What’s Currently Going On Here!

I’m joining Amy at Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa for this month’s “Currently” post. The idea is you fill in the blank of five participles with photos, if possible. I skip the photos unless I already have them in my library. Look at me! I’m on a roll with this one! I hope the weather in your part of the world is a little more stable than it is here in Central Indiana! Honestly, you never know what to expect. Last week, we had another rollercoaster of a week with highs in the 80s (27C) dropping to the 40s (4.4C), all in one day! On Sunday, my oldest son came over and helped me whip the yard into shape. I wanted the spirea trimmed down so he cut a little off. I grabbed the pruners…they have a real name, but I’m not sure what it is…when he wasn’t looking and gave them a real haircut. Now, they’re only about six inches high. I know, from experience, these bushes will be back with a vengeance this spring. It was really a good day, soaking in the Vitamin D and cleaning things up. But, here I am digressing once again!

Planting or hatching…

This made me laugh because, when I was teaching, this would have been the time of year we were hatching chickens in our classrooms. The kids loved it for the first couple of days. Then, the constant cleaning of the water and everything else just left them as tired of it as I was. It was still a neat unit…we started it out with serving them scrambled eggs. We ended with chicken nuggets! See, we were also teaching the life cycle! But, back to Amy’s participle! I am not really planting anything at the moment. I’m contemplating bare spots in my front garden spot. It needs something, but I’m not sure what. Two years ago, I planted an upright elephant ear there. I didn’t dig it up so I figured it died. It surprised me late last summer when it started sprouting up. I did plant another last summer in a planter and wheeled that into the garage for the winter. I am, however, hatching up an idea for one of the bedrooms. I think I’m going to turn it into a library in a year or so. Right now, we sleep in it because it has an adjustable bed. My plan is to get rid of the king size bed in the primary bedroom, move that bed in there, move Jack’s room to the back bedroom, and create a library in the front room (Jack’s current room). So, it’s like a stack (or is it a line) of dominoes! One has to fall before the rest can. Oh, and I’m going to replace the nasty carpet (I told Nigel, I really did) with a laminate floor I love. We used it in our last house. I am completely over the luxury vinyl plank stuff. We have that in the kitchen and the hall. It’s not the floor that’s so bad; it’s the installation. Those guys were just plain bad. Some of the planks are hooved up against each other while there’s an inch gap under the vanity in the guest bathroom. Even I can put down a vinyl plank flooring and have it turn out right.

Cleaning (spring)…

My mom used to do spring cleaning the old way. We would wash the walls down, move the heavy furniture to sweep under it, and wash all the curtains. One year, she accidentally washed fiberglass curtains with our clothes. We itched for weeks. These days, I seriously doubt they make fiberglass curtains. Anyway, I’m planning to clean out the kitchen cabinets and the pantry. When we moved in, it was a matter of finding a space that fit. Now, I need to clean out a few cabinets that Nigel loves to stick stupid stuff into…like a big package of batteries with one battery in it. Or, how about the box your iPhone 6 came in? Yep, those kinds of things are cluttering up one cabinet. And, I honestly have no idea what is in the cabinet over the refrigerator. It’s a skinny little thing (not unlike me…hahaha), and the refrigerator is a hefty one. So, it takes a bit to get in there. Plus, I have to move the stuff I have on top of the refrigerator.

Eating and drinking…

When Nigel was in the hospital, our oldest brought us some frozen meals from a place near his home. It’s called the Food Florist, and the food is really good. So, I have been ordering from there. The meals are frozen, and I just have to bake them. One of the things he had brought was absolutely delicious…blueberry French toast made from brioche bread. But, there’s very little, if any, protein in that. So, we decided to skip that and have it only every once in a while. And, each meal (for both of us) is less than one meal at a restaurant. I mean, have you been to McDonald’s lately or even Taco Bell? As y’all know, I hate to cook, but I have to admit I’m a little tired of just heating something up. I just wish I could come up with good menus. One would think I could make the time to do this. One would be right. I just don’t do it. And, like I said these meals are freshly made from organic ingredients and cost less than it would take for me to make them.

