Still a bit sideways

but mostly better.

Yesterday we wandered around a few shops and looked at furniture. He's wanting to supplement our current 19 year old love seat and recliner with a full sized couch, and he has a certain style in mind. So we looked in a couple of shops in town to see if they had what he wanted. We don't have a rush to do it; Just sometime in the next few years would be nice.

It was a glorious day to wander. Not too hot, not too windy. Very nice.

When we got back we worked slow and did some fix-its that have been needing done.

We carried some furniture upstairs so the guest room is ready. Still a bit more needing to go up, but the most important pieces are there. And we'll probably get the other pieces up there today.

He fixed my broken toilet. It took four trips to the hardware store! Thank goodness we're only seven minutes away! He also fixed the broken plug in the bathroom sink. He's a plumbing whizz!

Of course we played with the dog, and we went out to eat at one of our favorite Mexican restaurants, and both brought home a tray for repeats later this week!

Then he hung a tennis ball from the ceiling in the garage so I would know exactly where to stop to clear the doors. When the windshield in front of my nose touches the tennis ball, it's perfect!

Today I'm feeling better so we'll probably do some paperwork, and then some wood working for my little camper.

Or he'll break out the chain saw and take care of that tree limb hanging over the roof.

Either way, it will be nice to simply be together for the day, enjoying each other's company in person instead of across from a computer screen.

I think maybe he'll grill tonight. I've got some chicken legs thawed, so a spinach salad would go well. Not used to cooking for two anymore. I've been cooking for 5 and freezing 4. It's kind of nice planning something fresh for a change.

Well, that's my not so normal day. Nothing earth shaking, but that's a good thing, right?

So, off I go.

truck

well, it felt like a truck, anyway.
Woke up feeling like I'd just been hit.
So I did something I don't normally do.
I went back to bed.
Now it's still monday, but the truck is gone.

My visitor arrived safe and sound and we spent the day taking things easy yesterday.
We played with the dog and raked a few leaves.
We read books and played with the dog.
And then we played with the dog.
She loved it.

Today is errand day and then we'll probably eat lunch out.
At least, that's the plan.

Right now it looks like it's time to play with the dog again. :)

Okay, off I go.

whoops

I get to drive to the airport today. I'm really looking forward to it.

And while I wait I've swept and vacuumed, cleaned bathrooms and set out clean soap and towels.
Cleared off counters and the dining room table, and given them a good clean and polish.
I still need to mop the floors but that can wait for after lunch.
When I get done the house will be spiffy for my visitor and I won't need to clean for at least a week.

:)

My, the things that make me smile. Pretty puny, eh. Doesn't take much these days.

The other thing I did was move my mini camper over as far as possible to avoid any more little dings.
Yes, that's right. I made the first little ding in my little camper with the car door.
Nothing major; just smudged the pretty green racing stripe a little bit.
But whoops!
All the same, I'm glad the first little damage was mine not someone else's. Easier to handle the next one that will eventually happen once the first one is out of the way.

I'll be coming home late tonight, and I'll be pretty tired and I want to make sure my visitor doesn't accidentally repeat my mistake and feel horrid his whole time here. The visit will be short enough without coloring it that way from the start.

I'm so glad that little camper of mine is so small and light! I didn't even have to hook it up to the car.
I just removed the chucks blocking the tires and rolled it around to where I wanted it with very little effort! Of course, this is a level garage I'm talking about. If it were a hill I'd not try it at all without hooking it up first! But this way it was quick and easy and painless! YAY

I visited the garden this morning and found three new Bluebonnets, and a flower I'm unsure of. I'll take a picture of it if I can and see if I can figure out how to put a picture in here. You're probably getting tired of just words on the page.

I also want to figure out how to put pictures with links on that side over here ------>
You'll see when I figure it out. It's not highest priority so it will probably be a few weeks.

In the meantime, I guess I'd best get some hot soapy water going and figure out what's for lunch.

So, off I go.

shiver & nap

Yesterday was a fever day.
A lost day. A normal-for-me-but-a-pain-in-the-butt day.
I couldn't get warm and was so sleepy.
So I finally just bundled up in piles of blankets and took naps.
And then had a nice warm bath and went to bed.
So far today, no fever.
Yay.

Today's to do list is already made; it's yesterday's list, plus an extra phone call.

So, off I go.

Finding the good thing

Yesterday the free washcloth pattern I have up on Ravelry reached 450 downloads and 100 ‘favorites’!! 

YAY!!

You can find that knitting pattern here: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/my-favorite-washcloth-2 

To celebrate, I’d like to offer one of my paid knitting patterns for free to the first person who asks. 

(I currently have three paid knitting patterns available to choose from - two baby bootie patterns, and a pattern for a baby hat.)

edited to add:

----- ! The free celebratory pattern has been claimed ! -----

Good luck! And happy knitting!

Yesterday when I went to the dentist I found out that my trip plans were going to be delayed, not by a couple of weeks as I’d supposed, but by a couple of months. At least. Maybe more.

The way things are, the dentist has to send out the actual technical work rather than doing it in house. Not cost effective, I guess, to keep a denture lab technician in house.

So they send them to somewhere really good, and because of that, really popular, and that makes the turn around time that much longer.

But that also means I’ll have the best teeth we can build for me.

Instead of being upset by the delay, I kept thinking about the good things that would happen because of it.

Less stress getting ready. I’ve got lots more time now to get things in and around the little camper exactly as I want them.

More time to prep the house for being closed down. 

More time to make a garden and eat fresh spring greens

More time to enjoy the wild flowers that are going to be outstanding this year.

More time to take little small local trips around here before I go for a much longer haul.

