Mid-Week - Lighthouse and Beaver and Busy!

Well, it's certainly getting down to the last minute before I leave here. I am... well, sort of anxious, sort of stressed, sort of pleased with how things are going. Presents are (almost) done and (almost) wrapped. I've (almost) decided what I'm taking craft/photo/book wise, just started with the clothes. I'm a last-minute packer so that part isn't bothering me. I think I'm planning on taking clothes for a week to ten days and then repeat. It won't give me much variety, but hey, I won't be going anywhere fancy, there is a washer and dryer and I want warm and comfy. At this point I'm more worried about how everything is going to fit into the car - yikes! Wouldn't be so bad without the Christmas stuff. We'll see. 

I have sorted through the windy lighthouse photos - so here's a couple 

I really like seeing the surfers out. They are a far braver bunch than me lol. 

On another note, the beavers on my walk have been busy. I sorted out some photos from last week. This is one I took last week. 

I'll - hopefully - be back tomorrow!

Quick Monday Catch-up

I meant to write a halfway decent blog post today, but I'm sitting her falling asleep already so I think it's time to tumble into bed. Had a busy day and have a busy few days ahead. I got quite a bit done today so that's a plus! It's been grey and horrible the last couple of days. We did manage to get to the lakeshore yesterday. It was raining when we arrived. 

Through the car window

I did manage to get out for a quick walk along the beach. It was pretty windy and there were waves at the lighthouse. I'll post a couple of photos on tomorrow's post - still looking through them.

Busy day tomorrow - I've got a haircut, errands to run, wrapping to do. Hopefully things are winding down. 

Hope everyone is well. 

Saturday

 I was looking forward to getting out by myself for a walk this morning. When I went to bed the forecast was okay, even called for sun. Was it that way when I got up? Nope. There was a chance of rain, but I took the chance and decided to go out. It poured. I got wet. The only thing on the plus side was that it was really quiet - no twits out apart from me - and I saw the beavers. I hate to go harping on about them, but they had been busy overnight. They've started on a big tree right by the trail. 

This is all new from yesterday and there was more too! Wow - busy, busy beavers. 

I had quite a productive day when I got home even though I thought about doing not a lot of anything. I got some wrapping done, some sorting and putting away of things (general tidying up I want to get done before I leave). Husband put up the tree. Middle son came to visit. I was sure I had all my shopping done, then I realised that I didn't have anything for son-in-law's mother and then middle son told me his girlfriend might be at the house on Christmas Day. I'd hate for her to not have anything to open so I have to get a few bits for her. Sigh. I do have 90% of it done though and I feel in a better place all around. 

Tomorrow is supposed to be another lousy weather day - sigh. We're going to the lakeshore even if all we do is sit in the car lol. I will miss the lake while I'm gone. I am going to take the afternoon to just chill, maybe (shock!) make a list or two while I'm thinking of things that need to be done in the upcoming few days. 

Last phone photo - once the rain had cleared - yup, it cleared as soon as I'd finished my walk - there were some strange clouds in the sky. There were big black clouds and then part blue sky. 

Hope everyone has a good weekend!

Countdown - a few thoughts

I have six days left to get things bought, wrapped and taken care of so the family here can have a good Christmas AND I'm all packed up and on my way for an extended stay in Minnesota. Yikes. I am running out of time. I feel...well, I'm not pulling my hair out yet, but I am getting a little stressed. On the plus side, the shopping is almost done. 

Today I went for a walk - dropped Ebay things off at the Post Office - laundry - talked to daughter - messaged with sister - sorted out the craft room a bit more and then sat this evening watching Vera repeats. I think things will work out. I have started putting together a few things to take with me. It will certainly be strange - being away from here for Christmas, being away for an extended period - but I am SO very thankful that my daughter would like me there. I'm thankful that she thinks that much of me that she'd like my help. I am going to really try to be helpful and be there for what they need. It's so interesting to watch daughter and her husband navigate adding this new little human addition to their family. 

It's now, especially, that I'm thinking of Mum. She was a really strong woman and could be opinionated in some areas of life. But she was always there to support me, to just be there, not say 'I told you so' or make me feel bad about my decisions. As young as I had my own children, she never told me that I was making mistakes or told me I should do things a certain way. I appreciate that. I'm glad daughter knows that I'll support her and husband as they welcome baby to their family. They are first time parents and that's always a struggle. I think back on having my own children and how careful and overly protective I was of my first one. 

