working conditions

I worked at the cabin on Monday ... (actually, this is Amazon - my favorite store) the internet gives a spot of flexibility

today I have an 8 hour "accounting" webinar - it's streaming on my desktop, I'm answering the attendance pings and crocheting .. I've cleaned my desk drawers and managed to keep ahead of the emails and some of the phone calls ...

it is one of Kate's days off so -- I've got a sign on the door (it's unlocked) and I'm just hanging out and following along .. yes, my feet are up in a dress .. 

I like dresses when it's hot and sticky -- this one is rayon so it's lightweight - but cotton certainly breathes better ... and yes, my body has a full slip -- my late grandmothers and great-grandmothers stressed the importance of a "slip" ... there were a few jewels of wisdom I learned from them

 

ahhhhhh

the fire, the weeds, the sunset, the skeeters ...

I didn't last long, skeeters and I are a bad combination

our little abode between the not so little abodes .. 

I sent mom home with Shelley and spent the night ... we had a sunset cruise.  I'm a little (well a lot) surprised how quiet the lake has been over the weekend -- with nice weather it has really been much quieter than normal.  Projects out here are getting done, a lot of cleaning, cooking and dishes.  I started a quilt yesterday -- my sewing machine got "hot" and I had to take a break -- I bought it in 1993 and it's never had a tune up (might be time, eh) 

I'm sitting here deleting shit out of our file cabinet system -- client by client, I'll be at it for a couple decades.  

 

Memorial Day Sunday

   I'm on the surface pro surfing and hacking away at cleaning up our cloud version of file cabinet so no pictures .. 

   Farm labor camp continued on Friday - I left the office at 3:30 when the ringing phones just got wacky -- I have no patience for phone calls on a holiday Friday .. so ... 

   I got home and finished the power washing project and finished the lawn mowing.  By the time I was done I had no grip left in my right hand .. but it looks mighty fine.

   Our Saturday started out fairly early ( or early for Mom ) .. a trip to Menards -- hose reel carts, sprayer, 5 gallons of deck sealer, a houseplant, coffee M & M's, watermelon seed -- it was $300 worth in one cart - and then on to the big Hy Vee ... eats for the lake, the $4.88 watermelon was actually tasty.

    Finally got to the cabin ... a spot of cleaning, cooking and a ride on the pontoon.  

    I'm working up the gumption to actually apply the sealer to the deck .. so far the internet surfing is winning ...

Another first ...

    Another big first -- today is my Dad's birthday ... 

I spent another 90 minutes on the "clipper" last night .. my inner quilting diva had a moment while mowing .. I spiral "mowed" the big field .. found the center and then mowed in a bullseye ... a spiral quilting pattern -- a) because I could and b) it was kind of fun .. it actually went pretty darn smooth -- no corners, less turning and well when the aliens arrive they can find the landing pad.

I can see the eye rolls --- 

and yes those are large weeds ... never got there with the weed wacker 

this week has been devoted to more pressure washing too ... the "decking" of the decks .. upper is done and ready for sealer -- lower is about 3/4 done ... it's a job.  Last night the skeeters drove me in before I could finish .. they ( the skeeters) were fierce.  

 

05/24/23

I took this on the inbound this morning -- the sunrises/sunsets with the hazy smoke have been dramatic.

3 months today .. the last week has been kind of tough -- we all grieve/struggle/celebrate/cope in different ways and well, we need to process change and respect differing emotions.  Somedays it is hard, really hard.  

 Looking back and reflecting I see things in a different light -- things that weren't getting done or not done to the norm -- the internal struggle of trying to heal and trying to hide the pain and exhaustion .. sometimes we all forget being the strong one is a lot of work -- hard work ...

so tonight, I'll be bonding with the lawn mower and that damn weed whip again ... 

and moving forward .. 

at least I found the golf cart engine!  

I'm sure more treasures are out there somewhere!

edit: no lawnmower/weed whip bonding -- but I did get the power washer up and running and 2 hours later the upper deck -- decking is power washed -- I wasn't sure last night (in the dark) if it did any good -- but in the morning light it looks pretty darn good -- lower deck tonight -- and Friday is the garage floor and sidewalk and then I hope to put that power washer away for a while (well, the cars, lawnmower and SxS might get a quick bath first) .. 

projects, the endless projects .. need a radio out there if I'm going to keep this schedule ... tunes make the projects go faster ....

 

projects/wheels/things

the mower

it's a beast

things get done

last week - everything got mowed at least once

even went over the hill with it

the power washing of the deck -- the spindles are done

the "decking" is next 

power washer acting up

tonight is weed whipping 

because it's my job

maybe some week spraying 

and some tractor mowing ... 

it's my new normal

spent some time at the lake 

mowed out there too ...

and cooked

and cleaned

and napped 

read my book

enjoyed the view

 

and Friday is

     the day this Diva rides her SxS to Kwik Trip for lawn mower gas - $47 of lawn mower gas ... and has a chat with the Sheriff Deputy parked ahead of her ... 

