All the leaves are brown...

(leaves are brown) and the sky is grey...  Not sure that I wish to be in California, but someplace warm and sunny is always nice!  It is nice to see that I'm only about 3 weeks from my last post, not 3 months!  So this is what I got...

Old Business:

• Still no new layouts ready to be made
• Business-wise -- same, but good! Working on letters to area dentists.
• Mowing not done for the year - LOL
• Pictures still not filed
• Reading Becoming Wise (have stopped due to nephew being here, and routine being different - more on that!)
• Laundry room remodel - Trim hung, doors painted (1 more to go), shelves hung, rug laid, furniture and supplies moved in, wall fixed, doorknobs installed.  Wow, that part is awesome!  He was a big help!
• Lawnmowers are in the midst of servicing.  Blades have been sharpened, Kevin is working on getting the deck leveled, and then on to greasing & oil changes before storing
• Rock is moved, looks great!
• Glider still needs stained
• Door still needs stained/painted
• Storm door needs installed
• Oct cards done, need to do November
• Bush has been removed
• Grass seed has been planted
• Ramp is done, and we made one to service the mower too!
• Sweeps installed
• Bookcase installed in living room and filled up (ha!)
• Pictures still need hung
• Weeds sprayed
• Still working on church
• Lamb's ears planted (lovely lady at church gave me some starts)
• Lots of furniture moved out of the garage and into the house where it belongs.  Really starting to look like we actually live here!

New Business:

• Garage sale today and Saturday.  Hopefully sell some of this stuff.
• Fix wall and ceiling in bathroom, waiting to hear on roofing contractor
• Get car back in garage (after sale should be easier!)
• Maybe start on hall closet?  Want to add another shelf, and move hanging rod lower.  Would help get stuff off the floor to make a better storm closet.  Maybe paint it too?
• Maybe paint the hall?

Everybody's Workin' for the Weekend!

It's Friday AM, and looking at my last status post, I realize it was the end of June.  That was like 3 months ago!  Crazy talk!  so hopefully a lot done... ;)

Old Business:

• All Layouts done. Need to get more put on the desk, but that will require completion of the laundry room
• Missed having the boys around the last part of summer to help get jobs done.  That became more apparent after they were gone!  I guess you don't know what you've got until it's gone.
• Business-wise, Wabash has turned into just regulars, which is good, just need to figure out how to make more.  Marion has yet to turn any repeat clients.  But it is a wonderful place to work and I'm very thankful as it has been at least half my business every month.
• Did a chair event at the Marion Housing Authority.  It was hard work, but very rewarding, and met some wonderful people!
• Bathtub drain cleaned - again - still GROSS!
• Doctor's visits done
• eBay stuff sold
• Lots of mowing done, may be done for the year, haven't decided
• Desk drawers cleaned out
• Pictures still need to be filed in LOM
• Finished 3 of my fave books. Started a new one from a gal at church, Becoming Wise
• Laundry room remodel - yup you heard that right, we started on it!  The end of August and still going strong!  LOL  Lots of electrical work, drywall, plumbing, gas line, etc to do.  But new washer and dryer are working great and I hope (soon) to start seeing a difference in the water & electric bills (it is a gas dryer).  Walls are painted (I need to go back and fix one, but will wait until the end-ish), trim needs hung, then furniture moved in.  My nephew is coming up to help me for a couple of weeks, so I'm really hoping I can get some stuff buttoned up. 015 laid the floor, mostly by himself, and it looks awesome!  It will be my new crafting studio, and trust me, the rest of the house is ready to get stuff moved in there! 

New Business:

• More referral letters to send out - send out school & gym, now need to do doctors and dentists.  Had 1 call from gym for information.  We will see what comes of it.
• Lawnmowers need serviced
• Rock needs carried around front
• Downspout fixed
• Glider needs stained
• Door needs sanded & stained
• Other door needs painted
• Storm door needs hung
• October cards need sent out
• Bush needs pulled out
• Grass seed needs planted
• Ramp needs work
• Sweeps need installed
• Short wall needs fixed
• Move in scrapping supplies/purge as needed
• Set up new bookcase in living room
• Hang family pictures in Living Room
• Spray weeds
• Church - spray weeds
• Church - clean

That's probably way more than what we will get done, but who knows?!??!

