Took a Blog Break

It wasn't planned, but I ended up taking a blog break. I'm back. Hopefully a bit more cheerful now lol. 

We spent the weekend away, a long weekend Friday to Monday, a planned trip to the U.P of Michigan to look at the Autumn colours. It was really beautiful and peaceful. There's one more trip we have planned, end of next week to visit daughter and then we're done for the year. Not complaining, but it's been quite a busy summer with planned trips away. 

I can't wait to see Baby A. She is standing up now! She can pull herself up to her feet and when daughter holds her hands she takes wobbly steps. Where has the year gone! It just seems like the blink of an eye that I was planning to spend a few months with them when she was first born. Time really does fly. 

It's getting chillier now. I haven't given in and turned the main heat on, but I've put away the fan that was by my favourite chair and I've pulled out the little heater. It's been on the last few mornings as the temperatures dip to near freezing. It takes the chill off the house and the rest of the time I'm now wearing my jumpers. 

Have you turned your heat on yet? 

Photo today - lovely sunrise this morning. 

I'll post more later. 

Weekend Catch-Up

I didn't have a bad weekend. Nothing very exciting. I went for a walk by myself on Saturday morning. It was #1day12pics, the first Saturday of the month. I've been trying to do a theme each month. I've been in a bit of a funk recently so just decided to take a mindful walk, enjoying the things that I could see and to take photos of things that appealed to me. It really was quite pleasant. At one point I was sitting on a downed tree near the beavers' lodge and a family came along. I think it was Grandad, Father and two really small boys, one a baby, one about four or five. The older boy was chattering about the lodge and the beavers and things he had seen. Just as they were turning to go a beaver came up out of the water. In a hushed voice I told them one was above water and they all got to see the beaver. The little boy's face was lit with wonder. It really was lovely to see. 

The beaver. 

On Sunday husband and I went down to middle son's place as his car still has not been fixed and he needed to do a bit of a shop. We went for a walk in the state park first and then picked up son. My older son (who lives with us) had to work all weekend so he wasn't too happy. He shan't have a day off until next Saturday. 

What's in the plans for this week? 

Well, tomorrow I have my Asylum Lake meeting in the evening. On Wednesday son's car is supposed to be fixed so after husband's work we are driving the car down to son's place and then driving back. Sigh. I plan on doing a bit more decluttering. Then on Friday husband and I are going away for the weekend up north to (hopefully) see a bit of Autumn Colour. 

Hope everyone had a good weekend!

Week Ending

It's the end of another week. I've been quite productive this week. It ended with me taking two large boxes of donations to the charity shop and another box started. It actually feels quite good. I am almost ready to start tackling the books again! I feel as though I'm ready to get rid of more of them, to let them go so hopefully other people can enjoy. 

I've been going for a walk each day. It's been quite chilly some mornings and I am having to wear a light sweatshirt first thing. I've even pulled out a pair of fingerless gloves as my fingers get chilly when I'm taking photos. 

Baby A turned 9 months old this week - where has the year gone? Daughter sent me a photo where you can see her two top teeth peeking through! Just a few more weeks until I see her again. I can't wait. She's crawling everywhere and is starting to try to pull herself to her feet. I'm pretty sure that by the time we go to see her she'll be up on her feet. When daughter holds her hands, she can walk a little bit! 

Can't say a lot else has been happened. I suppose, sometimes that's a good thing! How has your week been? 

Another few bits decluttered. 

Magazine Hoarder

Yup, that's me. I've realised that I am a magazine hoarder. I didn't think I was, but since I've started looking over the house, I realise that I have a problem with magazines. The more I seem to actually see them, the more they seem to multiply. I have different kinds of magazines - photography, crafts, country life and cooking. A lot of the craft ones have patterns in them I 'might' someday do. Even if I lived to be 150, I wouldn't have time to do all the projects I've earmarked to do. It's time to sort through them and let them go. If you've been reading the blog, you know that I have been letting go of the photography magazines. I discovered a whole other pile of those so there are more to look though. After that I have decided that it's time to sort through all the others and start letting them go. It's also time to stop buying them. I haven't bought any cooking ones for a while as I look up recipes on the internet, but I do still buy some other ones.  I said it in a previous post, but I might look at continuing on with Kindle Unlimited (a treat to myself once I've decluttered a lot more books) as it has magazine subscriptions or, once in a while, I might treat myself to a digital magazine through PocketMags. Either way, it is time to stop bringing them into the house. Decluttering itself isn't enough. I have to stop bringing things into the house. 

That's my thoughts for the day, a reminder to myself in case I forget! 

Today I didn't declutter much. I did take one lot of floss up to the craft room and sort through it. I got several organised and a pile to donate. I added three magazines to the donate pile. They are knitting magazines with lots of patterns in them. I also decluttered 5 books. Not a lot, but I was busy and didn't dedicate a lot of time to decluttering today. 

Do you still get magazines? Are you a read them and toss them sort of person or a read and re-read kind of person? 

