it's for real

.... insurance
.... internet

.... visit with sellers to get the inside scoop
.... remove/resolve contingencies
.... scheduling the closing

.... landscaping plans



holy thunder -- sleep would have been nice
hail was really not needed .



this weeks goals

1.  chop more weeds
2.  walk every night
3.  long arm 2 throws
4.  basement cleaning (both places)

Pandemic Purging

more shots from my Friday night ATV cruise

the clouds east of us seem to hover over for the longest time ... it was cool looking

Yesterday -- I went to a STORE !!  Since the pandemic arrived .. I've only shopped LIVE at the grocery store(s) and gas station ... so the project list for Saturday included returning some on-line purchases -- Target and Kohls --- 

4 stops at thrift stores before I found one that would take my donations ... 

the New To You in North Mankato

the Salvation Army in Mankato

the MRCI in Mankato

and finally the Goodwill Store -- took them 

Ruby's trunk is now empty ( I've been stashing shit in there since Easter Sunday) .. seriously --- I had the backseat of the truck heaped ...

we had some time to kill before picking up lunch so Mom and I wandered thru Michels Crafts ... it was a nice break -- Christmas presents (!) and some more yarn -- because I always need more yarn and/or fabric ... thankfully no fabric at that location :)  ...

denial

I'm going to deny that fall is in the air --- until it snows.   I just need more summer ... 

I played hooky and left the office at 3:30 .. between the wacky google listing phone calls, the political calls and weird computer shit -- I needed to leave.

My Saturday Project List

1.  Laundry ( never ever ends)

2.  Return stuff to Kohls and Target(note to self -- stop ordering shit)

3.  drop off truckload of shit at Salvation Army or MRCI

4.  wash Ruby 

it was raining when I got gas this morning 

car wash seemed inappropriate at the time

5.  mow grass at office

6.  clean of office

7.  spreadsheet work projects 

8.  lake time - start packing up stuff to come home

( or relocate stuff)

Lake Life ...

   so we're in the process of purchasing a lake cabin -- we've been looking for the perfect cabin for 14 months ... the one we thought we really wanted --  got sold after
      ... we visited it twice
      ... hashed over a zillion details
      ... finally got off the fence to make an offer
      ... after all the drama, decisions and thinking it really wasn't the one


 the next one was super cute -- but on the WRONG lake according to the men in the clan.  beyond the cuteness it also had issues ...


so on 8/17  - a property got listed
     on 8/20 - we looked at it
     on 8/22 - we made an offer
     on 8/24 - our offer got accepted
     on 8/26 - we hung out with the family building inspector (thanks David)
 
      once the weird questions get answered -- sump pump questions ... closing can get scheduled --



life is good peeps, life is good ...



I have to admit -- the nitty little details before writing out the check is driving me bonkers.

Wednesday Night Lights ... yep pix heavy

It is the annual August rite of passage -- dairy country's version of Friday Night Lights ... or in my case Wednesday Night Lights ....

silage cutting season - it's entertaining ..

go go go 

loading Jacob's truck

 

that black smudge -- smoke from the JD Tractor pulling the stuck truck thru the peat/mud ... it was growling all the way  

8 row chopper estimated cost $ 450,000, yep

12 row chopper --- not going to guess on the cost 

and the pull tractor backing up to retrieve another one

Dad received a call about mud on the township road ... so I road along -- well worth the entertainment value -- it is like a well planned parade -- something is always moving, trucks, cutters, pull tractors, mud movers -- all for corn to shove in a silo to ferment ... 

feed the cows -- milk the cows -- it's a cycle of hard work

stop and watch if you get to see one in action

 perfect day -- I got to spend part of the afternoon at the lake

sorry about the thumb -- it was an issue today 

(insert grin)

huge sigh - big grin

WOTW - Word of the week

Word for the week -- ADULTING ... seems appropriate for a Monday morning ... 

