We’re back for another 13 Things Thursday! Happy Summer Solstice, everyone. In the spirit of summertime and easy livin’, I’m not adding links to everything the way I usually do. Done is better than perfect, and I’ve got other things to do. :) Let’s get after it!
The Gilbert Chronicles: We’ve been seeing Gilbert (the little bunny living under our shed) a lot more often recently, and it’s making me so happy to see him hanging around! One morning, neither Della nor I saw him right away when I let her out. Normally he darts under the shed as soon as the door opens, but this time he calmly sat there, munching away. Even as Della pranced around the yard and barked at the air (her morning ritual), he appeared unbothered. As she continued her sniffari (what we call exploratory sniffing expeditions) and got closer to him, I got increasingly more amused and nervous. To buy him some time and avoid a chase, I called Della to get her attention on me. Finally, as she turned away, he scurried under the shed, and Della was none the wiser. Crisis averted!
Animal symbolism: Much like I love seeing angel numbers, it’s also interesting to look up the spiritual significance or symbolism for different animals that cross my path often. Bunnies apparently symbolize luck, intuition, and compassion, among other things.
Something new: After some thought, I’m changing up my tarot offerings. I originally started with written or audio/visual reading options, depending on how you best process information. But I didn’t think about what might be the best use of my time and energy. Whenever I’ve recorded an audio/visual walkthrough on its own, it doesn’t flow as well and I find myself re-recording many times. It goes much smoother if I already have a written summary or notes to guide the voiceover. So…I will be combining these offerings together into one simple reading, with sliding scale payment options to make my work more accessible. You’ll receive a picture of your cards, a write-up, and a voiceover add-on if you want it, at no additional charge. These options are available to book now, so go ahead and check them out if you’re interested!
Summer Solstice Tarot Message: The 9 of Wands tells us to take a breather. If things are finally starting to slow down and you’re feeling the burnout, know that you’re almost at the finish line. You’ve been through so much and persevered, and your energy is precious. Take a moment to decide how you want to intentionally spend your time to avoid taking on more than you can handle.
Tarot/oracle decks I’m using: Boho Spirit Oracle (A new fave!), This Might Hurt Tarot (indie edition), Aquarian Tarot in a tin, Awaken Tarot
Tarot practice: I recently got this idea from one of Kate Van Horn’s recent tarot workshops in the (in) a healing space community and app. If you have a practice of making a gratitude/good things list, you can use the cards to get creative and inspire new ideas! I have a gratitude space in my daily planner, so I love using this practice to mix it up a little.
If you’re interested in practices like this, Kate uploads free content to the app every week! It’s been so lovely to mix up my practice and try different techniques.Thing to Try: Speaking of gratitude lists, a few years back I read Sarajane Case’s newsletter about making a “good things” list, and I absolutely loved that idea. There’s something about good things that feels lighter and less serious than “gratitude.” So if joy or gratitude feels inaccessible for whatever reason, you can start with good things, like the cold side of a pillow, puppy snuggles, sunshine…you get the idea. Once you get started, you’ll probably come up with more than you think!
Self-care moment: Making the dang appointments. While I’ve kept up with most of my regular medical appointments post-pandemic, I’ve been meaning to find a primary care doctor closer to our new home and get bloodwork. This past weekend, I finally did the thing! It feels good to check another thing off my list. Next up: finding a therapist and prioritizing mental health maintenance.
Current research rabbit hole: Drip coffee makers. Over the weekend, Bryan mentioned that the coffee in our beloved Ninja coffee maker seemed weaker than usual, even following the usual steps. To prepare ourselves for an untimely demise, we both started researching a possible upgrade. I’ve read a lot about coffee (surprise, surprise), so I’m aware that quality beans, a fresh, consistent grind (at the right size for your brewing method), time, temperature, and extraction time make for an ideal cup of coffee. I also want my morning coffee to be simple enough to make in a drowsy, non-caffeinated state. As I researched, I discovered that the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) even certifies home coffee brewers that meet all their exacting standards for the perfect brew. So far, we’ve narrowed it down to a couple main contenders that are SCA certified: The Breville Precision Brewer and the Technivorm Moccamaster. Thankfully, our Ninja seems to have recovered for now, but it’s nice to have some ideas in our back pocket even if we won’t be upgrading for a while. Fellow coffee lovers, do you have a coffee machine that you love? Let me know!
In spite of all the knowledge I’ve collected about coffee over the years, I only consider myself to be a low-key coffee snob. I know what I like (usually robust, dark roasts), but I’m also not above Starbucks or even certain grocery store coffees (Wegmans French Roast FTW). I’m not persnickety enough to want complete control over all aspects of the brewing process, but I appreciate a machine where I know I can get a consistently good cup of coffee every time.
Along those lines, a former coworker told me that he went on a quest to find the best bourbons and refine his taste. He started to go down the same rabbit hole with coffee before realizing that he was spending more money to make himself harder to please. So on principle, he decided that drinking crappy coffee packets from the coffee machine at work was just fine. I get where he’s coming from, but I would argue that having refined coffee taste is much less expensive than top-shelf bourbon. It’s also able to be enjoyed more often, which increases its value. I think I’ve reached a level of discernment that maximizes my enjoyment of quality coffee without breaking the bank or ruining me for anything that’s more accessible, which feels like a nice middle ground. Do you have anything that you’re low-key extra or picky about?
Speaking of our beloved Ninja hot and cold brew system, we are total suckers for Ninja appliances. We’ve tried their coffee makers, the indoor grill/air fryer, blenders, and more recently the Speedi all-in-one meal prep system. I was initially vehemently opposed to having yet another behemoth appliance taking up space in our kitchen, but I must say it surprised me with its usefulness. You throw everything into one appliance, and it’s all cooked together in layers (grains/veggies on the bottom, proteins on the top), which is simpler for timing and minimizes cleanup. It’s nice for those lazy nights when you’re feeling just want something quick and easy without ordering takeout, which happens more than I care to admit.
What’s making me happy: Firefly/lightning bug season. (Side note: I use both of those words interchangeably, but would be curious to see which term you use!) It’s the time of year where they’re plentiful and super active at night, and they twinkle in the trees like Christmas lights. I love watching them when I take Della out in our yard before bed; it’s such a lovely way to wind down for the night and one of my favorite parts of summer.
Nothing wrong with slowing down & taking time for your self care appointments. Enjoying the simple things like a Gilbert in your back yard, fireflies & a good cup of coffee are the simple joys in life. We all need to be reminded daily. Thanks😊