Sunny Tuesday sometime in January

I had a post on FB by a friend that asked for you to post the last picture on your phone.  I posted a picture and then posted the post to my page.  It was fun seeing my FB friends posting their pictures.  My girlfriend I grew up with who is building a home in the small town where she and I grew up/went to school...she posted a pretty picture of a rock with their last name and a light on it.  She said she got it for her husband's Christmas gift.  I said, huh, great minds think alike...as I had just admired and posted a picture of my rocks framing our driveway.  These we made ourselves, using silicone adhesive to glue on the numbers/letter and solar spot lights.  

These pictures right after we "installed" the rocks.  It was actually one big rock that broke in half - otherwise, DH and I would not have been able to get them into our truck!  You can see the small bushes that are next to each, they are growing nicely and we have since planted some decorative grass behind them as well.  This is them the other night.

We think they turned out nice.  Enjoy making the yard look pretty.  What projects are you working on?  I need to clean all my blinds.  Maybe next month or so I will start doing a room at a time, lol.  I actually cleaned my windows last spring and noted that by mid summer they were already needing washed again!

Speaking of quilt...I wish I could quilt...maybe I will learn that after I slow down hiking, lol.  But I do crochet.  I have 2 hand crocheted afgans on my Poshmark closet for sale...the green and burgundy one is 35 x 58 inches and the red, white and blue one is large...52 x 60.  This gal offered me $22 for them both, plus a blanket scarf I have listed!  I was like, not only no...but I immediately raised the price on both.  Geez.  Last fall I sold this sunflower one for $35.  That is more reasonable.  There are hours involved in making a nice afgan.  Come on, people!?

Still slowly purging and selling, little by little.  Have several "home goods" things listed, but they are very slow to sell.  Still mostly selling clothes I don't wear anymore.  I.e. dressy work clothes.  I have spent a couple years hiking, deciding what gear I need.  I just bought my warm mid layer coat, a used Patagonia...set me back $140!  Used!  Bought a new with tags day pack on Poshmark, for $80, would have been $120+ at the store.  Love to hear stories of what you are saving up, planning for.  

I was able to go on an impromptu "hike" with some of the women in the club Sunday.  It was in Bella Vista and was mostly on pavement, but I had not explored this area yet, and it was a pretty sunny (albeit windy) day, so I was grateful to get to go on a Sunday, since that is my only day off.

We walked under the new by-pass that goes north on I-49 and connects Arkansas to Missouri, going around Bella Vista.  That was pretty wild.  

I find the concept of through-trails fascinating, and perhaps this can be an area I explore more of as I retire, second time around - God willing.  God willing, that I am still healthy and able to do some through-trail walking.  I always toyed with the idea of backpacking, but I am afraid that ship has sailed.  You really need to be able to carry 30-35 pounds and do 10-15 miles a day.  We shall see, I guess.  Also, the problem of finding someone willing and able to go with me!

My DH is not terribly well, health-wise.  Although, he did have a televisit with his nephrologist today, his kidneys/related lab counts are looking good.  2 years ago he was feared to be Stage 4 kidney disease (probably diabetes related), but that was later adjusted to Stage 3.  Stage 5 is dialysis.  DH diabetes is currently being treated and responding well to medication.  

So nephrologist was very encouraged and happy today, so that makes us happy.  DH needs to be more active, but he gets angry if I push too much.  On the other hand, if he plans anything or finds someone to walk with, he forgets.  Our big concern right now, is his memory - he is forgetting everything and it is scaring us both.  More on that in the future...

Eventually I want to walk the entire 30+ miles Razorback Greenway from Fayetteville to Bella Vista.  I will do section at a time!  

Have a great evening!

Happy New Year 2022

Well, I have missed writing to put down thoughts on paper.  

I am still teleworking mandatory 60 hours per week.  Very few days off granted right now, but I did just come off of 2 3-day weekends in a row, so that was amazing.  Now, apparently back to the grind.

I just popped in to write a quick post and see if it is something I can keep up with this year.  We shall see...

