SHEs Organized

I submitted a 39 items order for curbside pick-up tomorrow. I will still have to go inside the store and get the other items but the remaining items should all fit in one cart now. My restock pantry/freezer shopping list was getting ridiculously long. I made sure to curbside the bulky heavy items (dog food, chlorine bleach, etc) so they will be loaded for us.

Later today I will load the decluttered items and deliver them tomorrow to our favorite charity. I will need to lay 2 rows of seats down to get everything to fit into the suv. Having the rows of seats down will make it easier to load the pantry restock items after the declutter items are dropped off.

And you're hauling fewer children, LadyM, so you can put that seat down today and not worry that it might be needed.

I'm still going but nearly done. Haven't had lunch, but need to at some point.

LadyM, I consider getting to read here or check email or other places on the internet my reward after 25 min of work. After I do a couple of rounds, I can focus enough to work for 45 min and break for 15. I was in the middle of checking footnote earlier and had to plow on through, even tho the alarm went off!

helia, how nice that the young friend renting a room helps out with the kitchen!

WTG on that tree dismantling, Nancy!

Ty for the kudos.
I have done some more other need attn. filled one wheel borrow and started on another.
Knocked some dead branches off a branch a bit too tall till I took the one I'd de-limbed and left long on purpose,
and I used it as sort of a bat most of the ones I wanted came off, a few were not quite dead enough.
They are not very big 1" in diameter at most. Swept the patio off afterward.
That worked great! It's cooler so I"m doing some more this week on outside stuff before the 101* this weekend hits.

Had lunch and picked up more twigs out front too squirrels and wind did those.
So most of the cans are full now, I still have two wagons I can use if needed.
I put the ladder on the wheel borrow to move it across the yard to see if that worked sort of but
not ideal. Ladder is not that heavy, I did not need it for that project after all.
Ddoggo is napping she has been mouse hunting after one success today she is more motivated!

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I did another round some pruning on the low limbs with the ladder and pruners on the tree
in front of the house before I put the ladder away. I need to pile those branches on the utility trailer but took
a break and that may be for tomorrow's task list. I did put the ladder away so done with ladder work for today.

My need to haul kids has greatly decreased since DS16 has his license. DD13 isn't a social creature like DS16. She craves solitude and doesn't surround herself with friends all the time. DS16, his girlfriend and 2 friends are going to church tonight, but those 4 teens will all be in his vehicle.

Another round of declutter was accomplished. I grouped categories of items before deciding what to do with them. Having groups of items reduced the number of decisions that I needed to make.

I am dismantling my indoor green house. Most of the items I will use in the outside garden but there are still many items that will never be used in my future gardens. I had 6 four foot long LED hanging lights that I had in the declutter stack. DH wants the led lights to put in his shop so that will reduce the space I need to load the decluttered items.

Hydroponics garden items are grouped to be considered. I am still interested in that method of growing greens but have found ways that don't require the air bubbler and specialty ingredients for the water. I don't regret trying the different methods of growing vegetables but am ready to let that equipment go.

Next up for declutter consideration are the sewing items. I have dreamed of having time to quilt for years. I am not ready to give up on that dream. I only have 2 more years of homeschooling and then that time will be available to do something else. Maaaaybe sewing will happen then.

DS16 helped build fence this morning. After lunch he helped gather & work cattle in chutes for the vet to preg check. DS16 hasn't worked cattle much and today he learned what happens when a cow coughs during preg check. I suspect his reflexes will be faster in the future. There are some things you don't want to experience a second time. When DS16 was telling what happened my head turned sideways. The reflex happened without me thinking about it.

(((Cathy))) Bless you... I read about your night. I do hope today is going better, and that those things sent for biopsy will show nothing of concern for your dh! I know you both deserved a LONG nap after all that!

I guess we don't want to know what happens when a cow coughs during pregnancy check, LadyM?
Again... I find myself wishing you were my neighbor IRL! My goodness I could use a young man like your DS around here. I've told y'all about my fences. Barbwire on two sides of the house, chain link in the back. We found out what happens when you pet and feed apples to horses across a chain link fence... they end up rubbing against it all the time and pushing it out of line. It's really awful looking but right now, not on my priority to change. I'd like to just have it all taken up -- there are no cows or horses anymore. But... $$$.

