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)