I feel like all I am doing is working, but as I reflect back on 2021 I do feel some things have changed and maybe those things will give me content for posts to share later.  But for now, just wanted to reflect on my holidays and my time off.  I enjoyed several family meals and I enjoyed playing golf twice and did a hike on the 1st.  We got a good bit of rain here in NW Arkansas, so we postponed the annual New Year's Day hike from 9am to 1:00pm, so the rain would hopefully let up and it did!  When I left my house for the 40 min drive, it was 47.  I got to the place to hike and it was falling to the low 40's and during our walk it got down to 35ish.  Wind was starting to blow so it felt colder.  Then I drove to Cabela's to see if they still had the fleece lined pants I saw when I was shopping there at Christmas - they only had a pair of jeans fleece lined.  I was hoping for more of a hiking pant on the outside (more water resistant and harder to rip on brambles, etc).  I am also having a hard time finding a really warm hat, but I do have a few warm headbands, so I will just keep looking.  

I continue to sell my work clothes on Poshmark and in turn buy more comfortable/warm clothing in return and I have also picked up a few golf and hiking pieces.  I sold quite a few things this past week (you can now sell household items on PM) and I have sold quite a bit of extra kitchen stuff, dishes, linens and even a few afgans I crocheted.  I managed today to buy a pair of fleece lined hiking pants from PM for $10!  Score.  

Well, I am exchanging my day off (Sunday) for Saturdays to be my day off this year.  I miss all the hiking and getting out and it has made me pretty depressed at times being stuck in my house working all the time and not being able to get out on organized hikes.  And I probably will never be a sole hiker, I just do not think it is safe.  I know some people do that - that is their choice, but mine is to hike with others.  

I heard a good word to pick for 2022 - "remain".  I am going to remain steady in my commitments for 2022, including being a good partner for my husband, good dog mom to our motley crew and a good friend and to be still for times that I need to be.  I tend to jump to action as a default setting, but sometimes I need to be quiet and think/listen.  

Have a great week!

More Movement

So, i have been sort of watching my diet and cut out sugar and no wheat, except for a bad cheat day at Taco Bell and one piece of cake for our anniversary...I am sure my aches and pains are better.  I was trying to really use elimination diet to see if i could feel better, see if the soreness was related (I think it is) and get ready to go to the lake next weekend.  Sugar notoriously inflammatory. 

DH and i went across the countryside to get these cool iron planters stand thingy's (pictures next time) and got hungry and stopped at first thing open that wasn't crowded and it happened to be Taco Bell.  Oh well.  Otherwise eating good and enjoying the fresh tomatoes and salad lately!

DH and i went to eat for our anniversary.  It was nice.  We took a pic in our convertable to remember this weird year.  

I cannot deny that i did have a couple bites of this fabulous cake.  It was good, but mine is better.  Recipe next week, i think i am going to make it for DH to take to the city.  He is going up to play golf with his brother.

I sold my Harley Davidson boots i posted picture of here last week.  $95!  I am currently in the process of gathering plans and materials to build a fountain.  This will go toward the pots i will buy.  Pictures soon!

I also sold this gas firepit (we are getting a much smaller one) and gave away these tables...and a gas grill we don't use.  We are pretty fond of just a simple charcoal grill.  

I am taking the day off tomorrow to kayak.  Hope you are enjoying August!  We have been blessed with some moderate much needed rain and cooler temps here.  Today mid 80's, about 10 degrees cooler than normal.  Love it!

Movement Restricted Monday

So, I am a little troubled lately by the aches and pains that seem to be increasing in my life.  I am having a lot of pain in my back, knees and hips lately.  I do have an autoimmune condition that I have dealt with for many years, i am wondering if this is something related.  If so, perhaps my new-found commitment to cut out some sloppy eating will see results in my aches and pains.  I know before when i am in an autoimmune flare, i have a lot of general soreness and fatigue that is helped by multi facted approach (rest, meditation, movement, nutrition, supplements and yes, sometimes medicine).  I also know that since i am up about 15 pounds, that could be a big factor, so that might also benefit from my diet.  That being said, i am approaching mid 50's, so i am told - get used to it by several people!

We are having some overcast skies and a little bit of relief in this hot weather.  We have chances for rain every day this week - we have our fingers crossed - so dry here!  Saturday we took 2 large chests from my guest room i am redoing - my neice decided she just couldn't find time/room to get the furniture, so we took it to my sister in law's consignment/2nd hand store.  I have also recently sold 3 golf clubs, a motorcycle seat back rest and some Harley Davidson luggage.  Here is a picture of the backpack i sold for $100!

This back rest we sold for $175!  

