12/31/23 -- the lists ...

2023 -- you've been  a year of change, challenges and growth.  The ups and downs have been many, sorrow, sadness, joy, blessings, immeasurable gratitude.

I have been challenged.
I have grieved.
I have learned
I have grown.
I have been blessed
I have worked (a lot)
I have laughed
I have cried

I have no regrets

I am blessed

I am grateful

I am humbled

I am thankful

I am faithful

I am loyal

I am kind
I am tired  --

I will play more

I will work less

I will enjoy the moments
I will stop fretting the small stuff

I will always see my glass 1/2 full.

I will sleep more 

I will always be grateful for the 

     life lessons

     people 

     skills

     work ethic

     generosity of others

     love 

     faith 

     

12/30/23

by 8:00 this morning I had a couple projects checked off the endless lists -- bedroom, body, and put gas in mom's jeep, bought donuts and milk and headed to work .. there was sun then -- it's gone now

office chaos again/still/yet 

and phone calls

but I'm dressed for it ... striped leggings, ho ho ho t shirt and duster length sweater -- orange adida's sneakers w/striped wool socks .. it's an epic ensemble ... 

actually I wore something similar earlier this week .. minus the stripes and the ho ho ho t shirt .. I told Kate at lunch, i'd wear leggings, tunic top and long sweater every day if I could -- well , I can .. but .... and then again maybe I should

I should go back to work ... argh

 

year end reflections

 

year end reflections -- I'm not going sugarcoat it .. it's been a tough year -- but the life lessons have paid dividends .. I think .. or some of them have -- I tried to find a couple pix that summed up life 

I can sit in a dark living room and gaze at the tree all night long -- last weekend it was my time to read, shop and think ... it is however, listing a bit more, Asshole, the cat attacked it again ..

It's a 15 year old Menards special .. it's days are limited ... a wise woman would order 2024 Xmas cards with this picture on it ... ( the day is young it might still happen)

I should be renamed the Trash Diva -- seriously -- office, farm, cabin -- everywhere I am the queen of trash ... even in a dress and sandals .. yesterday a client came for a brief pre tax gig and ... rolled in the curbie for me .. I am blessed

I parked Ruby on the first shot .. need to cover her and sweep out the shed (after the cover) .. and I'm sure I can find some more shit to throw out -- I haven't spent a lot of time back here 

good friends are the best -- 

and Ruby II before she got traded off -- I really liked her -- it was the wise choice and even so .. it was a hard choice -- I can't believe I'm whining over a flipping truck .. her replacement is nice too .. especially since I just ordered $300 of weathertech floor liners for it .. 

that office view .. any idea how many times I wonder on the state of things --- gazing out the window at State Farm .. seriously, it's my window to gaze from ... 

procrastination

   In my daily blog reading -- I ran across this blub from Yvonne 

 In general, I am noticing that some people are struggling with healthy, professional, timely interpersonal communication. It adds an additional overhead burden on my workflow. It seems like a bit of a trend that I don’t know how to work with.

  pfft -- absolute truth -- 

  I'm trying to set boundaries at the office -- and keep them -- the rest of the crew is much better at that than I am ... I think it is my nature to over - accommodate clients -- problem solving is a big part of the occupation -- and it has taken me decades to realize I cannot solve every problem immediately.  

  So the adventures of the week -- lots of doctor appointments for Mom -- yesterday was a "sympathic lumbar nerve block" (or something to that affect) .. another shot in the spine -- she mentioned last night she had taken less tylenol and thought it was perhaps working -- ..today's appointment is neurology for testing -- and one more on Friday with the NP to review test results and progress .. 

  Otherwise, it doesn't feel like anything is getting done around here ... packet pickup is going well -- phones are always busy .. and I'm struggling with "healthy, professional and timely interpersonal communication" .. it is a world of "hurry up I'm late and I don't care" ...

toodles

M

 

christmas eve

we packed up our lunch, water for the plants, a pail for the toilet (just in case) and headed out to the cabin for lunch -- we still have ice -- but 200 yards out it's open water and also open water 200 yards to the left of this picture -- when the rain and wind arrive .. we'll have open water too

it was so cloudy and raw - we ate and came home .. I wasn't feeling it 

I haven't felt much lately -- a lot of memories floating a lot of firsts -- Mom is also struggling with the firsts and her own health -- it's been a rough month.  I had a chat with self when I got home (not sure if it's going to work) - but we should be celebrating the firsts -- celebrating the accomplishments, celebrating the growth -- practice gratitude for the small things ... 

