here we go

the season of seminars and continuing education has arrived ... yesterday's topic --

Preparations, Compilations and Reviewed Financial Statements ...

all the juicy stuff of life

most, if not all of them have morphed to on line streaming ... okay by me -- I then have a private restroom and get to select food that is actually tasty

next weeks webinar -- Technology & Security

(both will scare the bejesus out of me)

and my age is showing -- always excited to get the trash schedule from the City 

hate to be a day late with regular trash and/or the recycling curbie

 

the proverb for the balance of the week ... need a list ... ready for a list 

Holiday's are good for the mind body and soul but dang coming back to work to the chaos is not fun.  Tuesday was a Board day and when I got back to the office , the phones were out of control and the bodies where wandering in - steadily.

Yesterday was very calm -- except for the salesman, appointments and meeting gig -- in Upper North -- when it was done, I took the scenic drive home -- Ruby's legs needed to be stretched.

All of the grass at the farm has been mowed -- 5 hours worth of mowing, Tuesday and Wednesday nights -- but nights until 8:30 ... my bug prevention attire -- heavy blue jeans, tall socks -- t shirt and my old Nike sweatshirt that has a cowl hood -- hat with visor, gloves .. and a lot of bug spray ... 

the cowl on the hoodie is up over the hat and pinned shut with a binder clip so just my eyes are exposed ... I did order another mesh bug hat .. it is life

Need to mow at office and I have planted nothing, nothing -- my high priced zinnias are still in the blue solo cups --- also need to master that damn weed whip - I hate that thing.

the list:

Thursday:

1.   Seminar -- 

2.   Tax returns

       at least 5 including MINE

3.   Scanning/purging in FC  30 minutes a day makes the docs go away

4.   Label unlabeled binders 

5.   clean desk during seminar

6.   plant tubs and zinnias at office

7.   mow office lawn

8.   spray more weeds

Friday:

1.    Mom's doctor appointments

2.    Sam's Club ? post doctor appointments

3.    Scanning/purging 30 minutes

4.    100 mnprs - get 'em done

5.    weed whip

6.    start cleaning shop?

7.    power wash lawn mower/SxX

8.    plant zinnia at home

 

reflections

day two at the lake -- the wind went down, the sun came out -- it was a really nice night --the pontoon ride was a nice finish to the day

Saturday, we replanted a lot of grass -- Lee hauled black dirt -- leveled, raked, seeded and then we covered with a straw mat.  I don't know how many feet are on a roll -- but we went thru a full roll and a spot of roll two -- full bag of grass seed and 150 spikes.  Ended up cutting up clothes hangers to make more spikes.  Yesterday was less, but more of the same -- I keep attacking the bank -- and staying out of the poison ivy.  The flower tubs are planted .. and always cleaning.  

yesterday would have been Dad's 88th birthday .. I miss him.  Grief is weird -- I think last spring I was kind of in a fog and rolled with it -- this year is different as it should be -- but 

I've struggled with Mom -- the endless projects, I swear she adds 15 things a day to my project list - and part of it is her inability/health limits -- but damn that list is getting weirder by the minute.  I spend too much time around her and need some space.  Her health issues don't allow her to see that -- or she chooses not to see my struggles -- then the struggles boil over 

a zillion inane questions a day -- and endless "I need ..." .. yesterday before we went to the lake I had 13 trips to the basement --- 13 trips before 9:30am 

this week is a zillion county meetings, a couple of deadlines, the usual payroll 

hopefully, less mosquitos -- and more doctor appointments - the electronic gizmo gets turned on this Friday and the new method of pain control begins -- however -- it doesn't fix the cause of the pain -- only masks the pain -- not sure if it is the answer but it's getting turned on 

 

idiot, me

pick from the lake facebook page --- notice how straight that flagpole is ... someone (not I) worked hard on that .. my weeding job next to the stairs shows up 

someone posted about at floating log

so, the idiot thing -- I say a Joann Fabric post on wastebook, clicked, shopped the deals ... really good deals, too good of a deal deals .. paid for it with my ccard  -- and then went back to Joann's web page and realized I fell for it ...  just disputed the charge with my cr card company . now I think I need to cancel the credit card ...  I AM AN IDIOT .. a roll of batting for $21 was too good of a deal 

 

Garth moments

the thunder is rolling and the rain is falling since 4:45 am 

cheesy GB reference

I started a load of laundry, folded laundry, put away clean laundry, fixed my home laptop (it now talks to the wifi) and am surfing the www ... with my trusty iced coffee

it's not a pitter patter of rain .. it's falling .

blogger software not letting me enlarge pix .. dashed out to lake to check on the dock 

last weekend we moved the dock in a couple feet .. assuming we'll be doing it again this weekend

life skills

I spent the last couple of nights on the lawnmower -- thankfully -- still need to mow at the office .. and spent 2 hours getting mom's laptop/tablet/chromebook gizmo to reboot, talk to the wifi and all that jazz ... got it back and her games loaded .. way to much nonsense for a Thursday night .. 

next up is the body rework and head to work ... 

and charging laptop batteries

I'm kind of liking this cheepie laptop I bought for home .. it's handy ... and ya know, sitting in the chair, surfing the internet and listening to the rain is kinda cool.