I ordered the 2 cubes from Ikea that will be replacing all the large, heavy and dark wood furniture that came out of the guest room.  Pictures to come - it will take a month to get the pieces delivered and another few days to put it all together!  LOL

DH and my anniversary is tomorrow.  DH let's me buy whatever i want for the house.  One year we got a windchime.  One year a tree, etc.  This year i got 2 new crepe myrtles - the fragrant white Nachez crepe myrtle.  I planted them Saturday in the late afternoon heat and it was hot digging holes for them!  The ground is so dry and hard here, i was worried i would not be able to dig deep enough!

This is what they will look like.

I also took my potted geraniums and planted them out in my raised beds.  I got these geraniums from friend so i hate to lose them, but they are sort of boring little blooms and not a great pink, just a pastel - sort of boring.  I also moved some portulaca (i had to look up how to spell that!) that was growing in a pot.  I am trying to move as many of my perennials from pots to beds so i don't have to winter so many pots in the house this winter!  The advantage is, i had a lot of pretty greens that i wintered inside to provide color and interest in my deck pots and only bought a 6 pack of petunias and a 6 pack of impatiens to spread out with the greenery (vinca, asparagus fern, airplane plant, mother-of-millions and purple heart).  Next year i am going to do the same thing - focusing on these plants that do well and buy a few pretty flowers to add pretty color.  I am looking for a couple of the cool iron planters to add some height at the corners of my deck.  I saw some beautiful ones at the nursery Saturday but they were $100+ each!  I also planted a hyacinth vine that i started from a seed - it is already way bigger than 2 clematis i bought - but clematis are sort of slow to get started - and the hyacinth vine is an annual.  But they grow really fast - so i am going to try to plant several from seeds next year really early, like late winter.  I also see that some of my lettuce has gone to seed and i am going to see if i can get a little lettuce from seed next year.

I am such a garden nerd, that i have big plans that inspire me that involve design and seeds.  LOL.  My DH thinks i am making the yard way more complicated, but i really do have a 2 year, 5 year and 10 year plan.  My plan is to get many areas of my garden/yard so that i can do as much or as little as i want from year to year (i.e. raised beds, bushes and mostly potted flowers).  But i really do enjoy creating it a lot.  I intend to get to a point where i am just maintaining...wonder if i am kidding myself?!  LOL

I know much of my plans will be evolving and from trial basis - what i learn and adjust.  For example, in out front yard it is very sunny so i have English ivy (don't worry, it is contained to a small area) and cactus and i am increasing the cactus and succulents to reduce how much i have to water out front.  Right now we are watering even the bushes and shrubs, do to this dry summer we are having.  The important thing is 1)  i enjoy it and 2)  i hope it makes the house look nice and someday 3)  increase selling time/value.

This little cactus my friends from Florida mailed me a piece and i am going to keep it going/repot it.

What is your summer plans looking like where you are?  

Saturday Shopping for Someone Else

Funny how enlightened I think I may have become through experience and old age, it is funny how fast we can revert.  I have been going through some really difficult times with my marriage and with my state of mind.  That has lead to my isolation and sent my hamster wheel spinning.

Essentially, my M.O. is to "run away" literally and figuratively when things are hard.  I know that is why I am not blogging much.  I am having hard time putting my thoughts together, let alone down in words.  This week, I had 3 days truly alone to process everything going on and discussions with my DH.

I feel better today.  I have sat with my problems in the light of day, ruminated over them with very few distractions and have come up with some plans for dealing with things.  One of the big problems, is that I really miss my job.  So, I don't know what will happen if they end up finding an assignment for me.  That is one of the things that I just pray about and realize until that day comes, there is nothing I can do about it.  In the meanwhile, I can be fierce in our money handling.

I am shopping today with my sister, for HER!  Not me.  I have been pretty good lately.  I am winding down my closet on Poshmark.  I am trying to sort of shut that down for the summer.  Even though I am pretty good at selling and getting a little mad money, let's be honest here...it makes me shop.  So, today just trying to focus on few tweaks to my wardrobe, getting rid of excess so I know what I actually do have and will use...and I am pretty much obsessed with gardening right now!

Have a nice weekend.  If you have stuck around and still stop by.  Thank you.  I value personal interaction like never before.

P.S.  My ankle and foot are much better!  I am going to be pretty sedentary one more week, which is also hard for me.  But I need it to heal correctly.

