Monday

Another bright morning this morning, though a little hazy too. It's been so warm the last few days and it was quite warm again today. I wasn't complaining about the sunshine though. After the dull days of last week, it was good to see some sunshine. 

There was some lovely light around this morning as I walked through the woods. It was definitely the kind of morning that makes me smile. The light beamed through the trees to illuminate the woodland floor beneath. It looked quite magical

After the walk I had a couple of places to go - the post office to drop off a couple of packages and (groan) the shops to do a bit of a food shop. I groan every time I go as food is so expensive especially vegetables. I try to think about how many meals I can use an item for rather than the singular cost. There are definitely some things I don't buy any more as the prices have increased far beyond what I will pay for them. I have made my meal plan and just picked up the things I needed to complete the plan. Unless there is something I've forgotten, I'm going to really try not to go back to the shops again. 

This afternoon I had quite a few more packages to get ready to send out and, thankfully, they are all done! I even managed to find up the cheque book! I rarely use cheques, and I honestly can't remember the last time I ordered any, but I have a partial book hanging around. The place we are getting the gutters done want half up front and half on completion. They charge extra if using a credit card. They are reputable and I have no qualms about writing a cheque, it's just a pain. I have now put the cheque book where I know I can find it lol (though I did think that last time too). 

Tomorrow will start the same, hopefully some housework will be done. It's the last day of September, so hopefully decluttering will start again on the 1st. 

Hope everyone has had a good start to the week!

Weekend - Saturday

Today dawned brighter than it has all week! The beavers were out and about quite a bit this morning. Of course they were as I was under a time limit. I did a little beaver watching, a tiny walk and then back home to drop off my camera and change my trousers and then back to Asylum Lake for the volunteer morning. I wasn't really looking forward to it. There was to be some tree wrapping (to protect young native trees from the deer), some rubbish pick-up and clearing some areas so that new Oak trees could be planted. It's a little too social for me, but I haven't been to many volunteer mornings this year as they have coincided with time away. 

I'm actually glad I went. I ended up with another woman clearing an area for a tree to be planted. It seemed we got one right in the middle of a field that was in an area that was covered in some sort of prickly berry bushes and burrs. We got a little scratched up and the sticky burrs all over us (took me forever to pick them off my clothes!) but it was actually quite fun. We managed to get the area cleared in the time allotted, so it's all ready for a lovely little Oak Tree in the near future. I think I'll be taking photos of it as it grows! 

This afternoon I've been rather lazy. I've done a little telly watching, a little computer playing about and I actually built a little Halloween Lego that I picked up while with daughter the other week. 

It was, all-in-all, quite an enjoyable Saturday. 

Have You Started...

 ...Christmas shopping yet? 

Ugh. I hate thinking about it, but I must admit that I have actually got a couple of items already. I'm usually such a procrastinator. Well, usually I have good intentions, get off to a good start and then stall. This year I'm determined I will be more prepared. My sister did quite a bit of Christmas shopping when we did go to the shops while I was there. She found some really good toy bargains. She is well prepared with ages and keeps a list of what she's got. I am not organised at all. I usually just buy bits until I think they are about even. 

NOT THIS YEAR. This year I will do better. I am also going to make a strict budget and stick to it. 

I did find a couple of really cute reusable bags while in England. The Bluey one is for Baby A's gifts and the Stich one is for my daughter. 

The last couple of years I have been trying to use these instead of the paper gift bags I had been using. I think these are a lot more handy as they can be reused and last a lot longer! 

When do you start your Christmas shopping? Are you a planner or a procrastinator? 

A little side note - I was surprised when my sister was doing her bargain shopping, she added things together at the price she'd paid when working out gift costs rather than what the original price was. 

Thursday

This morning wasn't any brighter than the last three mornings. Sigh. It was foggy and a little bit drizzly, but I did go out and have a walk. Supposedly tomorrow is going to be better, but I'm not holding my breath! 

I did get a few things done today, not as much as I'd hoped though. After this week I will knuckle down and get back on the decluttering wagon. I can't believe it's coming up to the end of the month already. I am so behind on the decluttering. I really need to get a jumpstart again. I was good when I was in England though and didn't bring home many books - I think maybe 3. That's good for me lol. I'm really pleased I didn't give in and buy more of them. I really enjoyed looking in the charity shops and had to talk myself out of several things lol. Luckily, we didn't do lots of shopping, more walking than anything. 

Today went by so quickly. Husband ended up coming home early (he normally gets home early about 2.45 which is why I don't get a lot done lol) as he FINALLY got hold of someone to come out and give us a quote to have the gutters on the house replaced. I really want them done before winter. They were pretty reasonable, so it sounds like we'll be having them do the work and - hopefully - soon! Husband says he's getting off work again early tomorrow as he's almost worked his forty hours. That means he'll probably be home before I get back from my walk and the Post Office run. Sigh.

Another foggy, dull morning. Hopefully tomorrow I'll have some sort of sunrise, or just a little blue sky to share!