If you've had children, do you remember those days? 

Back tomorrow, hopefully. 

This was taken a while ago. Baby's getting a lot bigger now!

Happy Dance - Happy Dance - SUNSHINE

There was sunshine to be had today! It's surprising how just a little bit of sunshine can cheer me up no end. There was a lovely sunrise today and the beavers were out doing their thing. I sat for a while, just watching, enjoying. 

The rest of the day was a mixture of household things and such. Not all that exciting. It's coming to the end of the week and I'm not as far along as I had hoped to be. I now only have a week left. The good thing is that, although next week might be crazy busy and a little stressful, once I get to daughter's I will be able to relax. I can get things done so that the family here can have a good Christmas. 

Phone photos from my walk today. These were all taken by the beaver lodge. It is certainly getting really big!

Hopefully back tomorrow!

Mid-Week

 Yup, you've guessed it - another grey day. They are (touch wood) predicting some sunshine tomorrow. I'm hoping. 

I did go out for a walk today. The beavers were really busy! There are such fun to watch. As I stood by the shore of Asylum Lake one of them kept swimming around, then grabbed a branch from the lake and swam until it was facing me and started crunching on it! It was like the beaver was putting a display on for me. Some of them are quite shy and duck under the water as soon as they see you watching, others, like this one, seems as curious about me as I am about them. 

After my walk I stopped off and picked up a few stocking fillers. Back home, I got housework done, wrapped a couple of things, moved stuff from one place to another lol. It wasn't a bad day on the whole. I don't feel totally in control - I'm clenching my teeth like crazy at night - but I'm doing the best I can. 

I did take a couple of photos of Christmas goodies in the craft store. I stopped in to pick up a couple of flosses that I didn't have for a couple of stitching projects. I pulled out the floss I had, but there were a couple I didn't have. Anyway, in the craft shop there were a few Christmas items. If I had the space, if I was so inclined, sigh. I did pick up one thing (plus the floss)

What did I pick up?

They had some lovely bits and pieces and they were 60% off!

Back tomorrow. 

Not sure this post has a title. I don't want it to be gloomy all the time lol. 

It was another grey, rainy/snowy day here in my part of Michigan. As much as I sort-of like living here the grey days we get at this time of year really start to get me down. We haven't seen sunshine in days. There isn't any forecast for days. I can live with the cold, the rain, even the snow, but not having any sunshine really seems to affect my mood. 

I did go out for a walk despite the rain/snow mix. I got cold and wet. I didn't stay long. I did a very quick loop around the park. I didn't see many people (though there were two other cars in the car park where I parked). I did see a deer. A handsome fella. 

He looked at me like I was an idiot being out in the weather and went back to trying to find some food buried under the leaves. 

After the walk, I did my grocery shop. I've tried to start stocking up on a few quick things husband and son can cook after work when I'm gone, at least for the first week lol. 

When I got back home, I seemed to do more moving things around than I did sorting anything. It's really frustrating but I don't want to get started on something I can't finish. I am hoping that this week I can get the presents all done and next week I can concentrate on tidying things up, putting a few things away and leaving things in some sort of sorted state before I leave. I also need to start sorting out things I'm going to take. 

I am probably over-thinking things, but I know I am getting a little anxious as I am clenching my teeth while I'm sleeping and having weird dreams. I know everything will work out, it's just my anxiety rearing its ugly head. 

Tomorrow is another walk. A dry one at least. Probably cloudy. Sigh. I have to go to the post office, stop at a shop to pick up some stocking goodies, come home and do the Wednesday jobs. 

I'm hoping to take a few phone photos out and about to make a more festive post lol 

Hope everyone is having a good week. I really appreciate the comments!

Yup, Rainy Sunday.

It was dull and rainy when I woke this morning. As I write this at ten o'clock at night it is still raining. We went for a drive and there was a tiny break in the rain when we walked along the pier to the lighthouse. I was amazed to see the fishermen out. I suppose I shouldn't be all that surprised when there was one out last week in the windy snow! 

