Plane Drama and Lovely Visit

I'm finding Blogger is being weird. I'm not seeing new posts - sigh. Hopefully, it's just complaining that I've been away too long lol. 

Thanks for all the well wishes for the trip. I am so glad I ended up changing my flight on the way there as the plane that left from Kalamazoo was late and I would have missed my connection. As it was, I made it well on time. My poor walking friend - who was supposed to be leaving 31st August for a trip to Ireland, ended up missing her flights and, because she was with a group, they couldn't be rescheduled for another week! Yikes. 

My flight on the way back from London was on time, but (thanks Chicago - last time flying that airport for a while lol) when I got to Chicago the flight back to Kalamazoo was delayed and delayed and delayed and finally, I had to spend the night in the airport. Not how I wanted to end things. Sigh. Next year, I'm planning on saving a bit more and going the other way (through Detroit) instead.

While over in England, I had a lovely time. I stayed with my middle sister C. We had a great time walking and going places. I met up with my other sister D and my brother M and a variety of nieces, nephews and great nephews. It was lovely. I was really lucky with the weather too as temps had cooled down and we only had a little rain. The worst day was when we were having a family get-together (of course!) and the children couldn't play outside as much as they would have liked. 

I got to visit Mum's bench, the most memorable time on her birthday. A lovely Robin came to sit on the seat beside us just as we were taking photos. It was a lovely moment. 

I still have lots of catching up to do. I've given myself the rest of the week and then next week I am going to get back into the house-y things and getting back on track with some decluttering and goals. 

I'll post more photos over the next couple posts. 

Back

Just a quick post to say I'm back. I'll be catching up in the next few days. 

Couple sunrises from the window of the room I stayed in at my sister's house. She sees some glorious sunrises!

Friday - Getting Ready - Last Minute Panic

 Wish me luck! I think I could use it. 

Back Story - when I booked my flight back in February, I booked a midday flight from Kalamazoo to Chicago, and I'd have a few hours layover in Chicago before my flight to Heathrow. At some point, they decided to cut out that midday flight and just have an early morning 6am something flight and one at 4.30 in the afternoon. It only gives me an hour and a half between flights. Not the greatest. I'm one of those people that would rather be there early, sit and read and relax. Trying to run between flights (when one is at one end of the airport and the next at the other) isn't my idea of fun. The last few days that 4.30 flight has been late, not just a little bit but at least two hours late each day. 

I decided to take a look and see if there was an alternative.

There's an airport about 45 mins away (the one I fly out of when I go to daughter's) that has several flights a day to Chicago with the same airline I'm flying with. I thought it would be easy to change. Nope. Apparently, it's not allowed. I 'chatted' to someone online that said they could only help me after I missed my flight lol. If I decided to drive to Chicago and not take the first flight, they would mark me as not having flown and I wouldn't be able to do any of the trip! I protested and she finally said she would see if she could change me. I had upgraded the flight so she told me that would go back on airline credit, and they would have to charge me $400! 

In the meantime, I had looked at how much it would be if I just rebooked the whole thing - same flights except that first bit. The price was about what I had originally paid (with my upgrade). I told her not to bother; I'd just cancel and rebook. I did it and am now on an earlier origin flight (a couple hours extra). 

Bit upset with the airline, as I could do what they couldn't seem to do (after being with them online for about an hour) with no additional cost and the original fare being refunded to my card. Told husband, next year I'm just going with the other airline and paying a bit more. Sigh. I don't like Chicago Airport. Apparently, it tops the list of most stressful airports in the US. 

At this point, I've decided what will be, will be. I've done what I can to accommodate any delay. I'm packed and trying to relax a bit before leaving for the airport. Hopefully, all will go well! 

I am looking forward to seeing my sister and visiting Mum's bench and taking some flowers. It will be a lovely, relaxing time. We'll do some walking, lots of eating, and plenty of reading. 

I did manage a little walk yesterday so that was good and relaxing.

All ready to go!

On the Countdown

I leave on Friday for England to visit my sister and family. I'm really nervous this time. The flight I booked originally got changed (the bit from here to Chicago) and now I'm panicking that I don't have enough time between flights. Eeeek! I hate it when I book one time and the airlines change/cancel that flight. Apparently, they cut out flights from Kalamazoo to Chicago and there's only one early in the morning and then the one I'm on. Sigh. To make matters worse, I decided to Google how many times the flight is delayed and the last two days it has been hours late!!!! Definitely panicking. 

