Sunday marked the official empty nest’s one-week-down mark since our youngest moved away. It was a beautiful spring day. So many possibilities…what’s an empty nest mom to do?
Reflect, of course. (My gray hair sure has grown in a year…!)
As I look back, I’m thinking, “This empty nest thing might be my kind of thing?“
It’s been a good week worthy of recapping. Only 3 ticks found and captured for proof of my getting out of the house activities.
I felt the joys of random acts of whatever the hell I want to do when I want to do it, and I’m overcoming my awkward feelings of emptiness and loneliness…and of missing the kids.
Move out of your comfort zone. You can only grow if you are willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new. – Brian Tracy
Mr. and I took a break, drove to a new restaurant and had a late-afternoon lunch.
I gardened and even watered the flower beds twice since planting seeds. An overachieving effort…”I must save my plants, they need me” is my mantra. All the TLC I’m showering on the beds will come back to bite me when the weeds embrace my efforts.
I was super excited to check out how my transplanted little pods did overnight, so the Mr. and I took off on a stroll around the yard. Hand in hand…(silly, that’s only in the movies…).
We looked down at my handy work and discovered some bird(s) didn’t approve of my efforts. I followed the directions, dug small holes, planted the pods, and covered them up to the edges so the plants weren’t buried under the dirt. Apparently not deep enough under the dirt, the fabric edges were enticing – appetizing – intriguing to the Robins??
WTH? How dare they disrupt my efforts?
I put them all back into holes in the ground – hopefully they’ll survive, I have my doubts though. Good thing I have some seeds left to try again from scratch.
I spent a good part of the day watching the birds and keeping a watchful eye on my baby pods. It’s been very dry here, so the nectar birds are frequenting the feeder and the oranges.
The Baltimore Orioles are so skittish. But I love their color and their song is enjoyable to listen to.
And the fast-moving Hummingbirds are still busy drinking.
I even loafed around in the tea house – moved things around, cleaned the corners, and set the chairs up for comfort. I enjoyed an afternoon beverage with the Mr. while we listened to the songs of the 80’s on the radio.
I was reminded of when I was a young bird who flew off on my own. We all do that, you know, we all move on and grow.
Yep, I’m getting into this stage…
PS – Give me your best shot – I’d love your thoughts on what’s a better title for this post?
Post Inspiration: Cee’s Odd Ball Challenge
A better title? “My nest is half full, not half empty” or something like that? You now have so many possibilities, such freedom, such reduced/different responsibilities. Stop looking backwards, look forwards. Shortly after both our children were “gone” I got VERY seriously into mountaineering and ice climbing. I also took a diploma in nutrition and fitness coaching. I worked in two gyms and ran my own personal training business. Then we got serious about travelling; China, Nepal, almost the whole of Europe, USA. We started a charity, created a Teacher Training Academy in Nepal. But this is a wake-up personal list, get your own !!!!
That’s a great title! You know what, every day when I’m working through my thoughts, I remember you and Dr. C and your adventures. Your an inspiration to me, and I appreciate you stopping by to give me encouragement and to banter thoughts around! Thank you!!! PS – I’m working on my wake-up list!
How do I start to tell you the ways that I like this post? hmm…well first off, it made me cry, a few tears at least (my 4 year old is next to me so I need to keep my emotions in check) I tear because your post reminds me that someday, I’ll be an empty nester. My 3 older children do not live with me (joys of a love fallen apart) and at 41, I had my youngest. I am already counting down the years until she flies the coop, and I find myself treasuring the moments more. Your post reminded me of that, to treasure the moments. I love how you have found ways to constructively occupy your time, and, I think your garden will love the TLC, even if misplaced from caring for your kids. I love that you are loving life and not feeling like it’s the end, and I need to remember that when the time comes for me. I too, tend to plants, probably a misplaced caring for my own children, but my youngest loves to help me. She is my little garden helper, and I am happy to have a garden companion to teach. What I would recommend for improving this post-NOTHING! It was short, sweet, and very well illustrated (I really love how you did the pics, how did you do that?) I look forward to reading more of your posts, and I am heading over to Instagram to check out your pics there, so be on the lookout for junglejennavive! Thank you for this positive post that brightened my day (even with the tears!)
Aw, I’m so glad to read my post touched you and inspired you to embrace the moments of gardening with your little garden helper! That brought a heart tug to me as I read it. My kids loved to help me dig in the dirt. Last year when my youngest graduated college, came home to roost for a bit before moving off on her own, she helped plant my gardens. She told me she wishes she could be there to help me this year! Aw…Thank you for the follows here and on Instagram and for sharing your thoughts! Happy blogging and instagramming to you!
I wanted to comment on your Chicago post but it doesn’t have a space for comments. Or am I finally blocked? Chicago was our best stop on the trans USA rail journey. Not enough time, but Portillos fast food joint was brilliant ….. you can have too much gourmet food and fine wine so this place was the perfect USA hospitality and antidote.
LOL – I couldn’t stand it if you were blocked! You keep me on my toes! I’ve discovered that any post prior to my blog title change can’t be commented upon. I have NO idea how to fix that, so I appreciate you sharing your thoughts any way you can. Chicago is a great place to visit, I’m glad my daughter (in retrospect) lived there for 4 years so we could experience the adventures available there. Glad you enjoyed your visit there!
Love your birds and your garden is stunning. Don’t fret too much about empty nest – the thing about human birds is that they keep coming back and usually bring little grand-birds with them! At least you can give those back when you’ve had your fun spoiling them.
Thank you, your support is appreciated! Good thoughts about the grand-birds, too! I remember my mom enjoying the spoiling of my two! 😉 Perks of the role, no doubt!
I love your photos. Getting adjusted to an empty nest is so difficult isn’t it? It takes time. My nest emptied in 2011 when my youngest went away to college and I’m still struggling to adapt. I was taken aback with the loneliness I felt and I wasn’t sure how to relate to my adult children. I plain and simply wasn’t ready for this phase of my life. It came too fast!!! I researched books on Empty Nest to see if someone could offer me help in “getting through it.” I found Barbara & Susan’s Guide to the Empty Nest- by Barbara Rainey and Susan Yates. It did help and I’m thinking maybe I should read it again. I am glad you have your gardening and your birds!
Aw, thank you, Gail. I appreciate you sharing your insights, reading recommendations, and your own personal thoughts about this stage in life. We will make it through this stage!! Hugs to you!
Wonderful photos for this week. Love your hummingbird shot.
Thank you, Cee!
Your bird photos make me envious of what wonderful array of birds you are visited by. Living in the city makes it less appealing for them to nest or visit here. Your pictures are beautiful and that pizza looks amazing!
Thank you!! This year for some reason, we’re getting visited by lots of fun birds. Maybe they always visited, and now I’m just taking time to notice? The pizza was awesome, it’s from a new local restaurant called Za51 in Altoona, Wisconsin.
Thanks for letting me know! We may use that as an excuse to head there and try it. I love a good pizza!!
You’re welcome. Hope you do and hope you enjoy it too!