Thursday, New Year's Day

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

I disappeared after my post this morning because our guests woke up!

We had a good brunch, then chatted for about an hour or hour and a half. It was just below freezing so dh suggested a walk outside. We hadn't taken windchill into account so we walked to the beach (straight into the wind) and then home along the river with the wind at our backs. The water is grey, cold, and angry looking. There are whitecaps and sheets of ice floating by. Still it was a good 2 mile walk and will help me keep my step count up.

Ds ran a load of laundry after lunch and it dried while we walked so he's folded it and gone home to sleep until work tonight. Our friends have left for a family dinner with others in Ottawa and have keys to get back in whenever they get home.

The guest suite downstairs was apparently quiet except for the radiator fan. So the boys slept well. Dnephew will be there by himself tonight.

I'm just picking up a few more steps on the treadmill before settling in to read or nap. Not sure which. Dinner tonight is leftovers.

[helia]

Happy New Year you lovely SHEs!!

Dfriends left early this morning, so I feel like my real vacation has started . . .today! Funny thing, dh said the exact same thing this morning. For the first time since the Christmas season started, we're not preparing for Christmas, prepping for travel, traveling (fun once we're at our destination, but not necessarily relaxing), prepping for houseguests, hosting houseguests. Don't get me wrong - it was very good to see dfriends E and C. It is just also nice that now I can turn to my own agenda for a couple days.

I really like Jan. 1 too. I like new beginnings and new goals and working on new habits.

Done so far Today:
- a.m. routine
- load of bedding washed and dried
- brunch with the family
- went through all of the bookshelves in the living room and computer room with dh; 5 sets in living room (2 aren't big - just 3 narrow shelves on one side of the fireplace, 4 on the other) and 1 large set in the computer room that takes up most of one sizeable wall. We now have stacks for dd16 to go through (ds and dd19 have already gone through them), stacks for S and R to go through (mostly parenting books - though I only read part of one parenting book until I started teaching at the church moms group), and stacks that we figure no one really wants. We've gotten rid of a lot of books! Dh is paying dd19 to organize the books now. Tomorrow, dh wants to go through the books in the play room and ds' room (some of our books are there b/c they didn't fit on the living area bookshelves) with me. . . This took up most of my afternoon.
- snack and vegged for a bit

Dh has gone in to his office. Dd16 is at a movie with some friends.

Next:
- background reading for study with mentee
- email mentee
- take care of the bedding in the dryer
- go through a bag of papers from moms group last year; just wanting to make sure I have a copy of every handout.

[BookSaver]

Hello, villagers ~
Happy New Year! I hope you are all having exactly the kind of day you want to have.

Today has been an oddball day for me, but overall a good one.

The Pancake Pen gadget is a success. It resulted in much less mess on the counter and stove than previous attempts to ladel batter from a bowl. This time I mixed the batter in my regular bowl and put it in the pen to dispense onto the griddle. Next time I will follow the directions to shake up the batter right in the gadget, which if that works will be even less mess to clean up.

The one thing that I put as a priority for the day was to go around the house and empty all the trash bins. I didn't take any trash or recycling out last week because our normal pickup day is Thursday, so last week that was Christmas Day. I didn't want to bother putting it out the day after Christmas. This week is the same situation, normally they would have picked up the trash this morning but delayed it to tomorrow.

Actually we don't have that much and could have waited another week. However, I thought it sounded like a good New Year's Day job, to get unneeded stuff out of the house. The trash and recycling are out in the garage now, waiting until it is late enough to take the bins to the curb.

I haven't started sewing yet, but I will soon. I'm looking forward to getting into the rhythm of it and making some good progress tonight.

[Ramblinrose]

I saw you too Lucylee.. Sorry abt the outcome.. Was thinking abt you cause it was such a nail bitter.

My New Years start was wonderful. Got up, drank my coffee and realized there was SNOW on my mountain. Quickly threw on my long johns, sweater, jeans, wool socks and heavy duty hiking boots. Grabbed my coat, scarf, hat, gloves and camera and out the door I went.

Only planned on taking a few picture just a few miles from my house. The. I realized there was snow on the ground. Drove over to the mountain state park... I have an annual past.. Just thinking I would take a few more shots and before I knew it I was half way up the trail. It was early morning, cold crisp and clear. Called Sweetie to tell him abt my change of plans and took off up the mountain.

What a wonderful way to start the new year... It was amazing to be out in the wide open with no one around me. Up, up I went taking pictures all the while. My new goals for this year was to hike more and do more photography. I was so happy coming down the mountain trail. And because I weigh less and been working out more the climb was easy peasy.

Came home, eat a good breakfast and turned on some football to look for Lucylee. Now I am abt to get ready to join Sweetie for our evening out. We are going to the alabama watch game which is being help at a sports bar in down town phoenix. It's possible we may get more snow tonight and if we do I'll be out early morning again and then home to watch TN, my real team.

