Giveaway winner and randomness about life

Congrats to Amelia who won the cookie giveaway!  

Thanks to everyone for the comments and shared recipes.

I'm having a lot of fun this summer.  School starts again in a couple weeks, but at least I'll only have one class and it's not math.  I haven't even canned this year.  There wasn't much rhubarb, which normally kicks off canning.  Plus I have a lot of food in jars and I really need to eat down my supply before I put up more food.  The pear tree is looking good so probably I'll have pear sauce to can on Labor Day.  I have started cooking/baking more, but I'm still living the bachelorette life in the kitchen.  My fridge was super bare a couple weeks ago.  It's nice being able to call half a bag of frozen veggies a meal.  You can't do that when you have a husband to feed.

In trying to learn about myself and fix my issues, one thing I've realized is that I don't really see myself.  If I look at a photo of myself, half of the time I think, is that really me?  Consequently I take a lot of random pictures with my phone just to figure out how I look, then delete most of them.

Somehow in this whole process, I've lost the guilt that made me hold on to belongings.  Things I'll never use or fix; things that were handed down that I never liked but felt I should keep "just in case"; clothes that aren't flattering but yet I kept them because they might fit better one day.  I've thrown out and donated all kinds of things.  I love the extra space and ease of finding remaining items without the extra clutter.  I know I'll appreciate this the next time I move.

I love being random and spontaneous, and finding new friends and new adventures...female bonding over late pancake dinners after most people leave a game night; commiserating with others as I try to figure out dating all over again; braving singles activities when sometimes the age range is on the higher end; decorating someone's front door for a minor success; learning dances such as cha-cha and nightclub two-step even though I have personal space issues; and organizing last-minute work potlucks.  

This isn't to say life is perfect.  I have my depressed moments, occasional financial woes, etc., but overall my life is filled with peace and happiness.  

"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass... It's about learning to dance in the rain."