So one thing I learned this week is that if your intention is fun, you’re more likely to follow through. I have the bag and a water bottle and inhaler and Kleenex and the ever necessary poop bags in it with plans for adding the rest of the stuff like my phone as I go (everybody should have a go bag), and I’m filling several small bags with the basics–kleenex, inhaler, poop bag–so I can just grab and go for shorter walks, and I’m going to put up a hook board (that I already had to hold all this stuff and it’s making me feel very organized and adult. And I ordered one of those collapsible bowls for his water, too, thank you all for the suggestions.
My good intention for next week is to get that all done and the hook board up. And to get the last of my kitchen counters cleaned off because it’s past time.
So what’s your good intention for this week? And how did last week’s go unless you’d rather I didn’t ask in which case, never mind.
98 Responses
I accidentally missed a Dr appt last week; the introductory visit with my new primary care provider because I got distracted by my podiatrist asking me what my plans were for the rest of the day and I said I was thinking of getting a pedicure. Instead of going straight home (where I’d have seen the reminder note for the new pcp appt posted above the stove) I drove directly to the nail salon and requested a pedicure. In the middle of it, I looked at the clock and realized my Dr appt was in 15 minutes and there was no way I was going to make it so I called and rescheduled it for this week. My intention is to NOT forget the new appt. Side note…When I explained my problem to the receptionist, she laughed and said she’d love to get a pedicure too!
I gardened instead of other stuff. I must finish the other stuff. Plus tomorrow get my hair cut at 10. Book a pedicure.
Heading to the Chicago North Romance Writers’ Spring Fling on Wednesday. They have a lot of good workshops and classes scheduled. Since I actually enjoy learning about writing at least as much as I enjoy writing, I am looking forward to it!
I did pretty well on the stretching every day. Walked the dog every day except for massage/chiro day (got a child to do it). Worked out fairly regularly. Did not write. I did keep seedlings alive.
Same intentions for this week, with the addition of a trip, so hotel gym will be used, and it’s up to Mom re the seedlings. And the dog, but she can’t walk the dog because she pulls too hard, so it’ll be throwing toys.
I didn’t follow through on intention to move more last week. (Yoga: yes. Walking: no.) Instead I wrote more. In the writing intentions category: at least one more chapter of the GeoIV novella.
This week, moving more should be easier because I’m taking three days off work. A two-day workweek: just the right length. I’m intending to propose to Mom that we drive up to Asheville on one of those days off, to visit a garden shop she’s mentioned.
I’m going to the accountant today to finalize my tax returns, so that’s one big thing off the to-do list.
I had what I am now calling Side Quest Sunday, where I ignored all the tasks I had listed that needed done and did a clean/organize/overhaul of my shipping area, which really was out of hand, but so is everywhere else. Did not pay my quarterly taxes, so that needs done today.
My father’s aid called off late Friday night and the company apparently couldn’t find anyone on short notice, so I lost most of my Saturday, part of my Sunday and was pretty wrung out for most of the weekend. I went to bed early but couldn’t sleep and woke up with a sore throat which is typical for me in spring and fall but still annoying.
I have a baby shower to go to next Sunday, so my intention for this week is to finish my gift, which will be a painted tote bag filled with books. I bought my other cousin a bassinet for her January baby, so am passing that on to the coming June baby on the other side of the family as new baby has pretty much outgrown it.
And I need to prep for the upcoming show at a local coffee shop next month. I really wanted to have new work finished for that, which hasn’t happened but I still have time to squeak out one or two pieces, I think.
Oh Lupe so sorry about the aide! Can you find productive things to do for you at your dad’s if this happens again? Maybe not the art because I imagine that isn’t conducive to focused creativity but something like paper sorting you can bring with you? It wouldn’t make it any more fun but it might make it feel a little less time lost ?
Thanks Debbie. He is pretty demanding with his needs. No point in bringing a project, unfortunately.
Oh, Lupe, your dad! I’m so sorry. I hope they find someone, soon. It’s good you got some visible and helpful things done for yourself.
Thanks Jan, he has a bunch of different people, so I was annoyed they didn’t have anyone to fill in. We have someone we pay under the table who is a lot cheaper than the big service, but didn’t want to give the company up in case she needed time. Turns out she is more reliable. Hah. I am going to try to find someone else like that who only wants a handful of hours and is willing to work weekends.
Good luck!
