More August Progress!

It's been exciting to have a few days to work around here!! I am excited to report that those paint thingys that are small squares with tiny rollers on one edge that you use to roll around edges of walls and around door frames work! It took me a couple of times to get the knack of it, but I was able to enjoy making quicker "cutting in" progress.

My entry was has gone from this:

To this:

I don't have a before photo that is recent, but one side of the living room now looks like this:

This next week I hope to work on this dining room wall and the other half of the entry way:

(Insert note to Ron here)
Hey, Ron, this is a different ladder... Just so you know... since you always notice the ladders in my photos...
(Continue with post)

Anyway, it feels SO good to see progress... to sit back and see a cleaned up space just feels "freeing". I have been looking forward to getting these things done for months now... There's just a very wonderful satisfaction in turning around a living space and making it lovely. One more week of August... I wont meet my goal of finishing the painting inside the house, but, it will happen...


Blessings to you, family and friends!

Week 3 of August

Life has been so busy lately and I think of my blog and photographs and words to say all the time, but just haven't sat down to follow through...

First off, weeks 2 and 3 had to be combined because I had some fun family activities come up that kept me from meeting week 2 goals. During week 2 one great thing did get accomplished, though. Remember that awful desk and the state of clutter?

TA-DA!

Although the painting wont be done for another couple of weeks, here is what that corner looks like for now:

I'm so excited!! It's so much nicer. I love the cozy look.

Some day I am going to have a more critical eye and catch things like that baggie behind the tomatoes...

I would love to take some of those and have fun playing with apps... maybe some day... I don't know why, but I really like the one that flew in the wind and turned out blurred. It's just so neat!

Here's our single, happy pumpkin growing:

Since we've been looking at nature, why not the moon? A friend sent me some cool moon photo ideas. My first couple of shots do not come anywhere close to what she sent. I have a lot to learn still. No matter what aperture I dialed in, I could not get the person and the moon equally in focus... Now I watch for moonrises...

And speaking of nature and the moon...

Well... not sure what that has to do with nature or the moon... but, isn't he just splendid? Well, yes, that does have something to do with nature and the moon. You see, he loves our willow tree... and the moon was out.

Now I am off to work hard on goals for this week... again...

Blessings!!

PS Yes, if you look at my new desk setup, there is a paper with pictures of Zeva from NCIS printed... she inspires me. And my kids laugh when they open up the desk. Each one says the same thing: "Really, mom?" And I laugh. Cause you have to keep your kids guessing sometimes.

August Week 2 Goals

Today is a beautiful day and I am taking lots of time to sit and relax... to visit... to admire the sky, garden and enjoy pets. Particularly Joseph. He's such a darling pet!

Looking at this past week, I am thankful for the goals that were set a week ago. Yet, I must acknowledge that some days were very difficult. It's hard to break habits. It was very trying to stop myself from jumping on the computer and instead grab a book to read. But, it was worth it. I was able to meet my daily goals Monday through Thursday. Come Friday, though, I felt the pressure of getting that week's goal of painting the ceiling done. It took a whole lot of time and effort to roll paint. We have a high vaulted ceiling. Ouch. So, on Friday and Saturday my main focus was this one task.

Trying to break down the task of painting the kitchen, living room and halls as well as reorganizing and fixing some stuff around here is not easy. I think I took a realistic approach last week and hope that this week's goals are also realistic.

In the midst of daily life, fixing meals, helping with sweet grandbabies, enjoying my pet, Joseph (he's my son, actually)... I will attempt the following: (Why does this sound like a magician's trick??)

***Continue daily devotion (bump it up from 3 focused days last week to 5 this week!)

***Read: 30 minutes daily, continuing the rule of "Before getting on the computer, grab a book and read for 15 minutes!"

***Crochet: If I can get around the edge of the afgan once a day, this should get done in a couple of weeks!

***Photography: Continue enjoying what I have been doing. Learn some more!

***Home Improvement: (This one really bugs me this week) Clear stacks of papers at desk, give desk to high school son, Clayton, move into tall-upright desk, establish new filing drawer, re-organize shelves and paint entryway and lower walls of outer kitchen/inner living room walls... A lot of this is busy work that I detest. But, it must get done.

