Busy Couple of Days

 I'll play catch-up with reading blogs tomorrow. 

It's been a busy couple of days. We were over at Jane's yesterday and are plodding along getting everything ready for the sale. I have a feeling that next week I will be spending a lot of time at her house!

I didn't go for a walk this morning. Husband had to take my car in - we had a slow leak in the tyre (tire) and had to end up having all replaced. He was going to drop me off for a walk, but the weather wasn't the greatest and I didn't want to get caught out in the rain. 

When he got back we went over to Jane's and sorted out the garage. We had a lot of cardboard boxes and plastic storage boxes that had to be moved. We don't want to get rid of them yet as the things that don't sell in the sale will be going to the charity shop and will need to be packed up. There is a screened in back porch at the house and husband moved them to there. We did put some broken or weirdly shaped boxes in the recycle. It's a big load off my mind. I find it hard to organise that sort of thing and I just panicked as I saw a big mess and no way to sort it. Husband is a bit more analytical and managed to work it all out. He also checked the attic while he was there (taking off a handle that was in the way and replacing it after). Thankfully it is empty! He also replaced a light fixture in the hallway. The garage was the last of The Big Mess. 

When I got home I did a little more sorting. Jane collected postcards and I had brought home a couple of folders (binders) full of them to sort through and pull out to be sold. There are still three more to do. I actually really enjoy looking through some of the postcards. She has some from over 100 years ago and it's wonderful to see how things have changed. 

Tomorrow we are going out for a Sunday Adventure and a walk. Later we have to go to Jane's briefly. I am looking forward to getting out and walking as I didn't today. 

Photos for today - a couple of the 'flowers' (weeds) in my garden - taken with my camera. I am finally trying to use my macro lens a little more. Things are finally starting to grow a little. 

And a little catching up on my Phone Photos - Things That Make Me Smile project. I am still taking the photos one a day - not so good at organising them which is why I am documenting them here as I can look back and remember which one I took for the day and why!

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Such a peaceful way to start the day. I've been getting to the lake earlier than my friend and I wait for her at a certain point. I just stand there and listen to the birds and the sounds - the perfect way to start the day. 

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Yet another nature photo. Yup, it brings me joy. I love this crooked tree. It has such character. Always makes me smile, especially on a day where I really didn't want to spend another day sorting the house. 

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Today. Well. If I was doing another photo instead of phone photos it would have either been a photo of the hawk I saw sitting on my fence this morning (grabbed the big camera and managed some photos) or it would have been one of the photos I took of the flowers blossoming in Jane's garden. As it's a phone photo it has to be one of the postcards that I've been sorting through. There are so many good ones, old ones, black and white ones. 

The one I'm sharing is actually two sides of the same postcard. It was one that was written and sent in 1940. I find it interesting that with all that was going on the same mundane things were written on the card!

I think if you click on the photo you should be able to read it. 

Goodnight all. 

Just Another Day

 Managed to fit in the minimum I wanted to get done so I'll chalk it up as an okay day. Was cold this morning, but warmed up a little this afternoon. The house is still a bit of a mess. I'll try to work on it this weekend. I have empty boxes sitting around. I want to keep them so I can put my donation bits in but don't want them sitting around so I might break them down. 

Tomorrow we're back at Jane's. Not sure what the goal is tomorrow. Straighten up a bit more. I'd like to take a few pictures as I want to start placing ads on Sunday. Not sure I'll achieve that. I might have to pop over at the weekend. I need to get back to writing lists so I can stay on task and feel as though I am achieving something. 

So that's another day done and dusted. I was going to stay up later, but I'm really tired so popping off to bed. Here's hoping I can actually sleep when I get there. 

I thought I'd share a different pic today. This is a collage of ones I took on Sunday. The birds are used to being fed at this nature park and this Red-Winged Blackbird couldn't even wait until husband had got out the food. Apparently the first bag husband got out contained peanuts which these birds don't eat. The bird squeaked at him until he got out the right food. So funny. 

Sorting out

Still plodding along at Jane's house. Not sure we are going to do things justice. We have got rid of - put in the rubbish, recycled and donated - a lot of the more mundane things, but she has some beautiful things. There must be stories behind each piece that we aren't aware of. She lived overseas and travelled a lot so has lots of things she brought back with her. 

