How am I? The truth is, I am fine most of the time. I still have moments but they are further apart and less intense. Right now is an odd time for me as every day seems to bring another memory so fresh it is as if it were only a week or a month ago. Not a year ago! On March 18th of last year, Jeff went to the hospital for a blood clot and stayed there and at the Inn nearly 2 months! It was a long down slide. Why I can remember so much, so clearly, is beyond me. It doesn't really upset me but those memories are very close to the surface every day right now! This too shall pass.
I keep busy. Busy is good! Winter felt loooong. We actually had a winter this year. I got up in the dark and came home from work in the dark. By February, I admit, that was getting to me! I need more sunshine and more daylight hours! Even thought March was mostly very cold, having more daylight hours was helpful. I feel like I am emerging from a long, cold, dark place. This is as much a physical feeling as a psychological one! Coincidence in timing with the weather and seasons to the timing of where I am in the process of grieving? I'm not sure. I just feel like I am "emerging." From something.
I accomplished some projects this winter that I had planned on doing. I went through all of our files. Medical (there were several stacks, several feet high. Literally!) , financial/banking, social security, legal etc. This was a huge project involving a lot of shredding and then some reorganization of what was left and labeling (back to my trusty label maker!) etc. Everything is done now except for a small stack of some banking stuff. I am not sure what I need to keep and what I can read and dispose of. I have a meeting set up with my banker for a quarterly report and will ask for some advice on this while I am there.
I also had a few a Jeff's shirts left after letting the kids and 1 or 2 others go through things and take what they would like to have. One shirt that was left happened to be one of my favorites. I saw a project on Pinterest and it was perfect for me. Here is a pic of the finished project.
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| Shirt Apron |
Another project I had wanted to do was to make an oriole feeder like one I saw on Pinterest. I have an abundance of skid wood that Jeff brought home form work for the wood stove and I thought that it would be great. I just needed to stop at VanWierens for a few nails and a foot of chain. The project turned out great but don't look too close! Skid wood is as hard as a rock and after I lost several nails to bending I pre-drilled my holes. I then snapped off a drill bit which will be permanently embedded in the feeder! I also laid pavers in the lean to to keep the tractor attachments off the dirt. I have a long list of yard work and the boys and I (Bri too if she can!) are trying to find a day soon to tackle this list!
Years ago I made my own vanilla extract and for some reason stopped. This winter, I decided to try that again. I ordered a quantity of vanilla beans at a much reduced price and found my old, pretty bottle and went to work on it. 8 weeks later, I have a lovey, huge bottle a vanilla:)
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| In the beginning |
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| 8 weeks later, finished |
Sandy, Bri and I recently went to see the Titanic Exhibit, what fun! We all loved the exhibit and had fun exploring the rest of the museum as well. It had been years since I had been there. After leaving the museum, we went to a tasting room in Grand Rapids and thanks to a Groupon purchase, we all did a wine tasting with cheese and crackers. The gentleman that was serving us is also one of their wine makers and I had a great time chatting with him and learning a few new things :) Dinner out (using a restaurant.com voucher, yes, I like my coupons and deals!) rounded out the day for us and we all had a great time!
Getting in the habit of writing about the books I have read has been really fun! Remembering to takes pics of them all was hard at first but I am getting better at this and am really enjoying this project! My friend Christine also started a book club and I am loving reading the books and meeting for lively discussions and fellowship!
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| Our book club "Guide" |
I have continued to work at Warner Vineyards Tasting room in Holland an average of 2 times a month. I may work a couple of Saturdays in a row and then have 3 off but I love it!!! I get to meet such interesting people from so many places and I am learning so much about the industry! I have been reading numerous books on the subject as well as other publications and magazines. April is Michigan Wine month and Michigan is now home to over 100 Wineries/vineyards! Michigan wines are gaining popularity and winning awards. Warner Vineyards is the second oldest in the state, celebrating our 75th birthday this year! Warners is also the most award winning winery in the state! I recently worked my last day on College ave. in Holland, helping to pack up the remaining inventory at the end of the day and move it over to our new location on 8th st! What an exciting time for the industry, for Warner Vineyards, and for the Holland Warner's Tasting Room! Can't wait to work in the new store front, it is amazing!
I had planned on making one of the upstairs bedrooms a guest room this winter until Drew moved back into it. I am still working on the plans and will convert it as soon as he moves out. Again. If any kids come back again, they can stay in the guest room, lol! For now, I am taking my time, shopping around and crafting items (as well as putting aside unused items from other areas of the house that will work in the room) and doing this on a budget. A special Thanks to Pinterest for helping out with great ideas!
I have spent some time doing some "Technology Spring Cleaning!" I have given up the e mail address we used for many years (more than 15!) and am using my secondary e mail addie as my primary e mail now. This makes it easier to check my e mail anywhere, on any device, and it is always the same. With Charter, I could check my e mail from places and devices other than my home computer but anything I had put on a folder or e mails I had already opened did not show up. It was making me nuts. I also realized I was getting an incredible amount of e mails from places no longer relevant to me! Disney, kids catalogs, etc. Hitting delete is very quick and easy but, I started unsubscribing from all of these lists. A month later, my daily e mails probably number a third of what they were! I have cleaned out computer files (lots of medical stuff there as well), started organizing the photos better, and set up an app for notes and lists that works for both my phone and tablet. More photo work to do but I feel like this was a big project that I am seeing good results from!
I am excited to start planning the garden and other yard projects! I already bought a rhubarb plant to replace a long lost one and even out that row, 2 kinds of potatoes and onions. Planning on pulling out a lilac "bush" (more like a scraggly non bush) and possibly 3 shrubs along the front porch. Need to figure out what to put there before I remove anything tho. Can't wait to buy a few flowers for pots and my basil and parsley plants (the rest of the herbs are perennial). Tomatoes, lettuce, cukes, pea pods and peppers for sure. Hmmm, what else???
The kids are good :) Drew is gearing up for Disc golf season and League. He is still working at The Total Athlete and has talked them into letting him set them up with a fantastic selection of disc golf supplies from 2 major companies. He is very excited about this! I stopped by one night on my way home from work and it looks great! Drew is finishing up his year at Davenport and has done very well and really enjoyed it :) Bri is working at Pine Rest and seems to enjoy that. She continues to look at grad schools and work towards that as her goal. Bri was supposed to go to another conference with her research team from GV but complications arose in part to her no longer being a student there and after purchasing her plane ticket, which she would have been reimbursed for, she was now out that money. She was able to get a voucher that had to be used in a certain time frame so she has booked a flight to Arizona and is going to go hiking! Chase recently left his job at Hog Wild and is now working for Russ'. Already he says he really enjoys it! This change will also enable him to do something he has wanted to do for several years and could not due to his work schedule. He will be attending Classes, starting in 2 weeks, to be a Medical First Responder. He is thrilled to have a new job, more "normal" hours and the opportunity to attend these classes!
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| Easter dinner with everyone :) |
So, all in all, we are all doing well and moving forward in a positive manner. Thank you for checking in on us! Thank you for being our friends and all of your support! You never know when your kind words, e mail or phone call will be the thing that makes our day. When it is the thing that turns a day from not so great to just great!
Happy Spring everyone!
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| Real birds nest (from last year) with glass eggs :) |
Make Every Moment Count!
(((Hugs)))
Brenda