Oh noo, all them stressors. Hugs and more hugs!
Good luck with your artwork at the show! And many pocket hugs for dealing with your Dad. When my husband and I look back on the parental care we both did, we feel grateful to ourselves for having spent that time with them. Our siblings missed it.
I didn’t mind what I did for my grandmother but my relationship with my father is a lot more complicated. There aren’t a lot of good memories to fall back on when he has a screaming temper tantrum and starts throwing things, or starts listing all the ways he has thought about killing himself. He was always very nasty to my sister, especially when he had been drinking so I don’t really blame her for checking out of his care, although sometimes I get frustrated when everything gets too heavy and there is no end in sight.
Really, I regret letting him into my life to the degree that I did. I though I was doing the good/right thing, but it’s not good for me, my husband or the strain it put on my marriage to try to keep someone who is never going to be happy with anything in my life.
When he starts screaming and throwing things can you just leave? That’s abuse and whatever you feel you owe your dad I personally don’t think you owe him putting up with abuse .
And also, I have to say that when I started hanging up on my mom when she was abusive on the phone she stopped doing it . In her 80s. I don’t think she ever thought she was doing the wrong thing or felt bad about it but she didn’t want me hanging up.
I will also say that while
I made a conscious decision to stay in contact with my mom it’s not rewarding and I would happily miss out on the time with her. I do it because I promised my dad for his peace of mind, which I did value, and my own sense of integrity, and on the financial side because my siblings and their kids will benefit from the money she leaves and some of them need it.
It is fine to say to yourself “I am not doing this to make you happy and I don’t care if it does. I am doing this because it’s important to me that I not be the kind of person who would leave an old person uncared for.”
And it is absolutely fine to skip things that would make other people happy but won’t make him happy. So for example if he won’t enjoy a birthday party or won’t appreciate you bringing a favorite food—don’t bother. Save your time and money. If it won’t work there is no point.
I envy the people for whom it is rewarding but it certainly isn’t for me. And I’m pretty sure it’s not for at least one of my siblings and maybe all three although they would like it to be and sort of tell themselves it is.
Thanks Debbie, he hasn’t had a full screaming/throwing fit since the last time I took him to the hospital because he insisted that he was dying. Hurled a pillow across the ER, because they were making us wait too long. He usually doesn’t go that far or do it in public. It was actually funny because he went and picked it up after he insisted that the ambulence be called because he couldn’t get out of the lift chair.
We tried caring for him ourselves in our home, but he is better and happier with in-home care. He can be a very nice person to strangers. And my sister and I are in agreement about the money: money is for making life better and spending it on paying other people to take care of him is better for us. I’m annoyed because he is perfectly capable of doing most things. He just doesn’t want too. I think that he is going to lose the in-home PT pretty soon because he keeps passing all the tests. That will make him mad. Also, he told multiple health care professionals that he was suicidal and we didn’t get any kind of support there. The lack of resources is concerning.
Anyway, I really appreciate you sharing with me. It’s a weird struggle that people who like their parents may not understand. I will keep trying to do my best by him, but hopefully less at the cost of myself. I just wish I had learned this sooner.
Lupe, even people who like their parents a lot understand that it can be really difficult.
Caring is so much work: it takes huge chunks out of the carer and increases the health risks for the ones caring due to physical and mental exhaustion! So use any means possible to take care of yourself!
I am glad you are developing some coping strategies. I think it is so hard for people who do have meaningful relationships with parents to understand what it feels like to care for a parent when you don’t. Sending many hugs and always here for moral support on this one!
And just for clarity—the money side of it is protecting mom from scammers and sorting things like taxes. I would happily spend more money / get mom to spend more money on her cares and pleasures. Like your dad she is much better with outsiders than family.
Side Quest Sunday! I work Sundays, so mine can’t be as alliterative, but this is how so many things get done around here.
I got the tax extension payment in and scheduled the call with the accountant to figure out the few remaining questions so we can actually file. I got a little started on the first of the two long over due day job projects and am hoping that will get me moving on them. I did not get the papers filed because of too many guests —dinner guests Friday and Sunday and a friend in town who dropped in Saturday. I did get some gardening done.
This weeks intentions are to pick up DD at the airport and enjoy her (always plan for joy, right?), get the overdue day jobs done, rescue the TBR file so I actually read the books I’m interested in, file the papers, plant zinnias, and remember to water the seeds I already planted. Oh, and put away the art station (colored pencils, crayons, markers, paper, pipe cleaners) that we put out for the 6 and 8 year old guests. Since the pipe cleaners were well used I need to straighten them out first.
