so long 2018

the end of the year -- already -- time truly speeds up as we age.

I've been waffling on the resolutions -- waffling whether or not I was going to make them , print them, share them here, tape them on my wall -- you get the picture ... I never seem to follow thru .. mid-year I shake my head and smile ... and they never seem to change ... eat less, exercise more, sew more, spend less, save more, travel more .... all attainable -- if I listened to self --

perhaps -- I should re-think or re-name them

here goes ...

Better Living in 2019

1.   SMILE more.  
2.   keep RECHARGING the internal batteries.
3.   GIVE more -- self, talents, time, $'s
4.   work more PRUDENTLY
5.   ENJOY the little MOMENTS.

6.   the MORES -- walk, travel, play, save
7.   the LESSES -- eat, spend, procrastinate

so there's my list -- easy peasy! 

  " the way to happiness:  Keep your heart free from hate, your mind from worry.  Live simply, expect little, give much.  Fill your life with love.   Scatter sunshine.  Forget self, think of others.  Do as you would be done by.  "   

Favorite Pix's of 2018 -- (warning pix heavy)

the age of innocence -- these little critters wandered out of the woods next to the back hill one night -- mom and I had driven out to watch the geese fly in ... we were attacked by swarms of no see'ums and got to meet these buggers!

who gets to take an action shot with 3, yes 3 different snow plows in action!  Dad, Roy and a City Truck ... and only at 5:30 am

once a farm girl always a farm girl -- soybeans standing tall 

my inbound commutes to work are always glorious

I am so lucky

and the handiquilter in action

lake action shot -- some guy fishing in front of the party house -- and the party house was pretty darn quiet last summer ...

Late August / early September on a Sunday morning these guys felt the need to fish up close and personal ... what the heck!

Christmas Day Birds

not all of the holiday was spent controlling the outflow of fluids to the septic tank -- I sat at the table and took some bird shots ..

 and this dude was busy sucking up the messy bird droppings
the wood peckers and blue jays fling seed out of the feeders ...

we've survived the nasty weather -- snow, rain, a lot of freaking rain, cold and more snow all in 24 hours .. weather is weird.

Holidays with limited flushing

  yes, there was drama on Daisy Lane ....

  after supper on Christmas Eve -- I checked out the beeping in the basement -- and well, it was the "pump failure" light on the septic system.  oh joy!

  the warning buzzer will go off when the pump quits pumping (and the grinder quits grinding) and there is 300 gallons of space left in tank #1 .... crap crap crap ... literally up the crap creek. ....

  here's to hoping the fix it man arrives first thing this morning -- :)  I called, he called back and we're on the list ! 


  so, that was our drama -- not so bad --

  now on to the next adventure!

more random scattered thoughts

   edited and added below!

  year end clutters my mind (in more ways than one) ... reflections of the past year, goals for the future, change and its uncertainties ... I don't like change --

  the business section of the Star Tribune had a copy of interesting reflective articles -- Mr. MacKay's blurbs always make me pause ..

  and today's feature was equally thought provoking .. I do believe I've been doing to much thinking lately -- and I found this one equally interesting.

  just a lot of clouds whirling in my head lately -- passion, purpose, gratitude, joy, blessings ...

edit: and you know it's a holiday when I start and finish my christmas cards on Christmas Eve, purchase the presents on the way home from the office, wrap said presents ... and ... oh 

the pump failure light / warning buzzer goes off on the septic tank.  We'll be eating off of paper plates tomorrow, flushing carefully  -- and not showering!   

Merry Christmas y'all !!!

random scattered thoughts

a gift to me from retired Commissioner Haack -- many years ago ... I almost re-gifted it to "the soon to be retired" Commissioner Stenson .... it's a good reminder to have organized thoughts

my thoughts are really scattered lately ...

'tis good to be legal for another year 

the things in life that need attention

the furniture shuffle has begun -- I moved this new bookcase into my office ... (and have since emptied the un-necessary out of it -- and the stool full of stuff next to it) .. relocated two other bookcases to the file room and reconfigured that space

always good to have the CPA Certificate, the words of the week, the humble and kind reminder and the Engesser beer sign all on the same wall -- I'll be changing that tomorrow!

the only bird at the feeders this morning ..

the coyotes were in full howl last night -- so far this evening it is quiet ... so far I have video / audio recordings on my phone -- eerie ..... really eerie ..

T G I F

what a week peeps!

I plan on couch surfing this evening -- no stars on the living room ceiling -- but I will imagine them twinkling away -- I really should bust out a lounge chair and sit on the deck ...

it is the shortest day of the year!   

tomorrow the days begin to get longer ....

(( giant sigh ))

end of an era?

Jim and I (photo credit -- St P Herald) .. Jim's final Commissioner's Board Meeting -- 20 years of service -- 20 years of history ...

It's been a wild week on 3rd Street -- I thought my email was really quiet over the weekend ... so quiet that NONE of it was getting to my inbox.  Something with Office 365 upgrades to Outlook and Hickorytech weren't playing nice.  Frack --- I think most of the important emails have been rcovered ?  not sure what we may or may not have missed ...  argh. 

