October 2015 Flickr Upload

It is that time again!  Here is the feed, and here are my favorites!

 Getting to see 014 play in pep band - exciting!

 Ditto!  It is so weird to get a glimpse of the person he is when he' in his world.....

 Replacing the front and back doors, adding a storm door to the back - yea!!!  Finally getting some much needed maintenance done to the house.  I didn't include it, but I also repainted the garage door & frame.  Looks so much better!

 Birthday breakfast pop tart.  What could be better?!?!

 Sometimes they like each other...

 It's good to see him play outside too....

 Fall Band Concert...

 Fall Band Concert....

 Family get together with very dear friends....

All the leaves are brown...

... and boy is the sky grey today.  I so can't wait for spring.  So. Can't. Wait.  Here's my 11 day update...

Old Business:

• Nurture Drawer done now too!
• Website still needs work
• Trash still needs burnt
• Mudroom still waiting
• Vent still needs duct
• Table is done! Yea!
• H&S website still waiting
• Snowblower oil change done, lawnmower still waiting
• Mousetrap has not caught anything!
• 401(k) is moved into an IRA
• Scrap project list created
• Closet door still needs done
• Banana bread done, bake sale done
• Celebration cards still waiting
• Band concert was awesome!

New Business:

• Need to redo caulk for shower
•  Bathroom cabinet needs refinishing
• Need new back wiper for car
• Front door threshold needs more work
• Need to email the Planning Commission regarding driveway situation
• Hosting Christmas on Saturday!
• Finish putting up trees
• Last house viewing was cancelled, but have 1 on Sunday and 1 on Thursday - YIKES!
• Second house that I was looking at that was almost better than first has an accepted offer - bummed!
• Making soap with Deb on Thursday
• Have massage appt with Tina on Monday
• Need to create scrap projects, or at least get pics picked out
• New intake forms for H&S and SOAP charts

Hazy shade of winter

I know, it is still 3 weeks away, but tell that to the outside.  It can't make up it's mind what it wants to be right now.  I would pick sunny...  Course it has been almost 3 weeks since I posted last!

Old Business:

• Stewards drawer done for the church files - yea!
• Still need to work on website, not done, but closer
• Made pumpkin pie soap - yea!
• Secret sister project is done!
• Still need to burn trash
• Still need to work on mudroom
• Vent is installed, but we do need to use a duct between them to gain some efficiency
• Still need to work on table
• 014's door is done!
• Car might still need shop
• Bank accounts set up!
• Still great trading sessions, raindrop coming soon!
• H&S website needs to be done
• Cards OK now
• Kitchen transition is done!
• Cable box is done!
• Lawnmowers still need washed, but might be too cold now.  Maybe in springtime
• Shed scrubbed!
• House scrubbed!
• Dad is coming over Wednesday to work with the boys to change oil in lawn mower and snow blower
• Driveway stakes are out this year!
• Mousetraps set! 
• Thanksgiving was wonderful!
• Christmas for the boys is done!

New Business:

• Get 401(k) into a Roth or some retirement vehicle
• Create a scrap project list and get going!
• Fix my closet doors.  Similar to 014's.  1 needs a handle, they both need new hinges and a proper painting.
• Make banana bread for church bake sale.  2 loaves done, 3 more to go.
• Work on "celebration cards" for H&S
• Looking forward to band concert tonight!

When you wish upon a star...

Who remembers hearing that every Sunday night?  I grew up to it...  It is a bit how I'm feeling this AM.  Here's the rundown for the past 9 days...

Old Business:

• (Still) no work on Church files
• 2 more pages created for church, and a couple more edited/improved
• Several massages under the belt and more to come
• No more gardening for the year I think
• Still need to make more soap
• Fixed the Secret Sister gift.  I like it much better in the graphite and the paint gives it some cool texture that I was not counting on
• Trash still needs burnt (too windy!)
• Mudroom still waiting
• Vent still waiting
• Table still waiting
• Ben's door still waiting
• Car still needs to go to shop.  Just need to find out what the idiot light is trying to tell me
• LLC is done!  Now on to bank accounts
• Car is washed
• Second trade session was wonderful!

