This Is Not a Valentine by Carter Higgins
It’s a cute read!! Nicely written about love and caring between school
children that doesn’t look like traditional goopy valentine love. I
enjoyed the fresh perspective :-)
Tuesday, January 30, 2018
Sunday, January 28, 2018
Book Review: Puritan Girl Mohawk Girl by John Putnam Demos
Puritan Girl Mohawk Girl by John Putnam Demos
Informational.... reasonable rendition of historical fiction... didn't grab me... kind of a 'take it or leave it' read... I do love kids' books though so I had to give it a go!
Saturday, January 27, 2018
Ramblings January 27, 2018
It's a slow day at work - which may be good since I didn't get around to setting out thoughts this morning. I actually had a chat with a friend about healthy living and our failures (can you tell how I am feeling today?)
I was so committed to my weight loss 10 years ago and I don't know what happened? well - I kind of do... that daily hour plus that I devoted to exercise replaced almost all of my crafting at the time... and I was all consumed with logging every morsel of food that passed my lips....
and I don't want to live that way!
Yet... the weight is slowly creeping back. My joints are hurting. I still like to move - but don't. And I stand in front of the fridge eating whatever while I try to figure out what to fix for dinner. Yikes!
And I know I'm not alone in this....
so - what to do?
I'm afraid that one habit at a time isn't going to do it. I think I need an all out focus again.... maybe a 6 month push to get it off yet again... and hopefully develop some better sense at the same time
I'm committing to logging my food and feelings today. Not calories just yet - but a black & white, on paper, honest account of eating and drinking. Maybe that will help me do a better job of paying attention.
I logged my weight a few days ago.
And need to get back on the total gym and increase my step count.
<sigh>
I hope, hope, hope that I can lose a few pounds and get excited again.
In other news... I am working on a temperature afghan this year - slowly working back into crocheting... at least enough to use up yarn in my stash...
I am on hat # 3 in the 'learn to loom knit' project....
and I am cutting and piecing up a storm.
In working on decluttering the kids' guest room, I have isolated the quilt tops, back and battings and will be making some quilt 'sandwiches' in the next week or so... and get them on the road to actually quilting and finishing. I am at a point where I have way too many tops that are unfinished!
The decluttering is going well albeit slowly. The two rooms I am working in - the library/gym and the kids' guest room have collected way too much stuff as we have rushed through the house making it presentable. And I am just now beginning to get things in order. Probably really need to focus on decluttering the area where I exercise so that I will want to be there. hmm.... maybe I should put a lamp near the treadmonster so I can read? That may kill 2 birds with one stone....
anyway - today is work - then a couple of hours at home, then out to a little social thing and back home again.... not much 'home'work today... maybe pull a salad together for the next few days? sounds like a plan!
what are YOU doing today?
I was so committed to my weight loss 10 years ago and I don't know what happened? well - I kind of do... that daily hour plus that I devoted to exercise replaced almost all of my crafting at the time... and I was all consumed with logging every morsel of food that passed my lips....
and I don't want to live that way!
Yet... the weight is slowly creeping back. My joints are hurting. I still like to move - but don't. And I stand in front of the fridge eating whatever while I try to figure out what to fix for dinner. Yikes!
And I know I'm not alone in this....
so - what to do?
I'm afraid that one habit at a time isn't going to do it. I think I need an all out focus again.... maybe a 6 month push to get it off yet again... and hopefully develop some better sense at the same time
I'm committing to logging my food and feelings today. Not calories just yet - but a black & white, on paper, honest account of eating and drinking. Maybe that will help me do a better job of paying attention.
I logged my weight a few days ago.
And need to get back on the total gym and increase my step count.
<sigh>
I hope, hope, hope that I can lose a few pounds and get excited again.
In other news... I am working on a temperature afghan this year - slowly working back into crocheting... at least enough to use up yarn in my stash...
I am on hat # 3 in the 'learn to loom knit' project....
and I am cutting and piecing up a storm.
In working on decluttering the kids' guest room, I have isolated the quilt tops, back and battings and will be making some quilt 'sandwiches' in the next week or so... and get them on the road to actually quilting and finishing. I am at a point where I have way too many tops that are unfinished!
The decluttering is going well albeit slowly. The two rooms I am working in - the library/gym and the kids' guest room have collected way too much stuff as we have rushed through the house making it presentable. And I am just now beginning to get things in order. Probably really need to focus on decluttering the area where I exercise so that I will want to be there. hmm.... maybe I should put a lamp near the treadmonster so I can read? That may kill 2 birds with one stone....
anyway - today is work - then a couple of hours at home, then out to a little social thing and back home again.... not much 'home'work today... maybe pull a salad together for the next few days? sounds like a plan!
what are YOU doing today?
Friday, January 26, 2018
Book Review: 100 Things I Love to Do With You by Amy Schwartz
100 Things I Love to Do With You by Amy Schwartz
Loved it enough to buy my own copy! A really cool book with a TON (100 :-) things to do with a child.... FUN things! I can honestly say I do LOVE to do these things with my grandchildren and others - and there are some things I haven't done yet. I am excited to go through this book with my little people and see what they like (or want!) to do!
Of course, this book is for anyone who loves someone else - for me - I think of my little ones....
Book Review: The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey
A pretty story - light fantasy... almost a fairytale. It's entertaining and has a few twists and turns to keep your mind from wandering... but also quite a few bits I needed to slog through... I definitely learned a lot about early 20th century Yukon settlement.
Jan 26, 2018 Ramblings....
Still plodding along.... another week draws to a close.....
Friday morning.... thinking about what to get done before I go to work at 12:30..
I looked back and it's been several days to catch up on... I started a post the other day but simply didn't get there. Somehow life seems to grab me before I get my thoughts down!
It's been a good week - I've actually gotten some cleaning & sorting down... not terribly much but enough to make me feel some progress. At the moment, I am trying to make 2 rooms usable..... our library which has the gym equipment & a guest room with a couple of bunk beds. Both are used somewhat for storage of things I haven't known what to do with! There are way too many plastic tubs with things tossed in from anywhere and multiple time periods. Tubs with legos left from the youngest kids.... open tubs of pictures taken down from walls when painting... tubs with random clutter from rooms being painted / rearranged.... clothes that fit me once upon a time (and might again?)... and then there's just one more skein of yarn.... you know - STUFF!
I need to get back to working out today - with my foot issues, the total gym is my answer. What I've been doing instead is wandering in and out between the two rooms, moving clutter, tossing trash, repacking into new containers.... I definitely need to to that too - but still.... my goal of exercise is not happening the way I'd like.
I do feel good about things in general though - the dust is getting to my allergies - but that really tells me that I am getting somewhere :-) Unearthing a bit of this and that and disposing of it makes me feel like I am coming back to life. I've been climbing out of depression for the last year or so... but surveying my surroundings makes me realize all I have neglected! From pictures that have not gotten on walls.... to the bazillion unfinished craft projects.... from tubs of holiday decorations that have not been sorted or used in years... to closets full of who knows what because I have not been able to bear opening the door! And this, my friends, is what I am doing now with my sorting and decluttering. It's still way- way too much for me to deal with - but if I can find one or two items in a room to get rid of.... or repack a tub (disposing of a few things).. then I am ahead!