Company Coming

Today is Saturday.  I have my girlfriend, T coming.  She is from the city where we used to meet.  We met over a mutual love of coffee, about 15 years ago.  Her DH also rode motorcycles, and the 4 of us went on a few rides together.  Then in 2009 I got my license and my own bike.  T got her license and her bike a few years ago.  I have not told T I have my bike listed for sale.

She was going to come down the weekend of my birthday, last weekend, but she had to make up for some time away from work.  She had the flue bad enough, she had to go the er.

I look forward to talking to her about that and about yoga.  We started yoga together about 7 years ago.  I also look forward to talking about doing a yoga retreat next year.  And going back to the city first week of April and going to our old yoga studio together.  I am glad I am skipping yoga today, my shoulder continues to be really persistent in giving me pain and numbness.  I have been the to chiro twice, and will go couple more times before our road trip next week.

Another thing I look forward to is talking to her about what I am struggling with a little bit.  I will talk about it here in the future.  I have not talked to another person, except my sister.  This is sort of related to me having my bike listed for sale.  I want to continue to condense our "stuff", liquidate and focus on having some fun experiences.  Sometimes I feel like DH is with me, sometimes I feel like he wants other things.

He did dig deep and agree to list some extra things, like some expensive watches, a couple sets of gold clubs and an expensive coat.  But he continues to shop and it makes me feel very uncomfortable.  If he is just shopping to curate and condense, I am ok.  If he is not being honest about just condensing what we have and curating, but continues to aimlessly shop we will have a big problem.  Even doing that, frustrates me because he shows no such enthusiasm for doing things, improving his health or home related stuff.  I shop too, but I have the same enthusiasm for home projects, working in the yard, setting up our garden, hiking, crocheting, yoga, etc.

We both spend too much time on our phones!  Lol.  Well, I do have to remember that things don't change overnight.  This is a big adjustment and I am trying to be patient for one year.

What are you all struggling with?  Anything you can related to?

Still Sick

Bad news is I am sick.  Good news is that I don't have to worry about missing work and thus my wages.  I'm my last 11 years of employment I did not have sick time or vacation time.  And I have post graduate degree.  La de dada.

So, I am skipping yoga again today and resting inside.  It is cold, grey and raining today.  Perfect day for jammies and a movie and a good book.

I just sold a pair of shoes and an old set of DH golf clubs.  I am still cleaning 2 or 3 bags to charity each week.  It is crazy a person has so much stuff.

Have a great Monday!

Hello Winter

Luke 1:78-79, “Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace.” (NLT)

It got pretty cool yesterday.  I slept pretty good last night.  Having headache and back ache made my put off my last batch of cookies for today.  Now I wish I had powered through.  I bought a new crockpot, broke the crock for my other one.  Looked online and couple thrifts, could not readily find a new crock.  I will keep the shell and lid for a couple months...see if I can find another crock.  If not, I can trash then.

Woke up yesterday at 4am...stayed in bed till 6 and got up.  Watched the sun come up.

Later in the day, we moved around some stuff so that we could move my truck in the shop.  It really makes things tight in there, but the truck is new and expensive, so we wanted to store inside.  I finally got all the commission friend's sister's shoes listed on Poshmark.  I have 146 left, but they are all cleaned and listed.  I brought all the boots back in my house, hoping I can get them all sold by end of February.  The boxes of shoes I have narrowed down to at lieast a single file against far wall of the shop, allowing the truck in.   I have 41 of my own listings, mostly jeans and shoes.  I have sold gross of over $600 for her and couple hundred for myself.  I am saving up for another pair or 2 of tennis shoes.  They are all I wear now.  So I am just going to embrace it.

My high school class is planning a late January get together.  I have been working on it with my friend.  I have to use DH phone.  No telling when mine will be back.  She laughs and tells me she found ANOTHER BOX of shoes.  They are totally ok with and I am thinking someday...if all the stuff is listed and I don't want to perpetually stock my inventory...I will let the listings dwindle and I will either donate the last bit, or take them somewhere to sell in person on commission.  I will see what happens.  My friend said, get what I can and donate the rest.  They just needed them gone.

What are you donating?  Baking?  Hope your day is filled with Christmas preparations and happy planning!

Selling!

I have 45 pair of shoes and boots of my friend's sister listed...not a single sale yet until this week.  Then I sold one pair of boots and 2 jeans.

