Missed May 1st

Trying to do a little bit more writing of what I have accomplished. However, actually accomplishing things takes time, and leaves less time for writing. Yesterday was Friday. I spent the morning researching a compensation issue regarding work, and dealing with personal finances, and then I did a big cleanup in the flower garden area. Still need to dig out the encroaching lilies of the valley. This took most of the afternoon, and was uneventful other than when I disturbed a hibernating toad and bee.

Helped Sarah, who wanted to make "Froggy Bread," so we had rolls and bread with our grilled chicken dinner. After dinner Matt and I prepped the grid for the square foot garden. Then we did a fire in the firepit and had lil smokies, popcorn and marshmallows and lots of deep and frivolous talk with the kids, and stayed up so late I didn't even read before bed.

Today, I did a little more financial planning work in the morning, and then I planted the first round of seeds, lettuce, scallions, brussels sprouts (fingers crossed for better results this year), kale and snap peas (fingers crossed that something doesn't eat these seeds). Labeled everything, covered up the empty spots so they don't get festooned with tree buds, and transplanted half a peony and planted an Easter lily.

Tried using up some of my chive pesto in stuffed mushrooms for dinner. Used very little pesto and ended up with way too much cheese filling, so I had to make a whole plate of hors d oeuvres, which were nice, but the kids did not like. Used the mushroom stems to make mushroom rice, and a grilled pork tenderloin. Strawberries. And Sarah made banana bread for dessert/snack. Once again, a filling day, food-wise. Didn't feel like a lot was accomplished, but Matt brought up all the patio furniture, Sarah cleaned the patio and table, and Robbie did his black belt test via zoom video chat.

The mundane household tasks seem to be expanding to fill the available time, and I definitely do NOT like that. Somehow need to communicate some kind of urgency. Of course kids do not experience this feeling at all, and in fact are experts at finding "something else" they must do, whenever a mundane household task is brought to their attention.

Anyway, we finished watching Ozark tonight, and might try to read some more before bed. At some point, maybe tomorrow, I need to test my replacement mixer. But this is supposed to be for what I HAVE done, not a to-do list. However, without actively working on a to-do list, I seem to lose track of all the minor things to do, like sorting the mail and putting away clutter, and why do these minor things always seem to add up to so much time?

Definitely Productive at Wasting Time

Ended up down a rabbit hole today planning a summer activity series that I'm sure my family will mock until they don't. Like anything that I start to obsess over, I spent basically the whole morning on it.

The chore chart has yet to make an appearance in the household, because I just cannot even with the teen derision that will greet it. But I am overwhelmingly starting to feel distressed at the idea that we are just going to fritter away our days, with nothing productive accomplished, and nothing memorable to look back on. 

Not that cleaning the kitchen ceiling is memorable, but it does need to be done. 

Anyway, I cooked some lunch, took a walk with dog and son, called my dad (his friend broke her hip), decided it was time to panic buy some meat, which Matt did for me, made dinner including a kale salad from volunteer kale, and fielded dinner complaints. 

Phone call with my sister, organized the pantry while listening to audiobook on hoopla, watched Survivor with the fam, and Riverdale by myself, did a little social media ranting, ate too many snacks and now here we are. 

Oh, yeah right I did laundry and dishes again today. 

Just another day in paradise

Spent most of the day today analyzing finances, hoping to find some sweet spot that allows us to weather the pandemic and still retire in style, lol. 

Made chive pesto, which didn't turn out as tasty as last year's. Either the olive oil was too cheap or I didn't use enough Parmesan or the chives I picked yesterday weren't fresh enough. Anyway, I made it, so I'll eat it. 

Other than sitting in on the Library board meeting via "zoom" and the usual laundry, dinner, and listening to 1/3 of an audiobook that's about all I did today. 

Oh, planted some chives in between the daffodils. Hopefully that's a good spot since I harvested some volunteers from there over the weekend. 

Daughter says she's started reading the book I wrote and the beginning is too confusing with too many characters. 

Son called the dog a precious angel, so I called son a precious angel and tucked him into bed. 

Watched TV with Matt, drank cocktail,  

Right on Schedule

Last post, I said about once a year I get motivated. I have a habit of writing about what I'm going to do. Even my journaling is often filled with To Do Lists and big plans. So tonight I'm going to write about what I Actually Do, or what I've done.

I picked a bad day to decide this, unfortunately. Not very productive today, as I had to have medical tests for possible kidney stones, and unpleasant drinking of awful banana flavored solution at 6:30 am that left me somewhat nauseous all day. Then the actual test, which occupied most of the morning, and weird interactions with medical professionals all gowned and masked due to virus pandemic. I'm made to leave the premises and wait in my car, where 2 minutes later the medical man reappears and signals me to open the window. I have to put the key in to do so, and he tells me, "You have to go upstairs first, follow me." So I put the window back up, remove the key, get back out of the car and follow him. It all seems very unnecessary, not sure what is accomplished other than a lot of extra running around and a compliment on my homemade mask.

Post-test, a quick stop at the grocery store for the few things I couldn't get at my Target run last week. Failed to stock up on meat, despite the predictions of soon to come meat shortage, and had to stop at a second store for yeast and flour (still no bread flour).

Back at home, kids have NOT done their chores, despite my reminding them this morning and despite them slacking off on their schoolwork (no one is practicing their music--don't they understand I can easily notice this?) We put away the groceries, and I take a looong shower like I do anytime I have to venture out into the world.

Afterward, I make myself some cheesy toasted pita bread for lunch, and then waste time in a social media debate with someone I unblocked for some weird reason. I read more about the virus, and get frustrated with medical professionals and their lack of success here in Michigan. Check on my finances, and do some laundry, and tidy up around the house. I keep feeling weird stomach sensations and have to sit back down.

Anyway, that's about it for this Monday--other than cooking dinner, including the 5 mini potatoes I found when we prepped the garden boxes yesterday. I worked with Robbie on the garden prep, and had some nice conversation while we pulled out all the old leaves and helicopters. Then he got sick of working and we ended up with a mini-debate on the usefulness of having a garden at all. I admit, our backyard efforts are meager at best (although we did have frozen green beans through the winter). I try to explain to him that it's a good skill to learn how to produce your own food, and he debates back rather sarcastically that, "it's not that hard, I could do it any time I want to."

My response, "if it's not that hard, then what's the big deal about helping us?" only makes him crabbier. The fact that all the work makes my back ache makes ME crabbier.

Anyway, a leisurely and time-wasted Monday, which I'm finishing off with writing time (this counts doesn't it?) and some more laundry and TV before early to bed tonight, with fingers crossed for a better feeling stomach tomorrow.