New Business:

• H&S facebook page up and going, webssite soon 
• New cards made, but of course forgot information so will be making new ones!
• Kitchen transition should be done today.  All the work is done, just waiting on liquid nails to dry and set
• Installing cable box.  Waiting for plaster to dry so I can do another coat, then sand and paint
• Wash lawnmowers (was too windy yesterday)
• Shed needs scrubbed (too windy yesterday)
• House needs scrubbed, with gutters (again, too windy yesterday!)
• Change oil in lawn tractor

Hump Day....

I think it has only been about 1 1/2 weeks this time, so small improvements?  20 mile march?  Not sure how to view life sometimes...

Old Business:

• No work on church files
• 2 pages created for church website
• No massages last week, had one scheduled but she cancelled
• Got more lamb's ears transplanted.  I now have them coming out my ears - HA!
• Made 2 batches of soap
• Have yet another viewing on the house.  This makes 3.  But lost the house I really, really wanted.  It got sold.  I know that means there is something even better out there, but that possibility is hard to believe.  There is just slim pickings out there right now.
• Front door trim is done.  Color for the doors themselves done.  Need to do that this week while it is still warm, or wait until next spring, if I am still here.
• Progress made on secret sister Christmas gift.  But didn't like how the Sharpie made it look. so I painted over it until it was very faint. Will trace back over with graphite.
• Trash needs to be burned again.  I pulled out all of my English Ivy and it is now a big pile out there.  I got the plastic pulled up, yup that is what they used under the mulch, and transplanted one of my hostas there and made it 3.
• Mudroom still waiting
• Vent still waiting
• Table still waiting
• Ben's door still needs fixed
• Fingerprints done, and certificate in hand!
• Closet door in living room fixed!
• Knob and deadbolt on back door replaced!
• Lotion made
• Fabric softener made
• Still need to take car to shop
• My massage was wonderful!
• Did some digital artwork for a new kit 
• November cards made
• Met with tax guy to get LLC set up - next step bank accounts

New Business:

• Did one massage yesterday for charge!  YEA! I have another scheduled for later this week, and another next week!
• Need to get Heart & Soul website and Facebook page going 
• Need to fix the kitchen transition
• Need to install the cable box for the TV cable.  Right now it is just running across the floor.
• Giving and getting a massage tomorrow from another classmate - I love the trading concept!
• 012 has an ortho appointment
• Need to start looking at Christmas shopping
• Wash both lawnmowers so they are clean before storing
• Change oil in lawn tractor
• Boys have cleaned the inside of the car, now the outside needs washed.  Was waiting until they were done harvesting

This came in my email awhile ago (written by Harvey Mackey), and I think it so fits with a lot of what I try to do with my life...

Do you live by the 12 values Robert Louis Stevenson listed in 'Treasure Island'?

One of the most interesting traits of any person is the value system by which he or she lives. I wonder how many of us ever take the time to sit down and really think through the moral precepts that consciously or unconsciously guide our lives.

I stumbled across this personal creed of “Daily Dozen Values" by writer Robert Louis Stevenson (“Treasure Island") many years ago, and I've always wanted to write about it because it is as true today as it was in 1875 or so when he wrote it.

1. Make up your mind to be happy. Learn to find pleasure in simple things.
2. Make the best of your circumstances. No one has everything, and everyone has something of sorrow intermingled with the gladness of life. The trick is to make the laughter outweigh the tears.
3. Don't take yourself too seriously. Don't think that somehow you should be protected from misfortunes that befall others.
4. You can't please everybody. Don't let criticism worry you.
5. Don't let your neighbor set your standards. Be yourself.
6. Do the things you enjoy doing, but stay out of debt.
7. Don't borrow trouble. Imaginary things are harder to bear than the actual ones.
8. Since hate poisons the soul, do not cherish enmities and grudges. Avoid people who make you unhappy.
9. Have many interests. If you can't travel, read about new places.
10. Don't hold postmortems. Don't spend your life brooding over sorrows and mistakes. Don't be one who never gets over things.
11. Do what you can for those less fortunate than yourself.
12. Keep busy at something. A very busy person never has time to be unhappy.

