Plans

 I have been doing some end of year evaluation reflection and reviewing. I did pretty well. Then I was looking in to some goal setting planner options and went down the rabbit hole so to speak. 

Goals change marital status can change, kids are grown family stuff is different now so changes up that to just personal,  they do not have planners for retired folk that I know of just the $ stuff saving for it ect. 

I have found some info. on goals on line, other things are inspirational info. on Dreams by Dave Ramsey was excellent one other video from that suggestion I liked and gave my daughter a recommendation. 

Books to look into are good for me to consider as well as a Fun List. 

I am making progress and have made great progress on clearing out clutter. I got one more surface cleared this morning. I completed a red white and green hand knit prayer shawl on Christmas day.

I gave a gratitude journal and the favorite kind of pen to a family member one that wants to write a book this year that was really cool. Someone else go a bag and they are planning on some traveling in the New Year. That made me smile. 

I got an Amazon account set up added things to my wish list on that and got a gift card and placed my first order and it came in the mail two days later! I was delighted. Yes that was my New Year's resolution to figure that out! Encouraging others has gotten back on my list too. 

I have been doing seasonal goals the last couple of year that has been working out well for me. 

I am pleased with some supplies for spinning and weaving that I have gotten now the next step is to do the fiber preparation for spinning that up in to  yarn to weave up. I still need to get warp for my looms for future projects in the new year. Squeezing that in to my schedule before spring gardening will be interesting! 

I was glad I did daily journaling and daily planning this year that helped me a lot this year getting those items checked off the list. My grown kids were very surprised and pleased that they did not have to do so much like they thought they might have to get me through this year. 

I was surprised that the doctor had heard of flylady! He knew about doing those daily things. Weekly stuff has changed a bit for me I have been putting my idea triggers for areas I want to make progress on the weekly list. I got those from my goal setting in Franklin Planner. Before that I did that on 3x5"  color cards in a filing system called a Happiness File. When my kids were small. 

I've been writing out affirmations they help as well!  

 

Dec. Checking In

I was getting ready for Christmas up on a step stool and fell off hurt my knee. So that was a set back over a weekend. I had a lot more sympathy for football players that had an injury. I knocked over the small tabletop Christmas tree that I had just decorated put up and had lights on. That was a do over! Nothing serious for that tree or me. 

I got some progress on the prompts journal I was working in, made some great progress on that. I tweaked some of the prompts or put washi tape over them and just wrote about something else that was of interest to me. 

I am getting over this and back to leaf duty most of the leaves are down an off the roof now I have raked and bagged & loaded them up now. That feels great we have had awesome weather this week for this. 

I have been doing shorter walks but at more interesting places I took the dog to a fishing place I like and wanted to check out the new dock for handicap folk at one but each time I drove by it was in use, I found it open and stopped took the dog with me and we strolled on the concrete path and I appreciated the hand rails out to the dock especially this week. The dog came on the dock with me a new experience I was pleased that she came with me to it. 

Another place we walked along the river in the afternoon sunlight I grabbed a walking stick and we had a fun trek on one of the area walking paths the water was calm. It was a great reward for some of the yard work I had gotten done earlier in the day. 

I walked in the field the next time that was great fun in the sun we have had mild weather this week here. 

I have carded up some wool to spin when I get a minute to do that. I am knitting on a red white and green project that will not be done before Easter I suspect! But pastel yarns did not catch my fancy this go round. 

I was pleased to get gift bags ready and coins in them the Susan B. Anthony one dollar coins hubby had collected went to the grand children. I love it that I had festive holiday print bags that I had made up with drawstrings for this. 

 I rounded up a few other items for some on I knew might appreciate them I was right almost immediately the person was sketching and said they had been wanting to do a journal, the journal wss smaller than I like. I knew the size of sketchbook this person had used before and had an extra one! 

I have started a 100 day project. Mine is 100 days of grace. I have been putting scriptures in a soft cover notebook some drawing and inspirational quotes and notes will be going in this with other things yet undecided. It is a strange time to begin a 100 day project but when the 100 days are over I will be past the one year mark of hubby's passing away so it was timely for me to begin it now rather than waiting. 

I am practicing some hand lettering  also in another spot. To be honest it helps me to focus and slow down that helps reduce stress. I have a Woman's gratitude journal  with 200 prompts and inspirational quotes I am excited to start but I am still working on the other one. It has brought up something for me to process prickly stuff that is not fun but also some other things that were great to be reminded of as I wrote so it has been a mixed bag.   I had discovered Ambient music and enjoy that for back grounds when I am doing some of these writing tasks. 

Ready ... or not...

 Ready or not... grief can bite you in the butt at the most unexpected times. We had some snow last week and it was a trigger reminding me of the time I was in hospice house with hubby saying final goodbyes. It snowed three inches that day. So I was processing that. Feeling the feelings that come when you lose a loved one. 

My back had some twinges and I had to slow down and take care of me, I was stressing out about the cv-19 numbers and the threat of shut downs and roll backs that do happen. 

I was sewing up pillow cases, did some yarn crafting last month and some this week. 

Leaves were coming down so I have been going outside to take care of those raking them up and getting hem picked up and put in bags mild temps were great.

I walked the dog they other day and saw 7 deer on that walk, another time I saw a bunch of quail. It is good to be in nature. I got a happy planner recovery journal using my coupon. It was great and has helped me to see some things in a different light something I did need. 

I have been helping my son put on a handle on the patio door it broke today I got wounded and bleed a bit but a minor wound sort of surprised me. I had some wood here that he needed for a project he was very happy to get that because of the rise of lumber and I abandoned that project so it was a perfect solution. Now there is a wall of freed up space now in the shed. 

My daughter came by and I was able to gave her Christmas gift, and another item that she said she could use and was pleased with. The thermos and picnic pouch on a strap that she said she could use all day every day she said! I was a gift she gave her dad that was neat but he never used it. But she chose it with care and she loved it so I was glad to get it to her. I came across it the other day. 

My sleep patterns are still messed up after the time change so that has been frustrating. 

I am glad that I have dialed back holiday decorating. With the  cv-19 restrictions reinstated in our state had me angry. I realize most everyone I talk to have had loss this year.  

My granddaughter was pleased with her belated gift some cash, and embrodery floss for crafting the timing was great on that because she said she had learned how use it for a craft!      

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October Check in.

I have been knitting working on a shrug to get done before  the cold snap hits this weekend. 

I am 75% done with this project now it feels great. I am to the last of it except for the shell stitch border. I knit the main part of it, then decided I wanted a hood on it as I had enough yarn for that. 

I  have another knitting project started and ready to go for when my other one it done. This one is an ice blue shawl. 

I have some sewing on my mind I have pressed some fabric I got the other day some quarter pieces I am hoping to do up some bags. That is something after the time change I think. I like to do some sewing when the days get shorter. I can go to the basement and it seems like normal time because of the artificial lighting. 

I got my last ripe tomatoes this week I think. I have been using my smaller crock pot, today I used the large one for country style ribs and the veg. went in the smaller one. 

My granddaughter is going to help me get decorations up this year that will be fun. She is learning to do some cooking, ramen noodles, cinnamon rolls from a can, and we did some peanut butter cookies. 

Summer Winds Down

 As Summer Ends and Sept. winds down. I was doing a mental review and realized I had actually done quite a bit. I have been working on the yard got it mowed and learned the fall fertilizing schedule that was something I had not done alone before. It went well, I read the directions and did the front one day and the back the next so the dog could use part of it. I watched the weather forecast and got to that before it rained. I was glad about that. I also got the trees de-suckered so it is looking better around here now.  

Tulips in safely in the ground in one new spot out front, the other three bags are in groupings in the back.

I decluttered a box of things I came across in the basement that I am not going to be using. That felt great to be free of. 

I got a small crock pot and have been enjoying using that, then the nearly eighteen year old microwave died and I replaced it. I like this newer model with a clock on it and I am learning the digital style one. I got the counters spiffed up and decluttered. 

I did get to the pantry and decluttered it, that was overdue. My granddaughter was here and she made cookies that was way more fun than when she did homework the next time she was over. We got a gift bag ready for her brothers birthday. 

We have not had our first frost yet here but I did need to turn on the heat it was 48* this morning.     

Mid Sept. Rain!

