In Michigan, we’ve had summer like temps but little to no rain. As a result, the garden is growing quickly, everyday yielding new blooms. This morning I was thrilled to see even more blooms in the garden, including my Dwarf Korean Lilac.
Much to my surprise, under the lilac bush, I found two of the feral kittens born about seven weeks ago on our porch. I imagine that the fragrance of the lilacs is relaxing for them.
Clematis, one of three varieties I have around the gardenThis first of many Clematis blossoms to comeThe first of my poppies!
Lots of shades of purple and yellow abound.
As I strolled around this morning, I found several “volunteers” that I didn’t plant but am happy to see all the same. My rule is, if it’s growing in a crack but it’s a flower, vegetable or herb – leave it be!
One of my Alpine Poppies
These emerge through cracks in the asphalt
They look fragile but clearly can grown anywhere
Too pretty to pull out of the paver sidewalk
Apparently, last year’s cilantro went to seed here
This pot grew cilantro and grape tomatoes last year and this is 2016 cilantro, coming on strong! Think I’ll be making ceviche & salsa soon!
As I finish up the final two entries in this series, I’d like to thank those of you who’ve followed along. Your interest and comments on 59 Candles, 59 Things has been so appreciated and it’s made me happy to share it with you. It’s reminded me that there are many things to be grateful for every day and that life provides moments large and small that offer happiness.
Fifty eighth thing: The next thing that makes me happy will come as no surprise – retirement! A few months ago, I passed the two year mark of my retirement and it has gone fast. I knew I’d enjoy it but never would have expected to have accomplished so many things that I’d wanted to do nor would I have guessed how busy I would be. The biggest bonus is getting to hang out with Spence every day. That time together is a gift and something I longed for when I was working full-time. I’ve picked up new hobbies, traveled, read tons of books, tended my garden and cooked my way through these last two years. There is still much more to come (God willing) and I look forward to embracing every moment and smelling all the roses!
Fifty ninth thing: For the final entry in this series, I’m choosing to be happy about getting older – and here’s 10 reasons why:
I’ve recently marked my 60th birthday and 60 is the new 50!
I have everything I need (and more)
I’m pretty darn healthy and am taking steps to be healthier.
I’m happily married.
I can and do travel frequently.
I’m able to garden vigorously.
I still dance – mostly in the kitchen.
I have many interests and hobbies that I’m exploring.
I can snuggle with the cats in my pj’s till noon if I want.
My alarm clock rarely is set.
Okay, I’m sure you were expecting something more profound in that list or for the final post for this series. But truly, getting older does make me happy. I’m wiser now but still feel like a kid most days. Yeah, there are aches and pains, surgical scars and a pacemaker that I’ve picked up along the way but I’m still here.
Still here, even if I’m a bit crispy.
Thank you for following this series, I’ve had a blast blogging about these things that make me happy!
Let me start by saying I’ve never been particularly crafty. My creative outlets have been cooking, gardening and photography.
Retired and with an addiction to Pinterest, I’ve started to look for “recipes” in which I could make things using my essential oils.
For this project, I made these amazing shower disks. These can be placed on the bottom of the tub while showering, releasing the scent of the oils in the steam.
I plan to also drop them into baths. I love a good soak in the tub while reading, meditating or enjoying a glass or wine – or sipping a shot of liqueur.
Homemade Shower Disks – makes 6
1 cup baking soda
1/3 cup water to start, be prepared to add more
essential oils – I choose eucalyptus, lavender and wintergreen
Mix baking soda and water until it’s thick like a paste. I used a silicone muffin pan (spritzed with olive oil) Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Turn the oven off. Remove and add your essential oils to each disk; I chose 3 drops eucalyptus, 2-3 drops lavender, 1-2 drops wintergreen onto each disk – it absorbs quickly. Put the pan back in the oven to let them “cure” or dry a bit longer from the residual heat.
