream. And maybe a little bit of mutiny on the teenagers part for the first week LOL.
I look up to you and admire you. You are I was so raw and real with us. Thank you for sharing about your anxiety. I am wondering if I have some creeping up as well. Sleeping at night has just not been happening. I’ve learned that can be very vicious cycle, and know that I need to get on top of it soon. (You being raw with us is why I don’t have skin cancer anymore. When my nose got looking like a pimple that wouldn’t heal I went in after thinking of you.) So looking forward to a vacation with one of my grown and moved out daughters. We’re getting away to Yellowstone and the Tetons for a few days in the near future. Leaving the livestock with the rest of the family while we’re gone.
Oh have so much fun in Yellowstone and the Tetons! That area is one of my favorites in the world; I grew up spending summers there and have so much nostalgia for that area. It takes a small army to help us get away with all of our animals. My sister lives near us and she has three boys and a great husband who step in and come over here 2-3 times a day to check on the animals. It’s a blessing for us! We don’t get away often but when we do, it’s nice to know we can count on them (and we have another family that we switch off watching each other’s small farms).
Oh Mel! You make me feel so much more normal. This is a wonderful post! One I need to go back and read many times. One that speaks truth and reassurance to my soul. My oldest left on his mission to AZ 2 1/2 weeks ago. He is happy and doing great even amidst all the changes, and his happiness makes my heart so happy. My middle schooler started in-person school on Wednesday and has done ok, even with all the mask wearing and protocols. My high schooler starts school next Wednesday at a new and much bigger school than he went to last year. We are all just hanging on to hope, washing our hands, wearing masks, watching the news as little as possible, trying to avoid FB as much as possible, and finding that nature is healing for everyone in our family… even the bug-haters . Thanks for the pic of the piggies and for your honest feelings about life. Hang in there, Mel!! ❤️❤️
Haha, even the bug haters. YES! Even my bug haters felt rejuvenated being in nature for this last week. It was amazing. You have kids in so many phases of life! That’s challenging for the mom’s soul. Hang in there!
I also can’t wait to hear about your pants and shoes. They sound very comfortable! I’m glad you’re feeling better and have been able to decompress a bit this summer. These last six months have been terrible and still are with everything going on and my anxiety has risen tremendously! We spent at week at the beach with no news at all and as the saying goes, no news was certainly good news! McCall and Cour d’ Alene are certainly some of the most beautiful spots in the world! So glad you could enjoy them with your family. I’ve just finished reading The Book of Lost Friends by Lisa Wingate. Very good and emotional! I get emotional just thinking about it. I can’t wait for new recipes! Wishing you all the best!
Thanks for the book recommendation, Melany! I’ve read a few of Lisa Wingate’s other books and I’m excited to check that one out!
Glad you are healing well! So important for families to spend that quality time together!! Our family went to Breckenridge, CO and spent a week hiking many trails, boating in a nearby lake, enjoying our grown kids, their spouses and our grandkids. We played board games after the little ones went to bed and just reconnected. It was so important for our family to be together after all the shutdowns and time apart.
That sounds like an amazing trip, Elisabeth! I’ve heard that area is absolutely gorgeous. And what an amazing time to reconnect as a family. Love that.
Make a cookbook. I loved nightingale and boys In the boat (cried on that one.) will look into just mercy. Huckleberries planned for next year. Hubby had sinus Surgery and he’s a trooper but I still feel like I have a newborn. Lol schooling from home bc I can’t take the uncertainty.
Also Hiawatha is on our bucket list. Did glacier this year. So great
Good luck to your husband, Heather!
You’re not alone with the anxiety and craving alone time! I actually started therapy and it has helped tremendously. My kids are doing distance learning for the semester and started last week. I told myself not to expect things to go perfectly or even great and those lower expectations help. It’s just a hard phase of life for everyone and we probably won’t be thriving.
I’m so grateful to your website because when I need something to go the way it is supposed to, I search your recipes and bake or cook away and get a perfect result. It is very soothing. And yummy.
I love your idea of stocking the library at school and will absolutely be doing the same with our school libraries. What an awesome idea!!
Have a great weekend.
You are so sweet, Jennifer. Thank you! I’m glad the recipes have helped maybe a little bit. And also, what a great reminder to keep the expectations a bit lower. Honestly, that is helpful and I need to remind myself of that (also, yes to therapy – I agree that sometimes it’s the tool that can get us up and over the mountain).
That camper looks dreamy. Love YOUR guts. Im off to nap but will return to read all this useful info another day
Haha. Yes! Naps over reading blogs ANY DAY OF THE WEEK!