Yesterday I did get a joyride of errands with my hubs.... dropping off birthday presents for my youngest grand - 2 today! - and hunting down 1099 forms that are due next week... my free ones from the IRS won't be here in time... Doesn't sound like a big deal but it's 45 minutes one way - so we made an evening of it by adding in dinner :-)
I'm enjoying my time at work though I do look forward to having more time to take care of things here at home. One more week as of tomorrow.... I will miss it - but I need the time.
So I didn't have much to offer you today - a generic update on me... still crafting... quilt & crochet at the moment... and I need to plot out meals for a few days.
Friday morning.... thinking about what to get done before I go to work at 12:30..
I looked back and it's been several days to catch up on... I started a post the other day but simply didn't get there. Somehow life seems to grab me before I get my thoughts down!
It's been a good week - I've actually gotten some cleaning & sorting down... not terribly much but enough to make me feel some progress. At the moment, I am trying to make 2 rooms usable..... our library which has the gym equipment & a guest room with a couple of bunk beds. Both are used somewhat for storage of things I haven't known what to do with! There are way too many plastic tubs with things tossed in from anywhere and multiple time periods. Tubs with legos left from the youngest kids.... open tubs of pictures taken down from walls when painting... tubs with random clutter from rooms being painted / rearranged.... clothes that fit me once upon a time (and might again?)... and then there's just one more skein of yarn.... you know - STUFF!
I need to get back to working out today - with my foot issues, the total gym is my answer. What I've been doing instead is wandering in and out between the two rooms, moving clutter, tossing trash, repacking into new containers.... I definitely need to to that too - but still.... my goal of exercise is not happening the way I'd like.
I do feel good about things in general though - the dust is getting to my allergies - but that really tells me that I am getting somewhere :-) Unearthing a bit of this and that and disposing of it makes me feel like I am coming back to life. I've been climbing out of depression for the last year or so... but surveying my surroundings makes me realize all I have neglected! From pictures that have not gotten on walls.... to the bazillion unfinished craft projects.... from tubs of holiday decorations that have not been sorted or used in years... to closets full of who knows what because I have not been able to bear opening the door! And this, my friends, is what I am doing now with my sorting and decluttering. It's still way- way too much for me to deal with - but if I can find one or two items in a room to get rid of.... or repack a tub (disposing of a few things).. then I am ahead!
Yesterday I did get a joyride of errands with my hubs.... dropping off birthday presents for my youngest grand - 2 today! - and hunting down 1099 forms that are due next week... my free ones from the IRS won't be here in time... Doesn't sound like a big deal but it's 45 minutes one way - so we made an evening of it by adding in dinner :-)
I'm enjoying my time at work though I do look forward to having more time to take care of things here at home. One more week as of tomorrow.... I will miss it - but I need the time.
So I didn't have much to offer you today - a generic update on me... still crafting... quilt & crochet at the moment... and I need to plot out meals for a few days.
Thursday, January 25, 2018
Book Review: Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter
Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter
oh my word! A little too pyscopathic horrific for my taste - nevertheless, it captivated me from the beginning! I couldn't put it down - neither could I allow myself to read it at night! I enjoyed the author's style of writing and would try another .... though I must admit, if the next is as graphic as this one, it will be my last.
Tuesday, January 23, 2018
Book Review: Songs of the Humpback Whale by Jodi Picoult
As always, Jodi Picoult weaves a great story..... she captivates and
holds your interest. As always, she creates twists and turns this reader
doesn't see coming. As always, her characters reflect a life as
complicated as the ones we live. And then? There is the ending. Usually
logical and yet unforeseen... leaving you unsatisfied exactly....
knowing that the story may actually be only beginning for these
characters - but the reader has nowhere to go except within her own
imagination.
I have however, read enough about whales for a while :-)
I have however, read enough about whales for a while :-)
Monday, January 22, 2018
Book Review: What Unites Us
Sunday, January 21, 2018
Jan 21, 2018 Ramblings
I can't believe it's been 10 days since I posted..... somehow life just grabs you up and you keep on rolling!
Life is good..... my foot continues to heal and I have had a couple of days of almost no pain. I'm still resting it a bit because it feels creaky - terrible explanation, I know... but if you've ever REinjured anything, You'll know what I mean!
Let's see.... some progress on the habit front.... I am doing well at working back up to my 10K steps.... the tea and fruit are more often than not - though not yet daily - and the foot stretches continue. I also set up the home gym and am doing a light strength routine on it - working on a daily habit there too - though just beginning.
The Christmas decorations are packed away and put away in storage... just a few remnants left to stumble over - I hate the way things become invisible to me after time! Just yesterday I recognized that a Christmas quilted wall hanging was still up and switched it out for a winter one. It's those things... and there must be a few more :-) I did get the Valentine box out so will probably discover the leftover Christmas when I set those goodies out. It feels good to pull out the holiday decorations again!
I'm continuing on my fabric playing! The mystery quilt - of course - and a few others that I've decided to work on this year. I've been doing some cutting from my stash so I can work on them when I get a little further on the mystery. AND... one of my grands requested Valentine pillowcases this year. So I went to the store and got assorted fabrics for the 6 pillowcases.. and am working on those.
And - the napkins - I don't think I've told you about those. I get so tired of seeing all the pretty fabric I find stuffed away - when I don't quite know what to do with it! I had a brainstorm a couple of years ago to make cloth napkins that first summer I had the grands. They always have a lot of things they love - like cartoon characters or trucks or sea creatures or dinosaurs or whatever.... and I had some appropriate cute fabric stashed away that went with the theme. Cloth napkins were a novelty to them and they loved the fabric! Quick to make and fun :-) Anyway, that summer they were a big hit. Big enough that I did a second set for this past summer.
I did NOT realize at the time how much enjoyment that I personally would get from handling my fabric! Daily :-) Washing, folding, using... I am petting my fabric all the time now :-) So when Christmas time rolled around and I was going through things.... I pulled all the themed pieces I had and made napkins from the pieces big enough.... and then, there were the snowman pieces.... and now I am working on the Valentine ones :-)
I'm sure it is silly - but I do love the fabric - and, since I am making holiday pillowcases for the grands... some of the napkins are the same fabric. It tickles them to discover this at my table. Makes for great conversation starters too. And even the adults seem to enjoy rifling through the basket searching for a favorite napkin.
Anyway - if anyone reading this is interested, I can offer links or photos of both pillowcases and napkins - it's an easy peasy project that you can do alongside other projects. Especially if you are a multi-tasker like me :-)
Today I am at home - I have a coffee date with a friend.... another vegan recipe to try [and tweak to edibility!]... maybe bake some bread..... and I want to get the floors vacuumed and mopped... at least the upstairs slate section!
Have a great Sunday and let me know how your year is going!
Life is good..... my foot continues to heal and I have had a couple of days of almost no pain. I'm still resting it a bit because it feels creaky - terrible explanation, I know... but if you've ever REinjured anything, You'll know what I mean!
Let's see.... some progress on the habit front.... I am doing well at working back up to my 10K steps.... the tea and fruit are more often than not - though not yet daily - and the foot stretches continue. I also set up the home gym and am doing a light strength routine on it - working on a daily habit there too - though just beginning.
The Christmas decorations are packed away and put away in storage... just a few remnants left to stumble over - I hate the way things become invisible to me after time! Just yesterday I recognized that a Christmas quilted wall hanging was still up and switched it out for a winter one. It's those things... and there must be a few more :-) I did get the Valentine box out so will probably discover the leftover Christmas when I set those goodies out. It feels good to pull out the holiday decorations again!