I get that I'm tired -- I've been pulling dual / triple duty for 10 months -- I should be tired -- I should ask for help when I need it .. it's hard -- but skills, peeps, I've been taught/experienced enough in life that change shouldn't be such a burden .. 

I had hoped for at least one day of nothing either today or tomorrow -- but that's not going to happen and I'm okay with that --

 having projects and things to do .. is okay -- 

it's better than not having things to do or not having the ability to do them.   

today's project list --- floors -- lots of vac'ing, roomba'ing and steam vac'ing .. things are looking better - there was a spot or two of cooking -- nothing extraordinary - just food (soup), and I baked the bacon -- that is a wonderful aroma :) a couple loads of laundry ... and post rug washing -- cleaning out the washing machine ..

I did my usual holiday shopping at the crack of dawn -- pants, top, leggings, 2 dresses .. fabric (yes) .. and I've started adding things to my amazon cart -- I really need to find a computer for the upstairs home office ... life would be easier but I'm cheap when computer shopping 

- and then that damn cat attacked the tree -- I thought it was going to tip over .. it was a bad moment .. he thinks the felted ball garland is something to attack ... ?? he's ill.

and the Christmas Day project list:

1.   start the 1099's, yep ...

2.   dash to the office and zip out two payrolls .. time crunch

3.   change/wash sheets - mom's bed

4.   put together the final bookcases?  I just got to do it

5.   convert my bedroom tv to an amazon firestick 

6.   maybe sew .. or think about sewing or clean the sewing room

 

 

12/23 - Ruby

i fired up the SxS and took a little jaunt this afternoon -- my usual loop around the farm .. checking things out .. here's a shot from the NW corner of the farm .. overlooking the valley 

drove Ruby to work today -- got a wash on the inbound, went to work and even did a spot of shopping at the grocery store (horrors) and the garden center (only 2 plants).

then -- I took mom on a jaunt -- we went to Le Sueur and came home scenic ... stopped at the office to retrieve "stuff" in the drop box -- and to the shed ... nailed the parking spot on the first and only attempt -- #1 would be proud of me -- last year it was a battle.  Tomorrow, I'll get out the "blanket" and cover her for the season ... and then again, if it doesn't snow .. maybe a NYE cruise will be in order ... 

she seems to be the only fun thing I have left lately -- I have to admit -- getting in and out with the bad knee is a challenge -- 

 

(November 2022) -- it had already snowed and backing up and in was messy -- 

 

12/22

well, will probably offend a few -- but before the f-bomb become the norm ... JHC was the worst thing uttered .. and when grandpa uttered it -- he was torked/forked/ ... there was also the "jesus jumping jehoshaphat" .. ya I googled it to spell it ...

I came home from the office with short sassy hair and no homework.  I need to wander thru tomorrow -- the desk is still a mess .. Mrs. H got thru the nasties -- she was tracking down the lost and found .. 

watch the toes -- it hurts when ya break one (says the voice of experience) 

 

and in one hour ....

yeppers -- the winter solstice ... bring back the light .. we still need to get thru January  .. another dark month .. but we're getting thru Nov/Dec without the white stuff .. a third of the white season has been brown 

back deck still life 

evening solstice pics are kinda dull :)  

the grand evening plans were to work .. I'm fried nothing is getting done, I've managed to run 2 loads thru the washing machine, send an email off to family --- and surf the internet -- attempting to not purchase anything so far so good  ... but it is 8:24 .. another 30 minutes of potential shopping before bed ... ya, I'm losing it ... 

will drive Ruby tomorrow to spice up life -- and well, because I can  ....

losing it peeps losing it .. fast 

 

chasing sunsets

I had not checked the cabin cams all day .. at 4:50 I was treated to this beauty .. nothing beats a sunset .. seriously .. no matter how chaotic the day can be .. this medicine will cure anything

and then I walked to the front "stoop" .. damn it was even more spectacular .. blessed to see it .. and in 1.75 days our days will get longer ... it is the little moments that make life good.

we (well, kate) got the first of our tubs of client packets up to GAC to be mailed out .. they (the GAC post office staff) were most helpful -- small moments peeps, small moments.  

I've been off a day for months .. I thought today was Wednesday, alas, I'm wrong, again.  The laundry is perking, my homework pile is a pile and the tv is streaming along.  I've converted 3 of our 5 TV's to streaming and perhaps over the weekend .. it will be 4 of the 5 .. cutting the directv cord and switching to streaming is the plan -- so far it's working well.  the tree removal in the back yard has beefed up our starlink connection exponentially .. it's zips right along .. and no outages :) big grin.

chase those sunsets -- it's worth the moments

 

12/18/23 sunset ..

camera #1 .. 

need my lake time - even by camera

camera #2 ...