Deep Breath. 

What will be will be. That's what I keep telling myself. There are later flights that go to England and I will make it there - in the end. Right? That's all that matters. I'm not nervous about the flying. Once I'm on that plane to England, I'll be ok. 

I'm trying to get things tidied at home. I know husband and older son will be here, but still, I like knowing things are tidy when I leave. Is that just a me thing?

The weather has been strange. It's been cloudy, foggy and even a little drizzly in the morning. It's been hot and humid most days. I have been going out for a walk - just for the exercise - but I'm struggling making myself do it. I know I'll be doing plenty of walking when I get there!

I haven't started packing, but I have started sorting out piles of clothes, the maybes and the definites. I can narrow things down from there. I'll do the actual packing tomorrow night I think and try not to second guess myself lol. 

A few phone photos from my walk

Sunlight through the trees

I love how the bees rest on the milkweed flowers at nighttime. I see them early morning, just perching very still on the plants out by the lake. They do make me smile!

Weekend

It would have been a rather boring day yesterday. Being so grumpy, I really couldn't be bothered to get up and go for a walk. I turned off the alarm and slept in for a bit. It worked out in my favour, as daughter rang about half past eight and said Baby A wanted to chat! Spent over an hour chatting with her. She wanted to chat later in the evening too and so we spent another hour and a half playing together. She brought all her dolls to the camera and we played with them. She's so adorable and has changed even in the few weeks I haven't seen her. 

Chatting with her really cheered me up yesterday and made a rather boring day a little more fun and filled with sunshine. 

This morning husband and I did go out for a walk. It was quite nice first thing, cooler (16c/61c) when I got up about 6am and the humidity wasn't quite as bad (around 60% I think). We didn't go far, but we did have a nice (but buggy walk). I got bit several times (sigh) but nothing that swelled up too much, though there is one on the back of my neck that feels a bit of a large bump. 

This afternoon we went to the cemetery and put some flowers on MIL's spot. It would have been her 85th birthday on the 17th and as I won't be here, we decided to go today. Huband, sons and FIL will go next weekend too. It still doesn't seem real that she's gone. Sigh. 

I did get into the craft room on Saturday. I've been watching a YouTube channel by Septeria's Room and had a quick go at one of her projects. I used the base that she made (with a 6x6 piece of paper) and then made a little (mini) notebook and some random tags. Not sure how I'll use it but it was fun to make. 

I wasn't up there for long as middle son stopped by for a bit, so I went downstairs and chatted with him.

The craft room is still a mess but at least I'm spending time up there!

This evening I chatted with Baby A again. So much fun! 

I'm enjoying a bit of quiet before bed, watching repeats of Shetland and catching up with blogs. It will be a busy week this week. I leave on Friday. 

Hope everyone had a good weekend!

Time Flying By

I've been struggling with the heat this week. It's making me more than a little bit grumpy. I've been having some hot flushes too and that certainly isn't helping. It's been so muggy and humid that even just moving makes me sweat and I'm not usually a sweaty person. If I knew how to insert a big, grumpy face here, there would be one. I have been walking each day though not a lot, to be honest, more of a wander about and just taking time to enjoy nature. 

The week has been filled with a bit more sorting, a bit of crafty stuff, a bit of housey stuff and a bit of photography stuff. Really uneventful just like the title of my blog lol. 

 

Maybe I'm having a case of the summer blues. Is there such a thing? 

Sunday Adventure

It's a bit late - almost mid-week - but life got in the way of posting. We did go out for a bit on Sunday. It was an okay day and a little beach walk. I can't wait until September, when there aren't as many people about at the lakeshore and the parking is free again lol. A lot of the beaches only charge parking per day and I refuse to pay $15 for an hour walk along the beach. We ended up at a state park as we pay about that for a whole year entry to loads of parks in Michigan. Unfortunately, there was construction going on at the state park and the walkway we usually walk along is still closed. It's been closed for over a year now. 

We did manage a lovely walk along the beach. 

There was a tiny bit of the walkway open lol. I was really surprised that there weren't more people at the beach. It was huge and the water really nice and there were very few people around. 

On the way home we stopped at a farm stand and picked up some corn on the cob, a cucumber and some tomatoes. All really reasonably priced and grown at this farm. The corn was delicious. 

