Wooooooo weeeeee

I am tired.  Worked half day Friday.  Then took load of furniture and effects to RH after work...including the cat.  I get there 3pm, get my new truck license plates...run to bank to get money to pay contractor...hardware store furniture polish...to house to clean...construction dust the worst!...unload suburban...put storage shelf in closet...wax bookcases in dining room...early Sat morning I load books on bookcases...loaded few items for staging CH...drive hour to my Sisters...unload 2 pieces furniture,  including our dear mother's antique secretary...drive 2 hours to my friend who is fostering the kitty...then 2 hours home...oh, and I went to WM on a night before a holiday.. and before snow forecast.  Snow!  In April. 

I have been sick, sick, sick 🤢since we got back...travel does that to me.  I need desperately to rest. 

I hope everyone has the Easter you desire!  So grateful for Him!  I am having a quiet day resting at home.

Do Not Worry

Matthew 6:25-34 New International Version (NIV). 
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[a]?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
I forgot to mention that I sold a pricey pendant that I had made few years ago.  It was never my style and I would never wear it.  So, I made $526 on it, $420 after PM cut.  I am putting it toward my Roth for 2018.  I am happy to have it gone.  Sometimes just a small step toward something, builds momentum (saving for retirement).  My husband is through with his accumulation, but I am really not.  I am 13 years younger than my husband and although we could be able to live frugally on his retirement till I get my social security in 15 years, the reality is that things happen and I need to continue to plan and accumulate just in case.  If something happened to him prior to my getting SS, I would have to go back to work and I am fully capable and willing to do that.  I am giving time now for spending it with him, prepared to go back to work at an older age and likely a more difficult task (difficult to find anything at all at an older age/longer break in employment, difficult to find anything rewarding that will not be at least partially physical (standing, lifting, carrying) and difficult because I will be older and out of the routine.  But it is a chance I willingly take to spend time with DH now while we are still relatively young and in good basic health.
P.S.  My  dog is better, he has a kidney stone and we are giving him special food and started him on heart meds for his heart murmur.  So, if the expensive food does not help dissolve the calcification, he will be as strong as he can with his heart, for surgery.  I also caved too and begged my Dr for steroids.  All the stress of moving, selling the house, the dog being sick, worry over my grandmother and my cousin etc just had me doubled over in pain.  I took one dose and immediately felt better.  I am truly going to focus on going totally healthy eating, but while we are back and forth moving and living out of boxes/extended stay hotel, I just want this plan in place so that I can function.  I cannot afford to be flat on my back now.  This fall, I will vow to never eat fast food again, if I can just get through this time of transition.  I was so sick last night I just sat down and had a good cry and immediately felt the release...March is almost over and we are gonna make it out alive if it kills me!

My Dear (Male) Dog

I have a dear (female) dog too. 

Our Boy was much better after we got off work and got home yesterday.  Compare first to second photo, you can tell a difference.  He seemed to be almost his old self again.  Vet cannot find anything wrong, other than heart murmur/enlarged heart - we have know about this several years.  He also has some arthritis, but nothing to clearly explain sudden bursts of pain.  She wants me to bring him back today for 2nd film to see if he has a kidney stone.  He did fine all night last night, except in the middle of the night had another episode of about 7 to 10 seconds of yelping.  It was horrible.  So, we are a bit bleary eyed today, but hopeful he improves.  I was convinced he was declining.  Now, maybe not. 
Weather here is gloomy and gray.  Forecast the rest of the week is chilly.  One never knows in the Midwest, even up to Easter.  I am driving my kitty down to my friends house about an hour from RH.  She is gracious enough to foster my kitty until October when we will be moved completely and out of the monthy extended stay hotel we will be in for 3 - 4 month after city house sells.  DH going to stay home and keep Chico calm.  I am taking a load of small stuff I can unload myself and one large antique I will swing by my sister's after RH on my way to my friend's house Sat to drop off kitty.  That way, I can get my new truck licenced in new state (and avoid the higher taxes here) and clean up the tile mess and put books away/clear clutter in RH Fri night.  I will pop in on my Father in Law, as he is having some health issues too.  At least my DGM here in the city is doing well right now (she is 99!).
Have a wonderful Wed.  What is the weather like where you are?  Any fun Easter plans?  I just thank God so much for his grace and blessings.  I need to slow down and remember to check in with him every day.  Let that guide me and keep my mind at peace.  Know that all this busy-ness can be a way to avoid thinking about what really matters.  Peace to you.