 Mid. Sept. we finally got some rain after the smoke iit was smokey here for ten days. I got to some vacuuming, because of the dust I had to wait on that.  I have been home and inside a lot more than normal. I took some down time and watched some shows I like on Net Flicks. I got a break in my schedule and finally had nothing pressing first time since the first of the year. So I decided I could take advantage of this for a stacation. 

My exercise was on the stationary bike, and I had the stairs for some exercise as well. One of the things I had not done in a lo-o-ng time was dust the walls so I started in doing one room each day. I got to the last two rooms this evening. I skipped some days. 

I had been doing some yarn crafts knitting dish clothes, and crochet hot pads. That and lifting cast iron skillets I had a sore hand so had to rest it. 

The smoke air quality were at hazardous levels and finally improved to unhealthy. I decided I needed to get out of the house and run the rigs. Even if I did not really want to. 

I have been taking the dog on mini walks just around the block every other day, and finally did one of our medium walks today.

I got more tulip bulbs and planted half of them the others I am deciding where I want to plant them.  I dig a big hole and put in a group planting of them! It is great to look out the window and see them bloom in the spring. It's great to have that to look forward to!  

Grapes

I have been picking grapes and have the ones easiest from the deck and the ground harvested for animal food. I have some more from the railing that are a bit more of a challenge to get to. The deer ate some herbs the night they were in the back yard. I was going to deadhead them and they did that task for me! 

I found some tulip bulbs I like and got a couple of bags of those prepped the soil for that watering it digging the holes letting water soak in and then planted those while the dog watched was fun. I chatted with a neighbor over the fence of my recent actives. 

I found a cherry cheesecake I wanted for my birthday yea! 

I got fuel at a new place the pumps were a bit different but I finally got it figured out had a good laugh over that later I now know a couple of ways NOT to do it. 

I am watering we have smoke and from fires a ways away from us. I am thinking of the go bag and emergency prep. for situations when folks need to evacuate like some in-laws had to do in two different states. Makes one think about it. 

I have tuna in packets poptarts and crackers to go condiments, thinking on the stuff for camping that I used to keep in the camper, kept most of that we have a utility trailer smile hubby and I used to talk about using that but heading out to the woods now is not a good plan. The forests are pretty much closed any way. 

Maybe a retreat to the basement for some sewing and or weaving might be in order. I have been crocheting hot pads and dish clothes this cone of yarn I am currently using is nearly gone. 

I got a couple of bags of donations dropped off odds and ends from the zone work I did last week.  

  

Sept. checking in

 This week went good, not perfect I am happy my ring is done I had some work done on it added three small birthstones. The ones I picked were too big so they had to order in some to fit the space I'd choose. Got more closure on the estate stuff I am glad that apiece is behind me now yea! The school schedule is reminding us of kindergarden for my youngest grand daughter she is in the afternoon session for her grade.

I cleaned out the food cupboard, did a store run, and was not home as much as I thought  I would be this week and hard to get time for a group meeting with my fall schedule this year I realize things have changed. 

My daughter came on my birthday for dinner we had a lovely evening and laughed that was 

good. I got a package from my sister in a town that has a Michael's store I was excited to get that.  I am watering and cleaning at home today inside stuff. Funny how that does not happen as easily if one is out and about for appointment, business, and fun birthday shopping! LOL!

I am still learning some of the features on my phone. I ended up sending myself an email with my grocery list on it as I could not find the other list I put in this new to me phone. 

I have been picking grapes they are ripe, the deer love them one year before I had a dog they came up on the deck to eat them and the tomato blooms. This year they came to the back yard for  more grapes. 

There were winds in the area yesterday and fires with smoke blowing dust made for poor visibility and travels of some were delayed they shut down roads until the winds died down later in the day closer to dusk. I am relieved that it is calm outside here this morning. It is cold 45* when I got up and I am glad I put on an extra blanket on the bed last night. 

Plans

I have been enjoying some time outside in the garden with the milder temps and the smoke from the fires in the west easing up making it much more enjoyable. Yesterday we had a windy day that blew the smoke out of the valley I live in. Today the winds have died down and I am happy to see the progress I made that past few days on the weeding of the beds I did the past few days. 

I dug out some herbs that were taking over and their prickly seeds stuck like burrs in the dogs fur and on my clothing, those had to go to make room for others some bulbs that are not so "grabby", I thought I had them all out but found some stragglers that I had to get later. 

I got more area cleared out by the deck, put in a few of the bulbs from onions that went to seed I harvested earlier. I am looking forward to having a place for some fancy tulips, and a new color of iris if I can find them in stock.  I did not find those tulips but did put in a couple more iris bulbs.

Then it got hot so I went back inside for more cleaning in prep. for my birthday. I remembered it was time to think about holiday grand plans. No grand plans here but I do like the cleaning schedule and motivation it gives me.  

Time for a monthly review.

 This is the 6 mo. anniversary of hubby's death this week was rough at times. I was teary. Also it is hurricane Laura in the south and another one right behind it, and new moon. 

I was so discouraged that I had not made more progress on the clearing out of old paperwork, I so hope to have this delt with before Sept. I worked at it faithfully and it is a job. I have been making progress I can tell because of the five empty boxes that housed it before. I talked to one guy at the store that said it took them a year to go through his granny's papers. In any case I cleared out the spare bedroom of a fold out bed mattress - chair and bedding to make room for the rolling cart with some stuff I did not get to yet. I just needed a break and have the creativity room reclaimed so I can do some fun paper crafting things now. It is good to reflect and take stock of the progress from time to time to not get overwhelmed.

I have been craving a pulled pork sandwich they are not so easy to find in our area, so I got the smallest pork roast I could find and cooked it in the crock pot it was very yummy! Tip of the day pizza tastes way better if you take the cardboard off before you cook it! LOL! 

We have had a lot of smoke in the west from the forest fires it is not as hot but some-what windy outside here in our forecast this week.

I sewed up a comp. notebook cover last weekend that was my project.   

School started here today and my granddaughter came by this morning she is in the afternoon one. This is an interesting year teachers and students alike are learning as they go this year. Ninety % of the  schools in our state are online only, the ones nearest us are a mix of it, and the next town is in person. We will see how long that lasts. 

It has cooled off some and it feels a bit like fall in the mornings now.  It is time for a monthly review this weekend I will need to evaluate my activities this month.  

Stealth Car Shopping

I have been stealth car shopping driving slowly through used car lots looking at a SUV I had in mind. I remembered the SUV when we got the truck last year in a color I love.

But the more I think on this the more I realize that may not be the route I need to do. The jeep is my SUV and I am okay with it now that my leg knee is better. That was my main motivator.

I can and have been using the truck. My friends that got cars had a need for SUV one had a really old car for driver's ed. classes they taught.

Oh well I will evaluate this and see if how I decide or not in the coming months. It is good to have the time to process this. 

Art Date

 I went on an art date. Had to adjust the schedule because the bookstore did not open until mid morning. So I waited to leave. It was fun to look forward to that. I am SO glad the weather cooled off some and we got a bit of rain. I took the dog for a walk before I left. I was able to find some inserts in the size that I wanted for a travelers notebook these have lined pages for journaling. I also got a journal with a floral print on the cover, and coloring book for adults this one has butterflies a project with that as themes I want to do. 

I found a book at the used book store for my granddaughter she has a favorite author she is enjoying these days. Her last book was on a wait list at the library. Now she will have one to read when she is here for the days she does not have her book with her for the reading time slot. I am gathering ideas for a project to get going on some of the fabric book covers I have in mind to sew up. Sort of like a Bible cover but without a zipper and no handle. It was good to get a day out of the house relax and I enjoyed myself. 

Today I have been out in the garden got some weeding done on one of the flower beds in the backyard. This is great for getting balance in my life one of my goals. I found one of my goal setting books and did some pages to fill in on one of my new planners. When I was decluttering in the office I also ran across one of the booklets that went with my Franklin Covey planners so I have been reviewing it as well. It is good to look forward to the next quarter and think of some of the goals for the next season.   

Quiet Time

 I was up early and got up and was out the door for an early morning walk just as it started to get light. The sunrise was lovely and I had a lovely prayer time watching the colors change from pink to gold as we walked. The dog was eager to join me. I was excited to be able to finish by five before it got hot. I then went out side to journal under the tree in the yard. It feels good to be back in to a journal and doing that again now. I took a bit of a break for a week or so until I decided what journal I want to use now. 

