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.