 

Over the Hills and Far Away...

It does always seem like the destination is so far away.  And I know it is really supposed to be more about the journey anyway.  But... but...  So here is my (2 week) recap... yea, I'm a bit off this month!

Old Business:

• No movement on church files
• No pages updated on website
• Not only scheduled my test for last Friday, I passed it!  Shew, that was a big one!
• Got 2009 done for Financials.  That's it until I start going through old boxes in the basement
• September pictures done, and uploaded to Flickr
• Had 3 massage appointments last week, 3 this week - that feels good!
• Got mowing done.  Might be the last time
• Still need to transplant flowers - getting down to being too cold soon!
• Still need to make more soap
• Trim from floor project in place - DONE!
• Have another person looking at house today
• We are done moving everything around.  Purging, cleaning, touch ups, etc all DONE!
• Doors are installed.  Wow, that was painful, literally.  I may have chicken-boned a bone in my right hand.  It's getting better.  Back door needs some trim work, but will hold off until I repaint.  Front door needs 1 more coat on the trim, but will wait until after viewers are gone.  Then I need to paint the doors themselves.
• Still working on secret sister project
• Parts ordered and installed for lawnmower
• Trash burned
• Mudroom still needs done
• Vent still needs installed
• Realtor did come & take new pictures

New Business

• Fingerprinting - Monday
• Living room closet door needs a door sweep installed to help with drafts.  At the top of the door!
• Refinish dining room table
• Start reconstruction on mudroom walls (there are parts missing from when they installed the tankless water heater)
• Put new knob on back door
• Paint doors
• Make lotion
• Make fabric softener
• Get car to shop
• I'm getting a massage on Tuesday (I SO CANNOT WAIT!!!!)

Flickr September 2015 Upload

As always, the full stream is here... And here are my faves!  It was a fun month!

 Several cross country meets....  He had a great season, he was the 5th man on the team, so his points counted...

 Went up north for Labor Day with friends... It was a great time and we got hobo dinners again!

 And going to Lake Michigan!  Thanks T for taking the picture of us!

Starting the Living Room refinishing project... It is mostly done.  Now just some trim work.  You don't often get to see pictures of me!

 Practicing for the Chicagoland Flyover.  That's me (again!) in the back...

 Nappanee Applefest Parade Flyover...  It was rainy and cloudy but still a good run!

 Chicagoland Flyover - So very cool!

 Homecoming weekend - Really, really neat to see him interact with friends!  And play his horn.

 Another meet... passing the time with one of the team members.  Great bunch of boys, and a great coach too!

eLearning Pasta Bar lunch.  Yup, its what we do!

Take a Chance on Me

Yup, I think it is fall.  We've had our first fog delay this AM!

Old Business:

• Still (not) working on church files
• Got another page done on the website
• I got my ATT (authorize to test) for my certification.  However, not doing so good on the practice tests now.  Lots of material we didn't cover so, it's also knuckle-down time. So no progression on Heart and Soul
• Still (not) working on financials
• August pictures are done.  And on Flickr
• No massage appointments last week or this week so far
• Need to mow
• Need to move/transplant more flowers
• Still need to make more soap
• Living room carpet and floor is done!  And beautiful!
• House is back on the market, and 1 person has looked at it
• Took the sign back, got more poly
• Moved the boys into their own bedrooms upstairs, moved my bedroom to the downstairs.  Couldn't have done it without the boys.  We are in the final processes of putting stuff back together.  Patching holes, touch-up paint, pictures rehung, purging.  Many, many things thrown away and taken to goodwill
• New doors for the front and back have been purchased, should be going in this weekend, if the weather holds
• Did not go to the Warbirds fly-in.  Weather did not permit.  So I worked on the floor.  Got to see the homecoming event.  Loved it!

