2026 already?!?!

 Happy New Year!  I can't believe it's happened already.  I did kinda stay up last night, falling asleep in my chair and wandered back to bed at almost 2. The cat was trying to figure out what took me so long.  We had a good morning of snuggles today.  It was a good day at church yesterday, I got several old things done and organized, and started a big project that I should be able to finish tomorrow.  Pastor didn't come in yesterday, so I'll have to go in at least to do the bulletin.  I should still be able to have a fairly lazy day.

Old Business:

• I think Hands Heal is frozen LOL
• Still been too cold to work out in the garage.  Except when we were having our family Christmas.  It was so good!
• Perfect Union - plugging along. 022 & 024 got me started on GoodReads so maybe that will help.
• NCBTMB - It is put on my February goals page
• P4S, also frozen
• Garage is kinda bad again since it got cold.  I did an onsite day for work, so I still need to put the table back away.  And I got a new car, so I still need to get everything moved over to the new one.
• Magazines - really good!  Even gave a few old ones to the SIL over Christmas!
• Mending pile has 1 more pair of 051's sleep pants to put elastic around the ankles. Nothing stays up and then he trips over them.
• Guitar is still consistent, need to do that today.
• Got another bag going for Goodwill, 022 went through some of their things in the closet and either took home with her, or added to the donate bag.
• AMTA and VA stuff still way too much - GR budget,notes, and VA renewals are the big ones
• Did not get laundry room decluttered. Last week ended up being more about getting the new car and trying to rest a little bit.  Have been having quite a bit of symptoms/flareups lately.
• Studio got cleaned up, but does need decluttered a bit
• Have started 2026 goals - have January and most of Q1 done - this includes the cleaning schedule, and I need to block out times to do it.
• Still setting up 2026 book
• Work carpet still needs cleaned.
• Still need to build that desk.

New Business:

• Finish up some of the old business!

Attitude of Gratitude

 Yup, hard to believe next week is Thanksgiving!  We'll have ours on Saturday, and there will be about 14 people, really looking forward to it.  I have all this next week off (except for an appointment here and there...) and will be busy getting the house in order.

Old Business:

• Have Hands Heal back, but haven't started reading it again
• Outside chores are mostly done, I did manage to get further around with weeding and mulching than last year thanks to a big push in October.  I'm really hoping it pays off next year!  
• Perfect Union - have been better at it.  Need to just stick with it as I do enjoy it once I start.
• NCBTMB Exam - still need to do it.
• P4S - BAD
• Garage - have managed to clean most of the utility area and flowers now have a good spot.  Also have cleaned my car bay and that looks really good.  Workbench is cleared off and that is exciting.  Just need to keep on.
• Magazines, pretty good too.
• Shades - gonna finish that this week.
• State Conference was a blast!
• Career fair went well, but no one in the area.
• Took a break from leash training but will start back up.
• Have been consistent with at least 1x a week with the guitar.

New Business:

• Clean chairs and carpet for Tgiving.
• Cook for Tgiving, including a pie.
• Declutter for Tgiving.
• Get Baby Bro and have fun!
• Lots of AMTA stuff to do.
• Need to figure out how to be less chatty working at church.

Let's go fly a kite...

... up to the highest height....

It has been windy, and rainy, and sunny, and hot, and cold... It is fall time again in Indiana. Today, little breeze, but sunny.  And it is just a fun song.

Old Business:

• Have given away a few things out of the garage.  Cleaned up small areas.  It is always baby steps.  Always in progress.
• Pictures from 2014 are sorted, and starting to get filed away.
• A few bumps in the road with sharing the room.  I guess that is just life.
• Wood fence, stoop and ramp will have to wait until spring, due to it needing to be over 50 degrees.
• Brickwork still looks like a patchwork of color. Top cap is also done.  And another color. And can't seal until spring.  See comment above.
• Still reading fairly regularly.  Both my book and magazines.
• 015's birthday party is complete.  Even though it's not until Monday. But got the breakfast bar cleaned off, and have done really well at keeping it that way.
• Gave away a few things in the living room.  A dresser, a table, and some stuff back to my dad.  That feels good too.  Lighter.
• Contract is signed, contractors have been hired.  Have had a few bumps, but again that is life, and it is working out just fine - Thank you God!
• Menu planning going pretty well.  Been busy putting recipes we like in page protectors and in a binder. Organized by type.  And trying to weed out what we don't like or are duplicates.
• Scheduling is going better as well.
• Just a few more flowers to plant.  Maybe today.
• Doctor is so-so.  We will see. Nature of living in a small town??

New Business:

• Trying to stay on top of stuff that I like to do. It's recognizing the beauty of small steps and some progress vs. none
• Talent show at church on Sunday
• Getting winter project list lined up
• Making bread today to go with the soup
• Trying to be OK with reading just 1 or 2 blogs every day instead of cycling through the entire list, or worse, none.
• Need to mow the yard

Millions of people living as foes ...

