100 Things

A couple weeks ago, Tim was talking to our neighbor across the street.  Mike told him that he had come to the conclusion that his “to do” list always had one hundred things on it.  He would finish one or two tasks and one or two more would pop up.  Since we live in an area where peoples’ properties are somewhat large, anywhere from two acres to ten, that can happen rather easily.

Mike has been retired almost the entire time we’ve known him, fifteen years, and he’s the kind of old guy that likes his lawn just so.  So much so that he’ll mow all five acres twice a week, whether it needs it or not. 

We long ago came to the conclusion that time spent on a loud mower is not something that we enjoy or want to spend our time on.  Our “mower guy”, Jim, does a bang-up job.  And those four or five hours are better spent elsewhere.   Even without the mowing, our list seems to stay steady at those one hundred things.

Finish the weeding in the front yard?  The back needs it now.  The roses that were blooming so beautifully last week now need dead-heading.  And the tomatoes that I tied up last week have grown a foot and need to be tied up again.  A tree that I so lovingly planted a few years ago died and need to be dug out.

A few years ago, I felt frustrated in the summer that my chores never seemed to be done.  Once I started to look at it as always being one hundred things, it has become a joy.  Playing in the dirt, watering the too many pots that I planted, or mulching the gardens has become a gift.  There is peace and satisfaction to be found in taking care of what has been entrusted to us.

Perhaps looking at other parts of life, not just yard work and property maintenance, in that way would provide that similar peace and satisfaction.  There is always an opportunity to do more.  And even if it is never done, there is joy in doing it.

AMDG

Finding Beauty Amid the Messy

This year seemed complicated in many ways.  Relationships felt muddled.  Health was challenging for a number of family members and even our dog.  Work roles have been changing.  We lost an extended family member to a two year battle with cancer.  Even the car had issues.

But, on the other side of that were opportunities to see and appreciate the true and good.  We enjoyed the beauty of our flower gardens and the bounty of the vegetable one.  I had the opportunity to help my brother-in-law and his mother prepare for his father's funeral where I witnessed many people acknowledging a life well lived.  We enjoyed the music of a world class orchestra.  We discovered new authors and read scores of books.

We spent these last three weeks of this year fighting our own illnesses - the flu/cold/sinus infections/pneumonia.  One night was so bad that a call to EMS was required.  We had oh so many plans for the holidays.  We had wanted to go back to Stan Hwyet to see the decorated property.  I wanted to take my niece shopping for gifts for her parents and I planned on sewing matching "dolly and me" pajamas for one of her Christmas presents.  We planned a trip to the market downtown to get fixings for stuffed cabbage for our holiday dinner.  I wanted to write.

None of that happened.  No sewing.  A pared down dinner.  We were lucky if we left the house to make it to Mass, so seeing the lights was bagged.  Even our decorating around the house was a little less.

Friends remarked this past weekend that perhaps it was a good thing.  We had to take Advent and Christmas quietly, slowly.  We had to decide what was really important.  And, when you do that, you see the beauty as well.  Even if it is just a rainbow through the unwashed crystal!

AMDG

Quick Takes (34) - Where the Heart Is

- 1 -

I knew it has been a while since I did one of these posts, but it was much longer than I remembered.  Either time is going by too quickly, or my memory isn't what it used to be.  I'm not sure which of those two options I would prefer.

- 2 -

Once again, I was on the road for work this week.  And, once again, I am so glad to be home.  It was the third trip in as many months.  I'm hoping it stops for a while.  A long while.

- 3 - 

I attended a software user conference at the Aria in Las Vegas.  That place is enormous.  I spoke with a couple of women who had fit bits and one had 18,000 steps and the other was over 20,000 - in one day!  The hotel/casino/conference center puts on an exceptionally well organized event.  I was impressed by the people that work there.

On Monday, when I was walking back to my room during the afternoon break, several of the room cleaning staff were in the hallway, laughing.  They looked like they enjoyed each others' company and jokes.  One woman in particular, I do wish I could remember her name, had the most joyful smile and beautiful attitude about life.  We chatted for a while both that day and before I left on Wednesday.  What a great representative of the hotel was she!

- 4 - 

There was an expo in which vendors talked about their products and tried to generate new customers.  And, they gave stuff away.  It felt like trick-or-treating for adults.  Mostly it was do-dads like pens, paper, candy, and small flashlights.  But, there were a few really fun things.  Mimosas at 10:30am?  Yes, please!  A bag silk screened to order?  Thank you very much!  And a very cute monkey?  I'll definitely take one!

