Happenings Around The Nest - Week 2
You made it to week two! Thanks so much to those of you who reached out after last week's first "Happenings Around the Nest." It was so fun to hear from you, and I love that some of my ramblings resonated with your own week. That's really the heart of this little Friday tradition: a place where I can share the behind-the-scenes chaos, the small joys, and the projects that don't always make it into a regular blog post.
Think of this as a casual chat around my kitchen table. And just like any good conversation, I'd love for it to go both ways - so consider this your permission slip to hit reply whenever something sparks a thought.
Let's dive into what's been happening this week!
The real side of blogging…
This week I set myself a big goal: update 43 herb gardening posts. And guess what? I actually did it. It felt great to hit that finish line, but it also reminded me of one of my biggest challenges as a blogger. I get hyper focused on a project and let it take over everything else.
Picture me curled up on the couch for hours, laptop balanced, just updating post after post after post (often in my jammies with my hair thrown up in a scrunchie). It is not glamorous, but it is the reality of blogging sometimes. The win is that these updates are important for getting Celebrated Nest where I want it to be. The struggle is that while I was buried in those edits, other projects sat untouched. Balance is tricky, and I am still figuring it out.
I know many of you can probably relate, whether it is work, home projects, or something else that pulls you in until the whole day disappears. The good news is I can buckle down and make progress. The bad news is it sometimes comes at the cost of consistency, but I am learning to give myself grace and trust that moving the needle forward can also mean taking a step back now and then.
Celebrating Shane
This is Emily, one of Shane's favorites. Every year she spots him out in the crowd and heads right towards him - its the most incredible thing.
This weekend we'll be celebrating our son Shane's 33rd birthday, and if you know him, you know exactly how we'll be spending it. For the past 20 years, Shane and I have made our way to New Bedford for Elephant Appreciation Day at the Buttonwood Park Zoo. Shane has been a devoted elephant fan his whole life. Together, we have visited zoos all across the country just to see their elephants. He knows the keepers by name, and they know him too. It is more than a hobby. It is a community he feels part of, and seeing his joy year after year is one of my greatest blessings as his mom.
As we mark another year, I find myself reflecting on who Shane is and what his diagnosis of Autism has meant for us as a family. We are not your typical empty nesters, because Shane still lives with us, and we would not have it any other way. His autism is part of his story, but it does not define him. I have never thought of him as "autistic," because to me that word suggests that it is the whole of who he is. And Shane is so much more than a label.
He is kind, gentle, funny, and loving. He is passionate, curious, and uniquely himself. His autism is one ingredient of who he is, but it is not the whole recipe. He is exactly who he was meant to be, and celebrating him means celebrating every part of that.
So this weekend we will do what we always do, we will watch the elephants, share in the joy of that special tradition, say hello to the amazing elephant keepers and celebrate Shane. And when we come home, he will be greeted by his siblings and their special people for his birthday party. They adore him, and it means so much to see how important he is in their lives.
In the Kitchen
You can find this Creamed Onion Recipe here!
I actually did manage to sneak in a new recipe this week: my family's beloved Creamed Onions. This dish has been on my Thanksgiving table for as long as I can remember, and it's always my assignment.
Every year I share it in my Instagram stories, and it always sparks conversation. It's a very New England side dish, and so many people in other parts of the country had never heard of it. What brings me the most joy is when a handful of followers message me to say it has now become part of their own Thanksgiving menu. That alone made me realize it deserved a permanent spot on the blog.
That's it from me this week. Between blog updates, family celebrations, and sneaking in a new recipe, it has been full in all the best ways. Thanks for being here and following along - I'm so glad we get to share these little pieces of life together. I would love to hear what's happening in your corner of the world, so feel free to hit reply and share.
If you missed week 1 updates you can find them here!
Have the most fabulous week friends!