I'm continuing on my fabric playing! The mystery quilt - of course - and a few others that I've decided to work on this year. I've been doing some cutting from my stash so I can work on them when I get a little further on the mystery. AND... one of my grands requested Valentine pillowcases this year. So I went to the store and got assorted fabrics for the 6 pillowcases.. and am working on those.
And - the napkins - I don't think I've told you about those. I get so tired of seeing all the pretty fabric I find stuffed away - when I don't quite know what to do with it! I had a brainstorm a couple of years ago to make cloth napkins that first summer I had the grands. They always have a lot of things they love - like cartoon characters or trucks or sea creatures or dinosaurs or whatever.... and I had some appropriate cute fabric stashed away that went with the theme. Cloth napkins were a novelty to them and they loved the fabric! Quick to make and fun :-) Anyway, that summer they were a big hit. Big enough that I did a second set for this past summer.
I did NOT realize at the time how much enjoyment that I personally would get from handling my fabric! Daily :-) Washing, folding, using... I am petting my fabric all the time now :-) So when Christmas time rolled around and I was going through things.... I pulled all the themed pieces I had and made napkins from the pieces big enough.... and then, there were the snowman pieces.... and now I am working on the Valentine ones :-)
I'm sure it is silly - but I do love the fabric - and, since I am making holiday pillowcases for the grands... some of the napkins are the same fabric. It tickles them to discover this at my table. Makes for great conversation starters too. And even the adults seem to enjoy rifling through the basket searching for a favorite napkin.
Anyway - if anyone reading this is interested, I can offer links or photos of both pillowcases and napkins - it's an easy peasy project that you can do alongside other projects. Especially if you are a multi-tasker like me :-)
Today I am at home - I have a coffee date with a friend.... another vegan recipe to try [and tweak to edibility!]... maybe bake some bread..... and I want to get the floors vacuumed and mopped... at least the upstairs slate section!
Have a great Sunday and let me know how your year is going!
Saturday, January 13, 2018
Jan 12, 2018 Ramblings
A quiet day.... did get my fruit & tea and exercises in - go me!
And some work on the Christmas clean up - will I get it all finished this weekend? I hope so!! The snow kept me from getting help moving boxes... and now rain... so I don't know :-)
I didn't have to go to work til 2 but worked until 9 so it was a long day.... my boss texted me early to clarify a last day.... but I was pretty shocked - no maybe surprised is better..... to see my job posted on the company site this afternoon. The ink was barely dry on the printer!
Well - not really - the letter has been written for a few weeks.... but the actual handing it in - well, it hasn't been 24 hours. Okay then... let's go!
I've only told my 2 immediate co-workers - and plan to keep it that way. My town is small and the news will get around quick enough. I don't want to talk about it. There is a TON of negativity surrounding the job I have..... but I actually LOVE the job. I just can't handle the drama in my life on a consistent basis. Anyway - I absolutely do not want to leave in a negative light because I want them to use me to substitute. So - the less I have to talk about it - the better life will be for me. I'm too honest anyway and it intimidates people. I have the power to shed light on situations - which is sometimes negative.... all people cannot handle my brand of truth!
One good thing about being an abuse survivor is that I must have truth. I am not afraid of truth. I can handle bad - even about me. I CANNOT handle the imaginary unsaid stuff that swirls around in my head when you are not truthful with me. I have found that what I dream or imagine is a million times worse than actual truth.....
And THAT, my friends, is one of the reasons I had to leave.
AND the absolute waste of my time. My title is senior assistant. My boss doesn't want that. No collaboration, no responsibility, micromanaging of simple tasks, no training to progress..... just directives and reprimands if I do anything - ANYTHING - I am not told to do. So... yeah... at least 10 hours per week with nothing to do. When I have things to do at home. Not efficient at all.
Definitely looking forward to the weekend.... and my crafting projects. I am still spending way more time resting with my foot up than I like - but am working my brain around to figuring out a way to exercise without my right foot!
Wish me luck - or send me ideas!
And some work on the Christmas clean up - will I get it all finished this weekend? I hope so!! The snow kept me from getting help moving boxes... and now rain... so I don't know :-)
I didn't have to go to work til 2 but worked until 9 so it was a long day.... my boss texted me early to clarify a last day.... but I was pretty shocked - no maybe surprised is better..... to see my job posted on the company site this afternoon. The ink was barely dry on the printer!
Well - not really - the letter has been written for a few weeks.... but the actual handing it in - well, it hasn't been 24 hours. Okay then... let's go!
I've only told my 2 immediate co-workers - and plan to keep it that way. My town is small and the news will get around quick enough. I don't want to talk about it. There is a TON of negativity surrounding the job I have..... but I actually LOVE the job. I just can't handle the drama in my life on a consistent basis. Anyway - I absolutely do not want to leave in a negative light because I want them to use me to substitute. So - the less I have to talk about it - the better life will be for me. I'm too honest anyway and it intimidates people. I have the power to shed light on situations - which is sometimes negative.... all people cannot handle my brand of truth!
One good thing about being an abuse survivor is that I must have truth. I am not afraid of truth. I can handle bad - even about me. I CANNOT handle the imaginary unsaid stuff that swirls around in my head when you are not truthful with me. I have found that what I dream or imagine is a million times worse than actual truth.....
And THAT, my friends, is one of the reasons I had to leave.
AND the absolute waste of my time. My title is senior assistant. My boss doesn't want that. No collaboration, no responsibility, micromanaging of simple tasks, no training to progress..... just directives and reprimands if I do anything - ANYTHING - I am not told to do. So... yeah... at least 10 hours per week with nothing to do. When I have things to do at home. Not efficient at all.
Definitely looking forward to the weekend.... and my crafting projects. I am still spending way more time resting with my foot up than I like - but am working my brain around to figuring out a way to exercise without my right foot!
Wish me luck - or send me ideas!
Friday, January 12, 2018
Ramblings Jan 11, 2018
Well... I did it.
I resigned from my job.
And I have mixed emotions that I have not shared here - I do have several unpublished posts from the last 6 months as I wrestled with the decision because I LOVE most of my job. But the actual work does not fit the job description and does not fit my work-life balance. It has too many restrictions on my life for the benefit it brings. Period.
And the emotional roller coaster of juggling the mixed messages and lack of communication with bosses - no, I won't miss that. My life will be better having shed that part.
I will miss the people though. Working at the library gave a shape to my days and provided me with a place where people were happy to see me - and I kept up with the town news. I will have to find a way to replace that.
I feel oddly light - I was dreading the conversation but it was sort of anti-climactic. Maybe they were waiting for me to go. No clue - but anyway - it's onward and upward and gratitude for the opportunity.... and gratitude for what's next!
I resigned from my job.
And I have mixed emotions that I have not shared here - I do have several unpublished posts from the last 6 months as I wrestled with the decision because I LOVE most of my job. But the actual work does not fit the job description and does not fit my work-life balance. It has too many restrictions on my life for the benefit it brings. Period.
And the emotional roller coaster of juggling the mixed messages and lack of communication with bosses - no, I won't miss that. My life will be better having shed that part.
I will miss the people though. Working at the library gave a shape to my days and provided me with a place where people were happy to see me - and I kept up with the town news. I will have to find a way to replace that.
I feel oddly light - I was dreading the conversation but it was sort of anti-climactic. Maybe they were waiting for me to go. No clue - but anyway - it's onward and upward and gratitude for the opportunity.... and gratitude for what's next!