My loathing of Mondays is legendary -- the phone rings off the hook ( pandemic or no pandemic)  -- 

It is late August however -- so I'm going to declare Monday the BEST day of the week ..

my phone just went off with a weather alert -- oh joy a Monday morning storm - WTH Mother Nature we're done with this crap -- 

since my morning started with gas and wash for the truck, a pit stop for essentials (office food essentials) at our new HyVee -- it is lovely -- I'd better move said truck to the garage -- 

haahhhhahhaaaahha aa   --  she wailed as they carted her off to the institution  ...

WOTD word of the day

my truck looks a bit lonely 

parked at the happy place

I was wandering Evergreen Lane and waiting to be picked up by the others ...

pacing on a blacktop road is entertaining

Today’s word = relax

relax = rejuvenate 

Sunday's should be the day of rest, reflection and gratitude 

old picture -- it was hot hot hot out there today --

in fact we came home early for a/c and less sun

I signed up to get a monthly goodie box from the fat quarter shop --- so far it has not disappointed me .. lots of cool treats this month -- 2 charm packs a swivel rotary cutting mat ( a small one ), needles, thread and a couple patterns

WOTD - Word of the Day

Risk

   Life is full of  risks --
   Sometimes ya just gotta leap --


   I'm not a jumper ..
   I over analyze

   Learning to change is learning to take risks




   Happy Saturday -- hope your weekend is filled with lots of words and less skeeters --- dang critters are hangry !!!

WOTD - Word of the day

Empathy

 -- the ability to understand and care about others --

 -- the ability to hear the voices of others
 -- the ability to care about the voices of others


we all need to work on this one -- the polarized world that is our " new normal" has turned most of us into raving lunatics that only worry about self ...

"new normal" has become my least favorite phrase ....


on a lighter note ...
Cabin # 3 might be the one ...

WOTD - Word of the day

Beginning

A new day
A fresh start
Birth
Re-energize

         Yesterday was weird, just weird.  We're all tired, I get that, I'm tired.  There is no easy way to change or remove the challenges all of us are facing.  So -- that being said -- it's not fair ( or nice ) to push ones frustrations on to another ..  we just have to roll with it --- it's all we can do ....

          Sunrise this morning ( and every morning ) reminds me it is a new day - new beginnings and no matter how weird life is -- it starts over every morning.

         So make it a good one and do something epic!

WOTD - Word of the Day

Hy Vee ..


I know -- cheezy --- the new HyVee is pretty spiffy -- all new and shiny ---
I stopped yesterday on the inbound commute for Board Workshop treats -- because I've had HyVee cookies before ... and well, the cookies did not disappoint.

I stopped this morning for groceries -- yes, I go to the grocery store at 6:00am ... pandemic or not ... it's not busy and I can look with out gawkers.

The deli was staffed -- I was surprised ... it'll be turkey sandwiches on marble rye for the rest of the week  -- a bag of lettuce/salad was $1.88 ... I'm sure it is a teaser but I'll take it ... everything else is comparable to FF --

It is however on my end of town -- they'll get used to me in my garden clothes and flannel pants ...



Happy Hump Day!

WOTD - Word of the Day

Opportunity --

   life is full of opportunities
   sometimes we need to leap before looking or
       they're gone
   sometimes we need to think before leaping
   trust the instincts



  

WOTD - Word of the day

grateful -

    grateful to see the sun rise
    grateful to have work to do
    grateful to have food to eat
    grateful to have grass to mow

    I am grateful ( and blessed ) in so many ways.









day one:   word of the day ...

ah weekends ...

  someday, I'll be one of those peeps who gets to do nothing on weekends.  seriously, nothing, nada, nope, do nothing ....

  I worked until 5:00 on Friday -- I should not whine.  I had work to do.  That is okay and I had a no radio, no TV, no distraction work day -- I think I got a lot done.  It stormed -- we missed all the action and for that I am grateful.  It was dark, the lightening was cool and it rained

 At 6:00am I started a load of laundry and did the tidying of the bedroom -- packed my tote bag of projects for the cabin -- the food, stopped at the office and got the milk, paper, paper towels and new toilet cleaning brush -- some of those items are important.

