Five Simple Things (April 23)

Hello.

Yesterday was Earth Day. Did you hug a tree? We enjoy Earth Day for the simple fact it's like a day to give a thank you to Mother Earth. Sort of like her Mother's Day. 

Some facts about Earth Day:

1. Earth Day was first celebrated on April 22, 1970. Organizers thought this date would maximize student participation because it fell between spring break and final exams for children of school age. The more students got involved the more the information would spread of the day's importance. 

2. Earth Day went global in 1990. About 10 years later the United Nations General Assembly designated April 22 as the day of International Mother Earth Day.

3. Today, Earth Day is the largest observance in the world as far as celebrations and is celebrated by over a billion people worldwide.

We didn't plant a tree, but we have this Poplar Tree that sprouted in the backyard that we've been taking care of. We gave it extra love, as well as the other plants, and sat outside enjoying the day. Our poor Crabapple might have become a victim of the wildfires last year. It hasn't bloomed at all yet and we are thinking it may have succumbed to the ash and lack of sun from last summer. We are hoping we can save it, so fingers crossed. We went out to eat for the first time this week since the pandemic started. We went to HUB in Portland, Oregon. And, I'll tell you, it was odd eating out for the first time in awhile. There wasn't any plastic dividers between the tables, but everyone was spaced out and the waiter wore a face mask the entire time. We had to keep our on until our food came. We don't eat out a lot and mostly cook at home, but after this, I'm not sure we'll go out again for awhile. We also spent the weekend at the coast surfing at Devil's Punchbowl/Agate Beach. It was a nice surf trip to be able to practice surfing more. Surfing is an extremely addicting sport. Here are five things this week.

1. This Food.

Although going out to eat this week was odd, HUB's beer cheese and pretzel sticks were great

2. This Strawberry.

We experimented with melted chocolate and ended up creating the cutest heart-shapes inside of strawberries. I may post a tutorial on this later on the blog, but for now, we're going to eat them all.

3. This Snake.

Our yard is a haven, even with our ducks, for all kinds of animals. We seem to find several garden snakes every year. Skylar likes to pick them up and play with them for a bit before letting them go. It's been a great educational tool during our classroom time, too.

4. This Perspective. 

Skylar brought me something to drink and at just the right moment I noticed he was in focus through the ice cube that was sticking over the top of my glass. Little things like this should be important to everyone. Maybe the world would be a better place and have a lot more love in it if people focused on the right things.

5. This Morning.

I've had some bad mental health days this week. Mental health and mental illness are two separate things, but when my mental illness gets too overwhelming, my mental health declines. Jeff and Skylar knew when this happens, and they know exactly what to do to make me feel better and help me through it. I got breakfast in bed this week and a "day off," which I needed. Everything on that plate is organic. Organic hash browns, organic eggs, organic chilies in the eggs, organic sausages. This breakfast we have when we are treating the other person and it's one of the best breakfasts I've ever had. Of course, I didn't cook it, so that's one reason it was delicious.☺ The word searches on the right were ones I got before my surgery last year and I finally got to finish them all. It was a good day.

Did you get a chance to view the Beehive Cluster this week?

Positive affirmations this week:

Take risks is the phrase, but how about taking risks that reap great rewards for you in the end? Jumping from an airplane seems like a risk that would be associated with risk-takers, but what about other risks that most people don't think about. Like, starting a business, starting a blog, taking more pictures and posting them online, putting yourself out there, cutting off people that no longer serve your life, or even taking up a new sport that you didn't think you'd ever try? These are a few risks I've taken in the last two years. Risks fall under a category that is something you wouldn't normally do, if normal even has a definition. Risk-taking is something we should all do and never get comfortable, or settle. Settle for anything and you're doomed. So, make that an affirmation for yourself-risk something in the coming year. It's all or nothing. Start small and see where it takes you and how great it feels.

Have a nice weekend.