April was full of doctor’s appointments, surgery and recovery after surgery.
I’m not quite back to my old self yet, but I’m getting closer every day. It’s been a month of healing, taking it slow, and learning to celebrate even the tiniest steps forward. Some days were better than others, but overall, I’m feeling stronger — and a little more like myself — as we head into May.
At the beginning of April, I had set a few small goals for myself. Looking back…well, I don’t think I accomplished any of the non-medical ones. Honestly, there were some I didn’t even start. But that’s okay.
Instead, I gave myself permission to focus on what felt right — and sometimes that meant simply resting or doing something that brought me joy.
One of those things was puzzling!
Puzzles
With a five-pound weight limit after surgery, I had to keep things light — literally. Good thing puzzle pieces are practically weightless! I spent a lot of April puzzling, and each one brought a little joy and a good bit of challenge. I actually started and completed five puzzles in April. They are:
I finished a Ravensburger puzzle called Garden Allotment (1000 pieces). It ended up being one of the most fun puzzles I’ve ever done. Ravensburger puzzles are always a joy to put together and this one was especially enjoyable.
After that, I tackled Jerusalem (500 pieces) by Dowdle Folk Art. Let me tell you, this was one of the most challenging puzzles I’ve ever worked on! Normally, I start with the border and then piece together the people or buildings. Not this time. There were too many areas with similar colors, and the people were so tiny! I ended up working from the top down — first the top third, then the middle, and finally the bottom. The puzzle features different scenes from the life of Christ, and it felt especially meaningful to work on during Lent.
Then came a Re-marks puzzle called Sweet Home Architecture (1,000 pieces). This was the first Re-marks puzzle I’d ever done, and it was another really fun one to put together. The cutaway view of the house was full of charming details, with lots of cats and dogs “hiding” throughout the rooms — which made it even more enjoyable to spot as I pieced it together.
Another puzzle I worked in thirds, from the top down, was Tidal Pool (1,000 pieces) by White Mountain. This was the first White Mountain puzzle I’d ever done, and it was an enjoyable experience. The bright colors and ocean details made it a relaxing and satisfying project to work through.
The final puzzle I started and completed in April was Heirloom Seeds (1,000 pieces), another Re-marks puzzle. This one had a different format — not a single image, exactly, but a collage of vintage seed packets. I really enjoyed it, especially with gardening season on my mind.
Altogether, puzzling turned out to be the perfect recovery activity — creative, calming, and just the right amount of challenge.
Reading
Another low-key activity that filled my April days was reading — and I read a lot. I made my way through the entire EMP Lodge Series: Six Book Complete Boxset by Grace Hamilton, followed by her Small Town EMPs series (four books). I also read Sunshine State EMP Blackout, books one and two, by Bruno Brennan.
As you can probably tell, I’ve been deep in the EMP and apocalypse genre lately. And while I do enjoy it, I think it might be time to mix things up a bit — all this end-of-the-world reading is starting to feel like… a lot.
So in May, I’m planning to introduce a few different kinds of books into my rotation.
Along with puzzling, I also spent time reading. Here’s what I finished in April:
[insert book list here]
Looking Ahead to May
As I head into May, I’m setting a few gentle goals for myself — things that will help me keep moving forward while still giving myself the space I need to heal and grow.
First up is continuing my house reset. My focus isn’t on deep cleaning every nook and cranny right now — it’s about decluttering and creating a home that feels lighter, calmer, and easier to care for. I’m aiming for what I call a “surface clean” — spaces that are functional and make me happy without feeling overwhelming.
I’m also carving out time to work on some Easter cross stitch pieces I had planned earlier this year. It will feel good to pick up a needle and thread again, especially with meaningful projects.
There will definitely be some baking sprinkled into the month — simple, comforting things that make the house smell like home.
As for the yard, I have a few small but meaningful goals. I want to plant peanuts in my raised bed — it’s something I’ve done before and always find rewarding. I also plan to fill several of my EarthBoxes with store-bought baby plants since I’m a little late in the game this year.
And I want to sprinkle in some flower seeds, too. It gets so hot here during the summer, but having something pretty blooming in the yard always lifts my spirits.
And finally, I’d love to start a quick quilting project. Nothing too ambitious — just something that brings me joy and reminds me how much I love working with my hands.
May feels like a new beginning, and I’m excited to see where these small steps will lead.