New Years Eve - 2024

Perspective 

Is going to be my word for 2025

as in "everything in persepective"

beauty is in the eye of the beholder

let them

all of the buzzwords

I overthink.  I do.  today the thoughts were reflective of the last year, damn it went fast -- must be the aging process -- time speeds up ... 

that and I never seem to be caught up at work -- never -- 

I never stopped chasing the sunrises and sunsets - they ground me in their beauty -- remind me it's a new day and the close of the day - perhaps a "not so perfect day - and tomorrow will be a new day" ... 

I chase them

I didn't take as many pictures as I usually do -- just trying to live in the moments -- this was one of my favorites -- the first night at the cabin in 2 1/2 years -- I finally convinced Mom to spend the weekend 

after this one -- there was more and will be more -- 

perspective

 

12/31/24 Part 1

really tired of the fog ... cabin camera shot from Monday shortly after sunrise

Monday morning inbound .. fog fog fog

another pretty 

I think this was Saturday or Sunday morning as the sun arrived and the fog burned off ... 

all the snow is gone -- 49' was a lovely change of pace -- I worked thru it all 

slogging thru the end of year client panic ... because 12/31 is the time to panic ....

my next life won't have deadlines and drama

 

ahhhhhh

inbound with the sun and fog was very pretty this morning

works for me

I saved this while surfing this morning 

It is kind of a representation of my life in 2024

always running and always running behind

losing shit in the piles

so today I attempted to take charge

from 8 to 5 I knocked out a whole lotta projects that needed to get done - it just took 9 hours of silence and no interruptions -- no phones (except the Publishers Clearing House Dude) no people no radio no tv, it was damn productive ... lets hope tomorrow is the same 

 

and so it begins

Laundry is perking, I'm in the chair with laptop, cellphone, lit tree, tv, coffee and a half a box of raspberries -- 'tis life at 5:30 am on Daisy Lane .. 

I fell asleep at 6:30 last night so I was up and down all night long.  While TV surfing in the middle of the night I discovered the "craft in america" series is marathoning on the various PBS stations.  Excellent series -- cool stuff.  Normally, I sit in silence in the early am .. 

another lovely -- raw edged appliqued quilt 

I love the look but the laundry woman in me wonders how it will wash up ?

I'm too old and too practical some days

the rain took the snow off the lake -- out there in the fog is ice 

hope to get out there this weekend and check over things .. its been 3 weeks 

I miss the place and it's calming influence

Nothing was calm on Third Street yesterday -- the last minute planners were highly excited yesterday -- again your drama is not my drama - frankly I have enough of my own

and the salespeople -- what the hell -- worse than the medicare calls ...

 

Christmas ....

  ...  ah it's almost over ... I do not like holidays in the middle of the week .. it just wreaks havoc on schedules at least my schedule from November thru April.  Yes, I'm selfish about my schedule.  Too much to do and too little time. 

        I spent the pre-arrival of the family time -- cooking and cleaning.  Evidently my "gravy" for the buns and gravy (can't spell bisquit today) ... anyway tasty gravy -- it all got ate.  Fruit plate was a good idea too -- the blackberries -- well, can't win at everything.  Even the cheese ball in tupperware was good.  

        I brought home homework -- ya, yesterday I whipped out 85 1099's and I started working on quarterly payroll reports and such today .. 

        It all starts over tomorrow and doesn't end for another 110 days.  We got this.

        And the BIG question from everyone -- retirement -- well, lets put it this way -- the estimate from the contractor for the work on the building -- (drum roll) ... $44,000 ... I'll be work a spell.  I had friend, Dave, look at the bid and the building and give me his opinion ..  foundation work, tuckpointing, removing, re-installing sections of brick and a full exterior paint job .. $44,000 ... remember back in the 70's and 80's -- it took a while to earn $44,000 ...   

        I'll be working a while longer -- unless I win the lottery .. 

       Ho Ho Ho

Merry Christmas Eve ....

Jan, Mom and I took a drive Monday night to see the Kiwanis Xmas Lights in Sibley Park .. 

first time for Mom and I ...

it takes me a while to do things .

long line, but it was longer when we left ...

very pretty

the ufo at 2:00 is a reflection from my dash :)

I'm a bit surprised that these pix aren't fuzzier ... out the window, moving, while driving

we went to Panera for supper -- OMG that shitshow was worse than mine

the dishwasher was broke down -- so even dining in was served as "take out" .. it appears they were having a really rough day -- they ran out of french bread -- seriously no BREAD.  the apple replacement didn't have the same appeal.  no iced tea - so I helped myself to an iced coffee ... 

lots of tiny pieces in this pretty -- lots

and God willing this will be me in my old age

I worked at the office until 12:30, backed up a tote bag of projects, never ending projects - it is that time of year -- there will be a tiny lull between quarterly payroll reports, W2's, 1099's and BOI filings - hopefully a tiny lull ...

 

humbug

can't live without the internet

the starlink app -- lets me keep the "satelite receiver" warm and toasty

works with freezing rain too

oh to be young and make snow angels ...

Cousin Jack -- 14 months ...

