It's been ten months - ten little books filled with daily joys and adventures and the life in a pandemic - doing this little project is one of my favorite things ever. I probably don't even know how much good it's done for my mental health... to be looking for the good in every day and being motivated to get out and do stuff - even if it's just because I need it for the daily page in my book.
I thought I'd go back and pick up where I left off last time I shared my pages. It's a good way to catch up on life! A lot of this has already been shared on Facebook and/or Instagram but I can tell a bit more of the story here.
I got the second dose of my vaccination in March and was so thankful for it. I only had a sore arm as a side effect. I've continued walking almost every day and took advantage of some good weather to walk in Forest Lawn Cemetery and along the break wall near the Peace Bridge and then try out a new restaurant, Vice, in downtown Buffalo. It was the best pizza I've had outside of Italy for that type of pizza and the burrata was so good!
Taking advantage again of the great weather we're having for March, Dave and I rode out bikes along the gorge from Devil's Hole to Niagara Falls in just light jackets. It's the earliest we've ever been able to ride. They've done a super good job of making the bike path along the Niagara River with beautiful views along the way!
The next day was one of those days when the big event of the day was driving through the car wash. LOL. It's quite a miracle for me to be walking in my neighborhood! I've never enjoyed doing that but it actually is a good place for it because it's very flat and there's no sidewalks, so you have to walk in the street, and then you don't have to be watching for cracks in the sidewalk and stuff like that. Podcasts and audio books from the library and keeping me entertained.
We rode our bikes on the bike trail from Pautler's on Transit to Clarence Center for the first time. It's was nice to see the first flowers blooming along the way!
My closet is small, so I have to switch out my summer and winter clothes with the seasons. All this warm weather is making me want my more summery clothes, so it was a good opportunity to go through the closets and sort what I want to keep, what to sell, and what to donate.
(When not much is happening in a day, I use screenshots as "fillers" on the pages. I post those kinds of things on my second Instagram account: debbygayes. It is a private account, so you can request to follow it on Instagram.)
It was the day to get my taxes done! Since I am self-employed, I always go to the appointment with a little trepidation, and especially this year since I wasn't traveling and teaching, etc. - it was a whole different year, but it turned out ok - I only owed a little on our state taxes. Whew!
I was sad that Beverly Cleary died. She was one of those people that you actually don't realize is even still alive, but her passing made me think of all her books that I loved, especially my favorite, The Luckiest Girl, which I read every year when I was young. I need to reread it!
More walking, this time in a nearby park. Palm Sunday was uneventful other than I made my first little book using a Jello box, which turned into a fun class that I taught on Zoom this past Sunday. Forty people signed up! If you'd like to get the video of the class, you can still purchase the class content HERE.
Exactly one year ago, on March 29, I looked up the totals for the COVID cases worldwide and took a screenshot of it. My mind couldn't comprehend the numbers then, and now, one year later, they are staggering. I know so many people who have been personally affected with sickness and loss through this and how much life has changed... it's quite a one year milestone!
We were back downtown to walk along the waterfront for sunset and it was a great one! You never know how it will be but we hit the jackpot this time!
I like to end each month with a little gratitude list... personal victories and happy memories!
I got my April book ready to go... I use the Positivity Passports from Everyday Explorer. You can find them HERE. (Just a reminder that the books are 3 1/2" x 5 1/2".)
I taught a couple classes on how I use apps to make my photo collages and add journaling and titles to photos. You can still find that class content HERE in my online store.
April started with a little snow and I was working on designing a new class for this spring with the Maggie Holmes Garden Party collection. Then remembering the meaning of Good Friday...
I took a book I got on eBay and made it into a little scrapbook using the same techniques that I used for the Jello books and finished designing the Garden Party album - I love it! (You can sign up for that class HERE.) I haven't had any candy since March 1 (a very big victory for me!) but I did have a faschnaut every weekend leading up to Easter. They are as big as a plate at Paula's! Worth every calorie and mile walked! (I've lost 17 pounds now! Yeah!)
We actually went to church in person on Easter! It's the first time I've been there since a year ago February and it felt very weird. Everyone wears masks and is distanced, so that is strange, but it was good to be there in person for this special day. I decided to recreate this photo of me when I was 2 1/2 - so fun! I should have changed into white ankle socks and black shoes!
My husband had a birthday, and I walked in our neighborhood and picked the first daffodils from our yard.