Here are my before photos, none of which are to represent quality photography:

Those are just painful! I would like to state, in my defense, that these areas have received quite a low priority as I've repainted my kitchen and done the ceilings... So, have mercy!! Well, that sounds good... but, reality tells me that my desk looks kind of like this a lot of the time. Switching to the tall, upright desk should help. I wont have open space to clutter up!

Now I am off to enjoy this evening. Think we'll get some take out food and enjoy a movie... early PJ night!!!

Blessings,

Hello, New Month! Time to tackle some tasks!

A continuous life theme for me is "fresh starts". Whether it's the beginning of school years or New Year's Eve, I love taking time to plan, chart and start over once again. For several weeks I've been swirling around in a lot of mental "to do"s, biting off far more than I can chew, wondering how to "pull it all together".

This morning I got excited yet once again... it's August 1st, the beginning of a new month, the start of a new week. Instead of mentally thinking on this for the day, I took action and wrote down what I'd like to accomplish this first week. I hope to do this each week during this month. I hope to accomplish my goals!! Perhaps breaking them down into weekly increments will help me finish them off! We'll see...

At first I made a simple list. I want to re-establish some daily habits that mean a lot to me, but which have sparsely shown up since I become distracted with projects... Remembering a girl in college who made large monthly posters with goals and boxes to check off, I made myself a paper to tape up, which has each day this week (not including Sunday), and a vertical space to record letters which are the codes of my goals.

While I would love to have this week's main goal a bit bigger, I stuck with clearing my entry shelves, painting my ceiling and keeping the kitchen clean each day. In case you don't want to try to read the legend at the bottom of my paper, I'll write out my daily goals:

D: Devotion/Prayer I've been doing really quick prayers and barely paying attention to giving my relationship with God a priority in my day. I want a D in each column this week!

R: Read, 30 minutes. I might get in more than 30 minutes a day, who knows. I love to read, whether it's a book on photography, a classic novel or a family life book. Right now I have a few books competing for my attention:

My next two goals are really hobbies. Part of me thought, "Why list hobbies? Shouldn't my goals be 'responsible' and 'task oriented'?" But, creativity often times fuels the other areas of my life and improves them because when I feed my internal creative monster, I am happier and then give greater effort to the other areas in my life... such as keeping the kitchen clean, organizing and painting.

C: Crochet. I am really going to get the blanket I've been working on for Jayden finished this month!

P: Photography. I'd like to try something new a few days this week... perhaps applying something that I am reading about... perhaps getting a small notebook put inside my camera bag and taking notes on what I am doing when I take pictures... we'll see.

And, last but not least, actually the biggest part of life lately:

H: Home Improvement (Paint) It suddenly felt like too much work yesterday when I looked about the living room, entry and halls. I need to cut in the ceiling paint, then roll the ceilings (I don't move furniture out and make a big production, I just get it done, which also means that I have to cover stuff as I go, hoping to not make a big mess... No, don't try to talk me into doing it another way... I'll be fine and the results will be great...). Then I need to do the walls and we have a high vaulted ceiling and I'll be up on a tall ladder... and... sigh... why am I doing this?? But, I can do it if I just break it down into weekly goals. This week it's the ceilings... that's it.

And now I must go... because life is taking place all around me and events like going to the bank and running into the store are still going to have to take place...

Oh, and I decided that in order to make progress in the chosen areas, I will make myself give 15 minutes to reading or hobbies prior to getting on the computer. That means in the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening... whenever I want to hop on the computer, I will make myself spend 15 minutes working on something else.

Progress...

I long for simplicity in the home. Open spaces. Clutter free zones. If something is "there" it should be because I love it or I need it. Painting the interior of my home is giving me the chance to purge and shoot for attaining these such longings...

