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!

Hot and Dry Here!

 My work computer system is down most of today, so i am taking a break to post this.  It is so hot and dry here, we are watering stuff about an hour or hour and a half a day just to keep our bushes, new plants and some young trees alive.  Was very dry June and July, had a couple good rains in early August and dry again.  My thoughts go out to all the people and animals affected by both the fires and the hurricanes.  What a disaster on each end o the spectrum!

One of my success stories is this cool trellis of ivy we have grown for nearly 3 years.  We started it in the spring of 2018 before we moved to this retirement house full time.

This past Friday we had a program for DH uncle who passed away early last week.  He had military funeral at the nearby national cemetary.  It was nice.  DH sister and his mom had been going through his house and papers and had moved some stuff to be salvaged out (dishes and a little furniture).  They saved the truly personal effects (keepsakes and pictures to be passed out when all the family was gathered.  After the service, we went to his house to finish this task.  His house was dark, dank and filthy.  Very sad.  Much of the trees and shrubs outside had become overgrown and an eyesore.  The cousins all split up the pictures and a couple of antiques.  He had 2 overgrown plants that i am going to take a cutting from and make a nice plant for his sister - DH mom.  SIL asked if i wanted the overgrown plants and i opted for cuttings instead.  This type of reminders make me 1)  sad because who is going to go through my stuff?  We don't have kids.  My sister?  My neice and nephew?  My SIL and her husband have no children either, she stated this weekend that she and her husband donating their estate to a charity.  Not a bad idea.  And make me feel 2)  more determined than ever to always be cleaning out and aware of my possessions.  

While DH brother was in town for the service, we played golf on Saturday.  It was HOT!  And i got off to a slow start.  Feeling hot and not hitting well.  I played with my new driver for the first time and it took a few holes to get used to it.  Then, viola!  It was really great.  I hit a few really nice drives, over 130 feet and seemed to really see progress with this driver!  Yay.  This is a picture of the many creeks running through the golf course we usually go to.  I got a 48 on the back 9, my best score every!  So happy.

We finished the show Merlin on Amazon Prime.  It was really fun and enjoyable.  We both got tired of some of the repeated plot lines and some of the gaps in reasoning some of the characters displayed, but we enjoyed the theme and the time period and characters immensely.  It is about young King Arthur of Camelot, his trusty sidekick Merlin and Gwenivere (sp?) and the Knights of the Roundtable.  I give it 7 out of 10 stars.  I just heard on the radio they are doing sometype of limited comeback show about West Wing (which is one of my very favorite shows ever) this fall re voting.  Will probably be too political for my taste, but we shall see.  We started Yellowstone last night and will enjoy catching up on that - the season 3 final episode aired this past Sunday.  It is a ranch family, father is screen legend Kevin Costner - and it started a little slow, but by 2nd episode I was hooked!  I told DH if we get to a point we cannot find something to watch this fall, we will have to designate a couple nights a week for just reading.  We have a huge collection of mystery and crime novels.  But i still seem to find several shows i want to watch, including Friday Night Lights this fall, and Homeland this winter.  

I just got a couple bags of small tomatoes for our friend who grows about 50 plants, since my work system was down - i made a 2nd batch of salsa.  I am going to take a jar to my high school friend whose step dad came home on hospice this past weekend.  She texted me.  I have a loaf of zucchine bread for her mom.  She is the gal i have distanced myself from and frankly have found it quite a relief to NOT be in daily multiple text/couple group text situations with her any longer.  She referenced the space she was giving me as i asked for.  I wanted to respond back that i did not request space, i requested RESPECT.  Maybe subliminally she took my request for respect and turned it into space.  Oh well.  I have known her since 3rd grade and love her mom and step dad.  It is sad.

My own dear grandmother is not doing great either.  She is slowing way down, unable to take care of herself daily and falling.  We have hired daily care for her and my aunt is arranging to have her moved into same building my aunt is, right next door.  

Well, my IKEA furniture should be here Friday and hopefully i will have before and after photos soon!  I haven't sold much lately or cleaned anything out.  But i will have to gear up for some fall clear out!  Here is another before and after (sort of)...

This cool round firepit area concrete was here before we moved in.  We usu store away the chairs when not in use to be able to mow around and move the water hose easily.  The firepit area had these 3 stacked concrete 'things' in a half circle around the far side of the concrete - i found them useless and inhibiting to movement.  We never sat on them.  DH didn't want me to get rid of them for some reason.  So we kept 2 of them for 6 years.  Recently i asked again if i could get rid of them and he said yes.  So a couple weeks ago i decided to surprise him while he was out of town.  Turns out i love using a sledg hammer.  I like the clean look MUCH better.  You can see all the temp fencing i have up right now trying to get some new grass to seed - its a mess.  And a lot of watering!

