Wow...can 2013 already be fading into the rearview mirror? What a crazy year!! Lots of changes: fixing up, moving, building, moving again and finally settling in.
It truly was the year of small. I was going to say downsize...but downsize has a negative connotation. It is not bad or really that much of a sacrifice. It started with my closet. Trying to do more with less. I still don't have just the 30 essential pieces. But as the year has gone by, I have let more go. If I didn't wear it...for whatever reason...it was gone. Because when you look at your closet, you don't see the 20% you wear. You see everything. Oh, I might wear that sometime. If I put it on and then took it right back off again...it went into the pile. So now I have a lot of tank tops for summer and tank tops with light sweaters for winter. Throw in some scarves and accessories and that is my wardrobe.
Then I started to let go of home items. I now struggle to remember what I gave up. Must not have been too important if I can't remember it. :)
And I have finished some projects! Learned to knit. Knitted several Christmas projects. I still would like to do a patchwork knitted blanket. I thought I could knit the squares with left over yarn throughout the year and have a finished product by years end.
I have another new project. I want to make a tshirt quilt for each of the boys. I asked for and received a sewing machine for Christmas. Before we moved, I had Buddy's tshirts from his Special Olympic competitions cut and ready to go. I got the sewing machine...and now I can't find the tshirts! I sure hope I still have them. One of my pet peeves is not being able to find something I need. Even Tdawg says that things aren't really lost unless Mom can't find them. I'm sure they will turn up...someplace strange. "Tucked away for safe keeping" as my mother would say. That must have meant she didn't know where it was either!
Well, they could be anywhere. I found some Christmas decorations in the cabinet above the refridgerator today. Oops. So not all who wander are lost. In the meantime, I started on Tdawg's quilt.
Even though we just moved in, it may be time to spring clean. No telling what else I tucked away. You know the old saying: if you can't get to it, you won't use it...may need a fresh start for 2014.
Sunday, December 29, 2013
Christmas
We had a good Christmas. We made a conscious decision to do it small. To keep it focused on the birth of Christ. We enjoyed the Living Christmas Tree singing and the Christmas eve candlelight service.
Christmas Paintings for Tdawg
After I got over my feelings of inadequacy, I painted my own artwork. It is silly...although that may be the way artists are. It is reported that Renoir and Monet would compete. Liking the others works better. I understand that Picasso used to burn his work that he was dissatisfied with.
Friday, December 13, 2013
My life as a Clint Eastwood movie...
Well, this it the post of the good, the bad and the ugly. The good: phone is fixed (free...and not my fault). The Jeep is fixed (under warranty).
The bad: while the Jeep was still in the shop, the truck broke down. So as soon as the Jeep was out, the truck was in. Sadly not under warranty...although that would be a really long warranty. But it too is now fixed. Fingers crossed for the rest of the vehicles.
The fridge is still not fixed. The new ice maker motor is in. Mr. Appliance Guy installed it and...it still doesn't work. He thinks that there may be a short in the system.. Sadly the system is stuck in the innards of the freezer door. So still no ice maker. Bummer.
And the ugly. Tdawg had an x-ray and an MRI. He has torn the labrum in his shoulder. So we will trek down to the Ham on Monday for the pre-op appointment. Not sure when that surgery will be. Hopefully the doc will say that it is an easy arthroscopic fix. In the meantime, my life is on hold.
Speaking of which, even though I have lots of time...I'm still behind. Grr. I think it is procrastination. Yeah, I can get that done later. Well, all of a suddenly it is later! O Crap. (and by the by, O Crap should be a Christmas carol. I'm sure it would be popular).
Sadly, with my semi-poor status, I am making most of the Christmas gifts. I do enjoy it. However, I tend to be a bit overzealous with my plans. So if you get a picture/drawing instead of an actual gift...you can be sure, I'll get around to it...someday.
The bad: while the Jeep was still in the shop, the truck broke down. So as soon as the Jeep was out, the truck was in. Sadly not under warranty...although that would be a really long warranty. But it too is now fixed. Fingers crossed for the rest of the vehicles.
The fridge is still not fixed. The new ice maker motor is in. Mr. Appliance Guy installed it and...it still doesn't work. He thinks that there may be a short in the system.. Sadly the system is stuck in the innards of the freezer door. So still no ice maker. Bummer.
And the ugly. Tdawg had an x-ray and an MRI. He has torn the labrum in his shoulder. So we will trek down to the Ham on Monday for the pre-op appointment. Not sure when that surgery will be. Hopefully the doc will say that it is an easy arthroscopic fix. In the meantime, my life is on hold.
Speaking of which, even though I have lots of time...I'm still behind. Grr. I think it is procrastination. Yeah, I can get that done later. Well, all of a suddenly it is later! O Crap. (and by the by, O Crap should be a Christmas carol. I'm sure it would be popular).
Sadly, with my semi-poor status, I am making most of the Christmas gifts. I do enjoy it. However, I tend to be a bit overzealous with my plans. So if you get a picture/drawing instead of an actual gift...you can be sure, I'll get around to it...someday.
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
How you live
We have talked a lot lately in Sunday school about how your testimony is mostly non verbal. When tested, how do you react. Generally, not as well as we wish we would. I guess because of all of the discussions, I am hyper aware of my reactions.
On a good note, I went to the doc. She put me on low dose estrogen. Every time I had a hot flash my blood pressure would shoot up 50-60 points. We are trying as little as possible and reevaluating after the first of the year. So far, the night sweats have stopped and I'm almost back to a normal range of temperatures and my blood pressure is on an even keel.
