Journal journey.

In my quest to live intentionally, act with intent, do what I intend…all that, I have been focusing on getting better organized.  I found myself kind of just floating though my days, sometimes getting done what I wanted and sometimes, well, you know,  la-de-dah…

A step I have taken to become better organized is to use a journal.  I reviewed a bunch of different sites (a rabbit hole to be sure), sat through a webinar, ordered a journal and tried to figure out if my life is busy enough these days to even bother with journaling/scheduling/task-list making.  I’ve discovered it actually is and thinking that it wasn’t is exactly where I went wrong in my intent to be better organized.

Does that make sense? Stay with me, I’ll go a bit deeper.

Like all of you, I have things I need to get done…every day, every week, every other week, every month; just like you.  I realize lately that there are things I was not paying much attention to, just sort of la-de-dahing them.  Minor things such as dusting regularly to bigger things such as having routine maintenance done on the car, even on myself.  I mean none of this is life threatening but it still is not something you should just let go, right?

So around my birthday in October, when I “take stock” of my year and begin to think about what I want my next year to look like, I determined to be intentional in all things.  As previously written, if Joy was my word for 2017, then Intent would be my word, my goal, moving in to 2018.  The second of January or so I realized I was woefully out of sync with intent  and is when I started a new “bullet journal”.  (I have mentioned this previously and linked to a site where, if interested, you can learn more, but, here is the link again bulletjournal.com) In my new journal, I made lists, I have charts, I have plans, menus, recipes, ideas, goals both personal and financial.  I have a page or two of word dumps. Huh? Don't worry, I will get into that in another post.

   

I began to experiment with the journal, messing up a few times.  Scratching things off a couple of times or rearranging the format more than a couple of times.  I even ripped out a page and that’s a no no in journaling.  But, I have begun getting more accustomed to looking at the journal’s calendar every day.  (I do need reminders after all, and while I like my phone, I don’t use the calendar there ~ just can’t get into it).  I have also gotten better at taking time for myself every day.  Now, I get it.  You may be saying to yourself, but, you are retired.  Isn’t all your time for yourself? No, no its not.  And even though I am with just myself a lot does not mean I am accomplishing things FOR myself.  And this is another topic I will post about in a separate entry.  For my male readers ~ don't think this won't be for you, too.  Stick with me... journaling may work for all of us.   

facebook.com/cindiswindowlakeliving/ 

Not rushing it, but I'm ready!

It’s doing it to me again, this late January thaw…I am itching to get out in my dirt, with shovel and hoe and plant matter.  This dull, grey weather and the brown that is peaking through the melting pristine snow makes me start to plan and, gulp, shop online.

I was super frustrated over the weekend over the lack of gardening shows that are broadcast these days.  What the heck? As one online article put it there’s a lot more “H” and little “G” in HGTV.  I loved the gardening shows of the past and hope to see the Do It Yourself network continue with Yard Crashers, which does still air episodes, thank goodness.  Limited, but, they are there on Saturday mornings. 

  

My Pinterest board is filled with gardening ideas.  This year, I will be able to spread some rock and more mulch since the interior of the house is substantially finished.  This year, the deck, porch and landscaping are the focus!  I have already spent hours scrolling through pins and posts, and jotted down ideas and color combinations.  I will admit to a slight obsession with pots and planters, and maybe already own more than I need..but a few more won't hurt. 

In the article I mention above, one point made is maybe people who garden spend more time outside and less in front of the TV, which is fair.  Maybe we do like to get outside and get our hands in the dirt and feet in the mud, and not in the living room watching another house flip show. (You can read the article here, but it was posted in 2017) Forgive me, but I do not want to see one more tiny house episode.  Not one.  As I said to my brothers, and mentioned in a previous post, I grew up in a mobile home…ya can put lipstick on a pig, but its still a pig, and those tiny homes?  We called ‘em trailers.  

I made my way out to the shed over the weekend to put two little Christmas trees from the porch away.  I have to come out here, I thought, and take inventory of what I might need for spring planting and there's definitely some clean up that needs to happen, evident from the tow rope hanging down from the ski tube stowed in the rafters. Yes, the list is long and growing.  While January might be a little too early to start thinking about plants, mulch, pots and planters, I can't help myself, especially on days of thaw.  I look forward to the green of spring, those little shoots of crocus and daffodils shoving their way through, assuring us once again, that these longer days aren't misguiding us, that spring really is just around the corner.  


facebook.com/cindiswindowlakeliving 

Variety is the spice of life, and shopping.

We have one more year for hubs to leave for work everyday and then he will retire.  I’ve been home for about three years now and while I have at times been bored and looking for something to do, someone to talk with maybe, I am not sure how he and I will fare with both of us here all the time.  He’s a doer. Has to have a project or something to work on or he fidgets, paces, shakes his foot…makes me nervous, and agitated.   I can curl up.  I don’t have to “do”, but, sometimes he will suggest a trip or car ride and I'm ready. 