Before we ate it, I took a piece and used it to take some photos with my miniature figures. 

Now to get back into the groove of the week....

Saturday - Homey Day

Saturday was quite dull and dreary. The forecast had said it was going to rain all day, so I turned off my alarm, not planning a morning walk. Of course, I didn't wake up a lot later than normal and when I did, there was no rain in sight, though it was awfully dark outside. 

There were showers on and off, a lot less than forecast though. I didn't go for a walk. I didn't feel like it and the light wasn't really the sort I wanted to take photos in. I'm still sorting through some I've taken so I have a lot to keep me busy. 

I decided - after going to the Post Office to drop off a couple of packages - to have a day inside and do some 'me' things. It turned out to be a nice day filled with a bit of crafting (and not stressing about the mess in the craft room!) a bit of reading, a bit of cross stitching (yes, I actually did some!) and even a little Lego set put together. 

I hang onto things far too long. I love this planner/diary and buy one each year. The drawings are so beautiful I have trouble just throwing them away so I'm trying to use a few. 

I used some of the papers for this little waterfall journal that will go inside a larger 'junk' journal. 

Also made this little mini notebook. I've only just learned the 3-hole pamphlet stitch to put these together. 

The Lego I put together. You turn the key at the front and the princess twirls. It was fun but fiddly!

Book I'm reading. I got this on an England trip. I've read a couple of the other books on my Kindle, so it's time to read this one and then let it go!

How was your weekend?

July Decluttering Totals

I'm really pleased with what I accomplished this month in the way of decluttering. Considering I was gone for almost two weeks in total and most of these were decluttered in the last week, well I'm really pleased. This week, for some reason, I just got a bit frustrated with bits hanging around and sorted things so I could put things away. There is still so much to do, but I'm happy with things the way they are before I go away on my three weeks visit home. There is something in me that just likes a tidy house before I leave lol. 

Here are the totals: -

Books - 46

Crafts - 17

Misc. - 44

Clothes - 12

Magazines - 1

TOTAL - 120!

Unfortunately, I didn't take photos. I really should remember to do that! Husband took a big load off to the charity shop yesterday and I was just so glad to see the back of it that I totally forgot. 

Hopefully, I can get a bit more done before I leave. 

Are you decluttering? How is it going? 

It was rainy and dull today, no walk, so here's a photo of a Blue Jay from the garden this week. One of my favourite visitors - rather loud and lets the whole bird life in the garden know when a threat is near!

Just Thoughts on YouTube

It's been an ok week, pretty uneventful. I've been walking most days, doing some house-y stuff and some sorting (more on that next post). I've been reading, listening to some audiobooks, doing a little crafting (YAH) and watching some YouTube videos. 

I was trying to find something new to watch. I think I typed in Over 50 Lifestyle Vlogs and most of what came up were channels where women were buying new clothes to try on, or showing how they do their makeup, how to look trendy when you're getting older, that sort of thing. Not exactly what I was looking for. Clothes have never been something I'm all that interested in. I wear comfortable and loose most of the time lol. I was looking for something homier, taking things easy, enjoying life, that sort of thing. 

Next, I typed in something about simple life, crafts, that sort of thing. What did YouTube spit out this time? Well, there were a lot of younger 'influencers' as they called themselves, talking about less consumerism, living a 'whimsey' (??) lifestyle, that sort of thing. I clicked on one. Listened to a younger woman talk about consumerism, how it's bad, how we should buy less, scroll less AND then, in the middle of the video, she starts talking about (promoting) a mattress that she has on a piece of furniture in her home!!! The video is sponsored by them. I rolled my eyes and turned off. 

I do like watching some YouTube videos, but there are a lot of hauls and showing what they've bought and looking all rather perfect. It's a little bit tiresome. The people I enjoyed watching, seem to be taking 'breaks'. No wonder - it all seems so exhausting!

I like watching craft videos, not the ones that show what they bought, but those that show you how to make things. I enjoy watching people who show the messy and the fails along with all the perfection, though there seems to be less and less of them around. I don't suppose that's what a lot of people want to watch. 

Sorry if this is a little bit of a moan. It's not that I watch a lot of YouTube, but once in a while I like to put it on. 

Do you watch YouTube? Are there certain people you watch? 

Morning View