When Is One's House Really Ready to List?

I did touch up paint vanity and trim in master a week ago Sunday.  I also thoroughly cleaned master shower, door and kitchen appliances...that was week ago Saturday.  I still have little bit more caulking and touch up...then plant flowers and mulch front and back beds and help DH repaint deck and I think we are ready. 

When I came back from the wedding, my husband had packed up a dresser we are giving my niece and cleaned out his closet.  I took a huge load to Goodwill after work yesterday.

Can This Day be Over Already

So, we had a great visit to another state to visit family and go to a relative's wedding.  The wedding was beautiful, the bride was stunning...Saw so many relatives, far and near.  It was just a great trip.  However, it was also tiring. I drove 8.5 hours Thurs and 9 hours back Sun.  We did take a 30 min detour and pop in to my retirement home on the way back yesterday.  My Uncle got to see my RH and we checked in on the tile work in progress. 
I think I am really going to love it.  Looks really nice with the cool gray and white of my bathroom.  The tile is warm yellowish beige tones.  Warms up the room.  My contractor complimented my choices.  I think all he has left to do is grout and clean up.
It was great to get home to my DH.  He stayed home with the doggies.  He was not thrilled at the prospect of being in the car with my VERY hard of hearing aunt and uncle.  And repeating one self over and over, practically yelling is tiring, but I was honored to be able to drive them and take care of them.  They have done so much for my sister and I.  Letting us come stay with them in the summer, showing me how much they love me, etc.  GREAT people. 
So, DH had dinner ready for me when I got home.  He even did grocery shopping and did some packing!  I was so proud of him and so glad to be embraced in a comforting hug.  Seeing my cousin's lovely young daughter and just all the reminiscing just made me tired and emotional.  So, I just chalked it up to that...then I relized that today is the day my Dear Belated Husband died in 1993 at age 32.  So, I have that making me blue, it is cold a raining here, so that adds to it...it is Monday, eta.
Except those things are not the main source of my emotion today...Our older dog, he is about 11 years old...well he is just not doing well.  He is declining in movement and sleeping a lot, but he still eats and drinks and gets around pretty good.  Well, DH said he has begun intermitten yelping once in a while.  DH thougth at first he was just dreaming, but he did it 3 or 4 times after I got home last night.  I was convinced he waited for me to get home and would not make it through the night, but he did and DH took him to vet today.  I missed 2 days next week, so it is hard to miss this week, but I am leaving early because while he is at the vet having tests, I am just sick to the point of distraction.  I realize he is getting older and I accept that dogs have a much shorter life span that I would wish...but I am really upset thinking it is so near and worrying that he is in distress.  Also, I told my DH I really am going to be devastated when he dies not matter what/when...but the possibility of it being so soon and before we move to Arkansas breaks my heart into a million pieces.  I see the pain in DH eyes too.  So, we have to be strong and grateful for every second with him. 
Wish us luck.  I will try to be back tomorrow.  Have a great Monday.  My lovely cousin is off to her enchanted honeymoon, where I bask in the happiness of my cousin - its her daughter and she is so happy.  I am going to hang on to that, because they are both special to me. 

Road Trip!

Driving with my Aunt & Uncle to a wedding out of state tomorrow.  Excited to have a couple of days away from work, it has been crazy.  Hope everyone is having a good week.  Sun is pretty today.  First day of Spring!

Apple Pie!

