Hobbit-ish Potpurri: Spring in the Shire

Howdy Humble Readers...

I'm hoping that you're all doing well, wherever you are.  I haven't been commenting much lately, but I do promise to improve that, and please know that I am reading and following what's up in your parts of the world!

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Spring has sprung in the Shire.  Finally!!  Warmer temps are here most days, and it feels good to be able to have the windows and doors open on the hobbit-hole.  I confess, I did have to turn the furnace back on yesterday (if it had just been me, I would have just put on a couple of sweaters and sucked it up, but the wee-lings were cold and that changes everything).  Another sign of spring... my snow mold allergy has kicked in.  Oh well.  It means that summer will get here eventually. 

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I have had a miniscule interlude of single parenting.  My Beloved had to go out of town for work (to be on-site at the part of the company that he does the accounting for... does that make sense?).  He has been gone one night, but I sure do miss him.  He should be home in the next hour or so, and I'm very glad.  I really don't know how the multitude of single parents out there do it, and do it well. 

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For the last couple of days, my morning workout has consisted of doing workout videos (can't go for my walk and leave the wee-lings at home alone, and if I don't do it early in the morning, it just doesn't happen).  I've realized just what it is about workout videos that I don't like.  The host/trainer.  The fake cheerleading/encouragement/patronizing commentary.  It gets on my nerves and makes me want to spew a string of expletives at the screen.  I'm going to have to get past it, though.  Because once there's snow on the ground again in the fall, I'm not going to be able to go for walks.  Any good recommendations?

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INPUT NEEDED: Plans for wee little Pip's birthday party are coming together.  I'm struggling with the menu though.  We are doing a beach/surf's up theme party, and for the life of me I can't decide on what to serve.  I have the cake figured out, but other than that, I'm hooped.  I've been toying with the idea of shrimp or fish mini-tacos, but I'm not sure.  It's an afternoon party, so it doesn't need to be too much in the way of food, but I still want something yummy and beachy.  Any thoughts?

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Something I'm pondering today... can diabetes have an affect on my cycle?  And vice-versa?  For the last few months, AF has been, well, odd.  I start getting cramps about 3 days before she actually shows up.  I was fully expecting her to show up on Sunday, because I had wicked cramps for a few hours (needed my heating pad).  The cramps died down a bit, but she didn't actually make an appearance until today.  Odd.  And my sugars, which had been going in the right direction, yesterday jumped up for no apparent reason.  Hmmmm...

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Well, I have to go get to work on supper.  Crock pot beef with broccoli on brown rice, with broccoli slaw.  Yummy!