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Post by michelle on Feb 21, 2021 1:22:45 GMT
Saturday Accomplishments: - Load of laundry - Mended three dog toys and one personal item - Added two more shelves to my shoe storage. Reorganized the shoes and it is perfect! - Went outside and worked some more on my bird food area and containers.Cleaned out two old containers, one of which had wet bird seed in the bottom (ugg) which I put in three sacks and hauled to the trash. I had to get my shovel and move a bunch of squirrel dirt so I could get all the containers inside of the enclosure. Now the different types are in the same areas and it all makes sense. I was surprised I got this done since it was not a nice day at all today--windy, snowed in the a.m. etc. However I did not let that deter me. Hooray!
- Emailed my DB which is always a long process for me. He is so much more relaxed and friendly since he retired but I still have lingering worries about saying and doing the right thing left over from when he was a upper level executive and had no time for anyone or anything but his job.
- Organized my earrings and turned that into perfection! - Had to get out the goo gone to get rid of a glue mess on something plastic. AFTER using a lot of boiling water to get it to the goo gone stage. Tomorrow I am going to go through the house and goo gone every single things that needs it. I can hardly wait--unsmiley face.....
Also tomorrow I am going to finish up the audit on my desk and review my AA's Friday work. This is another thing I am going to MAKE myself do. Then I can look forward to finishing up the shelf liner project on Monday--just two storage areas to get done.
Hope you are having a productive weekend. I am finally feeling completely better and fingers crossed I will stay this way--smiley face.....
Sunday- I did get all of my office work done so tomorrow I can just concentrate on putting in the shelf liner or if the day is warmer I can also work outside. I spent some time in the sun on the deck and was thrilled about it since we have been having mostly cloudy days lately. Such a pleasant day for me!!!
Onward>>>>>
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Post by zenamidievel on Feb 22, 2021 10:33:57 GMT
Hello,
I'm up very late. Nice job on the shoe and earring project perfection! Sounds like the outside stuff went well too! I am glad you're feeling better!
I'm not sure where my time has gone or even when I posted last, but I've been constantly doing things, whether they are the "right" things is another matter, haha.
Ebay: -Saturady I got the rest of a box of DH's ebay stuff listed, so now we've listed the army surplus stuff, one large box and on large tote of bags, totes, backpacks, mess kits, etc. It's probably about 25 things, and we've sold about 11 of them, I will have three items to ship tomorrow.
Etsy/Crafts/Art: -I picked up my card orders for St. Patrick stuff, got them folded, packaged, and ready. I folded all the pet cards I'd reworked and swapped the good envelopes from teh "seconds: packages for the new sets and replaced lower quality envelope for the seconds. -made use of $15.00 coupon Staples for above envelopes and printing -sketched and did another Chukar for my sister, she said the first one was second rate. This one came out really good, much better, much like the Roadrunner, she liked it, and I got that laid out, printed and listed. -realized I could make cards that are printable from my water color Scottish/Irish Cottages on the polka dot paper. THese will be a cute offering. But more importantly I am gifting a set each to each of my sisters and Mom for memories of our trip to Scotland together. I think they will really like them and be suprised. I used three colors that coordinate with the polka dot colors on the cards, and they are going to be cute I think. This all took time to scan, crop in lightroom, lay out in MS WORd, etc. -I did make a couple more mini notecard sets and one set of kitchen tags the other day. -I went ahead and listed the coasters I'd made as two sets of four and then I listed 4 as mismatched/seconds set. -Did research on Cork, coasters, and supply issues with those. In the morning I will figure out what I'm returning to Amazon. The company that used to supply both the cork bases that matched wood and MDF tops perfectly, I don't think makes/supplies the cork any longer and no one else seems to offer similar or quality thickness with correct shape.
New House: -sent e-mail on Friday to construction manager with where I thought we were and that I'd not got any information or contact from Lighting people yet, reminded her of. -replied to flooring, tile, lady with questions and will follow up with her tomorrow. -went to local place on Saturday and looked at countertop samples for DH's bar, I think I have that figured out.