May 2016 Flickr Upload

I can't believe I'm getting behind again on my proofing, but these are the latest I have ready.  As usual, my favorites are here, and the entire upload you can see here.

 I started repainting the living room.  It is such a nice, warm caramel now.  I love it!

 Last band concert of the year.  Love them!

 Mother's Day fun and silliness at the sushi place...

 Getting closer...

 Last track meet of the year...

 Last day of school...  Can't believe how fast they go...

 Someone being very upset that Kroger does not frequently carry the Mrs. Freshleys/TastyCakes Chocolate Bells....

 First Day of work!

 Veteran's Flyover at Muskegon...

 Shields of Hope Breakfast at Ottawa Exec...

 Academic Awards night... So proud of him!

 Work day at Camp Mack...

Starting of the gardens...

April 2016 Flickr Upload

Well, I have somehow managed to get behind again, these are the last of what I have proofed, so I'm behind there too!  As always you can see the complete stream here (lots of GBA photos).  And my faves...

GBA briefing - first flight, training new formation pilots.

First flight, training.

I see a lot of this in my life.  Not complaining mind you, but I like seeing the other side of his head sometimes too!

Debrief last flight of day, and unwind.

First time running the 3200.  For those of you metrically challenged, 2 miles.  He did awesome and then decided it was his favorite!

Pancake breakfast flyin for WMU.  It was fun to hang with a friend and his Yak.

Finally got my car to fit!

New house, front view, before any plantings.  There is now a new bed along the driveway, I know, surprising!  And it will continue on to the east along the front as i get plants (and time!)

012 building his desk.  He did great!  I did not get any shots of 015 doing his, but he put his together too.  Very proud of both of them and all the extra stepping up they have done lately.

Running the 1600.

First Ice cream of the season!

Lime City Relays.  It was a rainy nasty day.  Check out 012 and I in our hoods, out on the stream.

Spring band concert, last of the year!

And their dad, who got them into running.  He drove far away to be a running guide for a blind guy.  It was totally cool.

Happy Hump Day!

Still been mostly sunny, but some very welcome showers as well.  It has been 6 weeks since I have posted.  My goodness, that is a long time, but I guess a lot has been going on.  The boys ended their stay with me at the end of June, and so now I must do their chores too. Who would have guessed they do so much!  LOL  They come back early in August to start school on the 10th.

Old Business:

• Layout #7 is done
• Layout #8 is done
• June cards done
• Most all of the pictures in the living room are up, including cuckoo clock.  Now I just need to decide what to do with the boys artwork projects from school that I have collected over the years.
• 012 helped me get all of the flowers planted from the old house.  Most have survived the shock, some have not.  But I think all that came from my Mom's gardens are OK.  012 has also been my assistant during the summer for a small wage.  So we have been doing things like mowing and using the grass clippings around the flowers for mulch, hanging up organizational stuff to hang all the tools in the shed on (boy did that make a big difference) and just any other thing I need to do.  As well as being my assistant at church.  I have definitely missed a second set of hands there.
• 015 really enjoyed working at the cemetery, and I hope he has made a couple of new friends in the process.
• Some of my specials at the salon have drummed up business, so that is good.  It is slow, but I think steady.  And I think that is OK, because I have to also be available in other areas of my life.
• Started working at another Massage Therapist's place of business over in Marion.  The 2 that are there now have more than what they can work on, so they invited a girlfriend to come rent a room, and she decided she did not want to do it full time so we are sharing it.  It has been a wonderful opportunity and has generated some new appointments.  Very excited about that! 
• Christmas letters got sent out
• 012 washed the car as part of being my assistant
• 015 helped me with the gutters
• Outhouse curtains made
• 1 pair of work pants repaired (zipper, knee patches)
• Celebration cards sent out
• Expo letters sent out
• Nursing home client letters sent out
• Door baskets hung on pantry and bathroom closet doors
• Shed organization project done
• File drawers cleaned out and shredded (thanks to 012 for manning the shredder!)
• Bathtub drain cleaned out - GROSS!
• Track Awards ceremony was cool!
• Have been bowling a couple of times - yea!
• Have also attended 1 Free Movie Monday
• Eaten at the pasta bar
• Everyone got to the eye doctor and got new glasses and/or contacts (015)
• Son #1's wedding was beautiful and awesome!
• Balloon & Airshow over July 4 was wonderful!
• Roof repairs made - hopefully all is good!

