Day 109 of Week 16 April 2024

Lake Champlain in April 2024
Upstate New York at Fort Saint Frederic

The beautiful Chartreuse buds on the trees are everywhere. An audience waiting for a spring concert of leaves to begin playing in the wind is one of the many delights of the season of new growth.

So what's up?

Well, my 2024 change of lifestyle doesn't seem to be much different than 2023. The changes I have made are subtle. 

For example, my attitude has improved as I am less tolerant of worrying too much over tiny things. If stress becomes too high, then nightmares will let me know when to make asjustments. I've discovered a color I look best wearing, navy blue. Not having bread every day doesn't ruin my life. Forgetting to buy ketchup so often is not a betrayal of the my New England (Boston Area) roots (of ketchup on most everything).  

How is 2024 going for you? Noticed any changes in attitude? Menu? Fashion sense?

This year, I put a purchase limit to one pair of sandals. Pleased with my online thrift order, the sandals fit, but they need to stretch out to be comfortable. Given a strap does go over my arthritic toe, the limit on sandals is now at 3, with an emphasis on no straps across the big toe. 

I've begun to put together a paint and picnic tote. The thrift store had a good selection of small well sealed containers that are perfect for fruit and veggies. I wish I bought a few more.

This summer, the goal is to prep 2 days of fruit and vegetables instead of preparing a single meal each day. The reduction of waste by doing that is a plus as too many times fruit and vegetables are pushed to the back of the fridge to be forgotten.  If the weather is good, then I can quickly put together a picnic and be outdoors.

Have a Summery Thinking Weekend!

Browse fun tee shirts online

Bake carrots and apples

Sing to your garden space

Buy new garden gloves

Clean out your vehicle

Glue a together a collage

Take photos of tree buds

An April Afternoon

Upstate New York, Lake Champlain
at Fort Saint Frederic
16  April 2024

It was a beautiful Spring day.

And here at 1 AM in the morning, my

throat is sore from a screaming nightmare

that woke me up. 

Vivid person appears intent on

harming me in the dream. Out of nowhere, 

at a place I don't know, fearing being there,

hearing somebody following me.

Not a good thing for that person

Anger is powerful, my anger.

The scream is louder than usual 

because I am certain there is

not going to be  good outcome.

Ergo, I awake. 

Cough drops at the ready.

Later that morning... 

I fell back asleep. Around 4 AM , I woke to a louder scream, different person, same danger though. My throat is slightly scratchy. Beautiful sunny day, I went out and had a relaxing time, bought and planted violas, lunch at McD, and a thrift store stop. I picked up a few lovely small containers for my picnic basket. 

There's a gorgeous ecru leather sofa there that I would buy in a heartbeat if I had the room. I also bought a small postal scale for letters from April 1988...1st class...$0.25 cents!

Anyway, I believe the nightmares are due to a heavy (for me) stress event this week that I volunteered for. As it is, I think it is best to let that go; and try a less stressful event.

April 2023

Mallard Ducks On Lake Champlain

It was cold and windy with very flat light yesterday. A grayish beige haze was the tone on the last day of March 2023.

I felt a pall of misery, a damp bone chilling apathy in Mother Nature's attitude. Blah! Stay indoors.

I went out anyway.

I was compelled to check if geese were at the wildlife refuge. A get it over with task. 

Canada geese. I saw them in the fields, near a field puddle, hugging the shore or in somebody's yard. There was no large migrating flock at Dead Creek that I saw (or heard). 

At Fort St Frederic, Upstate New York, I walked out to take better photos of a large number of what I believe are cormants on Lake Champlain. Black and white, I think cormants. The light was a misery for pictures, (and my mood as well). Nearly all photos are fuzzy.

Cormants On Lake Champlain

Another geese checking trip out and about is not planned. A different focus on Spring this year has yet to be decided. New places and, a new angle are pulling at my ponder this skills.

I woke this morning thinking April Fool's Day is perfect to announce I will stop posting here. Nah.

Misery is a mood, not a rule. 

Next week will be the first post for the new feature here that's all about pumpkins.