New Table

We had a nice weekend, DH and I went to a concert Sunday.  It was really fun.  It was back up in the city where I am working.  We had to board the dogs, but we had them bathed while there were there and they look nice and smell good.  We had a nice time staying with and seeing my aunt and uncle.  I am glad DH got to see my uncle, he is really slipping last few months.  We also got to play golf with DH 2 brothers.  It was very rainy and cool!  We went by Sat night and saw our former neighbors in the city.  That was nice.  Again, very chilly for August!

We got back home Monday morning and it went from chilly and drizzly to 91 and humid in the country!  We mowed Monday afternoon and I had to stop twice to cool off and get some water!  I also watered real well and all my plants I have planted over the spring and summer look so nice!
I asked SIL how her plants were doing (she got the other half of the plants in May from her and DH cousin).  She said hers look terrible!  She hasn't had the time to water hers like we have (they own a business and have cattle and BIL works full time).  She said she will be embarrassed if/when cousin comes to town!  Ha.  I also switched out hummingbird food and ate dinner, then went to bed! 

On Mondays I go to bed at 8pm to get up Tuesdays at 3:30pm to drive to the city.  Today I am tired, but not too bad.  I will do moderate workout at the gymn after work.  I did yoga for first time in 2 months Wed and Sat and I am still a little sore!  Will not have that big of a gap ever again!
Anyway, here is our new table.  We really like it.  We are selling another table and 4 chairs, a set of end/coffee/sofa tables and a leather chair at my SIL vintage resale store.  I wanted something lighter with a pedestal.  The light pedestal is the new one.

Have a great Monday!

Birthday Weekend!

I wonder if now that I am not a captive audience at a computer for 8 to 10 hours a day, if I will just eventually ease off blogging.  But I still have stuff to say and I really want to blog for a year while retired, to see my evWeolution.

I think I just need to set a certain time a day to blog and stick to it.  I have not been terribly busy, but I have been up to the city with my husband and my sister.  We went back to where DH and I moved from, for my DGM 100 birthday!  She had a nice birthday.  We did a card shower for her, she cannot see and cannot hear, so being around many people is stressful for her.  So, we just did the card shower, we shared with people closed to us and family for her and so far she had gotten 75 be the time we left her on her birthday to come home.

The home where she lives is independent living.  She comes downstairs for her meals.  Her daughter and my cousin, my DGM, my sister, DH and I.  we shared lunch with her.  They sang HBD to her and brought her the annual banana split (evidently this is preferred for elderly over cake).  I can understand that.  I prefer pie over cake, cake can be so very dry and blah.  But my sister did bring her some yummy cupcakes from a place I recommended.

When the recreation therapist and the guy in charge came over to say hello, he had a microphone and asked if DGM wanted to say anything about how she made it so long.  Well my Granny gets that microphone and says..."Well if you don't want to live to 100 you better start drinking and smoking...I never did that".  It was pretty funny.

DH and I playing golf today.  It is gray and spotty rain, but should not amount to much.  Tomorrow is my birthday and I am doing yoga and then I think I am either going to steak place or to the casino for dinner.  I might even play $40 worth of slots.  You know, live dangerously.

Beautiful Day for Golf!

Too bad our golf games are not as good as the beautiful mid January day weather we were treated to today.  But we enjoyed being out and being together, so that is what is importat.  We were hanppy to be able to be outsid3e for the afternoon before it gets cold and snowy possibly this weekend.  Our old city still has several inches of snow on the ground and more to come.

We came home to a TV being chewed up.  The pup seems to be regressing.  We are frustrated but understand she is still a pup.  Thinking we will block her off in the laundry room from now on when we leave for a couple hours.

Canned soup for dinner, we are so tired.  Have a great Weekend!