New Business:

• Get in to see new doctor
• Selling a lot of stuff on eBay - stamps, video games, etc.  I guess it is time to do a little house cleaning!
• Mow, mow mow!
• Clean out my desk drawers
• I ordered some prints, need to file them in my LOM
• Hang more pictures
• Keep reading (I've started reading an old favorite of mine!)
• Keep reading magazines (they are piling up everywhere!)
• Prepare for remodeling of laundry area (more on that later!)
• Keep scrapping!!
• Keep trying to grow the business

March 2016 Flickr Upload

As always, you can see the full upload here on the PhotoStream, but I have included a few of my favorites here.  It is always so hard to pick!!

014's First Track Meet.  It was indoors.  That was very cool!  Wow, have we learned a lot about competitive running since then.  He had a good season (he didn't think so) and did manage to earn enough points to get his varsity letter.

He was also selected to go to the All - County Honors Band.  Not many Freshmen get to go.  The guest conductor was from Ball State.  She picked some amazing music that was very challenging and they met it with force!  If you closed your eyes, it was hard to tell it was kids playing!

He also had a jacket, but was very hot by the end.  So very proud of him!

And very proud of how they help the grandparental unit.  The brakes needed bleeding.

It's beginning to look a lot like moving day.  We packed and packed and packed, and still couldn't keep up with how fast everyone carried stuff out of the house!

Now officially 015!

So thankful to all of these people for helping us move!  We were all hot, sweaty and tired, and got some very yummy sushi to make up for it!  Still had a full day of work the next day, but we got it done!

Our way of taking the height chart with us.  I'll miss all the wonky writing, but this is still cool.  YOu can see they grew like 2 feet living there!

And I love how 012 can still find ways of doing goofy stuff, even when it is kind of serious.  I found several boxes that he had embellished for me.  It makes my heart so happy!

Good day, Sunshine!

We have been experiencing a lot of sunshine lately, but did get a couple of days of unexpected rain, that is always nice for the flowers (and the soul too, I believe).

Old Business:

• Layout #7 still on desk (it's been hard to create, desk has been very messy!)
• June cards need to be picked, made and sent out
• Living room paint is FINALLY done!  Took 3 coats on both the door and the mantle, walls took 2 coats.  There is a bit of touch up that needs done on the mantle & vents from putting everything back together, but I think it will be OK.  012 was able to help in the 11th hour to get it done.  Furniture has been moved back, Knick knacks/decorations have been sorted, some dusting and putting out of decorations has occurred as well.  4 pictures have been hung on the walls.  It is slow progress, but it IS progress.
• Was able to get over to the old house (thank you Dylan!!!) and I got a whole carload of flowers to plant here.  I'm hoping they all make it OK!
• With the boys being out of school, 015 has been working at the cemetery with Dad, that has been really cool.  It is an official job with a paycheck, so I think that will be very good for him!  012 has been my assistant at church, and at home.  That has been wonderful too.  Altogether, we have planted: a magnolia tree, 2 dogwood trees, a pussy willow, about 6 lilacs (I think 3 will make it) countless lamb's ears, daylilies, iris, sedum, phlox, hostas, peonies, and a couple that I don't remember the name of.  I decided I can't let the clippings just pile up (turns it into manure - not a bad thing, but not fun to spread!) so we've been spreading them out as we make them.  That has slowed down since the rains have slowed down, but that is OK, it is still progress every little bit we get done.  We finished the plantings last Thursday, and even got clippings spread out front.  I'm hoping that as the plants grow and mature, they will grow together well and we will need less ground cover.   I can't wait to watch it all mature!!!
• Second nursing home day went well.  Appointments at the salon have slowed down, but I've been trying to drum up some new business by running some specials.

New Business:

• Christmas letters are still sitting on my desk (they are being sent out this week!)
• Car needs washed
• Gutters need cleaned out
• Outhouse curtains need made
• Celebration cards need made & sent out
• More pictures need hung
• Door basket/shelves need hung in pantry and bathroom
• Shed repairs & organization project need started
• File drawers need cleaned out & shredded
• Bathtub drain needs worked on (I'm starting to think it is me!)
• Track Awards ceremony this week!
• Signed up for KidsBowlFree.com so we need to start bowling!