summer

Friday Five Things 9/10

~ kofriedery ~ Leave a comment

“Courage is very important. Like a muscle, it is strengthened by use.” – Ruth Gordon

Summer is not leaving without a fight here in Colorado! Last year at this time we were getting snow and this year we are getting temps in the 90s. Hopefully things get more fall-like soon…I’m ready for mums and pumpkins! Although, I finally decided not to spend money on pumpkins for my porch this year because every year the squirrels make quick work of destroying them. Anyway, hope everyone is having a wonderful September so far, wherever you are!

  1. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Tyler and I went to see this movie earlier this week and WOW it completely exceeded my already high expectations. It was such a great mix of a classic superhero movie and a classic martial arts movie, with lots of fun supernatural elements thrown in. I loved the story, loved the characters, and just had a lot of fun watching the movie. Side note: with our schedules we were able to go early afternoon on a Tuesday so the theater was practically empty. I think there were five other people there? I’m not sure I would have felt comfortable going to the theater during normal busy hours and being in a crowded room with stranger for a couple hours…
  2. Peanut Butter M&Ms. I don’t have candy very often, if I’m going to have a sweet treat it’s more likely to be ice cream or cookies. But Tyler picked up some candy for the movie and guys…I had forgotten how good those little suckers are! You know how sometimes when you haven’t had something for awhile it doesn’t quite live up to your memory of how good it was? Not the case with peanut butter m&ms. Seriously. Brought so much joy to my mouth.
  3. Hiking! Bama and I got back on the hiking train this week! After basically not hiking at all during August due to the heat and smoky air, we loaded up and drove a bit into the mountains to find a nice shady trail on Wednesday. It was about 3 miles round trip, which is a little longer than Bama prefers to hike with me, but she did it without too much struggle. I’ll probably leave her at home and try for something slightly longer next week, but so glad to have a few miles under my belt already this month.
  4. Long overdue dentist appointment. No, going to the dentist does not bring me joy. However, finally checking off “go to the dentist” from my to do list does! Like many others I’ve talked to, the dentist was one of the first regular doctors appointments to get bumped to the bottom of the list during the pandemic. In the early days, the office was closed. Then they opened, but the thought of going somewhere to sit with my mouth wide open for an hour sounded…risky. And then eventually I just started avoiding it because it had been so long and I knew it wasn’t going to be an easy appointment. Yesterday morning I sat down to journal and wrote down “Things are not as scary in real life as they are in my head.” And then I repeated that to myself a few times while I was getting my teeth looked at. And you know what? It’s true! It wasn’t a perfect appointment, I have to go back in a few months to get some things checked out and worked on, but nothing major that can’t be fixed. Not as scary in real life as it was in my head.
  5. Finished my Late-Summer Cleaning list. After chipping away at a it for a few weeks, I finished everything that was on my deep cleaning list for the house! Of course, between the two cats and the dog they are doing their best to undo my hard work, but the house really does feel cleaner and brighter.

Friday Five Things 8/27

~ kofriedery ~ Leave a comment

“Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

I think recently I’ve been making happiness my goal. And this week something shifted that allowed me to let that go and focus on other things, which has actually brought about happiness as a by-product. So I guess my encouragement is that if you are striving after feeling happy, let it go for a bit. Focus on other things that take your time and focus. See if happiness shows up along the way.

  1. A little break from the smoky air. Weather patterns have changed over the last week and we had several days of wind which brought some relief to the bad air quality around here. From what I’ve seen, the smoke will return shortly. But it’s been nice to have a break. I’ve been able to spend time outside without feeling it in my lungs!
  2. A garden that keeps giving. Some how, despite the heat and smoke and wind we’ve been having, my outdoor plants are still thriving and producing! I even got to harvest my first cucumber this week! I’ve been able to shop my yard for tomatoes, zucchini, kale and herbs all month and so far it isn’t showing signs of slowing.
  3. This recipe. Making these zucchini fritters will help use up any squash your garden might still be churning out, like mine is! I think it would work just as well with yellow summer squash as it does for zucchini. I made these and ate them with some tzatziki sauce. They would be great for a very light dinner, otherwise I’d serve them as a side to some grilled salmon.
  4. 40,000 words written. I just crossed 40,000 words written in my novel manuscript! For reference, that’s probably about 150 pages of a typical novel. My goal is 90,000 words by the end of the year and now that I’m past 40,000 it feels so doable! I’d love to be able to finish my first draft by mid-December, take a break for the holidays, and then hit the ground running with editing in January!
  5. Exercise and movement. I pretty much stopped working out in August. It wasn’t intentional but the weather started to get too hot for hikes. And the dog only wanted to go for short walks. And the air was so smoky I didn’t want to spend much time outside. And there was so much other stuff to do! So it just eventually stopped being a priority. And then I stopped putting it on my daily list of things to do. But this week I’m making more of an effort to get outside and move my body for at least 15 minutes every day. So far so good and it feels great!