- 5 - 

Tuesday night's entertainment was a private concert by Train.  I can't say that I was familiar with their music prior to this event, but they put on one heck of a show.  I think I will soon be downloading some of their music.

- 6 - 

One of the nice things about my job is that I can work from home on occasion.  And after getting home late Wednesday night, yesterday was one of those days.  Mid-morning Himself brought me a nice treat. I should work from home more often!

- 7 -

“There are two ways of getting home; and one of them is to stay there.” 

- The Everlasting Man by GK Chesterton

Don't forget to check out more Quick Takes at This Ain't The Lyceum.

Have a great weekend!

AMDG

Thanking God for Snow

This past weekend we had plans to visit with family, Himself's parents on Saturday and my sister and her family on Sunday.  The weather forecast, however, wasn't very promising.  Actually, it stunk - cold and snowy and windy - a bad combination for driving anywhere.

So . . .  We cancelled all our plans and stayed home.

I loved it!

 

It seems life lately is driven by getting in the car and going somewhere.  Most often it's work or the store or church or the dentist or wherever.  Since our county was under a level 2 snow emergency, the car wasn't about to come out of the garage.

 

Did I mention I loved being home?  Oh boy did I!

 

Not that what we did was all that exciting, but it was at home. 

 

Our neighbor's dog Lucy decided to visit and when Kim came to fetch her we all played in the snow and went sled riding.  Actually, that was the second time we were sledding on Saturday.  Himself and I went out earlier and braved the blizzard to slip and slide down the hill.

 

 

I finally made a loaf of Ciabatta bread I have been wanting to try.  Yum!   That recipe is a keeper.

I mended several pairs of pants I have been ignoring and ironed blouses that have been hanging wrinkled in the closet for months.  I read a lot more of the latest book I won on Goodreads.  I caught up on an episode or two of Castle that my friend has gotten me hooked on by his reviews.  We sat by a fire and chatted.

 

 

All-in-all we didn't do anything exciting or new.  It was just good to be home.

 

AMDG

There's no place like home

Last week I had to travel for work.  To get to the west coast we first flew to the east coast - Washington DC to Washington state.  That made for a not-so-fun, very long flight.  It didn't help that my back was screaming most of the way.

A few odds and ends struck me throughout the trip. 

My St. Andrew's chaplet sure gets around.  I brought it with me, of course, since we're in the middle of the novena.  It was a great comfort and blessing, especially when I couldn't sleep at night being all screwed up from the time change.

I love cell phones and the internet.  It is so easy to keep in touch with those back home.  We had pictures and text messages zipping back and forth all week. 

I work with some really great people and for a good company.  I know just how lucky and blessed I am.  After the last couple of positions I've had, I know a good thing when I see it.

We live in a beautiful country. Both driving in Washington and flying across country I saw just what beautiful topography there is here.  

Flying is a royal pain.  Everything costs something.  Need to check a bag?  That will be $25.    Want to change your seat?  That's $89.  Hungry?  Hand over the credit card.  And that's once you get past security.  Strip off your coat and shoes and belt and everything in your pockets then stand with your hands in the air and get scanned.  Yippee!

I'm a home body.  The best part of the trip was walking into our house Thursday night and into the arms of my honey.

There's no place like home!

Mt. Hood

AMDG

Keep the Home Fires Burning

A year or so after we got married, DH got a new job working second shift.  It wasn't the most ideal of situations, since I worked days, but we managed.  During the week we were lucky if we saw each other for a half hour to an hour each evening before I headed off to bed.  We learned to make the most of our weekends and guarded them closely. 

A couple years into it, I started our Friday Night Feast.  Usually DH would just eat the leftovers of whatever I had made earlier in the day, but on Fridays I would wait to eat dinner with him at 11:30.  I'd make something special and set a nice table.  He would sometimes come home to find me grilling lamb chops or steaks by flashlight!  It was a great way to reconnect after a long work week.

Even though we're not working opposing shifts any longer, we still guard our Friday nights carefully.  It's the time to leave all the office politics and stress behind and concentrate on what is important. 

Last Friday we had our first fire of the season.  We chatted, drank some wine, ate some yummy s'mores, and watched the flames dance on the hearth.  It was quiet, peaceful, calm - what I want my home and my life to be. 

It was good.  And I am grateful.

And I'm looking forward to it again.

Another day in paradise

Tuesday and Wednesday I worked from home because the weather was so bad and I'm so chicken drving in it.  It just wasn't worth going in.  Yesterday I snapped a few photos of the snow and then the way we kept warm in the evening.  Good times!