March 15-21
Monday, Monday! Start of a fresh week, what will this week bring? Genevieve started a full week at school, still a bit nervous. She is enjoying the cafeteria and not having to make lunch, using her swipe card and picking out what she wants. One more little step of independence. Shop up at the supermarket on my bike in the morning for me. I really enjoy doing this more than I imagined I would. Remember, I wanted a motor scooter while we were here, I pictured myself shopping using the scooter. The bicycle is so great, I can handle it, it allows me to really see everything around me and the basket is great for shop ups along with Aaron's saddle bag he bought on his last sabbatical in Germany. The ride is about 10 mins or so to the closest Sainsbury Superstore, I go along a path that opens to a field, a calming flat space that makes this prairie girl feel peace. I baked chocolate chip cookies and raisin scones in the afternoon after a bit of house cleaning. I wanted G to smell the baking when she came in the door after school and she did, running to the kitchen to see what the smell was. We were watching Dawson's Creek during her lunch break when she was learning from home, now it is our after school ritual, tea and scones. I love this time with her.
Menopausal insomnia hit me hard Monday night, I was up until 2 am and went back to bed for a few hours after G was off to school in the morning. If any of you have any secrets to combat this I'd love to hear from you, along with tricks for minimising hot flashes! I really just need to get back to meditating, it helps. I had a late night snack of Weetabix that claim on the box to accelerate your intestines while netflix bingeing, finished Virgin River, I need a new show. My prolific art making meant I was in need of more canvases, placed an order at Hobbycraft for click and collect Tuesday afternoon and popped into Asda at the same time. Met Genevieve on the way home from school and got to hear all about her day, she is finding her place. Aaron and I took advantage of the lovely evening sunset and filled our to go mugs with a cocktail and set out walking to enjoy the magic hour.
My websites took up most of my Wednesday until we walked to the post office, March Birthday cards are in the mail, and walked home from school with Genevieve. A big wave from her when she saw us down the street, oh my heart. I thought the dull grey skies here would bother me, I can't say they have but I do notice when the sun is shining like it was this afternoon. I've listed a few more pieces of art on my Etsy website, please pop by the site to see if there is anything you like, click on the photo below or go to: https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/DollhouseGems
Day two of decent sleeps, yippee! Since listening to Glennon Doyle's Untamed, I have also been listening to podcasts, Ted talks and other interviews with her and her wife Abby Wombach. Today, I listened to Mayim Bialik's podcast Breakdown with Glennon, it was fantastic. So inspiring and continues to make me look into myself, peeling those onion layers back as my peer support would say. Today was a great day for painting the Lode Mill. While at the Anglesby Abbey last weekend, I came along a point on the path where I could see the Mill and reflections of the trees in the aqueduct, I immediately saw it as a painting and knew I had to snap a photo for reference. I wonder how many of my creative friends frame pieces of art in their mind during their daily routines. Aaron and I enjoyed another sunset cocktail walk. Freedom of leaving my child at home is slowly feeling normal.
Woke up to lovely weather, Aaron and I biked to a nearby town, Madingley, on Friday. The town church had another interesting cemetery, we have decided to make the churches a destination where we go as we can wander about the grounds, still being in lock down. I like reading the tombstones and it is exciting when I find one with a family name I know, especially my Mum's family name, 'King', with its English background. I've found two so far. We wandered the grounds of that Madingley Hall, beautiful gardens and a takeaway cafe. With Coffee, Tea and a slice of Ginger Cake to go, we sat on outdoor benches, enjoying the day and it felt like we were doing something normal for the first time in a long time. I have not had Ginger cake before, it was yummy, and I will be trying to make it soon. Adorable lambs and sheep were plentiful, tiny little baaas I couldn't resist. A quick shop up on the way home for weekend treats. I finished my Lode Mill painting, I'm very proud of it. I've had a bit of anxiety this past week, my mood is slightly off, I can't identify the reason why, fortunately I am able to work past it and carry on. When I have these anxious stumbles I am now more forgiving with myself, know that this too shall pass because I have the tools and support. Go outside and it all feels better.
The weekend is for family time, I am missing our sons, Jakub and Sefton, young adults on their own back home in Canada. I miss Sunday dinners with them, Facetime helps and a few online games together feel like we've done something, not quite the same though as in person. Saturday we worked in the Clare Hall garden, building fencing and netting to keep the critters out. The Porters Lodge has some board games to lend so we filled part of the weekend with Catan and Ticket to Ride. Sunday I booked us tickets to go to the Cambridge Botanical garden, first full day of Spring. We all enjoyed the gardens and can't wait to go back when more things are in bloom and have grown.
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