Surprised it's Saturday - How did that happen?

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

Harriet I can't imagine I said anything positive yesterday. Still not feeling very bright and cheery.

Did get exercising done - 20 minutes on the ski machine, 10 on the exercise bike, and ~25 icing and doing my stretches.

My sister called just as I was about to get dressed so I called her back when dressed. Meant to use the cordless phone but it cut out the moment I switched to it (it can't dial and this is the second time the sound stopped in the middle of a call but didn't drop the call.) So I was stuck on the corded phone by my desk. It has a long cord and I manage to stretch over to make tea but couldn't reach far enough to get my breakfast. Got on the call around 10:40, got off the call at 12:20. I was literally swooning from hunger.

My sister is in a bad space right now. Her marriage is a mess and she has an ailing dog so she has no freedom at all. She can't count on her spouse to care for the dog if she takes a break and comes up for a visit. So she is stuck at home. I feel only slightly sorry for her since she made and is making the choices that leave her so trapped. She won't board the dog, she doesn't trust her spouse (who, honestly, isn't an ogre but has issues), she can't drive, she won't pay for a car and driver (in order to travel here with the dog.) Money really isn't an issue. She is just in her negative place and no matter what I say, she'll disagree. There are times she'll argue the sky isn't blue and today was one of them.

I'd be lying if I denied I'm relieved she can't come up right now. On the other hand, it was hard to deny her a ride up (I could drive down and get her and the dog and bring them up and return her her later.) That's what she was hinting at. Had she chosen to learn to drive she would not be so dependent on others. She even owns their van (she bought it because she wanted something with enough room for the dog and camping gear.)

She spent years lecturing me about being dependent on dh. Sure, I didn't have a job outside the home but I had a home life. She is finally married and doesn't quite know how to make it work. There is nothing anyone can do to make her happy - as her wife has now figured out. My sister has money, time and health. But she is tying herself up with this dog. Her expectations of how the dog is cared for - all homemade meals, meds on a specific schedule and walks but not too rigorous, make it impossible for her to feel comfortable leaving the dog with anyone else. She wants everyone to sympathize with her situation but doesn't want advice on how to improve it.

So now that she has sucked the energy out of me, I'm left to try and get something done. I've printed off something for the meetings this week. Eaten breakfast and lunch. Flipped the laundry and brought in the garbage cans.

There's a load of laundry on the line and another in the dryer. So I'm caught up with that. I'm getting a getting a good laundry routine and seem to be managing it quite well. If there is sunshine tomorrow, I'll strip and remake the spare bedroom since ds has slept there for about 10 nights since the last time I changed the bed.

[Ivy]

Just "popping by" to say, "Hello, Villagers!"

DH is at a funeral and will be gone about 3 hours. I'm doing laundry. DD sent a box of hats/scarves to me, which I need to wash, so will be sorting through my own old hats/scarves, will send some to the ARC donation boxes I'm collecting for them.

Have had plans to finish reading Debbie Macomber's book, "Three Brides, No Groom," before her book, "Starting Now," comes, which was supposed to be today, in the USPS. However, our P.O. route carrier brought DD's very large box to me, plus my snail mail, right up to our house! It's 1/4 mile from the mailbox! So sweet of him! So I DO "believe" God is saying:
1- Finish reading that Brides/Groom book now! (The other comes on Mon.!)
2- Wash the hats/scarves, to freshen them.
3- Write a big thank you to DD for her effort.
4- Declutter those bins, shelves, where you keep your hats/scarves.

So it's like my day's been turned around for me! I'm washing DH's blue jeans with mine and a pair of sweatpants now. I'm doing a laundry catch-up while DH is gone, hoping how I might be all done before he returns. I need to write, too, for work, but I only need to baby-step that process on and off throughout the day and evening, when I have a few minutes here and there.

It was so comical. Today I'm all dress in pretty casual clothes with PIGTAILS IN MY HAIR and my male postal carrier saw me, 61, in pigtails! Oh, well. At least I was clean and dressed to the shoes, right? That counts for something.

