2024 Project 365 – Week One

Fresh Clean Year! At least it was at the beginning of this week. Right now it seems to be exactly the same as last year (which was only last week for heaven’s sake).
Sunday, December 31^st        
I DID go to the party – stayed until about 10:30 & was in bed by midnight. The only photo I took was this one where Bruno was desperately hoping that someone would drop the ping pong ball. And they did, to much hilarity. Really, I should have been videoing it.
 

Monday, January 1^st  
Dr. M was playing with one of his Christmas presents, a new flashlight from my brother. Dr. M loves flashlights so he gets them as gifts a lot – which was a good thing when we lost power a few months ago. This one is really cool!
 

Tuesday, January 2^nd                        
From the socials: This wasn’t the new me I envisioned when I heard about New Year New You. This me seems eerily familiar.
 

Wednesday, January 3^rd                                
The stem on my amaryllis has broken in two places – can’t tolerate the weight of the flower I guess. It’s still pretty, but not probably won’t last for much longer.
 

Thursday, January 4^th                             
Dr. M says, “Had to see a man about a cat.”
 

Friday, January 5^th                           
My sister-in-law Bren came by my office so I could refresh her memory on crocheting during my lunch hour. She’s starting on a VERY ambitious project – a temperature blanket for her king size bed.
 

Saturday, January 6^th                        
I was inspired by Bren to keep working on this WIP that has been stuffed in a bag for a while. Every year I have a formal or informal resolution to finish all my WIPS before I start new projects. And every year I fail rather spectacularly. Here’s hoping I can at least finish one of them!
 

I’m currently suffering with yet another infected tooth. I don’t know what the heck is going on – it’s most tender where I have my implant (and the tooth beside it has had a root canal). All I know is that I am a great big whiny baby when my teeth hurt. I wish we could get antibiotics over the counter (and no, I don’t really wish that but it’s very annoying that I have to wait at least until tomorrow to get some relief). So, how are YOU doing?
 

2022 Project 365 – Week Fifty-two

Happy New Year! I’ve spent the day eating a cupcake at a two year old’s birthday party and now I’m watching hockey, which makes it a pretty perfect way to start the new year.  
Sunday, December 25^th             
Christmas morning we opened gifts from my cousin and then I headed to church. After church we went to Dr. M’s dad’s house for lunch. Here is what Dr. M said: We once again gathered around the ancestral table for Christmas lunch, there in the little house teenage Pop helped his WWII veteran cousin build. It is his 90th Christmas. He ate well: meatloaf, mash potatoes, green beans and pintos (aka shellie beans), mac ‘n cheese, brioche rolls, and pie! In the early 70s, the house would have been filled with people, and I would have been relegated to the kids’ table. Today, there were just three of us and a lot of ghosts…a lot of ghosts.

Christmas Moon!
 

Monday, December 26^th     
Stopped by my dad’s house to work a section of the puzzle. Mischief managed!
 

Then I went to the store to get the ingredients for my church cookbook dessert. It was pretty good ya’ll!
 

Tuesday, December 27^th           
Our annual college friend gathering! I think this was number 37? Which is just crazy.
 

One of my gifts was this necklace that perfectly matches a pair of earrings I’ve had for many years.
 

Wednesday, December 28^th                     
Stopped by my dad’s house and took a sky photo before heading home.
 

We’ll be leaving our tree up for probably another few weeks. We really enjoy the light in the evenings. And note that the wise men are heading toward Bethlehem!
 

Thursday, December 29^th               
No photo.
 
Friday, December 30^th            
My hot chocolate at work looked so pretty that I had to take a photo.
 

Finished!
 

Saturday, December 31^st      
Our evening plans were canceled so we watched college football (two amazing crazy games!) and I made this hat. I was so excited to get to the end of the pattern & then saw that the last line gave instructions for work that will probably take another 2 hours. So that’s what I’ll be working on this evening.
 

I have some nebulous ideas of things I’d like to work on this year (Drink more water! Move your ass!), but I’m not going to make any official resolutions. Those never work anyway – apparently I don’t like being told what to do, even by myself. How about you? Any big or small plans?

2020 Project 365 – Week One

Today I had my last holiday event of the year & boy am I ever glad! I’m looking forward to boring old January & February. Sheesh!

Sunday, December 29^th                                                   

It was POURING down rain when I got to church. I very seriously considered just turning around & going back home, but I had some schmoozing to do so I went on in.

Monday, December 30^th                   

This thing was making the rounds on Instagram, where this program would tell you which Harry Potter character you are. I was pretty chuffed that it decided I was Harry.

Tuesday, December 31^st                                                       

I went to my cousin’s New Year’s Eve party & had a great time. This year I even (not really, but sort of) made it to round two of the ping pong tournament. Well, I lost in round one, but they took pity on me & let me play in round two too.

Wednesday, January 1^st – Happy New Year!                                                 

Dr. M went to his dad’s & had lunch.

And my plan was to stay RIGHT HERE in my jammies for the day.