Friday Five Things 8/13

~ kofriedery ~ Leave a comment

“It’s the simple things in life that are the most extraordinary.” – Paul Coelho

This week was pretty quiet after all the people and activities of last week. And I am grateful for both, the busyness and the stillness.

  1. Honey harvest. This week was the big honey harvest from our bees! One of our hives lost a queen earlier this summer and didn’t quite make enough excess for us to take, but the other hive gave 50+ lbs so far! I’m excited to sell it again this fall as well as try out some new recipes. Honey caramels anyone?!?
  2. Garden veggies. Speaking of harvests, our little cherry tomatoes have started to ripen as well as a couple of our bigger tomatoes. The chickens got to one of the big tomatoes before I did, but there’s a couple more that are just about ready to pick. In the past week I’ve also harvested a couple zucchini, some jalapeños, and a strawberry! And we finally have baby cucumbers!!! Very excited to see the literal fruits of my labor.
  3. Reorganizing. I get a unique sense of joy and accomplishment when I’m able to rearrange and repurpose items around the house in a way that bring better organization and efficiency. This week it was moving a big cedar chest out of the guest room closet into the living room behind the couch. We have so much space between our couch and the wall that isn’t being used and isn’t visible from the rest of the room. Before it was filled with mismatched baskets overflowing with blankets, dog toys, and exercise equipment. Now all of that is tucked neatly into the chest. And now the guest room closet doesn’t look quite as cluttered as it did before. I did a couple other little projects like that this week and it makes me so happy to get the right things into the right places.
  4. Shitty first drafts. I’m serious here. I follow a few writers on social media and I am constantly thankful for the reminders that all first drafts are bad. The purpose is just to get the words out and the story on paper because you can’t edit nothing. I’ve been writing a lot recently and it’s been pretty bad. But it brings me joy to know that what I’m doing right now is all part of the process and exactly what I should be doing at this stage in the game!
  5. Reading. I spent a lot of time this week reading. I mean, I probably read more than the average person on a weekly basis because I consider it part of my “job” as a writer. But this week I really took some intentional time to dedicate to reading and I am really grateful for slowing down and immersing in story.

Friday Five Things 8/6

~ kofriedery ~ Leave a comment

“Nothing is worth more than laughter. It is strength to laugh and to abandon oneself, to be light.” – Frida Kahlo

Whew! It’s been a busy week and I almost forgot to write something to publish today! My sister and her family have been in town, so we’ve had a lot of good family time. Lots of fun and laughter.

  1. The best pet sitter in the world. A couple years ago I asked people for recommendations of pet sitters and a coworker/friend recommended her good friend. She has been ah-mazing. Our timid dog LOVES her. Our scaredy cats will snuggle her on the couch. It has been such a help and relief to have someone we know takes care of our animals when we are gone as well as we would, or even better! And as a bonus, she’s become a friend as well!
  2. My niece and nephew. I love all my nieces and nephews so much, but this week I got to spend a whole day with the two oldest. It was the first time that I’ve watched them by myself for an entire day, from wake-up to bedtime. And it was an adventure! We went to two playgrounds, did some shopping, sang silly songs, ate Red Robin, played outside, played a game, went to Dairy Queen, read books, rode bikes, ate dinner, and watched the Olympics! Whew! I was exhausted but so so happy.
  3. Cooler weather. Not only had the weather been slightly cooler at home at the end of last week, but we once again escaped to the mountains for cooler, crisper weather. My absolute favorite weather is when I need a sweatshirt and long pants in the mornings and evenings, but then can wear shorts and a t-shirt during the day. And that’s been the weather in Breckenridge so far this week.
  4. Writing progress. At the end of July I felt myself starting to get into a slump with my writing. But instead of giving into the block, I tried something different instead of just trying to write the next scene. I went back to my outline and wrote out a quick summary of where I want the rest of the book to go. In doing that, my writing just started flowing again and I’ve written over 2,000 words just this week!
  5. Really good sleep. I’ve been having a streak of really good sleep and not waking up during the night at all! It’s such a great feeling to feel really refreshed when you wake up and I am not taking it for granted this week.