Cabin: -cant' remember if I Mentioned we are listing the cabin for sale this week. THere is little to zero inventory in that area and people want homes, vacation homes, and stuff is selling very high and very fast! This is a few months earlier than originally planned but we felt it was worth doing, even if it means getting a storage unit and having to haul stuff back here to store till we move. The prices are such, that although a hassle it would be very worth the extra effort. SO that is happening and photos are being taken tomorrow morning. This involved many moving and storage inquiry phone calls, but I think we have a tentative plan and as soon as the weather permits, we can do te next steps with that.
Home: -I been keeping up with the kitchen, did church sound system this morning, grocery shopped, picked up a test print of the cottage cards, checked on teh cork situation at craft store, got DD dinner, made Chicken and Noodle soup.
Z.
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Post by michelle on Feb 23, 2021 1:40:03 GMT
Z, That's wonderful news about selling the cabin. I am constantly amazed at the wealth of knowledge you have acquired! Today I washed about 1/3 of the windows and if the weather holds I am going to get the rest of them done tomorrow. Also did a mini home blessing and all the dog/bird chores. My back yard looks so nice! The little fences I put around the plants are very pleasant to look at and the rabbits have not gotten to one of them. I'm glad I did all that work this last summer since so little will need to be done this spring. Yesterday I dug out more squirrel dirt so now my bird feeding containers are pushed back and much more convenient. I watched an hour long program from the series "The Magic of Tidying Up" on Netflix last night. She has written a very popular decluttering book--not sure you have heard about it or possibly read it. Anyway I did manage to take away a few good points from it. Actually a lot of her suggestions are already implimented which made me feel good since I figured out those decluttering tips without reading the book. My goal for the last several years is to get my home ready to show and keep it that way. I have made a lot of progress and just keep plugging away at it. One area I try to stay on top of is the repairs needed. It took months to get that new slider door and I just shudder to think about that happening if I wanted to list my house. My clothes are an ongoing problem but I thought this show had an interesting perspective that I haven't tried before so I am going to give it a serious try.
Hope you are having a wonderful evening!!!
Onward>>>>>
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Post by zenamidievel on Feb 23, 2021 17:48:35 GMT
Good Morning,
I'm so happy you're enjoying the fruits of your labor in regard to your efforts in the yard! That is so nice! I hope the little fences keep doing the job with the rabbits.
I have read her first book by the woman on that program! I have also watched this whole series before, but it's been so long, I will rewatch it while I do things. The book is good, pretty extreme, she borders on OCD issue but it has served her well! This is a "Z Fact"...lol!
New House: Yesterday was extremely busy with phone calls with the flooring/tile lady, lighting place, and the construction coordinator. ALso conversations, texting with realtor, furnace repair phone calls for here, and trying to finalizing choices with lighting and bar countertop with DH. THis all took lots of time. DH had certain idea in mind of what he wanted for bar countertop for new house, but finding that did not seem be happening IRL. So I think he's given up, but I think we also have something that is close to what he wants. I also showed him alternative chandelier for eating area, he likes it, so relieved.I have to follow up with these three people again today to make the final call on all. I will include a link to it later if you want to see it. I LOVE IT!
Craft/Etsy: -decided to return all square coaster making supplies to Amazon and will work through what remains of my old stock supply. I'm notsure that people want to buy those, though I do love making them, as there are many other more professional finishing in coasters available. Mine might be too what I term...."Happy Hands at HOme" for people. But I'll leave them and maybe move to discount area later. But I also might try doing some hand painted ones, because I would personally enjoy doing them and don't really care about the "Sell" factor. Bottom, line, I have enough of the old stock left to play with in that regard. -I came across a seller selling block shelf decoration, not quite like what i Have in mind, but similarly sized, stands on it's own, and I'm still excited to get my wood cut and start trying those. I need perfect some designs on that front so so I can get started. -I'll pick up the "Cottage" cards to day and order quantities for my sisters and mom, and possibly to have 2-3 sets to see if those will sell as a set. -I the next thing I want to finish is an Easter quilt block and a 4th of July Quilt Block. Then I can pick one from existing Halloween, Christmas, Valentine, St. Patrick Day, and have a All Season card pack offering of 6 cards.
