Tag Archives: Imbolc

Menu for the week and misc.

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I had a great swim yesterday except I overdid it so my low back is a little sore. Once I started moving around it was fine but getting out of bed was like,, urgh… Oh well, I surpassed my last swim yardage and got to 950 yards so I’m happy about that.

Sunday night-Turkey with some stuffing, salad, and nut loaf from the freezer.

Monday- leftover lentil soup and salad. I made a salad I saw on Facebook of chickpeas, cucumber, avocado, cherry tomatoes, parsley, and artichoke hearts. quite yummy.

Tuesday- I made a Greek pasta salad and I’m unsure what I’ll have with it. Maybe grilled tofu.

Wednesday- I want to make a turkey and wild rice soup with the leftover turkey. I’ll make B a ramen bowl.

Thursday- Something from the freezer to use up. I have some perogi’s from Costco to use. I wouldn’t buy them again. They were ok but not our usual fare.

Friday- Pizza, either make or get take out.

Saturday- Again something easy to use up freezer stuff.

Sunday- TBD.

I just finished the kitchen zone and I still need to vacuum. I thought of going to Trader Joe’s today but I think I’ll wait a bit maybe till Thursday. The only thing I do need is butter and the Lundberg wild rice and I can get those down at the Holiday.

Oh EXCITING! We scrolled through Amazon Prime and saw on masterpiece, the new season of Astrid. So we watched the first episode and it was very good. They definitely have snazzed it up some.

The afternoons are longer and it was light almost till almost 5:35. Even the angle of the sun coming down our driveway is different from a few weeks ago. Imbolc is Feb 2 so pretty soon it’ll be crossquarter.

Thankful Thursday

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Gratitude is essential to feeling content and satisfied with what you have. I see it as a way to reinforce that I have everything I need. Maybe not everything I want( that second bathroom, haha) but at least I have one bathroom that is efficient and well organized albeit small.

things I’m grateful for this week:

PT went well and I’m doing the exercises at home. I’m hopeful to try and get to the pool next week. That is if California hasn’t been swept into the ocean with all the rain we’re having.

My appt with Dr. L went well and so did infusion. DR. L said everything looks good and I don’t need to see him till March. So that’s good news. He was happy to see my new LV as he was aware of the smash and go with my old LV and right after that his wife’s car also had a smash and go and a very expensive purse was taken too.

Today is a dex day and although it’s tough to be on I’m grateful for the drugs that have helped me to combat cancer. It’s not fun but it’s also not the worst. I’m so grateful my Kapp light chains are in the normal range and VEcade and Dex were the reason for that.

Today is February 1st( feels good to start a new month) and tomorrow February 2nd is Imbolc or cross quarter on the Celtic cross. I can always feel the change in the earth even though the Spring equinox isn’t till March 21st. Also, we’re having huge rains so not yet the springy feeling.

I’m grateful that my daughter’s tests were all good since she does have autoimmune issues and Hasimoto’s. The allergist she saw was super helpful she said and he told her she didn’t need to do any of the allergy tests as her face swelling and hives were an autoimmune reaction. All in all good news and she just needs not to get overly stressed. She said she feels better off gluten/wheat so I think she’ll keep doing that for a while.

Imbolc

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Imbolc or Imbolg, also called Saint Brigid’s Day, is a Gaelic traditional festival. It marks the beginning of spring, and for Christians it is the feast day of Saint Brigid, Ireland’s patroness saint. It is held on 1 February, which is about halfway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. Historically, its traditions were widely observed throughout Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man… Wikipedia

· Imbolc is a pagan holiday celebrated from February 1 through sundown February 2. Based on a Celtic tradition, Imbolc was meant to mark the halfway point between the winter solstice.

February 2nd is cross-quarter. I always feel the earth slightly shifting. Perhaps it’s the sap starting to run in the trees or possibly the sun’s angle. Right now we’re getting light still in the afternoon at 5:45pm and walking in the morning, predawn is 6am. I love when this change happens.