The Michigan winter and forced air heat is drying and hard on our skin. I started using coconut oil on my skin and recently to condition my hair but always wished it smelled a bit better. I’d been given solid lotion bars as gifts before – solid until they melt against your skin. I’ve always wondered about making my own.
Fast forward to Pinterest where I discovered this “recipe”(courtesy of Thank Your Body). It’s bitterly cold in Michigan so today’s the day. I’d purchased organic beeswax, shea butter, coconut oil and sweet orange essential oil as well as a silicone mold recently. Today, I dug out my trusty double boiler and am ready to roll – or melt.
Directions:
1. In a double boiler, melt together the beeswax, shea butter, and coconut oil until they become liquid.
2. Turn the heat off and add the olive oil, honey, and essential oil drops. I warmed my honey first – make sure that it’s fully melted into the mix as it is the thickest component.
3. Pour liquified mixture into the molds.
The mold I purchased on Amazon.
4. Allow to set in a cool place for 7 to 8 hours, or pop in the fridge to speed up the process.
The bars are set, simply flip onto a plate – easy to do with silicone mold!
Not feeling 100% confident as to how these will turn out, I cut the recipe in half except I did use the full amount of essential oil. It made 4 bars in the mold shown above, though I didn’t fill the molds to the very top. The orange fragrance is very subtle even though I used the amount for a full – not half recipe. Want a more scented bar? Simply increase the amount of essential oil.
The finished product!
To store these, keep them in little plastic containers in a cool place. When you’re ready to use, rub a bar between your palms to soften with body heat then massage into your skin.
When did it start, this morning ritual? Rising earlier than necessary to awaken slowly, sipping a cup of tea
Starting another day, snuggling with a purring cat. Comfort. Stillness.
Sleep frequently elusive, restless for years.
Sipping tea, a chance to reflect and be grateful if only for a few minutes each day.
Starting another day, snuggling with a purring cat. Comfort. Stillness.
Wish I could stay here all day and feel this perfect peace, away from all the craziness in the world
Sipping tea, a chance to reflect and be grateful if only for a few minutes each day.
So lucky am I, I see it now.
Wish I could stay here all day and feel this perfect peace, away from all the craziness in the world
Lost in thought, wrapped in a little cocoon of warm, soothing elixir, this tea.
So lucky am I, I see it now.
The day begins in a safe place of reflection, reminding me I’m blessed.
Lost in thought, wrapped in a little cocoon of warm, soothing elixir, this tea.
Sleep frequently elusive, restless for years.
The day begins in a safe place of reflection, reminding me I’m blessed.
When did it start, this morning ritual? Rising earlier than necessary to awaken slowly, sipping a cup of tea.
It just so happens that my lifelong BFF gave me a room diffuser for my birthday in May. I love using essential oils and wanted to share this blend with my followers.
Twenty Second thing: I love baths and bath products. I did earlier posts titled “I LOVE BATHS” as an ode to beautiful bathtubs and one called “Homemade Shower Disks”, my foray into DIY bath products.
Our home, (which I love) has one bathtub/shower and was built 70+ years ago. At 6 feet tall you might have guessed that stretching out in my bathtub means if my shoulders are submerged, my heels are resting midway up the wall. Not ideal but it doesn’t stop me from enjoying a good soak most every night as a part of my pre-bedtime ritual.
When we travel, (frequently using homeaway.com) I purposely seek out properties that have big jacuzzi tubs.
Twelfth thing: This random happy thing is something that nearly everyone in the world has on their list.
The sound of the ocean, the feel of sand under your feet and between your toes and the waves as they hit the shore and suck the sand back into the ocean. All this while standing under our glorious sun, balmy temps with a bluer than blue sky. They say “life’s a beach” and I agree. I captured this moment when I was on Sanibel Island while moving Mom in March 2015 (check out my “Moving Mom” series if you’d like).
I posted this video then but it was so cool; each time I watch it and hear those waves, I’m transported back to that day. It instantly makes me happy and since I’m doing this series on 59 Things, it made sense to share it again.
And yes, those are my feet at the end and my pedicure peeking through the waves!
