The Neverending Story … My “To Do” List

What motivates you to get things done? My motivation meter is sluggish at best, on the fritz at worst. Right now I think a list with checkboxes will work just fine. Just need to find my perfect pen and a pad of paper. Easy peasy! How do YOU write your ‘to do” list? 

Do you use the number system? ”1″ for important, “2” for should do, and “3” in the event you have spare time but it’s okay to put it off a day or ten? Do you use the back of an old envelope or a clean crisp sheet of paper? Do you date your lists and save them?

How about delegating items on your “to do” list? Does that ever work to your satisfaction? Do the people you delegate to get the job done to your satisfaction, or does it just cause you more stress because you KNOW you could’ve done a better job (if you had the time)?

I patted myself on the back this evening when I grabbed a quick dinner from Publix (Ultimate Sub, baby!) and actually remembered that my hubby told me that we needed Tall Kitchen Garbage Bags. I was so thrilled to remember this item (without having a list) that I bought the GOOD bags… Hefty, that actually smell good when you pull it out of the box. (No way am I sticking my nose in the bag with it half-full to determine if it’s retained its Febreze freshness, though.) I try my best to retain the “Superwoman” image to my hubby, but alas, we’ve been married 46 years and he knows it was probably a fluke that I remembered garbage bags.

So, it’s nearly December 13 and I’m putting pen to paper to make my list. It’s gonna be long and subdivided into at least 4 categories, and I’m looking forward to crossing at least 50% off the list before Friday. Wish me luck!

Merry Christmas has a price, and the entry fee for me is the “To Do” list.

Anger

Anger isn’t an emotion that fits comfortably in my skin. I operate on an even keel 99% of the time, which probably drives my family nuts. But eventually something gets past my guard for a few minutes to an hour. And then THAT makes me mad because I was enjoying a great day filled with accomplishments and small successes. Down the drain. Tomorrow’s a new day, thank you God. Thanks for my blessings.

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Christmas Wish List

Time is flying by at breakneck speed. This is because I’m 66 years old and in my ‘4th quarter’ … and life is like a roll of toilet paper. When you’re near the end, the roll goes fast. Then *poof!*

It seems I’m doing everything wrong at this time of my life. We bought a BIGGER home four years ago. This home includes a swimming pool, two sheds, and an ACRE to mow and pull weeds. Three bathrooms to clean. Spiral stairs. No flooring downstairs–yet. The previous owner removed carpet (cat urine?) so we have an interesting collection of area rugs throughout the downstairs living area.

Our most recent frivolity was adopting two puppies from the same litter, which is apparently NOT EVER a good idea according to experts. So our German Shepherd/Siberian Husky pups have taken over our schedule. This weekend they are now 13 weeks old. As long was they’re taken out IMMEDIATELY after eating, they’ll poop and pee outside. Two minutes late and we have a mess to clean. But they are so adorable!

Hubby and I have a new evening routine; we watch dog training videos on YouTube. So many styles, techniques and opinions. I would love to have one of those trainers come live with us for a few days and get the job done. Loose-leash walking is a critical challenge. Not the easiest thing to work on when two puppies have ‘husky’ traits. They’re bred to PULL.

My Christmas wish is to have two puppies who will allow the Christmas Tree to stand tall and proud without any drama. I suppose the Christmas gifts will be hidden until Christmas morning. The pups will be in the middle of teething and will present new challenges around hearth and home, I’m sure!

Screen Time vs. Sleep Time

It’s simple. Choose one or the other. Sitting down at the computer is easy. What’s hard is doing what needs to be done in the shortest period of time possible. Non-productive procrastination is a real problem in my life.

Discovering that my latest blog entry was two years ago speaks volumes. I no longer desire to have my life laid out for anyone to read. I no longer have time to invest in the learning curve of figuring out how to post effectively, much less adding a photo.

When I was logging in tonight, I saw a note that I had 588 subscribers. How can this be possible? WHO in their right mind subscribes to blogs of total strangers? Because I know darn well that maybe … MAYBE … four or five subscribers may be related to me. And my mom passed away, so that takes it down to three or four. Go figure.

Sleep time is about to claim tonight’s ‘screen time.’ I’m 66 years old. Sleep is desirable. You should go to bed, too.

Image by Oberholster Venita from Pixabay

Villa de Madera

Grandfather and Ben in the front yard

My home (and yard) are bigger than our last one, and so I’m always busy doing something. (Which is actually kind of nice!) I don’t feel like a lazy person lacking energy to do anything. If it’s not cleaning the pool, it’s time to pull weeds or haul laundry up (or down) the spiral stairs. Or make dinner. Playing with the grandsons is always fun!

House Rule #1 has to do with hand washing, mostly for my grandsons. Before helping me cook, before meals and after meals. Hand washing is supposed to last 20 seconds, or praying The Lord’s Prayer and a Hail Mary. Gabriel follows this rule; pretty sure Ben speeds through the process.