It was exciting that we actually went on a little vacation! After visiting family, we headed to the coast of North Carolina to an island near the city of Beaufort. It felt so good to plan a trip again, researching hotels and things to do! It's been too long. We stayed at the Inn at Pine Knoll Shores right on the beach. It was pretty nice with every room facing the ocean and a great rate of $87 per night! I loved looking at the ocean from bed! You could see the sunset in one direction and the sunrise in the other. My friend, Kathie, who I met in Italy, lives there and gave me great advice about what to do. We went into Beaufort (the third oldest city in NC) the first night and ate at a local joint called the Royal James. The reviews were great for simple food and good prices - it's a pool hall and bar, and we loved it! We had two cheeseburgers, two baskets of fries, and a bottle of water for $13. It was funny because the show on TV over the bar was a special about Jim Kelly, who is our Buffalo Bills quarterback that we love. We walked around town and looked at the super quaint, historic homes and couldn't wait to come back and see them in the daylight.
The next day we went to Fort Macon, on the tip of the island where we were staying, and did the 3 1/2 mile hike over and around the dunes. It was beautiful and one of my top two favorite things of our trip.
The next day we went to the North Carolina Aquarium across the street from our hotel and then hiked the trails there. This aquarium is small and simple - great for kids - and we enjoyed the hiking again!
My other favorite thing that we did was take a ferry to Shackleford Banks, a small island off the coast with no people or structures, only a herd of about 110 wild horses. They drop you off and you have to wade through the water to get to shore and then you're free to explore. We saw horses right away as we got there and then walked to the other side to look for shells. When we got there, we were two of the four people on the whole island, but as we were leaving two hours later, there were lots of people coming ashore. I'm glad we went on the first boat.
The ferry picked us up and then took us to another island, Cape Lookout, with its distinctive lighthouse. We took a truck to the other end of the island and spent a couple hours just laying in the sand and relaxing. It was heavenly!
We spent four days there - just the right amount of time to do all we found to do, and then headed home. We spent the night in West Virginia and then drove on to Pittsburgh the next morning to spend the day with Brandon. It was great to see him since we hadn't seen him since Christmas! We got to see his apartment and then he took us to the most unbelievable bakery, Oakmont Bakery. Wow! What a place! I love their sign - We Create Delicious Memories! Then we went on a hike in Frick Park and got to walk the trails where Brandon mountain bikes. Yikes! He's crazy!
We got home in time to go to the History Museum where the best cherry trees are to see the pink blossoms. They are my favorite, so I'm glad we were home to see them. They are also beautiful around the lake at Forest Lawn.
This photo is in my book out of order, but too important to not include because the Old Burying Ground was my favorite place in Beaufort (Bow-fort). We loved it so much that we went there three times. There are people buried there from the Revolutionary War and the Civil War and so many interesting headstones and graves. Many of the graves are mounds above ground because of the water table. Dave is bending down by the grave of the little girl. Supposedly, back in the 1700's, she died on a ship, and to preserve her body for burial her father put her in a barrel of rum and then buried the barrel here. It seems to be a place where people leave toys and stuffed animals and all kinds of things. The azaleas and wisteria were breathtaking in the cemetery.
Back home again, I recorded my walk and a pretty tree I saw in the neighborhood. Brrr! It's getting cold again!
Last week, I happened to take a photo out my office window because the color of the grass and the new leaves on the trees was such a bright green. Little did I know that by the next day, it would all be covered in about 5" of snow! LOL
Last Friday, my husband has cataract surgery on one eye (he's having the other one done this Friday.) He now has 20/20 vision in that eye and can't believe all that he can see! I told him that he doesn't have an excuse for not vacuuming really well now! Beau is on my lap every morning as I have my devotions and get ready for the day - on this day, Buddy brought a stuffed mouse, hoping to lure Beau away so he could have a turn. I got some pretty pink miniature roses at Trader Joe's.
I don't have the journaling printed for the next day yet but we went back to the History Museum to see if there were any pink blossoms left after the snow. Most of the petals are on the ground but some are still on the trees. The daffodils in Delaware Park are so pretty. We're always looking for a place to walk that's a little bit different!
Well, that's the last month in my life... I can't believe that May will be here soon! Have a great day and thanks for following along! Love, Debby xoxo
I love your little books. What a great way to keep remember this time and also to be creative every day!! I update a larger scrapbook once a season...it is not nearly as pretty as your little books but it works for now. Stay safe!!
Posted by: Jane Flynn | April 27, 2021 at 06:32 PM
I love your little books like Jane does. I wish I had stated doing this right after Mom died. Unfortunately, I haven’t seemed to be able to find the energy. Maybe after this move I will find the time & energy. I think they would be fun to make & have for memories.
Posted by: Deb Jones | April 27, 2021 at 09:16 PM