Happy Friday! I Accidentally Remembered What Joy Feels Like

Well hello there, Friday!

Let’s take a moment to recognize that this week, against all odds and distractions (including the seductive call of couch naps and snacks), I got things done. Real things. Things that don’t just live in my brain as “someday” projects.

Let’s start with a humble brag:🥁 drumroll, please... I knitted a cloth that actually looks like a cloth.Not a shapeless blob. Not a tangled mess of knots. A real, rectangular, semi-even cloth. If that’s not peak adulting, I don’t know what is.

Then—because clearly I was on some kind of creative bender—I finished three out of five of my dark Disney princess diamond paintings. That’s right. Sparkly trauma art is alive and thriving in my home.

But wait, there’s more.

🌲 A Little Magic at Forget-Me-Not Pond

We also ventured out to Forget-Me-Not Pond, and let me tell you—10/10, highly recommend. I had never been before, and honestly, the name alone sounds like something from a gentle fantasy novel where woodland creatures offer you tea. And it felt like that, minus the squirrels trying to unionize.

The weather was perfect, the sky was flexing its blue, and there were nearly no people around, which—let’s be honest—is exactly the kind of peace and quiet I need in my recreational therapy these days. No lines, no chaos, just me, nature, and a moment to breathe.

I did take some photos (with my phone camera, not the fancy one—yes, I know, this was not a genius move). But I didn’t edit them. At all. Because sometimes, life doesn’t need a filter. It just needs to be seen.

🪑 The Desk That Time Forgot (But I Didn't)

And then… I rolled up my sleeves and went full-on DIY.I’ve officially begun my latest furniture refinishing project: a 1960s desk that’s seen more lives than I’ve had existential crises—and that's saying something.

The poor desk had clearly been passed around like a casserole dish at a family reunion. Multiple stains, varying degrees of effort, and a suspicious patch job or two. But now? Now it’s in my care—and I took it all apart and sanded it down like a woman on a mission.

We reinforced the weak spots (because nothing says bonding like wood glue and emotional metaphors), and I’ve got big plans. The top, handles, and side shelf are being stained. The rest? Painted. With a paint gun, no less—so no streaky brush disasters here.

And yes, I forgot to take “before” pictures. Which is very on-brand. But don’t worry, I’ve got “during” photos and I’ll be posting every step: priming, painting, reassembling, and probably one or two shots of me crying into a sanding block. Stay tuned!

💛 Rediscovering Joy, One Project at a Time

What surprised me the most this week wasn’t how much I got done.It was how good it all felt.

I forgot how much I missed this part of myself—the part that finds joy in making things, fixing things, creating beauty from chaos. The part that gets excited about transformation, even if it’s just a sad little desk with identity issues.

There is something deeply peaceful, almost blissful, about rediscovering the things that make you feel like you. That spark joy. That remind you you’re not just here to work, grieve, or worry—but to live. To enjoy. To create.

So here’s to unfinished projects, rainy days, nature walks, sanding mishaps, and remembering who we are beneath the layers of life and loss.

Happy Friday, friends. I hope you find a little joy in your chaos too. 🖤

The beginning of a curtain for my Grandbaby

A cloth that looks basically like it should