Enjoy your day... Know I sure am. I posted pixs on my fb page if anyone is interested

[Lady Maverick]

We have enjoyed a wonderful day at home. The plumbing crew isn't working today at MPB and everything is totally shut down so I encouraged DH to stay home and rest. A VERY rare occurrence! He has been in a comfortable chair watching TV (football & old western movies). I have enjoyed seeing him relax.

I have "followed my nose" and did whatever I wanted today. I have enjoyed it immensely without a schedule or agenda. I ended up working in the house the entire day but it was because I wanted to. Some of the things I have done today....
** Used sweeper to clean the double garage floor
** Moved treadmill from garage staging area into the Bonus room. Got it set up and ready to be used. I am hiding the magnetic key that fits into the treadmill so the little ones can't use it.
** Did 4 LOL to completion. This included stripping and remaking 3 beds.
** Straighten up the pool room
** washed and dried the kitchen floor by hand. I don't know how to take care of ceramic floor tile. The grout is light color so I tried a couple different methods of cleaning it. I wonder if a steamer is worth giving a try......
** Designated a cabinet in kitchen to store supplies for entertaining large groups. Paper plates, napkins and cups are neatly in containers ready to be pulled out. I used four clear plastic container (shoe box size) to hold the spoons, forks, knives, and serving spoons.
** Read a couple chapters in the THM book with my feet up.
** Made a double batch of tuna salad.

I sat down with a steaming cup of tea and have enjoyed it. My cup is empty so I am off to my next "nose following" adventure.

[Harmony]

LadyM, if you find a good way to clean grout, please share. I have been struggling with mine forever. I use a small brush. I soak in bleach. I've used multiple cleaners. I tried a hand steamer (disappointed THAT didn't work much), I've used grout cleaner sold in the janitorial aisle in HD. Each thing made it look better, but not 100%. I think it's because there is some sealer left on spots... I'm tempted to use some muriatic acid, rinse, clean, dry, reseal...but that's so time consuming and I'm not really sure if the acid does permanent damage. There are companies who will come and clean the grout...

I went to store and looked at all the sale things, toys, bins; all their Christmas things were sold except for holiday candy. Got some office supplies I was low on, DH's medicine, chicken and coleslaw he requested for dinner (he can eat when he's sick!).

Harriet, we don't know for sure what he has, though it acts just like the flu, cough, achey body, fever.

Apparently I am watching a different game than you all & Lucylee were watching. FSU & Oregon. DD & DSiL went to FlState so we follow them. And they're losing, at halftime, watching the bands now. Ok, I googled the football teams and have now figured it all out. We don't follow much sports here, so most of the time I have no idea where Lucylee is going or what you're talking about! But now I know. And I saw some post-game pictures and picked out Lucylee's orange shirt!

2nd lol hanging up, kitchen all cleaned up. Made pot of lemon tea for DH. I might get out my journal and write a bit and think abut the coming year. It's hard for me to look forward until I'm pretty much done summarizing the past year for taxes...but I'm well on my way with that so beginning to look ahead.

[helia]

That sounds really so very lovely, RRose, to live so close to a mountain park that you can drive over for a hike in the morning!!

Sounds like a lovely day, LadyM.
I hope Mr. Harmony feels better soon. Seems to me others here have been sick too. ((HUGS))
Lilac, are you back to 100% now?

I did some studying, made up some Qs (I have a study guide, but it didn't go into much detail for this section), emailed my mentee -- she immediately emailed back. Have also gotten dinner ready, eaten with the family, and cleaned up. I think dd19 took care of the bedding in the dryer, since it is mostly hers.

Next:
- admire the work dd19 did cleaning and organizing our computer room bookshelf. She said it took her 3 hours. That was one bookshelf. But I think it is the largest one upstairs. . .
- make up dd19's bed (twin) in her room, even though she doesn't sleep on it. I think it's be better if it were made up w/ an old blanket on top b/c I think Maia jumps on it sometimes. The dogs are NOT allowed on any of the upstairs furniture. They are allowed on the old beat up sofa in the play room.
- go through that bag of moms group hand outs from last year
- rough draft of short New Year letter.

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

I've settled into the chair and have watched lots of tv.

I just noticed my fitbit needed recharging so that's an excuse to sit here a bit longer. I'll make my 10K today so don't need to worry about surfing the net sitting down, I don't need the treadmill time.

We had leftovers for dinner. I'm slowly cutting back on what I'm eating. Babysteps!

[blessedw2]

Lucy I wish you could see the band in person (madison, wis) - My oldest went there and loved the school and i love the football games, bucky badger, and I love their band. I always sit near the student section because they are so fun to be with.

Hello all and good night all! sweetest of dreams!

[Nancy]

I too had to have a nap today it helped. But I am definately more productive on days when I go to bed early! Glad I had planned left overs for today for meal.