Sum, sum, summertime...

It's hard to believe that the summer solstice has come and gone!  And here, it was only in the low 70s.  We've had some weird weather.  For the first time that I can remember, most corn will not be knee high by the 4th of July.  Not a good portend.  It has been cooler than normal, and wetter than normal. 

Old Business:

• I don't know why I am struggling so much with Hands Heal, P4S, and Trail Guide.  Maybe it is just being out of the habit.
• Cabinet project is definitely on hold. Have shifted focus to gardening and house maintenance.
• Finished the Handmaid's Tale re-read.  Granted, it has been 30+ years since the last time I read it, but there were definitely parts I had wrong in my head!  LOL
• Am half-way through The Testaments.  I feel like I'm starting to get my reading jam back!
• Magazines are doing well.
• Mending pile still there, have added a couple of things.
• Garven is still really amazing.  I have learned you cannot go through the carwash with the sunroof popped up. OOOOOOPPPPPSIE!!!!
• Memorabilia still staying under control, and have finished 1 layout.  Need to get cranking on the next.
• PCP visit is finally set up, with yet another replacement.  Sigh.  Colonoscopy is Monday.  Knee ended up having a patellar hematoma and bursitis.  Still wearing a compression brace, but it is back to a more normal appearance.
• Sticks continue to be a problem as we have had a lot of storms and wind.  Wabash got hit with another tornado.
• Lawnmower ended up having a loose (and eventually thrown) pully.  That took a month to get the parts in, and then the ones that I actually used I probably could have gotten at the local hardware store - kinda grumpy about that.  And had to spend $13 to ship the unused parts back.
• Guitar practice has gotten shaky here lately.  Not sure why.  Sometimes mentally I just don't have the energy for it.
• Have been really good on weeding.  I am able each time to go over what has already been done and that goes pretty quickly and it now takes a large part of the gardens to fill up the (five gallon) bucket, when it used to happen multiple times each session. And each time I have been able to extend the already done part further. So that feels good.
• Have done some repairs on garden art, which feels good, and of course more to do. I guess most of life is just baby stepps. 022 was supposed to be able to come up last week and help me with getting some bigger things transplanted and done, but it ended up not working out.  I kept the week off, and was able to finally (after 9 years!) get the front door frame painted. Also picked up a low top dresser for work, had my follow-up with the cardiologist. Nothing wrong with my heart, so it is out of his wheelhouse why I'm having symptoms.  Back to the drawing board.  I have found that wearing abdominal compression has really reduced the symptoms, which he found curious too.  It makes me SO HOT though when I am working!
• Have weeded twice at work now. About 3 buckets worth over the two times.  I need to do some bush trimming still - I had tried the last time, and my battery died halfway into the first bush! Was able to get some very pretty canna and dahlias for my containers.

New Business:

• Oh my goodness, everything is different at work!!  J came over and is renting my old green room, K came back, so she's in the red room again, so I moved to the blue room!  Holy cow!  It feels so incredibly good.  I am just absolutely amazed how much it has improved my mood and attitude! So, we have a contractor coming in to widen a doorway to the break room, and then get water and drainage over there, so that we can get a full-sized washer and dryer there!  So excited!  Our little midget set has been such a trooper, and I will be forever grateful to it, but it is unrealistic to expect it to keep up with 3 full-time therapists.  Not to mention you have to go through my blue room to get to it.  So, that will eventually turn into a working space for me, with a small desk.  With others there now, I don't feel right in leaving my stuff laying around everywhere when I am building packets and whatnot. So excited!!!
• Colonoscopy Monday, so that will be fun!
• 022 comes to visit (for sure this time) most of that week, so we'll get some things transplanted.
• AC for church is next week, not sure if I'll be able to go to opening worship on Sunday evening or not, with doing the prep.  Tuesday I'll go to FTW to do the service project in the morning.  If 022 is here, she'll go with me.
• I think my PCP visit is that week, and I have a massage too!  And I'll still work at the church on Friday.  I think 022 is going down to visit her dad, and her sister will be there too.  I'm excited they'll have a chance to see each other.  I also took Monday off for the holiday.

Party like it's 1999...