New Business:

•  Go through my old closet, pack away unnecessary stuff
• Art project for my secret sister at church.  Making a canvas of their last name, and then putting in kids/grandkids using those letters.  Like a crossword
• Need to order parts for the lawnmower
• Need to burn trash
• Get doors installed
• Paint mudroom & repair wall/ceiling
• Install vent
• Have realtor come take new pictures
• Get test scheduled, taken and passed

August 2015 Flickr Upload

As usual, you can see the entire upload here....
and here are a few of my favorites....

 Car show at Gilmore Farms, it is always so much fun.  I loved this little Isetta.  It's the original Smart Car!

 We put the Willys in the MVPA display along with a few of our friend's heavier equipment.  It looks so tiny!

 Having fun over at grampa's.  Nothing like some time in the pool to cool off after a hard day's work trying to demolish the shed!

 Driving the big truck around....

Future Circus Strong Man Star!

 Flying with this man never gets old!  Hooligans doing a flyover for the race in Norwalk, OH.

 So proud of him being in Pep Band... First football game of the season.

 Growing more yummy things in our garden....

And so proud of him being in Cross Country.  This was after the first meet in Manchester.

Wish you were here now...

I think we are back to summer this week, I'm so confused, must be Indiana.  But I know fall is right around the corner, they have been busy getting the crops in.  Actually, it is probably past the fall equinox already, so yea Fall!

Old business:

• Still (not) working on church files
• Website is not done
• We still have a ton of carrots, they are so good!
• State Certification - closer!  Started doing the practice tests, so far I have passed them all.  So I think I just need to get it scheduled
• Financials are not done yet
• Waiting on Heart and Soul work until certification is passed
• Part of the last batch of soap was Honey and Oat, my favorite, but some of it got too hot I think.  Not sure if it is salvageable.  I don't think I'll be able to sell much of it, but I can (hopefully) still use it.  Honey just really turns up the heat and being in the fridge wasn't enough!
• Still working on August pictures - about 1/2 done.  There were lots of flying pictures, plus cross country meets and football games
• Massage appointments have been light this week again, but that is OK.  I know they are out there and it gives me time to concentrate on other stuff too
• Ortho appointment went well, will probably get rubber bands in November
• I ended up cheating on the snacks and buying, but they loved them all 
• 014 liked his haircut but 011 is not sure
• Got both boys' glasses fixed last night
• Did not mow!

New Business:

• More soap!
•  Have started taking up the living room carpet.  There is beautiful hardwood underneath that just needs sanded and re-polyed.  I am using a poly that has a light stain to it, but it is not enough to change the color, just helps some of the lighter spots to blend in.  So last night I went and bought a bunch of felt pads to put under everything.
• Met with a new realtor, I think this is going to work out much better
• Need to take For Sale sign back to hardware store!
• Working at church today
• Have started the process of thinning out some of my perennials.  It is a great, economical way of getting new plants.  Plus the repetition of the plants is good design
• I should mow soon
• Due to selling the house, after I get the living room back together, I will need to start a general purging/storing of the house a bit and trying to get it a little less cluttered.  I don't ever think that it is, but it probably is.
• The next project will be to work on the mudroom.  It needs some drywall or some type of boarding added to part of the ceiling & 1 wall and then PAINTED.  I'm going to use up some of the paint I have in the garage.
• I also want to put a vent in the wall between the downstairs bedroom and the living room to allow for better heat exchange
• I want to replace both the front doors and back door
• This weekend is homecoming weekend for 014.  We also have the Tennessee Warbirds  Fly-in this weekend.  I will have to leave before the game.  I feel a bit guilty about this, but he keeps insisting that he DOES NOT CARE.  So I am trying to trust him.

Card Share over on BenzillaScrapping

Be sure to go check out the super-cute anniversary card!

Back in black...

Wow, can you believe it is like fall out there?  I was going through my clothes and noticed that the predominant color is, you guessed it, black.  And then blue.  So apparently I like walking around looking like a giant bruise.  Need to find some color to put in the old wardrobe at some point....

