Gal pals, linking up with Anne in Residence for Currently 05.2020. These posts are always fun! Just as fun as yesterday’s Sentence a Day and my new 10 on the 10th series. In case you missed it, you can read April’s Currently post, here. You can start writing your sentence a day for May and link up with us on the first Tuesday of June to share. And pencil 10 on the 10th into your planner for Sunday!
CURRENTLY 05.2020
For currently 05.2020, we are talking about what we’re: learning, loving, making, missing and reading. As always, coming to you in ABC order, here are my responses. And you know I’m going to ask, so be thinking how you would respond to these Currently 05.2020 prompts yourself.
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Learning…
nothing YET. But have recently signed up for a couple of things to learn about. One, this *free* online instapot school offered by Tiffany at Eat at Home. I was gifted my instapot a few years ago and have used it with great success about a half-dozen times. But want to feel more confident about pulling it out. Even if it makes me feel disloyal to my precious crock pot. The instapot can be such a time saver. Especially now that I am helping with the babies again.
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Also signed up for The Genius Blogger’s Took Kit. For which I actually paid money. And then did nothing with. Well, that’s not exactly accurate. I did print out the handouts. Then carried them around with me a couple of times. On those occasions where I had to go somewhere that I thought I might have some ‘down’ time to start working through the program.
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Actually participating in both of these trainings is on my to-do list this week.
Finally, for my mom’s Mother’s Day gift, we kids (I use that term lightly) are giving her this inexpensive tablet. Which is being delivered first to me, so I can set it up with Homer Player for audible books for the seeing impaired/elderly. Have to learn a little bit about Homer in order to explain it to mom. Then I will purchase several books for mom to listen to and ship the device to her.
Loving…
that PC is working from home. But just as I was writing this post, he learned that the whole week of 05.04.2020 he will have to go into the office. I guess I jinxed him.
Also loving that I am heading across the mountain every morning to help with Lucia and Camila. Today, Cia treated me to a mani and pedi in their living room. Complete with sparkles.
Loving that Cady has learned to ride her bike without training wheels. And that she and Brennyn are coming for a visit in less than 3 weeks.
Last but not least, loving my new leopard tennies from Old Navy. So comfy that I have worn them all week!!
Making…
spring crafts, coconut pie, painted rocks. Talked about my spring crafts in a recent post, here. They were very quick and actually fun to make. Sometimes I get all wrapped around the hub about crafting because I am afraid of failure. Such an ugly word.
Felt kind of scared making this no-bake coconut cheesecake pie, too. My Grandma Bubby set the bar high for coconut pie. I was afraid I would drop the ball on this, too. But I surprised myself!! And bonus…PC liked it a lot, too.
Just began painting these little fellas last weekend.
Missing…
date nights, movies, going into stores, my babies, the gym, our hikes, a sense of normalcy and calm.
Like I said above, this week I have begun helping take care of my girls while Lauren starts back to work. So that is a step in the right direction.
Reading…
2 new books. My online book club voted to read In Five Years by Rebecca Serle for May. Several of the gals read it in one sitting so we may have to vote for a second book this month! I am on chapter 9, listening through Audible, and cannot figure out where we are headed. Great read so far.
Also downloaded The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi onto my Kindle. It is Reese Witherspoon’s book of the month. Remember, I applied for her resident librarian position on Hello, Sunshine? Well, I have never heard a word back. Other than an email saying they received my application. And I haven’t been able to find any announcement of who was hired. Waaaa!!
I am always on the lookout for great books, so be sure to let me know what you are reading in a comment below.
Spring Goal Update
I revealed my spring goals in this post last month.
Here’s how I’ve managed toward meeting these goals, about 6 weeks into the season.
FIRST GOALS
- Scrap Cia and Cami: ✅ yes, have taken advantage of this quiet, stay at home time to do this.
- Clean vents and carpets: this is actually a PC spring goal. We had the vents done a week ago. Ka-ching! Although I clean our carpets myself, have gotten an estimate to have a professional job done this spring. Now just finishing spring cleaning before they come.
- Get pool professionally cleaned: ✅ oh, this pool. Had the tiles cleaned and a rust spot repaired. And then repaired again. Oh, yeah, and repaired again. Most recently yesterday. Filling the pool with water, so we will see if the 3rd repair takes.
SECOND HALF
- Update patio and backyard space: I do realize how trivial this seems during a global pandemic. But have wanted to do it for over a year. Have my eye on these sets, both out of stock right now on Wayfair. And maybe a couple of chaise lounges.
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- Attend church online; Easter: did tune in for live-streaming of our church’s Easter Sunday services. But the Easter ham and turkey are still in the freezer. And the Easter dress is still on the hanger. We have postponed dinner and dressing up for later.
- Recipe swap and blog hop: ✅ yes!! If you missed it, just click here to check out the recipes shared by some of my favorite blogger buddies and my new friend, Cindy on FB.
Have gotten my craft area cleaned and purged. That was a winter goal that was transformed into a bucket list activity, I think. Hope to have check marks beside every goal by the end of the month.
YOUR TURN
How are you staying healthy and busy, friends? Are you making headway on goals or resolutions you set waaaaay back in January? Doesn’t that seem like a lifetime ago? What are you learning, loving, making, missing, and reading for currently 05.2020? Let me know in a comment below.
We are up to almost 1,100 cases of Covid-19 in El Paso with 22 deaths. Today is a big El Paso celebration, Cinco de Mayo. Praying that 2 weeks from now we don’t have another big spike in cases like we saw after Easter. And we are really worried about Mother’s Day as this community traditionally celebrates their moms in a big way.