 We got out there and the skeeters were fierce, really fierce.  The floors got cleaned (inside and out), the counters washed down, lunch went in the crockpot -- and I started my projects.  I shortened 2 maxi dresses the first one 8" and the second 12" (both were Target deals :)).  I also hemmed a pair of fleece pants -- I took a maxi skirt out and decided not to shorten it -- it's ankle length and with tall boots should be okay.

  At 1:30, we had a date to check out another cabin.  This one on middle -- it was super cute, seemed roomier that the Maple Dr joint.  Steps to the water -- 23 steps to the water -- not as bad as our current hill, but 23 steps.  Beautiful landscaping.  Bedrooms were nice sized, bathtub, washer/dryer -- nice big windows in all of the rooms.

  And when I got Mom home -- I went back to town -- mowed the lawn, pulled weeds in one flower bed and damn near died. ---- I'm too old and to fat for this shit.  My shower has revived me somewhat -- but I think I'll be in pain by morning.  Advil before bed might be needed.  The foot with the achilles tendon issue is barking -- it always barks but after mowing it gets a bit angry. 😏

  I'm home now and am moving documents from my old cracked surface pro to my new not cracked surface pro.  I have a couple of work project on thumb drives to keep my busy tomorrow.  It never ends.

 I keep reminding myself busy pays the bills ..

so ....

 President Trump is coming to the neighborhood --  

 I was hoping to hide out at the cabin to avoid the hoopla/chaos/shit show that this will become .... and the most recent press release stated -- it's an event at the Mankato Airport ... 

 alrighty then -- that's closer to the cabin than the office or the farm.

 damn -- can't escape it  .... 

Happy Hump Day

 

Welcome to Wednesday's on 3rd and on Daisy Lane.  

This is our life -- we talk on the phone all day long -- problem solving -- it never ends.  I'd like to think we are proactive not reactive.  Unfortunately, reactive is our new normal.

Home by 6:30, after the 2 hour zoom gig.  It was a gig.  Normal.  Ate a fast supper ( taco johns, it's been 2 months), a fast (short) ride on the ATV and now it's clean the sewing space and do laundry.  There is always laundry on Daisy Lane.  Always.  Fussy and not so fussy laundry.  

The roomba is running in the bedroom -- so when the 2nd load is done and hung on the drying rack -- my sewing room will be tidy (tidier), there will be a bag of trash, a bag for the thrift store and a stack of projects to think about.  I've packed up weekend projects -- 2 dresses, a skirt and a pair of pants that need hemming.  The objects and thread are in my Lake tote bag.  It may be the only organized thing I do this week.

Happy Hump Day.

ps.  the CRP acres were full of dragon flies -- it was a dragon fly convention -- #1 says they eat skeeters ... and that my friends is skeeter heaven!

Soon to be hump day ...

 I find these jewels on wastebook and sometimes they resonate within me.  Lately, in this crazy world, we all need little reminders.  Some of us need large reminders.  

Post Board meeting today, I struggled to get my head into work.  I think I've worked too much in 2020 -- seriously, I've only played hooky once -- if leaving at 3:30 on a Friday is playing hooky.  I need to be less responsible and be a bit more wild.  

That will be the day.

another weekend in the books

 

ah where does the time go ... my phone has 55 pictures of twin fawns on it ... I haven't mastered the download to this computer yet -- it's a cord thing.

I took the sunset shot on a Friday night atv cruise.

I volunteered at the Produce Distribution on Friday -- sweated thru 2 masks in 2 hours -- it was warm, made it back to the office in time to mow the freaking lawn -- a fabulous job during high humidity -- it was sprinkling and I kept on mowing -- the job got done.