I 100% get the need to be alone and recharge. Today I told my kids, who are all teenagers, that I wanted them to leave the house and go have fun together so I could be alone. Maybe read a book, maybe sew something, definitely nap. Things didn’t work out quite how I wanted them to and I ended up leaving the house to get that time I needed. In this crazy stressful time we’re all living in, I’ll take what I can get.
I’m glad you ended up getting that time!!
YAY! I am glad you’re able to eat once again and healed. Those pigs are adorable!
I am an introvert too and when quarantine first started I was giddy. I was still in the office in the beginning, but that changed and I spent 6 weeks working from home. At first I liked it, then, because my space is in my dad’s basement office area, I found I really missed the light I have in the office. We have few people back in the office and I made 1 of the 2 people required in my group to be back until I got sick. This stuff is so scary, I had all of the symptoms, had to have the COVID test and then it came back negative. The flu I had took 2 weeks to get over and I worked from home during it.
I only have 1 kid, a teenager who will be 15 on the 26th, and he went from an C, D, F student to straight A’s and a 4.0 student with online learning. I was thankful he found a balance with me working at home, not seeing his friends, a cooped up 14 year old is not fun, and finding ways to entertain himself. He’s always been an artist, but he mastered faces, and kept a vigil on all of our baby birds. He did decide he wants to go back to school because of his Zoology class and Biology. I am thankful for the weekends after the initial quarantine was lightened up, that I took him and his buddy fishing and hiking in our UT mountains. I think nature for him was the best medicine.
Through all of these changes, we almost lost my mom twice, and it was terrifying when she would go to the hospital because none of us wanted her to get this. We weren’t allowed to see her and I think that was the hardest part of it.
Your RV trip looks like it just what your family needed. I know we have unplugged for many days just to not see the news and all the ugliness that is happening right now.
Stay safe and enjoy the ride!
Wow, Shanae, you have had some ups and some downs! Sounds like a roller coaster. But the fact that your son has thrived and done so well is amazing. What a blessing. I’m sorry you got so sick!! I agree as an introvert, I was super excited at the start of quarantine. Like, I’ve been preparing for this my whole life! But turns out, it’s so much more than that. All the decisions and highs and lows for the kids. You’re doing great! I hope your mom is doing ok…sounds like a scary situation for her!
Your comments on anxiety hit so hard right now! Anxiety is not a normal, everyday struggle for me, but has cropped up occasionally in my life (like when it took us 6 weeks to figure out our newborn had acid reflux, and that’s why she spent nearly every waking moment crying- really puts you on edge!), and has resurfaced these past few months.
I’m also an introvert, and have 2 small kids + 1 husband who’s working from home. I normally recharge 1x a week by going out by myself after my husband is done with work and go grab food, go shopping, to a movie, whatever, normally by myself. Since the pandemic i am almost never alone, but am starting again to at least go grab food by myself sometimes because I am finally realizing how much I need alone time to be a pleasant person, and to have anything to give to my family. I worry about covid-19, but mental health is soooooo important, too! Also i found out i apparently cope with lots of baking, and lots of chocolate!! Thank you for your post, it’s good to feel like youre not alone <3
I agree, Jacelyn – so refreshing to feel like we’re not alone. I don’t deal with extreme anxiety on an every day basis either which is why I’ve felt a noticeable difference as it has crept up. I’m glad you’ve found ways to still get out – getting something to eat by yourself or just taking a drive can be rejuvenating. Also, REALLY glad you and your sweet newborn got through the acid reflux nightmare. That is not fun!
I literally ended up in the ER thinking I was having serious heart issues but really was just having a panic attack. I felt stressed but I didn’t think I was “panicking”! My body was just done though… I’m a nurse and with all that stress from Covid plus homeschooling 5 kids and all the other things. This has been a hard, weird year. Love your guts right back!
I’m so sorry, Wendi! That is SCARY! Sending virtual momma hugs your way. You have so much on your plate!
Can I make two comments? Haha. As I read through these comments it reminded me of how important physical exercise is right now. I feel like it has been my saving grace through this terrible time. My latest discovery is Sydney Cummings on Youtube. She posts a new workout every day and gives you a life pep talk at the end of each workout. There are lots of days when I feel like I’m not in the mood or too tired but then I think about how great she makes me feel and how much I need her positivity everyday. Check her out or just get outside and move!
Physical activity is a must in a time like this! I purchased a spin bike before the pandemic and it was my saving grace during the cold months. Being outside in the fresh air and sun is so important for mental sanity. We all have days when we just don’t feel like working out, but once your moving you will be much happier. Sydney is great, I also use her workouts. YouTube is filled with free meditation, yoga, and all different level fitness classes, you will find something. Introverts we rule the world!
Such great advice, Marisa and Lynn! Thank you!