Don’t forget to enter the Mother’s Day giveaway, here. Thank you for popping by. Happy Hump Day!
Hugs and kisses,
Deb
Those painted rocks are gorgeous – what a great idea!
Bet you can hardly wait to get back into full childminding mode, I’m so jealous! We will be having an announcement of the next phase for us on Sunday, as we’ll have been on strict lockdown for 6 weeks then (feels much longer than that!) and I really hope that seeing small groups of family will be allowed sometime soon.
I really enjoyed our last book club read, I think I read it so quick because it was lovely to just sit in the sun and not feel bad about reading for a whole afternoon!
Joanne
I don’t think I’ve been learning anything but I have been loving our weather this week!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Ha!! With all the homeschooling you do, I am pretty sure you are learning and instructing every day.
Dara
I love the painted rock guys! So cute! I loved In Five Years. Such a good book.
Kimberly F Malkiewicz
I really enjoyed catching up with you and your spring goals. It sounds like you are doing really well! Haha, on feeling disloyal to your slow cooker! I haven’t gotten an instapot, I feel like the ship has sailed for optimal use over here. Yay! on getting together with your sweet grand girls. There’s nothing like spending time with those little ones that make you appreciate life so much. I don’t think it’s trivial to think about updating your outdoor space. You have the time and would get so much enjoyment and mental health benefits from having a comfortable outdoor space. Those painted rocks are stinkin’ adorable!!! Failure with crafts? I see crafting as a creative, relaxing outlet. If something doesn’t turn out the way I’d hoped, I’ve still achieved my goal.
Laurie
I always think I want to to a “Currently” post and each month, I don’t do it! I love reading yours, though. Those painted rocks are adorable! I painted rocks with my grandsons a few months back but they didn’t look anywhere near as good as yours did. They loved hiding them in the park, though, and imagining children finding them. You get a lot accomplished in a month. I need to focus on goals more often. You are an inspiration!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you, Laurie, for lifting me up with your kind words. We shared our painted rocks this week, in several parks and at the hospital where my son-in-law works. Hope they brightened someone’s day.
Retirement Reflections
Your painted rocks are soooo cool!!
Love them!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you!! Somehow painting rocks is so much easier for me than painting canvas!!
Kellyann Rohr
I love your Mother’s Day gift to your mom, that is so useful and she will enjoy it. It’s great that you’ll set it up first and load it with some books. Clever!
Your granddaughters are all just so precious! Your mani-pedi is priceless!
I made your coconut cheesecake pie and it was sooooooo good. I didn’t toast coconut for the top because one of my sons isn’t a fan but I will next time. To heck with him, ha!!!
xo,
Kellyann
Leslie Roberts Clingan
So tickled that you made my coconut cheesecake pie. Isn’t it yummy? About time for me to make it again. PC loved it as much as I.
jodie filogomo
I know that feeling about buying a program and then not using it…ugh!! But that cheesecake pie?? OMG…that looks amazing. I’m such a fan of cheesecakes.
OXOX
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Leslie Roberts Clingan
The coconut cheesecake pie was sinfully delicious and worth every calorie!!
Laura Bambrick
So cute! I love your painted rocks! They are absolutely adorable! Anyone finding them would be sure to have a smile on their faces! Your mani and pedi are darling too! I am normally the one painting my daughters’ nails. I need to switch it up a bit I think!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Oh, I bet Claire could give you a fine mani/pedi. It was surprisingly relaxing when Cia gave me mine. And didn’t turn out too badly!
ShootingStarsMag
I should be doing a spring goals update with you in the next couple weeks, as I haven’t done it yet. Not that I’d had tons crossed off. LOL I love that you get to spend some time with the grandkids now. I know my mom misses hers, and it’s weird not seeing them when we used to at least a couple times a week. Facetime is great, but it’s not the same. Happy Early Mother’s Day!! I love what you and your siblings are getting for your mom.
-Lauren
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you for the sweet supportive comment. Hope your mom has been able to snuggle her grandbabies by now. My brother in Lexington says things are opening up pretty well up there. But I see terribly sad news coming out of Louisville with the riots. This has been such a difficult spring.
Bri
That instant pot course sounds awesome! Let me know how it goes, and also report back on those two new books after you finish!!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Funny, when I started this blog, I thought I would write nothing but book reviews. And I did kind of start that way. But not so much over the last few years. Have read some pretty good books lately so need to do a colossal book review post!
Jill
How fun that you got an at-home mani/pedi from your granddaughter! I love your Mother’s Day gift for your mom! She will love it! Those painted rocks are so cute and special!
Jill – Doused in Pink
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you, friend. I need to hit Lucia up for another mani/pedi!
Anne
Ooh, Instapot class – what a great idea! I got one a little over a year ago, and I just don’t use it that much, but then again I am just a little scared of it. Lessons would help 🙂
Love the fun painted rocks too. We go on a little hiking trail nearby where some kids have left a bunch of painted rocks for others to find, which always puts a smile on our faces.
And I am adding In Five Years to my reading list now!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Oh, I am glad you added In Five Years to your reading list. So. Good!!
We really had fun painting rocks. Gathered my grands and we painted together. This week we have set them about for others to find.
I have yet to start the Instapot class but need to make that happen.
April
Those are the cutest rock people ever!! Wow!!! The tennis shoes are fun too. Looks like you are making the best of the lock down.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you!! We just put them out at a hospital emergency room parking lot and my doctor’s office.