We had a terrible storm last night, we were both awakened on and off all night, so I'm very tired today, have a headache, so will go have some caffeine, as I've already taken pills for the headache. I need to dust because it's "time" again. The bedroom's done, so I'll try to dust the rest of the house and dust mop, too, before DH returns home. DH took his cell phone with him, he doesn't know how to turn off the volume, but it is on ring AND vibrate, both. I told him, "OH NO! What if your cell phone rings in the middle of the FUNERAL!" He said it's okay. He'll just hang up on them, whoever they are. Oh, well. The man who passed on was very comical, loads of laughs and if DH's cell phone rings, the man will be looking down from Heaven having a good laugh! Seriously!

Have a wonderful Sat., I loved the opener because it IS a surprise that Saturday has happened! Wow! How does time pass so fast? It's amazing! Our weeks speed by and before you know it, it's another new month! Take care of yourselves, Everyone, and I just wanted to say hello to you all!

[OKay]

((((Kathryn)))) Bless your heart. Those type of situations are tough to deal with. Hopefully your DSis was blessed by talking it out with you, even if she isn't in a mental place to accept advice.

Ivy - you look adorably cute in your pigtails. YGG!

We survived LO first Tball game. I was wearing 4 layers and kept the hood over my head so i stayed warm. The little ones energy level was through the roof so they were generating their own heating plant. I was in charge of getting the little ones prepared to bat in the correct order. Six of the 14 little ones names start with a K. Each of the six K names are unique but 5 of the 6 are two syllables. K--bee, K--lee, K--den, K--dle, K--lin......argh!!!! Keeping the K names pronounced correctly and matched up to the correct child kept me on my toes. Identifying the rest of the little ones was easy because their names weren't so alike.

Received four phone call from DMom this morning. I'm continuing to be thankful for her upbeat attitude and effort.

After the game I prepared/served lunch.
After putting LO down for his nap. I planted one veg garden bed and weeded another.

I'm ready for a small break before once again starting on the mountain of papers.

[blessedw2]

(((kathryn - I agree, bless your heart, hope tomorrow is filled with positive people and no worries)))
Hi ivy (really sweet of you to write your dd a thank you.. I know it means a lot to her), hi okay, hi d harriet and hi all of you.

grocery store for one item done... mmm forgot it the other day.

I don't want to be home but I do have to take dd to volunteer work where I have to stay as it is only 1-1/2 service and it is far away from our house. My dmil was unable to have her yearly irish dinner so I am making her cabbage and corned beef (which I don't care for but she loves). Hoping to get that done today and drop it off tomorrow while she is at church.

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

I'm ready for tomorrow's meeting except for the devotions. I'm doing them, and want to keep them short because we will have just come from worship, plus the agenda is very long. Found two great readings, both too long. Will do a quick look at my favourite liturgy sites after I post this.

Laundry is off the line and folded waiting to be put away. The load in the dryer has been folded and put away. I stripped and remade the spare bed.

Ds noted on facebook that he got the part-time job he applied for so he's now effectively employed full-time. That will help him out financially. His new goal is to pay back the dental bills before he goes away.

Dh restrung the autoharp today. He waited until the baseball game started and went at it. There are 32 strings to be removed and replaced and 32 tiny springs to not lose. It took him 4+ hours, not including time spent looking for springs. They were so small they made no noise when they fell. We found the last one in the lid, hidden under the felt of one of the chord dampening bars. Dh was awfully relieved.

We had pizza for dinner. I iced my knees while we watched Mad Men. I'm exhausted tonight so wanted to at least get an icing done. Now I can do the odd stretch while waiting for things to happen or watching tv.

[OKay]

About the time I started to start on the paperwork, LO woke up from his nap. That gave me an excuse to ignore the paperwork (again) and go outside. We mowed the yard and then planted beets, carrots and peas in the garden. LO is a-l-m-o-s-t as much help as hindrance. He wants to learn how to do everything and then do it himself. There is still much that is a safety hazard for him to attempt. He is willing and eager to try anything I will allow.

Saturday Night ice cream tradition has been observed. Buttered Pecan, Rainbow Sherbet & Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough were our flavors selected this week. YUM!

Time to start bath and bedtime routine. Sweet Dreams to all!

[Lynlee]

Waving from Sunday.
Saturday went by in a whirrrr here. How did that happen?
Wondering if Sunday will be the same.

