You are going to laugh...I planted one sorry tomato plant, a best boy or something, not an heirloom.  I haven't had much luck with tomatoes since I moved here to VA.  I have 2 cukes but only because my neighbor buys a 4 pack every year because she only wants two but can't find them in 1's or 2's....other than herbs I have marigolds and some purple salvia.  I ordered 4 new rosebushes and decided that rather than replace some that had died I'm going to use the raised bed where I typically plant th
plant the veggies and make that my rose garden so they'll get full sun all day....After spending loads on 12 new ones last year and having them get black spot almost immediately....I'm wising up at last!

Progress is being made

I've always been a bit of a sprinter but this marathon stuff isn't so bad now that I'm making real headway in organizing this house.  We have so much STUFF, it's ridiculous.  I have the weeding out clothes the kids outgrow and giving them away down to a science.  I've made at least one pass through all of our closets.  Our still needs major work but progress is being made.  This is not exciting stuff but it feels so good to get a bit organized and for so long it was so overwhelming I just didn't know where to begin.  Last night I finished organizing my scrapbooking stuff and I feel like I'm really back in the swing with working on my books on a regular basis.  I'm cropping again tonight at the scapbook store with Maureen.  Again, not exciting stuff  but getting out of the house AND preserving family memories is nothing to scoff at.  I guess I feel this is so much of an accomplishment because my mother never had the time to get this stuff done.  Every drawer in the house being a junk drawer is the way I grew up so when others are uber-organized it makes my jaw drop....The thing is that our house is the biggest one I've ever lived in and theoretically we have loads of storage space so making the most efficient use of it is on me.  There is just so much STUFF. 

I'm finding it easier to let go of stuff I'd ordinarily save and for the stuff I really do want to save I'm storing it properly vs. shoving it someplace.  I've also been able to let go of some favorite clothing that I can't foresee getting into anytime soon.  I still have a small group of size 6 items that I can't bear to part with but we're talking maybe a handful. 

I still have miles to go but feel like I've completed quite a few laps and I'm really revved up about it now....little racing analogy there in honor of the fact that I had the misfortune to be in Charlotte last week and couldn't get a decent room because everythings jammed up for NASCAR....who knew???

Other developments on the home front - although the little ones, especially Kate, have both been nightmares about sleeping through the night in their own beds - they've started all playing together for stretches of time that are more than 5 seconds so Jeff and I can actually read a newspaper article, fold a basket of laundry, or take a shower without having to referee some sort of altercation.  I think Alex and Jackson are maxing out on togetherness at the moment - they've been playing for several hours and he's tired today from the 4 way wrestling match that took place in our bed thru the night with Kate and him both in there with us thrashing about....She just will not stay in that bed of hers these day....sigh...I'm thinking of strapping her in but she's pretty loud and would probably wake the neighborhood....seriously, we're just trying our best and waiting for her to grow out of it.

That's all for now as I've got some work stuff to get done - pesky travel expense reports, an email to write, my year end self evaluation to do, and some checks to write....then it's off to the store for some groceries I forgot.  Talk about excitement....at least it's dreary today and I'm in the mood to plow thru chores vs. wanting to sit at the pool. 

It's Sunday Again

Tomorrow it's back to the grind to clean up the messes that accumulated while I disengaged for the week.  I can't say that all of the closets got cleaned out but I feel like I made a dent - got some things organized, some things done, some things scheduled, had some new ideas.  I feel infinitely better equipped (ok not infinitely, there's a limit to the crap one can absorb) to deal with the stresses of work...better equipped to work on taking the stress out of work, to stop internalizing more...I've already gone a little down that road and it feels terrific. 

The other day we talked about taking a long weekend and renting a cabin in the woods, near a lake or something.  I need to research the possibilities because that sounds heavenly to me.

After the week off

I will have to admit that while I could most definitely use another full week off to putter around the house and garden that this week has served its intended purpose.  I feel recharged and energized to some extent.  The trip to visit the Mama took two days out of my plan but it was time well spent.  Having the files and "important papers" finally in order paved the way to making the appointment for estate planning.  The savings accounts for the little ones are finally open so all of their gift money can go right in and their nest eggs will grow.  I have miles to go but this campaign of getting rid of so much excess of everything is underway and paying off.  Wow, it was nice to come downstairs this morning to a really clean refrigerator!!  Sometimes it's the simple things that mean a lot....

Vacation Day 1

Yes friends, that's the FLY Lady - FLY = Finally Loving Yourself....I am a half day into my vacation week and have written checks, folded and put away laundry, talked with Stacey and Mom, and now I'm diving into four boxes of "stuff" that need to be gone through and organized - mostly chucked - some salvaged to remain as my "files".  Paris Hilton is on Ellen today - that alone is worth taking a vacation day.  She has her four dogs with her and the show is all about dogs.  My brain would NOT turn to mush if I didn't have a job!

Can I phone my lifeline now?

These stupid mood choices - most of the time none of them match my mood.  Lots of time I'm chillin' but right now I'm feeling at my wits' end, just a shade above hopeless, disgusted, like all the work I do to move forward has just friggin' tumbed down around my ears.  I just said "I'm fed up with being fed up".  I decided to take next week off to do some Spring cleaning, visit my mother for a day, and recharge my batteries.  So there.

Can I phone my lifeline now?

These stupid mood choices - most of the time none of them match my mood.  Lots of time I'm chillin' but right now I'm feeling at my wits' end, just a shade above hopeless, disgusted, like all the work I do to move forward has just friggin' tumbed down around my ears.  I just said