Wednesday, January 10, 2018
Ramblings Jan 10, 2018
So I ignored you completely yesterday.
Sorry
I am sucking at following my own plan.... nothing new here.
Yet I am good.... it's a good plan
and I will try again today.
I don't have to go to work - which is a BLESSING! The time constraints it puts on my compared to the reward value is not in balance. I need to address this soon. [and actually it was on my personal schedule for last week - and then the snow-mageddon disrupted plans - so now it's on tomorrow's agenda]
But I DO have to go to town.... we need milk and eggs.... and I need a special color of yarn to go with the project I started to use up yarn. Do you do that? Start a project to USE UP - and then need to buy something to go with it? Yikes..... somehow this may defeat the purpose.... OR.. from the flip side... I am still buying less.... and my stash is not growing... so I am making progress, right?
And isn't that what life is about?
Progress?
The journey - I so very much believe that the process we go through as we grow and change is what make us who we are - NOT the final product of what we achieve. I mean - the true measure of YOU is how you live - NOT what you accomplish, right?
so anyway - when the temp rises a little... assuming the car starts.... I shall be on my way to tackle the LIST. At which point I will come home and get the tree wrangled into the box.. and come close to finish packing up Christmas. I want to have boxes ready to move to storage as soon as the weather clears a little!
And I will keep neatening and using up and eating fruit and drinking tea and doing foot exercises.... and someday... it will become easier... normal...
thanks for sharing your day with me!
Sorry
I am sucking at following my own plan.... nothing new here.
Yet I am good.... it's a good plan
and I will try again today.
I don't have to go to work - which is a BLESSING! The time constraints it puts on my compared to the reward value is not in balance. I need to address this soon. [and actually it was on my personal schedule for last week - and then the snow-mageddon disrupted plans - so now it's on tomorrow's agenda]
But I DO have to go to town.... we need milk and eggs.... and I need a special color of yarn to go with the project I started to use up yarn. Do you do that? Start a project to USE UP - and then need to buy something to go with it? Yikes..... somehow this may defeat the purpose.... OR.. from the flip side... I am still buying less.... and my stash is not growing... so I am making progress, right?
And isn't that what life is about?
Progress?
The journey - I so very much believe that the process we go through as we grow and change is what make us who we are - NOT the final product of what we achieve. I mean - the true measure of YOU is how you live - NOT what you accomplish, right?
so anyway - when the temp rises a little... assuming the car starts.... I shall be on my way to tackle the LIST. At which point I will come home and get the tree wrangled into the box.. and come close to finish packing up Christmas. I want to have boxes ready to move to storage as soon as the weather clears a little!
And I will keep neatening and using up and eating fruit and drinking tea and doing foot exercises.... and someday... it will become easier... normal...
thanks for sharing your day with me!
Monday, January 8, 2018
Ramblings Jan 8, 2018
Still plugging along......
yesterday saw 1 apple and foot exercises - no tea and certainly not the cleaning assignment of cleaning all interior windows :-) Nice try anyway.
I did get the tree down and wrestled into the box for another year - but the box is in such terrible shape I need duct tape to close it up - so it is waiting in the corner until I go to town on Wednesday. Ornaments are sorted and packed - and some boxes are waiting for final closure of other loose items. There is still too much snow to get to my storage building but the temps are supposed to rise to 45 degrees(!) today... so prob tomorrow after work I can get a box or two put away... and maybe pull some yarn for my temp afghan project. Pray that no pipes froze!
My foot is better today than yesterday..... so I've wrapped it up and will head to work for a late opening.... still hobbling but not so much pain as yesterday so that's something.
The hubs left this morning for Wisconsin.... I don't envy him the airports and continued cold weather.
I've continued to work on my mystery quilt while I sit with my feet up and I have a photo for you today
So - there ya go - still a long way to go but a current WIP. Maybe I will get back to my WIP posts if there is interest. Or if I am interested :-)
So - today's cleaning assignment is to sweep/mop all the interior floors.... which is SO NOT going to happen :-) Maybe I will do one floor - okay?
And empty the dishwasher before I go to work....
Have a good one! Make today count :-)
yesterday saw 1 apple and foot exercises - no tea and certainly not the cleaning assignment of cleaning all interior windows :-) Nice try anyway.
I did get the tree down and wrestled into the box for another year - but the box is in such terrible shape I need duct tape to close it up - so it is waiting in the corner until I go to town on Wednesday. Ornaments are sorted and packed - and some boxes are waiting for final closure of other loose items. There is still too much snow to get to my storage building but the temps are supposed to rise to 45 degrees(!) today... so prob tomorrow after work I can get a box or two put away... and maybe pull some yarn for my temp afghan project. Pray that no pipes froze!
My foot is better today than yesterday..... so I've wrapped it up and will head to work for a late opening.... still hobbling but not so much pain as yesterday so that's something.
The hubs left this morning for Wisconsin.... I don't envy him the airports and continued cold weather.
I've continued to work on my mystery quilt while I sit with my feet up and I have a photo for you today
So - there ya go - still a long way to go but a current WIP. Maybe I will get back to my WIP posts if there is interest. Or if I am interested :-)
So - today's cleaning assignment is to sweep/mop all the interior floors.... which is SO NOT going to happen :-) Maybe I will do one floor - okay?
And empty the dishwasher before I go to work....
Have a good one! Make today count :-)
Sunday, January 7, 2018
Ramblings January 7, 2018
I sure did learn something yesterday! Don't start a blog post and then try and come back... it just didn't work!
But anyway - My foot/ankle pain chased me all day - I think I've got some sort of tendonitis.. my insurance snafu should clear up in a few weeks but for now - I will manage! The worst of it though was that I was sidelined - benched! I didn't even get 5K steps in :-( And managing the pain UNFOCUSED ME!
Boo - so no fruit... no tea... but a lot of foot stretching, icing, elevating....
cleaning/decluttering - I had hoped to catch up from the day before with a good sweep/dust/ mop of the living room/dining room/kitchen areas (I know better than to try and catch up!)..... and yesterday's task was the bathrooms.. I DID get mine done so that is something :-)
..and progress on the mystery quilt..... I will try to post a photo later on. I'm having some difficulty finding a way to handle photos these days. I'm still piecing - not yet assembling so there's nothing impressive to show yet
... a little work done on a temperature afghan... using a pattern found here (As We Go Stripey blanket) with colors found somewhere else and tweaked to fit my available yarn stash. I put most of my yarn in our storage building after I injured my hand and - between the foot problems and the weather just can't get there right now - so am scrounging through the house for close enough colors! Fortunately the COLD temps are my favorite COOL colors and I had some of that handy. Just in case :-)
So today's agenda - is make sure the fruit and tea happen - to check the clean/declutter schedule and do that....
Let's see.. what else..... yep - Christmas sorting and packing up needs to happen around here.... and that will be on me. I really want to go through all of it this year. Usually I get through some of it and then throw my hands in the air and give up - and pack it all for next year. It would be a huge accomplishment if I can actually deal with it and send labeled containers to the storage unit. And - because I need to elevate my foot - I SHOULD be able to DO IT.
I have some Desk Work to make a little progress on....
Tomorrow the hubs flies out to Wisconsin - Brr.... though the MINUS 2 degrees this morning has prepared him well, I think. I will spend part of the day making sure he has whatever he needs - and I need to be prepared to get back to my own job. Tomorrow is a full day and I am so not ready! This is the week I talk to my boss about my travel and time constraints and decide when to resign. Last week was the week - but then snow and job closures, etc. So... THIS week. I have such mixed feelings because I do love my job.... but 6 months in - it's not the job I applied for at all. AND our own business is requiring more travel and I need to do THAT.