It's really been quite the uneventful day. I got a bit more sorting done when I got back. Not much, but any little progress is, well, progress. Tomorrow I'll get back to it. This week I want to get all the gifts I have wrapped, see what needs to be still got. I need to get some tidying up done, things are sitting around that need to be put away before I leave. We'll see how far I get. 

The really quick walk today was interesting. We went to South Haven. It was rainy when we got there. 

Through the car window

The weather broke for just a little bit that we were able to get out for a walk. The beach is already changing. Where the sand was once flat there is about a five foot 'cliff' as you walk along. Lake Michigan always surprises me. There are no tides, but during Autumn and Winter, the beach is let go wild and there are such changes. It's this time of year that I like to visit most. 

A few more phone photos

I loved the patterns in the sand! 

Saturday

It was cloudy and grey this morning. I did get up and go for a walk. Tomorrow it's supposed to rain all day and I didn't go for a walk yesterday due to the rain, so I thought I'd better get out and do one. It was muddy and quite slippery, but peaceful as there weren't many people about! I saw a couple of beavers, one ducked under and into the lodge just as I arrived but another swam in a bit later. They look like they are continuing with business. 

After my walk husband and I ran a quick errand, then I spent the rest of the day at home. I did some sorting in the craft room. There were only a couple of things I could bring myself to donate (as of yet) but I did manage to make some space to put some other things away. It does seem as though I'm just moving a lot of stuff around at this point though. There are going to have to be some serious decisions being made next year. I don't want to get started on any major sorting as I'll be going to daughter's house on the 15th of this month and not sure when I'll be back. I don't want to a) be in the middle of something when I leave and b) leave a big mess behind when I leave! I shall keep plodding along with the small bits of sorting I'm doing. I have got one full box and am starting on another to be donated before I leave. I have also continued sorting through my magazines including the photography ones. I don't think I mentioned it, but when husband went to his friend's house last week he took another stack to his friend's wife who enjoys photography. 

I feel as though it was more of a productive day than I thought I was going to have. I suppose that's a good thing!

We will be going out for at least a drive tomorrow. Maybe not a long one, the rain and/or snow seems to be extending over a large part of the day-trip area. Usually, if it's raining close to us we try to work out where it's not likely to be raining and head in that direction, but I think it seems to be everywhere. Sigh. 

Not a traditional photo today, but as I was sorting through things I found this cartoon I had cut out of a planner. Reminded me of how my head is spinning when I'm lying in bed at silly-o'clock unable to sleep. Thought I'd share

December 1st

Wow. It's coming to the end of the year. Sigh. Ups and downs. But that's a topic for another post. 

Today was...blah. It rained all day long. No walk. No bird watching. On the plus side I did get quite a bit done. It still seems as though I still have so much to get done before I leave for daughter's in two weeks. I have started a bag of craft and other things I want to take with me to keep busy. I'm also planning on getting a lot of photography projects done. I have lots of photos taken, it's a matter of organising them and such. 

On the Christmas front I'm way ahead of what I usually am at this time. Hand up. I'm a procrastinator and usually always leave things until the last minute. I actually have some wrapping done. Shock. Gasp. On my weekly chat with my sister, even she couldn't believe it! I have some of my shopping wrapped up. Not all of it, but a good chunk. The beginning of next week I plan on getting more wrapping done and to (another gasp) make a list of what I have left to get. That last week before Christmas, when I'm at daughter's, will probably be the most stress-free, relaxing Christmas I've had since I had children lol. 

How is your prep coming? Are you a procrastinator? Do you do a lot for the holidays? 

I suppose because we never had a lot of money - either growing up or when we were raising our own children - that Christmas was the one time we could have extras. I still do it that way. 

Photo for the day - well, I actually didn't take one today! I did take this holiday decoration the other day at the shops. I really liked it, was interested and thought maybe I would put something out in the garden. UNTIL I saw the cost of it! 99.99!!! Even with 20% off it's too much. I thought it would be about $20 lol!

What would you expect to pay for something like this? 

Tomorrow I'm hoping to get out for a walk. The weather doesn't look great. Sigh. No sunshine. Maybe more rain. Rain or snow on Sunday. Grr... I hate Michigan when it's grey all the time in the winter. 

I'm going to do a bit of sorting and then I'm going to work on getting some things together to do while at daughter's house. I have some cross stitch projects I want to put together. 

What are your plans for the weekend?