All the little things. I don't even know what today's goal IS! That is, a specific thing I want to have accomplished by the end of the day. OK, yes I do.
I started out this morning with the end result in mind: moving the big file cabinet out of my closet and into the "spare" bedroom. Tom has been saying for a week that he would help me move it, but we seem to forget about it when he is home. It is big- maybe 54" tall, 30" deep, and 20" wide. Steel. Not a flimsy steel, but heavy duty gonna last forever steel.
It would be easier to move if I actually go through the files first.
In looking yesterday for a specific document (which I did NOT find)... drawers got opened that have been closed for... shall I just say "awhile"? I found "keepsake" packets from Becky, Ben, and Tommy's days at Central High Elementary school. In some of the files, we have instructional and warranty packets from appliances and such, older than Becky. Which we haven't owned in at least a decade.
Clearly, I need to purge the filing cabinet!
It isn't just the simple matter of transporting from one room to another. If I do THAT- the file cabinet isn't going to be 'dealt with'.
Before I can sort through the file cabinet, I need to move the stuff that has been crowded into the closet in front of it. These things need a place to BELONG.
"If everyone would just put things back where they belong!"
My trouble is not having an assigned place for many items. I just move them around so they aren't in my way "right now".
I tried to get "something" accomplished. I start by getting dressed. I am one of those people who can't function in pajamas. I go to get dressed... but first I need to shower. This is the point where I (usually) make my bed. I decide the sheets need washed, so skip making the bed. SHOWER. But first go get the phone, because I may get an important call today and I don't want to miss it. Oh, I better gather dirty clothes- I can catch laundry up today.
SHOWER! I am going to shower. I stayed on track long enough to get showered and dressed. The dirty clothes are gathered, laundry is started.
I assess the spare room. Tom and Sam want it left "open" so they can work out in there. I decided to also move my chest of drawers into there- better than the living room, right?
I empty the chest and redistribute the contents- thinking of better places for 90% of the stuff. (Not that I actually PUT anything away "elsewhere"- it sits on the table and couch for now, because the "elsewhere" places also need cleaned first.)
In all my shuffle drag shuffle shuffle drag shuffle, I once again conclude I have too much stuff. I really don't know where to begin with so much of it.
I am dealing with sentimentality. I deal with, what? That I finally HAVE?
I don't know how common it is among people growing up NOT having much. The holding on to "EVERYTHING".
I have my Granny's collection of ceramic chickens, as well as many of her other small knick knacks. They meant things to her due to the people who gave them to her- or the places she visited. To me, they are my Granny's treasures- how can I just get rid of them? They don't have their original sentimentality attached, but a second generation sentimentality.
I hope my kids don't feel the need to hold on to things just because they were mine. I am given all sorts of little things that I do enjoy, and I treasure them because of the person I associate these things with. But they are just THINGS. I have tried getting rid of so much stuff, only to find I have hurt someones feelings that gave me the item. My kids need not continue to hold on to these things... and they are all just THINGS.
In dealing with MYSELF over getting rid of stuff, I am trying to consider both functionality as well as sentimentality. Why don't I get rid of the stack of ugly plastic bowls, and USE the beautiful antique bowls I have? They are stacked up high, safe from harm... but doing nothing except collecting the greasy kitchen dust and taking up space.
I have been reading about how young people do not want "old" stuff- they want brand new, matchy matchy items. They aren't sentimental about Grandma's dishes.
Sam says I should start every task with the end result in mind. But first...
Thursday, January 24, 2019
Wednesday, January 16, 2019
Hobbling along!
My third broken toe in under 13 months! It is interesting colors today. This is the same toe I caught on Benjamin's bathtub on Christmas Day 2017. This time, I stubbed it on a heavy duty metal bench clamp I had moved out of Daniel's (former) bedroom. I had left it near the front door until such a time as I felt well enough to cart it out to the tool shed. If you know me, I seldom go barefoot. This incident was after a hot soaky bath I sat in, hoping to feel better from a bug I had picked up in Texas. The dog was barking to get inside, and I went to let him in before putting my shoes on. That was all it took! (Someone has suggested I may need to wear steel toed boots, even to bed!)
Since my last post, Mr C reconsidered, and says I can go to the H.O.M.E. Retreat in a couple of weeks. I am looking forward to attending.
