thankul - 2 - live world music

There's something about seeing music live that helps the body to open its energy centers and really feel things more acutely.  I also love seeing people's passion and talent.

On Tuesday, we went to see Huun Huur Tu.  They're a Tuvan group, and their name means sunbeams.  Much of the music they create revolves around horses, their roles, their sounds.  I didn't take any photos out of respect, but I still wanted to feature the experience here because it filled me with a sense of appreciation.

One of their songs:

 

tornadoes & safety

This week, we had our storm shelter / safe room installed.  YAY!  It can withstand a F5 tornado.  It is such a huge relief!  I've lived here for almost 34 years and I've never had a truly had a safe place to go.  Huddling in a center closet while storm sirens are blaring, while news guys say YOU'D BETTER BE UNDERGROUND, well, we decided to be through with that. 

how many books in one?

April has been a month of reeeaaaally deep cleaning.  It's felt good to move lots out of my house, to scoop the clutter right on out.  And, I discovered that I have TOO MANY BOOKS.  It doesn't seem like that should be possible.  I love books.  I value them.  I like how they feel in my hands, the romantic notion of them. 

However!  Even in the shelf in my master 1/2 bath, I have over 200 books.  I have tons more in my closet shelves.  And more in a couple of shelves in other areas.  And three large bins full of them that I moved to the back storage garage.  (I even had the several bags full that I gave away or sold in the last year because I knew they were ones I would never reread.)  Yikes.

Turns out I really hate (!) the dust that collects on them too.  I can't stand the thought of bringing in a lot more. 

And with that in mind, I went to the delicious dark side and bought myself a kindle paperwhite.

... And I completely love it.

rainbows & robots & daily life

March kind of, um, marched right on along, didn't it?  :D  Mostly cell-quality, but a little look at our month in photos:

The bright light to the left of the sun was actually a rainbow ball.  (Yep, official term.)  Couldn't quite capture it in photo, but here's to trying!

At a National Weather Center tour -

What do I do when I'm waiting somewhere, glancing through a magazine, and find an amazing quote that I want to tear right out?  I take a photo!

The kids have made lots of robots this month.  The first round:

K's -

A's -

J's -

Sometimes J also gets on an art-create mission where he explores one topic really thoroughly.  He made loooottttts of Christmas trees.  Such as:

Homeschool group show & tell.  The following four photos are by one of the dads in our group, Brett:

Outside play -

Visiting my sister's chicks -

Delayed holiday gifts from my friend Christy, wheee!

What's not shown here?  Hm.  Well, some random things, though certainly not comprehensive:

I've been going to a chiropractor twice per week.  He claims my remaining knee issues are due primarily to a pelvic misalignment.  I can't say whether that's true or not yet, regardless of x-rays, but time will tell.  (I'm only allowing below-shoulder adjustments for safety, by the way.)  Don't love them, don't hate them.  What I do like?  The relaxed acupuncture afterward.  What I love?  The 10 minute massage after that.  Oh yeah. :D

I'll did blood & saliva tests to investigate really low cholesterol.  Results back the second week of April.

I did reiki training for someone.  Nice to get back into teaching and attuning!

We were told previously that the freon leak in our central a/c unit would be impossible to find.  Someone found & repaired it for us, yay!  Pricey, but so much less than replacing.  A relief.

In an attempt to continue tightening / tracking / bettering our food budget, I decided to try something new.  At the very end of March, I bought all of April's groceries except for weekly water & lunch meat (which Ry picks up) and what I'll buy at two farmer's market trips.  That's a lot of food!  I had funny looks, but I'm quite pleased.  It opens up the time each week I'd be grocery shopping, allows us to avoid random splurges at the store each time, helps us to better focus and plan.  We'll see how it goes.

My sis and I have explored three spiritual centers / churches this year over several weeks.  I've finally settled on the one that enriches me and makes me feel good.  (Nope, not converted to Christianity. :D)

That's enough randomness, right?  Right?? :)