Tired to the Bones

It's been quite a few years since I painted all day and I'm feeling it this morning.  There's one room that needs a second coat before Saturday.  I may or may not be needed to help, but it's tentatively on my calendar for Thursday.  Kids are packing and dealing with the car accident so time is crunched for them.  If they can get it done after work, I'll be off the hook for Thursday.

Hubby is safely in VA for the week and I get a beat today to QUIETLY work on my stuff.  Lots of little house chores, organization things and a slow morning routine.  I need a regroup day.

I'm working on re-entry days after "big" weeks (or trips).  In the past, I'd take a sofa slug day with comfort food and too much junk TV to "recover."  That ultimately trades one recover need for another and does no net good in the long run.  Working on a smarter way to transition out of BIG -- easy day, but still productive.  Relaxing in a way that doesn't take me to a lower place.

I have today planned and it feels good.  This sets me up for a good week and the hustle that will build back up for the weekend.  I'll have a quiet day AND still move forward with helping my future self this week.

Planting seeds for the fall garden.

Returning shoes that don't fit (Amazon).

Water time for the house plants.

Sheet day.

Finish Into the Drowning Deep. (It's really good)

Plan the week ahead (Monday Hour One per Brooke Castillo)

Clean off the dining room table with all the Depression glass.

Pick up Monti's meds from the vet.

Keeping this short and sweet this morning so I can get at it.  Happy Monday (!!)

Absolutely Worth It

I had a super day at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens.  It was worth the trouble of going and then some.  

Turned out the weather was warm, muggy and SUNNY.  Glad I put on sunscreen -- no umbrellas needed.  The 2 women I met both know the gardens well and gave a great tour.  I only took 2 pictures but there was a lot to see and we saw it all.

Side note:  I wore a summer dress that comes just to my knees and sneakers.  Good choice for comfort from the heat and lots of walking.

We wore masks which was no issue other than it was hot in the sun.  Fantastic conversations from books to professions to personal lives.  More on this later as I have some interesting tidbits about books and such to share.

We ate outside with masks except when we were actually EATING.  It felt like the kind of safety-risk balance I'm willing to have in this phase of the pandemic.

We're "friends" on FB now (which means we can use Messenger) and we talked about doing several field trips each year.  It was a good day.

I dropped the sectional piece to the kids' house (last one going over today).  They're feeling okay after the accident -- more concerned about the car situation now.  They day got away from them with lots of other house needs, so they only got one room primed (the other doesn't need to be primed, thankfully).  I went home to take care of the dogs so today is a painting day for me.  Up early to get ready for an early start today.

Monti had a better night last night.  Hopefully what was bugging him has resolved.  If not, to the vet we go (!!)  It's hard to tell if this is his anxiety or he's got something physical starting.  Nothing obvious happening other than he's not himself and seems restless.  

That's all from here.  Happy Sunday.  Later gators.

Good Start, Bummer Ending

Yesterday started really well.  Busy morning with errands, then to the kids' new house to deliver the first part of the sectional.  We toasted their new place with antique glasses my aunt gave me (my youngest was over too -- I didn't have any because I didn't know he was going to be there too and I only brought 4 glasses).  How cute are the glasses though?  Edged glass with gold pattern on the rim.  

 

We stayed until late afternoon and then came home for the dogs.  Hubby decided to take a late run to Costco and Lowe's for the housework this weekend.

I stayed up because I had a strange feeling.  I texted to make sure he was okay.  He called to say just off the phone with our son.  Someone (old lady on oxygen) ran an intersection and side hit them on the passenger's side.  Everyone is fine, but car is in bad shape.  Dang.  I bet they're going to be sore today.  Thank god he was able to partially swerve and they weren't badly hurt (fingers crossed today is okay too).

Then, our old man was up ALL NIGHT.  Something is bothering him.  Maybe an ear infection or UTI.  He stirred and kept me awake over and over.  Of course, now it's the weekend.  I'll try to get an appointment for him on Monday.  Last time he did this it was an ear infection.  His ears aren't smelly, so maybe a UTI -- he peed in the house yesterday morning.

Botanical Gardens is on for this morning.  Best to just DO IT and enjoy.  Of course, worry about the kids and a low sleep night isn't helping.  It's warm, muggy and wet.  Makes for a difficult dressing situation.  Jeans are way too warm, but a dress seems like too much.  Hope I can make this trip worth it (!!)

Suddenly, I need a NOTHING (and NO ONE) day.  Hopefully, I get that this week.  I NEED to make it happen.  50-50 ... gets you every time.

I'm reading two books.  How to Do Nothing (Jenny Odell) recommended by a podcast -- gets lots of good reviews.  And Into the Drowning Deep (Mira Grant) -- killer mermaids.  It's really good so far.

Oops.  Dogs up.  Got to run.  Later gators.

Depression Glass

I got a bunch of depression glass from my aunt yesterday.  Mostly cups and plates, but a few interesting little dishes too.  I like using different glasses and such.  I'm sharing with my DIL too.

Look at this pretty set -- it just holds my morning Joe (somewhere between and espresso and Americano).

Today the kids' close on their first house -- exciting day for them (!!)  We're heading over to start bringing the sectional.  Weather is the pits, but they have a garage to unload in so no issue with it getting wet.

Looks like the bookclub field trip to the Botanical Gardens will be weather postponed.  Still no definitive decision, but the general thought and weather forecast are leaning that way.  I'm disappointed, but I think it's probably best unless the forecast improves in the next 12 hours.  