 

rain rain rain

Mom had her second procedure/surgery of the week this morning -- here's the view from the second floor of the Mayo ( Mankato ) specialty clinic -- no pictures of my choc chip cookie or fancy coffee -- I did manage to lose a bottle of water somewhere .. the check in time was 6:00 am so it was an early start -- really early for the one who doesn't get out of bed until 8:30 ... 

today the "electronic stimulator" was implanted in her lower back -- it's the size of a thin mint .. doctors always have food references .. it's just idling away for now ... will get turned up/tuned up in 10 days or so .. yesterday, she had laser treatments on both eyes -- evidently 40% of cataract patients develop scar tissue/junk around their new lens -- oh joy.  

I opted to work from home for the rest of the day .. so 2 loads of laundry, the roomba ran ( a lot ), a zillion property tax returns are cooking .. I did dash to town and get more paper ---  and batten down the hatches -- windows, doors, shut off the server .. all the important things in life

tonight is more property tax returns, return messages and maybe sort shit in my sewing room .. I can see it from this desk -- it's a messssssssssssss

 

signs

a lot of time was spent at the happy place -- it was really windy on Saturday -- come home in time to mow -- more mowing .. yesterday morning was the office (and some roundup) and then a couple hours at home to finish it off before the monsoon arrives

today at the happy place I did a pretty good interpretation of a billy goat .. up and down the bank pulling out "things" I just hope none of those things were poison ivy things ... 

found my horoscope in the paper today .. hmmm 

"do it your way"

I picked up a copy of the paper, breakfast pizza, 2 sweet rolls and a beverage on the commute to said cabin .. in addition the tote bag had my surface pro, mom's tablet, cords, lots of cords, iPad, phone, shorts, extra t=shirt and pine sol -- because we needed cleaning stuff out there ... pine sol works on everything 

the bank got weeded (until the legs gave out), the stick piles got burned, leaves below the retaining wall got raked and burned -- Lee spread black dirt, more dirt to go ..

next up is rocks, rocks and more rocks ... and the windows need to be washed .. 

 

scenes of the week

the allium is blooming -- got a little disrupted from the tree project it's cool

sunrise inbound -- still going to work at sunrise

came with fabric order #2 .. 

filled the tank, washed and then got a rinse from Mother Nature -- happens every time .. then it rained again last night -- small steps

friday nights at the lake 

pontoon made it out before the rain 

although it probably never rained out there

bedroom still life

temporary tv stand -- 11 months later

cords everywhere

overflowing trash

2 pairs of sneakers

quilting tutorials on YouTube 

 

Hump Day Lists

 I need my lists -- they work.

1     Wash Ruby
2     Wash truck
3     Vac all vehicles
4     Plant the zinnias 
5     spray more weeds
6     50 75 more MNPRs
7     laundry
8     play with the fabric
9     finish mowing the lawn (1/3 done)
10   walk more / eat less

the weird and wacky continue - I've decided that is my life.  weird irs letters, weird clients -- just weird

the SQL data base got updated/upgraded yesterday - it was a process -- i've been using an IT guy in mankato since we had to start using SQL -- once every five years or so he comes and does his thing.  well yesterday involved a call to tech support --- it was a process and frankly tech support doesn't know a freeking thing.  

mark was a bit flabbergasted regarding the cost of my software -- "holy shit" was the exact quote -- I concur .. need to renew for 2024 it's upwards of $21,000 for a the tax program, electronic file storage, depreciation, planner program, and electronic filing for both individuals and businesses .. that's a lot of change 

05/14/24 Smoke? Smog?

nothing beats smoke from a Canadian wildfire to spice up the sunset and sunrise ... 

sunset at the happy place and sunrise below on the Monday inbound commute

more progress on the endless lists ... the office list is also dwindling down .. a good thing .. then we can move onto the "summer project list" .. if I clean out 25 dms drawers a day .. I'll be done in 100 days -- it is a goal .. an attainable goal.  I think 25 drawers will take an hour a day.  

this morning I was rolling for town by 5:30 am .. I am most productive early and no one knows I'm here .. it works .. it is the week of endless meetings and this afternoon our SQL data base gets an upgrade .. should be exciting .. scares the bejesus out of me . let's hope it all works when Mark is done with it ..  I pushed the payroll clients to have everything done by noon today .. well it was all done by 1:00pm .. 

tomorrow is a regional library gig in Mankato in the am -- and then dash back for a 11:00 continuing education gig on " security protocols"  this too will scare the bejesus out of me .. just letting it all hang .. scary shit.