Then to add to the weirdness -- a couple of dizzy spells -- only while sitting at my desk and working.  Weird -- so I googled "dizzy spells at computer monitors" ... good grief ... there is a disease for everything ... just ask WebMD they know it all.

I busted out my "distressed" jeans today -- damn they feel good -- I might look a little raggy -- but I'm comfortable!

just got to roll with it.

fancy new things

bookcase/cube unit #1 -- new unit for my office -- actually it's the TV, radio, speaker, plant, antique crock storage shelf for my office ... 

side table -- also for my office -- to hold the essential items in life -- scanner, printer, computer cpu and perhaps a shred trash bin ... this one went together like butter on bread

#3 -- cube unit for the front room Cindy has already loaded it up

The furniture shuffle is ready to begin -- if I finish a couple more projects today -- I might start ... I may need some muscle to get the job done -- a 4 drawer lateral file cabinet needs to move too ... not sure if we will recognize the place in the new year!  

back to the bad habits this morning -- a little internet shopping while waiting on the washing machine --dang everyone has deals -- blue jeans for $15 .. hope they fit!  

The third load of laundry is now agitating -- and it's 7:06 am ... I kind of fell behind this week --- I just informed elder #1 I needed another clothes line in the basement -- it was a giant eye roll -- 

Happy Sunday 

sparkle

it has begun -- Saturday's on Third -- I'm still at it .... 

I made a list on my giant (like 20 x 30") post it that hangs on my door -- i digress - back to the damn list ... list of to do's today ...  I'm kind of please 1/2 the "issues" are done, there is only one tax planning to go .. and the furniture shuffle is ready to begin.  

I managed to put together all of the furniture I purchased on black friday -- Cindy re-did the front room yesterday and well -- I'm busy

So -- Monday morning it's going to sparkle around here -- new spaces, new look, new attitude

decisions, decisions

I was sitting in the truck at the mailbox having the always entertaining internal debate about breakfast -- that debate would be McDonalds or no McDonalds .. and well, a sign from above .... a meteor .....

in the chaos of my mind - I vaguely remember the perseid meteor shower peaks this weekend -- it's been so foggy and cloudy that I did even give it a passing thought.  

It was a sign -- better things to come!

(and yes, have breakfast at McDonalds -- I scrounged up $5 in the truck's secret compartment) 

Lots of time on the road this week -- Gaylord, Minnesota is always an exciting stop (said no one ever) then on the same day -- downtown Mankato (which one block has more traffic than all of Gaylord Minnesota!) ... a HAIRCUT after the Mankato gig ... feels wonderful.  Thanks to scissor man.  Two pieces of new furniture have been assembled!  The furniture shuffle starts on Saturday ...

The apartment has been cleaned and Jessica is getting the keys today -- pugsley left a fold up queen bed frame -- taking it to the cabin and will purchase a mattress and I'll have better bed out there!  

My software issues have been resolved -- awaiting Mr. Geek and his new gizmos -- 

Life is good -- 

The falling star was the best reminder

happy weekend 

Lance, the geek

   lance the computer geek or would that be wizard ? -- arrived to solve all my computer issues on Third Street -- well -- they ain't my issues -- they are the issues of the software peeps!  dang -- for a while I thought I was losing it ....

  had a unplanned, quick road trip with a couple of the Diva's yesterday -- almost got lost in rural america (or at least the driver was lost!) ... ate lunch at a local bakery -- and then proceeded to buy out the remaining bakery inventory at their "happy hour" ... wth, we are nuts.

 I wimped out and hired a cleaning lady to fluff and buff the upstairs apartment after the last tenant moved out -- it really really needed it ... Diana came today -- I heard the vac running for over an hour ... oh boy, it needed it.  She'll finish tomorrow and then I'm going to put on window kits up there.  I'm all about saving $$ on the heat bill.

  back to the rat race of life tomorrow ... I'm sure it will be entertaining.




  

Christmas shopping

  25 minutes on the internet and one credit card ... and I'm done with the big stuff. 

  Stuffers are next!


 
  The only way to shop!

little moments

This morning I was headed to upper North Mankato for a meet/greet with a couple of clients and their "investment advisor" ... I took the highway -- just outside of town I saw an eagle in a lazy swoop just ahead / above of me -- close enough I could see the white head and tail feathers ... just floating in an arc ... 

I then realized I was right at Dave and Coc's house ... 

It was a sign from Coc -- a Christmas wish -- that all is right in the world.

I miss her -- her level headed wisdom -- she always knew what to say and when to say it -- she had the ability to give me a gentle nudge and point me in the right direction ... all while living thru her own challenges in life ... she was the best ....and she brought out the best in all of us.

thanks for the message -- I needed it today 

I will always need a prod / nudge / wack over the head

I promise to do better

every day all day 

soar 

time to rant

I just sent WC (weekend Cindy) to the post office for stamps for our year end tax planner packages ... she was told "we don't have enough stamps" and "won't get them for 3 weeks" ... wtf .. the post office doesn't have enough freeking stamps!!!!!!