Reading and watching…

I just finished two of The Moffats books. Lisa recommended them, and I needed a light read. But, it’s time to move out of the middle grades and into a different genre. I did enjoy reading about Jane, Joey, Rufus, and Sylvie, but I now bid them a fond farewell. I’ve just started The Wedding People. Why? Basically, I picked it because it was available right now on my Libby app. I don’t especially like reading on my iPad, but I just haven’t made it to the library lately. We finished the first season of “The Traitors,” and I loved it! I just love Alan Cumming and seeing what he was wearing made me happy. Some of those women need to lay off the lip fillers, though, right? Nigel wasn’t keen on starting the next season so we’ve begun the current season of “Bridgerton.” I don’t know why, but I just don’t seem to love it as much as the first couple of seasons. I think the story lines are a little tired. What do I love? I love Queen Charlotte, her wigs, and her sassy attitude! I also love to see the fashions, but I am so glad I don’t have to wear all the underpinnings. I honestly don’t know how historically correct the clothing is though I could google it. I’m also watching “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” but I already found out who was eliminated last week. That really spoils it when you find out before you watch an episode. I’m sure that’s true for any reality show like this.

Loving…

Believe it or not, I’m loving this time of waiting with Nigel for his infection to end. It’s weird, I know. I should be a nervous wreck, worrying about the next steps. But, for now, I feel comforted with the knowledge of the miracles of antibiotics and implants with antibiotics inside them. I’m trying not to think about what is coming up. Will the next fluid aspiration show more of the bacteria? Will this hip replacement actually enable him to walk? See, those are the things I’m trying not to think about. I’m just living in the quiet moments of peace and quiet before the storm that’s surely coming. Unfortunately, that storm won’t be here until probably the middle of May. But, if it ends up the way I’m praying, hoping, and wishing for, it will all have been worth it.

Wrap It Up, Marsha!

I think I may have gone off on a tangent or two in answering these prompts. But, did you expect anything different from me? I think I could have and maybe should have gone a little more literal with some of these prompts. Maybe next month, right? So, can we talk? Do you do a deep Spring cleaning? How do you menu plan? Are you a fan of reality shows? Please leave me a comment or two, and we can talk. I promise to respond as quickly as I can.

Thank you!

Thank you so very much for reading today’s post. I hope you enjoyed it. I also very much appreciate those of you who comment, email and/or subscribe. It’s what keeps me going! If you’d like to follow me on Instagram, you can find me here.

Affiliate links, discount codes, and such:

Just a reminder that Marsha in the Middle may use an affiliate link. Those links are usually italicized. If you click or make a purchase from an italicized link I provide, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for your support.  My April Cornell code, MARSHA15, now works, but it’s good for only one use. You can get $15 off $100. I’d wait and use it during a really good sale! Use Marsha12 for 12% off any order of $65 or more at Buykud. I have also become a Halftee Partner. Use the code, MARSHA2098, for 20% off any purchase. I am also an affiliate with Clara Sunwoo. You can use my code, MARSHA10, for 10% off your entire order. Use MARSHA15 at Katia Designs for 15% off your order. In case you didn’t know, bloggers must disclose the use of affiliate links. That’s why I include this in each post.

Where you can find me:

Linking up with Nancy’s Fashion Style,  Fine-Whatever, Is This Mutton, Shelbee on the Edge, Chez Mireile, Suzy Turner, and Away from the Blue as well as Deb’s World. I also link up with I do deClaire, Mummabstylish, Style Splash and Elegantly Dressed and Stylish as well as the Senior Salon Pit Stop (Esme’s Salon) and Slices of Life. Please check out these wonderful ladies and their blogs! I also am a co-host for Ageless Style on the third Thursday of the month and Songful Style on the last Monday of the month as well as the Global Writing Challenge on the second Thursday. I co-host Traffic Jam Weekend every Thursday with Melynda, Lisa, Cat, and Rena. I also host Final Fridays on the last Friday of the month as well as 10 on the 10th on the 10th of the month! I do hope you’ll check out all of these blogs and link parties!