weekends

 

this popped up in my wastebook memories from 17 years ago -- my how things change

the $500 snowplow truck .. with a hole in the dash where the radio was, key bent in the ignition -- somewhat permanently (sp?)  it was a runner ..

Friday, I left the office early (2:00) and went home to bond with the lawn mower -- I got almost all of it mowed in 4 1/2 hours .. whimpy grass mows fast ...

 

we then proceeded to go to Mankato for supper -- back to dining out somewhere new -- Mom chose HyVee Deli for Chinese .. well, bad move might be the best description ..

 

then I went to Office Depot and spent $110, on post it notes, white out, legal pads and a small receipt book .. that was fun

we went to the lake shortly before lunch on Saturday -- after a 30 minute wait in the McD drive up for iced tea -- because one of us needs her iced tea -- and the water at the lake makes crappy tea .. 

it was sunny, got cloudy late afternoon -- it was raining at the farm when I got home to feed the cats ... always LOVE driving home to feed the flipping cats .. NOT ... and then after the front went thru the sun arrived -- it was gorgeous .. 

it was a fast 28 hours -- back home to finish mowing, bond with the weed whip, feed the cats and bathe the lawnmower / SxS 

incident

I'm not sure how to begin.  Mom called mid afternoon - Jean called her and said there was an active shooter incident on our driveway .. at the time I was getting my Sam's Club delivery .. and I headed out there -- came in from the north where the road was blocked with lots of law enforcement - including our driveway(s) ..
a call to 911 to get my mom out of the house went no where ... no where ... I finally drove up to the barricade and not so nicely pleaded my case to get to the house.  Finally, the let me thru with strict instructions not to go to JW's .. so me and the Sam's Club got home
 .. and waited .. and waited -- no communication .. and helicopters circling .. chatted with JW by phone .. finally saw the all clear on Wastebook -- because wastebook knows everything.  

Evidently the order for notification went out and no one got notified -- I'm miffed.  It was a neighbor in a mental health crisis .. we are grateful it was a safe ending to a bad situation.  

no notification -- none.  
I'm a little torqued and calming down ...

the dudes in flap jackets carrying rifles was a sight I didn't think I see at my mailbox ...

 

Amy!

somedays there are simply no words ... but Senator Amy's words yesterday ... hit the spot ... and this meme .. well it too - hit's the spot 

"dirtbag"   really -- I'm not sure what kool aid was being served -- but adults do not behave in such a manner

btw :  I cannot spell Klobachar or phonetically say it .. trips my tongue every time ... even when I was introduced at a County gig .. it's been Senator Amy from day one .. 

 

Tuesday!

inappropriate but seriously appropriate !!!

at least no f-bombs in this one ...

 

and the fog ... never left

awoke to more rain this morning -- no wind and fog ... 

it was eerie and cool at the same time

left for home kind of early 

it was a quiet, calm, peaceful weekend ... I worked a little, read a little, cleaned a little and napped a little .. cooked a lot :)  

back to work and normal tomorrow .. although I forgot the box of ice cream sandwiches out there -- sometime this week, we'll fetch them and catch the sunset (which is coming damn early these days)

 

Lots of pix!

oooff .. she's a dirty Ford -- I went home at 3:00 to feed those damn cats and swap out some homework projects -- I finished up 4 tax returns this morning !!!!   12 to go  ....  

I got up at 6:30 and dashed out to shut my truck window -- the sliding back one was open and it was raining ( in my jammies) .. started the paper reading 

Mom wandered thru and wondered why it was so dark -- time escapes her ... I got up for more coffee and the dock crew was moving the dock up the bank ... 

then I found us on the porch cam ... 

sometimes there's so much going on in a picture that it's cool 

I am a geek

more importantly -- the days until the sun returns ...

need more sun

and the other side -- even the door handles got some overspray 

Ridgetop Road -- was pretty loose and muddy in a couple spots

I run Ridgetop all the way over to Hwy 99 -- 6 miles of gravel .. but it shaves 4 miles off the commute and it's a pretty drive this time of year ... 

We're out here for the weekend -- I've got office projects and she's watching TV ... the view is a lot better than home .. while I'm out here -- I've been tidying up a few things too ... it's too wet for yard work but the vac is humming .. cleaning out the food cupboard -- anyone need can chicken from 2024 -- ya, that kind of "stuff" is getting done.  

