Wednesday:) What’s Happenin’ Miss Toni?

“I keep on thinking on how I’m just so busy, but really, I keep so busy just trying to keep on keepin’ on.” ~Toni Armenta Andrukaitis

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Busy week this week. Sunday was church, McD with friends, grocery store, then the St. Gabe 60+ group.

Monday was the Halloween party at the senior center.

Tuesday was Early VOTING at the fire station, Taco Tuesday with Helene, grocery store… again, and dinner with my guy.

Wednesday, today, was my awesome Words With Friends McKinney Writing group. Melissa gave us a prompt of writing about our imaginary friend. I’ll share that another time. Pretty funny. My friend’s name was Tara. Toni and Tara.

Afterwards, I stopped at Towne Creek to rearrange my regular Friday teaching art class to Thursday. I stopped at the store… again…. To get some last minute food items for our art feast. I also need to prepare some art activities.

I’m going to make potato vegetable soup shortly. This is all I’ve gotten done so far.

Kathy across the street and I just got back from visiting our nextdoor neighbor for a couple of hours. Her husband passed away last night and she appreciated the visit and company. She had a lot of beautiful stories to share about her husband of over 50 years.

Time is so fragile and fleeting, my friends. Enjoy every minute. The minutes are numbered. ❤️ Keep busy and keep on keepin’ on.

Wednesday:) What Ya Been Up To, Miss Toni

“The secret of salvation is this: keep sweet, be useful, and keep busy.”

Elbert Hubbard

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I’ve been back a week from my almost five weeks in Chicago. I’m getting back into my routine and back to my busy life. I do like to keep busy.

Monday morning, a long walk was followed by the country dance at the senior center at 1. We take a break around 2 and have a potluck lunch, then dance until 3:30. I’m still trying to learn some of those line dances.

I stopped at the Dollar Tree afterwards and picked up some ceramic bowls for me and my seniors to paint for Empty Bowls. I killed enough time to get over to Delaney’s for the Single Mingle dinner at 5. We had a nice big group.

Tuesday, I was up by 7am, went to the YMCA for Zumba class at 8:15, my first time back since before Thanksgiving. I forgot half the routines and missed learning the other half. I decided to get the old bones and old knees moving and ride the bike a few miles. I managed to average a 5 minute mile.

Later, lunch with my neighbor Diane, followed by a long walk, then dinner with Kathy across the street. Now, that’s a busy day.

This morning, I took a brisk walk and 70 minutes flew by. It was garbage day, so I also picked up scattered trash that I encountered along the way. Walking is good for my well-being, but also a good time to tidy up the neighborhood. A win-win.

I probably would have walked longer, but I was meeting some girlfriends at 11:30 for lunch to celebrate my birthday. I scurried to Olive Garden and had a wonderful lunch and catch up visit with some wonderful friends.

This evening was our support group at church 7-9pm. I was excited to share some pictures and tell them all about my great visit with family and new grand-baby.

With all this activity, I kinda got the feeling that I may have over done it a little. When I got home this evening, I realized that my feet are killing me, my knees are sore, my shoulders ache, and I have a sore throats and runny nose.

I do like to keep busy, but maybe I should have eased back into it a little bit. Another busy day tomorrow … oops… never mind.

Wednesday:) What Ya Been Doin’, Miss Toni?

“People who truly live their lives don’t have time to complain or judge others. They’re too busy enjoying life and love and everything in between!” ― Charlotte Eriksson

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One thing I’m good at is keeping busy. Even if I don’t accomplish much, I can spin my wheels and look really busy with the best of them.

My dear friend Debbie was kind enough to scour some Hobby Lobby stores in Chicago to find my elusive 4″ frosted ornaments and get them to me last week. This way I could paint ornaments while visiting Mom. I shipped the needed paints, brushes, and glitter Tuesday of last week, along with some heavy sweaters for my chilly visit. I thought for sure I’d get the priority package at least by Saturday, but nooooo. It arrived Monday afternoon.

I spent ten or eleven hours Monday painting and glittering. No rest, no dinner, just working non stop. I had to do some creative thinking and inventing to get the project done at Mom’s.

Working until the wee hours by lamplight, I managed to create, paint and glitter sixteen beautiful ornaments and paint matching boxes.

A big mess was created along with end result. Glitter everywhere!

At home, I use tomatoe cages to hang ornaments between painting or glittering steps, I devised a makeshift hanging system with a suspension curtain rod and some wire hangers. “I am amazing!” That’s my quote. I prompt Mom when she says I’m wonderful, with the initial, “No, I am ???…” and she responds…”Amazing!”

See, I told you so! “I am amazing!” Right? That’s what I’ve been up to.

Saturday:) Sometimes Busy Staves Off the Pain…and a Sunset

“Keeping really  busy has a way of keeping your mind off the pain.”