I got some verses in my quiet time to enter in my Spiritual Journal a travelers notebook insert. I am using these as practice one as they are narrow and the cover is wide, I was disappointed that they were not the size that fit the best. But I did the lined one last month this month I am setting up the graph pages one for Sept. some of the verses go really well with the theme that seems to be coming out as I work with these pages. I am looking forward to doing some drawing on these pages, and adding ink in colors. 

It has been a challenge to get booklets that fit in this set up. I am thinking I may be heading to the bookstore and art supply store as soon as the heat wave breaks. 

The basement has been wonderful during the heat we are having now. I am painting another dresser currently. Glad to get to this now and I am thinking of other pieces and the vision I had when I got them and gathering the courage to tackle some larger projects. It is good to get my batteries recharged and refill my tank. 

I am considering some sewing, spinning and weaving projects this fall. Neglect not the gift that is within you.  

This Week

 This week I made progress on the desk duty and got to the the shredding that I wanted to get to. That was huge progress for me when I accomplished that task yea! It was very freeing. Dead files over ten years old in a box have been dealt with! YEA!. 

I got the camping stuff put away from family camp last weekend. 

I worked on some regular weekly tasks that felt great to just have a regular week. We had cooler temps this week that was a real treat. Cooler nights and good sleep was sweet glad I can appreciate that now. I had a fresh slice of tomato from the garden on my burger last night and I  enjoyed that tremendously. Walking the dog is a bit later this week I do not have to do it at the crack of dawn with cooler temps.  

Sat. is my project day I did some on my project ahead of time this week. I painted the top of a dresser, it was blue with white knobs, the top is now white now too. It is really cute! I was going to paint the whole thing but I really look the way it looks now! So fun to have this option. I have another dresser to paint as well something I am thinking might be a great project to work on for the weekend we are supposed to have a heat wave. I need to consider what color to do it. I have learned putting a fan in the room really helps to dry the project and clear out the paint smell. [I am using water soluble craft type paint these days.]  

I finished knitting a dish cloth I have knit dozens of these however this one did not turn out very well. It had a dropped stitch and a whole in it I had to take it apart and rework the last 8 rows. It was not as pretty as some but feels great to knit. Knitting it metative for me and helps me to relax. I will keep this one to use myself. Most of the time I give these round dishcloths away.

I did some drawing in a new travelers type notebook that was fun. I am looking forward to inking that cover page. 

As I reviewed my done list last week I am feeling good about progress. I failed to use the new planner I am trying out. The Passion Planner has cramped together feeling for me. I'm watering the lawn got that back on my schedule, I got the bird bath cleaned this week been putting that off. 

My birthday is coming up in a few weeks and I am trying to come up with a few ideas for that this year.

Learning

I am trying to learn how to use this Chromebook more effectively. I want to create a calendar, and digital planner, and notebook from scratch, and this it is not a walk in the park. I am learning more things this program.  The videos I watched were not for this system. So I had to find others to view. 

Also one of my goals is how to make an ironing board cover. I had to create a pattern, with a roll of brown paper, and traced around the one I had that cut out a prototype using an old sheet, I have another ready to cut out in case I need to tweak it. I did that and it turned out great! Yea for success! 

I  got more paper supplies, went to Staples they had a puny supply in stock of disc bound planners, and other planners. Disc bound ones were non existent, no Arc, Happy Planners, or Martha Stewart. ones either no supplies or paper for them either. I had a hard time finding inserts to fit the cover I have that I like as well. I finally found one in the art supply department of the W store of art paper but at least it fits and is heavy paper. I can use it for a pattern and know that it fits. It was pretty spendy however. I like the just under half sheet size I am not sure what it is called A5 maybe. I do use classic size happy planners and have found some hard cover journals, and soft cover dot grid softcover ones that size as well. That was a nice surprise. I got a couple glittery comp. notebooks to remind me that this is my year to shine. I wish they were not so wide. 

I am glad for cooler temps and could clean out a few more areas here some in the carport, some in the small shop, and I made room to move tools out of the she shed in to she small shop. Got the bikes out of the front yard and under the carport.  I cleaned another corner and have been all the way around the carport and it is looking better now yea! Plus a pickup lot of donations left last week when dgson had his yard sale yea! I am still so glad about that. 

Family Camp

Family Camp this weekend was a success. I cooked up a turkey and took it they were taking turns with meals so I did that for my turn. I had a turkey I wanted to use up this was a great opportunity. Turkey to share was great. Getting it thawing ahead of time helped with the use of my phone reminder.

It was pretty simple to just put it in the oven, then I transported it out to the camp ground 15 min. from our house by placing it on a cutting board with towels around it and seat belting it in the other front seat that worked out great.

This was the best camping food I have ever had, deviled eggs with bacon, green beans, summer sausage, cheese, spicy hot raspberry jam snacks, pin wheels wraps cut in slices, green salad, were a hit.

Family came drifting in from all over the area, in laws, ex-inlaws, future in laws. Tents pick up canopies, put trailers, horse trailers, a jeep or two and outdoor kitchen set ups, pop up shade tents, five dogs, folding tables, canoe a couple of birthdays to celebrate mad the weekend festive.  I took out my extra life vest. That was well received.

There were five dogs and they were well behaved. The change of pace in our summer was great for having a break and getting out of the rut.

Neighbors camp trailers were gone this weekend as well it is a popular thing this time of year.
It is easier to do the the safe distancing at a camp ground that at some one's home I discovered. The camp site they were able to get was one with our power and only a community water place but worked out okay as we had our own way of using propane for cooking and brought beverages, and water jugs.

I am glad I kept the camping gear as I knew we loved that and most of it came in handy.

New Planner!

I found an unused passion planner at the thrift shop the full sheet large sized one. I had wanted to try out one of those. The hourly slots on the days of the week are great for some time blocking I am doing this week. This planner works in with some other things a have going on this month. It cooled off here today.

I have been tweaking the planner found some white out in the form of pens and used that for redoing the numbers on the days of the month for the last half of this year.

I like the review pages, there are questions that I like for the month and quarter. Traditional stickers
for planners do not fit the boxes in this one I discovered, I can do some are and use my color coding pens draw a bit here and there.

I got all the slots filled in I put in done tasks I am glad this is not any smaller because I rite pretty big. We had a bit of rain that was great.

I have been decluttering got some more items rounded up my grandson is having a yard sale for a fund raiser! So that worked out great for me. The shed has some more space freed up in it. The timing is great on this I had in mind items to declutter but did not get them hauled off yet. My grandson has a truck and can haul them.

Weekly HIghlights.

One day this week when grand daughter came by to pick up her phone she left. She asked if Wade came and how ofter he comes over. I said it is sort of random and he mostly comes by at night.

That peeked my daughter's interest asked "Who is wade?

I said "Oh he's the neighbor's cat."

We got news of the schools schedule in our area. 

They are all doing some 5 mi. small school. Is having all face to face learning no online classes there. 

The one grands go to are some on line some face to face. 

Collage for one dgd is all on line. 

So it is a mix. 

We have low covid numbers hope it stays that way. 

I set the timer to do some writing did not get to the writing, but I did get to the focus room this week my office and it was exciting to make progress in there and other areas of the house just doing twenty minutes was productive. 

It has been super hot this week, I like to put water from the hose when I am watering on the back of my neck it is wonderful for cooling me off. The dog lets me sprinkle water on her when she comes in from a potty break. 

It it the time of year that ice cream for dinner sounds great. Lots of iced tea this year. 

Getting the book case organized made room for some books and looks so much better in that room. 

Buzy Week

It was a busy day and looks like it will be a busy week here. 

Dear granddaughter needed a ride so I got her she came here for lunch before going to her other granny's. 

I have to thaw out a turkey that needs to be used up for meat for a family gathering later on this week.

My grandson is having a yard sale so I have some things I thought of he could have for that. Glad he has a truck and muscles! [Me smiling.] It was good to see the grandkids.

I am happy with the few tomatoes I am getting just enough for me out of the garden. I have no cukes at all again it is like the third year in a row, not much zucchini yet anyway. 

This weekend I got fuel in one of the rigs, and walked the dog by the river in the shade on the way home 

that made it fun! Got take out chicken for lunch. I was pleased to find cleaning when I looked for that last time they were out when I looked. I got some fun print fabric for some projects I want to do up. 