Also have been working on cleaning out my electronic files.... changing my email is making me sort through and unsubscribe.... I will keep at it and delete, delete!
Okay - enough ramblings for now - time to start my day and see what i can do to make positive changes in my life and that of others..... what will YOU do?
But anyway - My foot/ankle pain chased me all day - I think I've got some sort of tendonitis.. my insurance snafu should clear up in a few weeks but for now - I will manage! The worst of it though was that I was sidelined - benched! I didn't even get 5K steps in :-( And managing the pain UNFOCUSED ME!
Boo - so no fruit... no tea... but a lot of foot stretching, icing, elevating....
cleaning/decluttering - I had hoped to catch up from the day before with a good sweep/dust/ mop of the living room/dining room/kitchen areas (I know better than to try and catch up!)..... and yesterday's task was the bathrooms.. I DID get mine done so that is something :-)
..and progress on the mystery quilt..... I will try to post a photo later on. I'm having some difficulty finding a way to handle photos these days. I'm still piecing - not yet assembling so there's nothing impressive to show yet
... a little work done on a temperature afghan... using a pattern found here (As We Go Stripey blanket) with colors found somewhere else and tweaked to fit my available yarn stash. I put most of my yarn in our storage building after I injured my hand and - between the foot problems and the weather just can't get there right now - so am scrounging through the house for close enough colors! Fortunately the COLD temps are my favorite COOL colors and I had some of that handy. Just in case :-)
So today's agenda - is make sure the fruit and tea happen - to check the clean/declutter schedule and do that....
Let's see.. what else..... yep - Christmas sorting and packing up needs to happen around here.... and that will be on me. I really want to go through all of it this year. Usually I get through some of it and then throw my hands in the air and give up - and pack it all for next year. It would be a huge accomplishment if I can actually deal with it and send labeled containers to the storage unit. And - because I need to elevate my foot - I SHOULD be able to DO IT.
I have some Desk Work to make a little progress on....
Tomorrow the hubs flies out to Wisconsin - Brr.... though the MINUS 2 degrees this morning has prepared him well, I think. I will spend part of the day making sure he has whatever he needs - and I need to be prepared to get back to my own job. Tomorrow is a full day and I am so not ready! This is the week I talk to my boss about my travel and time constraints and decide when to resign. Last week was the week - but then snow and job closures, etc. So... THIS week. I have such mixed feelings because I do love my job.... but 6 months in - it's not the job I applied for at all. AND our own business is requiring more travel and I need to do THAT.
Also have been working on cleaning out my electronic files.... changing my email is making me sort through and unsubscribe.... I will keep at it and delete, delete!
Okay - enough ramblings for now - time to start my day and see what i can do to make positive changes in my life and that of others..... what will YOU do?
Saturday, January 6, 2018
Jan 6, 2018 Ramblings
Oh man, my ankle hurts this morning! I guess I overdid it yesterday - though I don't see how. Except maybe for the little bit of snow shoveling I did.
Breakfast orange, 3pm Oolong, fascia exercises as I went along while trying to increase my steps a little. and I was supposed to clean the living room & kitchen according to my schedule.
So... let's see... the walking. I really didn't do a lot of snow shoveling - my husband did the bulk of it..... but I got to worrying about him being out there alone on the property so I stayed with him..... I took about 5 minutes to his 10.... and 3 feet to his 20! But at least I helped a little and didn't have to worry while he was out there alone. It would probably be smart if we used the buddy system when we don't feel like carrying phones.... which is often!
Anyway - even though I spent way too much time resting it - in my opinion - apparently my ankle does not agree this morning. So I've wrapped it up and will go on my merry way today - albeit gingerly!
AND... the cleaning/ decluttering. Not so good! I took a look at the kitchen and the living room. The kitchen - well, I do dishes and counters every day so it wasn't so bad... and the living room - well, it got cleaned and decorated for Christmas so it's not so bad either (and the dining room is in between so I added it to the mix in my head). So I was a bit paralyzed as to what to do. Sitting here this morning, I realize I need to sweep, mop and/or dust. No matter what the room looks like I need to do that much.
So - today's room focus is 'clean the bathrooms'. Yikes - I have 4.... two that are in regular use - 1 not at all. My personal bathroom gets cleaned each week but could use some declutter love in the closet. The downstairs bathroom gets used by my child and I'm scared to go in there :-). Both the sporadically used and unused bathroom could use a sweep and a wipedown.... but I'm not committing to all that! I will do something - clean something / declutter something.
In the meantime I also - apparently - need to rest this dumb ankle again :-(
The upside is that I can quilt and crochet and watch dvds of NCIS - so the day is not lost.....
Breakfast orange, 3pm Oolong, fascia exercises as I went along while trying to increase my steps a little. and I was supposed to clean the living room & kitchen according to my schedule.
So... let's see... the walking. I really didn't do a lot of snow shoveling - my husband did the bulk of it..... but I got to worrying about him being out there alone on the property so I stayed with him..... I took about 5 minutes to his 10.... and 3 feet to his 20! But at least I helped a little and didn't have to worry while he was out there alone. It would probably be smart if we used the buddy system when we don't feel like carrying phones.... which is often!
Anyway - even though I spent way too much time resting it - in my opinion - apparently my ankle does not agree this morning. So I've wrapped it up and will go on my merry way today - albeit gingerly!
AND... the cleaning/ decluttering. Not so good! I took a look at the kitchen and the living room. The kitchen - well, I do dishes and counters every day so it wasn't so bad... and the living room - well, it got cleaned and decorated for Christmas so it's not so bad either (and the dining room is in between so I added it to the mix in my head). So I was a bit paralyzed as to what to do. Sitting here this morning, I realize I need to sweep, mop and/or dust. No matter what the room looks like I need to do that much.
So - today's room focus is 'clean the bathrooms'. Yikes - I have 4.... two that are in regular use - 1 not at all. My personal bathroom gets cleaned each week but could use some declutter love in the closet. The downstairs bathroom gets used by my child and I'm scared to go in there :-). Both the sporadically used and unused bathroom could use a sweep and a wipedown.... but I'm not committing to all that! I will do something - clean something / declutter something.
In the meantime I also - apparently - need to rest this dumb ankle again :-(
The upside is that I can quilt and crochet and watch dvds of NCIS - so the day is not lost.....
Friday, January 5, 2018
Ramblings Friday Jan 5, 2018
so... I'll start by reporting back on what I promised....
FRUIT: I ate an orange for breakfast
TEA: I had a cup of raspberry ginger tea near bedtime [almost forgot! I think I will try to schedule it at that 3pm munchie moment - tea, anyone?]
FOOT EXERCISES: I did fascia exercises all throughout the day - specifically - calf raises on the stairs - and 2 for sitting - rolling a tennis ball under my foot and towel scrunches where you try to curl your foot and pick up a towel with your toes... those 3 stick with me somehow
AND...
CLEAN/DECLUTTER: yesterday's cleaning assignment was 'clean an extra room'... so I went to laundry room and swept and dusted. I looked around for a declutter in there and got paralyzed! So.... I went back into my bedroom and emptied a bag left over from my early December trip to London - shampoos, train tickets, stuff I snagged from the hotels... you know - STUFF. I found homes for all - AND packed the bag back into the big suitcase.. TA DA.