The walls of the kitchen are now done. Although cabinets need a lesson or two in cleanliness and the ceiling paint hasn't been purchased yet, I am enjoying the immediate results. I hope to keep the walls as empty as possible and to get the chance to reorganize cupboards so that I have less "sitting out" on vertical spaces...

Without further ado... here is my progress:

Now to decide if the next step should be the dining area:

Or the entry way:

***My dining area looks that atrocious because that's where I cleared my painting supplies... it's not that bad... The entry way, however, usually does look this bad...***

What tasks have you been tackling lately?

Whatcha been up to?

Some days it seems like "What haven't I been up to?"

I've been crocheting here and there and the other day Jayden came for a visit and his mommy doesn't know, but when she was busy, I had me some photo fun with baby boy! Here he is in an outfit which kind of matches the blanket I've been working on for a couple of months:

He'll be six months old soon!!

And I slip into another room to peek at little Christopher, napping. We had the best time with him the other night. He says the funniest things.

And in and around every little bit of time for this or for that... I am working on the interior of our home. This:

Became:

(Yes, while repainting the kitchen, I made zucchini bread.)

I've been testing colors for weeks. I didn't want to paint any walls of the house white... or off white. But, Scott shot down darker colors that I picked out, which is probably fine because I truly need a bright home. I really detest my windows being covered. If there are blinds installed, I simply pull that handy cord until they are drawn up to the top and smile victoriously. I don't mind a valance, but no heavy curtains, thank you! Here is a bit of my progress... and, for the record, I am not painting the walls "white", I am painting them "polished pearl". (I did win with my color selection for the entry, living room and hallway colors, though... but, that will be next week or so...)

Oh, the window sills are not going to be white... nice color, huh?

Getting started on this has given me yet another confirmation that I am not as young as I used to be... my back just aches after working on this. But, sights like this motivate me to coninue on. Really, the kitchen never beckons to me to begin with... but, now, it's less and less inviting!!

Well, all that means is the music needs to be turned up and playlists must be enjoyed, because this is going to be a long process....

And that, my friends, is what I've been up to...

To merge Toby Mac and my garage...

This morning I was really, really enjoying my music playlist.  The one where each song speaks volumes and reaches deep down inside of me.  I sat, stitching and taking in the words, once again marveling at how music ministers and goes where nothing else quite makes it.  Don't know if that rings true to anyone else or if that makes sense... but, I was having a fabulous, sentimental time.  Then, I put down my stitching and figured I'd post before and after pictures for week 1 in the garage.  And Toby Mac happened to be singing Made To Love and as I looked at the before pictures, he sings out, "Anything I would give up for you.  Everything.  I'd give it all away."!!!!  It that too funny, or what?

I always have to begin in a corner and work my way through.  One end to the other.  So, I found myself at my washer and dryer area.  And, oh the joy when everyone started seeing clean clothes sorted and handed out!  Here are my before pictures... (grimace)(shudder)

So,  I went and took pictures, then took a 10 minute break...  (Does anyone "get" me?)  Then I went and sorted laundry.  And took a 10 minute break.  Then I completed about 3 sessions, 15 minutes each, sorting and cleaning.  Donate.  Trash.  Recycling.  Set over here until later....  And here are my after photos!  Oh, and in my defense I must say that when I took 10 minute breaks... I was really in the kitchen cleaning or cooking or making my bed or some such thing.  Yeah.  That'll do.  (I DID do those things... but I also sat, sipping coffee and watching Kelly and Regis for a spell, too...)

I got so excited to have a clean area!  There's some scientific principle or law.  The law of momentum?  Is that what it is called?  Well, it worked.  I was so happy with moving forward, that I just kept going.  But, I have a bit more work to do in the next area, so I don't have more photos to share.

Blessings to all of you, friends!

My first blog contest ever...

I have no sponsors.  I don't look for sponsors.  I have never read about sponsors or making money with my blog.  I simply love to sit and ponder and post away, pretending that what I share is enjoyed by nearly everyone out there.  Or some people out there.  Maybe one.