I am homesick for Daniel... it's going to take awhile to adjust to just three people at home.
It's amazing how much "presence" a person has. I know it is true not only of our family, but of other large families as well... You might have five or six kids still in the house, but you feel the emptiness of even one less person. I can't imagine how lonely the empty nesters are, who only ever had one or two children grow up on them.
Or maybe I am projecting. Maybe they miss it less because they didn't have as much "psychic" space being used.
Thankfully, I have had adjustment time with each of my kids leaving home. They didn't all go at once.
It's "funny" (weird funny) that, while I love and miss my family when we are apart- I seldom to never feel lonely. Have you ever just felt like someone was with you all the time? I once accidentally made two cups of coffee, and was on my way to sit and drink coffee with ???? I had a cup in each hand and had left the kitchen, when I realized I was home alone. Had been all day. Back then, we didn't even have a pet. I have no idea who I poured that second cup for.
I spent six days home alone over Thanksgiving. I never felt the pall of loneliness. I'm sure I would feel much more alone if that was all I had. I knew my family was coming back. I wasn't going to STAY alone for a prolonged time.
My fall in the woods last year did make me feel old. All the "what if" scenarios. If I lived all alone, I would have to be hyper vigilant about walking in the woods. It was scary enough to have fallen into the ravine and knowing it would be hours before anyone even missed me... had I lived alone, it could be days.
Well, I best hobble on down to the mailbox. Our postal person has been coming way earlier, and I missed getting letters sent yesterday!
Since my last post, Mr C reconsidered, and says I can go to the H.O.M.E. Retreat in a couple of weeks. I am looking forward to attending.
I am homesick for Daniel... it's going to take awhile to adjust to just three people at home.
It's amazing how much "presence" a person has. I know it is true not only of our family, but of other large families as well... You might have five or six kids still in the house, but you feel the emptiness of even one less person. I can't imagine how lonely the empty nesters are, who only ever had one or two children grow up on them.
Or maybe I am projecting. Maybe they miss it less because they didn't have as much "psychic" space being used.
Thankfully, I have had adjustment time with each of my kids leaving home. They didn't all go at once.
It's "funny" (weird funny) that, while I love and miss my family when we are apart- I seldom to never feel lonely. Have you ever just felt like someone was with you all the time? I once accidentally made two cups of coffee, and was on my way to sit and drink coffee with ???? I had a cup in each hand and had left the kitchen, when I realized I was home alone. Had been all day. Back then, we didn't even have a pet. I have no idea who I poured that second cup for.
I spent six days home alone over Thanksgiving. I never felt the pall of loneliness. I'm sure I would feel much more alone if that was all I had. I knew my family was coming back. I wasn't going to STAY alone for a prolonged time.
My fall in the woods last year did make me feel old. All the "what if" scenarios. If I lived all alone, I would have to be hyper vigilant about walking in the woods. It was scary enough to have fallen into the ravine and knowing it would be hours before anyone even missed me... had I lived alone, it could be days.
Well, I best hobble on down to the mailbox. Our postal person has been coming way earlier, and I missed getting letters sent yesterday!
Tuesday, January 8, 2019
And now, this!
I am going to start with a very good report, before breaking down into (probably needless) whining. Just so you are warned!
With Daniel's hiking adventure cancelled, he got busy looking for a place to live in San Angelo. Since he was still here in NE Oklahoma, that was an online search. He'd found several, though most were not returning his calls or messages due to the New Year holiday. One in particular he really liked. They finally returned his message- an open house was to be held Saturday from noon-2 pm for potential renters to attend. He got this message on Thursday afternoon.
There had been major snow and ice- with some great accumulations- in the 580 miles between NE OK and San Angelo. It is normally about a nine and a half hour drive. This is the south. People cannot drive on snow and ice. Nevertheless, we scrambled to get Daniel ready to move on down to Texas. Tom was really fretting about the scramble- we had originally planned to leave on Saturday instead of Friday. The warm weather would have the roads clear. Daniel chafed at the delay- he really liked the place. He finally agreed that it would be better not to hurry down in bad weather to see a place.
Then, God began to open doors. Or perhaps I should say, we saw the doors begin to open as God had already set into place. Another small garage apartment was listed. It was $200 LESS per month, PLUS all the utility bills were included. (The place showing on Saturday did not include bills.) Dan contacted them, and they responded at once. Their application process was just a bit different. They asked Daniel for a brief paragraph or two about himself. What was his lifestyle, where did he see himself in five years?