Trying to Get Back into the Swing of Things

I'm trying to get back into the swing of things again. Seems a little strange to be home. All of the washing is caught up again and suitcases/bags put away - at least for a little while. It seems like forever since I've been doing just daily stuff, I'm having a little trouble getting back into the swing of things. I need to start writing lists again, doing menus and starting on the decluttering again. I gave myself a couple of days, but now I really have to get started again. 

I'm still trying to sort through all the photos I took, not just the ones from England, but the ones I took at daughter's house too. I managed to get out to the National Wildlife Refuge again and had a wonderful time. It was nice to get away from such a busy household and take a little time out. I think it will be a while before I sort through them all!

My son had a nice birthday yesterday. They stayed for a while and ate. I had brought a cake and his girlfriend ended up getting one too, so we had a lot of cake. Thankfully, they took some home with them. We certainly don't need all that cake in the house!

The weather here the last few days has been lousy. Such a shame after the nice weather I had in England and the good weather in Minnesota. Now it's been all cloudy/drizzly/foggy/rainy. It makes the days so dark. The mornings seem to take forever to get light and the evenings are drawing in far too quickly. I want a little cooler weather, but I'm not quite ready for the short days.  I have been walking but, in all honesty, it hasn't been a lot of fun. Tomorrow morning doesn't look any better, thick fog with a chance of drizzle. I am sorely tempted to give it a miss and try to get some things done around the house! We shall see. 

Photo for Today

I took this one on my walk today. It's beginning to look a lot like Autumn!

Hopefully Back to Normal

Well, I'm back from my time in Minnesota. Baby A is doing fine. She was a little grumpy for a few days and unable to eat much (which definitely wasn't fun for her!) as her mouth was hurting. We got to have some great times together though. She is growing in leaps and bounds and saying some words now. It was lovely to see her. I did get a bit tired though. I had a bit of a cold which didn't help. I was glad to go and I think I helped a bit! 

She loves to colour - got to love those Crayola Mess-free markers - and to play with stickers which she sticks in a book. 

I've got a lot to catch up on at home. It is my middle son's birthday today and he and his girlfriend are coming over to eat so I won't be catching up today! 

I'm Back...Sort Of

I arrived back in Kalamazoo just after midnight on Sunday night/Monday morning. It's a long old flight back. I was well tired, but I couldn't sleep for long. My legs were cramping really badly and with the jetlag I was just up early. I've been easing into coming back. I was looking forward to a slow week, but daughter rang last night and said Aurora has hand foot and mouth disease AGAIN and they need a babysitter. I am off first thing tomorrow morning (waaaayyy too early) to go babysit. It means another flight. 

I had a GREAT time in England visiting my sister. The time went by far too quickly. We had lots of fun, walking, chatting, drinking, eating. I can't wait until next year! Of course, I have a gazillion photos to sort through. 

Here are a few phone ones. 

These are just from the first couple of days, around Ipswich and Felixstowe and a visit to Mum's bench to take some flowers. So good to be there again. 

I am taking my computer to daughter's house so hopefully posts will be regular-ish depending on how tired out I am from Baby A lol

Checking In

It's about time I did a post. My time here in England is coming to an end. I am having a lovely time here with my sister. We've been really busy going out and about. I'll post more when I get back. Hope everyone is doing well. I'm going to enjoy my last few days here. 

Post soon.

I Packed my Bag and in it I Put....

...well, after much faffing around I finally got the suitcase all packed, went to weigh it and saw about a 5 inch gash in it!!! PANIC!!! If I was travelling in a car I might chance it. On a plane? Nope. The airlines aren't careful with bags and I have four planes (two there and two back) to go on. I didn't want to chance it. The suitcase is...well, donkey years old...so I didn't feel too awful about buying another one. This was at 5 o'clock this evening. I quickly looked online, saw where a reasonable one was available and had hubby drive me there. Phew. Problem solved. 

I cooked dinner - an experiment that wasn't too successful although the guys said it tasted good (so I suppose that's all that matters in the end), did the washing up, drained the sink and it didn't. Nope, didn't drain. Sigh. I tried a bit of baking soda (bicarbonate of soda) and some white vinegar and managed to get the water cleared. Any other problems are officially husbands. 

Hopefully that will be it. I must admit to being a little cautious as things tend to come in threes (according to my very wise Mum). 

I have checked in online. So I'm taking a little break before toddling off to bed. Hopefully I won't be too worried and will be able to sleep. As husband tells me, I am always this way before leaving. It's not the travelling that worries me, it's the getting going. 

I'll try to post while I'm away. It probably won't be consistent (when is it ever?) I will be posting stories to my Instagram I'm looking forward to spending time with sister and just enjoying things. 

Photo for today - Asylum Lake view. I'll miss my morning walks, but I'm looking forward to doing something different for a while

*BTW - I loved the game of 'I Packed my Bag and in it I Put' when I was little. Did anyone else play it? 

Ta-Da ---- Cross Stitch

I managed to finish it and frame it!

I'm so pleased

I'm beginning to feel a little stressed, but husband reminded me that I always feel this way before I travel so I'm trying to not panic too much. 

Tomorrow will be busy, busy, busy. I have started pulling some clothes out and washed a few but I haven't started packing yet. I always worry about what to pack, but it all seems to work out ok. I'm going to start out the day with a walk and go from there.