 

sights of the week

diesel spill at kwik trip made the police headlines on wastebook 

the "pins" are off a bit and the map is pre construction of kwik trip

damn nice on Thursday 

so nice I drove Ruby to work --- 

some obsessions are borderline weird 

organized raspberries 

I may have sorted by size then ate

it's been a month 

i'm tired, really tired

got up at 4:30 this morning, started laundry and the dishwasher

made my coffee - got comfy in the chair w/a good book

fell asleep and woke up at 7:30 .. 

must have meant to be

 

sign ... giant sigh

 

i enjoy this "sweatpants and coffee" facebook page.  it makes me smile.

the crazy busy week of chaos continutes.  I don't do chaos well, I just create it .. a tornado of missing paper.  Argh.  Appointments, a R9 gig in Mankato -- driving in the dark, bad glasses, bad diet habits -- food is overrated.  Raspberries from the Food Coop are the best.  

Made it home from the R9 gig by 7:10, headed to the cave for laundry and work .. software froze - again.  Clothes are in the dryer -- and my body is giving out -- it is bedtime.  I overslept this morning -- and Kevin saved me with a McD's coffee -- at 7:00 am.  Lots of phone calls, drop ins and just plain weirdness today -- tomorrow is a new day ...

the warmth of 45' will surely improve my mood -- I might have to bust Ruby out of storage for the commute ... actually, I will bust Ruby out of storage for the commute tomorrow .. too nice for the truck .. Ruby and perhaps a pair of sweatpants -- shouldn't every Thursday be "sweatpants day!" 

the lost has been found

37 days after they went missing - I found my glasses -- in the office parking lot -- flat -- as flat as a piece of lefsa.  flat.  really flat.  

they went missing on election day -- I truly thought I left them at the grocery store ... and some kind soul needed them more than I -- I did check the lost and found ... no go ... 

I was leaving yesterday and saw something flashing over by the yews .. but still on the concrete .. they couldn't have been there that long we would have spotted them sooner

no lens left .. but flat .. really flat I have to admit the titanium frames kind of held together (she grins) still working on an appointment with the eye doctor .. had to change it a couple of times.

I guess it is a sign ... slow down and quit sweating the small stuff ... 

I managed to trip over Asshole in the dark yesterday morning -- black cat, dark hallway (no lights ) .. didn't fall but screwed up my right hand .. couldn't open a water bottle yesterday .. this morning it is swollen and stiff .. trying hard not to "sweat the small stuff" ... 

needless to say when Asshole wanted out this morning -- I opened the door quickly

 

and on the 7th day ...

that damn cat made a lot of noise at 4:15am .. the only day I attempt to sleep later ... so I got up and fed the beast -- twice, read the papers ( online ), got cleaned up and started in on my homework down in the cave, took a break to clean the bedroom and change the litter box -- skills ... and by 9:30 I was out of homework .. into town to work on more projects ..

then home and off to the lake to reset the modem/router gizmo ... make sure the cameras worked, talk to the geraniums and fetch the wireless printer ..  stopped at recycling on the homebound and dumped off a load of cardboard ... Christmas cards signed and addressed -- no letter this year .. I just couldn't write one .. worked on the calendar that too probably won't happen .. 

but I got a lot of shit done on my list ... 

clothes are planned out ...

I should be food prepping .. but a stop at the grocery store on the inbound will have to be this weeks prepping -- need to eat better -- and need to drink less coffee ... and I always need to move more

there were idiots walking out in the bay by boondocks -- 4 or 5 and there were 2 next to the float pier .. wth .. life insurance must be good eh.  

we have open water along the shore .. I think it will break open even more when it gets in the upper 40's this week .. upper 40's again.  I'll take it

 

cranky diva

I googled "cranky diva" for an appropriate image .. most of them were not appropriate .. 

yes, I'm cranky -- that damn cat got me up at 4:30 .. ate 2 cans of food and was still howling 4 hours later -- and then he snuggled in with mom and had a nap.  he's irking me 

I finally got to work -- milk/donut stop on the inbound
accomplished a lot considering the phone kept ringing

1.  packet labels printed 
2.  SSTP financial statements done
3.  GSH financial statements done
4.  Tracked down info for SRC -- or the missing info
5.  Got the CPA license filed :) and paid
6.  Did some scanning
7.  Desk projects done
8.  Answered the emails
9.  4 loads of laundry 
10 "middle room" tv converted to a FireStick and streaming
          (I'm damn close to cutting the DirectTV cord only 2 left on it 
            when the living room tv poops out we'll be streaming everywhere
            the starlink internet is a dream after the 5 trees got cut down)

came home -- went back to ZipTrip for milk at home ... 
and am working away in the cave -- tax planning is getting the best of me