 Baby Bro's birthday is Thursday, so I'll be picking him up to spend the weekend. Friday, I am hoping we can attend the Indiana State Massage Championships that are being held right here in little ole Wabash!  Totally stoked by that.  I've never been, so I'm really looking forward to the experience.  Afterwards, we can come home and make his birthday cake.  Saturday is when the fam will be getting together.  024/025(almost!) is going to share birthday parties with BB, so I will need to find something non-cheese based due to milk allergies.  Pizza is kinda the go-to.

Old Business:

• Not sure why I'm struggling to get back to reading Hands Heal, P4S, and Trail Guide.
• Have been able to be out in the garage a couple of weekends now, and have started the Hoosier cabinet project I concocted for myself.  That has been fun!
• I am almost done with Perfect Union.  I joined Goodreads for 024 and Storybook for 022, and so it has been fun to update progress.
• I take the NCB test next Monday, YIKES!  I have not been studying at all.  We'll see..
• Magazines are still at a good pace too.
• Mending pile - still 1 pair of sleep pants, and also I now have a pair of pants that need a patch in the knee thanks to a tumble I took in downtown Indy.  That was embarrassing!
• Still loving and enjoying Garven.  Had the sunroof open yesterday, OMG!! At the end of the month I go down to Big Bro and Sis house to change oil and do some other maintenance on him.
• Memorabilia has all been put away, and have stayed pretty up on just doing it when it is in my hand.
• Slowing down at work is in process. I have mixed feelings about it.  I really need to find 2-3 new therapists to help out. Have done some cleaning, then hit a couple of bad weeks, but hoping to get back on track today. Wrists are doing better, but I still brace them for each session. Fingers are starting to heal finally.
• I did reach back out to the candidate, and she never called/texted back, so I guess that is a no-go.
• Cardiologist - wore a Holter for 7 days, did not show anything conclusive.  Did a Tilt Table Test, and again, nothing conclusive.  So it's probably back to the drawing board.  I need to call the nurse today and find out.
• Have set some scrapping goals - 2 pages a month. Didn't do so hot in February. However, I have picked out pictures, and now I need to do sketch and papers.

New Business:

• Continue scrapping
• Continue working on hutch
• Pick up sticks in the yard (and by sticks, I mean branches and limbs that fell down in all the wind this winter!)
• Post therapist jobs on FB and at IWC job board.
• Fill out application to run for AMTA chapter president (I can't believe I just wrote that, but, what the heck! LOL) 

Not blown away...

 ... we had our first round of really strong spring storms yesterday. The kitty was uncertain about it all, but did OK. It made the house creak and the chimney howl.

Old Business:

• Hands Heal continues to be informative, and makes me think about how I do my charting and intake and how I could improve
• Chores were OK last week. I had Monday off, so did some housework, as well as a lot of paperwork for work
• Still having hard time with Perfect Union
• Advocacy Day is planned for Apr 8 - it's going to be fun!
• Need to schedule NCBTMB
• 2024 recap done, but have not started back up with P4S
• Garage gets little bites done, maybe I just need to resign myself to it always being messy
• Magazines going well
• I have another shade done for the dining room, so one left
• Still need to get pulmonologist appointment and tests done
• YouTube at church is still being a pain, but I think I have some answers
• E's party went great!  Everybody had a good time
• Three Dog Night concert went well too, 023 watched Uncle E for me and did a GREAT job.  They both like to dote on him, it's sweet!
• Newest hire is doing great, she is so wonderful!

New Business

• Trying to finish up some winter projects now that spring is arriving
• Need to get lawnmower started and make sure it is ready to go
• Gonna have to start getting back to weeding.  We are starting to get a few popping up here and there.  Mostly dandelions and creeping charlie - hoping with all that I did in the fall, and all of the wood chips it doesn't get as bad in the sections I have done, like that I can maintain them, and get more of the bad ones done
• Lenten Roses are blooming!  They are so beautiful!
• Cherry tree that I bought in the fall and over wintered in the garage has leaves popping out! Now I just gotta figure out where to plant it!
• Looking forward to state AMTA conference and board meeting

Thanksgiving, Friendsgiving, Selfgiving...

 OK, I made that last one up, but I do very much enjoy just being by myself. I am eternally grateful that I finally now not only understand and accept that, but thrive in it. I can remember glimpses as a child and feeling wholly myself when alone. I also have glimpses of when I felt incomplete when I was alone.

