Category: Making a better Me

Time, A New Year A New Word

A funny thing happened to me this morning, I found myself running early, ahead of time. If you know me, I am always ten minutes late or just barely arriving on time. I hate this habit and it is one I have really been working on. So I noticed this morning I had some extra time. I guess it could be because I didn’t lay in bed an extra 20 minutes or it could be that Molly and Scruffy got it in gear and took their morning bathroom breaks together, or I didn’t fall back asleep after drinking my coffee. Whatever, I found myself with extra time. How wonderful . I noticed this made for a much more enjoyable morning with the babies. Feeding them watching them play, giving six of them their flea meds. You get the picture. But the thing was I wasn’t frantically doing all of this because I was running behind. I had some time.

I don’t do New Years resolutions anymore. I just find that way too stressful. But I do like to pick a word every year and focus on it. Last year my word was “present” I wanted to make sure that I was present and “in the moment” with everything going on in my life. I think many times we get so busy and caught up with day to day that we forget to actually experience what is going on or how we feel while it is happening. And you do know that hours, days, months and years can quickly slide by if you are not careful.

I think I have always taken advantage of time and I never fully respected or appreciated it. My expectations of what I can do in a limited amount of time are just crazy. I try to cram an hours worth of work into thirty minutes and then I am blown away by surprise when I can’t get everything done. I then tend to blame myself for not being faster and more organized when in fact it would be impossible to fit all those things into such a small amount of time.

I used to work with a man who was always fifteen to thirty minutes early for work. I was quite impressed. I asked one day just how he did it. He said “ I get ready for work and then have nothing to do so I sit and wait at my house until it is time to come to work” I could picture him sitting there, on his couch or a chair, all ready for work. Well friends I am not that person. And if I did get ready early I would go on to work or I would be deep into another project or something around the house that would probably put me behind again. But just sitting and waiting I am not good with. So I will never be quite like that.

So this morning as I slowed down and actually got to spend some time chatting with my husband and noticing just how unbelievably soft Milo’s fluffy fur was and how smooth my coffee tasted and how bad Scruffy needed a bath, can’t promise it’s all good, I realized I didn’t feel that frantic, getting out the door to work, feeling that I often get. And it felt great!!! It felt more relaxed and I am sure it probably helped my blood pressure. My husband has often compared me to a tornado ripping through the house getting ready for work. And that is because I am usually running behind. Out of time.

Time flies, It’s about time, Time is money, Time waits for no one, and on and on.

You have probably guessed that my word this year is “Time” and by that I mean I will give myself more of it to get things done. I think by giving yourself time to experience the things in your life that truly make you happy is time well spent.

This is an old Kitchen Clock that belonged to my husband’s grandmother. It keeps perfect time.

Happy New Year!!! Do you make New Year’s resolutions? how is your new year going?

Always remember

Love your day your way!!!!

An Extra Day Off

Happy Tuesday. It was back to work for me yesterday. I had been off for three days and to be honest, with Christmas over I was ready to get back in the swing of things. I don’t know how you are but after Christmas Day I am done with the holidays. My husband is not like that. He believes in continuing to celebrate the week between Christmas and New Year. Not me. I do leave all the decorations up just for him although I am the one who takes all of them down anyway.

But today, Tuesday I had an extra wonderful day off. It only took one day back at work, and we were slammed, to look forward to this extra little decadent day. I actually had a vacation day to use before the end of the year so I picked today. But it was wonderful!!! I woke up thinking I had work and then remembering I was off today I settled back in the bed for a few more minutes of sleep. It was so nice. I got up and had coffee and read some blogs and just enjoyed being at home and not having anywhere to go.

Mark was off today too. He has been on the verge of being sick for about three weeks. He has coughed and felt bad and just when he thinks he is getting better he feels worse again. I talked him, finally, into going to the doctor tomorrow. Hopefully we will find out what is going on.