I have already accomplished one task. I have informed DH that we are never again inviting the three year old for pizza. DH uses an outdoor pizza oven that gets up to 900F and his parents didn’t bother to watch him even when he went outside until I said something and it got scary. He has a baby sister on the way and I can only imagine it will get worse. DH suggests maybe when the kid turns 20… We can invite that whole family for other food or the adults for pizza but no more three year old. I am a professional child policy advocate and have always wanted to have kids visit and feel a little weird about this but there we are.
Debbie, I can heartily endorse your approach to this child’s parental neglect. That was indeed scary. Wow!
I started wrangling kids when I was young. My grandmother babysat for extra money, but her parenting style was always to let the older ones do most of it and I started changing diapers when I was seven. Maybe that has made me hyper-vigilant or maybe parenting has changed. I used to get up at night to make sure my sister was still breathing and had reoccurring stress dreams of losing her at the playground. I don’t know why young parents aren’t more worried, to be honest.
The aunt who hosts Easter lives next to a cow pasture with an electric fence and I remember running interference multiple times with a toddler trying to reach the cows. I don’t know why it was me and not the child’s mother… Her older son reached for a hot cookie try at the Christmas baking event this past year and again it was me grabbing him, not her. And the child is seven. This is terribly judgmental of me but I knew how to work the oven by then. Of course this is also the child I watched purposefully swing a screen door to hit the cow lover younger brother in the face. He is his mother’s favorite in a way that is painful to witness and gets away with murder. They just had their third son in January and I decline to babysit for these cousins.
And not to make it gendered at all, but both my nieces are delightful, listen well, have been in the kitchen with their parents, etc.
All this to say, I don’t think that you are wrong in setting boundaries. It is not your job to watch small children, or baby-proof your house, but if anything happened it would be too hard to bear.
Thank you. I don’t think the three was to blame at all. I think the parents were lucky that the indoors part of our house is pretty child safe.
Plus DH was making pizzas so I was playing host to 6 guests and had to keep an eye out for this child.
My intention is to get my truck fixed, so my son can drive it, with me and the pets in it, to AZ. I have been starting it every three days, since I’m not driving it, but yesterday it wouldn’t start. My eldest will come and try to jump start her this morning, and then she needs to go to the doctor. I hope it’s something simple, and fixable in less than a week. She’s 22 years old, which in people years, is really up there. Maybe the new tires will make her feel better. New shoes usually perk me up.
Kansas is giving me a sendoff: rainy days, and cold coming on the weekend. I’m ready to go. Today is phone calls to get all the balls rolling in the right direction, and a dentist visit to get the new bridge installed, so I can chew on that side of my mouth, again. Yay!
Thanks to all of you for your patience with my whining and worrying. I told my youngest he is better with my whining than his brother, and he said he still has young children, and he’s used to it. LOL I’m so fortunate to have two wonderful sons, and this blog to keep me sane. Thanks, Jenny.
My two go bags go into the pod at the end of the week. They are “real” go bags, put together from the instructions in Bob’s survival book. They are bulging, and probably unnecessary. I took the pet food packets out to use until I get settled in the new place, and can order more.
It sounds like you are in really good shape for the move, truck or no truck! What a lot of hard work you have been doing.
I have never felt I needed a go bag which may be slightly being in denial since we live outside Washington DC which I suppose could be the locus for more terrorist attacks. Certainly if I were a terrorist I would go after this Congress and Trump. But what makes me feel I need one now is that for the first time ever this year we are getting special weather alerts for wild fires ! And we have gotten many. I have a creek in front of my house and we have four sump pumps and while life in the DC metro area has many challenges I had never thought wild fires were one of them. Time to make a go bag.
I’m sorry to hear it, Debbie. I am leaving OZ, and the worry of flooding and fire is very minor in the city of Phoenix. I may dismantle all but the real necessities from the go bags.
Dear Jan Kindwoman, about Phoenix, it is my impression there exists a very active monsoon season which leads to flash floods. That go bag is a fine idea.
How long a drive is it? A couple of days travel, wasn’t it? Sending strength and hope everything will go smoothly, and that the car can get fixed and the pods and the things will all be transported safely and arrive safely. But most importantly: That you and your pets will arrive safely in your new home! Keep us updated, please. HUGS!
