Reflections From My Window

May always brings with it thoughts of lilacs and memories of my childhood.   Growing up, the lane to our house was lined with lilac bushes, and I absolutely loved stopping on my way home from school/grandma’s/my friends/riding my bike, etc., and taking in the wonderful aroma of them.  Many a bouquet of freshly picked lilacs were taken to my Mom.  This is why, in my mind, lilacs and Mother’s Day go hand-in-hand .  And, as a mom, I have also been on the receiving end of many such bouquets.  It brings me immense joy!  My kids knew just how to touch my heart. I now have some beautiful lilac trees next to my house, and you know there will be some hand-picked bouquets on my table soon! So, with that – Mother’s Day .   I have two of the most absolutely amazing adult children.   Both are extremely musically gifted – thanks to their Dad’s side of the family!   LOL. My daughter, Tawnie, has the singing voice of an angel, just like her Nanny (m...

I can’t believe it’s already the middle of April!   Tax Day is here, April showers are doing their best to bring on some May flowers , and summer is (hopefully!) just around the corner.   We are becoming much more awake from our “winter slumber” and trying to spend more time outdoors.   Where I live, we are trying to coax the sun out more often.   He’s being a bit shy now, but I am certain he’ll get over it.   Since we last met, I have had surgery.   It was a minor, laparoscopic procedure, which is supposed to mean a week or so of recovery then back to the races.   I have had two previous such procedures and this was the case both times.   However, “ third time’s a charm ”, as they say.   Only, in this instance it wasn’t in a good luck aspect – I developed an infection in my belly-button incision area.   After 7 days of high-powered antibiotics and additional rest, I’m finally beginning to feel like I might recover from ...

We all know the saying, March comes “in like a lion, and out like a lamb.”   When March begins, it’s still winter, and by the end of the month spring has begun--or should be beginning. In many parts of the country -- like mine -- the weather hasn’t quite reached the lamb stage by the end of the month—it’s more like an angry cat .   The Farmer’sAlmanac has a pretty good article on the saying if you’re interested in learning more.   As I’ve written in my past few blogs, winter here in Eastern Oregon is being an overachiever, causing many plans to change.   March started with the same attitude. But, as I am embracing change this year, all is good, right? 😉 The saying means that we hope if March starts off stormy, it will end on a calm note , but the key word is hope.    This made me think in terms of life.   Life goes along nice and calm and easy.   Then a storm hits, and we batten down the hatches and hope we live through it. Hope ...

Already we are in our second month of the year.  Wasn’t it just New Year’s?  February, in technical terms, is: “…the second month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars. ... The month has 28 days in common years or 29 days in leap years, with the quadrennial 29th day being called the "leap day." February is the third month of meteorological winter in the Northern Hemisphere.” Snooze. 😊   It’s the last hurrah of winter, and in my neck of the woods can be extremely mild or inexplicably temperamental in terms of weather, with almost spring-like being the mood of the moment!  It’s the time of year when we finally feel like we’re coming out of hibernation, just like Punxsutawney Phil —the official Groundhog of the United States, who we celebrate every year on February 2nd !  This year, he saw his shadow which legend has it means 6 more weeks of winter.  If it’s winter like we’ve been having, I’m good with it! UPDATE: So, I sta...

The weather here in Eastern Oregon this January is quite different than last year. At this time last year, we had about 4 feet of snow in our back yard; this year you can still see the grass and the pumpkin remnants in our garden!  The change from year to year is significant. We did have nearly a foot of snow around Christmas, which was the perfect time for it -- but nothing since. Other than the fact that the water level in my favorite “fishing hole” (which is a beautiful, picturesque lake you will see a lot of later in the year...) will probably be low again this summer, I’m not going to complain.  I am Eastern Oregon born and bred, but I am NOT a winter girl -- bring on the warmth and the sun!   January brings with it a new hope and excitement that few months in the year can match.  We get a clean slate to start over, if we think we need to. For my family and friends, much of 2017 was filled with a lot of difficulty and sadness; but it had some very wonde...

Greetings, and Happy 2018! As I reflect back on 2017, it was a year full of a lot of good, a lot of bad, and a lot of changes.  Of course, most years are that way, aren't they?  I'll focus on the good and the changes it brought into my life and business.  This will forever be the year I started working my Virtual Assistance business full time!  Yay!! Being a VA has been a dream of mine for close to 20 years now, and in 2013 I decided it was time to prove to myself I could do it.  I took and successfully completed the Virtual Mentoring Program through AssistU , and became part of the most amazing online VA community in the world!  I owe my eternal gratitude to Anastacia Brice  for mentoring and coaching me through the program and the start-up of my business.   Fast forward to 2017, and the year started as the past 11 had, by me working in a local law office.  I had 2 clients with whom I did work on a part-time basis, and a mentor/i...