Pushing 50 and it's time to try a few (maybe... 365?) new things.
This blog is not about reinventing oneself or one's life, but about how much fun one can have while going out on a limb and branching out.
Kicking anxiety's butt one day at a time, yeah!
Nearly every favorite photo I have of my children is a two-fer… they almost always come as a pair, they are quite close. Even though they are four years apart, we frequently tease them that they are really twins of their average age.
Tonight we celebrated The Boy’s graduation. What a remarkable group of young people! The emails from his classmates are already coming in, they need a beach party tomorrow morning since they miss each other too much… it has been less than four hours since the 8th grade class of 2015 has seen each other. These are really great kids!
His sister will be going away to college. Will his friends -the old and the new- provide him with the kind of camaraderie that only the luckiest of siblings share? We shall see.
“The future starts Today, not Tomorrow.” Saint John Paul II
When your child has attended the same school from 3rd through 8th grade, matriculation to the next level is a big step. No longer will they be the big kids that the little ones look up to. They will be the little-bitty fish in the big ol’ proverbial pond.
Eleven years of parochial schooling is finished… along with a drive that I am more than happy to leave behind! Who’s bright idea was it to send the kids to school smack in the middle of a popular California beach community? Oh wait… that was me.
It was lovely while it lasted, and now he will say good-bye.
I learned a new term- “Strawberry Moon.” Isn’t it interesting how there are so many different terms and names for the phenomena all around us in our natural world? So many of us have either forgotten about them or they have simply fallen by the wayside because we are out of touch with nature now-a-days in the modern world… time marches on, eh?
With my super-novice photography abilities, I snapped a few pics on the lovely moon we were all talking about on Social Media Tuesday night.
So, what is a strawberry moon, anyhow?
“Full Moon Names”
“The month of June’s full Moon’s name is the Full Strawberry Moon. June’s Full Strawberry Moon got its name because the Algonquin tribes knew it as a signal to gather ripening fruit. It was often known as the Full Rose Moon in Europe (where strawberries aren’t native).”
When we lived in Indiana, I loved our local farmer’s market. There was a vendor that sold bratwurst and pork patties, which would always become lunch when I returned. We’d also have fresh corn from “My Dad’s Sweet Corn,” picked that same day. And I would get the best cantaloupe in Indiana. Here’s the secret: Indiana has the nation’s best cantaloupe. And tomatoes. Lunch of the gods, people, no lie.
Orange Honeydew!!!!
The family had to try a new fruit today, because I wanted to. So there. Eat up, everyone! I’m pretty sure this is is an Orange Honeydew… whatever it is, OH MY GOSH, IT’S DELICIOUS! There’s a cantaloupe in the background for size comparison. This was worthy of serving with the bratwurst.
The Husband: This sure doesn’t taste like a cantaloupe. Me: Because it isn’t. Him: It’s good, though… Me: (finally tasting the melon) This is good… (another bite) Holy COW, this is DELICIOUS! The Boy: It’s good (high praise from a 14-year-old).
photo of an Orange Honeydew from CloveGarden.comSugar Kiss Melon- from CloveGarden.com
I tried looking up online what kind of melon this was, Google to the rescue! I’m pretty sure I bought it at Trader Joe’s, but I can’t for the life of me remember what kind of melon it is. CloveGarden.com came to the rescue with a great list and photos of all kinds of melons that you never even knew existed. I’m going to have to try some of these- anyone for a “Sugar Kiss Melon?”
Good grief, this is a great fruit. It kept forever on the counter -like two weeks- and was still crisp, and one of the sweetest melons I have ever tasted. Golden Honeydew has a very light texture, is more crisp than a regular honeydew, and is ultra-juicy with a sweet, sweet perfume-y and floral flavor. Really. I’m not making this up. Go get one, you’ll see.
Great with our favorite, bratwurst!Golden Honeydew. Yum.
It’s Halftime at Branching Out On a Limb, and we spare no cost to bring you fine entertainment! We’ve put together this Hit List O’ Happiness to celebrate how much fun we have coming up with the daily doses of newness. Uplifting Entertainment for the blogsphere… Really lifting- Do you even lift, bro? We here at Branching Out recommend doing as many reps of these kind of lifts each and every day.
Even smartypants think you should lift.Dost thou?Jean Luc Picard… because I said so. It’s my blog.
Guard your state of mind, everyone. Surround yourselves with people who will lift you up to heaven, while you reciprocate. Remember the old adage “Garbage in, garbage out….” and ask yourself, what do you expose yourself to during your screen time? During the day, what kind of energy are you emanating? Is it kindness, love, patience, goodness, etc? I know I need to focus more on these.
Here’s our first entertainer, ready to lift your spirits and pump (clap) you up!
No matter what mood I am in, Pharrell’s “Happy” makes me happy.
Up next we have Music to Make you Move with Mark B and Mr. Mars! If Bruno can’t move you, ain’t no body can.
The firemen and the extinguishers were a great touch.
And if you could use a pick-me-up through your computer, I highly recommend the Life Is Good radio station via LifeIsGood.com. And yes, these are the same people who bring you the Life Is Good tee shirts. http://www.customchannels.net/streaming/lifeisgood/
a sample via You Tube:
It’s been a ball for six months so far, now let’s see what adventures the next six months have in store! I very much hope to participate in more acts of kindness and charity than I was able to fit in for the first six months… the kids are home for the summer and I look forward to forcing themincluding them in on the fun. Look out, my lovely teenagers! If you have done something new and want to tell everyone, share it with us in the comments, or even suggest something we should try- Keep it clean, folks… this is a family friendly fun spot on the intertubes.
branching out... on a limb 