Welcome Home Monday

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

I'm hot and sweaty and a bit dirty. Actually, a lot dirty. Pity I've already showered.

I put apple cider vinegar in my hair and went outside to sun-dry it. Decided to weed while I was out there and got really dirty again. Plus I'm sweating so much the hair at my nape is still wet.

I'll try s2sing. Again.

At least I can knock 'weeding' off my to-do list for yesterday, Saturday, today and tomorrow.

[Cowinkie]

Morning y'all...

I'm kind of working in reverse this morning. Foot steps picked up, bed stripped just like KIC and sheets are in the wash. I've cleaned off my desk, fed the doggies and myself. Now I'm getting ready for my exercise class. Then, when I come home I will do my house blessing.

Okay, before I forget, you might want to add a humidifier in LO's room. Nose bleeds are very common in the desert. My kids used to get them all the time in my class room. Sweetie and I use saline spray every night. I started doing this when I realized I was waking up with dry blood in my nose. Yuck

Gotta run ...I am going to a step class, which I hate. My friend is going and is dragging me along. Step class is when you take plastic planks, hook them together and make a step you can march off and on on. Great workout if you don't have two left feet like me. A great sense of humor will be needed to endure these 60 minutes. I have a hair cut planned for later this afternoon. I had my hair cut 2 weeks ago, but I've decided I want it shorter. Its hanging on the wrong part of my neck. If I wasn't going home I probably would just leave it, but we've had 4 days of rain and high humidity here so I know I don't want to be bothered with it when I go to NJ. ......

[lucylee]

Good morning -- for 2 more minutes, I guess... it will be good afternoon before I hit submit.

WELCOME HOME, INDIANA!!!!
Sooo, sooo glad to have you back!!! We have missed you so much!!!

Ditto recommendations on Marigold Hotel movie. I LOVED it!!!

Well... my dgbaby is on his way to other dgparents... six hours away... ten days away... but I'm okay. I'm really excited for all the folks that are going to get to meet him for the first time! Right now he is such a good baby and seems so contented with everything... it's a great time for them to be visiting. I hope they got good report from their return-visit to pediatrician this morning.
-- He called just as I was typing that -- ds, LOL, not dgbaby! Said all is well; doctor seemed a little more satisfied w/his coloring when told that he did have some Native American heritage. This is not a CLOSE relative, but several strains on both sides of family -- on both sides of my family there are, reportedly, full-blooded Indians in my 3rd great-grandparents... dmil's great-grandmother... ddil reports some Indian blood in her family. You'd never suspect it to look at ddil, me, or dh, but ds & my brother show a great resemblance to my dgranddaddy, who looked a LOT like an Indian.
Also said dbaby showed 8.something on blood test for jaundice, but doctor was not concerned about that too much -- just instructed them to keep giving pedialite w/alternate feedings.
Doctor wants to see him again on the 26th, for official one-month check up.
Dbaby has gained 5 ounces, also!

I must get started with something... first on my agenda, WALK. I only did one day last week... I am definitely at risk for falling off the wagon! Plus, w/Aunt Flo here, I have been eating like a totally insane person. So... that is my first order of business.

See y'all in a bit!

Oh -- I forgot!
Best thing about my home?
-- Front porch, kitchen, our bedroom, den -- especially my spot on the couch, LOL... even though the couch is getting awfully worn and needs to be re-upholstered or replaced.
One thing I'd like to change?
-- Bathrooms -- #1, dh's... #2, guest room bath.

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

Best part of my house (Lucylee's post reminded me I forgot to answer this) is my bedroom. It is large but not too large. No space to relax in it unless I'm in bed but it is light and airy and comfortable. The goal was to have a seaside feel to it so lots of paintings of water, a sand/shell/stone glass dish on the 'fireplace' mantle (an electric fireplace but the heater/fire is missing and I've filled that space with pillar candles on a wrought iron holder.)

The tv is tucked in the closet so doesn't show and when I'm on top of my game, the surfaces aren't too cluttered.

[Lilac]

I decided to work on paperwork this morning since I knew with dm and both dds on the road, I shouldn't have many interruptions. It took way longer than I had planned but at least it is done. I have used the same budget for years, although I have had to up the amounts from time to time. Today I reworked the budget and it should be easier to keep track of everything. With dh planning to retire in a few years, I decided that I need to start watching what I spend a little more closely. Also I have decided to start enjoying what I have and to continue to not add to any collections. Well there are the ornaments but I have really cut back on those for me but I buy each daughter and each grandchild an ornament every year. It always amazes me how excited they are over their new ornament and seeing their older ones unpacked and on their tree again.

I better get a shower and get started................

[Twins' Mom]

I am at the car place posting from iPhone, have been to old house to meet cleaning lady and a guy who may be doing the work on it. Loaded more stuff, forgotten plants. Went to bank, liquor store and went by my office to p/u mess shipped there. Also had appt w dermatologist nurse practitioner who took off the offending spot on my arm.

When car is ready will go home to work w ds on unloading the POD. Also DH wants me to make another trip to old house to be there when the gen contractor goes through later.

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

Sunny, Harmony, Harriet, Nancy and Lynlee have a private message from me.

[Twins' Mom]

Grrrrrrr this was supposed to be quick today. Have already inquired and was told "5 more minutes."

[Twins' Mom]

Finally back home. Car ended up taking 1.5 hours at dealership. They did give me a discount card for $100 off the next big servicing which is at 105000 miles I'm pleasantly surprised by the progress that ds and his friend have made in unloading the POD - they think it's 2/3 unloaded. I need to get out in the garage next and start finding things to move in to leave room for the the rest of the stuff that they'll unload tomorrow.

I don't have dogs acclimated to the new invisible fence so they can go our unaccompanied yet. I took them out on Sunday a.m. and the back yard (which had some topsoil spread and was seeded and strawed) was treacherous from the rain last week. I sank down to my ankles in places. I didn't get them back out last night because our friends M&S were here until ten p.m. - I did take the dogs out to the vacant lot across the street so they could do their business. This morning they were excited to go out because a bunny went across the yard, but I think Macs got close to the fence and may have gotten a little shock. After that he only wanted to go back in. It's raining again so I took them across the street again and for a little walk.

I am going to locate five things I can bring into the house - either things or boxes that I can unpack.

[Harmony]

Twins, how are you able to take the ddogs to the vacant lot without them getting shocked..and if you shut off the invisible fence and trot them across, how will they learn not to do that by themselves? Can you tell I've never had one of those invisible fences?!

Running around all day...up to another county in the country getting paperwork signed, and looked at all the remaining furniture stores around here. I don't think we'll ever get this place back to order.

Kathryn, got your message. Sigh...my computer skills or lack thereof. Oh well, I did try. I share this computer with DH, he has his own set of stuff under his name. I had several things on my desktop that are no longer there, if I find out he deleted them I'm going to be really annoyed. I found a couple things on his side but couldn't move them around or send them or attach them....which is why I have my stuff set up the way I do...it is annoying sharing a computer with anyone.

On the plus side, while searching on my computer I did clean out a whole bunch of stuff I no longer need.

I'm just really stressed today with all the business work. Have to submit more stuff to the VA and they're going to be very upset...because they didn't like the volume of the last stuff I submitted. I can't help it, homeowner keeps adding and changing things...