Day 25, Grateful for Perspective

Maybe you’re experiencing a season of life right now where you feel...rejected, abandoned, disappointed, unwanted, alone...We all experience these feelings at one time or another. Maybe as a little girl or even a grown woman who desperately wishes her daddy would love her, an employee who longs for the approval of her boss, a woman who would give anything if her husband would pay attention to her, or one whose husband has walked away. Maybe you feel forgotten by friends or family during the busy holiday season, and loneliness and painful emotions threaten to steal your joy...When we find ourselves feeling this way, we’re faced with two choices. We can turn away from God in anger and frustration and develop a sour attitude. Or we can allow the words of the psalmist to motivate us to step up in our faith...Psalm 43:3, “Send out your light and your truth; let them guide me. Let them lead me to your holy mountain, to the place where you live...If you’re feeling forgotten, by others or by God, let your hope swell and your joy return by intentionally believing that God will never leave you and is always by your side. Make a commitment to focus on God’s presence and the blessings He’s given you, and let God be the source of your joy...Dear Lord, I’ve been feeling...alone in this world...Forgive me for doubting, and fill my heart with the joy of Your presence. I commit today to seek after You, put my hope in You and praise You even when I’m struggling. In Jesus’ Name, Amen."
   -Tracie Miles

This really resonated with me today.   If have felt lonely and lost in my life...I developed bad coping strategies.  I persevered at my poor choices...I learned I can also make better choices...and preserver in the those.  Today, I try to remain hopeful, grateful and help others.  My feelings change like the weather in the midwest.

Wish me luck as we play golf in the wind today.  Cold front is coming in and all day temps will be dropping.

Have a wonderful Sunday.  Spoil yourself just a little today.  Start with a thought.

Day 25, I am grateful for perspective.

Thanksgiving Week, Day 20 and 21

https://newsroom.statefarm.com/dont-let-cooking-fires-ruin-the-holidays/?cmpid=SOC:Newsroom:PA:Facebook&utm_source=m.facebook.com&utm_medium=referral

Yesterday we played golf again at the public course closest to our house, that is fairly affordable.  The free round the manager comp'd us a month ago, we had to start on back 9 and we got lost few times, rushed because it was on a Wednesday and they have seniors scramble on Wednesdays.  So, yesterday while cool (40s), it was sunny and very few playing.  So we took our time and played 1 through 18.  We really enjoyed it.  We are going to see if we really do want to play once a week in Dec then decide if it fits in our budget to join, or just pay as we go.

Yesterday I also sold a few things, so I have earned almost $200 for my friend's sister.  I will take 10% for my efforts...it's a lot of work.

Today we are going to paint one last part of trim on house we have dreaded and put off.  Wish us luck!

We discussed Thanksgiving with SIL Monday.   She and MIL decided to do prep together at MIL house.  DH was ready to speak up since SIL still working and I have never hosted/prep'd large gathering meal...MIL may have though better and may have been persuaded by SIL.  I am just glad I stayed out of that!

Happy Wednesday.   Thankful today for our house we love, to keep us warm and safe,  even if the maintenance is nearly killing us, lol.  Just kidding, we could have hired painting help...this will be last time I paint exterior anything.  Just trim even...

I am also thankful for sunny days to be able to get outside!

Enough

Well I didnt win the lottery, did you?

God is able to give you more than you need, so that you will always have all you need for yourselves and more than enough for every good cause.” 2 Corinthians 9:8 (GNT)

Have a great Wednesday.  Going to enjoy the day out golfing.  Supposed to turn cool Thursday.

Excitement at the Extended Stay

So we were golfing yesterday afternoon.  It rained, pretty steady.  We have devised strategies for keeping our hands and feet and clubs as dry as we could.  We just laugh.  But my 2nd BIL played with us yesterday, which is rare.  He told us we were crazy.

It was nice being together, doing something silly and frivolous.  It was nice being outside.  The rain really cooled things off, but it was humid.  The course is about 3 miles away from extended stay hotel.  We heard quite a flurry of sirens.  Never thought much of it. 

So, we get take out on the way home.  Still a very steady constant downpour.  Some woman on the elevator up to our room said we missed the excitement at the hotel.  Some man had been apprehended by police?!  What?  We could not find any news story about it.  I will keep my eyes and ears open!

At 9pm last night on last dog walk of the day, there was a man with a wife and 2 children.  Another rough looking man yelled and pushed him.  I did not see what started this.  There were about 15 people all standing by front of the hotel, besides these men and their wives (one with 2 kids).  Both men were yelling and took their shirts off...the kids crying.  It was scary.  The woman of the aggressive man yelled him to stop "...not in front of his babies...!"  DH and I were just incredulous.
I felt so bad for the kids.  I just felt so upset and rattled by just seeing this.  I can't imagine kids that have to live in chaos like that.  I wanted to stay up and watch the news, but decided sleep was calling. 

Ephesians 4:31-32  ESV
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

I'm Back!