But instead I went to my dad’s to visit with them & my nephew & his girlfriend (I left my jammies on). I played some ping pong with my dad (he got a table for Christmas & I plan to get over there as often as possible so I can make it higher in the tournament next year). While I was there I took a couple of pictures of my Christmas gift from my nephew – SUPER COOL!

After I got home I made a couple of things for the office Christmas party, which had been postponed due to TOO MUCH FOOD before Christmas.

Thursday, January 2^nd  

I saw this driving to work today – I think we have that exact same lamb in our house.

Friday, January 3^rd                                                               

Dr. M accidentally broke one of our ornaments today. He had this to say about it: Tonight I clumsily broke a 50 year old glass ornament. It hurt my heart...would that all of us would feel so sensitive about each other and our planet!

Saturday, January 4^th               

Today I went to church to set up for our Vegetarian Potluck on Sunday. We had folks try to do meatless Mondays during Advent & decided to have a potluck so we could share our favorite recipes. I carted a table and dishes (the real deal) up from the basement & rearranged things & washed dishes, and basically got all of my steps for the day during the couple of hours I spent there. I was worried that people wouldn’t fix food, and I was worried that people wouldn’t come, but (spoiler alert!), it was a success! Plenty of food & plenty of fellowship. You’ll get to see those pictures next week.

Meanwhile, Dr. M spent some more time with his dad & got to see critters on his way home. Floofs & flocks!

It’s going to be weird having to work for five straight days. And then there is a church council retreat on Saturday. It’s entirely possible that I will fluff off on Sunday & do nothing. I am putting all the usual suspects on notice – you may or may not see me. How about you? Are things back to normal in your neck of the woods?

2019 Project 365 – Week One. The I’m a Creature of Habit Edition

I talked a big game about changing things up, but when it came down to it I remembered how confused I was in 2017 when I didn’t do this weekly post. I’m going to try to not post a picture every day for the heck of it – I’ll just post the days when something of interest happened. Of interest to me, anyway – you people are just along for the ride.

Sunday, December 30^th                                

We drove home from the beach today, so here is an appropriately dreary picture. It was a nice drive home. I drove & made Dr. M listen to my audio book & I was in the zone – love trips like that.

Monday, December 31^st                                           

Happy New Year! We went to my cousin’s annual party. However, I lost in the first round of the ping pong tournament (damn you Caroline!) so we were home again by 9:30. Well, actually we came home early because I had to go to work the next day. I’m still salty about the ping pong though.

Tuesday, January 1^st                                              

This is the view that my phone had while I was trying to remember if I’d remembered to bring my phone.

Wednesday, January 2^nd            

No picture

Thursday, January 3^rd                

Oh my word I was in a frenzy – I looked down at my hand & only saw one of the three rings in this set. I had been to CVS, the bank, and the post office earlier, so after I didn’t see the rings in the office or parking lot or car, I retraced my steps & gave my business card to folks at each location. No dice. Then my coworker found one of the rings in the bathroom (that I had already searched), & another coworker convinced me to go through the trash again. I pulled out each individual paper towel & found the other ring. Woo hoo!

Friday, January 4^th                                        

Caught a coworker in action while he got a picture of a furniture tableau.

Saturday, January 5^th                                               

I’ve been elected to the church council at my new church (did I tell you?). Today we had a planning session/retreat. I’m now chairing the green committee. I’m not really sure how this keeps happening. Ha!

Since I haven’t answered questions on my last blog post, I’ll answer them here. Eye primer is supposed to make your eye shadow stay on longer & look more even. I don’t usually mess with it, but I had gotten this one as a bonus when I bought something else. I usually ignore expiration dates – if it doesn’t look or smell funky I’m game. The hydrocortisone didn’t pass the look test. Nance is RIGHT – SMH is Shake My Head. But I always thought it was Smack My Head & I like my version better. Ha!

2017: A random review

• We moved to NC in March and are so glad that we're here! 
• In May I had to start using a walker & had my second hip surgery in August, AND IT WAS A MIRACLE!!! You should have seen me running around at my nephew's wedding (IN HEELS) on Saturday, or playing ping pong on Sunday night. So so very thankful.
• I read 72 books in 2017. I used to post a monthly list of the books that I read, but I since I mainly read series books it was getting a little boring. But I like reading other people's lists, so maybe in 2018 I'll just post stand-alone books.
• I didn't participate in the Moogly Crochet-Along in 2017, but I am feeling antsy & I think I'm going to make two blankets in 2018. 
• Friday was my last day at my old job & that morning I tried to log in to do the handful of final tasks I'd allotted for the day & found out that they'd terminated me early. Oops! I still did a conference call, and later in the morning they got it sorted out so that I could log in. Then I clocked out early to go to my nephew's wedding rehearsal. It was such a weird day - very anticlimactic. However, onward!
• I start my new job tomorrow. Better go pack my lunch!

Monday Miscellany

I'm just sort of dipping my toe in here - not sure I have very much to report since my last post of three days ago, but here goes.

Crochet Madness: In addition to the two new blankets that I plan to make with the Moogly CAL again this year, I have committed to another year long project. And Dr. M will tell you, if asked, that I am OBSESSED with it. It's called a temperature blanket. The object is to check the temperature each day & crochet (or knit) one row in the color chosen for that temperature range. Here's my color chart (using leftover yarn from last year's blankets) and first three days of crocheting.

