I hope y’all had a good weekend. Mine had a pretty solid adulting feel to it but I did make time for rest and fun. The overarching theme of my weekend was…MULCH.
Hard to show the scale of gigantic pile of mulch through a photo but it was 10 yards of mulch and came in a dump truck on Friday morning while I was training clients. My nanny sent me videos of Finn watching it be delivered and it was big entertainment for him.
For my local readers, I think this is useful information to share…you can get free brush mulch through June 2023 through some programs affiliated with Mecklenburg County. Check out this link for more information. I paid for delivery only and it was $100 for 10 yards. I used Off-Duty Hauling and Removal and Robert is a local firefighter who does this in his off-time.
It’s not the prettiest mulch ever but works great for a base layer. It was spread into all of the beds in my front and back yard and around my trees. Oh homeownership. Fun times.
I got home from training clients just in time to take Finn to his first swim lesson of the spring session. We’ve been at Charlotte Swim Academy for the last 2.5 years and I cannot say enough good things about the quality of instruction that they offer. All lessons are one-on-one and Finn has made amazing progress in his skills and confidence. Last summer he was able to jump off the diving board at our swim club and swim to the side of the pool unassisted – and he’d just turned four.
I was excited that he was assigned to an instructor that he’s had twice before and loves. She had him working on taking three big circle strokes like breast stroke to flipping on his back for the majority of the lesson. FYI – the first skills he learned when he started at CSA were back floating and how to climb out of the pool at the side.
I truly feel like this will be the summer where he really *gets it* with swimming and is all over the pool like a little fish! He’s asking me all the time when the pool opens – getting so close! I’m trying to decide if I’m going to sign him up for swim team at the club this summer. It’s the first year he’s eligible and loves swimming so much.
He left me after swim for time with his dad. He’s currently living his best life on spring break in Cancun. A little jealous on this rainy 40 degree day in Charlotte. 😉
I have no photos from the rest of my Friday but I worked writing running plans for my app, had my foot lasered at Greenapple, took a yoga class and watched the Elvis movie again.
The highlight of my Saturday was seeing the musical Come From Away at Belk Theater. One of my clients was telling me how wonderful it was during our Friday session so I decided on a whim to book tickets for the Saturday evening production. I am so glad that I did.
It’s a true story based on events of September 11 when 7,000 diverted airplane passengers ended up stranded in the tiny town of Gander in Newfoundland. It’s a moving tale of how the plane passengers from many different backgrounds came together, and how the town welcomed them with open arms. It was funny, heartwarming and emotional. My attention was fully captured for the 110-minute runtime with no intermission. Both the story and music were so good and I cannot recommend this show enough if it is being offered near you.
I am making it a thing to take my friend Ian’s class at Khali Yoga on Sunday mornings when I don’t have Finn. Ian is one of the most beautiful humans on planet earth and this class is everything I need for my head and my heart. I taught Sunday morning “yoga church” for many, many years and it was so special. I’m grateful not to be teaching regular weekend classes at the moment but boy is it a treat to take them.
10/10 recommend seeking out Ian’s classes at Khali if you live in the area. His vibe and messaging are always on point and his cuing is exquisite.
Back at home I had a hot shower and hot bowl of kitchari with naan. I spent the rest of the afternoon baking granola and peanut butter banana bread (shared with a neighbor who just had a baby!). I visited with some girlfriends in person and on FaceTime and then walked the pups.
I know it’s not fun to “lose” an hour of sleep with the change to Daylight Savings Time but it never, ever feels like a sacrifice to me when it comes to the daylight that we gain from it. While it was 40 degrees and drizzly for our walk tonight, it was awesome to be out there at 7p in full daylight. I am looking forward to many more evening walks in the months to come. I find it so relaxing end the day with a walk and my AirPods – chatting with my family or listening to a podcast or book.
And that’s all for me! 🙂
QUESTIONS
How was your weekend?
Have you seen any of the films that were nominated for best picture? I saw Elvis and Top Gun and want to see Everything Everywhere All At Once.
What are your feelings about the time change?
This is a great book about Gander and 9/11: https://www.amazon.com/Day-World-Came-Town-Newfoundland/dp/0060559713
I had no idea they made the story into a musical!
Ohhhh thank you for sharing Kerry! I will check it out!
I get up early most days (4:30. Former baker and now mom of two young kids), so I hate the time change. I would much rather have it lighter and darker earlier!
I’ve been doing a swimming class with my 3.5-year-old at through the rec center and it’s been great. My son has gotten a lot more comfortable in the water. I’m super bummed, though, because they are short on lifeguards and probably won’t be able to offer the class for the spring session. My son is super shy with other adults, (basically plays dead: won’t look them in the eye, drops to the ground if possible, etc) thanks Covid! I was pregnant and had a newborn during much of the pandemic so we had to isolate. He is in no way ready for a teacher led class, so swimming lessons won’t be happening which is a huge bummer.
Ugh, we’ve been having a big lifeguard shortage around here too! It impacted our neighborhood pool’s hours last summer big time. So crazy. I hope you guys are able to figure it out and keep making progress. Also, I cannot imagine how hard it must have been to isolate with your son while you were pregnant and in the newborn phase. <3
Hi Jen,
Fellow Charlottean here! Would you please share again the information about the mulch delivery? I’m wondering if it’s still available since your link does not work anymore. Thanks!