SHEs Organized

Is it a list, grocery or otherwise? Journaling? Writing fiction or nonfiction? Taking notes in class? Whatever, your memory will thank you for writing it down today!

Juggling two households creates all sorts of issues but I'm amazed at how much my visual way of seeing my environment makes it possible. I literally can close my eyes and visualize the contents of drawers either at home or at the rental cottage. Occasionally, I have to pause in the kitchen, close my eyes, and visualize where the item in my hand goes in that particular kitchen but it also allows me to visualize my actions when I arrive at the cottage.

This upcoming trip, the moment I unlock the door, I'll need to

1. Pull the blankets down over the pantry shelves in dgs3's room so he can't see the box of goldfish crackers! (They were lifted to vacuum when we left and I forgot to lower them.)

2. Check the mousetraps set.

3. Flush the toilet. I cleaned it and then dgs7 and dgd5 went pee before we left and they are trained to not flush toilets. I was busy packing and while I mentally noted I had to circle back to do so, I got distracted.

It is only at this point that I can let dgs3 into the cottage. My plan is that he'll stop on the porch and play with the toys out there, including the box of Hot Wheels. I mentioned to dh that had I truly been thinking, I would have set those up in his favourite configuration so that he would have played happily there while we unloaded the car. But I was so distracted at getting off, that I didn't have the brain clarity to plan that far in advance, at that point returning the other two children to their parents was my priority.

Those to-so items, while clear in my head, are also noted in our Cottage Notebook.

This notebook sits on the counter in the kitchen at the cottage making notes of items I need to bring up next time (including pantry items) and it sits on the dining table at the apartment making notes of things that have to be done while there and so I can check off the items I've moved to the car-loading pile (which is on the treadmill!)

It is wonderful to have these lists.

The trip up we are taking this week includes a visit from dh's childhood best friend and his new partner so the meal plans are also noted and what they are bringing (towels, sheets) so that I don't have as much to do.

I doubt I could manage the two households without the notebook since I can put things in it and not worry they'll be missed (I'm really good at checking it closely.)

And, of course, the act of writing things down helps cement thoughts in my head so often I'll be in a room here, see something that is on the list, put it in the packing pile and then go to the dining room to check it off the list.


What I haven't been writing is the diary of trips up to the cottage which I had hoped would be a record of the times we were up there and joys I had. These last few trips have been far too busy to do that and while the diary is in the front seat of the car with me as we drive home, I've not managed to update it during the drive.

Another management tool I'm going all in on is setting timers on my phone. For instance, today I have my regular ones at 9 (be dressed), 10:30 (go for walk?) and 2:40 (exercise class) but I also have set one for orthotic adjustment appointment at 4:30 and to take my meds tonight (they are every four days.)

I think we'll eat out tonight because I have to do a Costco run and am not sure if I will get there this morning or if I should just combine it with my orthotic appointment. We need to load the car as much as possible tonight so my main focus of the day will be putting things into the packing pile.

Tomorrow the car has to be out of the garage by 8 a.m. tomorrow and if we want a nearby parking spot we need to grab that tonight. So the almost fully loaded car will be parked on the road overnight.

The dog got three laps this morning, I ran into dfriend M walking R and we caught up. They had been out of town and visited dson and dgd, among other things. Good to talk and catch up with her and see R.

I ordered from Instacart for afternoon delivery.

Another day of genealogy institute. Heading upstairs.

I see a guy on yt that has tent / cabin journal a paragraph left at that cabin with info. from the stay each time he is there.

Today I've written my regular stuff / not been doing the daily journal how ever the last couple of days as I'm
watering and other activities in the mornings now. Was up at 4:15 to P. and stayed up it was nice and cooler today not
muggy out. Got qt & SJ done. Walked got yt shorts a visual journal of sorts to finish out the week and they are scheduled.

Did my DP and a page of notes on retirement ideas to regain energy great reminders & I did not have to think of what
to write about today. Watering as I do this post.

Have not had bfast yet.

Waving to all.

More watering happened moved the sprinkler again.
Some desk duty done.
Vac. liv. rm. x
Did an anti. P task glued a leg on the stool that is on the deck.

Grief journal to make idea.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTCg9hZO-hQ&t=29s

Good Morning!

It is wonderful to have these lists.

How fun to read how you are successfully managing multiple family & guest visits with dual households. Well done!