Saturday was spent at the cabin -- until the rains came -- and the wind -- fun drive home in the winds -- and then back to work for a couple of hours -- what else should one do when it rains

Mom and I went back to the lake this morning -- mainly, because we left in such a hurry yesterday -- things needed to be tidy'd up a bit -- and upon arrival this morning -- some cushions were left out and a bit damp -- at least they hadn't blown off the deck

today the breeze was lovely -- kept the skeeters on the move and kept us cool(er)

Home in time to feed #1 -- finish up 2 loads of laundry, vac out both my truck and Ruby ... and now I'm working on the weekly project and wardrobe list -- yes, I make lists ( insert grin) 

hump day !

elder #1 put his boat up for sale

it's been two years .... since he fished with it 

last summer was cataract surgeries and this summer is covid

another shot of the perennial borders at the Hubbard House

simply beautiful

sweet corn season

I attempted to jump off the struggle bus yesterday -- I piled a pile of work on my desk and told myself ti must be completed before I went home.  I also spend 45 minutes chopping trees out of  " a " flower bed -- exercise and fresh air are good for the mind and soul ...

I dropped off my truckload of recycling at the site this morning -- empty truck so I can load it with the weeds/trees I chopped yesterday ... if nothing else this week, the damn weeds will be gone and I should be caught up with the projects ...

the scrapping divas need a get together to plan an adventure -- 

bouncing on the struggle bus of life

it's real, really real.

up, down, up down

bored, excited

tired, fired up, crashing tired

i'm just tired of all of it -- 

our vacation bus trip to Texas got cancelled over the weekend.  no magnolia silo's or pioneer woman mercantile in september -- I told the crew at our supper gig I probably wouldn't go -- but dang I like to make my choices.  

we did pull out of the maker fair a couple of weeks ago.  they have yet to cancel and I'm not sure what their plans are ( I'm sure they're bouncing all over trying to make safe plans for all ) 

we've been cabin shopping -- and I think our first choice is a no go.  it's kind of overpriced and has some flaws -- not fatal flaws, but potentially expensive flaws.  it's been on the market a long time and well, it's overpriced.  

work is piling up -- weird shit, the truly weird arrived during a pandemic, and I mean weird shit.  

today's project list:

1.. PCS - 2017 and 2018 -- weird shit

2.  FJS 2017   more weird shit

3.  scanning

4.  payroll TGC

5.  payroll taxes / sales taxes FBG

6.  carry more shit out of basement to trash 

7.  vac floors

8.  mow grass

9.  cut weeds

weekend adventures

Friday was picture day -- after the afternoon adventures I hopped on the ATV .... this was taken standing in the door between the front/back of the machine shed ... the real vision is better than the pic --- 

Friday afternoon -- I left the office EARLY ... and the world did not come to an end.  I went home changed clothes -- grabbed Mom and we took off on a mini road trip -- first stop was the bison range at Minneopa -- the critters were napping / rolling in the tall grass ... 

With all the recent rains - it is so green down there compared to other years -- and the grass/prairie is tall ... 

damn it -- I don't want my picture take

as 10 cars / trucks were pulled over 

on the way home from the bison -- we detoured thru Mankato and stopped at the Hubbard House and checked out their lovely gardens .. they are gorgeous

annuals, perenials and herbs disbursed thru the grounds 

quiet, peaceful and a nice break from the chatter of life

round trip -- bison, gardens and travel time we were gone less than 90 minutes ..

a nice break

Pandemic Day 7634 and I finally started to sew some masks -- 6 on Saturday while lounging at the cabin .. I cut out 10 more yesterday but alas, Sunday was a day of rest .. sort of ... 

I just got the email.  Our September trip to Waco Tx to visit the Magnolia Silos, the Pioneer Woman's Mercantile, the Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial , etc ... has been cancelled -- I had already decided I probably wouldn't be able to go -- covid concerns -- but dang, I was kind of looking forward to it.  

We'll have to round up the troops and plan something fun -- close to home ...