Friday Five Things 7/30

~ kofriedery ~ Leave a comment

“It is a happy talent to know how to play.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Earlier this week I attended an Olympics themed birthday party that was so fun and really well executed. I think it was my first party in a very long time and I wasn’t super great with party-type situations before staying locked in my house for a year and a half. I had some pre-party social anxiety but it eventually faded when I got there and remembered how to play and have fun with other people. Over all, it was a great reminder to be playful and not take things too seriously!

  1. Olympics! I’m not really a fanatic about the Olympics but it’s always fun to watch a few competitions when they’re airing. I love hearing to how excited the commentators get during close races and unexpected outcomes, due to many of them being former athletes in those events.
  2. The neighbor’s kitten. My neighbors were out of town for a few days this week and they asked me to stop by to feed and check in on their two cats. They have a very sweet black long haired cat and a new little orange kitten who is a firecracker! Both cats have been very friendly even though I’m a stranger to them. The kitten has the scratchiest little voice when he meows and he purrs like a diesel engine.
  3. New houseplants. I stopped by our local garden center to pick up some self-watering devices to help a few of my outdoors plants get through the near 100 degree temps this week. And while I was there I allowed myself to buy two new houseplants! I potted them last night and also repotted a few of my other plants. While doing so I discovered that my snake plant had propagated itself three times in it’s original plant so I split off the babies and I now have four snake plants! When I was younger I tried to keep plants alive and just never could do it. Now that I’m older and pay more attention to things in my house, taking care of my green babies has brought me so much joy!
  4. Cutting back on social media. Over the past year my social media consumption has gotten a bit out of control. So on Tuesday I decided to delete Facebook and Instagram off of my devices. Not having them easily accessible has prevented me from mindlessly scrolling for a few days. I’m not sure how long I’ll keep them deleted, but even just a few days away has felt really good and freeing.
  5. Books. I got back on track with my goal to finish five books this month! I read some good ones and I’ll have my book report up early next week with my reviews and recommendations.

Friday Five Things 7/16

~ kofriedery ~ Leave a comment

“Stay close to any sounds that make you glad you are alive.” – Hafez

Hello again! I actually got my act together and wrote my blog post on time! I also have a couple ideas for some one-off posts, so I’ll scatter those throughout the coming weeks on non-Friday days. As far as weeks go…this was a pretty good one.

  1. Catching up with old friends. Over the weekend I had the opportunity to see a high school friend who I haven’t seen, or talked to really, in about twenty years! She was visiting a mutual friend who I do see regularly and the three of us got together for some drinks and a stroll around town. It was so fun to hear everything that’s been going on in her life recently and to see that she is doing so well. A good blast from the past to be sure. Later in the week I also had a good phone catch-up with another long distance friend.
  2. Taking care of nagging tasks. I crossed two of those annoying, nagging tasks off my list this week! You know, the ones that come with being an adult that you really just want to ignore? The first was taking my car to the tire shop. I’ve had a very slow leak in one of the tires and refilled it with air probably one more time than was responsible before taking it in. Turns out the tire needed to be replaced and luckily I had bought a warranty when I got the new set a couple years ago and the replacement was free! The other little nagging task was to file some mail and papers that have been stacking up in our office. Nothing important, but just stuff that shouldn’t be throw away just yet. I have a bad habit of adding to the pile rather than filing right away, so the stack was getting bigger and bigger. I finally set a 20 minute timer and told myself I’d get as much done in that time as I could. As is usually the case, it took much less time to go through everything than I had thought and now…no pile! At least until I bring in the mail tonight.
  3. Afternoon thunderstorms. Colorado has a very dry climate, even in the summer. Humidity doesn’t really exist here. But this year we have gotten about 50% more rain on the front range than we usually do by this time of year. While my animals may disagree with me here, I love when an afternoon thunderstorm rolls in. First of all, it means my plants will be wet and happy without my daily watering. Second, there is just something so cozy about being inside while the tempest is raging outside. And third, it usually cools things down for the evening and makes my house just a little more comfortable for sleeping.
  4. Loki. Guys, Disney has been hitting it out of the park with their Marvel series this summer. I loved WandaVision, Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and now Loki. It was a smart, funny, and heartwarming journey for one of our favorite antiheroes of the Avengers. And Tom Hiddleston does such a great job of playing the character! You can tell he really loves being in this role. Again, these might not be the best shows for you if you aren’t already an MCU fan and don’t have a working knowledge of the characters. But, also, what better time than now to get rolling on the whole franchise!
  5. Roasting garlic and jalapeños. I made cheesy grits for a dinner one night this week and I added canned corn along with roasted garlic and jalapeños. I decided to try roasting them in my air fryer/toaster oven on just the bake setting and it worked! All in all, it was much faster from start to finish than if I had used my big oven. And it didn’t overheat my whole kitchen!