I have an idea for some travelers notebooks and covers and journal covers I hope to make I want to keep them cleaner I may be putting them in paper covers for now for a pattern and temporary solution. 

I had a great success this morning I set the timer for five minutes and worked on the next zone the sewing 

area, moved paint cans out of there into the paint room, and got the fabric off the loom and the table in there. I also got the life vest and ice chest and cumpas upstairs and the laundry up the stairs. I was amazed how much progress was accomplished in such a short amount of time! 

I had a friend stop by this weekend to get her book and some I added to go with it and some apples for her horses and hens. It was good to touch base and see her and her hubby. He was interesting in the plant cage transformed from a checking run. I texted her what we did so she could tell her hubby 

Schools are coming out with their plans it is a mixed bag in the area we are in because we are on the 

border so one state is doing one thing and another district something totally different, one is doing regular face to face in school learning, others are part time on line and part time in class. Parents in our district are protesting in class school I hear so it maybe online learning time will tell. 

I did a store run this week and got that out of the way. I am trying to  make a journal cover. Dear grand son is having a fund raiser yard sale so I got the items for that rounded up together so they will be easier to load up. 

  

Understanding Change

I realized that this season is the first time since I was about twelve years old or before that I did not have to take care of anyone else and I can take care of me. It was really freeing to think about what I want and or need. 

People say if you need anything. I asked for flowers with roots  because I liked to garden.

This is a process of healing. 

The dog is great company for me also a great listener a great companion on my walks and exercise, and in the garden. 

With everything that going on this year it's different. I am be happy just getting the house in order and letting go of things that have been kicking around past their time and letting go. It has been very healthy for me. 

I have enjoyed a zoom class and what I liked was after this free class it was saved so I could go back 

later to get the part I missed in the beginning. Gotta love some of this new technology. 

I am learning what direction I am going on the journey that I am on this year. I've sorted out craft supplies from the other stuff to shred. That really helped me to box those up and getting them out of the way. I have a dresser of painting supplies to empty out next as I need to paint that dresser. 

I am getting the things sorted out that need to be given away, let go of and out of storage. I realized I needed to get to the closets that are not in specific rooms like the linen closet and coat closet at opposite ends of the hallway. 

Tips

Tips Some of the things I have done in the past.
After a family member found water in the basement in another part of the country.

I have been going down stairs and doing a daily check in that room where the hot water tank is.
I like to do three trips up and down the stairs for exercise each day as well so this works as some 

of my daily goal for steps.

Fill the mower the night before or get a family member to do it for you.
Set aside a few min. each day for desk duty so it is not so overwhelming all at one time.

Do segments of time on bigger tasks like 15 min. of sorting paper taming cleaning 

then take a break and come back to it again and do another round or two, 

I did this last month working on office organization and getting the order needed in that room.

Aug. Prep.

I am getting ready for Aug. making plans and going over my notes. Setting up my Journals and planners. I got a new planner it was too small so I am using it as a health tracker, food, meds, and exercise. I am a type one diabetic and do better when I track that stuff.

I got the bigger size planner, for weekly chores the only thing is that it has a black border on the top of the pages so I will have to try my gel pens there in gold or other colors gel to write there for the stuff I would track in that spot. washi tape or something. I can always get other pages but I do not have the punch for it to put the holes in the pages.

I love this time of year when the school supplies are out. We have not heard if they have made a decision on school this fall or not. I tried some new gel pens by sharpie this week I did not like them as well as 

the other brands that I have been using. They are not always in stock. 

I had some estate stuff to deal with last week it is on going this month for a while longer.

My granddaughter has been here and I am trying to think about how I would be if they do not have regular school schedule. We still do not know the schedule or plan for this school year, I got some journals and books with that in mind just in case. One is in Spanish. on the title and blank unlined journal. My grand daughter is learning spanish on her phone I thought she might be interested in using that one. We will see. I had a few other things on hand I rounded up, comp. notebook, pack of pens, tissues, etc. that might come in handy. I found a list on line for her grade that included tissues, and wipes. Had those too I have a book bag so I will put things in it for her to use here or where ever. 

I was tickled to find some lined blank journals for me to use I was delighted to find several. They were on my wish list before I went in. I stopped by my favorite local taco stand, their till was whacky I said I would be back for my order the thrift shop was nearby, I had ordered food to go far an early dinner.

I did some gardening this morning and got some cherry tomatoes for a snack that I had grown.
Growing your own veggies takes all the fun out of going to the farmer's market! It was over by the time I was done with my errands anyway.  My zucchini did better last year than this year. Cukes are not doing anything again this year 2nd year on a row for that.  

I am trying to get back on track with my routines in Aug. I sorted journals I am done with and some other books. I have an idea for some crafting book covers and such, I need to clear the photos I took out of the dresser so I can use the table in the rec. room. Then I can consider painting that dresser. And using the folding table the photos are on. 

I have some zone work to consider like the sewing area this quarter. I have been down sizing photo albums that is quite a relief to have done some progress on, not one of the tasks I enjoy and rather dread it if I am honest about it. 

Hot weather in the triple digits here makes working in the cool basement more desirable than other 

times of the year. 

Plans for a new month.

Aug. set up and plans are in my head and on my mind. It is hot here and not as much fun to get outside to draw and or sketch. I slept in today an missed the morning cool walk. Did some decluttering and counted going up and down the stairs as I sorted things from two dressers. One is completely empty so I can paint it next mo. or in Sept. The other dresser I weeded out some items and got half of the drawers cleaned out.

I was over town at the time JoAnn's was open doing an errand so went in with the dog the dog picked out a toy while she was there. I found a glittery pink planner I have had my eye on clearance. Sort of sad because I was like two days late to use a coupon that came on my  new phone.  Oh well I was happy to find some things I love the med. glitter discs for happy planner notes the leopard spot design on the cover. 

My daily pages journal is full, I am using my notebook 5 x 7 binder, and the classic size line journal
for bujo and doing full sentences instead of lists I dis - like this but the handwriting practice is needed.
Having my plans from various happy planners in one is not my favorite but I am sticking with it.
I am pretty sure they will go back to the previous way. I had one I was inking and drawing in and that got overlooked this month. I miss doing that each week.

One thing that has surprised me is the budget stuff in a spiral notebook like kids use for school is actually working for me.

I did find replacements for my daily pages journals they were out earlier in the month. School supplies are back in stock. I found pens also.  I am still looking for a TN style cover for my fav. size of journal lined or dot pages.

I am a total fail at doing any planning on a phone or digital device, I have been doing without my phone reminders for Rx.

My granddaughter's phone is like mine but hers talks back to her mine just gives me websites so I need to tweak more settings. But that had to wait as I had to do the chromebook tech. stuff.

I am getting a routine of sorts back this summer, but ... you know stuff happens and it is not set in stone and remaining flexible is a good thing.

I need to remember to get a pen case now while school supplies are out, I like the ones with a zipper that kids use, I use one for pens and another for meds so I need to get two of them one of mine the zipper died and had to use a different makeup one because they were out of stock.

One thing that was the most successful for me recently was my What Have I Been Putting Off List. I worked on that and felt very successful getting some of that done. Other things come up but I did about half of those things it was a relief to tackle some of those things yea me!

Making a list of shows I'd seen made me realize I could use my time better especially in the mornings! 

New Day New Week

It is a new day and a new week. I got some of the morning stuff done working on my routines. Weekly stuff is under way now. I've gotten trash ready for trash pick up day this week. The yard is looking better. I do better when I get out and do some yard work a couple of times a day. The small market had coins when I was there earlier.

I made good progress on my current scrap yarn project of odds and ends yarn a granny square that keeps growing. My shoulder is sore so I had to rest it today. I've been trying out my new knitting
needles on my continuing dish cloths of cotton yarn. They help me relax when I knit on them.

I bottom of the basket I painted last now matches I got the rest of it painted to match, I put it outside
to dry and hung it in the plant cage when I harvest herbs fruit and vegetables out of the garden it will come in handy and it a good size.

Trying to get better at house stuff, it is too hot to garden this afternoon. But the birds still
need fresh cool water in the bird bath.

Got a travelers notebook I am using now, and journal soft cover with dotted paper. School supplies
are in! Just sayin' that might be one of my weaknesses. Got my notes for how to do a travelers note book TN put in it just for fun and ideas for lists. My "what have I been putting off" list has been very productive for me. I want some pages for drawing also!