My morning papers seem so basic that sometimes I wonder WHY I am using them. Then I remember how overwhelmed and chaotic I felt before I started using them. I never want to return to that mental state. The papers calm my mind and enable me to live life better.

Declutter/Deep Clean games continue. DD13 is drawing 2 cards a day and then decluttering, deep cleaning and inventorying those areas of her bedroom. Yesterday she did the 2nd shelf of the south bookcase (32 plushies) and the 3rd dresser drawer (9 skirts). DH closet floor is so clean and clear that I want to show it off to guests.
Today DD13 pulled 2 cards - 2nd dresser drawer and top drawer in her desk.
DH picked number #13 and that was the card to declutter/deep clean my closet floor.
Let the fun and games begin!

Definitely agree that it is necessary (for me) to write things down. And I think I am going to start journaling more — I think I need affirmations. Watched a video last night, a pastor’s wife trying to help people with anxiety and depression. Her thinking is that we get stuck in patterns we developed when we were even children, how we see ourselves. She says we can renew our brains and teach ourselves to see ourselves as we want to be now.
I may sign up for her 12-week course— don’t know how much she charges though,

Right now I am waiting on dgs at football practice and we are new the church group at the theater.

Morning girls…

Went to my class and then target. Came home and made brunch. Am drinking my third cup of coffee but it’s black.

Gonna join the girls at the pool around lunch. We stand chest deep in the pool and chit chat. Right now I have a very good friend who’s husband has been officially diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Not a surprise because both Sweetie and I have suspected it for a while. Her husband is the fellow who loves Sweetie and always wants to sit with him when we attend couple events at our community.

She is not taking this well and I can tell she is experiencing turmoil and very upset. I have offered my support and told her to call me when ever she needs to vent. She is one of my friends who is suppose to be at the pool today and one of the reasons I want to be there. It’s also Bingo night and I always sit with her and her husband. I had t planned to go tonight, but seeing how upset she was this morning at class will go to offer her my support.

I’ve already gotten my laundry sorted and ready for laundry day tomorrow… feels like I just did this as the days are flying by.

Kathryn… when I ran and managed a National day care center I often saw moms and kids when they first got there. It was not uncommon for toddlers and young kids cry and scream just when their moms start to leave. However I can also tell you that within 5 minutes or even less, once they see their friends and get distracted by all that is going on they become engaged and start having fun.

Waving to y’all..

Hi!

Today was Walmart day. Just recently they started having no music and as few announcements as possible before 10 a.m. I was just finishing most of my shopping just as the music came on. Got out of there within 10 minutes or so after that.

We are currently having one heck of a thunderstorm. I'm going to shut down. See you later.

Rosie: I used to do home day care and had the same experience! I assured ddil that these are experts in both distraction and interaction and good at making friends with little ones so while dgs3 currently is in a strange place with strangers, that will change quickly for him. Intellectually she knows that but I think she's having a hard time leaving him somewhere new. Up until now she's known he's with me (who he used to call Mama when she wasn't there) and felt he was safe and loved as much as she loves him. She is so 'tough' and practical, I'm a little surprised she is taking this so hard. He is her second, she had to put DC into daycare when she was little so this isn't the first time she's been through this. Part of it might be that he's growing up so fast and she may not want to miss too many of his moments at this age.

He really needs more socialization and lately I've been feeling my age when caring for him (and can no longer outrun him) so this is a good move all around. But I'll miss him soooo much, he's been a big light in my world for 2.5 years now.

Cathy: we had a thunderstorm just over an hour ago and then dh managed to walk to/from the bookmobile to return the library books before the next round comes in. He also dropped off something for me.

It is 2.5 hours before exercise class and I have nothing to show for my day so I'll get moving NOW.

Wed. used to be my anti p day card
I am reviving it now!

Did a gardening round.
I have been procrastinating on some outdoor gardening type things,
I did a few / prune roses by the arbor
pick up rose canes I pruned off & put in trash can for pick up next week.
Pick seeds of tall hollyhocks and scatter in beds I want to see more of these in the future.
Pick onion sets and scatter em as above mention.
Pick $ plant seeds aka look like purple phlox around in front and back where I want more of them as well.
Pour bleach water on dang honeysuckle plant from neighbor's back yard she passed so no one cares to have it any more.
Water where I need to dig out bulbs and move later.
All Done! / on a break now. It is up to 80* nice in the shade still yea!