 Maybe it's not too late To learn how to love And forget how to hate ....

Oh, if only we could get the world to listen to those words...

Well, it is starting to warm up here, this week, we should get into the 40s fairly consistently.  That would be nice for a change!

Old Business:

• Done reading becoming wise.  So good.  Passed it on to 016.
• Garage, sigh, always needs tidying.  But I try to do a little bit before I start something.  And when I finish something.
• Scrapping still on hold...
• Magazines are getting read
• More massage promotions (Groupon, Radio Ad + Valentine give-away, MassageBook)
• Kitchen ceiling is done - yea!
• New printer is cool!
• Winter list - electrical panel is mapped out, and a good list attached to it
• Hinges are not going to be done by me.  I tried.  Too much effort.  Will bag up and take to Goodwill
• Need to get to scrapping again. 
• Memorabilia pile is put away. Pictures were ordered, now they need to be filed...
• Swiffer replacements (reusable) have been made. Even sent one to 022.

New Business:

• Next on the project list is getting my mom's footstool reupholstered.  Should be fun; I've never done it before. Although my gramma & aunt used to do it professionally.
• And the letterman jacket.  I need to get that done before he graduates!  LOL

October 2016 Flickr Upload

Looks like I've missed a couple of months, but here are my faves, and as usual, you can see the whole lot here...

013's Jr. High Cross Country Team Party

015's High School Cross Country Regionals

022 helping me with the lawnmower - each year I think I'm getting a bit better at taking care of my equipment.

Becoming 013...

Moving into the office/laundry room... been a long time coming...

Asking for donations at the band concert...

Early start to shed remodel... rotting trim is removed...

Hazy shade of winter...

... even though spring is next week, we've had quite a wintery turn this week.  Yikes, it is cold!  Here's what's happened in the past month...

Old Business:

• Photos selected for about 2/3 of the project list.
• Stopping letters, at least for now.  Not getting much traction.
• Have done some weed pulling - can't wait for spring!
• Still reading Becoming Wise
• Laundry room - found curtains on clearance at Target, with drapery rod.  Need to hang.
• Bathroom - ceiling & wall are DONE!
• Listed a lot on eBay, a lot has sold.
• Pants still need mended, now so do 013's.
• Garage is constant need of tidying
• Shelves still need hung in 015's room

New Business:

• Kitchen ceiling needs repaired
• Big soap order made & shipped out.
• Study, study, study!  So many things to learn!
• New business partnership... more about that later
• Bathtub repair
• More to list on eBay

...just keep truckin' on...

Wow, long time no post!  I look back and see it was mid-October.  Shame on me.  Boy, I tell you, sometimes life gets in the way!!! So here's to catching up!

Old Business:

• Still no new layouts, but I do have a project list.
• Dentist letters out, now need to do doctors
• Mowing is done!
• Pictures are all filed - Yea!
• Still reading Becoming Wise - so good!
• Laundry room - last door painted, thresholds on both doors fixed, still need curtains
• Lawnmowers are done!
• Glider not done - springtime...
• Storm door done!
• October, November,December and January cards done
• More pictures are hung
• Garage sale did not go well, but done...
• Roof repairs done, need to finish ceiling/wall
• Car is in garage!
• Hall closet has a new shelf, rod is lower
• All hall closets (3) are painted, hall is painted, all closet doors have new hinges
• 015's room is painted, his doors have new hinges, and all outlets but 1 have been replaced
• Made soap!!!
• 015 sold several video games on eBay

New Business:

• Several things to list on eBay
• Bathroom
• Mending of pants
• Cleaning garage
• Hang shelves in 015's room

One Day at a Time...

Ah, I grew up watching that show... If you don't remember, click here... Course, you might be too young too.  But it really should be everyone's theme song.  Because really, how else do we do it??!!

Old Business:

• Layout #6 got done!  Now to work on #7 (on my desk in a pile!)
• Got another nursing home day done this week, yea!  And several leads from the Senior Expo at the Y last week!
• May cards laid out, need to be sent out!
• Second massage done at home, still feels unfamiliar.  Been thinking about not having it in the laundry/mud room but in the new room we are building.  Too much dirty traffic when I'm working outside, as the laundry room is the only way into the house proper.
• 012 got his desk together, and also did a fantastic job!  Very proud of him!
• Started painting the living room.  Trim is done, doing second coat on mantel & vents today.  Door is done.  Hopefully next week I'll start on the walls.  Cause I tell ya, having all the furniture in the middle of the room stinks!  Maybe I should just move the couch back a bit....
• All other projects are still outstanding (won't list them all here...)
• Yard has been mowed several times now, and with all the rain we've had, it's made it difficult to mow this week.  Been keeping my clippings.  Thinking of using them instead of mulch this year.  Have 3 arborvitae bushes planted in the back, to start my backbone, and up front I have a dogwood and 3 hollies (2 female, 1 male) to plant along the driveway.  Going over next week to old house to thin out some flowers to bring over.  Also have some vegetables to plant.  Either going to work them into my flowers, or make a small patch in the back for them.
• Desk got better, then got worse (painting)

New Business:

• Plant new bushes/seeds/flowers
• Nursing home day on Monday!
• A couple of new appointments at the salon!
• Got February and March pictures processed
• ?? Can't think of anything else?!?!?!