It is funny how it sort of cascaded once it gets started.  Can be Amy project.  Clearing out clutter, organizing, rearranging,  selling, even giving away.  Once I get started, it flows.

I also went through box of photos of my neice and nephew.  Kept just few and plan to photo and transfer to electronic storage and otherwise incorporate into my current photos.

Then I divided them all up to give to neice and nephew.  Thus freeing up a large box.  I also went through a big pile of picture frames and prepared for donation.

While DH is away at deer hunt, I will declutter even more.  He did agree to donate 2 huge speakers...so that is great!

This morning, I worked on clearing out some cabinets and I am going to store some glassware in more long term way...if I dont find myself using, I will donate.  Then I dusted and watched birds till DH got up.

We have to drive to other side of the county for his lab and my dr.  My dr appt I set back in May or so, funny how the lab got put on same day, conveniently.  I hope my new specialist is good, I will miss my doctor in the city, but not the huge medical facility challenges that came with her.  But with huge medical facility comes cutting edge knowledge and strategy?  Will I be giving up quality for smaller practice?  We shall see.

I am grateful for my health.   It us generally very good, at least I seems to be something I can engage in and affect holistically.   My body allowed me to complete a pretty challenging class last night.   Today I feel it!

Yesterday I forgot to include my little stop and smell the roses efforts...Sat we rode our bikes to the car wash and washed them.  Then we sat outside in the shade next to them and had some cold water and impromptu relaxation.  No TV, no phones.  Then Sunday I watched Ozzy and Jack Osborne TV show with DH and it was pretty funny.  They were riding along with a police department and they stopped a  vehicle and Ozzy talked to the man through a speaker and told him to exit the car and gave him several instructions including to "do a little dance" and then Ozzy said "I am Ironman".  DH and I laughed at that!  Then later Jack put on the padded suit to work with the police dog and he ran so the dog could be given the order to take him down.  It was so funny.  But do not watch if gestures or words offend!  haha.  You gotta know the Osborne's to get what I am implying, they have quite the potty mouths!  Last night I went home from work, did some laundry, fixed dinner, and put a couple of checks from insurance we cancelled up here in city in bank.  Then I watched couple episodes of Mike and Molly with DH.  I did not walk, I just needed to rest.  Then walked dogs and went to bed!  I was up at 4am yesterday, so I was tired.  I think I will do early to bed again tonight after hot yoga.  DH bought new golf clubs and I about had a fit Sunday when I found out.  I guess that explains why he gave me some cash last week.  He is trying to get me to buy another set of irons for myself, but I don't think I need them.  I think I need new grips on mine.  I don't want to spend money on that.  i have too many other things on my radar right now.  At least he sold his former set - fast!  Listed them on Sunday and they were gone last night.  He gave me the $300 to put into our cash pile.  We like to have a bit of cash on hand for emergency.  So, that is progress I guess.  10 years ago he would have just stashed the old set in the basement storage room.  He also gave away 2 of his nice briefcases to his nephew and his brother.  He won't need them when he retires.  Then we still have 2 others to sell...can you see a pattern? 

Bad Days

Yesterday was sort of a crap day, so was today.  Just blah, bad attitude winter yuck.  I went to see my DGM and she has fallen a 2nd time in 2 weeks.  She thinks this is her decline.  Is hard to discuss.  I lsugh and try to have fun with her, distract her, love on her, hear stories.  Then I cry 25 miles home.

Then this morning I planned my day around 3 people.  Last min all 3 people rescheduled.  I still sold 4 tops, a purse and after our team eliminated from the play offs, we were so disgusted, we purged a box my husband has had in his closet 10 years!  Lol.  He also gave me about 20 items to sell and 2 garbage bags to donate.  1 bag to trash.  So, the day ended up fruitful! 

I also cleaned downstairs and cleaned and organized the pantry.  Tomorrow i am doing master shower and under kitchen sink! 

I cleaned house like a fiend last night/this am.  Then my cousin who came in town for work stayed at hotel because she got sick with flu. I am going to relax and enjoy all my work to get some r and r with my DH.  Supposed to get freezing rain in a.m.  Stay warm out there!