So, this year I had this great idea.  I have drooled for several months over Martha Stewart's Homekeeping Hanbook.  Yes, it is to be the golden ticket!  It is all my hopes in one.  It will surely be just what I need to read and tackle this household and keep things tidy and organized. 

I tried Flylady.  About 4 times.  I could write many pages of Flylady's website from memory.  After 4 times, though, when the kitchen is messy and I cannot find socks and the garage looks like... well... you'll see... I just cannot click on her site and start with a shiny sink.  I know how to clean.  I know how to delegate.  I know a lot of things.  There's just something about the follow through that gets me every time. 

Oh, yes!  I know what it is!  I end up living in the moments... rushing out the door for this or for that... saying, "Hey, we'll get to the kitchen in a while.  Get over here and let's play dice!"  I used to have to do 3-4 loads of laundry every day to stay caught up.  But, then I was so tired of doing laundry that I'd take a couple days off and then... whoa... not pretty... Well, all these random confessions and statements have a purpose.  I think. 

My sweet mother-in-law, Cathy, purchased Martha Stewart's book for me for Christmas.  Well, I am certain that this book will save me and my household.  After all, it's Martha Stewart.  How can I go wrong?   So, my great idea is to work through the book this year, blogging about it as I go.  Kind of like being a copy cat of Julie and Julia... But, I don't have to cook a lot of stuff.  I just have to... organize? Clean? Hmmm.  And if all I end up with is a lot of laughs and my bedroom closet returns to it's usual chaotic state, well, we'll all survive.  Because I know that relationships are what life is all about, not how organized a closet is...  But, now, the garage... (shudder!)

I have other grand plans swirling around in my mind, though.  So, my year of Martha Stewart must be put on hold.  Because the new plans I have may take months.  I don't dare reveal my ultimate goal with the garage yet.  But, I will share some short time goals.  

First off, I hope to get in the garage and be able to sort and handle the laundry without bumping into any stack or boxes or furniture pieces. 

Secondly, I hope to clear a path so that we can once again walk into the garage and exit through the side door to the side yard.  This is handy.  If we can do this, it will make taking the trash out a simpler task.  As it is now, there are a few stacks of Christmas bins blocking the door and there really, truly is no where else for them to go at this time and still have a garage safe to stand in.

Thirdly, I'd like to create another path down the middle of the garage so that I can open the garage door and walk through the middle of the garage to the driveway.  I wont list the benefits that this would provide... just keep reading.

Fourthly, I hope to create an area near the large garage door to stack donation bags and boxes.  Then I can go into the garage, open the garage door, walk down the middle to the stack of donations and take these to the curb for pick up.  I have contacted the local agency who picks up donations at curb-side and begged them to keep me on their list.  "Please, would you just automatically stop here?  Every two weeks.  Yes, every two weeks."  I tried to get them to come more often, but they wont change their route for me. 

Fifthly, I hope to find another agency who can come on the off weeks to pick up donations.

So, back to the garage. 

My plan is to start in one area and sort.  Give away and throw away as much as possible.  And not let anyone look at what is in the donation bags.  I am ruthless when it comes to tossing.  I am married to Mr. Let's Keep It We'll Need It Someday.  I will have to do this when children are in school and Scott is at work.  I'll keep working through each area, creating paths and clearing out.  Whatever gets to stay will have to go into bins and be labeled.  They will stack up somewhere... Then, when I get through each area of the garage I hope to have a lot of room.  Yes, a lot.  I will need it because the next step will be to get Scott to empty out the rafters and allow me to continue the grand purge.  That will be a lot harder because I will be dealing with a lot more of Scott's things.  C'mon, really, do you need stuff up there that you haven't even seen in 5 years?  Why? 

After that, we'll get everything that stays in our lives put back up into the rafters and we will be left with some furniture items which are not to be donated and a wall of Scott's workshop that he hasn't been able to get to without using his climbing over piles powers. 