It was an answered prayer- I had actually said, if anyone would get to know Daniel, ask him a few questions about himself, they would see he would be a great renter. All of the apartments we had looked at on a previous trip had only been interested in rental history. Dan has paid rent to us for about four years... but THAT doesn't count. There were either massive fees for first time renters, or you needed a co-signer.
The viewing of the apartment was set up for Monday. We learned from Benjamin, the address was actually in a nicer part of town. Tom and I went down with Daniel, as Tom's truck was better for pulling the UHaul trailer. We left his belongings stored at Becky's until Dan would be able to get a place of his own. Tom and I had a nice visit with the San Angelo area grandkids. We headed home bright and early Monday morning.
Becky went with Daniel to look at the apartment. Becky and the person showing the property recognized one another. Becky knew the lady from Tyrel's baseball team a couple of years back, and from Tyrel's Trail Life group. (Trail Life is an organization for Christian boys akin to what the Scouts used to be.) The lady also knew the Zesch family, which was among Daniel's references. Daniel liked the place, the lady liked Dan. She verified his credentials... and Dan now has his very first apartment of his own.
And now, for my whine.
Every year, there is a Mother's Retreat. I got to go once. Daniel asked if I would like to go this year. He was going to sponsor my fee. I was really excited to go.
Mr C asked how I planned to get there. I told him I would borrow Sam's car. Sam was good with that. So Mr C just flat said I can't go. The trip costs too much in gas and sundries.
I don't have an income. (He did NOT point that out.) We are down a rent-paying son... so all the burden of support falls on Tom. This just isn't a good time for me to spend ANY money.
I will suck it up, and look forward to getting to have Camp Cowgranny, saving my pennies in the meantime!
With Daniel's hiking adventure cancelled, he got busy looking for a place to live in San Angelo. Since he was still here in NE Oklahoma, that was an online search. He'd found several, though most were not returning his calls or messages due to the New Year holiday. One in particular he really liked. They finally returned his message- an open house was to be held Saturday from noon-2 pm for potential renters to attend. He got this message on Thursday afternoon.
There had been major snow and ice- with some great accumulations- in the 580 miles between NE OK and San Angelo. It is normally about a nine and a half hour drive. This is the south. People cannot drive on snow and ice. Nevertheless, we scrambled to get Daniel ready to move on down to Texas. Tom was really fretting about the scramble- we had originally planned to leave on Saturday instead of Friday. The warm weather would have the roads clear. Daniel chafed at the delay- he really liked the place. He finally agreed that it would be better not to hurry down in bad weather to see a place.
Then, God began to open doors. Or perhaps I should say, we saw the doors begin to open as God had already set into place. Another small garage apartment was listed. It was $200 LESS per month, PLUS all the utility bills were included. (The place showing on Saturday did not include bills.) Dan contacted them, and they responded at once. Their application process was just a bit different. They asked Daniel for a brief paragraph or two about himself. What was his lifestyle, where did he see himself in five years?
It was an answered prayer- I had actually said, if anyone would get to know Daniel, ask him a few questions about himself, they would see he would be a great renter. All of the apartments we had looked at on a previous trip had only been interested in rental history. Dan has paid rent to us for about four years... but THAT doesn't count. There were either massive fees for first time renters, or you needed a co-signer.
The viewing of the apartment was set up for Monday. We learned from Benjamin, the address was actually in a nicer part of town. Tom and I went down with Daniel, as Tom's truck was better for pulling the UHaul trailer. We left his belongings stored at Becky's until Dan would be able to get a place of his own. Tom and I had a nice visit with the San Angelo area grandkids. We headed home bright and early Monday morning.
Becky went with Daniel to look at the apartment. Becky and the person showing the property recognized one another. Becky knew the lady from Tyrel's baseball team a couple of years back, and from Tyrel's Trail Life group. (Trail Life is an organization for Christian boys akin to what the Scouts used to be.) The lady also knew the Zesch family, which was among Daniel's references. Daniel liked the place, the lady liked Dan. She verified his credentials... and Dan now has his very first apartment of his own.
And now, for my whine.
Every year, there is a Mother's Retreat. I got to go once. Daniel asked if I would like to go this year. He was going to sponsor my fee. I was really excited to go.
