New Season

Weird dream.

I dreamt that I climbed out of bed,

and jumped on my bike wearing my sweats and a tank top, and took off.

Braless. And as far as I know...shoeless.

I stopped to use a bathroom, and it was made of glass.

Like a store window.

People could see in, but were respectful.

Workers came in while I was sitting there, 

and although a little awkward,

it was as if it were the natural thing to do.

And... the bathroom was immaculate.

(not like prior dreams of grossness)

All the while, I wished I had grabbed my bra.

(Yes I did. Bike...life's journey, balance, independence, and progress toward goals.

Bra part? vulnerability, authenticity, liberation or exposure.

Couldn't find anything about clean bathrooms...but assume it's a step up

from dreaming about a nasty one...but using it in public?

vulnerability & exposure. )

I heard a flock of geese, and saw them fly over in a perfect V formation.

They remind me of being back home with my family, connection, and feeling uplifted.

And as you can guess,...Mmmhmm...

Sign.

Goose: Vigilance, leadership, community, journey, and

spiritual guidance.

Change, protection, and a call to freedom or self-discovery,

representing a balance of earthly life and spiritual quests.

Travel, new directions, and breaking free from old restraints,

symbolizing spiritual quests or new phases of life.

"Forge ahead with confidence.

You are headed in the right direction."

~Goose~

Yesterday at Walmart I had a brief encounter with "self-expression" girl.

She turned into an isle as I was turning out, almost colliding.

She said, "Excuse me, I'm sorry! Oh...I turned down the wrong isle."

I said, "You sound like me!" , and we both giggled.

In the next isle, we meet again.

Two carts block the isle. 

A guy on my right deciding on beans..

the girl on my left tortilla shells.

"Self-expression" girl on the other side beckoning me to come to her side.

I give her a doubtful look...not thinking I could make it through the tiny opening.

( I may have even said " I don't think I can make it" out loud?)

She smiled, and nodded encouragement...and waved me forward.

"I'm going to go for it!"  I exclaimed.

Bean guy added to the moment with a reassuring,

"Dooo it!"

And I did.

And we all had a good chuckle.

A little fun on our grocery run.

In Tai Chi, we start our practice with the instruction "Preparation",

and we all think H.

(we actually shared this fact with each other yesterday)

Then, "Beginning", and we go through our moves.

These are my thoughts in my head this morning.

Similarly, this year has been preparation.

 And yes...H in many cases,

but it's all brought me to today.

 Now I am ready to begin.

(If I could describe it in words...this video says it best.)

Wishing you all a very Happy, Healthy, Abundant New Year!!!

be well...

xoxo

💝

"Tension is who you think you should be.

Relaxation is who you are."

~Chinese Proverb~

"As our minds reflect on the completion of another year,

we focus on what we accomplished and our plans

for the upcoming year.

Take a moment this morning to bring awareness

to the current moment:

it is the only thing that matters.

All your to-do's can wait.

All that you are planning will happen in due time.

In this moment, offer yourself gratitude for getting

to where you are today.

You made it!!

Give gratitude for a year full of beauty, lessons, and love."

December 29, 2025

Listening to an audio book on mindfulness.

Just squeezed my lemon into it's container,

instead of my mug. I need it.

I had 4 solid priorities today.

Learned a few more moves with my Tai Chi buddies.

Wowed by  

my mama. OMG!

I am so stinking proud of her right now.

I better copy my recipe, so I have it for next year.

Our Christmas French toast

1 loaf of crusty sourdough or French bread

8 eggs

2 cups whole milk

1/2 cup heavy cream

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 Tbs. vanilla extract

Topping:

1/2 cup flour

1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1/2 cup cold salted butter cut into pieces

Serve with:

warm syrup 

1 cup blueberries for serving

(note: also used bananas, raspberries and strawberries and whipped cream)

Grease 13 x 9 baking dish

Cut French bread into slices and place in dish.

(or cube. I did both)

Whisk in a big bowl:

eggs, milk, cream, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla

pour over bread

cover tightly and refrigerate over night,

or  bake right away.

( I overnighted it)

For topping:

in a small bowl, stir with fork...

flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt and nutmeg.

Add butter. Mix until crumbly. (pebbles)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Sprinkle topping over the top

Bake 50 min.

Note: you can use 1/2 and 1/2, or unsalted butter...

however, the heavy cream and salted butter are

the tweaks I mad this year...and nope. I won't go back.

Scrumptious.

Yummy leftover too.

be well...

xoxo

💝

'Life is full of distractions-

some positive, some menacing.

Prioritizing your you life keeps you track.

Determine your priorities then write them down.

Writing is a powerful tool, because you can go

back and see if you're still on the right course.'

"This is your daily reminder:

Do not absorb other people's 

whack ass energy."