I rode a LIVE Peloton class yesterday for my 300th ride.  Got TWO shout-outs.  One in the warmup and one at the end.  Guess she didn't remember she already said my rider handle.  That was fun, but I'm still not a fan of the live rides.  No parameters added until the ride goes on replay so you have to remember and hear what the instructor says -- harder than you'd think with the music going and you're biking hard.  

I had a few Peloton goals and a shout-out was one of them so that's done.  Others were ride a live class (done), take each type of class (done), take each length of class (done), take each instructor (about 3/4) and try an outdoor run audio class.

Weekend is here.  I'm spending it painting walls with the kids, running sofa parts and ladders to their house (about 50 minutes away).  Hubby has a very late flight out on Sunday (last flight of the night) so he can watch the football games. 

Happy weekend.  Later gators.

Original Dress

I took some pictures of the original dress for my son's wedding.  It's okay.  Seems I might have been a little over judgmental about it.  It looks nice most of the time, but there are angles that don't work with the sleeves and full skirt that makes me feel thicker in the waist.  I really like the back though.

I had a fun day at lunch yesterday.  We sat outside for a couple of hours with an easy chat.  I ran to The Container Store for wrapping paper and to look at the fun little extras -- both are super scaled back now.  It was a bummer.  My favorite wrapping paper is gone -- nuts!  Don't know if they're streamlining product lines or it's a supply chain problems, but the store is slim pickings.

Quick stop at Whole Foods to find they rearranged the store --ugh.  Why?!?  Trader Joe's did this recently too.  I don't think anyone enjoys the rearrange (!!)  So much for a zip in and out.  

Today I'm going to my aunt's house for lunch and to take some of her depression glass collection.  She wants to give it away and I'm up for taking some.  She won't take any money for it though so I have a little gift instead.  I'm also sharing a beloved cucumber from my itty bitty garden.  That feels like something a "real" gardener does (aka future me).

Peloton LIVE ride this morning.  It's my 300th ride and so I thought I'd take a live class for the elusive shout-out from the instructor.  They only shout-out numbers on the 100 milestones.  I don't like the live as much because the riding parameters haven't been added yet, but the timing was hard to argue.

Having a "normal" hormone week is a treat.  Sleeping well, waking early, mood is even, body temp is better.  

Have a happy day and stay well.  Later gators.

Final Fitting

I don't like the dress (!!)  If I had to wear it for the wedding I'd get other alternations done (take off cap sleeves and take out some volume on the skirt which was suppose to happen with this alteration).  I don't have a picture (YET), but I'm taking ones this week for a friend to see.  The service went from "Southern Hospitality Charm" to "Don't Let the Door Hit You" -- seriously?!?  Got a backroom fitting room (even though plenty of big, front ones available), huffs that I wanted to see it in the 3 mirror platform and told it was "practically a sundress."  Southern ladies can turn on a dime.

I'll save the dress if I have another big occasion, but I'll get it altered again and then I think I'll like it.  I love the back of the dress.  It needs a few more tweaks, but I didn't want to pay to have that done now.

That dress is WAY TOO MUCH for the upcoming wedding.  I had one idea to find another dress.  White House Black Market.  It's on the way home from the other fitting.  The Dress Gods were looking out for me.  There was ONE dress fancy enough for a wedding and one of those in my size.  After trying on, TWO other people wanted that dress in that size.  OMG.  I got it by about 10 minutes.  

The fabric is dressy -- light and almost silk like.  The skirt is pleated and it's super comfortable.  I ordered a black shawl for the evening.  It's summer-lite, but fall colors so it works great.  Done and dusted.

In other news ...

Here's a start of my fall itty bitty garden.  I'll plant the seeds within the next week.  I got some plants from Pike's Nursery when I bought the soil.  

Lettuce

Mint

FOUR more cucumbers
and tons of cherry tomatoes ...
STILL !!

Lavender

Strawberries

New pots for seeds.
Carrots and greens.

Today is lunch with my friend from the foster group.  Cooler weather today -- woo hoo!  Outside as usual.  

I'm crunching to read the Jen Hatmaker book selection by Saturday.  Darely Greatly (Brene Brown).  I read it a long time ago, but need to refresh.  We're meeting at Atlanta Botanical Gardens this Saturday.  Weather is iffy though and so far, only 3 of us going.  I say I have about a 50/50 chance of it happening.  They're offering flex tickets now so I can use it another time.  In-person meeting was my push and I'm glad it's happening (or at least, trying to happen).

Have a great day.  Later gators.

Pictures Coming

Theme today -- I'll be taking pictures haha.

My fall itty bitty garden is coming along.  I filled planters, bought a few new plants and am working on the rest this week.  Pictures and details once I get it all set.

Update on the Botox.  Not loving it so much yet.  The one side is working fine (the non-problematic side), but the other is reacting mid-eyebrow, not between the eyes.  It takes 2 weeks to work so I'll see if it evens out.  I can make a strange eyebrow movement on the left side if I squeeze really hard.  As of now, this is a one and done thing ... but I still have another 9 days to see what happens.  Pictures coming.

Today is a fitting for my original dress for the kids' wedding -- hopefully the final one.  Pictures to come.

Have to get moving this morning so short and sweet.  I'll leave with a picture of Monti -- he loves to sit under the veggie plants.  Later gators.