First snow -- first visit to the farm 

 

festive

it's become a bit festive at the office .. a tree, a Christmas screaming goat, sleigh Santa, a giraffe ( from Shirley's family) and gnome Santa .. 

I had an 8:00am appointment with the the right hand - today he's farmer Kevin .. after vacation and corn hauling he'll be back to the office in February 

lit tree at the neighbors on the inbound this morning .. it's fuzzy in this pic -- in real life it is very pretty with the snow .. the melting snow

Solstice Sunrise --- woo ya!  the days are getting longer ... we should be dancing in the streets

Jan texted me this ... it's true .. 

So far tonight 2 pans of bars and I'm about to tackle the chex mix .. I'm going thru butter fast :)

 

snow is evil ...

we have a Christmas tree -- out of the box, plugged in and lit in less than 10 minutes 

needs to settle in and get fluffed 

I like tall and skinny -- 3 pieces plus the stand

ryan, the snow plow guy arrived 

we like him too 

we don't like snow

it was a day of zoom gigs

this is my software rep ..

seriously --- it was a weird conversation --- he's changing jobs and won't be my rep any longer  -- okay James, hope you take the hat off for the new gig 

a full morning of zooming 

afternoon changed to live peeps

on the road to New Ulm in the am

last time

 

Commish Day

so -- the wide legged gray pants -- won't be out in public anytime soon --- the goofy things are comfortable .. but ... 

Commissioner Morrow's last official Board Meeting 

That card was the coolest thing ever -- over the last 3 weeks staff wandered in to sign it and leave personal messages -- it was nice .. there may have been a cupcake and treat involved also ..

we're kind of an odd looking crew .. we have very different perspectives on a lot of things -- Terry mentioned Denny today -- it was a reflective moment 

 

evil Monday - sort of .. kind of

old picture -- I was surfing the internet for "tired cpa" pictures -- weird stuff .. 

another day in paradise today -- lots of people, lots of phone calls, a spot of weird and a lot of mail ... I made it home by 7:00 pm which on a Monday is pretty darn good ...

Yesterday was entertaining, Mom wasn't feeling very perky, so I worked at home - finished my homework and laundry (rug weekend) .. finally got to the office, tamed some piles, emptied the trash, hit up the grocery store and got home by 6:00 and managed to type financial statements for a client and watch Yellowstone .. bed felt good

5 days until the Solstice == longer days, slowly but surely, longer days .. the darkness is getting to me ... today it was gray, cloudy and by 3:30 felt dark .. this from the woman who never left the building until 7:00 pm .. we just have to roll with it ...

 

ice, snow, sleet, rain

after everything mother nature felt the need to share with us today -- I needed a summer picture -- I've been cold, tired and cranky all week ...

Had a client gig at 6:00am this morning -- before the shit storm of winter arrived .. it's not that bad - I'm just not in the mood for winter .. 

one more crazy week at the office and life will slow down for a couple of weeks .. well, slow down might not be the best -- but controllable chaos

we got this

 

old pics pretty pics

1969 the farm down by the river where we used to live we moved out in 1967

1967 Grandma & Grandpa Dranttel's Farm

1972 our house -- couldn't locate it on the 1967 or 1969 films .. a lot more trees back then

green valley trailer court 1969

 

Hump Day Life Lessons

I saw this on wastebook this morning

it's a December Life Lesson 

 

Ice?

took a drive to the cabin on Saturday afternoon 

it was just too nice to work (yes, I was at the office)

the ice has arrived as have the fishing people

at 9:00 on this pix were 3 guys sitting on buckets about 30' from shore -- fishing

the ice is really shiny -- I don't think it's water on top it wasn't moving in the wind gusts or rippling 

I sure miss this place .. it takes me away from all the weird stuff in my world

 

Saturday ..

A couple more pretties from the picture hoarding.  Chaos continues to reign .. yesterday I wasn't feeling the perkiest in the early am -- moved my 9:00 appointment to this morning .. had an unusual client meeting regarding medicare premiums, then an impromptu gig with a trustee which ran late into a new client zoom meeting with family therapist -- lastly tax planning for farm clients .. 

By the end of the day - I needed the therapist -- I almost emailed her. 

Most of us tend to overthink and that really gets us in trouble.

anyway the pretty above is 1/2 square triangles - I happen to have 92 of them in a stack ... hmmm I see the potential 

this caught my eye -- 

I got up at the 5 am rise and shine hour -- a load of laundry ... I haven't done any all week and well, running out of clean underwear might not be acceptable

and I have the rescheduled morning appointment - and another one 

the super stuffers - Robyn and Jan got most of the packets stuffed, sealed, labeled and boxed up -- once the parts arrive for the copier .. we can finish the final specialty worksheets and that job is done .. Robyn and Jan had paper flying yesterday -- I am lucky to have them.

and now I'm psyching myself up to take the shower, get dressed and head to the office -- besides the appointments I have a pile of projects .. the pile has been building all week long .. and the super stuffers left me a bunch of boxes to break down for recycling -- 'tis life

hoping to get Ruby out for one last cruise -- then she needs to go to storage .. 

13 days until the days get longer --