Now, you know I waited on the fireplace and the mantle for months.  It still wasn’t 100% ready for Christmas but I threw those Santa Claus figures up on the where-the-mantle-will-be-when-I-get-one with a string of lights anyway, right on top of the unfinished cement board. But now what? Shortly after Christmas the fireplace the mantle is in place, is exactly what I want, and I’m excited about keeping it “fresh”  My husband will tell you that a bunch of stuff on the mantle is not needed to create a cozy and cheerful home, but, believe it or not, we don’t ALWAYS agree.

This past weekend, with nothing to do on the calendar and a need to get out of the house before the snow started again, we headed out to hit a few antique stores. As we entered one antique mall, he turned right, I turned left, long ago accepting that we don’t enjoy looking at the same things. I don’t think I saw him for a half hour, and when I did, he was perched on a low stool sorting through records.  My first thought was, “How boring” followed by “Don’t you dare buy another record…” but that was fleeting. Truth is, he enjoys records and he is often looking at something our son might like, or our nephew, or niece.  So, if he wants to develop a cramp while sitting on a too tiny stool, bent over a milk crate, pulling out record after record, so be it.  If he decides to cough up anywhere from 25 cents to two dollars, okay.

My focus on this trip was to find something I might want to put on the fireplace mantle.  I am quite sure if I went up in the attic or checked through a couple boxes that have been packed up for the remodeling, I would find more than enough to put on the mantle, but the joy, as they say, is in the hunt.  Walking through antique shops or booths is so different than it use to be, when we might consider a cabinet, or chair or dresser.  We don’t even stop at those big items any more.  Because I’m more into groupings these days, I look on the floor, in cases, on bookshelves. I peruse for theme, or color and use...if its an advertising piece, all the better.  

I did pick up a trio of angels, and a pair of carved wooden heads, that probably started at Hobby Lobby and are not antiques at all, but I thought were fun.  I passed on a large, pottery umbrella stand.  In the end, I agreed with the frowning husband that there isn’t a good place for it, even though I really liked it.

I wish I could say that we do as well at garden centers or art fairs, but, we do not.  For those trips I need my girls or a niece, with a trip to a wine bar or small restaurant for a light lunch. But, I do enjoy the antique trips, with a stop at a brewery or pub, for a greasy hamburger and a pint with this guy.  It pays to be versatile. 

facebook.com/cindiswindowlakeliving 

Winter Break Camp GiGi

Week one of 2018 was a Camp Gigi week.  I met my daughter halfway or so and we switched vehicles...her SUV packed with 4 of the 5 grandkids and all sorts of their stuff to survive winter at GiGi and PaPa's for a few days.  

It was a good time. We were under a snow deluge that kept us from actually going anywhere except out in the snow.  The youngest girl was not a big fan of the snow.  This meant I spent a lot of the time shooing the bigger kids out in all their gear and staying inside carrying the 3-year-old from window to window, following the older kids as they went from snow bank to snow bank, encouraging her to fall in love with winter play…not successfully. So, it didn’t go exactly as planned, but, it brought the grandkids together here, gave their parents a bit of a break, gave them a bit of a break and I hope, created some memories.  I survived numerous cups of hot chocolate, enough marshmallows to choke a horse, and only three major spills.  Those came on one day, within about two hours of each other and only slightly tested GiGi's patience and good humor.  

I am in a county in Indiana that is known for its lake effect snow.  Ten miles away could have zero snow and we’ll have a foot of the fluffy stuff.  I am really not kidding when I say snow deluge.  The week of Camp GiGi, initially projected for an  “accumulation of 1” to 3” possible”, drastically changed to dumping 24” to 30” of snow.  Yes, that’s right…30” of snow in about 3 days.  It is magical, yes, and beautiful to be sure, but, come on.

 

The good news was there was little to no wind so there was no drifting, the roads were very clear, considering the amount of snow.  Secondly, it remained super cold and the snow remained light and powdery and fun.  It did trash the ice on the lake so our planned skating was a bust, but, the days of snow without end really went very well.  I had planned a family gathering for skating and brunch.  Skating was out but snow play and brunch was in.  We had a great time together, as we usually do, eating way too much and enjoying each other’s company.

Now, the kids are back in school, the parents are back at work…we are back in our routine.  I look forward to 2018 and trying a new program for staying organized called Bullet Journaling.  You can find out more about it at bulletjournal.com  I am going to incorporate budgeting into this format, too.  This time next year both hubs and I will be retired and our income significantly reduced…I have some lofty goals for 2018, and am spending this next few days setting up the format and our budget.  Have also made the Christmas returns I needed to make and scheduled some medical appointments that have been looming.  Reminding myself again of my word (see last week’s post) 2018 has begun and I am in with INTENT! 

facebook.com/cindiswindowlakeliving