Thanks, Shass. Yes, it should be a two-day drive.
Safe travels and I hope you and get settled soon.
Thanks, Susan.
My youngest, the driver for the trip, and who owns a BMW repair shop, says we need to unhook the battery, once it’s charged and hook it back up when it is needed. There is some kind of a leak between the battery and the engine that is draining away the charge.
Clearly you chose the right driver.
I suppose your son has mentioned the most obvious suspect, a small light staying on somewhere. With one of my mother’s neighbors, it was a glove compartment light that didn’t go off when closed. With me, it was a map light, through bad design independent of the system that turned everything else off, and that could be accidentally bumped on. Or outside running lights that can be set to stay on when parked, to avoid getting run into at night, possibly accidentally so set. Possibly a component of a sound system, especially an aftermarket one, that doesn’t turn off automatically, a problem I’ve heard of. (But probably none of that can’t be checked until the battery is charged. )
Patrick, I’m told that older vehicles often have this problem and it is hard to track down. I’ll check the glove compartment, but it’s probably something internal to the engine.
You are not whining. You are suffering! We are all suffering the moving horrors with you. I do not want to count up the number of times I have moved in my life.
Actually, I don’t think there’s any whining, just voicing thoughts about a well prepared major move. It’s always easier to sound out aloud what is being done and needs to be done still and I find it rather fascinating from afar.
I am making serious progress on the mudroom mess. Sorted through lots of random stuff jumbled into old plastic baskets and tossed what I didn’t need, then reorganized what was left into new different-sized but neater containers (different size shelves needed different containers). Still have about 10-15% left, but the difference is really starting to show. Plus my new house cleaner came and did the bathroom and it looks better than it has in years. Clean and organized definitely make me happy.
On the downside, I got virtually no writing done, and my agent started off my week by forwarding another rejection for the Cranky Crone book at 7 am this morning. Sigh. Part of the reason for the lack of writing is a massive fibro flare, and part is promoting the new Everyday Witch’s Book of Deities which came out on the 8th, so there’s that.
My intentions for this week are to get my head back into the writing, and hopefully get back into the groove. Get out into the garden and start a few cold-hardy seeds like spinach and lettuce, since it is supposed to warm up this week, and start a few seeds inside for later. Maybe finish the mudroom project, so I can move on to the next area that needs to be tackled. But mostly writing, dammit.
Best of luck, Deborah.
Oh no, so sorry about the rejection. Keep at it, eventually they’ll see that it’s a great thing you’re creating! Hope the fibro will ease soon. Hugs!
I received horrible news (a dear friend who lives far away is literally on her deathbed) near the end of last week, so my good intentions for this week are to be kind to myself as a grieve.
As they say, only the good die young.
Oh Llewella how horrible! Can you FaceTime with her to tell her how much she means to you? And I am so glad you plan to he kind to yourself.
Oh no! I am so sorry. Sending lots of comfort-hugs and pocket-hugs and strength. Be kind to yourself. <3
I’m so sorry about your friend, Llewella. Losing friends is so hard.
Really sorry for your shocking news Llewella sending hugs.
So sorry about your friend.
I’m so sorry for your dad news. A very dear friend of mine died last year and it’s still hard. I hope you have good memories of your friendship. If it’s not too hard, perhaps look at some photos of the two of you.
Sad news. My fingers aren’t cooperating this am.
I’m so sorry.
I am so sorry, Llewella! I hope that you got a chance to tell your friend how much she meant to you. That can be a very comforting thought at a time like this.
My intention this week is to give a great presentation on two topics that I really don’t know a lot about but sound smart and look great while doing it anyway.
Since you ARE very smart and very likely more knowledgeable than you think, you will nail this no sweat! Break a leg! (VERY figuratively speaking! Le’s not play with fate here.)
did you get yourself a pink suit?
Good luck, Tammy!
I’ve finally got a pink suit but it’s being made to order and won’t be ready for 2-3 weeks. Plus this presentation is in Milwaukee. Not pink suit crowd nor weather. I am pondering my options as we speak…Plus working on making the presentation look good. Even if I have nothing brilliant to say at least my graphics will be terrific! This may be a theme. I don’t care.
Good job, Tammy!
As a person who grew up in Milwaukee and used to take my Mother shopping there, I’d say that you need to look at an older crowd.