More Tears

I had more tears this week, I learned my nephew died on a motorcycle when a truck hit him. My sister called and let me know, he was her oldest son. We are shocked and heartbroken. He was only 38 years old he loved to fish and had just gotten a boat fixed and running he was a mechanic. He was in the navy after collage.  This week has been a rough one needless to say.

We have wind here again this evening. I mowed today. Walked the dog. I got to the weekly tasks this week.

I have been working on some yarn projects, and did some painting. I painted a desk and did some musical furniture getting it it in the office after I took the one I was using. My daughter and grand daughter helped me move them.

I mowed and did some gardening this week.

I took some down time to rest and regroup with the news of the most recent death in the family.

I had good success finding some of the items I needed in the craft department that I had not been able to find yea! Got some paint, got some of my favorite pens that were back in stock as well. Found a traveler's notebook. The cheapie one but when it get grungie I can just toss is and get a different one when school supplies are in stock. I have been considering making one.

Tech. and more

I have been doing tech. stuff this week getting my tablet to sync. and my pc needed some help had to use the power wash setting seems all good except getting my gmail on the pc. It has taken a unreal amount of time now I know why if a pc guy has to do it that can take a week.

It is another reason I like pen and paper planning in case a tech. device is down.
It is funny bc according to my phone I have less screen time this week down from last week. I am only using it for texting and calling. I might need to turn that notice off.

I learned to date pw info. because that will help to know if it is a previous one or not! I have been combing through settings on my pc never could find the problem but figured out where a lot of stuff was for settings.

One book July has been interesting, I have not been using my planner because I've been so focused on this tech. stuff. I am going scripted planning in my bujo just to change it up and practice my handwriting. I learned putting all the various pages from this and that planner in one did not work as I did not even look at it!

I had to take a break and did a bit of painting on a wooden basket, and did a bit of picking up outside in the yard it is starting to look better now that helps. I have some odds and ends tucked here and there that I am not actually using so I have been picking those up some will be for the bbq or camp firewood when camping. My tall sticks were great for staking up the apple tree weighted down with fruit. I am thinking twice about going to the field to hike again after that wildlife experience seeing the badger.

I knitted with a friend, knitting group has restarted but I still have some things
I am dealing with here that need done about hubby's estate before I re book my weeks full. It just takes time.

I want to move the desk I painted upstairs and use it because it has shelves in it that will be handy. I am rethinking the color and might repaint it to go in that room if I have the paint color for the top of the desk. I will have to clear off the current one. I knew it would be temporary until I was done sorting.

I am wondering if I can get away with a smaller dining table. Got another load delivered to the thrift shop yesterday. Just a few things that I had set aside when the shutdown prevented me from taking those items in. I have decided that I like having them unload it.

I am rethinking the "good china" it was our wedding china as well. So as I do each zone I am discovering things I can pare down. I am supposed to be doing the sewing zone this month. But I keep finding other projects & areas outside that need my attn. Because of summer I am outside more. I have to remind myself I am making progress.

Game Trail!

I was on my weekly hike with the dog in the field, I heard a hissing sound looked and saw a honey badger in the center of the trail ahead of me. The badger went one way and the dog and I backed up and went the opposite direction. That was more of a nature trail than I anticipated! That got my heart rate up! I turned around and came back home, a bit later finished our walk on a different route.

My Joy Returned!

My joy returned today after it went to town today. I got donations delivered and cleaned some in the small shop. I am working on it making progress. It feels great to get the piles of stuff by the landing zone in the kitchen and dining room. Yea for progress. When I rounded up those items doing my last round of de cluttering the thrift shop were not open. I am learning the drill now, the employee got the items out of the back of the truck while he took those inside I set the other items from the cab on the tail gate and stood back while he loaded them up.

I found the first two cherry tomatoes out of my garden today.yum! I enjoyed seeing the flowers in the yard. I found baby squash also when I was watering.

Looking forward I want to get in the sewing room load some bobbins and hem up some more of the bandanads other projects. Christmas in July projects are progressing slowly.

Emotions go up and down have you ever noticed through out the day how that will happen? What happens if you are having a great day then some thing happens you get a call, or misplace the car keys, or you cannot find important paperwork what happens does the good mood evaporate?

Or you are having a rough day and you find a new flower in bloom, or find the first rip fruit, or new baby veggies in the garden? Does that lift your mood?

Moods can change, life can change the sun still come up in the morning and the birds still sing! A good thing to remember, life goes on.

The three D's

I have been discouraged down in the dumps and disappointed. I am feeling like a post holiday let down has happened. I have been here with the dog this weekend no family gathering happened.

I tried listening to some parotic music that made me cry thinking of the family gatherings we had as kids and that made me sad so I had to change that channel.

They had fireworks displays but no one was there to cheer because they closed off the stands, bleachers were empty. Home fire works were loud and obnoxious. The dog and I were unsettled.

We went to the basement and I painted a desk until I ran out of paint. First coat is pretty much done.

I remembered how Brother Lawerence had a medative way of doing regular daily tasks as a medation and I did that this morning while I picked up and put away things around here and swept the hard surfaces. Glad for that improvement it looked better. I saw my verse reminder that comes each week. Thinking on that I am going to get to writing out verses on my planner pages. The timing of that reminder was perfect!
I have heard of folks that have verses come through out the day I am not sure I want that many coming in my phone, updates can be irritating to me.

This afternoon I dug out two walnut trees they were not very big, I have learned to get them before the get over a foot tall they are much easier that way. I am alergic to tree nuts so do not need those here.

I could not find paint in stock for the paint project so did not waste a trip to get that. I may just change color and mix up what I have here shade of blue I have on hand. I did not paint because I could not decide on the color I wanted to use.

I was trying to find a journal cover and sketch book then remembered that I had one of each in the book case and got those out now a couple of  pages are full.

Got out my lined journal for daily diary type of entries when I realized that the one I am in will be done in a couple of days. I will be using the one with vintage pattern designs on the cover I got a while back.

I did not run the ac today 60*- 83* today's temps did not seem so bad.
I still need to walk the dog it will cool off in a bit.

Painted a desk. Messed up my computer sigh might have to take a break from this and my on line fav. sites. Only using my tablet now. Getting security updated making progress on that but it is a slow process for me.

The Sky Is Falling.

We had rain all morning. I got my new phone screen savers changed had success at one thing I suppose, log in set up then tried to get and app to work and it would not acept my pass work and my bday was wrong, so frustrating. I had to change my chosen pass word on two sites. I did get the google browser working so I can listen to books, or what ever that was good. I had to do five different pass words on two different sites I have burn out on thinking of new ones. I need to remember my one step at a time motto.

The other site had so many hoops to jump through I had high hopes it would work with this phone but nope.  Any way   I reached my hour long attempt, I do not do well if it takes me more than an hour to set up. At least I did not shed tears over it but I was close so had to let it sit a while to regroup.

I have been trying to get some news on the status of our state and area and the sky is falling poop news channel is acting like all the increase is news when we all saw that coming. Even our area is getting a bit of increase by one.

We had rain most of the morning here but it cleared a bit and I was able to walk the dog that helped me clear my head.

Got success at the shredding and the clean up after a couple of rounds of that today, and then I reclaimed the table yea! Empty boxes got moved out of there as well.

I have a couple of other boxes to deal with but it will have to wait until after trash day. I am trying to go back and pick up the aftermath of sorting and cleaning is messy and needs a bit of attn. on my sorting tables.

I need to get to the store before it gets too busy over the fourth. Some fireworks have been going off just occasionally.

OBJ / One Book July

Digital Planning / Learning apple Iph8
what makes sence to me.
setting up calandar and planning to be digital.
Learned how to get access and setting up
phone
reminders
calendar
clock
alarms
Alexia
bday
Rx
Appt.
sync. w google if possible
produtivity
notes / one note
learn icloud
random picker
-------
Other planners
Monthly Happy Planner this is your year to shine not cutting it for me with just list pages so I will be adding more to it. Soon as I get the pages out for next year to make room in it. I revamped my master groc. list yesterday with just me here I have been shopping differently these days. Figured out on the month I can add in important stuff at the end of the mo. that I want to keep track of. I have not been using it.

My Dream Planner happy planner discs with a hard bound cover set in teal. Odds and ends of notes lists ideas info. I've needed plans as I move forward this spring as every thing is different now after hubby passed away.