Rate of Reduction Slow But Steady

Rate of Reduction Slow but Steady
I have slowed somewhat the rate of selling shoes/hats/clothes on PM.  But, not the rate that DH is clearing out his stuff.  Due the level of my down/slash right-sizing, I was able on couple hours notice to clear out 1/2 the upstairs closet.  This works perfectly, because now my husband can put his daily essentials in the upstairs closet and more easily see what he does not need/use downstairs.  Things happen in their own sweet time, not nec when I am ready!

I have rid my home of a barely used exercise mat (I still have 2 more!), 2 large display jars to my friend at work, a camel hair coat of my husbands and a couple other bags to my aunt.  I also got rid of a large amount of homecooked food to my good girlfriend who just had neck laminectomy surgery.  So, that was nice.  I just cooked my usu sunday thing for my husband and doubled everything so I could take her a few meals ready to heat up.  I finished the apples - thank good ness.  I made 2 crockpots of applesauce but I added too much cloves to the 2nd batch - just a  will do when it comes to cloves.

The sun has been out for last 2 days.  So nice, even if I am stuck inside working.  My DH played golf again yesterday with BIL3.  They had a much better outing that our cold drizzle of Sunday.  I considered it, but I need the income right now to pay off stuff (have a bit charged for my winter yoga increase) and stash a little for next year.

Tonight will be quiet.  I have a credit at a nearby home store when I am thinking of buying a couple of those versatile poofs or bean bags for impromptu seating.  Hope you are having a great Thursday!  I applied for a couple of positions at my RH location - keep your fingers crossed!

Grateful for people

10/29/17
Grateful for people

I am grateful for people in my life.  I had a great date night with my DH listen after a busy and productive Sat morning and drive sat afyernoon looking at leaves.  Sat morning was cool, but afternoon was pretty.  Stayed up way too late, had fun.  Saw my 97 yo DGM and her 93 yo SIL (my great aunt) and my fathers cousin.  It brought on some painful memories of my dad...but my dad is gone now.  I did what I could before he died.

After my busy sunday helping my DGM, i had a healthy early dinner and caught up with my aunts for little while.  I didnt get my walk in, rare for a Sun.  I will just walk extra this week.  Sold a purse and canned some apple pie filling.  First time ever made chunky applesauce with cinnamon.  Its good.  My house is clean.  In an hour, bed then another work week...

Trying not to wish my life away too fast!  But want winter over and its barely started!

Two Steps Forward

One step back.  At least that beats one step forward, two steps back. 

Some great strides in decluttering and saving, then I see something shiney.  Oh well.  I had saved up some money for a couple of things and so I feel ok as long as I try to stay away from impulse buying.  I had planned to get something nice for DH retirement and now that is out of the way.  I can work almost a year trying to add back to my savings to make up for that. 
 

Lots of festivals this time of the year and that is so fun!  Yesterday we went to an art show and a car show.  We had a great time, even though it was in the 90's and humid!  We also went to a great meal out Friday night and they serve family style, so LOTS of leftovers!  Also 3 friends have given us fresh produce, so I am not going to the store until late in the week, we are working on our pantry and freezer. 
 

Today we are going to a movie which is a rare treat.  We almost always do matinees due to keeping cost down.  Then we go pick up our used car that has been very challenging with all the repairs we had to shell out within months of owning it.  But I look at it like, now the vehicle has basically been rebuilt, so should last us several years. 

My DH also sold his newer truck recently so we could put that money in the bank to be able to pay off RH when we sell our CH.  It should happen still.  I also recently did a small financial assist for a family member and gave to Red Cross for hurricane and bought a shirt to help animal shelter.  So, that makes me feel really good.
 

This weekend, I thoroughly cleaned master bath everything!  Lights, doors, baseboard and floor.  I will finish up tonight with scrubbing the grout.  I also caulked a place around front door window panel and repainted that trim. 

I read another blog who recommended you hire an inspector to go through and point out stuff you can address beforehand.  I may just have BIL who has built houses do that.  I also have a friend who is really good at staging and when she was here last month, she gave me lots of ideas that I wrote down on a list.  I did not get rid of much this weekend, but now that we will have our big SUV back, I can take a giant lamp to my aunt (A2) and I am taking a large houseplant and 2 giant planters to my SIL2. 

