“It’s my toilet paper, it’s my toilet paper!” Hands we’re scrambling to grab the last of the ore in our game of Catan. Four adults stuck at home, finding anything to do to pass the time, and we found ourselves in a riveting game of Catan.

Memes about toilet paper, homeschooling woes, and being quarantined flood the internet daily. They are funny, hilarious even, but Coronavirus is serious, and something nobody wants to catch. Societies around the world are weathering this pandemic inside their homes. People suddenly have TIME.

I have time. For the first time in four years since I’ve had a full time job, I got caught up with my laundry. Like, every single item washed, dried, folded, AND put away!! Crazy, and embarrassing to admit, but I still haven’t quite figured out how to efficiently manage the upkeep of my home while being gone for the best hours of my day.

I have time to cook and bake. I have time to play with puppies. I’m going to have time to plant my garden. I have time to blog!

We laughed so hard playing that game of Catan and in that moment I realized there was something very special about our “shelter at home” order. None of us had any expectation on our lives, nothing pulling us all in different directions so we could fulfill our obligations to our schedules or to others. The only expectation we each had and still have is to stay at home. I felt this sense of warped freedom. It isn’t really being free, but it was being free from being busy.

I don’t know about you, but I’m going to absorb this “unbusy” time and soak it up. I’m going to give myself permission to just be. I’m not making lists of how to be overly productive during this down time, what area of my home I can turn into a big project, or set myself a rigid schedule to keep while I’m here at home.

I’m going to enjoy this warped freedom, accept this second chance with my now adult kids being home again, and we are going to keep laughing, playing games, and enjoying each other’s company.

Coronavirus needs to go away, but until it does, I’m going to enjoy this life with no expectations on my time.

That last post was meant for my other blog at Silver Paw Cavachons. Sorry about that!

Kristy

We are driving to CA at the end of this week. We are looking to transport any puppies that are ready and needing to go in that direction.

The litters that are old enough for this service are Justyne, Sophia, Paige, and Pearlie. There will be a fee for transportation.

We have already lined up one pup and there are other available pups that could also make the trip to families not currently on our waiting list.

Here’s the thing though…we have to leave super early Thursday morning, which means pups need to see the vet by Wednesday at the latest. That’s just three days to work out all the details.

I am ready by my phone today to match pups and answer questions. Tomorrow my spring break ends and I go back to work. I have school board Monday night and will need to squeeze a visit in to the vet Wednesday after school.

Here is an update on what is still available.

Justyne’s litter has two solid sable boys and a black boy still available. I’m waiting to hear from Amy U., otherwise all 3 pups are available and could come on the CA trip.

I will see Cathy L. Tuesday and get her decision on Sophia’s black girl. I have an email out to Nicole B. so we can talk as well. If both ladies choose other pups, this girl will be available. The blen boy is matched and will be delivered to So. CA next week.

Both Paige pups are matched and I’m coordinating travel for them now.

Pearlie’s Litter has the most activity. We’ve matched the blenheim girl and I am reaching out to Amy U. and Nicole B. and will see Cathy L. Tuesday. I hope to have this all ironed out in the next 48 hours. Amy B., you’re after Amy U. If she decides to go with the Justyne boy, then you’ll have a chance at the tri girl.

As you can see, this process is tedious and everything falls into place one step at a time. We are under a time crunch with our decision to drive to CA which puts a bit of pressure on everyone.

Let me know if you have questions. If you’re new and want to talk about anything that’s available, please just call. Those on the list already, you can call as well! At this point that will be the most efficient way for us to communicate. I anticipate being on the phone a lot so be sure to leave a message if I don’t pick up. I’ll call you back.

Looking forward to matching lo the puppies!

509-936-2715

Kristy 🐶

This is my word of the year. There are a lot of things I want to finish:

Taxes (on time)

Installing garbage disposal

Cleaning out office/craft/dog room

Cleaning out barn storage

Paying down a mortgage

Reading one book per month (at least)

Those are the big things. I want to also finish little things…like dishes daily, laundry to the bitter end of folding AND putting away, picking up and keeping things tidy, any small projects I start.

This is a word our whole family can benefit from doing. We ALL need to follow through and finish things. I am hopeful that this will become the new normal.