A couple of decluttering photos :)

End of the Month

Wow can't believe it's the last day of September. Another month that seems to have rushed by. I did make the most of the last day of September and sorted out the shelf in the wardrobe. Yikes. I had forgotten I had most of the stuff up there. There were some craft bits that need to be somewhere other than there. Also I ended up with a bag of rubbish and another 21 items to donate! There was another bunch of magazines on the shelf, so I have a really big pile sitting by the chair again. Sigh.

I finished out the meal plan today and have written a list for the food shop which I will do tomorrow. When I get home tomorrow, I plan on reading a few of the magazine and also to organise the craft items I took from the shelf. Most of it was lots and lots of floss. I had honestly forgotten about it. In my craft room I have a couple of storage containers (the kind usually used in garages to organise screws and nails and such, they have little drawers in them) that I use for my floss. It is all numbered and such. Tomorrow I am going to work on putting some of the floss away. It's such a tedious job and takes forever (well, it seems like it) but that's the plan! If I have an excess of a certain colour I'll put it in the donate box. 

What's in the plans for October? 

It's the last month we have a couple of trips planned until the New Year. The middle of October we are taking a trip to the Upper Peninsula to (hopefully) see the Autumn colours. It's really beautiful up there at this time of year and I really enjoy taking photos. Later in the month we are taking a trip to visitor daughter and Baby A. We are driving out, husband and older son are staying the weekend and I'm staying an additional week and will be flying back. I'm really looking forward to it. 

Whilst I am home the decluttering will continue. That pile of magazines by my chair will be gone by the end of October lol 

Photo for today

A bit of colour starting to pop in the field on my walk. 

The Weekend

 Husband took the donations to the charity shop. There ended up being five boxes! I've already filled up another one as I got in the mood to do a bit of sorting out on Saturday afternoon while the house is quiet. This week I have plans to tackle the top shelf in my wardrobe and the cupboard by the back door (yikes!). Maybe by the end of the week there might be another couple of boxes to be donated. I told hubby I'm trying to think as though we're moving into a cabin and deciding what we can take with us. I'm not sure I'm that good at getting rid of stuff yet, but every bit is a little less in the house. 

Today husband and I went on a little Sunday Adventure. We did a little walk but I ended up feeling a bit blah and the amount of people around was making me a little less than happy! It was bright and sunny where we went though so that was a bonus. Back here at the house it was very cloudy. 

Now that summer is officially over they have already started putting up the winter fences. It is so amazing to me that in a few months there may not be a lot of this fence showing!

A walk along the pier at Muskegon, Pere Marquette Park. I loved the clouds! You do have to watch where you put your feet here as the concrete is not the best. 

Hope everyone had a good weekend! Do you have plans for the week? 

Can you believe it's almost October? 

It's Friday!

Well, by the time a lot of people read this it will be Saturday. Regardless, it's the end of another week. I wasn't the most productive today, but I did take care of bits and pieces that needed to be put away. I also spent time talking with daughter and messaging with my sister. Daughter has been away on a work trip for three days. It's her first long time away from her daughter. She did say they had been video chatting. Daughter was at the airport when she rang me. I was wondering how she was getting on. This might be TMI, but she is still nursing the baby and has been expressing milk. I wondered how she would get on at airport security with the way they are about liquids going through security. Apparently, she had a really good experience, so I'm pleased they take nursing mothers into consideration. She had gone prepared with bits of info off the TSA website and such if there were any problems. She said she is happy to be going home though she has enjoyed her adult interaction! She works from home usually, so it was good for her I think

My sister in Ipswich said things were going well. It's been pretty chilly there and a bit wet too. Think Autumn is definitely in the air. My BIL (other sister's husband) had his first chemo treatment and things went well apparently. I'm hoping he's not too sick from it. He did ok last time he had chemo though this treatment is a bit different. Sister sent some pictures of great nephews (so adorable) and of some of the birds she's seen and a few of the waterfront at night. I really appreciate our Friday sessions. Makes me feel a little less homesick. 

What's up for the weekend? Not sure yet. It might - or might not lol - rain tomorrow. I might - or might not - get up early and try for a walk. Husband and son are going to husband's friends' tomorrow afternoon so I'm planning on having a bath and a read while they are gone. Sunday we are going out to the lakeshore. One of my favourite beaches now has free parking as it's the off season so we are going there. We avoid it in the summer as parking is too much. It will be quieter this weekend too! 

Do you have plans for the weekend? How's the weather where you are? Is Autumn in the air? 

The Beginnings of Autumn

The Decluttering - A Good Start

I actually feel quite productive! I sorted through the drawers in the bedroom yesterday and the wardrobe today. I am pleased to say that I have boxed up 32 - yes 32! - items of clothing to be donated. I got rid of 9 bits that were in no fit state to be donated. There was also a bag of rubbish - ends of wrapping paper, broken hangers etc. While I was on a roll, I got rid of 5 old cooking magazines and 21 books!!! Husband has three big boxes to take to the charity shop on Saturday. He will also be taking 17 photography magazines to his friend's house when he visits Saturday afternoon. I'm really pleased with what I've got rid of so far just in a couple of days!

