Refreshed and back home after a journey with Lola to the north country to visit our old friends, I’ve taken a few days to get back into the swing of things. After eating too much and taking some serious time to relax, I’ve been slower than I’d hoped to ramp up my exercise schedule. However, […]
Miscellaneous
September Morn …
Stay with me awhile I only wanna talk with you Losing Jim has brought back many of the feelings I had when I lost Vern nearly 16 years ago. Of course, those feelings never really went away but were tucked in a safe space most days. Perhaps this is a blessing. Both of my men […]
My “Old Florida” Haven
Last Tuesday brought the third anniversary of the closing on the purchase of my log home in rural Florida. So much has changed since I landed in this place that a friend once described as being in the middle of the middle of nowhere. Some days it does seem that way, but there is something […]
Dear September …
I am not asking for a new life Just a softer space inside this one ~Jess Baird I miss those days I had at the beach but it’s rather nice to be home. Even though I’ve considered moving, this is where I need to be right now. Probably not forever. But who knows? I’m […]
The Art of Good Memories
Seems like I was just writing about the Memorial Day and Fourth of July holidays and now here we are at the unofficial end of the Summer of 2026 and Labor Day. Weekends, especially holiday weekends, can be hard on the widowed no matter the point in time of our loss. Once a time of […]
My Social Battery is Dead
I desperately need rest and recharging. I feel like I’ve had to play the role of the Energizer Bunny and my batteries just died. Someone who isn’t an introvert would probably look at my last week and think, aside from not getting enough sleep, it all looks like a great time! I did have fun, […]
Ocean waves, starry nights = healing magic
My week at the beach was so very lovely. A beautiful gift to myself during such a special week. Two husbands. Two wedding anniversaries. Plenty of time to reminisce. To cry. To rest. To rejuvenate. And I do feel better. Much better. More positive. Ready to try to do a better job at living my […]
Happy Dog Daze
I’ve shared so many times before about the incredible role that dogs play in grief recovery, especially for the widowed population. For several years I’ve written and blogged about an event called National Dog Week, observed each September, since 1928, and many other well-deserved observances that honor all things dog. Wednesday, canines were honored […]
Out of Character
When was the last time you did something out of character? For me, I’m doing something right now that’s out of character for me. When I bought my tiny, teardrop trailer a couple years ago, I quickly found out that the particular brand had a following. The manufacturer, NuCamp, really leans into it and actually […]
Gone Fishin’
With Labor Day just around the corner, can the end of Summer be far? Although the calendar reminds us that the season doesn’t officially change until September 21, the kids are already back in school, and Halloween costumes, decorations, and candies have flooded Costco and other big-box stores. I expect the first Christmas jingles to […]
Ah … the ocean
“The ocean is blue poetry written in a language the soul somehow understands.” Anonymous I am so very happy I decided to schedule this important week at the ocean. And I was wise to break up my drive into two days – and grateful my car held up through that especially hot drive through the […]
Fetching Hope
It was another extremely hot week here in Northeast Florida with heat indexes up to 114 “feels like” degrees. And of course the humidity makes it almost pointless to shower if you plan to spend any time outdoors, even early in the morning. You do get used to it, and to move more slowly as […]