Old business:

• Still need to get those church files labeled and done
• Keep working on church website.  Many pages are done, but I have more ideas than time of day.  You can check it out here - It has been fun playing webmaster, for sure!
• Carrots are super yummy!  014 even said he was glad we had a garden and could eat food we grow.  He's become quite the food activist and has been trying to find ways of reducing his footprint on the agricultural (big farm) world.  We struggle a lot with how the food industry has changed over the past 30 years.
• Still working on my State Certification.  However, I think I'm going to "cheat" and start trying the practice tests after I get this module over the major muscle groups done.  Which I should have done today or tomorrow.
• Keep working on church financials
• Heart and Soul website and business materials need more work
• Couple did NOT come look at the house.  #3 time they cancelled.  Work issues I guess.
• I did make 2 batches of soap on Sunday.  That was kinda cool to do a big batch, but I needed a lot of help with the math as I have all ounces in the recipe, but my scale will register anything over 15.99 ounces as pounds.  Luckily 014 was there to save the day.  Still need to do more.

New business:

• Have a ton of photos from August to process.  Starting that today
• Have a couple of massage appointments this week - yea!  I don't mind it being light, gives me more time to study.  I have been very blessed with a steady flow of people.  And they have been very wonderful and kind as well.  It has been the best!
• 011 has an ortho appointment today
• I'm making snacks for the cross-country meet on Thursday.  Was planning on making my "famous" energy bites
• Boys have a haircut appointment tonight, then to Kokomo so they can visit with their dad
• Need to get 011 in to the eye doctor to fix his glasses, they got knocked off his face and now don't fit quite right.  They are only open late on Tuesdays.  I guess I should put that in my schedule right now for next week so I don't forget.
• Nappanee AppleFest is this weekend, we will be flying in it again!  So much fun!
• Probably (finally!) need to mow the yard this week.  It is starting to grow again
• I took the house off the market with the realtor, but want to give it a shot on my own.  Need to get it listed and see if I can have better luck

Card Share on BenzillaScrapping

Be sure to go check out the super-cute anniversary card here!

July 2015 Flickr Upload

Hidy-Ho!  I have to say, it's kinda nice being able to stay on top of things, even when it's really not a terribly important thing... Here are my favorites from July, it was a busy month between finishing up school, taking a vacation, getting boys to camp, boys going to their dad's, and a wedding all thrown in there... :)

You can see the full upload here...

 014 Being goofy, which is rare.  Rarer still, is him letting me capture it....

 This one, on the other hand, is most often goofy.  He's checking out the animal displays at camp.

 Enjoying National Ice Cream Day at Kelly's, the local Ice Cream-aria.  I forgot to take pictures WITH said delight.  This was also right after they got their new specs.  They both love them so far.  Hope that continues; they are known for their love/hate relationship with their choice in eyewear.

 A group shot of the family from the wedding weekend.

 We took a stroll along Clearwater Beach on the one afternoon it was not raining.  I know it rains every day in Florida, however, it not only rained every day, but nearly all day as well.  There were several flood alerts out.  It downpoured soon after we got back.  I think we got more pictures together in that week than we have in our whole relationship!  It was wonderful!

 When we got back home to MI, it was beautiful weather.  We couldn't resist getting out on the bike.  It was my first time.  We went to the Blarney Stone, which is an old watering hole haunt of Gadget, and then right up the street was this little gem, the Glass Creek Winery.  It was pretty  nice.  The lady was very friendly.  They live on the property and grow their own grapes.  I am always amazed that MI has the right weather to make such yummy grapes and wine, but it does!

Wheel in the sky keep on turnin'....

...I don't know where I will be tomorrow.

Well, that's probably not true.  I do know.  Here, like always!  It has been a long time since I've given any kind of life update here... so I'll see if I can't catch you up.

The last time we heard from our heroes was back in May and it was still cold! 

