October was an amazing month. Some travel, lots of outdoor activity, great food and so much GOODNESS that I still can’t quite wrap my brain around it. I’m going to let you in on something I haven’t talked about online at all and that is that I’ve dealt with some major depression so far this year. I’m not surprised. First my husband gets colon cancer, I get breast cancer and then my mom had Acute Myeloid Leukemia and she spent a good part of this year quite literally fighting for her life. My youngest bird graduated from collage and flew the coop and our second-youngest got married. And those are just the highlights. LOTS of major upheaval in my world. October seemed like a HUGE GIFT. Everyone is healthy (Mom is in remission), happy and doing well. I’m adjusting to the empty nest (not gonna lie, I HATED it with a passion at first) and our kids are amazing adults doing the adulting thing quite well.
The mister and I took off and went to the Poconos for 5 days and mostly relaxed. We took the dogs and just did what we wanted when we wanted. He even got me to shoot pool with him – which I STINK at but somehow managed to beat him.
It was just what we both needed before the craziness of the holidays takes over.
OMG! It’s simply GORGEOUS out here! #nature #kayaking #fall #neohio A photo posted by Vicki O’Dell (@thecreativegoddess) on
Mother Nature pulled out all of the stops and gave us glorious colors this fall. Every trip to the bank or post office found me not wanting to go home but drive around and look at leaves instead. I couldn’t wait to get in a kayak a few times a week and see the leaves from the water.
I splurged a tiny bit and bought a pizza peel and wood spoon at @sur_la_table in Boston this weekend. I have been making pizzas on the grill quite a bit this summer and a pizza peel is just what I needed. As for the spoon…does anyone else have family members who somehow manage to scorch your wood tools? #cooking #pizzaonthegrill A photo posted by Vicki O’Dell (@thecreativegoddess) on
And I even got to do a bit of shopping on my trip to Boston at one of my favorite stores. We’ve been trying to eat healthier and that means no more pizza delivery but pizza made at home with TONS of veggies. I’ve gotten to be pretty good at grilling pizza and a pizza peel has been on my “must buy” list for a while. It’s not easy to get a pizza off a hot grill!
Spent the night in the Poconos and now headed the rest of the way home with @snazzylittlethings. Can’t wait to see my family! #roadtrip #poconos A photo posted by Vicki O’Dell (@thecreativegoddess) on
And last but not least, we finally listed our house in the Poconos for sale. It’s been tough having a house that is 6 hours away from us and selling it will relieve some big time stress.
So all in all October was a very good month. The depression is lifting, I’m settling into the empty nest and my eyeballs and soul got their fill of beautiful leaves, azure blue skies, and sunshine in October. My very soul feels content and cared for. It’s wonderful.
Now, who wants to come help me decorate for Christmas?
Yes, a lot has happened in your world, but you weathered it well. Head up facing the future, plans in the works and learning to enjoy this new life phase.
I, too, have endured some heavy stuff in the last two years, so can empathize. The experiences just makes us more formidable warriors in life.
As for helping you decorate… only if you come to my house and help me decorate. 🙂