Basement project

It is always interesting how one project leads to one or two more. Gerry and I are gluing 2 inch polystyrene to the basement walls. We do one or two pieces a night. They are 4 x 8 sheets that cover three walls now. The last wall has all of our shelves against it. The shelves are made of steel and are filled with stuff. Gerry has made several little platforms with a wheel to put under each one. We then will pull them a few feet from the wall to put the polystyrene on the wall. I still need to remove anything that is of value and could be broken. I decided this would be a good time to look at each thing and decide if I still should keep it. That is easier said that done. I look on eBay and find that a glass bud vase is worth between $5 and $15. So is that a keeper or not? So far there is a rather nice size pile to get rid of so it is worth it. The other thought is, should I save everything for a garage sale or just donate to a thrift shop? Past experience says donate it!!!

My own retreat

A week ago I went on what I am calling a "mini retreat", spending three days and nights at a lodge in a local State Park. Author Joan Anderson has written four books on her experiences starting with her living a year by herself on Cape Cod. That book is called "A Year by the Sea".

I had read this book and then found another, "A Weekend to Change Your Life". She now gives weekend seminars and has put the contents of what she covers in this book. So I read the book and did the exercises in the book. I did not come home with any radical changes (or maybe they are) just some really good ideas to put in practice.

The first is that I am really trying to look at each activity in my life and decide why I am doing it. Am I happy doing it? If not, why am I doing it or why did I not say no. It is very freeing. Last week I was asked to help plan a patriotic program for our community. That is so not me. So I did not agree to help. Yea Me!

Secondly, I am working on being "mindful" of what I am doing when doing it. Another term that is used for that concept is "living in the now". I will give updates through out the year as to how this all plays out.

A fresh start

I have conducted the final sweep for decorations around the house. Everything is boxed up except the lights on the front porch (waiting for warmer weather to take them down)

and this vignette that I put in the area above the front door (need a tall ladder and someone to steady it). For those of you who have been listening to me grouse about the stuffed animals that Gerry had up there, I have several items to replace them when the current things come down. I will post pictures when that is completed.

DH's clone

We have a weekly newspaper which is delivered free each weekend. It has a lot of local news in it and a feature where they ask a question of five people in the community. In the last paper they asked, "Do you have a collection of anything?" A man answered, "I collect old cars and trucks because it upsets my beautiful wife". Gerry got a big kick out of that. I will now listen with attention when people ask him about his collections.

Free range pig

I am sure you all remember the fabulous compost box Gerry made for me. I have three of the four sections filled with semi composted material already. The fourth section is where I throw current stuff. I had noticed that something (animal) had gotten in to it and eaten a lot. Then it snowed and I saw the footprints. It looked a lot like a pig hoof. I put a big piece of a wooden gate over it and kept my eye on it. And sure enough, one day I saw a big pig walking on top of it. He came from the same farm that had the sheep that came to enjoy my lawn when we first moved here. So the owner, Joe, and I had another chat. Actually he is always is very apologetic and tries to remedy the situation. This time the pig was due to be slaughtered in a few days so I was just helping to fatten him up a bit. I still love living in the sticks. :)

40 years of marriage

On December 20th, Gerry and I celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary. After much discussion with our children we (Gerry and I) decided we would just like a dinner with our immediate family. Since Renee Michelle and Andrew were here for the whole week it worked out great. She cooked as usual and we just hung out together. Our gift from the children was a family portrait, which we took the following Saturday. I do not have pictures . Maybe someone else has some they will post It was a great evening together. Having family together is the best.