It is a beautiful sunny morning here in NE Indiana. I am waiting for my hair to dry a bit before going to have some breakfast. I see piles of leaves slowly settling and decomposing, waiting for next spring and summer to be spread upon the garden beds to nourish whatever life I might be able to grow there. The piles are not as big this year, but perhaps there is still time to add to them before the snow covers it all. I see a big pile of brush, again waiting for next spring, summer, and fall to be chipped and spread. No surprise that I have had the best luck with it in slowing weeds' progressions.  And I must say, that the front beds have gotten so much better at not growing as many weeds. Flowers are filling in, I've been very good this year at keeping them clean, and so perhaps that will have a snowball effect so that I can keep more of it clean.

The arborvitae are still green, it has not been cold enough yet for them to turn bronze. The fig tree dropped all of it's leaves during the last frost, and sadly, the remaining fruit did not ripen. I have half a mind to trim them off and plant them around just to see what might happen.

I'll be travelling down to the big city today to spend the day with my ex, his wife, and the kiddos. I've made a french apple pie, and I'll also take the leftover scones and lemon curd from last weekend's women's fellowship. I never got any trick or treat takers, so I've bagged up some candy to take down to share as well.

I hope this message finds you wherever you need to be today. Know that you are loved and wanted. You matter, and I am thankful for you.

Old Business:

• Still reading Power. Yes, still helpful. Have continued to try and have my bigger meals during the early part of the day. Also trying to be better at "scheduling" home chores and fun things so that they actually get done.
• Shift is getting really good, and I don't want the story to end!
• Back onto the Trail Guide.
• Planning for Success is still a fail.
• Magazines, doing great!
• Need to actually schedule walking/running so I do it!
• Craft table needs more work.
• Guitar - I'm up to 11 weeks!!!
• Sanding booth - I cleaned up that bay of the garage last weekend so I can start working on it again. So, progress!
• I was able to cover up all the areas that I got weeded, and that used up the leaf pile from last fall. It was glorious to have so much!  And all the weeds I pulled out? Well, I've been putting them in the "trench" where the sewer line was replaced. It's now almost level again from where it had all settled.
• Had 020's birthday with 022, and my brother and sis in law.  It was wonderful! 

New Business:

• Trip Ideas: See the Savanah Bananas, Float Troy, and Hocking Hills OH.
• Have some GR notes I need to type up.
• Need to get my online schedule updated.
• Need to get more bloodwork done. My lipid panel came back better this year, dropped 60~ points and triglycerides look good. Heart scan came back great. But white blood cell count down, hemoglobin near low, iron low so we're doing a repeat next month, with some others to see what we can find. Hopefully, the draw will go better than last time. It was both arms, and a hand before she got anything to cooperate.

May 2017 Flickr Upload

Yea me! I got some more uploaded today!!  You can see the stream here....

My favorite pie - well, one of many... Strawberry Rhubarb

015 Helping with replacing the kitchen faucet...

015 running sectionals at IWU...

Gadget fixing my car...

016 Academic Honors...

013 being goofy...

013 falling asleep at work...

Money, it's a gas...

Grab that cash with both hands and make a stash...
I have to admit it certainly feels nice to be making a bit more of it, and actually be able to start putting some back into the retirement and HSA accounts on a semi-regular basis.  All I can say is sacrificing small amounts now, to go into those, will have big rewards later.  And a savings account.  All very important if one wants to do more than just live paycheck to paycheck.

Old Business:

• I think the clerk's and GG drawers will wait until summer vacation, more on that then...
• Mudroom, closet door and vent not going to be done - HOUSE IS SOLD!!!!
• Lawnmower started last week!  That is a big improvement.  Oil change to be done when it is warmer and/or after we move.
• More mice gone.  I don't even want to talk about how many carcasses are on the pile!  Maybe done, since we will be gone soon.
• Layout #6 still lays on my desk.  Sadly.  It has been a couple of weeks of "just lucky to get my bed made and teeth brushed".
• Did get nursing home letters sent out for H&S, 1 response so far!  And that massage day is in the books! Still need to get celebration cards done.
• My massage trader came back, and we got another one done.  This week, she is trading with another girl, so she is taking care of me, and I'm going to take care of another girl we graduated with.  It just about pays for itself in a year, when you think about the cost of all the free massages!
• February Cards done/gone
• Soup and bread was amazing!!!