House Rule #2 is NO FIGHTING in the pool. This includes not touching or holding on to someone who is not able to stand up. Horseplay is not allowed. Dog in the pool is not allowed, either, as I am the pool girl and hate cleaning dog hair out of the filter. Ew.

Riley is quite the lucky dog each day. She has room to run and squirrels to chase!

House Rule #3. The upstairs is for sleeping. The spiral stairs actually inhibit us from taking stuff up there such as toys, food, dishes, FURNITURE…. We do have a straight staircase off the master bedroom, but suffice it to say that the bedrooms are minimally furnished with beds and night tables. I did capitulate on a teak dresser for Ben’s guest room, but Gabriel’s guest room has a set of shelves for the clothes he leaves at Grammy’s house.

Villa de Madera is a work-in-progress with many projects ahead of us. David and I are enjoying this new direction in life when others our age are settling down or downsizing as they near retirement! I thank the Lord for the blessing of this opportunity. I wish my mom could’ve lived to see and enjoy the house. I think she’d have loved it! I know i do!

Moving. The Adventure Continues

We’ve been in our new home seven months. My husband was rearranging stuff in the garage two days ago and found a large box labeled “Kitchen.” I hope my collection of loose recipes are in that box… I don’t know yet because I haven’t opened it.  My brain thinks that they’re in there if the box stays sealed.  If I open it and they’re NOT there, then they’re still lost in the move.  And may still turn up one day in the future.

What a conundrum! Plus, if I open the box, I will immediately need to find a home for each and every item in that HUGE box.  As of now, there is no space I’m willing to encroach on with more ‘stuff.’

Gabriel Narrates a Story

He drew the storyboard and narrated it to Grandfather. Story was one he heard on a kid’s show on the Internet.

Sourpuss

It’s been such a long time since my last post, I think WordPress thought I’d died.  First attempt to access my blog was met with a 404 page.  Joy!

My favorite thing these days is drinking a Whiskey Sour before bedtime. Wow, that sounds like I drink one every night. My doctor would be very disappointed if it were true, which it’s not.  Really! Once a week is my goal.

A few months ago, some good friends learned that I like Whiskey Sour cocktails, and they happened to mention the name of a very fine whiskey.  Woodford Reserve – Double Oaked.  So I asked my DH for a bottle for Christmas.

What a joker he turned out to be.  Christmas morning I’m so excited to see what looks like a wrapped whiskey bottle under the tree, I get a gooey feeling in my heart for his thoughtfulness.  Can I describe the disappointment I felt when I opened my gift only to discover that the “bottle” turned out to be a single container of Amzoil?  No, I cannot. Deal with it. I did. His excuse: “It’s top of the line! You need an oil change. I’ll do it for you!”

A month later, my DH told me that Woodford Reserve – Double Oaked was ON SALE for only $44 a bottle at the local Walgreen’s Liquor store… he’d get me one.  Did I wait for him to make good on this promise? No, I did not.

I brought that bottle home in the early afternoon and looked around my kitchen, then very carefully placed it on the shelf in front of my wine glasses.  Yeah, no, I don’t have a liquor cabinet. I left the room and okay, I went to take a nap. I was tired.

Woke up later that day and wandered into the kitchen to find my bottle of Woodford Reserve sitting on the kitchen table.  What the … ! I glanced up to the shelf and to my amazement, the bottle I’d put there earlier WAS STILL THERE.  Holy moly, it multiplied!

My husband couldn’t believe I’d bought my own bottle, but could I really trust him to get it right?  Of course not. Did I return it? OF COURSE NOT.

After googling a Whiskey Sour recipe, I found it’s quite simple to make. My first cocktail was a bit disappointing, I must admit.  I followed the recipe and poured 2 OUNCES of that fine whiskey into my drink.  I’m not much of a drinker… that was way too strong for me.  So here’s my favorite no-fail way I mix a Whiskey Sour:

• Juice of 1 lemon
• Equal amount of sugar syrup (1 part sugar/1 part water, boiled & refrigerated)
• 1 ounce Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Whiskey
• Ice

Basically, it’s lemonade with whiskey. DELICIOUS!

When family asks what they can bring for dinner, I tell them, “Lemons.” Enough said.

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Grandson #1 is THREE!

It was on a Tuesday three years ago that my first grandson was born. He’s a wonder and joy and I’m blessed to be able to spend time with him each week.  He even spends the night on an occasional weekend.

He has a little brother who just turned ONE in June, and is learning that the little fireball of energy and curiosity is not going away, but will continue to push and shove his way into things and places whether invited or not.

G1 and G2 are the bright spots in my life who will continue to bring joy and wonder to their Grammy (me) and Grandfather. I love them both with all my heart, differently but oddly the same. God understands this logic, as He loves all His creation in a similar fashion, I suppose.

Happy birth month to my G1, the boy who loves and excels at puzzles!

Love is having all the pieces in place!