Taking Stock – March 2018

It’s time for my first Taking Stock post for 2018.  I’ll be Taking Stock quarterly, just as I did last year, so the next Taking Stock posts will be in June, September and December.  If you’re new to Taking Stock posts, basically they are a little audit and self-reflection based on some prompt words.  The Taking Stock concept is the brainchild of Pip from Meet me at Mikes.  It’s really caught on!  There’s a link to where you can find a blank list of all the prompt words at the end of this post, if you think it is something you’d like to do.

L to R from top left corner: Rudi (red toy poodle) my fur nephew; Vietnamese Lemon Chicken; Reformer Pilates; The House on Willow Street by Cathy Kelly; Sunset at Mooloolaba Beach; Hawaii pic from my sister (view from her hotel room); Mild Sweet Curry; another Hawaii pic from my sister; Rudi making himself very much at home.

Making:  Time to read or at least trying to.  I used to read SO many books.  Not so much these days.  I’m on to my third book for this year.
Cooking:  The same ‘ol things. They’re favourites, so meals we enjoy, but I need to inject some new meals into the repertoire. At least the winter soups will start up again soon! Yummo!
Drinking:  Coffee and water mostly.  The odd glass of wine or champagne.
Reading:  The House on Willow Street by Cathy Kelly.
Next read:  Not sure yet.  I have a pile of books to choose from.
Wanting:  To explore new places. I love to get away – especially to places with loads of nature. Nature uplifts and inspires me.
Looking:  Forward to wherever and whenever I go away next.
Playing:  Words with Friends on my phone during down time. Have been playing it for years. Love it!
Deciding:  On what to do first each day.  Priority sorting.  It’s a business.  Decisions, decisions!
Wishing:  Lots of things but wishing really doesn’t get you anywhere.  Doing does.
Enjoying:  The fact the weather should start getting cooler soon.
Waiting:  For it to actually cool down and be a proper Autumn
Liking:  That I had a beach holiday recently.  Gee I needed that.  Take me back!
Wondering:  Where I should go next.
Loving:  All the curly Rudi cuddles I had while he was staying with us (My fur-nephew. See more under ‘giggling’.)
Pondering:  My next getaway.  I need to escape suburbia regularly!  Bet you never would have guessed that.  I need to more and more as I get older.  I think there is a message in that.
Considering:  Where I’d like to live next.
Buying:  New plugs for the kitchen sink.  Big spender!! 
Watching:  Netflix:  Absolutely loved ‘Victoria‘.  Watched the entire series.  Is another series coming?  Please say yes!!  Television:  Married at First Sight.  I know, I know.  It’s a silly, stupid show.  It’s scripted, edited beyond the true reality, and overly dramatic.  However, there is something to be said for the bit of entertainment and escapism that this show provides and it’s so easy to get hooked in.
Next watch:  I’m not sure what I’ll watch next on Netflix or TV?  Got any suggestions?  I’d love to hear them!
Hoping:  For a drama free 2018 and that all my family and friends remain healthy, happy and well.
Marvelling:  At the resilience and energy of my 76-year-old mother.
Cringing:  Over certain unflattering photo’s.
Needing:   A getaway again already – even just a short one – a day trip even!
Questioning:  Life, the universe, the cycle of life. It’s a confronting phase of life I’m in.
Smelling:  Those that know me know I can’t smell BUT something is changing!  The other day as I hugged my mother, I sensed something.  It was ‘smell’.  She was wearing perfume.  I have never, ever sensed or been aware of perfume before in my life.  What is going on?!
Wearing:  Still in my workout gear from Reformer Pilates this morning – tights and a t-shirt.
Following:  My own advice and trying to apply loads of self-care to myself as I navigate my way through this period of grieving.
Worrying:  About too many things.
Noticing:  Everything has shifted. I’m Mum’s age. She’s Nanny’s age.  My kids are getting up around my age. Time stops for no-one!  Make the most of now!
Knowing:  That Reformer Pilates is good for me.  It’s making me stronger and more toned and I’m loving it.
Thinking:  About one of my sisters today.  It’s settlement day and she is moving into her new house. It’s very exciting for her!
Admiring:  One of my sisters.  The same one as above.  She never has a bad word to say about anyone.  She’s incredibly kind and compassionate.
Sorting:  Through my emails seems to be a challenge I am not winning.  I have too many email boxes and I don’t like the Apple Mac ‘Mail’.  I much prefer ‘Outlook’.  One of my missions for 2018 is to get better control and systems in place to manage my emails!
Getting:  Tired and lethargic a lot.  Apart from low iron levels, a blood test will most likely show that I need another series of B12 shots and possibly my thyroid medication needs to be tweaked. 
Bookmarking:  My actual book with a bookmark.  Not much other bookmarking going on lately.
Coveting:  So many dresses and so many shoes. My inbox and FB newsfeed and Instagram overfloweth with temptations!  I need to win Lotto!
Disliking:  That I have cried every day for over 3 months.  It’s hard to comprehend that my Dad is no longer here.
Opening:  Chocolates brought back for me from Hawaii.  Made in Seattle. Yum!
Giggling:  At some of the antics of my fur-nephew ‘Rudi’ who stayed with us recently for 9 nights while my sister was in Hawaii for work.  It’s a hard life!
Feeling:  Down a bit too much lately. 
Snacking:  My name is Min and I have a Cruskit habit.  That’s right, I am addicted to snacking on Rye Cruskits.  I eat them dry.  Sometimes I might add some topping or spread but mostly I just eat them dry.  Crunch. Crunch. Munch. Munch.  Send help!  (Note that the cruskit pic in the collage below wasn’t a snack. That was actually my lunch!)
Hearing:  Silence.  Golden!

Main Pic and then top to bottom: Lying by the pool reading; Cruskits with lite creamed cheese, tomato and gherkin relish; Rudi and Ava; coffee time on St Patrick’s Day; SOLD – my sister & her husband bought a house and move in today!

So there you go – a snapshot of where things are at for me towards the end of March 2018.  It will be interesting to see what’s going on for me in my next Taking Stock post which will be in June.  If you’d like to take stock you can find the prompts over at Pip’s ‘Meet Me at Mikes’ – here (scroll to the bottom of her post).

Ciao for now,

Link up here at WOTM or with another of us in the Lovin’ Life Linky team: