Tuesday, September 1, 2026

change ...


good bye August 


hello September 

so on the first day of "office vacation" .. I worked all day, went to the grocery store (yikes) and then ended up at Menards scoping out patio furniture -- 2 swivel chairs purchased ( 11% rebates don't cha know), loaded in truck and delivered to the cabin   (with supper as well) ... the matching sectional was in stock in New Ulm and Jean was going to order it -- will fetch it later this week  

back to the office this morning .. project day again today ...


 

Sunday, August 30, 2026

ah a spot of Lake time


those sunsets even on a cloudy night their fabulous
I finally found the fix for my laptop and was sitting in the porch musing / calculating / stressing over the 2027 County Budget and got treated to this ....



I did post on Wastewook that the office was off limits for most of the week ...  
this morning/afternoon I whipped out another 35 mnprs ... I think we're damn near done -- just the weird and odd to go ... grateful to be done ....

Just finished this round of mowing and while watering the front stoop plants had a freaking bee up my shirt .. got me twice ... evil creature 

more ice and benedryl ... my new favorite drug ..
ice cream for me ... 

 

Saturday, August 29, 2026

cleaning binge

   the "it's raining on a Saturday morning" cleaning binge has begun.  

1    laundry perking
2    basement vac'd
3    taking a rest break
4    next is vac'ing the porch
5    loading out the trash
6    stripping the beds ( well, bed -- once the body leaves it)
7    the fridge ... 
8

all of this prior to the new cleaning lady coming on Tuesday .....

I did manage 4 hours on the lawnmower last night -- most of it is done -- the grass has changed texture -- the quack grass is dying off ... so I was hustling along at quite the clip -- the bugs were controlled with chemicals -- I wanted as much done as possible before the rain.  need more rain.


  a nine patch beauty .... sometimes the simple blocks make stunning quilts -- this one was from a fabric designer ... 

  we went to KAVO for birthdays Thursday night -- Rachael had to work so it was the 5 adults and the tiny Diva ... Mara did pretty well for a 16 month old -- in a upscale Italian restaurant.  I had an upscale pizza -- a $28 pizza -- alfredo, procuetto, argugela and hot honey drizzle -- enough for 3 meals -- tasty ... mom had spaghetti and meatballs -- she wasn't impressed .. didn't like the meatballs -- it had a fresh tomato sauce ... we need to go for appetizers and desert .. I'm betting the deserts are tasty

post cleaning binge:

1    gas and wash for the Jeep
2    wash Ruby
3    finish the MNPR's if it kills me 
         gotta get these damn things done  
         100 MNPR's DONE ... 
4    move home office upstairs -- maybe ....
5    hem pants ... cooler weather = long pants
6    pop into off ice and clean my office .. it's a mess
7   plan the week 
8    sew ?? or think about sewing 
9    finish mowing if it's dry enough - think about weed whipping




Thursday, August 27, 2026

mind is gone ...


so i went searching for "closed" for the week meme's -- toying with an end of month shut down next week .. or less work next week ... it's pretty bad that I'm looking ahead for these today 






this might be the winner

so taking the week off is really taking the week off from "people" or "people - ing" ... if that's a word -- lately I crave uninterrupted work time ... just a lot of push and pulling of the paper and mind .

managed to get bit by something and my calf looks like I've been shot with a shot gun -- went to Urgent Care Tuesday night -- faster than the doctor == steroid topical and oral medications ... using the cream and self medicating with Benedryl at night -- sleeping like a rock :)  

so back to the paper shuffle 


 

Monday, August 24, 2026

august weekends



 I've over-shared this picture from sunset on Friday night --- it was a beautiful end to the day 

  All week long, I planned a weekend at the cabin -- so mid Friday afternoon I headed home and spent 3 hours on the lawn mower ( ! ), packed up Mom and 4 tubs of stuff -- food, clothing, technology and stuff ... we made it out there and had a late fast supper -- I cleaned up and headed for my deck chair --- and finished my book.  A firecracker went off and I looked up and saw the above ---

  Saturday was more of the same -- fighting the internet -- I haven't decided if it is the internet or my laptop -- the battle was epic --- after lunch I came home and mowed for another 3 hours, fed those damn cats and hit up the grocery store --  grateful for family friend who pointed out I had pine needles in my hair -- at the grocery store .. 

  Back the lake without said pine needles and groceries -- I whipped out spaghetti sauce, baked cookies and a gouda cheese ball --- then it was time for the chair and book (it''s a theme out there) 

   Sunday was an early start -- the www was cooperating until 6:30 am ... then it was porch vac'ing, dragging hoses and watering the perennials that are newly planted / transplanted.  The mosquito's were horrid and I have the bits to prove it ... I'm chewed -- a lot 

   -- it gets better -- back home late afternoon -- sprayed out the last of the RoundUp -- weeds be gone!  and finished mowing -- another hour --- 7 hours of mowing ..... it looks pretty good .. back to watering trees this week .. so .....

  a new week and a new project list --- it's Mom and Jean's birthday week .. hoping to go back to the lake for the weekend -- weather and project permitting ... :)




 

Wednesday, August 19, 2026

what a beautiful day


these didn't upload in the order I had hoped ..
sunset at the cabin
I snatched Mom, the chix salad, cookies and we headed out for supper -- a spot of reading, and sunset -- cannot pass up a sunset !


lunch was the always nutricious Kemps Moose Tracks Ice Cream ...
it works 


I pulled this from the camera ... 

it was a perfect day -- beautiful weather and -- I had a surprise visitor late afternoon -- I actually hung up on a client with the " I need to hang up and hug Jason " statement -- I'm sure she thought I was nuts ... but it was good to see Jason !  He's doing well ... over the decades we get to watch clients "grow" change -- all of the good ( and bad ) things in life -- 

 

Saturday, August 15, 2026


the grocery store this morning was an experience I do not need to repeat .. suffice to say .. we're stocked up on things, chix, burger, pork loins, pork chops, frozen pizza's .. ice cream -- all that "stuff"

and to get thru the week, berries, bagels, cream cheese, tator chips

I still need milk, bread and eggs ... I wasn't stopping at zip trip on the way past


I went home early on friday to mow .. like, 3:00 pm Friday -- and by the time I got to the farm -- it was misting .. no mowing -- these dudes appeared . they've been regulars at the apple trees

.

it has been this kind of week -- 4 times this week


momma too ... 


and this my friends is an organic corn field -- she's rough looking -- like more rag weeds than corn .. I can't imagine how this baby is going to go thru a combine -- tall rag weeds


So here's today so far  ....

4:30 - laundry # 1 into machine
5:30 - laundry # 2 into machine
in between was empty dishwasher, tidy basement -- our water heater is taking a dump so I'm getting ready for the plumber ... always good to clean before he arrives ?
6:30 - grocery store -- I was the only customer :)   
7:30 - surfing and typing this 

next on the agenda:
MNPR's == I spent 90 minutes searching for odd county property tax statements so I'm ready to roll with those -- we're almost done with them ... those that we missed or didn't request we'll pick up at tax return time ... time to be done with them and move on to other office projects ...

10:00 - 2:00 I have herdsmanship judging at the fair -- it's raining need the appropriate footwear and clothes .. might need to bring home treats ? time will tell -- 

Need to fetch office homework as well - since it's raining - might as well be productive .. 

I need to stop being responsible and blow off work and be a sloth for a weekend .. 
soon friends, soon ...