Opening the Door to a Fresh Week

Monday, November 17, 2025

Today’s tarot card was the Door—a quiet promise that new opportunities are waiting just beyond the threshold. And honestly, the energy of the day reflected that perfectly. Mondays are my day off from teaching, and with Shelly heading to her OB appointment, the routine shifted just enough to feel like something fresh was unfolding.

Mr. Tree, you are not supposed to shake hands with that wire....

The morning started like most do: dogs walked, breakfast prepped, and little hands reaching for plates. Astrid got her medicine first—thankfully, I finally found a blend that actually works for her. Mullein, ginger, honey, and warm water… the perfect mix. She’s been showing real improvement, and seeing her perk up is such a relief.

Astrid eating

Once the girls headed down to Mom and Dad’s and the boys settled in—marveling at the pile of toys hidden in the middle of the table—they relaxed into their day off from school. Shelly left for her appointment, the boys ate lunch, and for a rare moment, the house actually fell quiet. While they took their baths, the puppies got to roam and stretch their little legs before it was nap time for everyone.

Problem fixed.

After that, the rhythm shifted again. I tucked the puppies back in their kennels, let Astrid out to explore, and Charlie headed off to pick up the girls and get them settled for their naps. With everyone still asleep, Astrid wandered beside me while I finished my deep clean of the living room. Dinner went on shortly after, and for a brief window of time, I got to enjoy the silence that only nap time can bring.

New problem unlocked..... blocked driveway

When naps ended, the kids spilled back out full of energy, making the most of their day off and the table toy box being wide open. After dinner, Xay went to lay down in the camper with Rick, the older boys watched TV with Aria, and eventually everyone shuffled to the camper for bed. The girls curled up for a movie night, winding down softly.

Astrid is def a daddy's girl

Tonight was Ali’s night out, and he absolutely sprinted through the house with all the freedom in the world for nearly an hour before settling. Then it was time for Astrid’s night meds, a full sterilizing wipe-down of the house, and picking up the water bowl for its nightly cleaning. Once everything was scrubbed, quiet, and smelling sharp and clean, the day finally closed.

Charlie was exhausted from taking down the trees trying to threaten our power lines. I was exhausted from a nonstop day of cleaning and keeping things moving smoothly. But with the house fresh and the animals settled, I finally slipped into bed.

Tomorrow is a school day—and with the Door card guiding the week, maybe we’ll walk right into something good.