I am finding myself quite intrigued with the two Cuckoo Clocks that she had. They are so intricately carved with lots of detail and are such works of art. It seems a shame to put them in an Estate Sale when I'm sure they won't be appreciated. I am leaning more towards doing a little research and finding out if they have a market on Ebay. 

I will take photos the next time I am there. I don't know a lot about them, but I took this photo of a label I could see on one. 

We did manage to sort out the rest of the donation items, so they are all ready to go hopefully this weekend they will be gone! I have volunteered husband to come over on Saturday and help me sort out all the boxes and plastic storage bins in the garage. We don't want to get rid of them in case we need them to box up leftovers and such but we need them out of the garage. Sigh. 

Tomorrow I am hoping to get in a lovely long walk, some housework and washing and maybe some sorting of my own. There are a few of my own empty boxes sitting around that need to be taken care of. Hopefully. Fingers crossed lol. I don't have to go to the shops and I'm trying not to spend money - well, there's nothing I really need or want - so I am not going anywhere else. 

Plodding on and signing off. 

Ooops... almost forgot my Phone Photo - Things That Make Me Smile 117/365

When I got home today I put on a couple of episodes of Miranda and that made me smile. 

Another Week

We were at Jane's yesterday. I looked around at all the things we still have to organise and felt more than a little out of depth. I'm not a great organiser and it all just seems like a little too much. I hope we get through it. I suppose it will all work out. I'm just not sure where to start or how to display the items. Yikes!

We had some lovely warmer temps over the weekend and, well, it's basically gone down from there. Today was barely above freezing and there was a light wintery mix at times. I got caught in it when I was out for a walk. It felt almost like winter again. Brrr... I went to get my hair cut today and to do my food shopping, cleaned house a little and the day was done. I still haven't got anything orgnaised in my own house though. 

Tomorrow it should be sunny - they said that today - and I will get a walk in before Jane's. I have to work on the garage tomorrow and get a few boxes of things we have stored in there. I have the last pile (for now) for donation started and I want to make sure we have it all ready to go at the weekend.

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This really made me laugh or groan more than smile. I was taking down lots of castles that Jane had displayed up on her shelf and I couldn't get this one to come off! I had to take down the shelf and MIL had to pry it off (gently) with a knife!

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Treated myself to this lovely magazine today. 

Quick Post - Wore Myself Out

This won't be a long one. I just remembered I was going to try to post today!

It's our day for a Sunday Adventure. We decided to head west instead of our usual heading east towards the lakeshore as storms were forecast to come in from that way. We decided to go to Kensington Metro Park which is about an hour and half away from us. There are a bunch of different metro parks on the other side of the state. We decided to pay for a yearly pass the first time we went and maybe explore some of the other parks at some point. Kensington Metro Park is almost 5000 acres. It is huge. I think there are two beach areas, a golf course, biking and running paths, you can boat and fish. The area we usually go to is the nature centre. No bikes, no running, no dogs at that part. It is purely to look and watch for nature. 

It was really beautiful. We walked about 5 miles around the trails (we didn't complete them all!). Saw lots and took lots of photos. We saw turtles, frogs, a snake, herons, cranes, warblers, songbirds and others. Really loved it. Tired out now. Haven't even pulled the card from my camera to look at the photos. I did take a few phone ones. 

There still isn't a lot of green around. The most I saw was this Skunk Cabbage, so named because of it's horrible smell. To be honest, it didn't smell bad at all, but I wasn't up close to it. I think when it gets damaged it gives off a bad smell. 

Did not see any Pileated Woodpeckers this time but saw lots of trees where their work was evident. They make oblong holes in the trees. 

Lots of lovely trails through marshy, field areas. If you stand with your hand out filled with bird seed sometimes the birds will come down and eat! It is husband's favourite thing to do (and why he doesn't mind going lol). 

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And a lovely big lake to walk around. 

Off to bed now!

All I seem to be doing...

 ..is playing catch-up!!

I have such good intentions writing in my blog but then I end up forgetting until I'm tucked up in bed and by then I just can't be bothered to get back out again! Grrrr... I shall try to do better. I have some catching up to do reading blogs too. 