• I was able to get 014's birthday pictures done
• I was able to get the Hooligan's pictures done
• I have been around the flowerbeds for 1 complete circuit.  The Zakinator Weedeliminator was also able to stay on top of the garden plots and the beds around the gardens until he left for his dad's for the summer.  I haven't been able to splurge on mulch this year due to limited finances.  And some of the beds need another good covering yet.  I was able to do 1 truckload to finish off around the garden plots.
• Still working on organizing the church files.  I got all done and then found more, so I need to start a new round of labeling.  Larry has gone through some of his stuff and removed bids and other things that are 20+ years and we don't need to keep them anymore.
• I graduated
• I finished the Pfrimmer Level 1 and Level 2 classes
• We have done so much flying with the group it is crazy!  But it is too much fun to complain!
• We went down to FL with the family to see our niece get married.  It rained most of the time we were there!  It was crazy.  But fun.
• Got the church website moved over to GoDaddy, and with O365 email 
• School is back in session (sheesh that didn't take long!)
• 011 joined cross country this fall - so excited for him, he does great.  He's the #5 team scorer.  not bad for his rookie year
• 014 joined jazz band again this year, and plays in the pep band.  So we got to see him play at the home game a week ago.  That was so cool!
• We had more cucumbers than I knew what to do with
• No tomatoes :(
• We enjoyed several meals with our green beans and broccoli
• We harvested a ton of carrots

Looking forward...

•  Need to keep studying so I can take and pass the State Board Certification
• Need to get the new files labeled at church
• Need to get the past years' financials updated at church (giving, where it is earmarked for, etc.)
• Need to get the church website redesigned and up and running on the new site
• Once I pass the test, need to get the website up and going for my massage business
• Have people coming for visit #2 on the house Wednesday evening.  Lots of prayers/happy thoughts that they want to buy it and then I can buy the house that will allow me to practice from home.  And get into a community that is safe for bike riding and running.
• Need to get more soap made - new varieties and old alike

Mini Album Share on BenzillaScrapping

You can view the album here ...

Mini Album Share on BenzillaScrapping

You can see the T-34 Flight album here....

June 2015 Flickr Upload

As usual, you can catch the complete photostream here, and my faves are here.

 Walking over Lake Shore Drive to get to the beach.  We went up to visit S for her birthday.

 Lincoln Park Zoo.  Small, but cute!

 Appetizers at the Sushi place, whilst waiting for our table at the Argentinian place.  All of it was so yummy!

 Pasta Bar celebration...

 School....

 The fam...  Big shout out to Anna for taking this for me!

 Getting my diploma....

 Headed off to camp....

 Ice cream celebration for a week without my brother....

My classmates that went on to Pfrimmer I....

 Food Art at Not Your Average Joes... by yours truly....  I had some help from 011.

 Family Vacation... 36 holes of Putt Putt...

And learning to shoot pool.  That was a very fun night!

Layout Share on BenzillaScrapping - Truly Believe

You can click here to go see it!

May 2015 Flickr Upload

Wow, I think I'm starting to stay caught up a bit.  I know, I still have June, but that will be quick in coming...Did a bunch of organizing out on the Flickr site yesterday, and got these uploaded too.  Here are my faves and you can see the entire upload here....

 We went to the drive-in, and they met all their friends and went running around.  This was the first time that had really happened - anywhere we've gone.  It was sweet, and sad, and made me happy.  By the end there was close to 10 of them running around, and even though they were mostly 014's friends, they included 011.

 8th Grade Spring Concert - Mr. Hickman had had a lot of trouble with his leg this year, so there were not many concerts, but he did finally get a 6th - High School one put together.  He's such a hard worker, and a serious trooper!

 I think this ended up being the only concert this year for the 6th graders....

 8th Grade field trip to Washington, DC.  Directly under the left pillar, is a very tall guy in pink with shades... 014 is the head that partially covers that guy.  If you squint, you can see it better....

 Birthday celebrations!  We celebrated 020s and my brother's (we won't mention numbers out of respect for the elderly...) but were saddened that Gadget couldn't make it for his birthday too.

 New pitot cover for the 172.  Looking good!  A friend of ours, we swear owns stock in the company, because he is all the time telling us how amazing they are.  He's right!

 014 at awards day.  He ended up with several.  Yup, that is Mr. Dale handing them out.

The 4 of us went up to Crystal Mountain for the Beer and Brat fest.  It was very yummy!  Gadget and I went up to get the property all squared away, and then MS & T flew up and went with us and spent the night.  It was so much fun!