Now, off to finish doing (late) taxes.

I swiped this from FB today. It’s a beautiful idea, a lofty aspiration, and a commendable goal. When the rubber meets the road though, and you have to do the forgiving, or see the good and actually forgive the worst, those are the toughest times in life.

As humans, I don’t think we have what it takes to do these things unless the grace of God is working through us.

May we be able to truly live these words on the paper.

I’m back. Every year I want to blog. Every year something holds me back. Part of me worries about putting my life out there. Another part of me wants to share my life so others living with ASD in their families can see that it’s possible to live a full and happy life. I want to share without venting. I want to encourage without feeling defeated myself.

I worry that my blog won’t be focused on any certain thing so it will be too broad. But I’d really like to consolidate all my blogs into this one and just post in one place (except for the dogs).

I want to talk about gardening, planning, working full time, and running a business (or two or three). I want to talk about being healthy, eating right, exercise, and friendships. I want to share my travels. I want to share what brings joy into my life and what annoys the heck out of me.

I might talk about politics, money, and religion.

I just want a place to share and I need to not be afraid to share from the heart. I’m going to try to blog more this year. I’m going to dump everything into this blog. It will be a mixture of everything.

Enjoy!

I’m still here!  I’m back in the classroom and just don’t have the same blocks of time that I did during the summer months!

Bright Line Eating has simply worked for me. I’m down 22lbs since June 9 and still counting!  I have 8 more lbs to goal and I already feel fantastic!

I never even dreamed about wearing size 8 again, but that is the size that now fits me when I try on new clothes. I have a pile of 12s and size large that no longer fit. I’ve also kept up my core exercises and I’m starting to see just a tiny bit of muscle definitionon on the back of my arms!!

I enjoy the food process now and do a lot of prep work to keep myself ready for fast and easy meals. I just packaged up these 4oz packs of rice and quinoa to use in my school lunches. I’m moving into the maintenance phase of this lifestyle so I’m adding a grain to my lunches. 

The other night I finally made my salsa with 1/2 garden tomatoes and the other half 3 cans of organic diced tomatoes from Costco. 

These are in the freezer as well, ready and waiting!

My food remains simple and all the vibrant colors, textures, and tastes still leave me very happy and extremely grateful for all the blessings of living this way. 

I also love my water with lemon each day and learned that sliced lemons could be frozen and then used in water and they look fresh cut every time. 

Mornings are always so busy so I almost always prep my breakfast with all the dry ingredients each night before I go to bed. 

A haircut was a fun addition to all the changes and it feels great to be happy, thin, and free!!

(No makeup, which is actually fairly typical for me.)

We have a plan!

I love having fresh chives for adding flavor and to add some color to my food!

Lunch at the cafe again. I ate a bunch before I remembered to take a picture. The patties were gluten free but they did have oats in the recipe. I think the sauce had maple syrup, but we pulled them out of the dish taking as little sauce as possible. 

I am ok with these fuzzy lines in this situation. 

Supper was quick. It was late, I was hungry, and I didn’t want to wait long for my food to be ready. I’m sure enjoying the fresh garden tomatoes!!

I’ve been struggling to find a yogurt that isn’t full of additives and sweeteners (and that I like) and this brand was suggested. This is a massive container from Costco so I wanted to portion it into 1/2 serving sizes (4 oz.). These tiny storage containers were on sale at my local market and I thought they would be perfect!

The container said 48 oz. I got 44 oz plus about 3oz. I put the extra in the freezer and will use it in a smoothie for my guys. 

I have 2 of these in the fridge and the others are all in my freezer. I haven’t tasted this yogurt brand yet. Crossing my fingers that I like it!!

Another day in the books!



 How to build your breakfast FAST and in one bowl. 

Put a bowl on the scale and clear it to zero. 

Add 4oz of plain yogurt. 

Add 1oz cereal. 

 Add 6oz berries. Start with one type…

…then keep adding till you get the weight correct on the scale.  4oz yogurt + 1 oz cereal + 6oz berries = 11oz.!

Then add 1oz nuts and you’re done!!

Breakfast is served in no time at all!!

Lunch at the cafe today. I did my best with what was available. 

Supper

Another bright day in the books!