     "did the City pass the ATV ordinance?" ... I don't know, doubt it, I don't care, I need lawn mower gas... a short time later -- "Marie, they didn't"  --  have a nice night mowing.  

      gee thanks --

      me thinks he decided I was his Commissioner when paying for his gas ... :)  sometimes the Commissioner gig has some perks .. seriously -- hauling gas in the SxS is a lot less work than loading cans into the truck .. and sloshing them home.  

Bird Camera

the camera on the back deck has been busy capturing birds and cats.  

this week's projects so far are ...

1.  Monday I mowed lawn at home, cleaned up and went to a meeting -- came home and Joe was grading the road ...

2.  Tuesday -- More mowing - everything has been done at least once .... and I found the golf cart motor!!!  now to get it to the boys and get their golf cart rolling

3.  Wednesday - mowed lawn at the office, put the portable pressure washer together and started washing the deck ... I have the railings and spindles done -- on two sides just have the far side to go and then the actual decking ... what a mess ...

not sure what today will bring .. 

well, I just dumped over another cup of coffee ...

more floor scrubbing 

I had really tired hands after the power washing marathon and even this morning the fingers are not very cooperative

all in a day's work ....

 

soggy cabin pix

6" at the farm ...

the sand absorbs it a lot better

the bottle tree and tulips

waves will splash

jump

It appears the last bridge over the river will be closing sometime today, tonight, early tomorrow am .. so the cabin commute just got 10 miles longer.  

This too shall pass ... what comes up will go down ...

 

and it continues ...

  ... labor camp continues ...  

    I think it was a productive day ...

1.    laundry
2.    MNPR's while laundry was perculating
3.    McD's for breakfast in a downpour 
4.    Work ....at work 
        a.    got caught up with a client ...
        b.    vac'd all the spaces really well 
        c.    scrubbed the bathroom, the fridge etc
5.    Home - more cleaning/purging/tossing
            6 more bags out of the basement -- and I haven't got to the "hunting" stuff
6.    More MNPR's and RE statement printing
7.    I'm headed to my book ... 

Trash is ready to load into my truck - which needs fuel before I get to far away then
it is ..

1.    back to the office for garage cleaning
2.    pot planting
3.    recycling drop offs

and then come hell or high water, I'm going to the cabin for a couple of hours .. need to do some more cleaning out there too ....

My project of the week was to cancel my newspaper (Star Tribune) subscription - well at least convert it to digital -- got that done and then rolled the savings into ...
a.    a mini spot carpet cleaner
b.    a shark stick vac for home
c.    a small steam cleaner for the hardwood floors at the office
d.    new area rugs for the office ...

my entire newspaper savings went into floor cleaning appliances ... the Star Tribune was up to $700 a year .. I thought it was a bit spendy .. between it, the Free Mess and the Herald - I was spending $1100 a year on print newspapers .. argh. will roll the Free Mess to digital next ... 

ah Friday ...

soybeans are up .. little soldiers marching across the field

I've had a lot of life lessons in 2023 -- some are weird.  #3.3 ... is to get up when I wake up ... today was 3:45, after tossing and turning ... I went to the cave .. me and the laundry.  I have homework, however I'm surfing the internet instead.  

Yesterday was a semi-productive day --- a spot of work (well, more than a spot ) -- Kate was out with sick kids so I was working alone with the endlessly ringing telephones and weird walk in questions -- 

mowed the office lawn 

got home shortly before 5:00 and muscled the new dehumidifier down the stairs and got it running -- it's bigger than I thought but it's working 

next up was gas for the lawnmowers -- and to my surprise -- one of the cans was full!  gassed up the lawnmower and went to work .. most of the home grass has been mowed at least once.  the CC and I were burning up the acreage yesterday ... 

then I hopped on the SxS and took off for Kwik Trip -- got gas and a gallon of milk ... it's the coolest wheels for a milk run (grin) .. 

by the time 8:30 rolled around I was more than ready for a shower and bed so --

oriels on the bird cam

the weekend project list:

1.  basement cleaning

2.  home garage cleaning

3.  office garage cleaning

4.  get the car trailer out of the machine shed and start piling "metal" on it

5.  finish the cat shack cleaning

6.  plant the tubs at the office

7.  .....

8. ......