Cabin: -got initial paper work sent off in order that it can get listed, realtor is working on it. Listing will be live by Thursday! I'll send you a link to it when it goes live, you will be able to maybe see some of the occasional tables, coffee tables I chalk painted a few years ago to furnish it. We are taking the good one's of those with us by the way, they will not sell as furnishings! -DH and I had circular conversation about excess furniture and what to do, selling furnished/unfurnished, he then was wanting to try to sell on the side, nightmare scenario IMO, I'm editing this, Realtor at cabin had conversation with him, I think he's off the trying to sell pieces individually path, whew!
Home: -I need to reclaim kitchen, make return drop off at Kohls for the AMazon return and see what to next here. Ebay, we've sold about 12 things, about $250.00 worth of items.
More later,
Z.
Etsy: Etsy has this thing called "off site ads" which you pay an extra fee on items sold generated from those adds and they will show up on sites like buzzfee, Martha Stewart, Real Simple, pinterest, Instagram, . So they've turned that on for "Free" today....and I will see how traffic increases to my shop in detailed statistics. Interestingly, I'd seen a big jump this morning, (big means like 7 visits jus this morning as opposed to 7 for the whole day)...so this will be intersesting. I will research what those fees are and maybe this would be worthwhile participating in. Thanks for listening.
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Post by michelle on Feb 24, 2021 4:54:30 GMT
Z, I would love to have the links!!! Will you have to stage the cabin? It sounds perfect already!
Not a very productive day for me. I did manage to get some basic homemaking and office work done. Then I crashed, sat and read my book, relaxed, took the dogs for a walk. They love to walk around the yard with me because I hid in the bushes and they have to find me . Usually I hop on my quad so that they can run or walk fast. Their walking fast is 8-10 miles per hour. Other than that not much went on.
You have so much going on! It's so impressive that yu are handling it all. Great job!!!
Onward>>>>
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Post by michelle on Feb 25, 2021 0:58:07 GMT
Busy day for me today. I worked on the concepts I learned by watching that hour long program about the Magic of Tidying Up in regard to my clothes. Made good progress and was able to let go of six sweaters that I have not worn for a couple of years but I just loved. I am out of the habit of keeping clothes for historical reasons (I mean this!). I sorted the tops I haven't worn and put them in a special section of my closet so that I know which ones they are and will wear them or donate them in the next two months if they have been closet decorations rather than something I wear.
My pants are under control but I worry about wearing my black ones around the house--fearing that they will get worn looking knees. However I checked that out and have five pairs so I think I am safe to wear one pair. I do need a couple of pairs of black ones to wear for Paws4Love so I am going to put them in another area. My shoes, sweaters, jackets and the rest of my clothes are also under control. I am proud of that!
I mended my sweater today WHEN I noticed it needed it! Also used carpet cleaner to clean a pair of Merrill's and am taking them to the shoe repair shop tomorrow to see if they can glue the rubber. I am excited about all of this. I like what I learned from watching that show!!!
Hope you are having a wonderful evening!!!
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Post by michelle on Feb 26, 2021 2:06:18 GMT
Thursday - Errand day for me. Now I am having to work overtime to get my office job done. Shriek!!!
Hope you are getting lots done!
Onward>>>>>
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Post by zenamidievel on Feb 26, 2021 2:48:46 GMT
Wow, it seems you are really taking the teachings from "The Magic of Tidying Up" to heart! I glad it is working for you! Good job CB'ing the sweaters and I get it about the pants. I kept the best pairs of black, tan and work pants from my work. I always wear jeans...but there are times you need dressier pants. Your olan sound good to keep the ones you need for the volunteering separate, then you know those are always in good shape. CB: -I took three more bags DH wanted to donate to donation truck the other day -made Amazon return of craft supplies I decided to hold off on -mailed another DH surplus mess kit out today from Ebay sale Etsy/Craft: -did test on Angel Irish blessing card with the new process and it did come out better/clearer. So I will redo those as well as the CHristmas "Hark...." angel card. -put my order in for my cottage cards for gifts for mom and sisters and will go ahead and list a couple sets of them when I get them back and see if they sell -Etsy must have randomly featured my "Cat and coffee" painting card cause all the sudden I had someone buy three sets of those and two people added to their carts on the same day. So this was good, but weird. -centered my new Chukar card better -I'm working on Mandarin Duck now. -I got out two "Let it Snow" pictures I'd made, kind of multi media thing on a galvanized tin framed piece of craft wood and listed thosed on Etsy. New House: The last 2-3 days has been consumed with new house decision making on many fronts and signing off on many pages of paper work, long, multiple phone calls but it is going well, but has taken up a huge amount of time every day this week. Current House: Stager came to look at paint colors and take initial photos of things. We have also received a list of todo's and info from realtor, but we will nto start thinking or working on that until Mid March I think. Furnace got repaired today, I think I edited what was happening with that, but I did get $100.00 credit toward the repair so that was good. Cabin: It is listed, no staging, just cleaned off all teh counters. It would have been good if I could have gotten up their to empty the closets, but we're having more snowfall and it was not possible. Here is the link: www.johnlscott.com/listing/wa/ronald/240-tiger-lily-lane/7092104Hopefully the weather doesn't impede showings, I think 4 are scheduled already, and it showed once today. most of the little tables you see about and coffee tables are all second hand furniture I chalk painted. We will take many of those with us, not all though. ALso that big elk painting on the fireplace I did with chalk paint. I painted the white nightstand tables and headboard in that bedroom. Home: -I reclaimed the kitchen this morning, and made cookies. I am watching all the "Magic of Tidying Up" all again, again and again...lol...but not tidying like you are! hahaha! Z. Z.