 

wowzer

halloween ideas

I saw this quilt in the newspaper this morning -- blocks in memory/honor of the 90,000 people that ice detained, rounded up, harassed ...in Minnesota this winter/spring ... and I'm assuming the number has risen -- powerful statement 

this getting healthy kick I'm on is killing me ... I started by walking 1/2 mile in the morning and 1/2 mile in the evening on the treadmill ... this morning I overslept and hadn't slept well so I skipped it .. the goal is 7 miles a week and add 2 miles every week 

so tonight I did the full mile -- in two sessions 

I'm too old, too large and too out of shape for that ... 

absolute truth 

my feet hurt and I'm sweating up a storm .. need shower and ice cream

the end.

be accountable.

 

6 years ...

6 years of cabin life .. the world was going to hell with COVID and we did a thing 

a really good thing 

this little house on the lake has brought a lot of joy 

it's the place to get away from the everyday stress 

and today's stress -- I mowed lawn for 90 minutes this evening 

day 2 of treadmill walking is done

yes, there's a spreadsheet for both of them 

I have a spreadsheet for everything in life.

 

Sundays

  well, I managed to get out of bed and then fall asleep in the recliner for 4 hours .. evidently, that was supposed to be on my agenda today -- watched a bit of the 4H horse show .. then proceeded to spend $124 on gas, $25 on dirt and $12 on snacks at the gas station.  The truck was almost empty -- got the recycling dumped and picked up more homework -- endless homework 

  went home and picked up mom -- it was nice this morning ... really nice .. so I thought an afternoon at the cabin would be okay .. it was 

I managed to walk out the dock and not fall in .. the dizzies are still with me once in a while

today it was intestinal issues -- weird -- so I had a 3 hour nap once we got out here -- still don't feel the perkiest -- weird 

it's a lonely dock - all of the docks to the right (north) are also empty except the neighbors -- they still have their pontoon in the water .. to the left (south) .. it's a few of them  -  I only saw one boat go past this afternoon -- the sheriff's water patrol !  but then again it is difficult to see things thru the eyelids .

 

on a Roll ...

  after a zillion phone calls and walk in's today -- I got productive  ...
1    grocery store on the way home another $90

2    dishes

3    laundry

4    washer is running a cleaning cycle as I type this

5    porch vac'd

6    basement vac'd

7    kitchen vac'd

8    trash and recycling to the truck

9    truck out of the shop - haven't driven it for 2 weeks

10  finished a tax return -- down to 21 to go ... can't freaking wait to be done

  the truck's gas tank is on empty -- any bets --- 28 gallon tank -- at least $140, I think I last filled on 4th of July weekend -- 10 weeks ago -- it's been sitting a lot -- Jeep'd it today -- closest to the door and it was raining -- hauled some kitchen trash this morning.  

tomorrow's agenda:

1    scrub the kitchen floor

2    scrub the downstairs bathroom

3    purge some clothing

4    trek to Mankato

        cat food

        thrift shop

        Hobby Lobby? fall decor ...

5    Garden Center - need some dirt for potting up some perennials 

6    work -- projects await me

 then I plan on sitting on my tush, surfing the www or reading my book -- I've had the urge to crochet ... finished a scarf during my webinar -- that was the only thing that went well ...

toodles

       

I'm trending solids lately ..

piled a pile from the stash

the large stash

I watched this woman on Instagram last week -- she didn't purchase any fabric for a YEAR ... just shopped her fabric stash -- found it to be easy -- and less stressful 

I haven't bought much lately .. a couple patterns

some pretties for backs

some english paper piecing papers 

thread

 

notice the house in the center!

so cute

day 1 - business entities

day one of my business entities webinar is done -- day two tomorrow

long windy post on the office wastebook page -- on why I have so many "classes" .. it's part of my life and I roll with it .. grateful for the internet that brings the world to my desk 

snapped this last night when looking for northern lights .. this is just as pretty

 

early bird

I didn't look for an "open early" or out of bed well before the crack of daylight pix.  I couldn't sleep, had homework -- so I went at it at 3:45 this morning.  Needless to say I'm now crashing fast.  I don't think I'll be awake if the northern lights appear .. unless it's 3:45am tomorrow.

I was McD's first customer this morning -- the drive up clerk was hilarious -- she told me I was 90 minutes early .. ya, I was ... I was hoping I'd get to work and get the payrolls knocked out before my County meetings -- that didn't happen -- 2 of them weren't in yet.  shit happens.

got back to office chaos .. seems to be a lot of that lately -- and it's looking like a junkyard around the edges.. piles everywhere.  literally

I have an entities webinar for the next 2 days -- 16 hours of continuing education ... I'll have time to clean .. crochet and sort email -- the endless email.

and whine - because lately I'm really good at whining.

okay enough -- nap and charge the equipment in case I wake up for northern lights.