 

Wacky Wednesday ...

my lucky iced coffee mug/cup

damn that desk is a still life of messy

my other obsession -- m & m's .. coffee flavored with a caramel center .. 

so yesterday I had an unplanned "get Mom to Mkto and Heart Institute in 20 minutes thru road construction" event .. my phone was dang near dead (it was charging when the call came), the only food I had was 3 bags of the above, 4 bags of chips, a jar of cheese sauce and other misc cabin groceries in my trunk.  

Eating the above in the waiting room of the Heart Institute generated a few looks ... I'm sure they were all jealous and no I did not share.  Nor did I consume the entire bag ... at least I was drinking water.  The receptionist charged my phone -- she didn't even hesitate when I asked about a charging station --- took my phone and gave me a 15 minute charge -- lovely woman.  I should have offered her some m & m treats.

Mom home, back to work and 30 minutes later back on the road to Mankato -- with the 3:30 road construction traffic .. ( argh) for a meeting in downtown ..  I got there with a few extra minutes, so .. I walked over to Tandem Bagels for some "real" food ... and they were closed ... grateful the m & m's were in my tote bag ... more for supper 

Finally home by 7:30 -- hyped on chocolate, sugar  and caffeine 

hump day musings

ya gotta be in the know

peanut shells on the floor, spittoons, Grain Belt Beer ...

Orange Crush Pop 

my new coffee cup arrived

and I forgot I ordered the dang thing

the shit show is real

 

epic day

yes, today was an epic day on Daisy Lane ...

 ... I had to google "country clipper" to get it started and then away I went.  Our lawn is in horrible shape.  Lots of winter grass kill .. snow mold, rocks, snowplow divets, rabbit and deer poop.  

so here's the synopsis of the day:

1.    house garage purge -- 1 load to the dumpster -- 2 loads to the burning pile

2.    cat shack purge -- 1 load to the burning pile

         ... got my garden trailer dug out of the "cat shack" it is loaded for somewhere

3.    lugged out all of the pots of blooms from the porch and put away the risers etc

4.    vac'd said porch (twice) .. bloom debris

5.    went to town and delivered 6 bags from my closet

       picked up office recycling .. 

       dropped home and office recycling at dumpster

6.    lawn mower

7.    shower -- cleaner clothes

8.    cabin 

         moved the blooms outdoors

         made my bed ... put away clean clothes

         vac'd floors

         got dehumidfier running

         made supper

9.    picked up Ruby in town (she went to prom)

10.    and here I am ... typing away 

from the dock .... calm quiet night

I finally got the bottles out of my truck and onto the bottle tree 

labels are optional

  Saturday was equally fun ... I watched the coronation (?) .. it's my time of day .. not matter what one's opinion is .. the construction and workmanship in the garments was intriguing ... 

  I went to work ... :)  large grin ..

  I started the semi annual closet purge -- one would think I'd be naked after tossing another 5 bags ... 5 large garbage bags ... what the hell. ...  I went with the "I haven't wore it - toss it theory" .. 

 

T G I F

well, Oreo (one of the oreos) .. I know the feeling

well, maybe not, this one appears to be pregnant and about to give birth

that's not my issue 

I got fed up with life and left the office fairly early .. 4:00 -- the traffic noise is horrid -- just horrid from 3:15 until 7:00 and it will get uglier as soon as the Hwy 99 detour gets rolling ... 

Ruby left for prom -- she's having a bit of a spa treatment first -- Harley was pretty excited to borrow her ... the kids will have a great time ... 

weekend adventures -- more work, more projects, maybe a lake adventure -- I need to make the bed, set up the computer, move the flowers out and clean them up, pick up sticks, mow the lawn ... all the fun stuff .. at least I'm near the water eh

I started projects at home -- after supper -- started with the old showroom -- took 3 atv loads of trash/burn pile out -- last night it was the cat shack .. back at it tomorrow .. gotta start somewhere .. the man was a hoarder .. well, didn't accumulate, but didn't toss anything either  ...  

so it begins

 

the longest Tuesday ever ...

the bird cam hasn't been very active, but when it is ... it is pretty darn cool

Yesterday was the longest Tuesday ever...seriously, what a crazy weird, long, Tuesday.

I started the day at 4:00am ... laundry, MNPR's and body rework ...

Dropped the truck off for servicing at 6:45 ..

Breakfast with the investment club boys

Office 

Lunch with Jack

Office

weird day at the office

home

supper

dashed to the cabin to check things out and water the plants

home

cave and homework

finally bed

it was just a long day, I was overtired -- didn't get to bed early enough on Monday, the endless wind finally got to me ... and I think the office projects, home projects and cabin projects just got a bit overwhelming all at once. 

but the truck got serviced, I had a few minutes at the cabin (few is the key word) and a couple loads of laundry are done ... so is a lot of payroll ... 

today will be better 

( the sun is shining and there is very little wind )