As someone who grew up in Milwaukee and took her Mother shopping every spring, I can assure you that starting at Easter, there will be lots of pink worn there, especially by the older generation. This used to be a problem for my Mother because my Dad didn’t like pink.
oops! Sorry for the double post.
I am speaking to a crowd of IT geeks, mostly male. I promise you, there will be no pink.
But if there is you have to tell us.
If you say it with confidence, most people will believe you, especially if you look the part. You’ve totally got this!
See, that’s how I think about it.
I got a bunch of small tasks done this week, including final copy of a book coming out next week, passport renewal in, resume update, son working on his taxes, looked up doctors for my daughter on her new insurance, etc.
I also wrote the first chapter on a novella/novel about characters in my shapeshifter series. Though I might have to go back and read the pertinent sections of previous books.
Oh! And I packed up my books for next Sundays book fest in Sacramento! Everyone in the area should come down!
I am not sure what was on my list last week… I think I said something about finishing the egg? I did not finish the egg. I glue about 2-3 pieces and then I have to wait for the glue to dry, and then I forget, and then 2 days pass and… Let’s just say it’s a very slow process, finishing this egg.
I DID, however, finish the Heart Pillow I was knitting, and it turns out I didn’t need to tighten the cast-on after all. Pattern used a different one from the one I used and *that* might have needed tightening, but not the option I’d gone for. Thanks to the lovely people on Ravelry for support! I haven’t posted pictures of it yet though, might… eventually. I was considering making one for MIL too in the same yarn as a blanket I knitted for her cats last year, but I think I must’ve messed up somewhere while knitting it, because it looked all wonky. So, I frogged it again and haven’t decided yet if I’ll give it another go or let it rest.
Tomorrow I have phone-appointment with Sleep Centre, fingers crossed. I also think we have pedicure tomorrow? Friday I have my next appointment with speech-therapist. I need to call my GP and convince him I need new sleeping pills. What else? I think just the normal stuff: Survive, stay sane, hug fluffs. Finish the egg, maybe.
And I want/need a smaller project-bag with a zipper. I have a tote now that I just throw things into, but it doesn’t zip closed, so I keep worrying I’ll lose stuff. Gotta find a nice alternative. I love my big project bag, but it’s VERY big, so not very practical for smaller outtings. Hmm.
I think I planned very little last week and achieved that! Did manage to get the flat cleaned – always love shiny surfaces it makes me happy.
This week is busy – yesterday I had wine and gossip with my neighbours (it is their second home here and they only come up 3-4 times a year).
Today I went back into the office because when I retired the whole team left shortly afterwards and I am the only one who knows the background to some policies and procedures. I said I would go in for a few hours if they bought me lunch. We had a very good session and I hope I really helped them (they said I did and lots of “Oh, right, that makes sense now”, and notes got taken too). Lunch was delicious, my choice of the best Fish and Chips place in Edinburgh – everyone had fish and chips and enjoyed themselves. Don’t think I can manage yoga class tonight though.
Tomorrow I think I might go see a movie at the cinema if I have the energy. Wednesday night I am taking a friend to the theatre to for her birthday.
Thursday there is a hustings for the Scottish Parliamentary elections – I always like to go and see who I would be voting for.
Friday might be a pj day, but I might also have to clean because…
Saturday a friend is coming over for a catch up – we haven’t seen each other since Christmas.
Sunday is definitely a pj day.
My goals last week was to get through some administrative stuff. I did some but the minor bug I stated the week with morphed into laryngitis and fatigue. So more to do this week, including taxes.
I’m trying a radical detox from my phone. I give myself about an hour a day to browse the web, check blogs, etc., but otherwise, phone’s blocked via an app. I can make/take calls and texts. I’m still figuring out what to do with the extra hours in my day. Napping has been a big feature of the last few days, but hopefully my energy will return this week.
I’m into short bursts of spring-cleaning mode. Yesterday I went through a drawer that holds camisoles and threw out all the ones that no longer fit. I do consider them underwear and would not donate them.
Last week I used the noodle mop head for the Swifter to wash the walls, much better than a bucket and rag and easier on the arms. Then went looking for the windshield squeegee for the windows and couldn’t find it so I ordered one from Amazon. There I saw they had noodle mop for windows with an extension rod and bought that. It’s going to be slow, but eventually it will get done.
Also, there is still all that paperwork that has to go through the shredder. Does anyone know how long you have to hold on to bank statements?