I made apple pie from some apples I canned back in Oct.  When I served it, my DH asked if I made the crust from scratch.   I said yes, and I picked and canned the apples.  I can't wait to say I few them, picked them, canned them AND baked a pie!

Ghosts

I love Dr. Kathy McCoy's blog:  Dr. Kathy McCoy:  Living Fully in Midlife and Beyond.  She talked 3/16/18 of Ghosts that linger and how our early life can affect us.  Not only does she discuss this, but what we can do about it.  I really like this post a lot.  It really was a good reminder for me, that the things that happen, albeit difficult are the things that shape us and make us who we are. 

I have one more hurdle this month that is always hard for me...3/26.  in 1993 I became a widow on 3/26/1993.  More on this later.  I am at work now, so I can't go there.  But it is a very important part of my journey and shaped me significantly.  So stay tuned.  Please go read Dr. McCoy's blog if this subject interests you.  Even well adjusted people can use the suggestions/reminders, sometimes. 

it is really rainy and gloomy here, but the day has been so busy that it is time for me to go home!  Have a great rest of your Monday!

More About March

Today is the day my momma got her wings.  I celebrated by repainting my vanity and all my white trim in CH master bath.  She would be proud!

Gonna have a great relaxing rest of my Sunday!  Cooking and taking a walk.

Have a great Sunday!

40 Bags

I saw this on a the blog A Bowl Full of Lemons a couple years ago.  It was the idea of getting rid of a bag a day for Lent.  I have been slowly decluttering the last couple years.

I have not kept track of my bags...but I am sure I can count 40 bag equivalents...just this season.

Belt buckles, hats, sweaters to my friend B.  Pjs to my cousin N.  Quilt to my Nephew S.  Chest to my niece.  Shoes/luggage to my other nephews B and T.  Bar stools and 2 plants to friend C.  MC bag and rug to friend T.  Iron on/craft paper to K.  Magazine rack/tupperware to B.  Dress form to D.  Broken mirror, dead plants, trimmed outside plants and expired make up to trash :(.  Pictures, ice ice scraper, DH's broken foot boot, shoes, gloves, coats, several books to charity.  Giant plant to D.  Armoir, secretary, paint, quilt rack to my sister.  2 bags receipts shredded...and a few others:  my car, my expensive cell phone plan, my 2017 tax receipts and some blood, eye tests and xrays for my yearly annual exam!

For me, things hanging over me (yearly exams and taxes, continuing education...these things make me anxious). I think I am good.  And it's not even Easter yet!

Crazy Busy

Crazy busy at work...but that's good.  Makes days go by fast.  Did more touch up paint and clean up today.  Our nephews came over to move couple heavy pieces furniture and 10 x 12 wool rug (I am giving a friend).  We bought it couple years ago $100.  It Is a $2000 thick well made wool rug.

2 more paint projects (and cleaning - will never finish cleaning!).

Then we took our nephews and one signed other, to dinner.  They are all young and trying to decide what vocation/career paths.  We had fun visiting with them.

I bought a dress for a wedding in Texas next week.  I had a credit at consignment store and I am all about black and white prints...so I went ahead and picked a couple...inexpensive.  I look forward to my thurs and Friday off next week.

Got call our taxes are filed.  I just have to pay accountant.   I am always glad when we can check that off our list!

Hot yoga in the morning!  Have a great Saturday and St. Pats tomorrow!

Birthday Flowers

Forgot to post a picture of my flowers I got from DH Friday for my birthday.  I had a great day.  We had a nice seafood dinner at a restaurant I had aa gift car for.  Then, Sat went out with 6 girlfriends to celebrate couple of our birthdays in March.  DH and I wanted to use our gift cards we got for Valentine's Day for massage, but they were booked solid, so we are going to try for this Sat.