**********************************************
Doesn't sound like much - and actually I did a lot more - but that is what I promised - so that is what I report :-) I actually have a mindset right now to neaten up wherever I end up.... so that is helping - can I make THAT a habit? Who knows?
So - today is another snow day - and yesterday my work - the library - actually is closed now until Monday. So more thinking and doing. I got two walks outside yesterday - and today I promised to help shovel the driveway so the cars can get out. Mind you - 'driveway' is what we call the circle drive at my house - living in the country means you can double or triple whatever you imagine a driveway is :-)
It's a good time to pull out one of the Christmas decoration boxes and start my 'put away'. It's way past time to sort and toss or redistribute or something.... I have years of treasures packed away that haven't seen the light of day in years - time to clean out as I repack for next year.
I tried a new recipe yesterday - and am not sure what to do with it. The trouble with vegan recipes is that they are so boring! I don't care for meat much - but somehow am missing seasoning. We never did use a lot of processed stuff - but salt? Yeah - it's missing. And the color of the soup was boring too - I might have to add some green beans just to make it look better. Anyway - today for the tweaking... I'm just hoping the texture will work - it looks gummy. [can you tell that I made it and couldn't eat it?] Really healthy I am sure - chickpeas, orzo, red lentils..... but how healthy is it if I can't eat it? And if I can't eat it - I sure can't sell (serve) it!
I also made a calzone using up some lunch meat from the freezer and that worked really well :-) - and used a random freezer item to boot!
Thought a little more about other goals....
*the quilting is a whole other occupation :-) I have quilts in all stages of completion! Last year I made a lot of tops while I shopped for a new machine to quilt them with.... right now I am working on a mystery top and prepping some other goodies at the same time. I am trying to decide right now whether to have my other machine serviced and then set them both up - one to piece, one to quilt - or to switch at some point soon. I am definitely not starting to SEW another project until this mystery is done. Or I should say NEW project! I do have a couple going at the same time because that is how I work best.
this year I must - finish up some of the tops (turn them into quilts)
get quilts finished for the rest of my kids
get moving on some specially designed gift quilts
finish some of the half done tops
By the time I finish this top in the next week or so - I will have a game plan for the above
*other crafting - I pulled out the knitting looms last night to make a hat. I've never taken the time to learn to use the thing though I've had it for years. Crocheting was faster... now crocheting very much causes pain - so I need another way to use up yarn! And learning - killing two birds with one stone :-) I will do a little bit each day and see how it goes
*financial - still not sure about the goals. I will do a little paperwork each day. Balancing bank statements, cleaning files, scans & emails - I have both business and paperwork. I should probably include my Children's Liturgy blog in this category - not that it is a big moneymaker - but it IS something I do that people pay for and I have not been keeping up with it very well. - so the category is more 'desk work' - than financial
AND I want to add another category that I don't know how to name yet. It has to do with USING UP or repurposing or NOT purchasing..... maybe FRUGAL? Like yesterday's USE UP of the lunchmeat that accidentally ended up in the freezer that no one would touch... but in the middle of a calzone it was a star!
I guess that is it for now... still trying to think of a good format for the blog. I did used to like to have a Work in Process day.... and I will work on my finished projects for the last year or so - the Quilt Stories.... but I will back date them.... not sure now - but thank you for listening :-)
FRUIT: I ate an orange for breakfast
TEA: I had a cup of raspberry ginger tea near bedtime [almost forgot! I think I will try to schedule it at that 3pm munchie moment - tea, anyone?]
FOOT EXERCISES: I did fascia exercises all throughout the day - specifically - calf raises on the stairs - and 2 for sitting - rolling a tennis ball under my foot and towel scrunches where you try to curl your foot and pick up a towel with your toes... those 3 stick with me somehow
AND...
CLEAN/DECLUTTER: yesterday's cleaning assignment was 'clean an extra room'... so I went to laundry room and swept and dusted. I looked around for a declutter in there and got paralyzed! So.... I went back into my bedroom and emptied a bag left over from my early December trip to London - shampoos, train tickets, stuff I snagged from the hotels... you know - STUFF. I found homes for all - AND packed the bag back into the big suitcase.. TA DA.
**********************************************
Doesn't sound like much - and actually I did a lot more - but that is what I promised - so that is what I report :-) I actually have a mindset right now to neaten up wherever I end up.... so that is helping - can I make THAT a habit? Who knows?
So - today is another snow day - and yesterday my work - the library - actually is closed now until Monday. So more thinking and doing. I got two walks outside yesterday - and today I promised to help shovel the driveway so the cars can get out. Mind you - 'driveway' is what we call the circle drive at my house - living in the country means you can double or triple whatever you imagine a driveway is :-)
It's a good time to pull out one of the Christmas decoration boxes and start my 'put away'. It's way past time to sort and toss or redistribute or something.... I have years of treasures packed away that haven't seen the light of day in years - time to clean out as I repack for next year.
I tried a new recipe yesterday - and am not sure what to do with it. The trouble with vegan recipes is that they are so boring! I don't care for meat much - but somehow am missing seasoning. We never did use a lot of processed stuff - but salt? Yeah - it's missing. And the color of the soup was boring too - I might have to add some green beans just to make it look better. Anyway - today for the tweaking... I'm just hoping the texture will work - it looks gummy. [can you tell that I made it and couldn't eat it?] Really healthy I am sure - chickpeas, orzo, red lentils..... but how healthy is it if I can't eat it? And if I can't eat it - I sure can't sell (serve) it!
I also made a calzone using up some lunch meat from the freezer and that worked really well :-) - and used a random freezer item to boot!
Thought a little more about other goals....
*the quilting is a whole other occupation :-) I have quilts in all stages of completion! Last year I made a lot of tops while I shopped for a new machine to quilt them with.... right now I am working on a mystery top and prepping some other goodies at the same time. I am trying to decide right now whether to have my other machine serviced and then set them both up - one to piece, one to quilt - or to switch at some point soon. I am definitely not starting to SEW another project until this mystery is done. Or I should say NEW project! I do have a couple going at the same time because that is how I work best.
this year I must - finish up some of the tops (turn them into quilts)
get quilts finished for the rest of my kids
get moving on some specially designed gift quilts
finish some of the half done tops
By the time I finish this top in the next week or so - I will have a game plan for the above
*other crafting - I pulled out the knitting looms last night to make a hat. I've never taken the time to learn to use the thing though I've had it for years. Crocheting was faster... now crocheting very much causes pain - so I need another way to use up yarn! And learning - killing two birds with one stone :-) I will do a little bit each day and see how it goes
*financial - still not sure about the goals. I will do a little paperwork each day. Balancing bank statements, cleaning files, scans & emails - I have both business and paperwork. I should probably include my Children's Liturgy blog in this category - not that it is a big moneymaker - but it IS something I do that people pay for and I have not been keeping up with it very well. - so the category is more 'desk work' - than financial
AND I want to add another category that I don't know how to name yet. It has to do with USING UP or repurposing or NOT purchasing..... maybe FRUGAL? Like yesterday's USE UP of the lunchmeat that accidentally ended up in the freezer that no one would touch... but in the middle of a calzone it was a star!
I guess that is it for now... still trying to think of a good format for the blog. I did used to like to have a Work in Process day.... and I will work on my finished projects for the last year or so - the Quilt Stories.... but I will back date them.... not sure now - but thank you for listening :-)
Thursday, January 4, 2018
Ramblings Jan 4, 2018
Good morning!