IRS can audit you for 3 years and in some cases for 7.
However if you own a house and have made improvements (not maintenance ) on it longer ago I would hold on to them to increase your tax basis when you sell thereby lowering your taxes.
This may be helpful
https://www.consumerreports.org/money/taxes/how-long-to-keep-tax-documents-a5302825423/
I did some cleaning/organizing yesterday and came across a piece of paper I had torn out that says keep bank statements for 1 year, but 5 years if applying for Medicaid. Of course, I can’t tell what I had torn it out of, so I don’t know how authoritative that is.
I’ve been contemplating outlining as I go along: it’s funny how once I have an outline, things that aren’t in the outline somehow become more important and grab all the attention. All those things that are harder to outline than who is where when suddenly stand out and demand attention when you realize they didn’t make the outline, but they’re still important… Or at least, that’s what I’ve noticed the past couple of weeks, as the outline failed to really constrain the production of messy stuff (more messy stuff than time to sort it!) But it is basically good, despite the mess.
Meanwhile, I don’t know that I really have any super-legible intention for this week, except to keep going. Still enjoying the process, if nothing else it’s a good way to spend time. It’s nice to take the time to think about characters I like and what they might do.
Susan, get well soon. Sending healing energy your way.
As Jenny said, intentions are easier to fulfill when they’re enjoyable. I have been doing too much cherry-picking of the more enjoyable chores, and now have to face more of the less so. Feh.
Blanket good wishes to all on their trials, hassles, and aspirations. I may not be posting much until Thursday.
I was looking forward to several days of uninterrupted time while DH was camping. He didn’t leave as quickly as I had thought he would, but I did my thing anyway. Friday afternoon, I cut out and started on blocks for a red and black quilt made from a “jelly roll” – generally a roll of 40 strips of fabric – 2.5 inches wide. Many jelly rolls have duplicated fabrics in them. in the case of the red and black I chose, there were 20 different designs in each. So, I made a point of not having any duplicates within a block – and limited the duplicates when I put the blocks together as a quilt top. It needs a border (and a back and quilting) before it is a quilt, but it turned out quite nicely.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DXE_nUKllGP/?img_index=1
As I was digging into my stash of jelly rolls, I had come across one labeled “Sunset”, but which seemed to me to be more spring like. I decided since this pattern was easy looked good, I should make a second. I’ve got 10 blocks made here, having forced myself to slow down and enjoy the process. Because this particular jelly roll has 42 different shades, I’ve been making blocks 5 at a time, so I can get the entirety of the block one color. We’ll see how it looks when I’m done.
I’ve made a little more progress on the crochet shawl – you can really see the color changing to teal along the edge. I may add a bit to the pattern to use up more of that final color.
I put some pictures in of the azaleas out my front door. Big, spectacular blooms of white, with smaller red bushes tucked in. And of course, there’s Charlie on his leash. He’s getting big – I weighed him the other day and he was 14 lbs. I don’t think I can call him a kitten for much longer – although I think I’ll always call him Baby and Pipsqueak!
Ah – intentions – I’d like to make some more of those Sunset blocks, and make more progress on the shawl. I also need to reign in my phone game time, as I found a new game and have become somewhat addicted to it, to the detriment of my sleep!
They all look great! Especially Charlie 😽
Did I miss a book? I don’t remember Zack and Lucy.
Getting Rid of Bradley.
Thank you
I’ve read that a few times, but I guess it’s been too long
Last week’s intention was mostly to go with the flow during the construction of exterior house repairs. I actually accomplished that, mostly because the contractor gave me advance notice that the crew would show up on Wed-Fri, and they did. That was just one chunk of the project though, which was completed on Fri, and I was hoping the next chunk would continue today, but no such luck. At least now I’m fairly sure they’ll text me the day before they start up again, and it’s less stressful if I have at least a little notice.
So for this week’s intention, it’s to keep with the flow, not stress about anticipating when the exterior work will continue, do some storytelling, and putter with my brand new shelving/table (8 feet long!) for potted plants on the deck, where I’ll be growing twice the strawberries and lettuce as in prior years (and the friend that was worried about my growing too many tomatoes never seems to worry about the possibility of having too many strawberries). You can see it here (topped with a newly transplanted rosemary plant that will go in a sunnier spot soon, plus some mostly scruffy leftover planters from prior years, which will be replaced): https://www.instagram.com/p/DXCbB8pEbi_/
Nice, Gin!