Looks like you have all been so busy! WTG to ALL of you!!! Special cheers for Twins finishing the proofreading project. (I bet you'll be finished by the time you read this, anyway.)

And thank you for the birthday wishes. Y'all will be pleasantly surprised, I think, to see how I spent my day.
Of course, I went to the GriefShare meeting this morning. Then I decided to take myself to the movies. I thought it would be hard for me to go in an buy a single ticket and sit alone, but it was fine. I saw a few other ladies who were by themselves also, so I think the afternoon matinee is a good time to go as a single woman. I saw The Forge. It was sooo good. A lot about the power of prayer, which I definitely needed to see.
Afterwards, I went by the Chicken salad place which is kinda splurge. That will be my supper.

Talked to my dmom, DS, and dgd.
I think I need a nap now.
I need to be doing laundry, but I think I will continue indulging as the birthday girl for a little while longer. I do hope Harmony is having a good day, and I am praying for her to have improved health day by day. A lot has changed for Harmony and me since our last birthdays.

Quick check in.

I'm home from the cottage for about 40 hours. Got in at 6 p.m. The first load of laundry is ready for folding, the second is still running. Number 3 will run in the morning, I'm too tired, I think, to stay up for it to get done in the washer.

Dh had dinner ready when I got in. The timer literally went off as we walked through the door with the first load from the car.

I brought home bath toys and bubble bath, 2 cushions for the chairs we never used (left the 2 I did use), and dh's fishing gear. And the binoculars which I never used.

Next trips we'll try and find more things to bring home. The kids are coming up after dh leaves for Africa so the bunk beds (37 pounds each) will have to wait until the last trip but after my sister and her partner come up, I'll start bringing back bedding and extra towels.

Since this cottage (Heartwood) isn't available again (this was a once in a lifetime trip for the owner), I've booked the big cottage (White Pine) next to my usual one-room cabin for August 2 to October 31 next year. It isn't as good as Heartwood but the owners (the ex-husband of my current landlord and his wife) offer weekly sheet and towel service since there is no washer or dryer. No dishwasher either and the kitchen isn't near as nice but possibly is more useful. For some reason dh and I are in each other's way all the time in Heartwood. I won't miss the gas stove (I'm not fond of it, especially during heat waves because the pilot light is so hot) but I will miss closets. White Pine doesn't have any, just hooks on the walls. That'll take some rethinking. And the screen porch doesn't have windows so will be chillier than at Heartwood for the last month or so, but on the plus side has a porch swing that is really comfortable. I have memories of rocking grandchildren on it (we've had White Pine in 2020 and 2021.) The view is different but still excellent and we still get a deck looking over the water and a dock as well. Plus it is right next to the 'boat beach', a little beach that the kids can play at that is close to the cottage, unlike the 'point beach' which is nicer but so out of sight/out of mind, none of the grands used it this year.

I spent an hour with the Heartwood's owners yesterday and another hour with just the wife today. She and I get chatting and never stop! They only wanted to do month-long rentals but made the exception for me since they know I'll treat the place well. That's the advantage of having a history with them (plus the recommendation of my current landlord, she was so thrilled I took Heartwood for this year because she didn't want to let a stranger into her home.)

I'm pleased to know I will have a cottage for next year. The total price will only be 50% more than I paid them for the 3 weeks in 2023. So my breakeven point is pretty low if I don't stay up all the time.

Tomorrow I'll work on paperwork and housework here, although I think I only have to dust as I vacuumed on Sunday. Tomorrow is pub night so we'll go to the pub with neighbours for drinks and the fish and chip special.

Tomorrow is ds's birthday but he's away camping so we'll just remember him and do nothing special with him. Maybe we'll detour past the campground on Friday to see him on our way up to the cottage. Maybe not.

Harriet: do you have a rolling cart, dolly or wagon you can put things in so they can be stored somewhere other than your bedroom? I'd be tempted to set up a card table or two in the living room and take things to that spot rather than the bedroom.