Friday Five Things 7/9

~ kofriedery ~ Leave a comment

“You will either step forward into growth, or you will step backward into safety.” – Abraham Maslow

Better late than never, right? This has been one of those weeks where I’ve completely lost track of the days, so even though I “knew” today was Friday, I didn’t remember it was Friday until just now… Anyway, on to the good things!

  1. Mozzarella. I’ve been buying a ball of fresh mozzarella and having it in a grilled cheese or some caprese for lunch. It is such a perfect summertime cheese to have on hand! The other day I did a salad with mozzarella, strawberries, avocado, and spinach. Yum!
  2. Looooong hike. I decided to challenge myself earlier this week and I did an 8 mile hike with 1200ft elevation gain! It was tough and hot and tiring, but I finished in less than 4 hours and I felt so great to have accomplished it. My legs and feet were sore that afternoon, but I woke up feeling pretty okay the next couple days. So I think that means I might finally be ready to bag my first 14er after having lived in Colorado for 20+ years!
  3. Cucumber plants. For several years we’ve tried to grow cucumbers with little to no success. This year I changed up the locations for all my plants and the cukes are now on the deck under some partial shade. And they are THRIVING! They aren’t fruiting just yet, but the actual plants are three times as big as we’ve ever gotten them and there are tons of flowers. Here’s hoping we can harvest some without the squirrels ruining everything!
  4. Puzzles. Puzzles were always part of my life growing up. And last March when we were stuck inside puzzles became a regular pastime for me, especially while on long conference calls! Anyway, I’ve kind of been taking a break over the past few months but this week I pulled out a 1,000 piece puzzle that I hadn’t done yet. And I’m hooked again! It is just so meditative and relaxing for me to sit and put in piece after piece. And then I feel so accomplished at the end of it!
  5. House updates. The front of our house is now 90% finished painting! Everything is covered with at least the first coat and there are a few places that will need a second coat/touch up but you can really only see those from up close. It’s like a whole new house from the street! Still need to finish around the sides and the back especially. We are starting to think about what color to paint the front door and have some fun ideas for updates in that area. I’m really glad we decided to do it ourselves, not only do I think we’ve done a pretty good job with the painting, but it’s also has given me more confidence when thinking about other DIY home projects that I could help with or do myself!

Friday Five Things 7/2

~ kofriedery ~ Leave a comment

“The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.” – Sylvia Plath

Hi friends and happy Friday! I know I’ve been a bit negligent about posting every Friday, but things are getting busy around here! I’m planning to put out my Book Report for June on Monday and then resume regular Friday posts for the rest of the summer.

  1. Freedom to adjust expectations. For most of May I was writing a lot most days of the week. Then in June my creativity seemed to dry up for some reason. I spent the first few weeks trying to force myself into the same routine from May before I remembered that I have the freedom to adjust my expectations. So I made a shift to only asking myself to write 300 words every day. The result is that I added to my manuscript much slower this month, but I was able to actually get words on the page every day instead of sitting for two hours without any progress. Reducing the expectation on myself for a single writing session freed up the block I was having, if only a little bit. For July I plan to continue the 300 words per day and see where the rest of the summer takes me.
  2. The ability to escape to the mountains. After a few weeks of super hot weather where we live, we decided to escape to the mountains and it was definitely a cool down! A little too chilly at times to be honest, but after several days of 90 degree heat I didn’t mind a couple mornings with a fire in the fireplace. We are super lucky to have a free place to stay when we head up there and live close enough to do it on a whim. On the way up to Breckenridge this weekend, Tyler planned a little side excursion to hike up to St. Mary’s Glacier as a surprise for me. Bama loved it, rolling in the slushy ice of the glacier especially. We also did a half day Jeep trail on Friday morning and had a little lunch picnic above tree line. Nothing big, just little adventures out of our normal routine that bring me joy.
  3. Physical wellness. I’m not what anyone would call “in great shape” but this morning I was hiking and was so grateful for what my body can do for me. There have been several stark reminders in my life recently that you can’t take wellness for granted so I am going to take joy from the fact that I can hike four miles in the morning and still have energy to vacuum the whole house in the afternoon.
  4. BLTs (with avocado). No hidden meaning here…just very thankful to live in a world with ripe tomatoes in the summer for delicious BLTs.
  5. Luca. New Pixar movie released on Disney+. It isn’t a huge epic musical Disney movie, but it is so sweet and so magical. I loved watching it and I’ve been recommending it to everyone. I won’t say anything else to avoid any spoilers…but it’s just so darn adorable!