I'll start with today and go backwards lol

Beautiful weather today - sunny and warm 28c/82F was our high today! Wow. Made the most of it by going out walking. Unfortunately, husband had to work overtime today so I was on my own. It's not going to last. It's dropping back down to a low of below freezing on Tuesday lol. Oh well, it was nice. My windows have been open since I got home so the house is having a nice air-out from winter. 

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A lovely morning reflection. When I first got out it was lovely and quiet. Just me and the birds. Later, it did get quite busy though! I suppose it's because it was the first really nice day we've had - and we'll back to rain tomorrow!

Friday we were at Jane's again. We were matching up lighthouses with boxes. Wow, Jane had a lot of them! We didn't find all the boxes, but we did manage to match up a lot. Next week we will be starting to set up and stage for the estate sale as we are having it the first full weekend in May. If we can get things set up this week and start pricing we'll be well on track to finish in time. 

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Morning sunrise. Made me smile because it was the only sun we saw on Friday. Just after the sunrise, the clouds moved in and then the rain!

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Just a bookmark. Made me smile. I was tidying up and came across it down by my chair. I have dozens of bookmarks but can never seem to find one when I want it!

I hope everyone is having a good weekend. 

Wednesday

 Thanks everyone for the comments. I'm a little behind as usual. 

On the good news front - I have exceeded my 30 book declutter challenge for the month! I have got rid of 40+ books with more leaving. I still have to call the library bookshop now that it is open and make an appointment for donation. I hope by the time I remember to do it they haven't changed their minds again!

Still plodding along at Jane's house. Today was matching up all the Christmas Village boxes with the appropriate buildings and ornament boxes with ornaments. Thanks Dicky Bird (Jacky) for the tips for the sale. It is a challenge to know what to put on things, but we will be willing to accept lower prices and everything will be half off after noon on the second day. At this point we want it gone. MIL and I will both be glad when we are done with it. As we work on Jane's house it seems our own houses are feeling and looking a little neglected. I have a pile of things to sort through at mine. I suppose I will have time once we are done with Jane's. 

I have been listing a few of my craft things on Ebay and have sold a couple of bits that need to be packaged up tomorrow. It does feel good to have things leaving the house. I doubt I shall miss them. I still have a lot more I plan on getting rid of but the things I want to try selling I am listing a little at a time. Once we are finished at Jane's I will list more at a time. I don't want to overwhelm myself trying to get things ready and posted while getting ready for the sale. If I sell one or two items, I can arrange to have them picked up at my house when the post is dropped off. I would feel bad about having a load for them to carry though I don't know if there is a limit they can pick up. 

109/365 Phone Photos Things That Make Me Smile 

Was a surprise to see a new information panel on my walk Tuesday and see that they had used two photos of mine. Made me smile. 

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After the dull cold weather of the last few days it was a lovely start to the morning today. Still chilly, but lovely to see the sunshine. It made me feel better. As it was cold I was the only one there. Well, me and the birds singing out loud. Even they were glad of the sunshine!

Spring or Winter?

 I'm not sure Mother Nature knows exactly what season it is! We had some snow again this morning and it's been cold and dreary and snowy most of the day. Sigh. I didn't get out for a walk as I had another dentist appointment. I've been dreading it since the one on Thursday. I managed to get through it. My mouth is a little sore, but hopefully will be okay tomorrow. I have to go back in a few weeks to have the permanent crown put on and another filling done. I had my dentist exam today as I didn't have time for it on Thursday and she found I had a filling needed doing. I asked if it could be done the same time as the delivery of the permanent crown and she managed to fit me in! After that I won't have to go back until October. Thank goodness!

We were back at Jane's after even though I wasn't feeling the greatest and was a little tired from the anxiety medicine I took. We got most of the downstairs Christmas stuff sorted and found a bunch of boxes and packed up some of the ornaments with the boxes. Most of what we have to do now is organise things. 

Yesterday Husband and I managed to get out for a walk. We got out early and were the only ones down on the beach. By the time we got back to the car park it was getting quite full. We were all bundled up as it was quite cold - hats, mittens, big coats. I can't wait until we no longer have to do that! Snow looks to be in the forecast again tomorrow but then things might warm up. It looks as though our temps will go from 3C  (38F) today to 26C  (78F) on Saturday. My poor body won't know whether to be warm or cold! Ah the joys of Spring in Michigan!