Band on the run...

Or at least I have been on the run!  My goodness it seems like there is so much to do, and whatever you cross off, 3 more take it's place.  Like Medusa...

Old Business:

• Still need to work on Clerk's drawers and Growing Grounds drawers
• Church website still waiting
• Mudroom still waiting
• Vent still needs duct
• H&S website - done! you can check it out at Heart and Soul Massage it is simple, but done
• Lawnmower still waiting - has been too cold
• Mousetrap has caught 1 inside.  Big shout-out to 014 who manned up and disposed of the carcass for me
• Second LO done, 3rd is in progress
• Closet door still wating
• H&S celebration cards still waiting
• Tub done, but not.  Apparently it didn't cure because the bathroom hasn't been warm enough.  so it needs REDONE
• Cabinet in bathroom is done!
• Wiper ordered for car
• Front door threshold sanded and stained.  Does not look the way I'd want it to.  Going to have to do something else
• Appointment made with lawyer regarding easement of the driveway.  And pictures taken.
• Tree is down!
• Had a viewing on Tuesday, they want to come back tonight, so I'm hoping it goes through
• Need to make soap, it has been too long and Deb is making me jealous! ;)
• Massage trade scheduled for next week
• Follow-up to last week's mammogram turned out to be OK
• Still need new intake and SOAP charts
• RO intake valve and under sink still waiting - this weekend!
• Conditioner done
• Need to make boo boo balm

New Business:

• Need to replace pressure tank for the well.  It sprung a leak.  Doing this weekend
• Need to work on the old business list - it is getting out of hand!

August 2014 Flickr Upload

As always, you can see the full stream here, and I've included a few of my favorites here...

 Crazy times with fun friends...

 Experimenting with how to make the engine stand...

 I love how these 2 talk to each other constantly.  About all kinds of stuff.  Especially when walking.  They are growing up way too fast...

 Our daycation in Fort Wayne, we had such a good time!

 First day of school.  6th grade and 8th grade.  Next year, no elementary and 1 in high school. Sheesh!  See the growing up comment above...

 First day of school for me too...

 Ice cream is always a treat, especially when it comes from Kelly's.  He's a treat too...

 45 Winery on the Leelanau Peninsula...

 Jr. High Dance.... What!?!?!?!  Yea.  Wow.  Can't believe it.

Right here waiting for you...

Ah, he was going to come down yesterday, but a bit of unexpected weather kept him north.  However, it is all breaking up now and he should be good to go soon.  It was also an unexpected visit, as I was going to go there and help him with "the list" but my tractor stopped working and I can't figure out why.  Makes me feel dumb.  But I hope he can get it so that I can get the hayfield (my yard) mowed.

He came down Tuesday to look at a house for me.  A beautiful old thing, I would love to have it.  But after talking, not sure I have the time or energy or money to give it the love it needs.  It made me extremely sad! Plus, no one has made an offer on mine either, so maybe it is just not the right time and I will keep looking.

School is going great, I love it, it is starting to get intense though.  In 2 weeks we have our quiz and a research paper due, and then 2 weeks after that, our practical!  YIKES!  I do need to start studying and practicing more than what I have been.

On the home front, I've been able to get some work addressed around the house, and just breathe for a bit.  I did get my substitute license, so now I need to figure out how to register so that I can start subbing periodically to make some extra income.

So many of my friends are dealing with cancers or illnesses, so I'd really appreciate extra prayers these days for them.  It breaks my heart that there is so much hurt in the world.  Wouldn't it be amazing if everyone tried to figure out how they could add some comfort to the world instead?

May 2013 Flickr Upload

As usual, you can catch the whole feed here and here are some of my favorites:

Lego lover 009!

 012's Spring Band Concert - Mr. Hickman is one of his all-time favorite teachers! Can't say as I blame him, that man is a blessing to high school education.

 12-year old photo of the house.  Wow, the bushes were s-m-a-l-l, check it out now! 

CRAZY!

 Went to hibachi grill in KZoo for Mom's Day.  It was a great time, even if the 2 young ones aren't showing it!

 Fun times at Dad's.  He's probably not the only one who is still a kid at heart.

 One of my most favorite things - family all together!

 Don't get to see this guy nearly enough!

 I love the fact that my kids will do things just for him.

 What I get to see a lot of, and I have to admit, am a bit infatuated with...

 Always love seeing this sort of thing on the front porch...

I was mowing the yard, but these cloud towers were irresistible!