Back to city.  To RH to oversee new kitchen/utility room floors and plumber.  Did laundry.  Expensive here at hotel.  Golf today.  Was in the 80s fir nice respite,  was great being outside.  Sunday...then back to work. While I was at RH, I got some painting (porch ceilings and rear exterior wall), some shrubs trimmed and watered.  Have a great Sat night!

So Much for Down Day Feeling!

So usually golfing qualifies as a down day, at least it was recreation for a change!  We have been consumed with moving and caring for 2 houses last couple years (first world whine).  But darn was it hot yesterday!  We were just melting.  Sweat in our eyes, just humid.  Made me really fatigued and my game was bad.  But, I did enjoy being out.  Then humidity eased a bit and I did about half my normal walk.  I was listening to a good FBI crime mystery audio book by Med Gardiner "Into the Black Nowhere".  So, I forced myself.  I wanted to enjoy the book, encourage some grit and assist in the puffiness my bad eating has caused.  Then we ate cool summer food - egg salad, fruit and avocado.  I do enjoy summer eating!
Back to work today and then yoga tonight.  But I am really glad the last 2 weekends of moving are behind us!  DH has hand surgery tomorrow, so I will try to schedule my truck oil change late afternoon.  Have a great Tuesday!  Can't believe May is almost over.  The golf course showed some weird signs of heat, burned grass, moss on the ponds and we could even hear the locusts starting up.  It really seemed like late July/August out there - I hope this is not a portend for the rest of the summer.

Let Go

http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/?m=1
The other day on FB I saw a meme that said when we let go of all the things that are holding us back and making us sad, resentful, stuck in the past, anxious...we make room for more positive things.  This is a more abstract, psychological aspect of rightsizing, but just as important as physical right sizing. 
Went to hot yoga last night and tried this.  There are a couple of posses that just elude me.  Yoga poses can be like a golf swing, or learing to ride a motorcycle...there are numerous different stages that you have to remember to do all either simultaneously or as part of a sequence.  It is hard to remember all the things sometimes and you see the results accordingly.  Last night I was trying to get my folded leg around my standing leg as eagle pose and the instructor says "core, core, core" - like a lightbulb!  I did it!  Then I even did the other side.  He usu has to come over and move my foot around my standing leg.  When I start to learn something new, I can feel overwhelmed.  What I need to remember, is that eventually certain practices (motorcycle skill, golf, yoga, letting go and praying)...these all can develop into habits that become easier and eventually 2nd nature.
Have a wonderful Friday and I hope you can let something go that is not working for you and make room for something better.

At Least we Had Sunshine Today

But my DH golf partner (brother while we still live here in the city) was unavailable today and I was in the office all day.  But I am grateful for the income.  He will be busy dear hunting this weekend to go, and I am going to cook for my dear friend who had surgery yesterday and see if I can help her in any other way.  I am also planning to run to IKEA for a few things, but might have to put off for a couple weeks.  So busy! 

Tomorrow supposed to be really cold.  My DH gave my work friend a super warm coat.  It is well made and fabric has camo - which is funny because this friend moved here from West Coast and literally laughs because he has never owned anything camo before, but also said it is the warmest coat he has ever had.  We laugh because DH always buys best quality.  I have spent my first 45 years buying discount or sale stuff, based mostly on price and availability.  Now, I buy quality - pay once and have one.  Don't spend time running around wishing I had bought something else, or buying duplicates/multiples of similar.  I buy what I want, but I research and find best buy.  Sometimes that means vintage or thrift, often ebay or Poshmark.  And my closet is not stuffed to the gills with stuff that I am not satisfied with.  I almost NEVER buy anything just becaue it is on sale now.  I buy something because I plan ahead.  My husband is trailing along with me on the reduction mentality, but he is coming along in his own time and without me saying anything.  I just love that about this man!

Anyway, so glad I got in a great yoga session last night.  it was dark going in, so that was not as weird as going in to class daylight, coming out dark.  Then I visited my friend in hospital.  Work is busy.  2 more weekends till it will be Thanksgiving.  Crazy.  My DH has day off tomorrow, I do not.  Again, I will take a paycheck.  Thank you God.  I am a temp.  We were in a hiring frenzy this summer.  Things are slowing down.  I have seen a few mass exodus in my 10 years in this gig.  I have met some people I like and see then leave and get other stuff willing and leave not willingly.  We are starting to see some worried people around us.  I will be one of those people looking for somethine else soon.  It is hard.  Change is hard.  Everyone hates rejection.  Uggggghhhh.  I just have to pray my next chapter is out there...waiting.  Have a great Thursday evening.  I like Thursday evenings, if I can ever just relax and live in the moment!