Writing in the morning again - trying to set up my day... all those ramblings yesterday!
Something terrible happened mid day. The best friend of my co-worker died. I mean - unexpectedly - died. My age. It reminds me more than ever that I need to do the things I want to do - now.
Lose weight, stay healthy, declutter, create, connect.... now. I might not have tomorrow.
With yesterday's lack of focus- and happenings.... and another blessed day ahead of going nowhere.... I think I will start with the Power of One. I've done it before ( Just One Thing ) - but recently found an article at one of my favorite nutrition sites - UCDavis Integrated Medicine - that outlines what I am talking about.
Do ONE thing each day to move you toward the life you want. Create the habits.
So - in that vein -
Food:
here are two things for me that will be non-negotiable for this month - Eat 1 piece of fruit daily and Drink 1 cup of tea daily.
I am moving more and more towards plant-based eating but have definitely celebrated the holidays!! Time to move back toward my normal.
Fruit? Because the only time I crave - or even want - fruit is when I am eating healthily. I never ever choose fruit when I am eating too much processed stuff. And the same with tea. I am a coffee person - but I enjoy tea - WHEN I am eating healthily.
So - I continue on my veggie journey - but add fruit and tea somewhere in the day.
Movement:
I have renewed an old foot injury so I will be careful here... in 2012 I started a daily mile habit which has stuck with me.. in 2015 I got a fitbit and am pretty good about keeping track of steps. I was up to 11K daily before the holidays. And also last year I managed 2 attempts at a daily 20-min exercise session using dvds. I set up my total gym yesterday so I can work on fully body work without straining my foot.
My 1 thing here is work on foot/heel stretches. I have several things I need to work on but the health of my foot is first. I will continue working on the daily walks and strength training - but my non-negotiable for January is stretches & strengthening my foot.
Cleaning / Decluttering:
So big I get paralyzed!
But there is this chart that helps me a TON! I have used it many times in the past and will pull it out again to get moving :-) 31 Day House Cleaning Routine This is the best easiest chart I can find.
My 1 thing in this arena is to check each day - work in the assigned room for cleaning purposes and declutter ONE area in the room.
Okay - that is all I have for now. My hope is that these specific ONE things will move me in a direction to create more..
Other areas I mentioned yesterday:
Financial
Learning
Reading
Crafting - Quilt
Crafting - Other
I will address them later... I'm not sure yet whether I want to tackle something daily or set a weekly goal for them....
Anyway - for me, for now:
Fruit
Tea
Walk
Clean/Declutter
I will report back - what are you doing to change your life today?
Writing in the morning again - trying to set up my day... all those ramblings yesterday!
Something terrible happened mid day. The best friend of my co-worker died. I mean - unexpectedly - died. My age. It reminds me more than ever that I need to do the things I want to do - now.
Lose weight, stay healthy, declutter, create, connect.... now. I might not have tomorrow.
With yesterday's lack of focus- and happenings.... and another blessed day ahead of going nowhere.... I think I will start with the Power of One. I've done it before ( Just One Thing ) - but recently found an article at one of my favorite nutrition sites - UCDavis Integrated Medicine - that outlines what I am talking about.
Do ONE thing each day to move you toward the life you want. Create the habits.
So - in that vein -
Food:
here are two things for me that will be non-negotiable for this month - Eat 1 piece of fruit daily and Drink 1 cup of tea daily.
I am moving more and more towards plant-based eating but have definitely celebrated the holidays!! Time to move back toward my normal.
Fruit? Because the only time I crave - or even want - fruit is when I am eating healthily. I never ever choose fruit when I am eating too much processed stuff. And the same with tea. I am a coffee person - but I enjoy tea - WHEN I am eating healthily.
So - I continue on my veggie journey - but add fruit and tea somewhere in the day.
Movement:
I have renewed an old foot injury so I will be careful here... in 2012 I started a daily mile habit which has stuck with me.. in 2015 I got a fitbit and am pretty good about keeping track of steps. I was up to 11K daily before the holidays. And also last year I managed 2 attempts at a daily 20-min exercise session using dvds. I set up my total gym yesterday so I can work on fully body work without straining my foot.
My 1 thing here is work on foot/heel stretches. I have several things I need to work on but the health of my foot is first. I will continue working on the daily walks and strength training - but my non-negotiable for January is stretches & strengthening my foot.
Cleaning / Decluttering:
So big I get paralyzed!
But there is this chart that helps me a TON! I have used it many times in the past and will pull it out again to get moving :-) 31 Day House Cleaning Routine This is the best easiest chart I can find.
My 1 thing in this arena is to check each day - work in the assigned room for cleaning purposes and declutter ONE area in the room.
Okay - that is all I have for now. My hope is that these specific ONE things will move me in a direction to create more..
Other areas I mentioned yesterday:
Financial
Learning
Reading
Crafting - Quilt
Crafting - Other
I will address them later... I'm not sure yet whether I want to tackle something daily or set a weekly goal for them....
Anyway - for me, for now:
Fruit
Tea
Walk
Clean/Declutter
I will report back - what are you doing to change your life today?
Wednesday, January 3, 2018
January 3, 2018 Ramblings
It's early morning now - the time I used to always write.... as I anticipated my day.
No work today and I plan to stay home working a bit on decluttering, paperwork and foot resting! I usually go to an exercise and town today - but am skipping it all and enjoying a bit of a 'home' work day.
Unless I get a chance to speak with my boss today. We work at different locations and I never see her - I planned to pop in on her tomorrow but they are calling for SNOW! In which case we will be closed altogether and my plans to speak with her put off another week - which I do not want.
It's a weird sensation, this new year.... usually I start the year with all kind of plans and plotting to improve my life... but not this one. I coasted through the holiday season - even enjoying parts of it.... there are many changes I want to make - and I do need to chronicle them or I will forget :-)
But I am more and more focused on the daily changes in my life rather than the big achievements. Maybe the concept of living today the way I wish I wanted to live?
I have a couple of courses I want to take - for fun (a free online literature course - and a self-directed art history course - my kids left the textbooks in my house :-) ....learning is always big for me...
I want exercise to be more a part of my life. Here in the country there aren't gyms :-) so I need to regularly visit my basement... I did locate some local classes about 15 min away though that I plan to go to now and again.
Vegetables! Need to be more a part of my life - I am moving more and more towards a more plant-based life... though I imagine I will be tweaking my diet forever!
And that reminds me of weight! Those pounds are creeping back again... I need daily changes but I may have to take the bull by the horns and specifically target about 20 pounds this year
Decluttering is a big deal - getting rid of stuff, NOT bringing more stuff in AND working on better neatening/cleaning habits. I don't have a decorator gene so I need to work on that too because I DO enjoy a pretty environment. This is all very confusing to me - but I will get there.
Financial work will be big this year - staying on top of debt and being a good steward of the money we have is a priority for me
Crafting - I want to get back to more of it! Last year I injured myself crocheting (who does that?) and decided I wanted to try more types of crafts. One of the reasons I took my library job was the opportunity to work with children and do more kinds of crafts. That has absolutely not turned out to be the case - actually I am not to work with the children at all (!) So I want to do something else.... I am looking at just doing more things on my own or with the grands... or even working with the local 4H kids. Still mulling over this one!