I had a good Dr. appt. Nothing new to report. My increase of 3 points is still very low and he actually had gone back and looked at when my numbers started doubling. So at one point, it went from 90 to 180. So that’s what I won’t let happen again and he’s well aware of that. Still, he’s the medical oncologist and knows what he’s doing. But it was a good drive into Sacramento with not tons of traffic just the normal.

I had thought of going down to the pool this morning but will wait till tomorrow. Driving out 2 days in a row is a lot for me. So Friday will be my swim day. I’ll probably go to the gym on Sunday then.

The pantry challenge is winding down as I am running out of ideas. I will check the freezer this morning and see what I can cobble together. I still have plenty of shell stable meals so I may do a couple of them. I know I have some salad stuff to use up today.

Thankful Thursday:

That I have an oncologist who knows me and is attentive.

That it’s sunny out even though it’s cold.

My husband who does SO MUCH around here and is always willing to stop at the store or drop things off for me( returns).

That I feel good overall and love swimming and going to the gym and that I CAN do it.

That we get SS and that almost covers all our bills including still having a mortgage:( . Then I’m thankful our kids pay ‘rent’ and that covers the rest , food, misc, etc.

I’m so thankful they both have excellent jobs and love them. We never got the job thing right( not for lack of trying) but first, in the mid 70’s there were NO jobs that we could get( plus affirmative action knocked Barclay out of the job pools with the US Forest Service. and always we resorted to some kind of self employment. He did Shiatsu massage for years and I did the whole ‘spiritual’ healing/counseling mumbo jumbo. Later we opened the metaphysical bookstore in Old Town Auburn but that was in the late 80s.

Lastly, I’m thankful Barclay is healthy again!!

Imbolc

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Today is cross quarter, or Imbolc.

I can always feel the change somehow. Even though official spring is a ways a way, on Feb 1, you can feel the pulse of the earth quicken. I’m not sure if it’s because California has typically mild winters or if it’s a subtle shift in the air.

Regardless, Happy Imbolc!!

Imbolc 🌟 Or groundhogs day!

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today is Imbolc in the Celtic year or first day of spring. It’s the cross quarter. I have often felt the shift even if it’s raining or snowing. Somehow the light is different and when it’s nice out I can actually feel it in the air. Here in California, it’s easier probably than back east but I think those sensitive to the earth will feel something. Sunrise is now 7:10 and sunset 5:26 , so definitely there’s more light.
Our weather is very nice but we expecting rain toward the end of the week. we really need it but I just don’t want big windy storms.

I decluttered a bin of Life magazines. I’m going to take then to the library and see if I can sell them for the friends. There’s still more to do, but one bin is a lot.

This week the Flylady zone is the entry way and dining room. Since we don’t have a dining room, just our table and chairs as part of our front room , it’s pretty easy. The entry is always a problem because it’s not really an entry way per se. On side of this enclosed porch is our covered pantry , the other is where my husband has his desk. I do have a nice piece of Heywood wakefield to look at when you walk in. I keep seasonal things on it.
I’m wondering how hard would it be to dig a foundation under this porch so it would pass code and could be included in our house when we sell. If not it’s probably a tear down. It’s very cute with nice windows, but I’m sure it would be problematic in a sale. We will sell as is, but in California that still means disclosure.
Oh well, we’ll worry about that in the future.

Ground hog day and Imbolc

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Image

So   In Pennsylvania , he saw his shadow, so 6 more weeks of winter. But here in California it’s cloudy , so does that mean winter is over?

I don’t know, does anyone?

Okay it’s also Imbolc , which is the Celtic pagan, cross quarter. I my pagan days, or earth centered, if you like, I always love cross quarters. I think there more accurate than the equinoxes Etc. so today is the first day of spring, and I usually  can feel tree sap running as noticed by the fact that there are many fruit trees starting to bud. 

So, it’s Sunday, and dex morning. Did some, not any extra cooking but washed floors, vacuumed.

Dinner is roast pork, sauerkraut , applesauce home made, a vegie dish, maybe pasta for B.