"May the tears you cried in 2025

water the seeds you plant in 2026."

December 27, 2025

It was like celebrating Christmas in June.

AMAZING!

Christmas eve: twinkle lights and candles sparkling,

 windows and doors wide open to a nice evening breeze.

 Brandon, Molly, and I gathered around the 

table to finish our traditional Christmas puzzle.

When Gary came home he joined us and we

   played 5 Crowns & scoffed down freshly baked Swedish spritz cookies.

Yes...I scoffed.

Fritzy relished in his freedom to be indoors or out

as he wished, butt wagging, cuddling, and savoring a cookie or two

in between naps and travels.

Christmas morning:  Talked to my Dad.

Brandon learned to make coffee in the French press.

We ate our (now) traditional French toast bake at the table

served with fresh fruit on Grandma A's china set,

and opened the doors wide to invite the beautiful

Christmas morning to join us.

 I received some of the sweetest most thoughtful gifts this 

Christmas...

however,... the moments we shared?

 Perfect.

This Christmas was by far one of my favorites!

I sure do love my people.

notes over the holiday...

24th

I love early. 

I am out on the porch. Yay! I love this!

Mindful of the blessings.

"Let your hearts be warmed by the traditions, the garland,

the candle-lighting service.

But be shocked-be in awe of the baby in the manger."

25th

...too much sugar. Feel bleh...but fun.

Gorgeous weather. Peaceful morning.

Chickens laughing next door...

Thank you Father...so cute.

Happy Birthday Jesus.

26th

Surprise! Ate more sugar.

Cookies calmed me. Blood sugar is good.

I have a wonderful life.

"Choose to see the light in everything."

"It's OK if there are days when I feel a little out of frame."

What I focus on grows.

27th

Upstairs early sitting near an open window and Polly

purring on my lap.

Enough indulgence. Back to eating healthy today.

"Remember all the things that love is:

patient, kind, not envious or boastful or proud.

It honors people, isn't self-seeking, nor easily angered,

and it doesn't keep track of people's mess-ups."

(1Corinth.13: 4-5)

"No one leads people to Jesus;

He leads people to Himself.

All the pressure is off.

Just go love everybody."

Focus on ways you'd like to grow.

Begin doing the work required.

Each day is a new opportunity to live your dream

Tenaciously pursue what you want.

"You are asking God for more in your life, 

but you have to learn how to handle what you have."

'The moment you surrender is not when life is over.

It's when it begins.'

be well...

xoxo

💝

"How ironic.

You spend your whole life resisting the notion that there's

someone out there smarter than you are,

and then all of a sudden you're so relieved to know it's true.

All of a sudden, your not too proud to ask for help.

That's what it means to surrender to God."

~A Return to Love ~

December 23, 2025

It's 69 degrees and I've been pairing working in the yard,

with stretching and pulling my sourdough every 30 minutes.

The birds are singing, and the bluebirds are flying about.

A Blue Jay landed, with much to say.

It was carrying on so much that Polly hid under a chair.

I sat & listened until it flew off...then looked up the "sign".

I prayed last night for direction and clarity for something

weighing on me.

I fell asleep right away..., and had a dream about a room in my house

flooding.  I woke up...and had only slept for an hour.

So I looked up the "sign" for that too.

I've been experimenting with mindfulness, faith, and surrendering.

Being more intentional with my thoughts.

Practicing Philippians 4:8.

(my all-time favorite verse)

I enjoy testing things out.

To discover what works and what doesn't.

For me.

It's effective.

This year while I muttered, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

and "With God all things are possible."  while breaking old habits and patterns,

and talking to the cat...

 ...lately I've been muttering, "He will perfect that which concerns me."

while wondering why I've wasted so much time trying to "perfect"

things that really don't concern me.

And I still talk to the cat.

Paying attention, and taking notes.

Signs:

* Bluebird: 'Is letting you know to choose happiness at all time.

Life may not be how you want it, Bluebird encourages you to count your blessings.

It reminds you to take control of your life & not let anyone or anything

steal the joy you have found.

Place value on the pleasant things growing around you.

Your about to enter a new chapter.

Be open and embrace any change.

All will be well.

"There's beauty all around us if you look hard enough."

~Bluebird~

* Blue Jay: Spiritual messenger. Communication. Courage. Protection. Truth.

Clarity.

And...the *flooded room dream interpretation:

Being overwhelmed by emotions or life circumstances.

Represents inner turmoil, stress, or unresolved issues within 

your personal life.

Facing a major life transition, feelings of loosing control, or a

need of emotional cleansing.

That sums it up nicely.

be well...

xoxo

💗

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true,

whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure,

whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-

if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-

think about such things."

Philippians 4:8

"Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me,

or seen in me-

put it into practice.

And the God of peace will be with you."

Philippians 4:9

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