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Post by zenamidievel on Feb 26, 2021 19:25:54 GMT
Good Morning,
Cabin: -Update: posted link to listing previous post. If it doesnt go directly to it let me know, the city is Ronald, WA and the listing is for $849, if that helps. It has had two showings already, two have requested showing with inspections, which can save buyers time in offer not having to to "inspection pending" offer cause they've already done it, they have to have permission to do that and they have to pay $300 -$400 for that so I'd assume they were serious! So as it's only been less than 24 hours, this is seeming good.
Etsy/Craft: -I reworked three card sets this morning that needed done due to compression settings, image loss corrections needed and got them off to the printer while they have my cardstock there, so this was good. I redid the Irish Angel Blessing card and the window mosaic card and made an improved Christmas Greeting Card from my BUffalo Plaid Ornament. It's the same card I sent out couple years ago, exept it's better now, better done, I love it, it's super cute. -they currently are printing my cottage cards and the Chukar -Goal: I would like to have 40 card offeringd in my shop in the invitation sized card that original art. The Cottage cards will make 33. Then I will have two Easter Cards, and seasonal pack of cards, 34 & 35, Buffalo Plaid Christmas Card (36), Blue/winter/snowflake/quilt theme card pack (37), Scrap Paper, red, brown, green Holiday Card Pack and/or totem themed card pack(38 and 39) After I get these card sets made which are all things I did plan on making, wanted to do. Then I might do a couple more colored pencil birds, not sure. And I still need to work out the heater grate ideas. I think i know what to do with these which is, hand cut the negative space, lay papers underneath, temprorary attach with removable tape, do different combinations, scan images, will have multiple things to work with if do this way, the cutting will be the hardest part and take some time. Then I will focus on non card items, more wood cut christmas ornaments, puzzles, and the wood block shelf art I'm wanting to do. -BTW...did I tell you someone bought three packs of those cat coffee painting cards? That was exciting!
Weight: I have not been wearing my fit bit, keeping track of stuff, or even walking. I WILL start my streaks again! I will make my goal weight before May 1sT. It is happening, I am resetting TODay!!!!!!!!! My FitBit is charging now!
Whew...okay...on with my day!
Z.
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Post by michelle on Feb 27, 2021 1:03:55 GMT
Z, That was so much fun!!! to look at all the things you made that you had written about. It looks fantastic!! Loved, loved, loved the Elk pic. Also really enjoyed seeing the yard, since you shared the tremendous amount of work you did to fix it up. I remember you chatting about the color choices for those tables--I am just delighted that I got to see it. The cat painting coffee cards---I can't resist saying that I told you so about how good that painting is. It is my all time favorite avatar!!! I would really like to know what kind of a list a stager gives to a client. I am not asking you to share yours but it is just the kind of thing that would make a great TV show that I would love to watch. Well, I am not sure anybody else would enjoy it. I am a House Hunters International addict and will watch a rerun if, and only if, I liked the wife the first time I saw the show.