So - more different things - like I used to do - this time of year I am drawn to bird feeding and related crafts :-)
Quilting.... oh my goodness did I crank out the tops last year! I wanted a new machine for actual quilting - and I got it for my birthday! So now I am sitting on the supplies for about 15 quilts (+ or - a few)... and need to get working on those - especially since I am still piecing quilts :-)
Specifically though I have a few gift quilts for my kids that I want to finish
And I'm sure there is more - but I'm getting overloaded here - I will see if I can streamline this a little. Getting better focused and creating a plan might be a good way to spend this day!
How about you? Any big resolutions this year?
No work today and I plan to stay home working a bit on decluttering, paperwork and foot resting! I usually go to an exercise and town today - but am skipping it all and enjoying a bit of a 'home' work day.
Unless I get a chance to speak with my boss today. We work at different locations and I never see her - I planned to pop in on her tomorrow but they are calling for SNOW! In which case we will be closed altogether and my plans to speak with her put off another week - which I do not want.
It's a weird sensation, this new year.... usually I start the year with all kind of plans and plotting to improve my life... but not this one. I coasted through the holiday season - even enjoying parts of it.... there are many changes I want to make - and I do need to chronicle them or I will forget :-)
But I am more and more focused on the daily changes in my life rather than the big achievements. Maybe the concept of living today the way I wish I wanted to live?
I have a couple of courses I want to take - for fun (a free online literature course - and a self-directed art history course - my kids left the textbooks in my house :-) ....learning is always big for me...
I want exercise to be more a part of my life. Here in the country there aren't gyms :-) so I need to regularly visit my basement... I did locate some local classes about 15 min away though that I plan to go to now and again.
Vegetables! Need to be more a part of my life - I am moving more and more towards a more plant-based life... though I imagine I will be tweaking my diet forever!
And that reminds me of weight! Those pounds are creeping back again... I need daily changes but I may have to take the bull by the horns and specifically target about 20 pounds this year
Decluttering is a big deal - getting rid of stuff, NOT bringing more stuff in AND working on better neatening/cleaning habits. I don't have a decorator gene so I need to work on that too because I DO enjoy a pretty environment. This is all very confusing to me - but I will get there.
Financial work will be big this year - staying on top of debt and being a good steward of the money we have is a priority for me
Crafting - I want to get back to more of it! Last year I injured myself crocheting (who does that?) and decided I wanted to try more types of crafts. One of the reasons I took my library job was the opportunity to work with children and do more kinds of crafts. That has absolutely not turned out to be the case - actually I am not to work with the children at all (!) So I want to do something else.... I am looking at just doing more things on my own or with the grands... or even working with the local 4H kids. Still mulling over this one!
So - more different things - like I used to do - this time of year I am drawn to bird feeding and related crafts :-)
Quilting.... oh my goodness did I crank out the tops last year! I wanted a new machine for actual quilting - and I got it for my birthday! So now I am sitting on the supplies for about 15 quilts (+ or - a few)... and need to get working on those - especially since I am still piecing quilts :-)
Specifically though I have a few gift quilts for my kids that I want to finish
And I'm sure there is more - but I'm getting overloaded here - I will see if I can streamline this a little. Getting better focused and creating a plan might be a good way to spend this day!
How about you? Any big resolutions this year?
Tuesday, January 2, 2018
1-2-18
A basic day..... back to work - which is always hard after the holiday - but I did love catching up and chatting with my co-workers!
finished crocheting a hat for a friend
still working on my mystery quilt
COLD, COLD!!
walking is easier - the foot/ankle issues are a little better each day. I have full range of motion but still swelling and pain so when I got home this afternoon I spent most of it on the couch with the leg up.
Argghhh... 25 years ago I had surgeries on both feet - fascia release and tarsal tunnel... I dread the thought that I messed something up and need to get that route again. On the flip side - my experience makes me confident that this is a soft tissue injury that will heal in time if I pay attention.
But I do miss my outside walks! I tried this morning and got partway....
so... no real news from me... leftover hoppin' john and cornbread for dinner and settling in with a little hand sewing and Season 2 of Doctor Who
Life's blessings - the little things,,
finished crocheting a hat for a friend
still working on my mystery quilt
COLD, COLD!!
walking is easier - the foot/ankle issues are a little better each day. I have full range of motion but still swelling and pain so when I got home this afternoon I spent most of it on the couch with the leg up.
Argghhh... 25 years ago I had surgeries on both feet - fascia release and tarsal tunnel... I dread the thought that I messed something up and need to get that route again. On the flip side - my experience makes me confident that this is a soft tissue injury that will heal in time if I pay attention.
But I do miss my outside walks! I tried this morning and got partway....
so... no real news from me... leftover hoppin' john and cornbread for dinner and settling in with a little hand sewing and Season 2 of Doctor Who
Life's blessings - the little things,,
Monday, January 1, 2018
January 1, 2018
So - trying to figure out writing again....
I've used this blog for a journal - for essays - for posting my crafty & cooking stuff....
Not sure where I want to go with it - or if I am writing for me - or if I have readers..
I still want to chronicle my craft work - especially my quilts so I will take some time soon and update my craft stuff. I had some major computer glitches this year and it made photos problematic - so that was a bit of a slowdown in this media....
I have taken a sunrise photo each day last year - and am continuing that process - it's been a good meditation for me in the mornings... maybe I should put them here to say good morning ....
Today has been a lazy day. I've worked hard the last few days as different family members had requests and ideas and, of course, it is my superpower to coordinate all things and make them happen. And I'm so tired.... - so.... naps! I injured my foot a week ago and have been hobbling around - naps have been good for it
Two craft projects in the works right now - a crocheted hat for a friend who asked for a hat... and piecing a mystery quilt from Bonnie Hunter's website: http://quiltville.blogspot.com/p/on-ringo-lake-mystery.html
Spicy black-eyed peas with ham in the crockpot, brown rice in the steamer and cornbread waiting for me to finish up here.
Tomorrow I will be back at work with a big decision to make there... tonight I will keep the world at bay so I will be energetic and ready to go in the morning!
Have a good evening - I hope the new year brings all good things to you!
ps.. if I DO have readers - let me know - both that you read and if you have requests :-)
Kay
I've used this blog for a journal - for essays - for posting my crafty & cooking stuff....
Not sure where I want to go with it - or if I am writing for me - or if I have readers..
I still want to chronicle my craft work - especially my quilts so I will take some time soon and update my craft stuff. I had some major computer glitches this year and it made photos problematic - so that was a bit of a slowdown in this media....
I have taken a sunrise photo each day last year - and am continuing that process - it's been a good meditation for me in the mornings... maybe I should put them here to say good morning ....
Today has been a lazy day. I've worked hard the last few days as different family members had requests and ideas and, of course, it is my superpower to coordinate all things and make them happen. And I'm so tired.... - so.... naps! I injured my foot a week ago and have been hobbling around - naps have been good for it
Two craft projects in the works right now - a crocheted hat for a friend who asked for a hat... and piecing a mystery quilt from Bonnie Hunter's website: http://quiltville.blogspot.com/p/on-ringo-lake-mystery.html
Spicy black-eyed peas with ham in the crockpot, brown rice in the steamer and cornbread waiting for me to finish up here.
Tomorrow I will be back at work with a big decision to make there... tonight I will keep the world at bay so I will be energetic and ready to go in the morning!
Have a good evening - I hope the new year brings all good things to you!
ps.. if I DO have readers - let me know - both that you read and if you have requests :-)
Kay
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