Getting Back into the Swing of Things

I haven't yet. Husband and son both went back to work yesterday. It feels like it should be the beginning of the week but it's coming up on the end of the week. I have been putting things away (the house is still a mess) and catching up on housework. On Monday I really need to knuckle down on working towards some goals. 

I haven't made New Year's Resolutions, but I do have things I want to work on this year 

* Time management. This is a big one for me. I struggle to stay on track, and I get easily distracted. The whole day has passed before I even realise it. I am going to make lists each day (these do help a bit) and really try to plan out my day a bit more so I don't dilly dally!

* Organise. Another big one. I am not an organised person. I find it hard to get organised. I can't find things when I need them and it's really frustrating. It's also wasteful as sometimes (confession time) I buy the same thing more than once. 

* Finances. I really want to get on track with finances, making sure I am keeping track on what is spent. Not overspending. Sticking to a food budget. Husband would like to retire in a few years and knowing where our money goes will help us to be able to stay on track with spending when our income is less than what it is now. We are paying off our house this year - YAH!

* Decluttering. This is an ongoing process. I did fairly well towards the middle and end of last year, but I really want to ramp it up this year. I think this goes hand-in-hand with organisation. 

* Crafting. I want to get that horrible, cluttered craft room into a space I can use again! 

It seems a little overwhelming, but I think if I can make lists and learn to stay on track I can get things done! We'll see how that works. I think I might do an accountability post each month. I'm not going to beat myself up if I do slip, but I am going to try my hardest not to slip. 

Have you made goals for the year? 

Photo for today - a snowy one. It's snowy here and more is forecast for tomorrow. It's also cold, though not as cold as Minnesota was! It was definitely lovely to see the sun despite the cold (I think it was about 16F/-9C when I went for a walk). According to my phone weather our next chance of sunshine is next Thursday - let's hope they are wrong!

The beavers are fighting a losing battle keeping a bit of water open!

Happy New Year!

I wanted to say thanks to all who read this blog and for those who comment. I really appreciate it. 

I did manage a quick walk today. Not for long until the rain/sleet/snow came, and it ended up a really mushy day. I did manage to get to the post office before son came. He was running late due to an inspection at his current residence and tried to ring the one we were going to look at. He's having trouble with his phone, left a message but he wasn't sure they got it. When we did get to the place they were closed for lunch! I had to get moving on stuff at home, so he dropped me back and then rang them when they were done with the lunch break and managed to go back and look at the place. He liked it and has put in an application. Fingers crossed this will be his new home. 

At this point in the night - it's quarter to ten in America as I write this - I have done laundry, recharged everything that needs charging, have packed and the house is as tidy as it's going to be (why do I feel the house needs to be tidy before I leave? lol). I might or might not stay up for midnight here. I managed to find Sky News on YouTube and watched the celebration on there. It's always a time I spent with Mum and I did so again tonight and toasted with a favourite drink of hers. This always seems to be a really hard time for me. It was our time. I always loved saying I'll see you later this year, knowing that in the summer we'd get to spend time together again. My sister did ring and I got to chat with her. I did tell her that I'd see her later this year. Something to look forward to!

Tomorrow is an early and long day for me. We're off to visit Baby A and family. I am SO excited!. I actually managed to blog every day this month (YAH!) so I might take a few days off to spend time with the family. I'm taking a notebook with me to write down plans for the New Year. 

I'm also pleased to say that I have actually completed my P366 project! Phone Photos - Things That Make Me Smile. I gave up posting them here a while ago, but I have kept them going. The photos today are collages from this month. 

Did you stay up to see in the New Year? Do you have plans for 2025?

New Year's Eve

Just a quick post today. Hope to have a longer one with goals tomorrow. I'm still working on them! How is that for procrastination? Anyway, just wanted to pop in and wish everyone a Happy New Year. If you're out tonight, stay safe. If you're inside (like I am) enjoy your nice night in. I'm staying inside and will probably read, watch a little telly and maybe do something crafty. I will be ringing my Mum close to her midnight time. We always listen/watch Big Ben and see in the New Year together.

I am spending the day today clearing up and doing some crafty things up in my craft room. It's been a while since I've been up there. I am finishing up my 2018 album - I have actually stuck at this all year!

Here's a photo from our walk yesterday. We were planning to do this walk on New Year's Day, but the sun was actually shining yesterday so we made the most of it!