I have a budget planner not using I set it up but have a spirial note book I use instead instead.

I am missing TN for art fun and I need some of those I am currently out so will try adding them.

I have a five by seven inch note book with gold roses on the cover I am using for a brian dump from the books and e-mail course on griving it is about half full. I dis like the fact that it is at an angle and does not stack well with other books planners etc.

Daily journal morning pages in a diff. blank lined journal that is nearly full will be by the end of the month. I color code inks with specific colors for various days, in my journal it is easier to tell when one day ends and the next one begins.

BuJo classic size hard bound blank dot grid journal, not all dot grids are created equal.

Just saw a new way of planning called the scripting method that intreagues me with a line or two instead of task lists or to do lists something I will try out.

I think of things as quarterly and doing that kind of plans help me with forward thinking like in the way I used to decorate for fall sorting things in totes out, holiday meals fill the freezer I will be sorting through that and rethinking all of that this fall when it gets here.

Spiritual Journaling is in my Happy Planner faith edition for note Bible study scripture writing etc. I got an undated one and added the faith packet.

I have one I call my gardening planner for notes of things in the yard, I need to add the way h. and dson did fertilizing.

I have one with a cactus on it that I have been drawing in doing some of the art from a video course and book on simple drawings. I have done the inking on those for last month.

I need to revamp meals and menus that is sort of ongoing, meal planning is where ever chicken fish beef pork breakfast for dinner that's it, what ever day I want. Not much cooking going on here this summer.

Today I have been taking pages out of various planner and putting them in the your year to shine planner with the lists this helps. I took out pages for next year to make room. I have Faith planner pages in it for notes when I do Bible Study, and household week pages for home stuff from the homebody planner. So I am glad for a smaller stack that is way more managable now! Yea! The small pages from mini planner can go in the classis size one as well. I just have my two writing journals not in it but so much better gotta love that!

Food for One or Two.

I was sharing with a family member how we had delt with the issue of things going bad in the kitchen. Like the half loaf of mouldy bread, old hot dogs getting tossed out, and milk spoiling in the fridge.

It was time for me to re~evaluate some shopping habits afr er the kids left home. We did not eat cereal for breakfast and did not need a gallon of milk each week, it cut it back to half a gallon, then a quart and finally realized we do not drink milk! Light bulb moment and I was just using it occasionally in some baking. 

We put bread  and bread products in the freeze and just got out a slice or two as needed. It thawed on the counter as meal prep happened. 

I flash froze hot dogs, lunch meat etc. By placing them on a cookie sheet before bagging them up it was easy to get out one or two as needed this way. It also works for fruits and berries.

Cooking up six eggs to devil for one is what I have been doing. 

Starting Small

I am starting small today. I cleared off the landing zone in the kitchen by the door where stuff accumulated. Odd and ends to be put away or go to the basement. Gloves to go in the glove drawer. Tools to be put away. A small box of items to sort and put away, twine to use in tieing up the tomatoes that need staked. I sorted another small box in the creativity room. Sunrise was lovely today.

A small motif to knit on I got started had to redo part of it before I figured out the pattern for the prayer shawl project.

I have started my Christmas in July project as well. I have some odds and ends of yarn so I am going to crochet that up in granny squares some fun things to do. Trying to do round knit coasters but they are on a learning curve for me.

I have sewing to begin and have been looking forward to some fun crafting projects. I cannot find pre loaded bobbins any where.

One of the reasons I worked so hard on the decluttering last month was to free up time and space in my life for more fun crafting, inking on paper and fun things that I enjoy doing.

I need to mow and get out in the garden I enjoy that as well.

Fighting w log in again today grr! Cannot get there from my pc, my tablet is just trying to load circling, some thing has changed and will not let me in. There are days.... okay turns out to use apple apps prog you have to complete the form rolling my eyes! LOL!

One Book July

I am getting ready for One Book July. I set up my first pages for it with the cover page theme page did a bit of drawing. I am using my dream big hard cover classic size journal the says be yourself on the front of it.

This will work out great as the first part of this one has plans and stuff for the first of the year that I stall out on because of every thing going on this year.

The One Thing a book that is part of some of this and I was glad to find it read aloud on line. I could do paper sorting while I listened to this.

I remembered that  I love to do Charistmas in July, sorting and organizing totes from Christmas pupa [pick up and put away] just shoved in conatiners. I did that this spring my grand daughter helped while we were under the shut down.

I do have a project in mind to get going on before the crush of fall projects and business of the season starts. It is a crochet project some granny squares or mile a minute type strips.

I am also learning my new phone, some of it is not that different that my tablet. 

My Year to Shine

This is my July bujo till I use it up it says Be Yourself on the front.  In addition with my new Happy Planner. This is my year to shine. I got a happy planner that said "this is your year to shine" on the cover! So I have adapted that is my new theme for the next year. Starting  in July.

I have started to clean the shop and declutter things set to go. Yea for today's progress. Tree pruning equipment is gone yippe! The guys that do yard work were excited.

I found a home for the fishing tackle as well. I am working on this in layers few minutes at a time, I can do this.

We had rainy weather to be  more efficient I need sunshine. That will come but may make the temps too hot.

I looked in the she shed and found items I had set aside to declutter while the shut down had happened this spring, I can get those out now as the thrift shops are taking things again now. That helps.

Simple things like laundry going are a blessing. I am reminded of a repair person I need to call. I have been going over my bullet journals for the last couple of years for some inspiration and ideas on future planning. We had a french door to put in the shed but it is the wrong size so I am considering a smaller door a regular size one. We had some things for projects like plywood for the floor. That was before I decided that I dis like working outside in the heat and cold with out power. I have other things I can do inside with power!

The garden is under control I do not need rows of beans for just one person, if I do want to put some up there is the farmer's markets to enjoy. Last year growing my veg. took all the fun out of the farmer's markets! LOL!

I started a book wish list and am excited to have one on the way, but may not be her  until next week.

I got a trail in the small shed so I have room to move around a bit in there and need to set up the sorting area in the carport when the rains stop.

I do not feel very shiny at times but it is good to have some thing to reach towards.

I have been doing yard work weeding after a lot of rain in mid June. Grateful for the progress, activity and sun that came after the rains.
July 4th is not fun for the dog with all the noise so I am thinking of her.
It seems the celebrations for the fourth will be going ahead this year.

One Thing Notes

I just listened to The One Thing on audio book on you tube while I was doing shredder detail and decluttering work this past week. I took some notes.

For One Book July there is one gal doing that book for a focus in hers. She does videos on You Tube. Carrie Harding I think is her name.

Went to the store got yarn for my knitting project the smaller motifs to go in between the larger ones.

I have been fighting with my phone and finally got my chrome on it so I can listen. Got tired to trying to fight with Apple id sign in. I just wish I could say I have three divices and yes I just signed in with my newest one! Yes it was me on android I am trying some thing new. Hating apple sign in at this point and others as well. Technology is not my friend at this moment in time.

one thing I can do today to move forward.
            "              this week  "
            "              this mo.    "
            "              in 6 mo.    "
            "              in 90 days  "

time blocking / this is great to look into for more research.
Doing the one thing needs balance like focus on one area but it cannot be half of a day every day we need other things acomplished in our lives also. Like laundry and floors. But I listened to the book and did the dishes and spiffed up the counters then took my divice was using the crome book this morning, it went on my rbr room by room adventures with me while I made the bed, did the daily things on my list. Got to the sinks also! Yea! Walked the dog forgot my phone! LOL! It discourages multi - tasking but I think that is better than sitting on my you know what watching TV and not getting stuff done.

work
family
relationships
to accomplish
find and develop incredable talent
accomplish goals
Balance

I did find another batch of shreddig to do put it in a basket it was not so much so I was able to finish that! Yea!

Signed in for my warenty coating on my phone they do some thing different than screen protectors these days to protect from sctatching cracking.

Used my apple acct. Glad I could do that. Learned how to use a new app and my grandaughter has had hers for a couple of mo. And did not know how to do some of the features. I am going throught the tips manual. Got it to post a pic on fb now, not sure if that it goes yet or not! LOL.

I have two more boxes to shread so that is on my list.

Shredder Duty

Today is a cold wet and rainy one I had to turn on the heat. I did sort and get old checks through the shredder first thing this morning. I am feeling so productive yea!

