Currently: October 2025

As the world sped up and I simply tried to keep up with it all, I almost forgot how to keep up here with regular check ins about the simple pleasures in life.

Silly me.

And so, this is me, dipping my toes back into the currents with a brand new mid-month check in after a few missing months 🙂

I am currently…

Reading

I am slowly working my way through the physical copy of THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT and absolutely enjoying it!

Now, I don’t currently have an audio book I’m listening to and am looking for a solid speculative fiction book to put in my ears. Maybe you can help me out here? See, I’m working to complete the StoryGraph onboarding challenge and am just struggling to find one that feels right. Maybe that’s why they call it a “challenge” 😉 Alas, any suggestions would be wildly appreciated!

Creating

I’ve just begun a sweet baby blanket for an earthbound babe and am excited to have a new project on my hook! Crochet is like a meditation for me that always takes a backseat during the warmest months. I’m happy to have it as part of my days again.

Learning

I have two learning in the hopper right now!

1. I’m taking a self-paced Illustrated Life Journal class on Domestika to help me think outside my creative journaling box. I’m enjoying playing with colors and new formats in my journal and the class has definitely sparked some new ideas!
2. I’m taking a four week real-time class on working with divination tolls to communicate with the ancestors! This class is taught by Nancy Hendrickson and I’m taking it with my lovely sister. We’re half way through it and it has been an absolute joy!

Watching

Absolutely nothing. I want to get back in the swing of watching Star Trek: The Next Generation for my 50 Before 50 list, I’ve just been prioritizing other things. Such is life.

Planning

As wild as it might seem for someone who tries to stay present in the moment (as much as possible), I’ve found myself beginning to plan for the holidays. Crazy, I know. But here’s the thing, I’m downright tired of scrambled every December.

In my twenties I’d have all my Christmas shopping done before Thanksgiving. In my thirties, my career took over and that fell away. My forties carried over from my thirties with new and different challenges scattered throughout.

Well, at 48 I’m determined to leave my scrambling days behind me. Mind you, I’m not shopping until I drop, but when the budget allows and I see something I know is right for someone on my list, I’m just grabbing it instead of making a note to go back later.

Given that I’m doing my best to avoid the convenience of Amazon purchases these days, I think this is the best approach.

The trick is going to be putting everything in a safe place where I won’t forget it when it’s wrapping time 😉

We’ll see how it all pans out in the end, but I am hopeful.

Laughing

My daughter (who is 12) and I saw this vehicle yesterday during our errands and I just had to document it. She said I was a creeper for taking a photo but why would you come with such a memorable marketing tactic if you didn’t want people to pay attention?

Anyhow, I hope you get a chuckle out of it, too.

There you have it…

Happenings currently filling in the “want” gaps between the lines of the “needs” list 🙂

What’s happening in your neck of the woods? Any good books, interesting shows, crafting, or re-vamped hearses bringing laughter, joy or calm to your days this month? Please share all about what’s carrying you through.

Onward,

Melissa