I took lots of photos yesterday. We walked the 3.6 mile round trip out to Ludington lighthouse. The trail to the lighthouse is through some sand dunes. Although the sun was shining yesterday it was really, really windy. We met one couple on the trail who said they had only got halfway before they turned back as the wind was whipping up the sand and it stung! This photo was taken from the top of a small dune. There's a path leading down to a shipwreck. We haven't gone up and down this dune before (usually in summer the sand is horrible, but it was frozen so I thought it was a good idea!). We got to the top but it was terribly windy we didn't go any further. Hubby went right back down as he got a mouthful of sand. I stayed at the top for a few minutes and inspired by a comment left by Rose stood at the top, closed my eyes, opened my eyes and just enjoyed.

I usually post a lot of photos on Instagram. So if you are on Instagram give them a look. My Instagram

End of the Year/New Word of the Year

Yikes. It feels like the last few weeks have just flown by! I can't believe it's New Years Eve already. We won't be doing much of anything. I do ring my Mum and 'see in' the new year with her. It's something we've done for years now.

Daughter made it home. She said it got a bit hairy around the bottom of Lake Michigan - near white-out conditions, but when she got past that it wasn't too bad. Just a long drive. It ended up taking her close to twelve hours. At least she made it home safely. Middle son came up to visit though I wish he'd stayed home as it snowed a little more, the roads are really bad and there have been a lot of accidents. People still seem to drive really fast for the conditions. Hopefully once he's home my stomach will settle.

The New Year got me thinking about a new word for the year. Do you ever choose a new word for a new year? It's a word you're supposed to choose that best describes what you would like to obtain in the new year. That's the way I take it anyway.

Last year my word was ADVENTURE. I wanted to try new things and go new places. Overall I think I did pretty well. Hubby and I had lots of new adventures - we went to some new places and did some new things. It was a really good year for adventures though we never reached some of our other goals. I've been trying to think of my word for next year. I wanted one that could encompass lots of different things. I've thought about using BOLD - I'm shy and an introvert so that would be daring, or CREATE - something I definitely want to do next year, but I settled on EXPLORE.

I think it's pretty similar to last year, but it sets up nicely what I plan on doing - explore new places and new things, explore new ventures in life, explore new creative things I'd like to give a go or finish. So that's my word.

I hope everyone has a great New Year's Eve. Stay safe and warm. See you next year!

...and in with the new

Happy New Year!

I like the idea of a new year. It feels like a good time to wipe the slate clean and start again. It isn't loud and boisterous around here New Year's Eve. As many of you know I'm in the states but originally from England so every New Year's Eve for many years Mum and I spend it together. Back before we Skyped we would talk to one another on the phone and listen to Big Ben chiming in the new year. Now that we Skype we see it in together and watch it on her telly. It's always good to go from saying 'see you next year' to 'see you later this year'.

The new year dawned bright and with the sun shining. A lot like the day before when this photo was taken.

There are changes afoot in our lives. Daughter is moving to Minnesota from Michigan where she will start a job next Monday. Early Wednesday morning we'll be heading off. Fingers crossed, the weather doesn't look like it will be too bad. It will be strange seeing her go. I admit to being a little sad. We're quite close and see one another often but because of the distance it won't be possible. It's good for her though.

I'm not sure what the new year will bring for me. I have plans - knitting, cross stitching, crafting and photography plans. Hubby and I have camping plans - even going the 'long' way to visit daughter  up through the upper peninsula of Michigan and down Wisconsin. Definitely an adventure to look forward to. I have walking plans, de-cluttering plans and plans to spend less and save more. Nothing out of the ordinary but I'm feeling a sense of optimism and looking forward to new beginnings.

Happy New Year!

Wow I can't believe 2015 is over!

I'm here in America but my Mum is in England and every New Year's Eve for a LONG time we ring each other up and see in the New Year together (her time). We listen to Big Ben and Auld Lang Syne. It's a tradition. This time last year I thought it might be our last one. Mum had been diagnosed with Esophagus cancer just after I had visited her in October 2014 and this time last year was in the middle of chemotherapy and radiation treatment. It was a really rough time for her (she was 78 at the time) and not a good time for me being so far away. I am so lucky to have sisters that took care of her and kept me informed (I knew Mum wouldn't want me to worry so maybe wouldn't tell me everything). Luckily she has been clear for a little while now so this holiday season has been special to her.

I am SO lucky to have spent another New Year's Eve with Mum listening to Big Ben. We Skype now so we get to see one another instead of just hearing each other and the telly on the phone.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Hopefully 2016 will be a good one.