Let’s see, last week my intentions were …
– doing some longarm quilting on a customer’s quilt
– get the inner border cut and on the Cressida quilt
– complete security training for work
– register for ALA Annual conference
– move/exercise – yoga for at least 10/min at least 5x this week, and at least 1 strength workout (although I might count moving our friend for this 😉
I did start quilting the customer’s quilt, and I got the inner border cut and on the main body of my Cressida quilt. Jenny’s right that it is much easier to do the fun things you want to do. I completed the cybersecurity training and the training to get a travel card from work. So, I’m waiting to get that card before registering for the conference. Movement was okay. I think there were only 3 nights of yoga, but I did do a strength and a HIIT workout (10 min each) and took advantage of the warm weather for a walk.
This week, I must make progress on my self-eval. 😫 Minimally, annotate my G&O’s, or super optimistically finish writing the whole eval, hopefully, somewhere in between. I want to finish quilting the customer’s quilt and make good progress on the outer border of the Cressida quilt. I’m also planning to make a habit of processing at least a month’s worth of past doctor’s appointments per week to create a complete health record. So this week will be to get March 2026 added into the document.
I had good intentions but got sidetracked by some of Jodi Taylor’s St. Mary’s short stories…
I did start some yard cleaning in celebration of the start of our yard waste curbside pickup.
I’ve continued the yard cleanup. That’s two days in a row.
My sister decided to go directly home so she could sleep in her own bed. I think she’s just missing her dogs.
Everyone should have a go bag sounds like Bob territory. Are you going to co-write some survival guides with him? LOL love you Jenny!
I didn’t write intentions last week so nothing official to check off. I’m going to check my taxes off, though!
Seems like I did a lot of stuff but I can’t remember it now. Oh yeah – & laundry.
About fifteen years ago we attended a Heritage Rose Conference in Tasmania (recommend that island!). Hosts supplied visiting ladies with home-sewn fabric bags, sturdy and dainty both, with a pink-on-yellow rose pattern. Ever since, I’ve been using the bag as my purse. Now a bit of the stitching is coming undone, giving notice of Last Days. I have been eyeing a lovely fabric bag quilted with ten different rose patterns, all attached to a prohibitive price. Arghers, imagine days of heavy thought. If it lasted as long as the Tasmania bag . . . Last night, on the cusp of the end of Free Shipping, I closed my eyes and hit “order.” Today my heart is filled with satisfaction and well-being. I made the right choice. It should not go unmentioned that in two weeks we attend a Heritage Rose Foundation conference in Tyler, Texas, “Rose-Growing Center of the U.S.,” with a trip to the American Rose Society garden in Shreveport, Louisiana, with a dedicated quadrant of heritage roses. Oh, callooh callay! All frabjous joy!
Last week’s intention was finishing the taxes (mine and a couple of family member’s). It took much longer than expected, since I hadn’t turned on the laptop that I use for taxes since I did them last year, so there was a lot of operating system updating that needed to happen. Fortunately, I was able to get everything done and sent off — the taxes themselves only took a few hours once all of the prep was done. Such a relief.
This week there are two things on the list:
— Repair the outdoor sprinkler pipe/joint section that broke off last time the water was on. I’ve been trying to get the landscaper who has done work for me before to repair it, but he’s been a no-show so far, so I’ll have to break down and do it. I know I can, I just hadn’t wanted to.
–Make an appointment with my primary care doctor to look at my hand. I sprained it 10+ weeks ago (along with other body parts) when I fell on a walk and it is still giving me trouble. I had x-rays early on, so I know nothing was broken, but something still isn’t right and, since it is my dominant hand, that’s a problem.
I hope the hand problem has an easy solution. I do more things to my ankles and other leg parts than to my hands and I think 10 weeks is on the outer edge of how long it has taken something to entirely heal.
Why does this make me think of Deborah Blake?
Family Witchcraft lyrics”
No Good Book Thursday?
I’m worried.
Me too
And me.
And me
Can someone on the blog who knows Jenny get in touch with her? Am also concerned.
I’m assuming that they would have – maybe there’s not a big crossover. Perhaps someone who is on social media could contact Bob or Krissie to do a welfare check? I don’t want to be intrusive but I think we want to check that Jenny is OK?
I left a message for Deborah Blake on Facebook, because I’m pretty sure she knows Jenny personally.