I wish I had started blogging sooner so I could remember all the stuff I have sold, given away to family/friends and given to thrift stores.  It has been pretty substantial.  Here are a few examples:  clothes, shoes, jewelry, collectibles of certain name brands sold.  I have used Facebook market place, ebay and Poshmark.  Furniture: FB, garage sales and Craigslist.  Plus I have given plenty away.  Sentimental stuff goes back to where I got it, or on to younger people in my family.  Sporting goods, expensive small items mostly ebay.  I had a freezer that we called bulk item pick up and I have put several large things we don't want, that have little value that I have sat by the curb with a "free" sign during our neighborhood garage sale.  I will do a whole post on Poshmark sometime.  All these things I have probably make over $5000 in the past 2 years.  I also gave away some large houseplants free on Craigslist. 

The older I get, the more I think about cleaning and maintaining certain things.  I am getting tired of houseplants, but I still keep a few.  DH and I really hate to kill houseplants.  I would rather give it away.  My health condition is cooperating with me great this weekend, feel great!  I walked yesterday before it got warm and I will walk later today again, AFTER the NFL game!
 

Hope you are getting a lot of fall projects tackled!

Wednesdays with GM

Well I made an error in my first blog post ever.  I guess everyone refers to family members by initials.  So, I should have typed DH instead of husband.  I don't even know what the D stands for, 'dear'?  Anyway, it's a learning curve.  Today I am not nearly as talkative as I felt yesterday.  Maybe that is part of the curve.  Like, where to start...what to say...Today in the Midwest it is pretty warm for this time of the year, highs in the high 80's.  So, I actually enjoyed wearing a dress and sandals to work today, but with a jacket because it is always freezing cold at my office. 

After work on Wed I usu go visit my 98 year old grandmother.  GM I guess.  How lucky I feel to have a GM who is 98 years old.  I turned 50 this year.  My folks are both deceased.  Cancer.  I lost my mom early, she was in her 40's and I was in my 20's when she died.  This GM is my paternal GM.  My dad passed away 3 years ago.  So, after my dad passed, we moved GM away from my dad's city to the city where I live now.  My paternal aunt (PA), her daughter also lives here.  One of the people I will be very sad to move away from is GM.  When she moved here 3 years ago she never expected to be alive at 98.  I am glad she is, but I try to pray for God's will.  I was mindful of this this past spring and tried to come to terms with what He might have in store.  I pray my GM will not go through a long, protracted decline.  She got sick after having a surgery in March, just before her 98th birthday and for a few weeks, we really thought we were going to lose her.  It was a long spring.  She lives alone in an independent living facility.  Her meals are fixed for her and her apartment is cleaned/linens washed.  She does her own personal laundry.  She likes books on tape and baseball.  She cannot hear or see well so her quality of life has diminished a lot.  She has a lot of friends who visit and call her.  This past year I have really seen this diminish too.  She gets anxious because she can't understand when people try to talk to her and when she asks people to speak up, often they just repeat what they said in the exact same tone.  I can imagine how frustrating that would be.  So, I go visit once a week and call at least once a week.  I wish I could do more, but she is about 50 miles from where I live on other side of the city.  My work is about 1/2 in between, so it is handy to go see her on Wed or Fri after work. On these days, I try to have DH dinner pre planned, because he does not cook and would resort to snacks and unhealthy stuff...or just eat nothing.  Ugggghhh.

Lately I am doing a stretch of OT at work and this has gone on since July.  I try to get an extra 5 to 10 hours a week on top of my usu 40.  It has helped me get a few things for retirement house (RH).  I bought a new window, a new stove and a new dishwasher.  More on RH later.  In my posts, I want to include something about what I am doing to prepare for that move.  Some days, it seems very little.  But, really just working and paying bills, saving and paying as we go for improvements/projects is as good as it gets, and for that I am grateful.  I also try to do at least one small project at city house (CH) a weekend while I am in town.  We go to RH about once or twice a month.  Lately, we have done less of that because of my OT.  So, this past weekend I regrouted between the sink and the counter the length of my center island where the sink is.  I know, ambitous, huh?.  I also put out 2 heavy dehumidifiers that we will no longer need/have room to store at RH.  RH does not have a basement either, while CH does.  They were marked free and both were taken.  It was our neighborhood fall garage sale this past weekend, so that felt good.  The week before that I sold my treadmill and elliptical that I stored (and used) in large basement storage room in CH.  I was a little surprised they sold so quick and both together.  This winter I will have to be a little creative in my workouts and I will also just up my yoga a bit.  Well, back to work...See you again soon.