(((Harriet and folks who care about Zara.))) I guess the feeling is also about caring for any uncared for children whose life of suffering goes unnoticed, and for parents who can't or won't parent to make a different choice too. Before they go to that nasty place. Wagga wWagga is a long way from here.
Locally a boy of 13 was taken from the roadside waiting for a bus to go christmas shopping. A few bones and remnants of clothing and shoes were all that was found. Something like 9 years later - Someone is committed for trial. The loss of that boy affects many here. I can imagine how your community is affected with the grief and senselessness of it all.

I have been trying the don't break the chain new habit thing OK suggested an age ago. lol. Its almost been a week. It does take forward planning. I'm trying not to add too many at once.

church this morning.
Priest said - Some of you must be still praying for rain.
Showers continue here. Puddles form easily.

[Harriet]

Errands worked their way into my day. It's constant. HRH is a little under the weather, hopefully over soon.

Just finished all the outdoor chores.

Helping dd with various things to get ready for a full school week again - laundry, finding supplies.

Went by the other house to change lights, flush toilets, run water, generally check on everything. All is well - we have heat set on 60 which seems to be the right decision. Further work there will have to wait for a time in which I have two minutes to rub together. Certainly hasn't happened this week.

I need to gather my thoughts about one more tall glass of water and then one more small meal with which to take that last capsule of the day which is so tricky, also thinking have I missed a vitamin.

Lynlee, I smiled at comment from priest. Yes, a lot of confused grief happened here, first disbelief and hope, of course. Then a sort of guilt set in as well, the feeling that communities here (family moved to another county in the night when first county's social services started to ask questions) should have been more prepared to protect a child who had been transported to "us" through no decision of her own, and did not have nearby grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc. to keep tabs on her. When the Australian father didn't turn out to be the worst culprit, but the American step-mother did, it was just reinforced - if only he had never met the American on the internet maybe the child could have stayed near other family who would have known to help take care of her. Terrible for your community to have had 9 years waiting - at least there was some closure here earlier than that, although police were led on long wild goose chases that were awful.

[Harriet]

Norma, hope you enjoy seeing the new little one. Also hoping Mr. Guy has no further problems on the horizon concerning his health. Thanks for giving us the estimate on what Cowinkie would have been doing yesterday. I guess tomorrow is the finale of her adventures. Well, this particular adventure!

Feel kinda dumb because my answer to the "small meal" question was cookies. What I was thinking I don't know.

[Lilac]

I had to go to dd2 today and watch the 4 little ones while she went to the bank and opened the store. I came home and had lunch. Dh had been grouting the shower ceiling and informed me that keeping 2 buckets of clean water ready plus the grouting procedure was time consuming. So I spent several hours running inside and outside with clean water. We had to quit at 5 so that we could watch THE basketball game. Our Shockers lost.

Dgd16s date was coming at 5:30, so I went over ahead of that, so I could take pictures. Dd2 was already there with the 2 little girls. The other grandma was also there. She won't hardly speak anymore because she repeats herself and she is self conscious. I hate that for her. Dgd16s date is so cute and looked really sharp. Dgd16 looked really pretty except the dress had a cut out area between the breast. Yikes. Dgd16, dd1 and dsonil agreed that if dgs19 would have been there he would not have let her leave the house in that dress. It was a lavender dress, the top layer was satin and it had a net lining. Dd1 was going to cut a small piece of the net out and use that material to sew in the cut out area. For some reason dsonil thought it was acceptable without doing that. The dress had a train, so it would have been easy to use a small amount of the net for it. Dgs19 is away for a Bible Bowl tournament. Later dd2 was having a fit about the cut out area. I was not crazy about it either but it was too late to do anything by then.

After I left there I ran by the new sub shop and picked up our supper. Came home and watched THE game. When the game was over I turned the TV to the schools channel and was able to watch the promenade. We were only watching it for a few minutes before dgd16 and her date were entering.

Ivy, you had mentioned pig tails in early January and it made me realize that I miss having hair long enough for a ponytail and that is when I decided to grow my hair out. It's been 3 months and I have a long way to go but I'm hanging in there.

Kathryn, I truly understand what you are saying about your dsis not listening to any advice. That is what I run into with dd2 when she gets unhappy with something in her life. Drives me crazy. I always feel like she just sees the negative but not all of the positive things.