I wouldn't have missed it...

Actually, I would have missed it, because I wasn't scheduled to work this week. But my sweet female coworkers have been having some tough breaks this year...as in bones...and surgeries, and such. They've both had both this year. Just this week one had one, and one had the other. So I worked yesterday and today, and had to leave home earlier than I usually do to open the office.

I started out driving in the dark. This morning's drive was a foggy one. At 7:01 a.m. I sensed, rather than saw, that it was less dark. At 7:14 a.m. there seemed to be another almost imperceptible swell. After that the light crept delicately forward. And as I was approaching the edge of town, the sun was burning it's way through the dark and fog as an ember melts through snow.

It was a gift. A finale. It was a fitting way to celebrate this ultimate morning of 2010.

I wouldn't have missed it for the world.

Back in the saddle...

This is my pencil cup at work. In case that sticky note on it is too small for ya, it reads:

"Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion." C. Northcote Parkinson

Truer words were never spoken!

What is it about going back to work after having some time off? Exhausting! Today was long stretches of boredom, interspersed with intense periods of effort. And what law of nature makes the phone stay silent for an hour and then multiple calls come through all at the same time?

Thank goodness tomorrow is a short day! What a whiner I am. :)

I think I'll change the sticky note on my cup to read, "Wackadoodles make the day interesting!"

Playscape...

Please try to ignore that big post in the middle of the first photo...and the window mullions in the second.

This is the playscape that was in the backyard when we bought the new house. Every time the girls come over they ask if they can play on it. And every time I explain that Papa needs to do some work to make sure that it's safe enough to play on.



And we'll have to convince the current resident to share it, of course.

He totally cracks me up when he sits up there.

Bucket list...

Well, last year I went minimal with my goal for the new year. This year I think I will see how I do with a running list to mark items off of as completed. Some of the items are not meant to be achieved within this calendar year, but I'm adding them anyway to keep them in mind.

1. See the northern lights.

2. Take a walking tour in Ireland.

3. Print, frame, hang six of my photos.

4. Compile some of my blog posts into book form.

5. Read the books that I can't believe I got out of school without reading: Of Mice and Men, Animal Farm, Catcher in the Rye.

6. Get the piano tuned.

7. Convert old vinyl LPs to CDs.

8. Empty. Every. Last. Box.

9. Replace the tile floors with hardwood.

10. Be a hospice volunteer.

11. Go to Maine.

12. Make effort toward routine aerobic activity for improved health, mobility, balance.

13. Stretch daily.

14. Get around to ordering that 'Conquer Procrastination' self-hypnosis CD. Someday.

15. Learn to make bagels.

16. Hand quilt Rita May's quilt.

17. Compliment at least one person every day for a month.

18. Send more snail mail.

19. Sell unused craft items on eBay.

20. Research deer-resistant xeriscaping for front yard.

21. Create separate page for bucket list at top of blog so that I can review and edit as items are completed or need to be added.


That ought to keep me busy for awhile.

On the flipside...

I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas. Ours was busy, as they tend to be. We had out-of-town guests starting last Monday. The last one left this morning. I think I overdid it a bit with all the unpacking beforehand, and cooking and baking during their stay, as I am in dire need of a visit to my chiropractor this afternoon. But it was totally worth it. This was the funnest holiday in ages!

I didn't go all out with the decorations this year. Understated may have been the theme. I loved how the photo enlargement turned out after I mounted it on a canvas. It will stay up through the winter.



I enjoyed pulling out an old Grandma Moses print that had belonged to my great aunt. I popped a red charger behind it to give it a bit more presence.



I even loved it when I was a bit too slow getting the tree topper on, and Jared gave his beloved Rangers' cap the top spot.



Hmmm...time to start thinking about New Year's resolutions.

Synchronized Hallelujah!-ing...

I guess this is making the rounds, but I saw it for the first time today and wanted to share. Enjoy!

Progress report...

I'm still trying to get settled in. Things are a mess. I've managed to lose track of several gifts that I am hoping against hope to find by the 24th. A friend from out of state called and said she may come next week for a day or two. And we invited my mother-in-law to spend several days with us over Christmas. I've warned her that perfection is just not in the cards.

Oh, and speaking of cards, I haven't addressed a one.

I did order an enlargment of the above photo as part of my mantel decoration. Which I will assemble as soon as we finish painting the living room. Why, no, it hasn't yet been begun. But the kitchen has been completely painted, and it is beautiful. Love the new color!

Two more days of work, then I have two weeks off. Maybe I'll make a little more progress then.

Awhile back I disabled the word verification for comments, because, you know, it's kind of a pain. But I've been getting a lot of spam comments, so I'm re-enabling it. I hope it won't keep anyone from commenting.