I talked with my sis a CNA in a nursing home and asked her input for a friend dealing with hospace advice she said was to ask them about resources even if one is not on hospice yet. Different areas have different services. My experience was way diffeent that others I have talked to about it. So each situation is different. My experience with it was short 24 hours and it was at a facility not in home as others have had. I know of four others they each had a different experience with it. So I think each situation is different. So help is avalible but cv - 19 has changed some things or it did for me at least.

I think the counseling and other eperiences with loss of family memebers has given me some grief experience to help with this current season for me. One book called it experienced grief persons, some on to call if you need support. As I talk with the kids I can tell that they are still processing it. I had more time to get used to this season, and saw the daily struggles and know how it was effecting us.

In the audio book it suggested ten most common asked questions, that could help to google for some thing you are embarking on. Seek help from outside sources, I have a friend with some thing that is challenging her I have zero experience with so I had to say I do not know. I did a tiny bit of research but then realized this friend just needed a listening ear as she processed what was going on and things she was grappling with. End of life stuff for a family member. The next step the big one and getting beyond that.

Some times we need to plan and get a list for after the loss of a loved one, or after we retire. Where do I go from here, the list may or may not work out but at least it can be a spring board for the next thing. Getting our minds in to different head space than being stuck not knowing where to turn or what to do next.

Now I need to think about what else is going on for me. I am grateful for the small things today like the sound of rain drops. I laughed out loud at some thing silly today. I know my joy is returning that helps.

I was please to be a blessing to others as I share some of the things I am letting go of. Old CB stuff and a bag of rags some one said they could use that others did not want was gave me joy to share. That also freed up space to breathe or have something more useful in my life now.

I am SO excited about some new things in July. I have been listening to an autio book while I shred papers and that has helped. I feel more productive.

I have a new bullet journal to begin on the first I hoped to start it today but there are just enough pages for this month. So cool how life happens.

New flowers are blooming in the yard some sunflowers that came up on their own are now blooming, and some lilies that I planted. I can think about bulbs I want to get and plant for blooms next year.

It Came!

Got my ring [costume jewlery] last week. That and some books of grief that do seem to be helping. I got a pie for remebering what would have been our 46th wedding anniversary. It was fun looking forward to it. A bit clunky big but a symbol for me of all the big steps I have had to take this spring. It is a bit wide but oh so much fun. A copy of Princess di's ring that Megan M. eventually got. Love the color of it.

I also got the books that week it came as well.

Trying some thing new with this post I put it on an automatic upload time it is good to learn new things!

Sifting

This past week was a lot of going through things sifting through papers, sorting things, and purging old files and letting go of not needed items. That I will not use it is definately a process. The house looks like some one is moving or mucking out a room as my friend would say.

Good progress and I was able to let go of the things I had set aside for that. A couple of people helped me to figure out this and that. my son got the things for family and that he wanted this weekend. I said "Merry Christmas from Dad." before he left.

I have two trash bags of papers that I have shredded, one will have to go out next week as the trash is pretty full already.

I need to clean up in the rec room before I start on the next round of things from the storage zone in the sewing room that I will move. It will be great to get to that before Christmas in July focus begins! I have my crafting projects in mind for that.

Rain and cooler weather makes for more desirable inside activities. So the small shed clearing out is pushed back a bit more.

My son said "WOW mom you have really done a lot in here!" When he came downstairs to the room I had been focusing on that made me feel good. I am thinking that this is one of my gifted areas and I have experience as I have done this in a couple of the jobs I worked at in my younger days. Cleaning a mechinic's shop, and purging files in a couple of offices.

I now have more boxes that are empty and I have done rather than needed to be done unlike earlier in the week. So that is a good way to gauge my progress.

New Phone

I got a new phone or new to me actually at the phone store this phone has been refurbished I'm happy about this but there is a learning curve and I need to add contacts. Learning as I go with this. Got the cover to protect the glass, and a case protecter.This was a sweet deal and I am happy. They did not have the 5g phones yet.

Apple 8 version is an upgrade for me I am on a learning curve for me. Happy I figured out voice mail.

Decided against a free 30 day trial of Apple watch, that was UGLY and figured I would ruin it in water gardening or doing dishes and small print. Might reconsider that at some point.

Got a spare case protector only to discover it was for plus sized phone mine was not neither was grand daughrers so I retunrned that case, I realized before I opened it and found one in the right size! A spare is good because I had one break and coild not replaced  because the phone styles had changed no covers were avalible.

[Took this pic. With my tablet.]

Focus

Learning to focus, that's what I need to do.
I need to trim my bangs and pay attn. to the budget.

I have on a house dress today thinking it is good to pick one day to dress up even if I am just at home, but not painting day as I am messy. I remember when nurses wore dresses white uniforms at work in a doctor's office.

I was up in the night with a low I stayed up and did the floors they were over due.

I have mowing to do later on when it dries off a bit.

I have a ladder to build out of 2 x 4"s. Hoping to do it just with a hammer and tape measure and nails.

I have been going over my plans for a new month, my bujo is nearly full so I have been decidding what to use for the next six months rest of the year.

Our gov. have instutide mandaory face masks in public. Makes me wonder how that works when you are eating at a cafe'? I found info. on that after you sit down in a cafe' you can take your mask off. Only one case in our county that was three weeks ago.

I walked the dog before seven this morning she is way more willing to go then. She likes to be sprinkled with water when it is the hottest part of the day. Think water babtism not hose sprinkler. She dislikes the hose.

I got my hydration beverage in the fridge for later on.

Sorting some markers was successful glad I decided to do that got the old non working dried up ones out of the bag I keep them in a zip lock bag. Yea for some progress.

I am continuing on paper mountian sorting, I got the envelopes off the papers and the junk mail out, those do not need to be shredded. I got the sherdding done of one years stuff today by doing it in rounds. Peppy music helps! I am to the last third of this now. Seems to be going better as I get a better way of system of sorting purging and deculuttering. Listening to books on tape helps me to feel like this time is productive for me also.

I am starting to look forward to next month and some fun crafts and things that I want to do.

The problem with focus is that it can be all consuming. I have been working on the acrhive papers decluttering project, but with out balance the rest of the house is in dire need of attention now.

It was a windy day and even through it is cooler was not so fun to be outside. 

Paper Taming

More sorting ~ neighbors said they had to go through old stuff they had as well their shredder was going for two days. Old tax returns.

For my task it is like three times what normal folks have. We had a business there is that to purge, personal stuff as well, and from his parents and a grand parent there are boxes to do. So I just tell myself I can do ten pages a day or an inch of paper work each session. I have done this in the past. I have to not think of it all at once and have put it in different areas so I do not have to work on it at once.

At the tax place they were joking about the "W-mart" brief case when people bring tax stuff in a plasic grocery sack. Had to laugh about that. I have used a non plastic re usable bag for ours at times.

Hubby had kept old log books from driving truck over ten years so those left they were in of the drawers of things I let go of. Seeing the progress that I am making on this is very empowering for me.

The desk I cleared off earlier this week is a great sorting station. Some personal stuff is in room, and business in another. I went through a box of each. The desk is cleared off again now.

I took a break from paper work sorting and weeded around the plant cage to de~stress. Had two phone appointments today.

Yummy lunches this week have been cottage cheese, cooked turkey, cukes and tomato slices love the summer menu change up!

I have climbed 2/3 rds the way up paper work mountian, the other side is a slippery slope. LOL. The other third is for another day.

I continued this the next morning to proff it, got the next batch of sorting shredding to do upstairs rounded up it will take a week I suspect. I also decluttered half a shelf in the small shop this morning it was way easier and takes less energy but it is hot here today! Ack! Rain coming this wekeend and cooler temps that will help.

Decluttering Restarted

I am SO glad I kept on with sorting de cluttering and the zone with in a zone work. I found 25th wedding anniversary pics that was great. The manual for the boat motor can go to family member that has it now, and life vest useful goes with it.

Called my son and he is interested in things I thought he would want. Plus he can help with telling me what things are that I do not know what they go to. I figured out most o f it.

I got the vynil table cloth on the folding table and rolling carts art coming in handy for moving boxes around I thought they were paper work some had a few fun surprises in them like the photos. I am so glad I took the time to clear out that corner now smiling!