"you have to order them ahead" --- wth.........


so we're on to plan B ....

seriously -- and we wonder what's happening in this crazy world -- not enough stamps??????



and WC took back stamps we wouldn't be needed and they don't do refunds --- WTF ... so she exchanged for a whole lotta rolls of stamps ....

many thanks to the local business -- who is letting us use their postage meter --- the small hometown / locals are a lifesaver.

bunny -- the calming presence on 3rd street

Tuesday's in paradise

ah Tuesday again -- the weird, odd and really unusual only happens on Tuesday ... I was looking for some warm weather photos ... the snow geese are cool ... no i did not take that shot.  My cheap inexpensive camera does not take that quality of pictures. 

And the bottom shot is the office from Mr. Smithers drone .. green grass friends, green grass in that shop .. and by the looks of it an empty parking lot!

roll on
roll on

Winter Storm Advisory -- warning pix heavy

 the birds weren't happy either

pulled pix off my phone == my new daily reminders

the Skyline crafters hosted an event on Saturday -- storm and all ...

I left at 6:30 and was grateful to be home

it was kind of a low key day -- except for those who had to travel

I quilted this table topper (and bound it) ... then I proceeded to attack my scrap bins -- sorted, stacked and chopped up into usable pieceds

the tractor came to town ... the sidewalks were a mess -- it was wet and heavy and tough to plow .. scooping it seemed to work the best

#2 is home with walking pneumonia so it's been a tough week -- lots of coughing, hacking, no sleeping, tired and cranky kind of week ... drugs are wonderful

a trip to urgent care yesterday -- finally .....

zeeee Friday Lists .....

so Mrs. H told me she read successful peeps are readers, driven, list makers, ... I forgot the rest qualities and didn't take time to google it ....

I think I make lists -- so I don't forget shit.  Seriously, as I age -- the mind be slipping ... or the busier I become -- then there's more rattling around up there and it's jumbled.

My weekend list:

1.  scrapbooking with the divas ...
      a.  sort scrap bin(s) cut into usable hunks and piece into donation quilts
      b.  proof, edit and prep corporate/partnership engagement letters and checklists
      c.  do not go to the office (:))
2.  laundry -- the piles have grown this week ....
3.  trash - purge some more ... found a bagful yesterday
4.  finish my current book.

Office:
1.  keep working on the furniture plan
2.  put together the stand up desk -- move desk to file room
3.  move file room desk somewhere (home)
4.  move bookcases to file room

Home:
1.  load long arm
2.  make at least 3 quilt backs
3.  quilt table topper / bind
4.  quilt a mini table topper / bind
5.  more trash

Monday StealthCam

#1 is obsessed over the wildlife eating the cat food ... so there is a camera in the cat shack

little blackie likes to paw at the camera 

hmmm 

find the 'possum

morning chows

sparkle

yes, it is ... especially my office basement and basement stairs -- not to mention the new light bulbs and swiffer gizmo -- this morning I hauled away the pile of dried foliage and grapevines that were in a pile next to the office -- gotta love backing the f150 down the sidewalk -- 

I proceeded to come home and start cleaning in the sewing room -- the piano pictures are a telling sign of a messy space ... wth.

the endless list continues

and the accomplishments of Friday and Saturday were quite entertaining (not) ...

in the rain yesterday .... I
1 - put the office flower pots in the garage
          the frozen plants lost their allure
2 - chopped off some hosta's along the sidewalk
          makes snow shoveling easier
3 - movedthe rake and lopping shears to the garage

worked ... normal stuff -- payroll, financial statements, income tax planning ...

today  ... I
1 - put the new shop vac together and
2 - proceeded use said vac
        the storage room at the office is cleaned
        the basement stairs are partially done ...
            need to work from the top down
3 - got gas in the truck and washed it ....
4 - ran the tape backup ....
5 - brought way to much homework home

and here is the list for tomorrow

1.  finish the vac job on the stairs
2.  haul out chopped weeds (they've been in a pile awhile)
3.  haul out old rugs/floor mats to dumpster
4.  empty all of the trash
5.  prep for pre tax clients
6.  finish the homework
7.  make more lists

so, you know --  you are old -- when your black friday shopping consists of sheets (for the bed) and bra's ... what more can I say ... I only needed the sheets and my favorite bra's were  on sale.


so it rolls between Daisy Lane and 3rd Street

Turkey Date

well, we ate and we destroyed ...

it's down to removing the sound board (wires are out) and carrying it out of the basement

so long --it's been a fun 44 years

ah, the crazy's continue

here's a pix of lake neighbor Buster -- the local rag did a feature on the lake and early ice, water quality etc ... he's a volunteer data collector ... the bay looks cool this time of year

it looks even better when it's 75' and sunny!!!!

Been working (trying/attempting/aiming) to get my act together this week and actually be productive ... it's not happening.  I have the sniffles and I'm whinny -- sorry, that's the truth.  I wish the sniffles would just up and disappear ... 

we're rushing trying to meet deadlines at the office and a couple of clients are having difficulties with timing changes and well, life in general.  

doing the best we can --- sometimes that's not good enough for me ... going to knock out all the weird stuff over the holiday/weekend and well, get shit done.  I might even make a little time to sew ...