 

Happy Mothers Day

I dumped 1100 pix from my phone on Saturday morning .. I need to delete a few now .. 

it was entertaining -- I went back out Saturday Night for the northern lights .. in my nightgown with sneakers and a sweater .. ya .. it was fun until the coyotes started yipping

evidently it snowed enough to shovel on Feb 15th 

not sure when this was -- late March ? mid March -- I must have walked over and fed cats in the snow and dark -- I like the shadows of sunrise 

I did okay on my weekend project list - I have mapped out the weeks worth of projects too .. I'm a lister .. not that I follow them but I'm trying to be better -- it's the only way I get things done -- and lately I'm not doing very well -- getting things done.

I did finish mowing the lawn at the farm and did the office again too 

my new chair is freshly assembled

50 mnpr's or so have been completed

bathroom floor has been cleaned and a load of rugs washed

amid the other laundry 

the washing machine got to run a cleaning cycle

all the other floors basement and main floor have been vac'd

the golf cart is out and running

the screens are on the windows and patio door

the patio furniture is out and really needs a wash 

and

I got to see the NORTHERN LIGHTS ... 

one of the things on my bucket list .... freaking awesome ...

 

Northern Lights

I went and chased the northern lights last night.

Well, I drove out the field road and sat next to the corn field.

Once I learned how to slow down the shutter speed on my camera .. things got better ...

Hope to go again tonight .. maybe at the lake this time ...

 

05/10/24 T G I F

    I think I've forgotten how to play.  

    3:15 on Friday afternoon -- I'm still at work .. remember we're closed on Friday -- there's been a somewhat steady stream of people/phone calls and the never ending email .. I did dash to the Coop for lunch .. my goals for the day were to:

1. type 3 sets of financial statements
2. payroll 
3. 5 issues 
4. mow the lawn
5. call the sql geek
6. scrub my office

and well, so far only 1/2 the list is done -- still need to mow, scrub and keep typing the financial statements  -- I should do my billing too .. getting paid is kind of important around here ..

thelma and louise delivered my zinnias .. they were picking up their's and requested they pick up mine at the same time .. saves me a trip -- healthy looking buggers . need to finalize where I'm going to plant them 

I did surf the internet and order some fabric (because I just need more) I watched the Friday MQC tutorial and decided I needed layer cakes to make the patter -- and it was buy one get one 50% off .. mind you I probably have enough in the stash 

I might go chase the northern lights tonight -- between midnight and 5:00am they are supposed to be good .. last time was a bust ... 

I feel the need to make a weekend list:

1.   Laundry - endless laundry
2.   Get the new clothesline strung 
3.   Vac basement spaces
4.   Put together new chair for home office
5.   Put together remaining bedroom furniture
6.   Eat out - does McDonalds count?
7.   Find some ferns 
8.   Spend some time at the lake (maybe a lot of time)

9.   Add books to the Ipad
10. Sew
          that would be mending and hemming
11. Mow -- more to mow at home 
12. Mow -- office needs mowing

yep, I've forgotten how to play.

midweek tidbits

birds gone wild on Daisy Lane 

the squirrel and the birds seem to be obsessed by the deck cam

this was shortly before Joe and Kevin arrived and -- well, made my year -- they took the snowblower off the tractor and then proceeded to clean up the rest of the wood chips from the tree project and --- hauled in black dirt to fill in the holes -- Kevin told Mom -- it was too wet to farm .. 

Mom called in tears when she got home from her haircut and they were hard at it ... we are blessed with family friends .. seriously, blessed -- 

so I have grass seed to spread -- and am deciding on replacement trees .. 

and the grass needs to be mowed and the weed whip needs to come out 

it's never ending

 Ruby is turning 10 this week ... 10 years of Ruby ... she's a little dirt caked this week our township road was a mess yesterday in the downpour ... but we got to work 

last week was an oil change, air cleaner change and mouse check over and a tank of gas .. she's good for the season -- I can't believe I still own her and my summer of 2024 goal is to drive her more .. road trip a week  ...  well, mini road trip .. today is a meeting in Mankato and then I think I'll dash to the cabin and fix the internet ... it's on the fritz again .. the camera's or the app don't seem to be connecting to the router when the router burps.

sights

things I find in the lawn while mowing -- evidently Bucky felt the need to lose an antler IN THE YARD -- too many critters, not sure where he lost the other half

camera shots from the happy place .. after the rain the lake is up ... and things are green -- haven't been there for 12 days .. having issues with withdrawl

and a later shot -- love the reflection of the clouds on the lake 

lee moved the camera so we have a better view of the dock ... and the bottle tree

got home from the office at 5:00 -- loaded up mom, picked up McD's and we went to the cabin for supper and the evening -- stayed thru sunset -- it was a nice night to enjoy the quiet peace of the lake -- chirping birds, acrobatic squirrels and the sound of the water ..

I sat there and stared at the water -- it was a calm night ...

good for the soul ....