I think this will take a few months.  Because I still have to do laundry and cook.  And provide transportation. And go to work.  And play dice.  Laughing must continue, also. The pets will be fed.  Hugs will be given.  We might even raise the volume and dance along the way.  Because you have to live each day.  Really live.  Life takes a lot of work and sometimes it hits you with times that are not any fun at all.  I've learned that whatever has been thrown at me, I've got to live life.  I've got to look for the joy.  Find the fun.  Create great memories.  Even in times that tear me up and keep me awake at night.

Oh, yes.  The contest!  Let's have a messy garage contest!!!  If I participate, I will be certain to win.  Of this I am sure.  So, I am taking myself out of the contest.  I think when you host a contest, you don't participate in it, anyway. 

So, if you read this and want to send me your messy garage photo, I'd love it.  I wont feel so alone.  If you have no garage and have a really disorganized, thoroughly messy storage shed, send me the photo!  Carports will work, too.

Send your entry to bettymarie7stepsup@gmail.com

I will post before and after pictures when I tackle areas of our garage. 

This week's goals!!

Time to get back on track a bit.  I feel like I have been "wandering" lately.  It's not that I have been any busier.  But, I have been very restless.  Sometimes a good "to-do" list helps with that.  In a way it is a comfort to see, written down, what is going on in your life. 

This week I am going to try to:

Exercise each day,
Bible study,  each day
visit with oldest daughter, Shasta,
clean up in the garage a bit,
decorate for Christmas, 
call Dr. to schedule surgery...
finish school project with Victor
finish sewing project,
start wrapping gifts, 
work on school projects with Joseph,
plan nice dinner and family time,
mail one more box at the post office,
get prayers listed in prayer journal,
avoid spending money,
keep housework done (time to dust again!),
keep laundry done

Well, truth be told, I still feel restless.  I believe I will have to find comfort in Scott Peck's words:

"... But the Jesus of the Gospels who some suggest is the best kept secret of Christianity did not have much "peace of mind" as we ordinarily think of peace of mind in the world's terms, and insofar as we can be His followers, perhaps we won't either."  Jesus didn't, you know.  But, He is the Prince of Peace and for that, I will be clinging to him today.

In the written piece, "One Solitary Life" we read that Jesus was born of a peasant woman, never wrote a book, never held an office, never owned a house, didn't go to college, never traveled 200 miles from where he was born, was not popular, was deserted by friends... 

In Isaiah 53:2-7 we read that Jesus took on our sicknesses and sorrows, stricken by God, crushed for our iniquities, and although sad, absolutely beautiful is that the punishment put on him brought us peace and communion with God. 

Honestly, I feel not just restless.  I feel a bit of discontentment creeping in. 

Time to follow Jesus' example.  He often stole away and talked to God.  Time for me to do the same.  And I know without a doubt that by doing so, God will still my restless heart.

Tackle a Task !! Before and After pics... and this week's goals!

I started to doubt about my target date for getting each room, garage and trailer clean and organized.  I worked several days and wasn't very motivated.  But then I had two days in a row home and just got to it. 

Here is how it went, in pictures!

First, my desk... as clean as it gets!

Next, my dressers and night stands, before and afters:

I forgot to get a "before" on this, but the dresser top was cluttered with notebooks, papers, pens...

I got insides of drawers sorted, minimized and tidied.  The closet, too.  I started to put off doing the hall closet, but when the holidays are here the last thing I want is to open that closet and see coats fallen off hangers and the wrapping paper box all messed up and game pieces on the floor!  So, I got that cleaned up, but didn't take photos...

Two more weeks to go and I'll have hit my target date!

This week's tasks include:

Maintaining areas previously cleaned (dust once, keep up on the kitchen!)
Wash all doors, frames, knobs and wall touch ups
Clean inside of trailer... two days...
Front and back yard... handle any clutter, sweep patios, etc.

And that will take me to next week... the final week.

What have you been up to?