 

and so it ends (quasi)

  On our pontoon ride yesterday I snapped pix .. not knowing it was the 2nd to the last ride of the season -- I had an inkling but ... alas .. today was the end of the season for the pontoon and the waverunner -- the others are busy for the next couple of weeks soooo... and the dock comes out at the end of the month ... 

  Mom and I went out yesterday morning -- I started the day with a dizzy spell .. took drugs, calmed it down and we started for the lake ..

-- we got as far as the neighbors and she forgot something -- so back home we went
-- we stopped at McD's for beverages and breakfast sandwiches for lunch (more to come)
    the iced tea was sweet tea -- so back to McD's we go ... remember I'm unbalanced to begin with
-- got the proper tea .. and stopped at office for a missing file 
-- finally got to the lake -- 

-- and a couple hours later the rest of the tribe arrived .. 

we had a late afternoon ride -- supper and I came home to feed those damn cats .. always those damn cats... 

this morning -- it was chilly .. we took a last long slow cruise -- I didn't realize it until we got back it was the last long slow cruise -- mom stayed behind she thought it was too cold.  and it might have been, so the packing up and cleaning up for the season has begun .. 

I have a 2 day conference this week -- I was hoping at the midday break to pick up mom and spend the afternoons out there .. I've got the internet whipped.  But she has chiro and dermatology appointments -- this was supposed to be the week I went to Bemidji as well .. so it's wait for the weekend and go to the lake .. with no boats -- which really doesn't bother me .. just need my sun, water, calmness 

In the chaos of my everyday life -- it has become the place I go to get away from everything .. 

Spring and a pontoon ride are merely 8 1/2 months away .. 

I got it 

one way or another 

 

pix / memes from wastebook

need to draft this one on paper ... scrappy ideas

truth - 

intrigued by solids

  the goofy post holiday cram life into one week -- busyness continues.  I have all the returns due on 9/15/26 done .. or one left to review with client -- then done!  it feels okay

   I left the office earlier than 5:00 but after 4:00 .. ya, normal . . . hit up the lawnmower .. finished this round .. the grass is slowing down and I'm grateful ... cat's fed .. kitchen floor wet swiffered .. laundry running, dishwasher perking .

   It was Sam's club delivery date .. the jury is still deliberating on it -- the strawberries and raspberries have the road kill look to them -- will cut into the watermelon tomorrow .. Mom is jumping for joy over the yeast rolls .. and the bagels.  it's the little things in life.

   Tomorrow I need to clean my office and organize my thoughts .. and then come home and play with some solid fabrics ... 

   Tomorrow is the 25th anniversary of purchasing the office/house ... I should celebrate by cleaning the basement. wrong .  

 

holy shit

 

the moon was really cool this morning -- my phone however was almost out of juice

I'm almost out of juice

not sleeping very well lately .. the 4:00 starts are starting to pile up ... I don't mind them -- just need to crash earlier -- this morning I read my book and surfed until the ipad ran out of juice .. noticing the trend ...

I was up dressed, cats fed, kwik trip stop for milk, garbage out to the curb an at my desk by 5:45am.

I signed up for a webinar and it started at 7:00 am .. had stuff to do before it started

and now the phone is ringing wildly .. making those electronic estimated tax payments are driving clients over the edge and me nuts.  I didn't create this problem -- take it up with Donald Trump

enough ranting

the fuzzy phone shot is a reminder not to sweat the small stuff

happy Monday

   from the shores of West Jefferson Lake ...

   as the only EARLY riser in the group, I generally have the entire porch to myself for well, several hours .. my camera is dead so no sunrise pix .. 

   I'm not exactly sure what I did so far this weekend -- it really doesn't seem like a lot -- Saturday, we got out here shortly before lunch and family bestie MB came for the afternoon and supper .. it was good to sit and visit and enjoy the lake -- bugs are still horrid -- porch for the win !!  

   Sunday was furniture construction and re-position porch furniture .. I was sitting on the sectional when I took this pix .. it matches the two chairs to the right .. moved the table down and took two chairs home .. we're not done yet .. 

    It was cloudy gloomy day -- I was hoping for rain and that never happened -- noonish today, per the weather geeks .. we need rain -- 

sunset from the sectional -- after a mini nap ...

perfect time to wake up and enjoy it and my book

today's agenda -- just the normal stuff in life, laundry, dishes, vac'ing, lawn mowing (?), life planning, and I hope to finish the new William Kent Krueger book .. I started it after my "nap" .. it awaits me as i type :)  == might need to put a few hours in at the office as well -- I avoided the joint all weekend .. had some Friday night - early morning Saturday work at home .. 

ahhhh Life is good

no kerfuffles needed -- the internet has returned to 117 S 3rd Street -- damn 36 working hours without it throws a huge blip into the work time -- it did however happen a slow time ... I should have accomplished more non-computer projects in those hours .. 