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Husband bought me this. Definitely made me smile!

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From the photo it looks lovely, you'd never guess it was literally freezing lol. It made me smile that it was such a peaceful, quiet walk - just us and the gentle waves. 

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I have been quite grumpy all day so I struggled with today. Almost didn't take one at all but then these arrived in the post. Yum. I paid a ridiculous amount for them (considering I know exactly how much they actually cost) but it was worth the smile. I shall just have a couple at a time. 

Onward Tuesday!

Mission Accomplished ...?... Maybe? Sort of?

Well, it's Friday. The end of another week. I miss where this weekend would be a holiday. I don't really celebrate Easter, but a nice long weekend would be ... well, nice. As it is, the weekend is nothing special here in the US.

Today we were back at Jane's house. I suppose I should explain the blog post title. We got done the goal that we had set for this week, so although we have a lot of things still to do, we did get quite a lot done this week. So, the mission for this week was sort of finished, but we plod on. 

We got the village taken down, 10 bookcases emptied in the basement, two wardrobes full of picture slides taken care of. Husband and FIL took out the rubbish and Husband took another load of donation to the charity shop. Quite an achievement for the week! Next week we will start setting things out for the Estate Sale. Due to several reasons - mainly no-one wanted to take on everything (too much work apparently) - we are staging the sale ourselves. We have three weeks to get ready for it. So staging is the next goal. 

Any tips will be welcomed! We plan on doing some more researching for products, advertising on Facebook, Nextdoor (a neighbourhood social media thing here in the US) and Craigslist. 

I got out for a walk today. First thing was beautiful - which is my Phone Photos - Things That Make Me Smile 105/365

Looks lovely, doesn't it? There is finally some greenery in the field. Not long after this it started dropping something close to ice pellets. Lol. Better than rain, I suppose. This was the most sunshine we saw all day. After this, nothing but rain. 

On the household front, another 25 books (23 sold, 2 donated) that will be leaving the house. This pushes me over my 30 goal for the month, but I shall still be plodding on. The email I received from the library bookshop today says they are accepting books by donation so I shall call them shortly and make sure I can book an appointment. Depending on their limits I really want to donated books to them so I shall have to do more sorting if they will accept the books. 

Tomorrow is going to be cold. Maybe a morning walk. Husband and son are going out in the afternoon so I would like to work on the craft room. 

Hope everyone has a good weekend!

Not the Best Start to the Day

 Thanks for all the encouragement for the dentist. 

Wasn't a great start to the day. It was really chilly this morning - just above freezing - so I popped out to start up the car for a few more minutes while I was getting last minute things together. I promptly managed to somehow lock the keys in the car while the car was running. We have no spare keys. Sigh. Panicked. Called husband who promptly came home - but his work is about 30 minutes away.  I must admit to sitting and crying for a few minutes. I tried ringing the dentist, but my appointment was the first of the day and they weren't open yet. I really didn't want to cancel as I had managed to get myself in the frame of mind to go (have a dentist phobia). 

I finally got hold of the dentist and asked how long they scheduled for the appointment - an hour and ten minutes apparently. I said I would be there as soon as I could. Husband got home and, in the meantime, I had called MIL and expressed my panic. She said FIL would drive me to the appointment. We were about half hour or so late, but the hygenist was more than happy to fit me in. My actual exam will be done on Monday when I had an already scheduled appointment for some work. 

Husband called a locksmith who came and opened the door so we could retrieve the keys. After work husband went and got a key that would at least open the car door. Our car key is one that needs to be ordered and programmed and it isn't cheap! It's next on the list. Sigh

What a horrible start to the day. When my blood pressure was checked at the dentist it was quite - understandably - high. 

I'm glad this day is over. 

104/365 Phone Photos - Things That Make Me Smile 

I would post a photo of husband, MIL and FIL, the locksmith and my whole dentist centre (who were very sympathetic and didn't complain at all for me being late) as they all made me smile a little today. As I don't have photos of them I will post a picture of the lake where I took a nice long walk after all was said and done. Being outside in nature is really good for my mental health!