Mr C asked how I planned to get there. I told him I would borrow Sam's car. Sam was good with that. So Mr C just flat said I can't go. The trip costs too much in gas and sundries.
I don't have an income. (He did NOT point that out.) We are down a rent-paying son... so all the burden of support falls on Tom. This just isn't a good time for me to spend ANY money.
I will suck it up, and look forward to getting to have Camp Cowgranny, saving my pennies in the meantime!
Wednesday, January 2, 2019
2019
We have trudged into the new year. It has been cold, wet, and blustery. I have scarcely been outside- though I did twice walk back down our trails in the woods yesterday, to check out the expanded trail Sam has been working on.
While Tommy was here last week, I was discussing how, between the time Tommy was a few days shy of his first birthday, and the time he was twelve or so, we had not been camping at all. My reasons for boycotting camping for so long were entirely selfish, I realized last week. I had spent that entire trip either cooking, preparing to cook, or cleaning up from cooking for Tom and I and the five kids. When I wasn't in the middle of food work, I was chasing a toddling baby and fishing debris out of his mouth. Rocks, bottle caps, metal pull tabs from cans- the kind that had a 'tongue and ring' that detached entirely from old steel and early aluminum cans-, trash from nasty people who just totally ruin campsites... or chasing a three and a five year old who wanted to go find Daddy and the older brothers fishing down by the water. It was not fun.
Our family outings began to be more "day hikes". We lived about 30 miles from The Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. The day hikes were usually packing up a lunch, and driving to the refuge. I would stay in a picnic area and chase the three youngest away from the water, while Tom and the older boys got to go boulder hopping and climb up the mountain trails. (I only ONCE ever got to climb up any of the mountains without a child... and had to do that by myself.)
Sometimes, we would ALL go hiking down an easier trail.
For those of you who have not hiked with very young children, it was viewed pretty much as a death march. They were not keen on a long drive, followed by a long walk through some trees. There was much wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then another long, long drive home... which takes even longer when the parents keep pulling over to see such ordinary things as buffalo, elk, and longhorn cattle.
Our kids were tormented at least twice a month by these drives, up until we moved within a couple of miles of the Refuge. Then, we were there pretty much at least once a week.
By the time the twins were born, we were a good hour away from the Refuge, and the visits there all but stopped. The twins were about seven or eight before they ever got to camp anyplace other than our own yard. (As we all know- the fearless duo began camping out alone at four years old in our yard! Next thing we knew, they were off on the Appalachian Trail!)
While Tommy was here last week, I was discussing how, between the time Tommy was a few days shy of his first birthday, and the time he was twelve or so, we had not been camping at all. My reasons for boycotting camping for so long were entirely selfish, I realized last week. I had spent that entire trip either cooking, preparing to cook, or cleaning up from cooking for Tom and I and the five kids. When I wasn't in the middle of food work, I was chasing a toddling baby and fishing debris out of his mouth. Rocks, bottle caps, metal pull tabs from cans- the kind that had a 'tongue and ring' that detached entirely from old steel and early aluminum cans-, trash from nasty people who just totally ruin campsites... or chasing a three and a five year old who wanted to go find Daddy and the older brothers fishing down by the water. It was not fun.
Our family outings began to be more "day hikes". We lived about 30 miles from The Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. The day hikes were usually packing up a lunch, and driving to the refuge. I would stay in a picnic area and chase the three youngest away from the water, while Tom and the older boys got to go boulder hopping and climb up the mountain trails. (I only ONCE ever got to climb up any of the mountains without a child... and had to do that by myself.)
Sometimes, we would ALL go hiking down an easier trail.
For those of you who have not hiked with very young children, it was viewed pretty much as a death march. They were not keen on a long drive, followed by a long walk through some trees. There was much wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then another long, long drive home... which takes even longer when the parents keep pulling over to see such ordinary things as buffalo, elk, and longhorn cattle.
Our kids were tormented at least twice a month by these drives, up until we moved within a couple of miles of the Refuge. Then, we were there pretty much at least once a week.
By the time the twins were born, we were a good hour away from the Refuge, and the visits there all but stopped. The twins were about seven or eight before they ever got to camp anyplace other than our own yard. (As we all know- the fearless duo began camping out alone at four years old in our yard! Next thing we knew, they were off on the Appalachian Trail!)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)