book

I'm reading a very interesting book. The Art of Tiding up by Marie Kondi. I'm really not a messy person, but things get away from me which I think is pretty normal!

This is not a get rid of the clutter book, its a book about what brings you joy book. Get rid of the rest. If you haven't worn it year doesn't work for me, I've tried it, but this makes sense to me. If it brings me joy or makes me happy, keep it. Otherwise there's the bin or bag, out it goes. I'm starting one room at a time and will give myself more than she says as I work and it's the last thing I want to do every night when I get home. Maybe I will change my mind and get on a roll, but the basement is a 3-6 month project unto itself. Lots of things and 38 years of accumulating. Check out the book. Let me know if you have read it and tried it? Blessings! I did get a newish car, Subaru 2013 Outback, blu and lovely to drive.

Friday

Tomorrow is my day off, as I work Saturday. We are going to test drive a Subaru and Toyota tomorrow. We kinda need a newish car. My Ford Escape is a piece of work, Red Rose as I call her. Transmission has been replaced 2 times, once by the previous owner and by us, it has a leak of some sort that no mechanic can find, it heats up a little and then smells, no mechanic can find that and on it goes! We don't go very far from home, I mostly drive it to work. I also have plans to look at material for new curtains in the great room. I have something in mind, so now if I can find the material. No, I won't sew them unless I want them hung in the next millennium, LOL!!!! I sew, but not that stuff! It's not a priority to me and I am slowly learning to let go of things I kinda would like to do sometime before I die and those things I love to do NOW!!!! This is a totally new concept to me, kinda, as I have tried this before, but never while working full time! I'm tired and I need to choose what's important to me and brings me joy ! Wish us luck!!

Monday

Tomorrow is the start of the work week! I miss being at home, I was a stay at home mom for years and enjoyed every minute of it! Summers are the best with the kids home and lots of fun things to do. We took many family trips up to the time they were in their 20's. We saw many things, here are a few of them: Montana(Yellowstone and Glacier parks), South Dakota( cowboy chuck wagon, horseback riding and Mt. Rushmore), Alaska( Denali Park , Homer and Anchorage), California (San Diego, Disneyland, LA and San Juan Capistrano), Florida(Disney World, Sea World and Universal), Wyoming(Cody Rodeo and Russell Museum), Nebraska(first Cabelas), Colorado (Estes Park 2 times), Illinois (family), Michigan, Indiana(family) and Missouri (family). We also went through Canada 2 times(which I told the kids we were in a foreign country, they said "no we are not", but some guy at a place spoke French to his son, you should have seen the kids eyes bug out over that, "we are in a foreign country".) I have probably left out some state, sorry! We loved traveling with them, they spent hours sleeping, laughing, singing listening to books on tape and playing whatever car game I could come up with, like the how many cars are blue, ABC's of cars, I see a blue thing games.
This summer when we took Lily and Kora with us, we had fun reliving the times with their Dad and Auntie. I would love to take them to California, Washington state and Missouri where we have family and they have cousins. Hopefully, we will be able to do that in the next few years before they are to old to go with us! I am glad we are young enough to do these things with them!
Did you take family trips?? I did as a kid and so did Gordon. That is probably why we did it with our own kids, to see the world beyond our little corner! There is a big world beyond "Po dunk", where ever that is! Summer is coming to an end very quickly here in the north woods! Enjoy the few weeks left! Blessings beyond and back!

Kurt

Our son's birthday is on Monday, next year he will be 40, my baby, 40???? Oh man, I'm still 40ish!! Ok, so I'm not, but I think of myself in that age category! So, we won't celebrate together, but he's in our hearts!

Kurt is the tall man, next to him on the right is his uncle, on the left is his cousin and his Dad. Kurt is a plumber and loves his job for the most part! He was a fun kid to have around! My girlfriend, Gloria, always called on him whenever she wanted something put together like a bookshelf as he could understand the directions better than anyone! Always grateful and generous, responsible and loving! He's a great Dad and hopefully a good husband! Happy birthday, son! Have a wonderful year!

What is normal??

Our life is back to "normal?" What is normal?? I don't know, but we have had granddaughters here for 2 weeks! It has been fun, tiring, meals have been whatever they will eat, afternoons at the beach after work and laundry! I did as much laundry in 2 weeks as I would do in 2 months!! LOL!!! WE had fun, here's what we did not in any order: The Potter's Shed( local pottery place) 2 times, ice cream at McDonald's after the beach( about 6 times), the beach, Duluth, MN., Wilderness Walk, Alley Cats(local coffee shop), game night, Rice Lake Pizza Hut after Menards, church with Auntie and Uncle Trevor, the beach, card making time, the beach, game night, Minion Movie, the beach,  Hayward candy store and did I mention the beach?!!!??!! I'm pooped and sad all rolled up into one! The girls were happy to go home and sad to leave us sad! They are wonderful girls! They didn't ask for much, just ice cream after the beach which I started 2 years ago. Will I do it again?? In a heart beat! Hoping they always want to come for a visit and never get too old to want to stay with us! We love them all! Blessings to you all!