Thanksgiving was a mix of good and bad. It was great to have Tdawg home. He has had a rough semester. I haven't seen much of him, so it was so nice to be able to cook and talk. It was just the four of us for the actual turkey day. Nice and low key. I cooked enough for an army...and many plates went back with Tdawg to college.
My sis and bil came in just for Friday night dinner at Phil's. It was a fun night of reminiscing. The rest of the weekend was mostly spent watching movies and relaxing. Just the way I like it.
However, the ice maker broke. If you try to use the ice machine, the breaker trips and the whole fridge shuts off. Lovely. Fortunately, as long as you don't mess with the ice maker, the fridge and freezer stay blessedly cold. Thankfully, we bought the extended warranty (we never do that) and so it should be fixed tomorrow and free.
The phone inexplicably quit working. We don't use our home phone that often, so not that big of a deal. It isn't on our end, so it should be fixed by Thursday and free.
The Jeep we just bought has a bad master cylinder! Yikes. Thankfully, also under warranty. The mechanic said it has been occurring frequently. Some Jeeps only have 800 miles on them. Well, at least it is fixable and free! Should have it back by next week. (So glad it didn't breakdown half way to the Ham. You might ask, what is halfway to the Ham= nothing!)
While picking up drinks at the local gro, Buddy slipped and fell in the parking lot. Quite the sight to see all 6'6" going down. Scared both of us. He was shaken up but uninjured.
Tdawg's shoulder is bothering him again. The trainer has him set up for an MRI on Turesday. I'm hoping it won't require surgery. Finals are almost next week. Then he is off until February.
I was feeling overwhelmed anyway. I have a lot of Christmas projects that I may not finish. :( And then all of this. I know most of it is small. But such a hassle to call these 1-800 numbers to set up repairs. Ugh! So, I just wanted to kick back. I was watching The Voice and gunshots rang out. My goodness. In the 'hood? Yes, some jerks are spotlight deer hunting behind our house. Good gravy Lucy, can we just have a little peace and quiet? I called the sheriff's office (they don't care). But the Game Warden cares! Hopefully, they can nab the idiots. Seriously, we are in a neighborhood. And not that far from the highway. Someone is going to get hurt!
Life should calm down now, right? Well, not so much. My father in law called. Interesting. Haven't heard from them in almost two years. I hope this isn't opening a can of worms (as my mother would say).
Some days, I feel as though I'm being tested. Standing in the furnace with Rack, Shack and Benny. As with most, I have good days and not so good days. I let someone cut in line ahead of me at Walmart. I should get a crown for that? Sometimes, getting out of Walmart without slapping someone is crown worthy! Maybe I need just a little more work!
On a good note, I went to the doc. She put me on low dose estrogen. Every time I had a hot flash my blood pressure would shoot up 50-60 points. We are trying as little as possible and reevaluating after the first of the year. So far, the night sweats have stopped and I'm almost back to a normal range of temperatures and my blood pressure is on an even keel.
Thanksgiving was a mix of good and bad. It was great to have Tdawg home. He has had a rough semester. I haven't seen much of him, so it was so nice to be able to cook and talk. It was just the four of us for the actual turkey day. Nice and low key. I cooked enough for an army...and many plates went back with Tdawg to college.
My sis and bil came in just for Friday night dinner at Phil's. It was a fun night of reminiscing. The rest of the weekend was mostly spent watching movies and relaxing. Just the way I like it.
However, the ice maker broke. If you try to use the ice machine, the breaker trips and the whole fridge shuts off. Lovely. Fortunately, as long as you don't mess with the ice maker, the fridge and freezer stay blessedly cold. Thankfully, we bought the extended warranty (we never do that) and so it should be fixed tomorrow and free.
The phone inexplicably quit working. We don't use our home phone that often, so not that big of a deal. It isn't on our end, so it should be fixed by Thursday and free.
The Jeep we just bought has a bad master cylinder! Yikes. Thankfully, also under warranty. The mechanic said it has been occurring frequently. Some Jeeps only have 800 miles on them. Well, at least it is fixable and free! Should have it back by next week. (So glad it didn't breakdown half way to the Ham. You might ask, what is halfway to the Ham= nothing!)
While picking up drinks at the local gro, Buddy slipped and fell in the parking lot. Quite the sight to see all 6'6" going down. Scared both of us. He was shaken up but uninjured.
Tdawg's shoulder is bothering him again. The trainer has him set up for an MRI on Turesday. I'm hoping it won't require surgery. Finals are almost next week. Then he is off until February.
I was feeling overwhelmed anyway. I have a lot of Christmas projects that I may not finish. :( And then all of this. I know most of it is small. But such a hassle to call these 1-800 numbers to set up repairs. Ugh! So, I just wanted to kick back. I was watching The Voice and gunshots rang out. My goodness. In the 'hood? Yes, some jerks are spotlight deer hunting behind our house. Good gravy Lucy, can we just have a little peace and quiet? I called the sheriff's office (they don't care). But the Game Warden cares! Hopefully, they can nab the idiots. Seriously, we are in a neighborhood. And not that far from the highway. Someone is going to get hurt!
Life should calm down now, right? Well, not so much. My father in law called. Interesting. Haven't heard from them in almost two years. I hope this isn't opening a can of worms (as my mother would say).
Some days, I feel as though I'm being tested. Standing in the furnace with Rack, Shack and Benny. As with most, I have good days and not so good days. I let someone cut in line ahead of me at Walmart. I should get a crown for that? Sometimes, getting out of Walmart without slapping someone is crown worthy! Maybe I need just a little more work!
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