Not to mention the advantage of getting my teeth done really good this time. 

I like this dentist. He has the rather unusual focus on getting things right instead of fast.

With such a caring dentist, I’m sure the look and fit will be something worth the wait.

And while I wait I can do more things, like building a second raised garden bed, and getting some potatoes planted.

So, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to plant some seeds. Looks like I’ll get a spring garden after all!

Yesterday wasn't long enough

 to dry the wool sweaters I washed, so this morning I have drying racks and sweater laden towels all over the house.

I guess that means the cold has to stay away now until Fall. Or at least until one of these sweaters is dry. :)

Sweet J, telling your friends about my silly attempt at a blog. You are the dearest person I know. Of course I won't tell on you, especially about the time...   :)

Thank you, J & W for your lovely comments. It's nice to know you're there.

Yesterday was a tiring day, mentally and physically.

I drove to the store and got some spray paint to touch up a couple of rusty spots on my little camper.

While those spots dried I dug out my tent and checked it for dirt and damage. Not sure if I'm keeping it now I have the little camper or selling it. For now it goes back in the storage closet.

Back inside I started the first of three sinkfulls of wool sweaters, starting with the whites, and working my way through to dark gray.

While they soaked I tried again to get my prescriptions renewed. Called the clinic, talked to the receptionist, the doctor's nurse, the pharmacy, back to the doctor's nurse who put me on hold and then, still on hold mind you, left a message on my phone somehow with the results. Crazy. I may be just getting old, but didn't this used to be easier?

In between phone calls I mowed the patches of yard that didn't have bluebells or wild flowers or bluebonnets. I was going to wait until they were done blooming, but some of the thistles were getting nearly knee high! So I did a selective cut. Probably drives my neighbors nuts, but too bad.

Finally, I gave the dog a shower. Now she's not speaking to me. :)

Today I get to go to the dentist and find out if I get to start my planned trip on the day I'd scheduled or if it's going to be delayed by dental work. My dates are flexible, so it's no big deal either way, but I want to know so I can make or cancel reservations as needed. I don't like to drive off without reservations. I get tired too easily and it helps to have set places along the route I know I'll be able to stop and rest for a couple of days.

And because I have an appointment today, of course it was the one morning in weeks I slept in. Not badly, but enough to have to watch the clock a bit.

So, off I go.

I'm not really sure...

... what I'm doing here on this blog.
So it means that much more for the support. (Thanks J & J!)

I think I've figured out at least part of why I'm scared.
I'm feeling stressed because I feel divided, and unsure of priorities.

I do best with one focus, one goal, one plan of action.
Right now I've got three things coming up to plan for and work towards,
and figuring out what things are most important to do next gets a bit muddled.

And of course I stress myself out by worry.

Worrying about forgetting something important.
Worrying about something going wrong I should have prepared for.
Worrying about getting everything done before the deadlines.

And it doesn't help that I seem to have busy brain syndrome.
I've got a lot of flexibility in the things that are coming up.
And I'm full to bursting with all sorts of wonderful ideas!

Too full, really.
I've got so many ideas, all good ones, mind you,
that I'm having trouble picking and actually getting to work on them!!

I've really got to make myself chose,
and give myself permission to change it later if I don't like it.

And realize that, really, none of them are 'WRONG'.

And second guessing myself is only adding to the confusion.

And thinking about it anymore isn't going to help find the best one.


Only choosing and trying will do that at this stage.

So, yeah, more lists, and a bit more action. That's what will help, I think.

Okay, a new day. Off I go.

It's okay to be scared

But it's not okay to let the fear take away enjoyment.
Difficult to admit but I seem to have lost my happy. Temporarily.

I tend to feel I have to do everything perfectly. It adds an awful lot of stress to my day.

I have three wonderful things to look forward to this month, but I'm so worried about not doing something I aught to get ready for them that I'm struggling to move forward.

To get a handle on the fear, for really that's what it is, I have stacks of lists scattered everywhere.

And a monster to do list.

Last night I couldn't go to sleep, and a little tiny voice in my head kept repeating,

"You know, you don't have to do it. You could stay home if it's too difficult for you. Or too scary."

Well, yeah. It is scary.
And yeah, I do want to do it, even if that means I do it scared.
It's not like it's the first time I've stepped out of my comfort zone to do something I've wanted to do.

Doing something new is always hard for me.
And yet, it's not very different from what I've done before.
And I know I'm capable of handling it.

But it is different in ways that scare me a little.
Even though it's perfectly safe.
Even though I've planned it to a squeak.
Even though I know it will be all right.

Still.
Some nights are hard to sleep.
And I know that's normal. There will be nights like that until I actually do what I'm planning.

And it will be okay.
And if something goes awry, as of course something will because you simply can't plan for every eventuality,
It will still be okay.

I'll just handle it,
The same way I've handled every other thing that has happened in my life.

It's not like my life has been uneventful.
And I'm still here, so I must be doing something right.

So today I'm going to try to pause, to breathe, to enjoy the projected sunshiny day,
To focus on what all this busyness is preparation for,
And get back to my happy place.

Now if you'll excuse me, I've got to add some things to my lists...

what would you take...

If you could only have what you took with you?

And that is all you'd have for SIX MONTHS?

AND there was a weight limit of...say 300 pounds?
(not including your car, yourself nor water)

And you'd have to be prepared for things like exposure to sun, damp, high heat or freezing cold?


What would those items be?
What would you need to survive?
What would you rather not live without?

I was wrong

I thought I was done, but I guess I'm not.

Not done traveling around
Not done blogging

Maybe not done writing

Here you go, J. This one's for you.