I've just got to decide on what to work on next. I think it might be the coat cupboard by the back door. I think there are still things in there that belong to the 'children'. If there are they are going to be dontated or got rid of. They have been gone for years so I can't imagine they'll want them any longer. 

I do struggle to get rid of things, but it's strange that once they are gone, I don't miss them. I shall try to keep that in mind as I move forward. The goal is to rid the house of clutter and for everything to have a place. 

I also really need to work on the books. Those are definitely something I struggle with. There are also more magazines. There is one magazine I really like; it has lovely photos and is more like a book. I have been hanging on to them, but I am thinking that as I finish decluttering the photography magazines, I might work on getting rid of those. Perhaps over winter. It would be nice to sit with a nice hot drink on a cold winter's day and read one of them and let it go. 

As for future photography magazines I am thinking that I might do an online subscription. The one I really like is available on Kindle and at less than half the price. Or I might do a Kindle Unlimited Subscription which includes several magazine subscriptions. I'm not sure which. I know it is still money spent, but there will be less clutter and less cost. Until I'm ready to give it up completely I'm thinking it might be the way to go! 

Anyway, photo for the day. Cormorant. I have been seeing a lot of them. There were lots in England - several at the seaside and a couple in the park in Ipswich! I've been seeing them since I came back to Michigan too. There has been one hanging around at my usual walking spot. I've seen them there before, but I don't usually see them quite as close as this one has been coming. Also, when husband and I went on our Sunday adventure we watched as one got hold of a really big fish and ate it! Swallowed the thing whole! 

So here it is

Beginning of the Week - What to De-Clutter Next?

Son came up on Monday. We got his car dropped off, had a nice meal, a bit of cake and then we drove him back home. Not sure how long the car will be in with the mechanic. He has food enough to last and there is a shop about a mile away so he can walk there if anything else is needed. I'm hoping it won't be too long! 

Today I got started back into the daily routine. Housework done. Another stack of magazines ready to read. A bit of shopping done. My meal plan is done but I messed up on the food shop so there are a couple of items I need to still pick up. There was no walk today as it actually rained. It made for a long day, but I seemed to get quite a bit more done so I'm feeling a little bit more productive. 

I need to get back started on the decluttering again, but I'm struggling with a place to start. I suppose I might start with the easiest - clothes. So tomorrow I'm going to go through the wardrobe again. I'm don't really have loads of clothes, but I have more than I need. I think I can sort them into three categories - Walking Clothes, Comfy/House Clothes and those I wear when going out. I realised, when I was going on holiday, that there are some I hang on to that I don't really wear or feel that comfortable in. It's surprising when you're spending three + weeks away what clothes you actually need. When I was at my sisters this time, I wore all the capris I took - could have used another pair or two. I didn't wear all the tops - found I wasn't comfortable in a couple and two had defaults I hadn't seen until I got them into bright sunlight! My comfy clothes I wore them all. When I was packing there were certain items I avoided, and I don't wear them when I'm home! So why am I hanging on to them? Off to the charity shop they will go!

What do you find the easiest to get rid of? 

Photo today - this is one of the photos I took in England. Mandarin Duck. I love these ducks. The males are really bright and colourful. There are a bunch of them that live in Christchurch Park in Ipswich. My sister always sends me photos of the ones she sees when she is walking there. While I was there I saw mostly females and a few of the young males, not so bright and colourful, but one time we were walking there and there was a pause in human noise and out he popped. He was so very bright and a real treat to see!

Bits and Pieces and Cross Stitch

I haven't written in a couple of days as I don't really have a lot to report. I need to think up some different posts, maybe I'll write about a few walks I've been doing. I have been writing lists and sticking to them and I have been getting a few things done. I've been enjoying video chatting with daughter and Baby A. Daughter says that Baby A has upper teeth coming in. She's also come down with a bit of a cold and has been really grumpy. Poor girl. She's dealing with double trouble right now. I'm hoping she'll feel better soon. 

I have started a cross stitch for Baby A. I've got a bit further than this photo, but this is the last one I took lol

Oh, I should also say that the pile of magazines is gone though it has been replaced by more that I need to read through. I'm so glad that I am getting through some of them. It does actually feel good to let them go. If only it was easy to get rid of other stuff! There are two boxes to go to the charity shop though so that's good too. 

I suppose next week will be more of the same. Tomorrow is my middle son's birthday. He is coming up to visit as, coincidentally, his car has to go in for repairs (someone hit his parked car - sigh). Husband has bought steaks to do on the barbeque and then we'll drive him back home. He is fortunate that he can work from home for as long as it is being repaired. We're hoping it won't take long. 

Hopefully back tomorrow