I'm checking the temp at 7:00 each evening and I was SO EXCITED about today. The low is supposed to be 11 degrees & I just knew that it would be below 22 by 7:00 so I could use a new color. Sadly, it's currently 30 degrees at 5:15 & not likely to dip below 22 in the next nearly two hours. However, you know that I will keep you posted on the situation. 

I'm Not Really Awake Right Now: After three weeks of mostly waking up whenever the heck I wanted to, I have been very annoyed at having to be somewhere and functional for the past two mornings. This afternoon I was staring blearily at the report I was editing and had to get up and WALK for twenty minutes. That's just sad. I think that eventually I'll start getting to bed at a reasonable hour. Maybe. 

This is Not a Resolution: I have two fitness/weight loss challenges at work right now. One is with my department - we're being challenged to lose 6% of our body weight by April 1. We also had to come up with a personal stretch goal. I decided that my goal will be to walk an average of 2.5 miles a day. Currently I average a little over a mile a day. This challenge is why I got up to walk when I was falling asleep at my desk, so I think it's already been a success! 

The other challenge is a pseudo biggest loser challenge, where we put money down & have to pay $1 per pound if we gain weight. We did it in the fall & I did a fabulous job of maintaining my weight. Ha! I'm never successful at these, but I like the little niggle in the back of my head that makes me think twice before I eat ice cream. 

Upcoming Events: I've been afraid to see how many books I've read since the last Book Review Tuesday. Maybe in the rush to Crochet All The Things before Christmas I didn't actually read that many. We shall see. Maybe next Tuesday. (OK, I peeked - 10 books. Ulp.)

OK, that's enough - what's random in your life? (Still 30 degrees at 5:37. Sigh.)

Happy New Year!

I’ve been busy taking care of niggling things – getting concealer to cover up my recent outbreak of rosacea (I look like a scary clown – seriously!), figuring out what that painful knot is on the bottom of my foot (a seed corn – yay! Yes, this is self-diagnosed, but I’m about 98% sure…), making plans to get back on track with healthy eating so I can weigh substantially less at my next doctor’s appointment (April), and figuring out how to refine a work process so that it’s easier for me to work from home. One might think that perhaps I’m getting ready for a new year or something. But no! These aren’t my New Year’s resolutions.

Sadly, since I pretty much ignored them, I’ve decided to just recycle last year’s resolutions:

1.       Have better posture.

2.       Look at my calendar every morning.

But this year I have a plan for actually accomplishing those goals. First, I’m going to do some research into the best exercises and methods for obtaining excellent posture. Second, I’m going to put a blasted alarm on my phone to remind me to look at my calendar. I’m going to set the reminder to “nag every minute” so that it keeps popping up until I look at the calendar. That should do the trick. Right? Right?

Dr. M and I have a low key evening planned and an even lower key day tomorrow. I have a new Eve Dallas book to read so I’ll be lounging around (I mean, sitting up straight in my chair) all day.

What are you guys up to?

2014 Project 365 – Week One

Here we are in Week One and I’m starting off the year as I mean to go on – with a gazillion pictures. I tried to cut some of them out, but I didn’t do very well. Perhaps I need an editor!

Sunday, December 29^th   

After going to the nursing home to help my dad lead singing for Sunday School, we drove back to Ohio. Before we left I finally remembered to take a picture of the doll that my cousin the potter and her mother the seamstress made for my wedding. I’ve never had anywhere to keep it in my home, but I think that the next time we go to NC I’m going to bring her home with me. The dress is made out of my mother’s wedding dress. Pretty good likeness!

We took our usual detour on the way home. Guess what we saw?

  

Monday, December 30^th

The squirrels are still enjoying the new feeder.

Tuesday, December 31^st           

Sunset in Xenia…

Wednesday, January 1^st

New Year’s Squirrel!

I finished the set – hat, fingerless gloves & scarf. As I finished the hat I realized that I had misread the pattern when I made all those other scarves & gloves. Ha!

Thursday, January 2^nd    

We got about 6 inches of snow. What a way to start the year!

Dr. M bundled up to take the trash out. Thanks sweetie!

Friday, January 3^rd  

Dr. M taking art photos of the snow on our eaves…

The moon!

Saturday, January 4^th   

I finished the scarf I started last week. Love my model!

We went out to run some errands & of course had to check out the ducks & geese at the local park. The camera setting for the first picture was wrong, but I think it’s really cool!

Lots of snow everywhere. The first picture here is one of the roads we went down. Thank goodness most of our roads are pretty clear!

And we’ll end the week as we started it – with sheep!

Have a great week!

Most of our photos are taken with a 12 megapixel Nikon D5000 DSLR, using a 55-200mm zoom lens. This is the camera that Dr. M takes with him most days. He also takes pictures with our old reliable 7 megapixel Canon Powershot A710.  The Bug uses our new Nikon Coolpix S6200 most of the time. If you’re interested in which camera was used for a particular shot, just ask!