Stars Can't Shine Without Darkness

Yesterday was my late husband's birthday.  He died in 1993 from leukemia.   He fought hard.  He was very protective of me and took care of me even as he lay dying in a hospital bed.  I have a great life today, living without him 25 years later.  I thought of him a lot last week and then realized why Saturday.  It was during lunch with my sis.  I happen to be happily married today, which has nothing to do with the loss I still feel on days like this...except, I can't wallow too much in it.   But that would not be beneficial anyway.

Happy Valentines Day/Ash Wednesday

This title of my post today really gets to the heart of what is important in my life today.  Celebrated Fat Tues last night with yoga and a spinach smoothie, then asleep before 9pm! 

 

This weekend we are taking 4 large bookcases to RH to start our "library".  We are maybe the most excited about this aspect of our Retirement Home.  Well...that and my yarn closet (stay tuned for photos). 
 

I went back and reviewed how much money I have made selling just on ebay.  Since April 2015 I have put over $5,000 into my bank account just from reducing stuff we don't need/have room for by selling on ebay.  This does not count FM Marketplace (not that much) and CL - even less.  But, should not be too hard to get guestimates in those areas either...I checked FB...made about $1500.  CL I made about $700.  PM my grand total after only one year is $2378.  I spent quite a bit of the PM amount, and a little of the ebay proceeds also.  This was mostly spent on items to redo mine and my husband's wardrobes from business/dressy to casual wear.  Things like hiking boots, snow boots, rain/work boots, comfortable motorcycle boots (took me couple years to find the right pair after my last pair wore out) and rain coats/warm utility coats for both of us also "re-tooling" our golf club inventory!  I have decided I am not going to try to buy a daypack for hiking sight unseen, but instead go into the sporting goods store and talk to people who know what the options are and have used one or more.  But that will be fun!

Goodbye Sept, Hello Oct

Friday worked all day, then went to see my friends son get his 1 year sobreity/clean and sober coin.  It was an amazing night.  This group was started in the inner city neighborhood of my city back in approx 2000 by a woman who faced her addiction issues and has enlisted others who also can use their experience , strength and hope to help others.  It was very uplifting in a world where, if you are not careful, everywhere you look can seem pretty bleak.  Going forward, i am going to be careful about what I choose to focus on the the news and on social media.  Division sells stories, products, clicks, get sponsors.  Not me.  Not  anymore.

Sat i took a giant lamp to my aunt and set it up for her and today i am taking a large plant to my SIL2. My aunt (MA1) took me to breakfast and we had delicious breakfast of avacado toast and veggie omlet with goat cheese.  I havent sold anything, but I have donated to 3 charities I am inspired by.  Then we drove an hour to enjoy the country and pick a ton of apples!  So rejuvenating.  I also got 2 dozen farm eggs from my SIL2.  I am happy today for natures seasons!

Today, i am too lazy for church, but I have managed to clean both of my fireplaces and a broken slat of my vertical blind and did very minor amount of touch up paint.  Part of my problem is that my stomach hurts, but it sort of feels how i usu feel recov from "normal" eating on monday, so maybe I will be spared that tomorrow.

Spending the rest of the day doing food prep.  Zuchinni bread, stuffed peppers, grilled chicken and pork chops.  Leaving time to round out the day for a walk in this gorgeous weather. 

Have a great start to your October!

Happiness

100 days of happiness! 

Ideas, concepts, trends, a dance, a song...go around on the web.  Like 40 days of lent cleaning out your house instead of giving something else up led me to a really great FB group that are all about organizing. 

Then organizing led me to decluttering and decluttering led me to minimalism and that led me to be more aware of what I am focusing on in my life.  I will never be a true minimalist, but then, I don't want to be.  But I would like to have less clutter and stuff to worry about, esp as I prepare to move into a smaller home and move toward retirement. 
 

100 days of happiness is something I saw on another blog and I may be a few days late, but I'm in! 

Why wait till November to think more of what I am thankful for?!  100 days approx till the end of the year.  Can't believe it.  I am happy today for a life that is slower, a little more conscious and more focused on what I have, rather than what I am lacking. 
 

I had to send a difficult email today to a colleague in another state for some free lance work he had me do.  I was a little puzzled at his request in the first place, for an envelope.  Everything in this state is done online, so the envelope really does not matter, but in his state it does.  And the client is in his state.  I was really upset that I cannot find the envelope but once I fessed up to him and sent the email after checking and rechecking my entire house (my house is in various stages of packing and moving). 

I felt better that the email was over.  Pressed send, then will deal with his response.  It is what it is. 

He responded.  Said don't lose any sleep, but if I find to send to him.  Well, there it is.  Oh well.  He may never ask me to do any more free lance, but things happen.  I am happy today that I am not going to let it ruin my day, just like I did not let a fall in the puddle walking in to work ruin my Tuesday. 
 

Have a great Wednesday!