Today is exactly 4 weeks after my last blog post! (The previous break was 5 weeks … and the one before that was almost 5 months).  So, slowly but surely, I’m starting to write again.

I just looked through my last post, and in some ways, the past weeks have been much the same… And yet … well …

What have I been doing? (This should be a short list since I haven’t been doing much new stuff, right?)

• More embroidery (4 kits: a heron; a barn owl, a flower design, and a countryside “summer retreat” set)
• Finances and bank accounts and insurances and taxes and homeowner grants and pensions and mortgage stuff and such are pretty much caught up/updated … thank goodness!
• Lunches and coffee times and walks and in-person chats and Facebook chats, and phone calls with good friends
• Some French language practice
• Continuing devotional times … and noticing times (gathering wildflowers, and watching thunderstorms with awe, and walking in the rain, and such) … and journaling … and waiting …
• And daily walkabouts, and times at parks,
• Gardening! I finally did some new planting (seeds) on May 24^th (better late than never); meanwhile, lots of harvesting: rhubarb, oregano, and – 0h my! – so so many little “wild strawberries” from my sweetheart’s garden patch! He would be so so so happy! … Oh and onto the level 2 watering restrictions due to drought, but some rainfall has helped out 😊
• Cleaning out the shed! (and the gazebo and garden … they all sure needed it!) … and reorganizing tents and tarps and other camping supplies (Will I ever camp that way again? Anybody want to go camping with me? Not so sure I want to do it alone … though I’m okay with camping alone in the van …)
• Still having “sad and lonely” days … but not quite so painful, most of the time … still journaling on difficult days (realizing what a gift writing can be)
• Playing piano (I found an old binder of mine filled with choruses and hymns and things from back-in-the-day in Masset; such good memories)
• Edited a story for a former tutoring student (it was fun!)
• Bought an amazing painting of a wolf from another former tutoring student (as an anniversary gift for my sweetheart; I know he would love it!)
• Place copies of my Summerland Memories book for sale at the Dragon’s Den store here in Penticton
• Reading books again: this time, ones helpful for me specific to my “waiting” time: The Practice of the Presence of God (Brother Lawrence); The Shack (Wm. Paul Young); He Loves You! (Wayne Jacobsen); So You Don’t Want to Go to Church Anymore? (Jake Colson); Noticing the Constant Offer of God (Randy Mark Williams) … and crafty books as well: Handstitched Samplers From I Done My Best (Sandra White); Robert Rose’s Favorite Snacks, Salads, & Appetizers; an old book about Okanagan Gardening (that belonged to my Grandpa Mott); 100 Cross-Stitch Gifts from Nature: The Vanessa-Anne Collection”
• I’ve been reading, for relaxation/personal interest, a variety of magazines, too: Writer’s Digest Yearbook 2023; People Magazine Sept 24, 2001 “Sept 11, 2001: The Day that Shook America”;
• Enjoy going to the movies with a friend, to watch The Sheep Detectives (I’d been feeling really sad and lonely … and that really lifted my spirits; I laughed and laughed!
• A wonderful visit and dinner together with my eldest grandson Tony and his gal, Amy, who were on their way back to Edmonton area from a concert in Vancouver
• Continuing weekly volunteer times at the Summerland Museum; and checking out the Farmer’s Market on Saturdays here in Penticton (and chatting with people I know) … and this past Saturday, checking out the Medieval Fair at the park next to the Farmer’s Market (some amazing costumes … and a lot of really tall young people! … or am I just shrinking?!?)
• Got out my sewing machine and made some repairs
• Sorted out my many craft and art books and feeling more and more like actually doing creative things … and sorted out my piles of embroidery thread and other materials; so many beautiful colours!
• Starting to cook more for myself … though I’m having a hard time creating smaller portions!
• Yesterday I finally gathered my courage, and started writing about grief, from the series of posts and prompts I gathered on this website a couple years ago (https://normajhill.com/2022/12/21/writing-through-grief-part-1/ ) (and the “Writing Through Grief” workshop I presented at a writers’ conference … scroll down near the end: https://normajhill.com/workshops/ ). I think I’ve been afraid of facing the reality of my losses … but it’s time! (In fact, today I’ll be going to a seminar for widows … bit scared of that, too … I don’t think I like that word too much ☹)

Well, maybe not such a short list after all! (I am glad I’ve been keeping track of things … so I know I’m still ME … and not too much of a hermit!)