~ Toni Armenta Andrukaitis

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“Being busy is better than being bored. Bored left a long time ago. Busy is always around for me. ” 

― Tabitha Robin

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That stupid hole in my mouth where my tooth used to be Thursday, is still painful, is still bleeding, is still just a minor set back. It takes a whole lot more pain to keep me down. I’m doggie sitting for a couple of days, so Bella and I do a lot of walking. Four walks today.

 
I went to my writing group at 10, then stopped at Walmart afterwards to pick up some peeps for my upcoming Easter cupcake baking extravaganza. (You’ll see in a few days.)

  
That’s my basket with ten boxes of Peeps, and I’ll probably run out.

  
On my way home, I saw this young man walking on the side of the road with his backpack and his Gehan Model Home sign. He’s alway put there on the weekends, holding and twirling the sign to entice and direct drivers to the new subdivision. It was so windy, and he was struggling with his wind born sign. It was a long walk back to the trailer, so I stopped to give him a ride. Xavier was very appreciative. I dropped him off at the trailer, telling him to say HI to Derek for me.

  
I took Bella for another walk through the nearby park. They were having their annual Easter egg hunt, games, bounce house, cotton candy, and pictures with the bunny.

  
I headed off to the Square to help out a little at the Collin County Art Show silent auction. But, on my way, I stopped off at the sales trailer to give Derek a super delicious Miss Toni brownie. Selfie time with a smile.

When I arrived at the Art Show, Sherry, Lynda, and the others were busy finalizing auction details. I stayed a few hours and helped tally and make phone calls. 

I always keep smiling, even through the pain. Busy helps. Busy is good. 

 

When I got home, Bella and I went for another walk. I was able to catch the final glow of sunset. It was a fine, busy Saturday. Oh no! Now that I’m sitting still, my tooth is starting to hurt. That’s why I keep busy. It staves off all kinds of pain.
 

Saturday Safety Net:Keep On Keeping On

“One of the best protections against disappointment is to have a lot going on.”
― Alain de Botton
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The twenty-four hours that make up each and every day are difficult to fill. At least five or six hours can be successfully occupied with sleep, but what about the rest?

Normally my writing group meets Saturday morning, but we didn’t today. So, I went to Zumba instead. That’s only an hour, and it went by too fast. I came home, put on my gym shoes and went for a fast walk, twice around. Then, straighten up the house, shower, change and head off to the Square.

A leisurely lunch at Snug while checking emails on my ipad. The yogurt parfait with all that yummy fruit and granola is divine. Plus, I got my usual “Hey, Miss Toni, ” and a big bear hugs from Daniel and Austin.

Off to Art On The Veranda to visit with Dana and Judy. Their shop is filled with fabulous artwork and handcrafted items made by local,artisans. There was a jewelry making class going on, so I stopped to check it out. Tammy Gilchrest was teaching a riveted stamped pendant class.

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Afterwards, I spent several hours chatting with Elizabeth and Kathy at Sweet Spot Bakery. I had some paints, brushes and notecards in my car, so I decided to sit there and paint a while, just trying to fill up a few more hours.

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It was a pretty chilly day. By the time I got home, but it was only 6pm and still light. Well, not to waste more day light or hours, I strapped on those gym shoes again and went for another brisk walk. Only a single this time.

Now, I’m just writing this blog, thinking about what to make for dinner and how to fill the rest of the night before those few hours of restless sleep.

Having a lot going on still isn’t a protection against disappointment, it just fills up the time.

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Theme Song Thursday: Busy

“Busyness chokes deep thinking.”
― Todd Stocker, Refined: Turning Pain Into Purpose
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Keeping myself off the charts busy every day is the only thing that keeps me going. This morning started out with making brownies, cleaning the house and tidying up for a showing, changing into work-out clothes, snarfing down some yogurt, scrambling off to Zumba while calling Mom in the car. Then, a great hour of Zumba, scurry back home, five minute shower, change, turn on all house lights, grab brownies, stop at bank, run over to Walmart, then stop and watch my tennis friends play their home match.( reason for the brownies.) I joined them for lunch, but just had an iced tea, chatted and drove home, threw on my gym shoes and went for a double walk, about an hour. Paid some bills, made my dinner, checked emails and working on this blog now.

I try to keep very, very busy. It chokes deep thinking. I hate deep thinking, it’s usually not a good thing.

I liked this little song. I like BUSY!

I made brownies…and a funny face. Makes me smile.

It was a beautiful day to watch tennis. Maybe I’ll play again someday.

took brownies over to Station 5.

Lunch, a stop at the store, and a long walk. The trees are starting to blossom. Today’s the first day of Spring. Hope springs eternal!

Monday Montage: A Week in a Peek

Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it.
Henry David Thoreau

Another busy week. Between doctor visits, cleaning, packing, purging, and my favorite…visiting with friends, another week flew by. So, here is a peek at my week.