I did get up early and take care of the babies. I loaded garbage and went to the landfill. It was a good thing I did. They were almost full for the day at only 9:30 AM. I guess everyone getting rid of their Christmas wrappings. I wouldn’t let hubs do anything today. I feel like he needs to get well and get lots of rest. Because of the immunosuppressants he takes it takes him twice as long to get over anything than it does most people. I knitted, cooked dinner, took the babies for a long walk, and we watched a movie, Don’t look up, It was pretty good. A good day. I just can’t wait until Mark gets to the doctor and he can find out what is going on. Maybe get some meds. It is always scary with him he is very finely balanced with his kidney and all the meds he already takes.

Some boat action on the lake today before the rain moved in. I have no idea who this is. It looks like he is zooming through the clouds. I just had to sit out on the deck and enjoy the warm weather. It was almost 70 degrees F today!!!! What????
The kitties have discovered the deck. Mama cat has been hanging out on the deck for awhile but only in the last day or two the babies have joined us. But not Izzy for some reason she prefers staying around the garage. They are so funny with their own little personalities.
Buster, Sadie and Milo.
Precious Milo, He loves being outside on the deck with me. Isn’t he beautiful?
Mama cat, Allie, and her son Buster they are the best of friends. Where you see one you will see the other. They always go on our daily walks with us. If for some reason Allie cat doesn’t go then neither does Buster.
Look how warm it is here today. I need some cold weather to make it feel like winter.
A small snack today while working on the blog.
Look how dark it is. This was this afternoon when we went on our walk. It rained before and after this. Then the sun came out. I kept looking for a rainbow but I didn’t see one.

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So how is your week going? Do you take down your Christmas decorations right after Christmas or do you leave them until the New Year?

Always remember

Love your day your way!!!!

It’s Christmas Time!!!

Hello friends and Merry Christmas Eve. I can’t believe Christmas is here. I don’t think I have ever felt less Christmasy in my life. I haven’t posted in a bit. Things here have been busy and sad. That’s a bit of a strange combination isn’t it? But I guess that’s how life can be sometimes.

Two weeks ago we lost one of our young employees in a horrific car crash. Matthew was only 18 years old and just the sweetest, caring person you could ever hope to meet. It has left our work family shaken. And as it always does when such a young person dies it makes you question. Looking around at the funeral at the absolutely packed church I had to smile with pride for this young man. At such a very young age he touched so many lives. He was an awesome amazing person and we will never forget him, And that is all I am going to say about Matthew.

It is hard to believe the end of the year is coming, where has the year gone? I was looking back at some pictures the other day and they were taken in March!!! It seems like it was yesterday.

The last two weeks have been absolutely jam packed. My sister and I managed a trip to Sevierville, TN to the Tanger Outlet Mall for some Christmas shopping. We also had our work Christmas party in Knoxville, I posted a lot of pics of that on the last Wordless Wednesday that I did. I hosted twenty of my family members at my house on Sunday for our annual Christmas get together. We had a ton of food and did the dirty Santa exchange. It was a lot of fun but a lot of stress getting the house the way I wanted it. You know how that goes. My husband always threatens to boycott any other get togethers at our house because he says I get manic with it. I know he doesn’t meant it. My friend and co-worker celebrated her birthday with a fun birthday party Tuesday night, add in lots of Christmas shopping and work work work. Wow!!! I am ready for some down time.

My signature peanut butter balls. I make them every year. I made about 150 Saturday night. I am always expected to bring these to our get togethers at Christmas time.

The hubs has to work both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day this year. It sometimes works out that way and we are used to it. I was off today and I decided to clean my house this morning. I started at 6:30 AM and got most of the upstairs cleaned. You see I have a reason for this, I plan to do absolutely nothing tomorrow but binge watch some t.v shows and stay in my pajamas all day. If the house is clean then I can feel better about it all the way around.

My sister had a Christmas get together tonight with just her two children and their families. They invited me over so I went and it was a lot of fun. Before going to her house I went to visit my mother in law at the village and spent a couple of hours with her. I took her the Christmas presents we had gotten for her. We had a fun time. I ate lunch with her and we gave out presents to the staff at the village. I then went to the cemetery to put flowers on my parents, Mark’s dad’s, Mark’s grandparents, and my brother’s graves for Christmas. And then home to take care of all the babies and just collapse. What a full and fun day.