New Business:

• WE BOUGHT A HOUSE! Will need to finish out a couple of rooms, should be fun
• Have been very busy packing (see comment above about making the bed!)
• March cards have not been sent out yet
• Got January pictures processed
• Got backup schedule done, now one hard drive in NAS seems to be out.
• Need to fix fascia on garage
• Got supplies to fix threshold
• Got supplies to transfer height chart off of doorframe to something we can take with us
• Both boys running track this year - oh my the scheduling nightmare!

December 2015 Flickr Upload

As usual, you can see the entire upload here, and below are some of my favorites!

  Finally getting the table refinished after being reminded for several years that it needed to be done.
 

 The boys and dad.  Even though only one of them has one, they are both superstars in my opinion.

 Posing with our favorite characters...

 Basketball Pep Band time....

 Family Christmas!

 Family Christmas #2!

 Family Christmas #3!

New tool!

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....

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

April 2015 Flickr Upload

As always you can see the entire upload here and a few of my faves here...

 My sister always makes Jello Eggs for Easter.  They now "demand" it.  Whenever I tell them we'll be going over for Easter, it is the FIRST question they ask "Will Aunt Kelli make Jello Eggs?".  How can she refuse....

My brother, son and Father all being goofy... The apples don't fall far....

My foot, in Reflexology class.  So much fun, so cool!

This year 011 decided to run track.  Our first foray into school sports.  It was educational.  He did not do as well as he had hoped, but he did learn a lot about himself and what he wants to change for next year.  Glad he's not giving it up.  They ran 6th graders in with the 7th & 8th graders, so it made for some long nights.

After the County Math fair, I got a chance to see his locker.  He is somewhat willingly indulging me...

What we love to do!  I love how you can see the reflection of my suit in this picture!

But this is a better shot of the planes.

The crazy Gray Hair'd Hooligans.  Love these guys, they are awesome, even the one that is missing!

For class we did an Herbology Week.  On the last day we went to Mounds State Park and walked around to identify various herbs in the wild.  It was a ton of fun.

March 2015 Flickr Upload

You can see the whole stream here as always, these are just my favorites!!

 013's artwork at the Honeywell Center.  It is the orange one on the bottom.  So cool!

 013 Placing in his Lucky 4 Miler just before his birthday.  Love that he loves running.

 Hanging out with 011 on his 6th grade Field Trip to Chicago.  Don't think I embarrassed him too much.  It was so awesome to see him with his friends.

 Our family tradition of getting a smashed penny everywhere we go...

 Becoming 014.  So awesome that he had friends there and that my brother and his family were able to make it.  And that Gadget could join us too.

Love seeing him smile and laugh.  He needs to do it more.

November 2014 Flickr Upload

Wow, I'm almost there... current... wow... not sure what I'll do when I don't have a glut of pictures to upload!

Anyway, here are my monthly faves, you know where to find the rest...

 013's Shop Class project, not too bad.  And he gave it to me, sits on my crafting table.

 How can you resist those 2?!?!  Pasta Bar lunch over e-Learning... Very nice family tradition!

 Shop class Beetle car, not too bad!  He kept that one...

 My nephew getting baptized.  What a great day!

 013's Honor Band concert with the pops & 011.  One (or 2) of them were not happy to get their pictures taken.  Which 2 do you think?  That's right, pops & 011.

National Jr. High Youth Sunday skit at church.  We don't have that many in Jr. High, so we just open it up to all the kids.  Lots of fun and great to see the faith in these guys!

LO Share on BenzillaScrapping - ZM

Here is a link to the layout, thanks for checking it out!

Happy almost last day of 2014, I wish that 2015 brings you many, many blessings!

In His Peace,
Elle

LO Share on BenzillaScrapping

You can click here to go see Fall Leaves LO...

Thanks so much for looking!

May 2014 Flickr Upload

May was such a fun month!  We took the Willys out off-roading at Cornwell's Turkey farm with a bunch of MVPA people.  Birthday celebrations, graduations, and getting more wood split were the highlights.

Taking a ride in the Pinz ...

 Riding in the Willys ...

 Still in the Pinz ...

 The fam ... 

 Birthday boy ...

 019 and my dad at his graduation ...

Making hobo dinners ... quite possibly our favorite meal during the summer ...

And of course you can see the whole thing here ...