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Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Blazin' Trails - Watch Out 2020!

Whew!
After 2019, I might need a nap!
It was a year of many changes for us.
The biggest change was moving from my home of 18yrs.
Then a few months later changing my job of 6 1/2 yrs.
Then all those adjustments that go with those two moves:
where the vinegar is in this grocery store,
what cupboard the tablecloths are in,
how do I do X at work?
There are so many things in a routine that we take advantage of.
Change is difficult, Good, but difficult.

So a few things looking back before we plow forward.
There have been some challenges, to be sure.

Taking care of two homes that are an hour apart took its toll on me.
Becoming my own employer is/was a particularly difficult transition.
I wasn't sure what I was "supposed" to do as there is no job description.
It's been a good transition but difficult to wrap my brain around.
I tend to put myself in the helper role rather than the leader role.
(That's so backwards from my younger years.)


My word of the year for 2019 was Prosper.
It wasn't really for financial purposes though that was included.
For me it was about the changes we made and wanting them to be good ones.
I wanted the year to be prosperous with friends, 
 family, home, work, and goodness.
Of all of that, I would say I was better at keeping in contact with friends.
I'm generally horrible at that since I'm not on social media.
So Prosper served me well for the year but I'm ready to move on.

In addition to learning, I've had to relearn.
An example was our tomatoes.
I planted 1/2-2/3 as many plants as I usually did up the mountain
and my oh my.
We had a tomato jungle!
By season's end, I was tired of seeing them
even though my inner being loved them for the winter sustenance.

What's ahead?
This is always more fun, isn't it?
My word of the year this year is Grace.
It has multiple meanings and all in all is what I'm after.
If you do a word of the year, I'd love to hear it.

I will be taking a CAD class beginning next week. Yikes!
It was kinda funny when applying.
There were questions like:
Can your parents claim you on your insurance - haha.
How 'bout it Medicare? 
Will I have graduated high school by the beginning of the term?
I sorta remember high school-heehee
Anyways, that was a hoot!
We are designing our own home and whenever the time comes
will general it ourselves.
We have some time ;-)
It will also be a huge perk with work.
I will be able to do the detail drawings required for many jobs.

I'm very much hoping to sell the mountain house this year.
We'll work on that more towards spring,
but I'm hoping not to have to keep up with 2 yards this year.
(Prayers on that one greatly, hugely, enormously appreciated!)

Along that note, I'm looking forward to the garden this year.
Now that I have a glimmer of what gardening here is like,
maybe I can plan a little more appropriately.

Beginning January 1, I am challenging myself 
to see how long I can go with no spending.
I did this a few years back and made it to April.
I will do the envelope system for groceries
and pay our regular monthly expenses but nothing more.
I don't beat myself up if something arises that I spend.
I just start again at the beginning of the following month.
The trickiest part is being mindful of what day it is so I remember to do it.
I do keep a list of things we need or could use.
They are usually in the form of an antique so are things
that take time (sometimes years) to find.
I know if a cider press came along for the right price
sometime in February, I wouldn't think twice about breaking my challenge.
It would cost me more in the long run to wait and pay a higher price.
Bottom line is, I do what I can but don't take it to unreasonable extremes.

The other thing I'm hoping is to decrease my fabric stash.
Rather embarrassing, but I donated 3 carloads full of fabric.
Much of it had been given to me, but more and more I tell myself
"I'm not a storage unit."
At one time I made most of my clothes so had quite a bit of apparel fabric.
I enjoy quilting so primarily kept quilting fabrics - totes and totes of it!
I'm hoping to do a show or two next holiday season
which if anything sells would also generate some green stuff.

There are one or two other things I am hoping to make happen,
but I'll keep those a secret so you can be surprised.
Ain't that just like me - save the juicy stuff - heehee.

I'm looking forward to 2020 and to settling in to life here and now.
I don't anticipate any major life changes this year which is a relief.
 I have found the vinegar and tablecloths and
 am figuring out what needs to be done at work and when.
Are any of you routine people?
It sure throws me for a loop when my routine is upset for any length of time.
I do pretty good with short divergencies.
I think it's because I have that base routine to get back to.
Anyways, 2020 holds many promises for each of us.
Each day is getting just a little longer and each day brings us closer to our tomorrow so we might as well enjoy it, because
tomorrow it will be a memory.

Wishing you all much Grace
and many Blessings~











Tuesday, December 24, 2019

A Little Corner

I don't do a lot in the way of decorating,
but this is an odd little spot in the kitchen
where I happen to eat my eggs each morning.
I was quite sick last week for the first time in years
so I've missed much of the hubub and frinzie.
That part is actually fine by me.
But I'm not a good sick person.
I'm pretty sure I snarl and growl and bare my teeth, etc.
Anyhoo. . . 
Feeling better now and am looking forward to tomorrow.
I just wanted to take a moment to wish
each of you a very blessed Christmastime.
May your day be beautiful and your worries be few.

Merry Christmas.

Sunday, December 8, 2019

A Fowl Christmas

(Disclaimer: For entertainment purposes only, not to be taken too seriously.)


The blizzard just won't let up
It's blown a week straight you know
The coffee pours cold in my cup
and I'm plum tired of trudging the snow.

This drafty shack don't stop the wind
The fire spits when the snow falls in
Only two more days 'til this torture's end
I'll be home for Christmas with all my kin

I bundle up to go lay down
And dream of the feast the folks will serve
I awake to more snow on the ground
Is this really what I deserve

I throw the saddle on ol' Red
He tries to blow snot but it sticks to his nose
He's mountain grown and ornery bred
I climb atop and off we goes

We've just made it down into the trees
The wind dies down but there's still a chill
Only one day left out here to freeze
I'll stop at the cave 'neith Donner Hill

Ol' Red must know, he's actin' spry
Off once more, not many a mile
The cold bright sun has lit the sky
I'm thinkin' of grub the whole darn while

I can finally see the homestead
Ol' Red picks up his pace
I can almost taste the homemade bread
Can't wait to feed my face

As I pull in, greetings to all
Unsaddle Ol' Red and throw him some hay
Inside's the cheer of a Christmas ball
What a wonderful happy holiday

Time for dinner, we each take our place
No more cussin' "You dirty dyer"
Then the shock, it shows upon my face
On the table sat an overgrown fryer

Moral~
If there's a cowpoke in your clan
Don't make this grave mistake
Instead of pots use a cast iron pan
And fry up a thick beef steak.