Great job revving up to do your streaks again!!! I wear my FitBit every day. Today so far I have 15,033 steps and will probably get another 1,000 before the end of the day. All of these were homemaking/functional fitness steps.
The Magic of Tidying up: This morning I decided to not clean anything but instead do all the little things that all of a sudden piled up and also about every hour something from work needed to be taken care of. I was trying to do these in a relaxed, happy manner. I won't say that I got joyful or anywhere near that but I was a lot farther away from overwhelmed--so progress is being made.
I decided to tidy up the bird feeding area some more. This was a really big job that took about three hours since I had to clean up all the bird seed that has piled up since they won't crack sunflower seed shells because I spoil them by giving them already cracked shell less ones. I was shocked! that birds are lazy just like humans. Possibly I would have had a more joyful experience if I had not let all that pile up.
However, I did make progress in the clothing area. I thought she had a good point about liking your clothes and think I have just gotten to think about them as just necessary items. So that program got me to thinking about the way I used to be--really liking what I had on etc. And also my relationship with color. Anyway I chose my work outfit from a different perspective and I noticed that I was happier. Well as happy as a person can be crawling around scooping up old birdseed in a frigid howling wind.
Tomorrow I will try again to experience the Magic of Tidying Up!
Hope you are having a pleasant evening!!!
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Post by zenamidievel on Feb 27, 2021 20:56:43 GMT
Good Morning,
I'm glad you enjoyed looking at the link! All those tables "spark joy!"...lol for me. DH likes them too and the fact we are taking most of them with us, we will be able to enjoy/see daily and they will go with the style of our new house which will have a rustic/craftsman style and the blues, will go with fireplace tiles and tie to kitchen. Our fireplace surround will be a dark gray/black slightly bluish slate tile and our kitchen back splash 12" long x 2" field tile with slight blue/gray/cram striations in it.
Good work in your progress in regard to your clothing, and thinking about clothing. That is weird about the birds! I guess if they got hungry enough they'd bother with cracking those sunflower seeds! Also in addressing your work things.
Yesterday I completed two Easter card layouts, ran the dishwasher, made an Almond Torte for DH's birthday, got him KFC for his birthday dinner request, and got several card items reworked and sent to printer that needed done due to the compression settings. I'm excited because I was able to come up with more options to do these Easter and can do a couple Mother's day I think, and I have the papers out to do the 4th of July and am hoping to get through the rest of these today. If I choose larger patterns, it goes faster, but I wont' choose patterns I don't like, just for this reason.
I did walk this morning with a friend.
Avatar: The pink papers on that have tiny bunny faces in it.
Z.
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Post by michelle on Feb 28, 2021 2:33:43 GMT
Z, That avatar is so cute!!! Not much went on today. I did get several hours of chores and cleaning done so that was helpful. I am still at a loss about the clothes patting approach suggested in M of T U. I try it but am just not getting the feeling of joy when I fold a piece of laundry. So I looked up the definition and got: a feeling of great pleasure and happiness (a state of well being and contentment). I am pretty sure I need to watch more shows since I am obviously missing something. I do however like it when my house is sparkling clean. Now I started thinking about the cookbook "The Joy of Cooking". So I checked out the other "Joy of" titles on Amazon and got: The Joy of Less, A minimalist guide: How to declutter organize and simplify your life The Joy of Missing out and Living More I did really try today. I think that doing art can be so engrossing and fun. Also I extremely enjoyed finding new wildflowers and photographing them. Here's a list: Hiking, black and white photography when I had my own dark room, working with papers, having a puppy, babies, painting rooms bold colors, redecorating, a really good book, being outside doing functional fitness, therapy dog. That's just some things I thought up spontaneously. So I know what this feeling is she is talking about. The book is obviously about more than folding laundry so I will continue working on this!
Hope you are having a great evening!!!
Onward>>>>>
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Post by michelle on Mar 1, 2021 1:35:56 GMT
Sunday - My major project for today was raking up the pine needles on the left and right side of the house. I am succeeding at being extremely diligent about this. DH decided to do the left side so that reduced my work. Mission accomplished!!! I tried to feel joy about this but didn't succeed. Probably I would if live embers were dropping and those huge pine trees were not catching on fire. That was about it for me.
Hope you are having a great weekend!!!
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