So as you can see a very busy two weeks and a lot of fun with a lingering sadness for our friend Matthew that will not go away for a very long time.

Our glassblower at work made me these two turtle doves. I added them to my bird tree. Where I keep all of my bird ornaments that I collect.
We have had some very foggy mornings here. The temps have been very nice. I sort of wish it was colder it would feel more like Christmas.

I hope you and your family have a wonderful and fun filled Christmas!!!! Love each other and cherish your love for one another.

Never forget the reason for this season is Jesus Christ always and forever in our hearts.

Always remember

Love your day your way!!!!



Another Lazy Weekend

Hello friends and happy Monday. It is cool and rainy here today but the weekend felt like spring it was so warm. But just hang around because tomorrow it is supposed to be only 46 degrees F for the day’s high. That is the wacky weather we have here in East Tennessee.

It was a rather quiet weekend here. I did the grocery thing on Saturday and went to one of my favorite thrift stores. I didn’t really find a lot at the thrift store but I did find this unusual bouquet of colorful thingies. That is the only way I know how to describe it. But isn’t it pretty. I think it looks so festive for the holidays so out of control and pretty. I don’t think my husband agrees but that is ok. I’m wondering if I might not be able to use it for my Christmas Tree topper. I am still on the hunt for the topper for this year. I wanted a moon but couldn’t find the right one. A girl at Walmart suggested a hat. Not like frosty the snowman’s hat but a real hat hmmmm, that had me thinking of course.

Isn’t it gorgeous

I didn’t get all the things done this weekend that I wanted to. It was a pretty big list that I had going. I did buy groceries and get all the laundry done, I had to give flea meds to eight babies, and add a few decorations to the house. I also took all the pumpkins off of my front porch from Halloween or Thanksgiving, yes Thanksgiving sounds better. I took the pumpkins out in the yard and hacked them up. Pumpkin innards can be quite a treat for forest animal. Pumpkin is also a natural worming agent for forest animals. You can also plant the seeds and or use the pumpkin in your compost heap. The kitties were very curious about the pumpkins. They all gathered around and watched me dissect them and throw them into the woods. They weren’t as curious after they discovered the taste was terrible. I also finished knitting some hats I have been working on. I have an idea for all the hats or toboggans I am turning out but more on that later. I am also continuing to work on the afghan for my nephew for Christmas. I am thinking if I get one finished I will give the other nephew a promise note to deliver it as soon as I am finished. I will show you a picture this weekend. Maybe by then I will have made a little progress. We shall see.

Smashing pumpkins. It’s very satisfying.
Three of these finished and another one started.

We bought a heated kitty house for the babies. Well we actually bought two. They were about $80.00 each and when they arrived I was very disappointed. They actually zipped together with a heating pad inside, which we could have put together so much easier and cheaper. We will keep the one we put together but I am sending the other one back. It is just not worth the amount of money we paid for it. Very disappointing.

I cooked dinner both Saturday and Sunday. Mark was off this weekend. When he is home I try to cook and not have to get take out which we are both sick of.

On Sunday it rained and it was quite cozy and warm in the house. The kitties were all in the garage snuggled up but not in the new kitty house. They love being together on this old bed.

I love the way Milo has his leg slung over Sadie as if he is protecting her.
And these two just minutes earlier had been fighting over this blanket.

Last week I had the opportunity to teach a precious lady how to knit. She had had one lesson from someone else but was still confused. She got my name from my niece and we got together last week to work on her knitting. She is just such a sweet woman and I had so much fun showing her some stitches and helping her with her scarf she was making. We plan to get together again as she progresses. Today I received a hand written thank you card from her. Wow!! I didn’t even know people did that anymore. It’s little things like that that I absolutely love and miss in this day of snapping and texting and face timing.

How was your weekend? I am off to bed because me and my sister Sandy have a big shopping trip planned tomorrow. We are headed to Pigeon Forge to the outlet stores and a few other places. I have to be well rested for that. Have a great week!!!!

Always remember

Love your day your way!!!!