My project list for tomorrow:  I need lists 

1.  finish tax planning TW, the cheese heads and the attorneys
2.  get the partnership and corporate engagement letters typed
3.  get the intro letters typed for P & C's
4.  get the P & C worksheets organized
5.  get ESST info out to payroll clients -- more needless regulation
6.  get the recycling to recycling (truck is filling up)
7.  get calendars ordered
8.  get Xmas cards addressed and ready to mail.
9.  get truck washed?
10 get shit out of garage into trash/burning pile
11 get SxS moved to shop, ditto lawnmower
12 get to cabin and reset modem -- www isn't working
13 get the last 2 bookcases put together 

Busy week ahead -- so the more I get done over the weekend -- the better ... I'll be in client gigs, running to a funeral in Mkto, Ditch Gig in Gaylord, R9 back in Mankato, more client gigs and Friday is a New Ulm Day .. BNCHB and lunch w/the Brown Cty peeps ... I'll be pooped by Friday night.

 

 

 

pssffft ....

Mrs. H the super stuffer came to work today .. dang that woman gets things done ... 1 2 3 4 5 stuff into the envelope ... or so she tells me ..

packet production is underway -- now if all of the clients actually open them, read them and digest them -- organization is the key ...

and another day of the chubby old woman in leggings .. navy leggings, navy/cream stiped tunic top and cream channel vest .. kind of trendy if you ask the chubby old woman .. the orange sneakers are the bomb.  seriously, I haven't had sneakers feel this good in a while -- adidas .. 

also Ruby is out of the shed today -- day two .. 

stay tuned for tomorrow's wardrobe choices .. cold, windier and possibly white(r) .. might need to break out the the polar fleece pants, turtle neck, long johns and that fluffy fleece jacket ... and the mucklucks ...  warmth in the forecast for next week ..

 

and poof! it is thursday

taking in color where ever I can get it -- the geraniums from the cabin .. the other two are in the shower stall .. no light ..no blooms

yesterdays wardrobe choices .. leggings, slippers and a nike tunic sweatshirt .. the sweatshirt is the most comfortable thing on earth

busy day today -- trying to focus and regroup before the running begins ...

'tis life

and to spice up life -- I drove Ruby today !

 

and on Tuesdays we roll with snow?

shots from the garage this morning 

I didn't know it was going to snow ... it did

hence I drove the truck, I had really intended to drive Ruby .. 

maybe tomorrow -- her days might be limited

kind of looks like a wonky Terry Redlin painting

kind of -- is the key phrase here ...

another day of endless chaos 

I am grateful - my chaos is nothing compared to the Annextad's

grateful they and the cows are okay ..

 

it was a day

after laundry, cleaning, body buffing, and working in the cave it was time for the other job .. scouting out the placement of a field approach - it's part of life 

we proceeded to the lake where there is ice .. there were people walking out from the public landing and finishing on the "east" bay .. yikes ... even saw some hockey happening -- it was a nice day ... but ...

no I didn't walk on it 

it pays to be old and wise (and chubby - limitations)

my geraniums are blooming in the bedroom

and on the homebound -- 10 boats were fishing in the river under the bridge

evidently the fishing under the bridge is good 

seriously, 10 boats .. weird ...

 

early am musings

wastebook is loaded with advice -- it is truly a shitstorm of nothing, but once in a while ... 

as we struggle thru change -- and every season brings change, struggle and memories.  last night the boys put the snow plow on the truck and made sure all the controls worked, moved it to a more accessible location and well, thought about the need to use it .. 

questioned my timeline for Ruby storage .. it is supposed to be warm(er) and dry next week so she'll be rolling -- that brought an eye roll or two .. might as well -- she needs the miles

I drove out and parked behind the house last night to attempt to see the northern lights .. sitting in a black idling truck in the middle of a 40 acre field was interesting -- no northern lights but it was kind of calming in it's own way .. took a while to figure out how to shut off all the dash lights - me, the idling truck, radio and a herd of deer ...

so it rolls on daisy lane

 

Hump Day

we got this !

21 days

3 weeks

504 hours

30,240 minutes

daily shot from the front stoop ... 

no cars in front of the bar ... 

hmmmm no Hump Day Drinking ?

got to be a first ...

50' at 3:30 .. felt damn good -- I was loading recycling into my truck, well, the truck

might need to drive Ruby tomorrow --