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

Ramblings, Dentist and Plodding Along

The dentist appointment was horrible. I hate going. I need another crown and a filling. I am so disappointed. It doesn't seem to matter what I do I always need stuff done. I was tempted to say nope, not getting anything else done and walking away but I didn't. I have scheduled appointments to have the things done. I'm not thinking about it until I have to. The dentist couldn't get me in until mid-November (how is it that it needs to be done but isn't that urgent apparently). That's after our weekend away and after visit to daughter and Granddaughter. I'm going to put thinking about the dentist on the back burner and concentrate on the good things to come first. 

The appointment took longer than I expected so nothing got done yesterday except the stops I had planned after the appointment. My food shop - ouch - is done. Today I started with a foggy walk and then came home to get some things done. It was quite a productive day. The pile of magazines at the side of my chair is dwindling away and some more Ebay items got listed and some things packed up ready to ship tomorrow. It's been too hot to go up in the craft room, but I feel as though I've got a plan to deal with the mess  things in there when it does cool down. 

I did get a start on a cross-stitch Christmas ornament for Granddaughter. I'm not sure I like the colour of fabric though so I might have to make another one. At least it's a fairly quick design. It's a Baby's First Christmas one and you stitch their name on it. Speaking of Granddaughter, a nice thing that made yesterday (after the bad dentist appointment) was that daughter video chatted with me and I got to spend time with Baby A. She is adorable. She doesn't sit still long at all! She's crawling around and rolling around and into everything. It makes me laugh and smile. Much needed after yesterday!

Ice Creams - I think I ate more ice cream in my three-and-a-half weeks in England than I have for the last year. Two of my favourites - the classic Whippy Ice Cream with Flake and Rum and Raisin. Yum

New Week

I did strike everything off my list today, but there really wasn't as much on there as I should have put down. It's so hot right now I'm using that as an excuse. It's making me tired and more than a little grumpy. It also doesn't help that I have a darn dentist appointment tomorrow which has filled me with dread for weeks now. I've been trying not to think about it and I keep getting reminders! Ick. It's a cleaning but usually they find something that needs to be done. They seem to want to replace a lot of work and I really can't do that right now. I suppose I just need to be a little bit more forceful with my 'no's. 

The appointment tomorrow isn't until 11.10am so smack darn in the middle of my day sigh. I'm going to go for a walk beforehand. I am also going to stop at a couple places before dentist and a couple more after. I'm going to do a food shop on the way home. I have a list so hopefully I'll stick to it! I'm hoping to get away with not spending a fortune. I had some meat bits in the freezer and am working the meal plan around those for this week. I haven't got around to looking in my cookery books for new recipes yet. I did add a few magazines to the giveaway pile. That pile by my chair is slowly dwindling!

This beach hut made me smile.  The owners called it Windy Bottom. If you had a beach hut what would you call it? 

Some Random Bits, Plans and Pictures

I'm gradually getting back into the groove of things, but I still feel a little bit of post-holiday blues. It always seems worse when coming back from a visit to family knowing it will be a while before I see them again. There were lots of good times had though and that's what I'll try to look back upon. I allowed myself last week to be a little blah about everything, but now it's time to get back into the groove of things. 

I have been writing myself a little list each day and it does seem to help things plodding along. I need to get back on the decluttering wagon. It just seems a little overwhelming and I need to pick a place to start. Even over these last few days I've been picking up some magazines to sort through. They are one of the things on my list to read and let go of, an easy thing to do you would think. There are a few that I will pass on to someone else and others I've ripped a page or two out of and the rest will be going into the recycle pile. I shall continue with that again this week. There's a pile by my chair that I am going to get through this week. 

Another thing I need to get a handle on is the food shopping. I know that prices have gone up in England, but I was surprised at how much cheaper food was there than here in the US. It makes me cringe when I see some of the prices I'm paying for basic items. So, the plan going forward is to make sure I shop around for prices. I used to do it a lot when we were on a tighter budget, but I sort of got out of the habit. There is a new Aldi's opening up nearer us and I shall make sure to check out their vegetable prices. I am going to look for some new recipes so that I can combine sales with some new menu choices. I want to make sure I use up all of the ingredients in the fridge, perhaps having a clear-up day at the end of the week when it's a hodge-podge of items. 

Any tips for cutting down the budget? I meal plan each week which does cut down on impromptu visits to the shops and unnecessary buys. Any recipe sites you really like? I'm also looking for some lovely British recipes - tried and tested hopefully!

Think that's enough for today. I'm going to think on the decluttering and where to start. 

Leaving this with a few pics from the visit. I took a lot of them!

My sister and I visited The Castle on the Hill - Framlingham Castle. I've been there a few times, but for my sister it was her first visit. We had a fun time!

Back - Normal Service to Presume ha ha!

I'm back from England. Had a lovely time. Didn't really want to come back. Lol. No, I am excited that I will be seeing Granddaughter soon. Sister and I had lots of lovely walks. Me, her and her husband had a nice weekend away and lots of good times. I shall miss her. Can't wait for next year! The weather was really quite lovely. There were a couple of nights of rain, but had cleared up by the time we went out and only one day where the weather was miserable. That, of course, was the day we wanted it to be dry! Sister had arranged for a small family get together. My other sister and her husband were there, as was my brother, his partner and three of his grandchildren. My sister who I was staying with had her two adult children there with their children. We all met at a local social club they belong too. There is a football field out the back where the children could play. Luckily, there was a break in the weather and the children could all play together outside. We ordered fish and chips and had a great old time with lots of chat and a few drinks. 

Of course, now comes the struggle to get back into the groove and get things at home back on track. It was nice just being away from the house and all the stuff that goes with it. I had good intentions to think about plans while I was away, but in reality, I didn't think about the house a lot at all. That means that I have to think about it now! 

Me having a paddle. 

Hope everyone is having a good end to the summer. I came back to rather hot weather - which I hadn't missed at all! My sister says they've had a few chilly days since I've left. Not sure I'd like that much either lol. 

Back tomorrow!