Taking a rest break for lunch found some good stuff in the deep freezer for this week. Meat already cooked, veg. and rolls. So I can continue on with the projects I am doing don't have to cook it.

Getting the paint up stairs and outside to the she shed my painting area is done, I am clearing a woek space I used last summer out side is under way yea for some progress on that!

Found a bag of paper work for shredding or burning from last summer, delt with that.

I was pleased with my paper work organization of past years it paid off today yea me! Divide and conquer is the name of the game on the paper work, personal on one shelf, business on a different one, and farm stuff in a different spot.

Then sort what is old enough to let go of and some is to keep with historical significance. My office experience is coming in handy and pointers from family memebers. I found yet another office in a bag while cleaning rolling my eyes. I am happy I have another desk in the basement I can use for some of this.

I talked with some one who's spouse was gone three years and said I was ahead of them in the process every one goes at their own pace. As this person said it does help to keep me busy. I mentioned that the books I got have been helping I think. Also doing rounds is helping so I can get a break.

Other things need my attention like daily tasks laundry and such doing the budget, and kitchen work. Some music and Netflicks have been great rewards for me.

I found truck owner repair books, and some 30+ year old paper work let go of that.

Summer Routines

I am working on my summer routine schedule, had to change it up a bit because of the warming temps. Did my journaling last night and my planning. I  have done qt & walked the dog early done by nine my goal is before ten. She liked that!

I got the trash dumped, I have more stuff to sort as I am working on the closet under the stairs making great progress. I can move some paper work off the rolling cart on the shelf, I am 99% is attached to the wall I need to recheck that.

I have windows open for fresh air and cool morning breezes. Hit music is on this morning. I am rethinking the other shelving in the tool room. It is good to think and consider some changes on my walks.

Good progress yesterday my new plan on difficult days is to get a project going like on anniversaries, Father's day etc. I am going to get dirty again today it is a no jewelry day. It just gets in the way. I use my phone so do not "need" the watch.

Soon as the grass dries off I can consider the burning I want to do and cook something on the firepit. I need sorting stations in the shade set up.

I have blocks and boards I can put up to get things off the ground. I used the wheel burrow that has one flat tire for some sorting that worked pretty well I was surprised.

This reminds me of going through his dad's shop at the farm that was a pretty big job and it was gone through by his dad as well before he passed on. It is good for me to remind myself it is not that big of a job!

I cleared off a work station and moved it to the basement taller than the blocks I was considering. I took the carpet we had put down there temparilry so I can paint in there now.

Home Work

I signed up for an e-mail course on grief work. From one of the books. Gary Roe has excellent free on line resources. The first lesson was on  getting together with a friend and safe people to met with, putting together a team. Support net work.  A journal has been mentioned already. I have been doing that.

I grief work in the past in the 90's when my sister completed suicide, and a few years ago when my mother died of brain cancer, has given me some experience.

My friend said she is writing again. That was great news. We have giving ourselves permission to move ahead and face what is next and do some things that help us. Make some plans and think about a next step.I am hoping some one can be helped by this blog, but if not I know it is helping me.

Part of the problem in early grieving you are crying and cannot really read words on a page in a book because of the teas. I was grateful for my auto pilot chore list to help me through the day knowing that. And I had a list in my head of things I knew would have to happen in the coming days. My daughter had went down a list of those before hubby passed. I knew them but also knew there was a timing thing as well. A couple of other unknown items cropped up and got added to that list. But it progressed. Is still progressing. It is a process one step at a time.

The list I know you are wondering ~ generally speaking
services life celebration gathering of family
notifications
budget  accounts phones etc.
dealing with clothes what to do with the "stuff".

Rings getting my stones re set no hurry on that or get my wedding ring sized for my other hand, or getting the stones changed for colored ones.

This takes; time three months later yea still dealing with this list.

I have a five year plan to down size, if I can still mow and keep up with my garden, use the laundry in the basement, if not will re evaluate then if I can keep the house. Time will tell. There is so much stuff here my looms spinning wheel here and hubby's as well.

Unfinished business...
French doors that did not fit what to do with them?
She Shed to paint in.
Shop stuff sort and declutter started working on that last weekend.
Got an idea today that some of it might be going to the habit store, but of course the kids want some of it they say but if they do not come to get it in a reasonable amount of time guess what it is leaving the premises.

Having rain today and plans got changed of my helper today. Oh well no hurry I suppose.

Time Stood Still

When my watch stopped I was looking for batteries for it and found not one but two of my old watches both still working. So I am good in the watch department.

When grief this spring I had to walk in what felt like molasses, getting through papers and things like that were a challenge in those early days for me.

I worked through the fog and got some routines going. Those helped and I remembered how much it helped to get some fresh air and out of the house, walking the dog, gardening even just sitting on the patio.

Writing helped and remembering some tasks I liked to do like knitting that calmed me and brought comfort and helped things feel normal to me.

I heard of someone this week that lost a spouse and is not doing well. Unable to keep up their yard, lost pension when the spouse died. Is deciding to keep the home or stay. Big important decisions but rethinking is important if things are not working out. The kids are not helping out but sometimes that is the only way for a person to realize change needs to happen.

Anger is a part of the processing I used to smash pop cans. It was great therapy for me. This week music is helping last week it did not help.

I am doing better now able to sort and delcutter some things again that I did not even try to tackle before. It is nice in the basement, and outside in the mornings in the shop and tool room it is cool. I went through another shelf and a half. Might need some boxes. Some things need to go outside. Progress is great like things together and I can do this one of my jobs I cleaned and sorted stuff in a mechanic's shop so I have a pretty good idea of how to sort this stuff. I am trying to clear of space for files that are needed to be kept up off the floor. 

Found a few surprises like the new mirrors I think for the old truck and a couple of things I have no idea what it is or the purpose for it. I will have to take a pic. and post & ask if any one knows.

A Place Of My Own

I finally got my own place, at 65 I have never lived on my own. Yes I have done a budget mowed a lawn been a home owner. But never on my own. This is exiting and fun for me I am the boss and I get to make the decisions and call the shots.

I do not have to cook if I do not want to. I'm stocked up on granola bars, pop tarts and ensure! I like to cook but not so much in the summer. My bbq ing skills are sorely lacking. Rolling my eyes.

I love my yard and garden roses there are a life time of gathering planting and fun putting in those. Trees have come and gone as have some plants.

Today I am enjoying some jazz music in the back ground. It is raining gently outside here now. I am trying to decided what to do about the truck. I cannot haul stuff very well with the cover on it. The truck is so nice. I will be getting new bed liner dirty 99% sure! LOL!

Got to town today and was looking for wooden crates for a project they were out. I was disappointed. But got some vinyl type fabric to use as a table cloth, and some cotton for future projects the cotton is a garden theme.

My watch quit they are not working on them so found a new one and got that. Took a bit of a drive and saw three deer two bucks in velvet and a doe. That was exciting for me to see.

I did some cleaning in the small shop and that felt great and found some stuff in it the leaf blower. Some things I had will work like I had in mind for the crates but I had to move some stuff to get to them a small dresser. And a work counter for on tome of them. I got those moved and I am calling this the no tool version of my work space in the she shed. Some thing I can move also.

I found things I had been looking for the Christmas cards that was a surprise! Some other things that need to be gone thorough old papers and odds & ends. So getting through that will be my next round of de clawing that paper tiger.

My oldest grand daughter came and got the fishing tackle for her guy he bought the boat hubby had built and sold to our son. The tackle need to go in the boat not just sit around here!

Weekly Hike with My Dog!

Saturday Projects:
Took a hike with my dog in the field today. She got to chase a mole or gopher and had a blast. That was out exercise today.

In the pic she is enjoying the cool breeze of the fan after we got back it rained a few drops was a bit muggy out later on. When she does this it reminds me of when dogs poke their head out the car window to catch the breeze and sniff the air.

Speaking of moles I dug the hole to put the cayenne pepper in to drive moles out of the side yard. So glad to have the started.

On the walk had a chat with a neighbor that had just bought his folks place, his mom is still living there. He was working the fence line with a track hoe.

Then later on I chatted with the neighbor over the back fence. I asked for the screen door they were done with and she gave that to me. I hosed the dust off of it.

Earlier I put the crates out to the she shed. I am setting up a work surface, tweaking the height of it and seeing what works in that space. This was three trips to the basement for the crates and drawer that I use for storage also part of my exercise today.