I thought we were going to go to RH this weekend, but we aren't.  Our master bath is torn up by contractor redoing shower and floor - DH also used this opportunity to replace both master and guest toilet.  So, we gained another weekend to do stuff in the city.  I will work on freshening up some trim paint and more deep cleaning/packing.  We hope to get our massages too!  I told DH after this move is finished, we are going to have an entire spa day!

Friday I am going to get my brows tweezed professionally for a wedding I have next week in Texas.  I am driving my Aunt and Uncle.  DH staying home.  It will be a nice break. 

The weather finally really pretty today.  Will be high of 70's!  I hope you have a great day where you are.  Last night helped DGM with her bookkeeping.  I have such a hard time with it.  Should be easy, but is such a mental block for me.  So, she is good for another few weeks.

Mother

Today is my mom's birthday.  I really miss her.  Doing well.  Hot yoga again last night.  Going again Thursday.  Still pretty cool here, but love the longer daylight!

Very busy at work.  Very busy cleaning and packing and monitoring reno of RH master bath long distance.  When I am driving/walking I am listening to "Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo".  It was a good book. 

Will come back and write more soon!  Have a great Wednesday!  What is the weather like where you are?  Do you like Daylight Savings plan?  Any good books? 

Spring Forward

I slept in late this morning!  After falling asleep early last night!

Had a great birthday weekend.   Flowers from DH at work Friday.  Got my annual physical over with (including fasting blood work  till 2pm!)  Fancy seafood dinner that night.

Sat I did bunch of deep clean ing, got carpets and furniture professionally cleaned.  I did baseboards,  ceiling fans,  blinds,  cleaned put northern Windows (gunky in the bottom around screen).  Did some touch up paint, filled some holes...cleaned cobwebs from front door area.  I was sore!  And between this, losing an hour to spring forward and 2 nights hot yoga, I slept late.

Whew, I needed It!  House looking great!  Giant tree gone to my friend's house...kitty goes to my other friends next weekend for few months (she fosters several)...We nailed down hotel we can stay by the month...has kitchen, furnished and allows small dogs...this is getting real.

Weather turned chilly.  What's the weather like where you are?  Can you think of things to help sell a house?  Cleaning or staging ideas?

Have a great week!

My Love Hate Relationship with March

I was born in March, so was my mom and my DGM (dad's mom).  It always meant just a peak at spring, after the long winter.  I grew up in the Midwest.  I lived away from the Midwest for 13 years.  I came back 18 years ago.  I still hate winter.  Or maybe I hate trying to get around outside when the weather is icy or snowy. 

The hate part comes from losing my mom in March 1991.  She turned 48 just 4 days prior to her death.  And my late husband SCG died in March 1993.  He was only 32.  Now I have a dear friend, S, who died at 47 in 2014...on March 7.  So yesterday and today I think of her.  I am sure i will write more on S.  I miss her so much.  There are some things i need to unpack there with that.  I will write about that later. 

Tues was dedicated to my DGM.  She turned 99.  After working late, i went over and took her  some fancy cupcakes.  She loved them.  I saved 2 for DH too.  Last year I found this cupcake store when I looked for a special treat to take her for her 98th bday.  She was in the hospital last year.  Almost died.  It was quite a spring last year.

My cousin N who has cancer sent me a frantic text tues to come help her, that her work was screwing around with her.  I had to text her and tell her I could not leave work.  I really need all my hours, things are a bit hectic with time and expenses right now, getting some work done on RH to move in and work on CH to get it sold.  I felt bad on one hand, but sort of annoyed on the other because when I called and texted later, she did not respond.  I have to just focus on my lane and let her follow her journey. 

Anyway.  Sometimes the best thing we can do when we feel like we can barely take care of ourselves is to reach out and "do" for another.  Be an ear for someone else, help someone with something, give someone a ride...maybe even just a text or a call...smile at a stranger.  But get out of our own head!

Last night I went to a hot yoga class...first one since our other instructor left in Nov.  It was good.  I slept very well.  Gonna try to go again tonight.  I don't do 2 in a row a lot.  So, might be a bit challenging.  I would rather walk outside tonight, but is still a bit cool and gets dark too soon.  But the clocks change Sat!

