It was about 2 years ago – when I was fully stuck into grad school and wondering if there would be an end in sight – that I found myself sitting across from Chris, looking up from my notes, and saying, “I want to go back to New Zealand. I want to plan on it.… Read More Return to New Zealand
We’re about halfway through February, but yes, I’m just now getting around to posting about our January 2019. It was a pretty uneventful month with a few minor eventful things. I tried accupunture for the first time, both as a recipient and as a practitioner: I tried out our new Instant Pot and my new… Read More January 2019
Our neighborhood was not exempt from Hurricane Michael, although it was downgraded to a tropical storm by the time it hit us last week. My parents had driven up that Thursday for an extended weekend visit and they arrived just in time to get drenched. We woke up the next morning to find that one… Read More Storms and Visitors
October has rolled around in Williamsburg, but with temperatures in the 80s, it certainly hasn’t felt like it. I’m ready for cool weather, indoor fires, changing leaves, and warm cups of tea. Of course, I already drink warm cups of tea regardless of the weather, so I guess that last one doesn’t really count. I… Read More Fall
Now that I’m done with clinic for the semester, I have a little extra time to catch up on everything that didn’t get done around the house when I was so busy do fun stuff, like watch a movie, read books, and do some cooking or baking. Yesterday, I decided to make pancakes for the freezer.… Read More Stealing Pancakes
One is faced with several issues when a blog has been dormant for awhile. The first issue, for me, is how to explain what I’ve been doing and why I went silent. I really don’t know how to solve that issue without some lengthy – and frankly boring – post. So I’m going to ignore… Read More Enough for a start
I’ve thought about updating this blog several times over the last 2 years. Obviously, I didn’t. When, after several months of thinking I put thought to action and attempted to log in, I found that I couldn’t. After several sessions with the hosting service’s support desk, we finally ironed out the problem, and access was… Read More 2 Years
I’ve come to have a real appreciation for pollen since moving to Virginia. Or perhaps more of a grudging respect. Don’t get me wrong, I love all of the beautiful trees and flowers and plants we have here. We live in the woods and I couldn’t be happier. But I had no idea that pollen… Read More Pollen
Wow – it’s been awhile since I’ve had the energy or time or creative inclination to sit down and write. This is the first post I’ve put up in months and, truth is, I’m a little worried about it. I lay in bed the other night, trying to get to sleep, but thoughts of this… Read More Giving Yourself Permission to Stop, and to Start Again
We went out this weekend and bought ourselves a 2nd vehicle. It was pretty clear that, with me starting full-time employment, we needed another car. After doing a lot of research regarding the best small, fuel-efficient vehicles, we went with a 2013 Kia Soul. A few months ago, I never would have considered a Kia… Read More Starting Daycare, New Wheels, and Hearing Truth
I see articles like this and I’m reminded once again of one of the reasons why we moved back to the USA. We definitely got a little flak from people, both in-person and online, for choosing to move out of New Zealand, in part, because of the high cost of living. Phrases such as, “You… Read More Monday Post
I’m so thankful – I was offered (and I accepted) a new job last Thursday evening. I’m excited about this job for so many reasons – the opportunity to focus on prevention and primary medicine, being able to help and serve my patients, and working for a good company – but mostly, I’m in awe… Read More Thankful
It’s a cool-ish morning here in Williamsburg. The sky is overcast and they’re predicting rain later this afternoon. I’m home with Joe and Jack and all 3 of us have some variation of a cold. Jack is – amazingly – taking a morning nap, a surefire sign that he’s not feeling 100% normal. Joe is… Read More Giving Your Children 5 Minutes
It’s 5:15am and I’m up at the computer on a Tuesday. I’ve been awake since just after 4am and, rather than fight it, decided to get out of bed and make a cup of tea. I’ve been waking up just after 4 o’clock for the last 2 – 3 weeks off and on and my… Read More Giving In to Internal Alarm Clocks and a Job Search Update
It’s been tricky to make the transition from a “New Zealand” blog to being a US-based blog once again. For starters, I still get Twitter mentions and am nominated for being a “top international blog”. I have to gently remind people that, alas, I am no longer in NZ and haven’t been for over a… Read More Making the transition… in more ways than one
This morning dawned bright and beautiful without any rain clouds in sight. I know that the farmers need the rain and I’m very glad we’ve gotten some, but I was hoping for a dry day today so that the roof leak could be repaired. Prayers answered. The roof repairman arrived on time (hooray!) and surveyed… Read More Leaky Roof Update and the Benefits of Lists
Yes, I just registered to run the mini-marathon next year. Gulp. Guess I’d better get some new shoes! I just registered for 2015 Run for the Dream!.
It’s strawberry season here in Virginia, and we decided to take advantage of it this past weekend by heading over the river to Surry for some pick-your-own fun. Since it’s Mother’s Day weekend, we anticipated a higher-than-normal turnout at the farm. We opted to catch an earlier ferry so that we would arrive at the… Read More Strawberries in Surry
When you’re depressed, your focus becomes very, very narrow. My own focus became so narrow that anything beyond making it through the day was too much to think about. Exercise, eating healthy, getting enough sleep… all of those were things that I knew would help me feel better, but I had neither the energy nor… Read More Month of May: Time for a Change!
Tonight is one of those nights where I look around the house and think, “Things are good.” I don’t mind the dirty clothes that Chris leaves on the living room floor. Such a strange habit. I don’t mind the toys that aren’t entirely put away. Yes, there are a crumbs on the tablecloth. I can… Read More Thankfulness