the rugs are ready to power wash and the floor got swiffered ... and a lot of whining about no service

made it to the happy place - midday saturday -- family friend MB came for a visit and supper -- the new a/c seems to be working well, the other 3 are still sleeping and I've read the papers, shopped and am now surfing the internet ... trying not to make noise -- 

early mornings in the porch are good -- well, anytime spent in the porch is well spent -- the neighbor are cooking -- smells good !  hoping for rain so I don't have to go home and water trees .... it's cloudy but I think it's going to slide south of us 

retail therapy included some pretty fabric, a few paper quilt patterns and a ruler .. Missouri Star has a sale ... maybe next week I can sew :)

9 patch on point -- the basics help to refocus ..  need to refocus

lots of possbilities -- layer cakes, charms, yardage -- more basics with pre cuts

 

techy gods

 the techy gods/geeks in the world are not happy with me lately .... the internet and fax line at the office is down and the phones have been dropping calls all week ... the divorce from fidium cannot happen soon enough ... 

and this morning -- since I have no www in town I thought I 'd be a good worker bee and get some work done .. I can't seem to log into the home workstation .. need to wait 10 minutes and try it again .. it's jerking my chain this morning ..

laundry is perking -- it's raining -- didn't know about that until I heard the rumbling of thunder .. I'm not regretting the 2 night's of lawn mowing .. Tuesday night I hopped on to trim down the driveway and ended up getting 3/4 of the big field and most of the back yard done -- dudes were putting new lattice under the deck and I thought back yard should be mowed .. 

so then, last night I hopped back on and finished the big field, 3/4 of the north 40 and the front yard .. a couple hours tonight and the complete circuit will be done and I can start all over on Saturday -- once I get the gas cans reloaded.  it's life

hoping for some weekend lake time but the forecast is really nasty looking -- sitting in the a/c out there might be the option.  a/c works :)

change ...

good bye August 

hello September 

so on the first day of "office vacation" .. I worked all day, went to the grocery store (yikes) and then ended up at Menards scoping out patio furniture -- 2 swivel chairs purchased ( 11% rebates don't cha know), loaded in truck and delivered to the cabin   (with supper as well) ... the matching sectional was in stock in New Ulm and Jean was going to order it -- will fetch it later this week  

back to the office this morning .. project day again today ...

 

ah a spot of Lake time

those sunsets even on a cloudy night their fabulous

I finally found the fix for my laptop and was sitting in the porch musing / calculating / stressing over the 2027 County Budget and got treated to this ....

I did post on Wastewook that the office was off limits for most of the week ...  

this morning/afternoon I whipped out another 35 mnprs ... I think we're damn near done -- just the weird and odd to go ... grateful to be done ....

Just finished this round of mowing and while watering the front stoop plants had a freaking bee up my shirt .. got me twice ... evil creature 

more ice and benedryl ... my new favorite drug ..

ice cream for me ... 

 

cleaning binge

   the "it's raining on a Saturday morning" cleaning binge has begun.  

1    laundry perking
2    basement vac'd
3    taking a rest break
4    next is vac'ing the porch
5    loading out the trash
6    stripping the beds ( well, bed -- once the body leaves it)
7    the fridge ... 
8

all of this prior to the new cleaning lady coming on Tuesday .....

I did manage 4 hours on the lawnmower last night -- most of it is done -- the grass has changed texture -- the quack grass is dying off ... so I was hustling along at quite the clip -- the bugs were controlled with chemicals -- I wanted as much done as possible before the rain.  need more rain.

  a nine patch beauty .... sometimes the simple blocks make stunning quilts -- this one was from a fabric designer ... 

  we went to KAVO for birthdays Thursday night -- Rachael had to work so it was the 5 adults and the tiny Diva ... Mara did pretty well for a 16 month old -- in a upscale Italian restaurant.  I had an upscale pizza -- a $28 pizza -- alfredo, procuetto, argugela and hot honey drizzle -- enough for 3 meals -- tasty ... mom had spaghetti and meatballs -- she wasn't impressed .. didn't like the meatballs -- it had a fresh tomato sauce ... we need to go for appetizers and desert .. I'm betting the deserts are tasty

post cleaning binge:

1    gas and wash for the Jeep
2    wash Ruby
3    finish the MNPR's if it kills me 

         gotta get these damn things done  

         100 MNPR's DONE ... 

4    move home office upstairs -- maybe ....

5    hem pants ... cooler weather = long pants

6    pop into off ice and clean my office .. it's a mess

7   plan the week 

8    sew ?? or think about sewing 

9    finish mowing if it's dry enough - think about weed whipping