I just read this quote on "the Garden of Pensiveness":  "To strengthen the muscles of your heart, the best exercise is lifting someone else's spirit whenever you can."
   -Dodinsky

Before and After

Know what is more unsatisfying than some poor photos on a blog?  Before photos with no After!

Well, here is a before and after of living room.  It has wood burning stove (lower left out of frame), so we took out un-vented gas fireplace and put in large window. 

 

We love how it turned out.

 

Yesterday was a special day.  My DGM turned 99 years old.  I took her some yummy cupcakes and talked to her about her busy day.  She said she did not know how to receive all the birthday blessings and cards, calls, well wishes.  She was a little overwhelmed and tired.  But happy.  What a blessing she is to us.

Couple of Befores

So we got last 2 bookcases moved and the less sturdy shelf from Ikea we will use for shoes and folded clothes in back of closet.  All three along with a bunch of coats and a few dishes and other odds and ends fit back of suburban!  Oh, and my new rug for sitting room!

We literally had to remove chair rail moulding and sledge hammer the 4th bookshelf into the dining room/library.  Then I painted them white again.  Looks a bit crowded, but good!  I will not be keeping the large round table and hutch in there for ever.  It will be better with a smaller table.  I will prob wait until my niece or nephew get a house and then see if they want the set.
 

Then I put new rug in sitting room and moved that smaller rug into library.  The thing I am most excited about though is that we are getting rid of moldy pink shower.  The shower has no fan and a door, plus the floor is not angled toward the drain.  So water just sits all around and mold has grown that I tried everything to remove.  The shower is large and plain off white tile all the way up from the pink tile, so we are leaving that.  They will take out the pink tile and built in seat, angle the floor and put a strong fan/light in the top.  Our contractor also pointed out that the grout had been covered or replaced with silicone caulk down around the bottom where all the water stands/mold grew.  We think these changes will fix the mold.  (I should probably say mildew). 

My husband helped me take off the little door and it already opened the look so much!  We decided to try it with no curtain for a while, see if we can leave it off all together.
 

Next time we go to RH, we will have all tile floor in master and updated shower.  I can hardly wait! 

It was truly the last thing that we are going to change that made us sad every time we looked at it.  A few other changes will have to wait until we can save up for them, but the house just looks amazing to us and we just love being there. 

Have a wonderful week.  Hope someone reading drops by and tells me what spring cleaning/organizing/purging/improving has inspired you lately.

Pictures!

Here are some of City House view, entrance.

So cool I can finally do photos!

Have a great Friday. 

Anticipa-ation...

Remember the ketchup commercials?!

We have waited about 4 years to list our house and we still have a little while before we are ready.  But we will be listing in less than 60 days!  Last night I looked through FB and eNeighbors and saw that other people were creating evens/pages for homes that they will be soon listing.  Seemed like a good idea, so I did too and put up profile and cover picture with our view and said "View available soon!"  It really is exciting!

Last night I dropped off taxes paperwork to CPA and I am happy to have that off my plate onto his.  This weekend, we take another full load in suburban to RH.  Can't wait to get my new rug down in sitting room and bookcases in library/dining room!  So exciting.  I will post photos soon.

I also prematurely maybe, but I don't care.  packed my warmest pj's, wool sweaters, turtlenecks, coats and winter boots.  No going back now!  I am just trying to make sure that 1)  we are packing as much as we can take each trip (is 400+ miles round trip) and 2)  keep the organization going, as we unpack and put into place our long term storage/organization plan down there.  In the beginning it was easy, we just took a load and unpacked quickly.  Now, with things getting more occupied I have to do some planning to get things put away.  It is a good problem, in a way.  But some days I feel like stuff is winning.  Want to have that part behind me. 

Have a wonderful Thursday!  How is your spring cleaning/organizing/lent going?