Day 4: Shit Happens

 

I was hoping to have reached my back fenceline on my top drive by the end of today... alas I think I'm going to need another day, possibly two. And yes, the damn dog run is still up. We don't even have a dog. I just want it gone because it's an eyesore.

Today's lunch is another classic favourite of mine, a salad wrap.  Some days I just don't feel like cooking up a big meal. though I do cook my mum whatever she wants, at almost 94 she can eat whatever she damn well pleases.

I'm feeling the burn of doing the paddock now, but it is so gratifying looking back at what I've already done and seeing it all down. As it is just as daunting looking ahead to see what I still have to do, but the best part is knowing that I am doing it myself... (okay, in all honesty, I did have to get the young fella across the road to put my brush cutter together for me. I had no freaking clue).

Today I also marked off the three shelves for the plate pantry.  This is another of my January goals to get done. I have all the supplies. I just have to get it done.

Until tomorrow remember: Drink more coffee, because murder is still illegal.

Day 3: Hit A Snag

 

You guessed it. still more yard work. I'll be at it for the whole of January I think, but at least the gras is coming down easy. I'm not as young as I used to be and move a lot slower these days. Anyway, today I have hit the old dog run. I need to figure out how to get the damn thing out of the tree and rolled up (It stretches from tree to tree), and I'm too damn short to reach it. Might have to ask the young fella across the road to give me a hand.

Another overcast day today, so I'm not dying while out in the paddock. though, I did get bitten on the same damn foot. they look like bull ants, could be worse, it could have been green ants or fire ants, thank God, we don't have them. well, not that I have come across any; nor have I seen any snakes as yet.

Today's lunch was a steak and salad wrap. It was another delicious meal. I have banned myself from deep fried food for a while. It was making me feel bloated and lethargic. So, I've cut it from my repertoire for the time being and see how I feel.

Is it bad that I'm counting the days until the kids go back to school. Graceful and Hurricane have twenty-four more days, and Monsoon goes to kindy the day after the house will be quiet again. All the gifts they got for Christmas and for the last three days they have been digging mud pits in the yard. They didn't like it when they were made to fill them in.

Until tomorrow, remember: Reach high like a giraffe and stay grounded like a turtle.

Day 2: Just My Luck

Here I am slogging away at the top driveway which is literally a third of my yard. (Seriously underestimated how big this yard was). Anyway, I got bitten three times throughout the day and all on the same foot (my left one). I wonder if that is significant. I'm about 2/3 of the way down the top driveway I swear to God, the more I whipper snip, the further away the back fenceline seems to be getting. At least today is nice and overcast, but I'm still sweating like all get-go. Today I used my brush cutter for the first time. The damn thing is longer than I am tall. Thank the be-all-and-end-all that it came with a harness.

I've decided this year I'm going to try at least one new meal a week to broaden my horizons a little. Mind you, I'm talking about food I cook myself. Today I decided on stuffed chicken. (I stuffed it with green capsicum, onion, chilli, garlic, and cheese). I really liked it though the filling needed a little salt. I must have forgotten that part. the others in the house weren't too fussed on it. so next time I make it, it will be just for me, and the others can have plain old, crumbed chicken. That is always a winner.

My niece made me a feelings journal she wanted me to test it out for her. I have to fill it in every day and give her any suggestions on how to make it better. I've had a few. We'll see what happens when I see her on Wednesday for a BBQ.

Until tomorrow, remember: I may have woken up tired, but at least I woke up.

Day 1: Happy New Year

 

TWO YEAR PLAN

Today is the first day in my two-year plan to be debt free, and to have bought/replaced all the things in and for the house that I need to. After a shocker ending to last year, (where I was sick more than I was fine), I've decided this year I will start off on a positive note and get my mind in the right headspace.

Over the next two years I have certain goals that I want to achieve. I've decided if I set my mind to it than anything is attainable. Here are just some of my goals so you can see where my mind is at.

GOALS:

* Pay down my debt: This means setting a budget and sticking to it. Budget is not a dirty word. It's what makes sure the bills are paid on time.

*Getting the paddock cut down: I just didn't realize how large our block of land was when I started this adventure. I've decided to put a positive spin on it and look at is as a portion of my daily exercise. Trust me there is no getting away from the sweat while doing yardwork.

*Get my savings back on track: I hope to have a certain amount in the bank by the end of the year $5,000... let's see how close I get to my target.

*Get my health back on track> Not dieting, but eating healthier, if that makes sense... I also do indoor walking, which has taught me that I am very uncoordinated, but I get there in the end.

Our Year ended and began with Monsoon, Hurricane, & Graceful having the chicken pox, so three very miserable little girls, luckily, they are all on the mend now.

Until tomorrow remember: Deep breaths and get shit done.

Day 270: Last Day (The Holiday is Over)

 

Today I have to have the last room finished, as my reprieve is going to be over. My daughter and the girls are coming home today. I still have to organise a dump run, but at least everything is all neatly bagged and waiting to be taken away.

Then all that is left to do is the pressure washing and I still want to rearrange the garage storage.

I might even find time today to give myself a haircut. It is starting to get on my nerves. 

Today I'm also going to try and start on my hooping again. my back and shoulder are feeling okay. So, I'll give it a go and see how long I last for. Best to do it when there are no kids around to get in the way of the weighted ball. That's an injury that none of us want.

Day 269: Still Slogging

 

I'm making real progress. I just put my music on, and I get to work sorting stuff out. I'm not doing it all at once. I decided on the tactic of doing two baskets/boxes and then doing something else in the house so that I don't get frustrated and throw in the towel. I want to have it done before the kids get home.

The funny thing is while doing the rest of the house. I finally found all the missing grocery shopping bags. when my daughter would tell me "I don't know what happened to them. I don't have them." And yet here they all are in every room of the house. I just smiled to myself and folded them all up neatly so they could be put back in the care for shopping day.

Now if I could just find all the kids missing undies, socks, and uniforms I would be happy as a pig in mud. I don't know why they always disappear. Now the number of odd socks that I have is astronomical. I'm still holding out hope that I'll come across their missing brethren.

Day 268: Start Last Room Declutter

 

Today I plan on starting the last room while I have the house to just mum and myself. I work faster by myself. and considering I'm just sorting out a whole heap of laundry that needs to be taken to the correct rooms. It will be an easy job. Well, hopefully it will. I have all my empty tubs waiting and ready to go for when the others leave on their mini holiday.

This morning though I'm washing bedding and getting that out of the way. I have three beds to wash; it's something that can happen in the background. only needing my attention when I have to go out and hang it out on the line. I refuse to waste power by using the dryer when I have a perfectly good clothesline. I didn't spend a week clearing out that part of the yard not to use the damn thing. I must admit washing is one of my favourite chores to do.

If I get time this afternoon, I'm going to start mowing the house yard. it won't take long to get done. but seeing as I have a battery-operated mower it will probably take two batteries to get the job done.