We journeyed up to Canada for the weekend- David only had Thursday & Friday off, so it was rather short. We left Wednesday from GR and got back Sunday night.
The weather wasn't very nice when we arrived, and we had a 4 hour (in ideal conditions) trip to make- we ended up arriving on the farm at 3:00 in the morning.
Thursday was a busy day- it was both American Thanksgiving and my birthday! After sleeping in, we went out for lunch at Save Room for Dessert- I used to work there back in the day. After lunch DJ went home with Grandpa & Babi, and D & I explored the town. We had a big supper that night, and I got to see a great group of friends who I hadn't seen in almost a year. We also celebrated "Christmas" (aka opened the gifts that D and I had brought up for everybody)
Friday we had a relaxing day, and in the evening there was a baby shower for DJ. He is so loved, and I am so blessed! We bearly had room to fly home all of the wonderful gifts we were given. The shower had a ducky theme- the auditorium was decorated so beautifully- unfortunately I don't think I have any pictures on my camera- they're all on my mom's. In fact, I think most of the pictures from the trip are either on mom's camera, or D's phone...
My dad's youngest brother & family came up for brunch on Saturday. We had a wonderful visit, and I got to meet my cousin's amazing fiancee.
A visit to Canada wouldn't be complete without tea with my best friend. I guess I can't speak for her, but I know that I feel so refreshed after catching up with her face-to-face over a nice cup of tea. This was Saturday night- and after she left, David & I gathered up our things and packed up our bags. By that I mean I got out some music books I wanted to take with us, sat down to play through a song or two and ended up not leaving the piano, while my amazing husband played tetris with our luggage and got everything we needed to bring home packed.
We got back late Sunday night, just in time for a little bit of sleep before D's 8:00 am classes on Monday.
And there you have a summary of our weekend! I apologize that I don't have any pictures- I was letting my hubby take pictures for us, and I don't have access to them off his phone yet.
God bless!
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Check in on October/November goals.
I've got a crazy day today- we're getting ready to head up to Canada tomorrow. One more sleep! (as my mom would say). DJ has his first two teeth in- the bottom two- and he's being fussy & grumpy & tired today- which just makes trying to pack & prepare for leaving all the more... fun.
I wanted to report back on my list of October goals- now that it is almost to the end of November. We'll just pretend it was the list for both October & November. (which is true- I did still have the same main goals for this month too...)
If you remember the list:
1) get a good chunk of my Christmas knitting done- particularly the gifts for my Canada family & friends, as we're going to visit in November.
2) I've been trying to do some organizing & streamlining of my life and things (Remember project 333?) and I'd like to continue with that. A closet or drawer or two a week perhaps?
3) As the leaves start to turn, I'd like to keep up with raking them.
4) I think that's about good for now! I'd rather have a few good goals that I know I can reach than a huge long list that I'll be discouraged by when I read it at the end of the month
Well, I did get most of my Christmas knitting finished. (I have everything done for Canada minus weaving in ends on a few things- which is a good thing cause we're leaving tomorrow)
I am working at organizing things. In fact, that's what I've requested for my birthday- either nothing, or organizational tools (Rubbermaid's, storage drawers, labels, post it notes etc. :P) I sometimes feel like it is a never ending battle... I organize room by room, and by the time I get to the last room, the first room is a disaster again. :(
As for leaves... I haven't raked any... yet. I have thought about doing it a couple of days, but of course those were all extremely windy days, and it seemed a little counter intuitive to be raking leaves only to have them blow all over the yard again. When we get back from Canada...
To sum up: I feel like I have made good progress on my goals, but there is still much more to do. It's a work in progress!
P.S. I typed the web address for Etsy wrong the last time, so here it is again: http://www.etsy.com/people/ourhumblecastle
I wanted to report back on my list of October goals- now that it is almost to the end of November. We'll just pretend it was the list for both October & November. (which is true- I did still have the same main goals for this month too...)
If you remember the list:
1) get a good chunk of my Christmas knitting done- particularly the gifts for my Canada family & friends, as we're going to visit in November.
2) I've been trying to do some organizing & streamlining of my life and things (Remember project 333?) and I'd like to continue with that. A closet or drawer or two a week perhaps?
3) As the leaves start to turn, I'd like to keep up with raking them.
4) I think that's about good for now! I'd rather have a few good goals that I know I can reach than a huge long list that I'll be discouraged by when I read it at the end of the month
Well, I did get most of my Christmas knitting finished. (I have everything done for Canada minus weaving in ends on a few things- which is a good thing cause we're leaving tomorrow)
I am working at organizing things. In fact, that's what I've requested for my birthday- either nothing, or organizational tools (Rubbermaid's, storage drawers, labels, post it notes etc. :P) I sometimes feel like it is a never ending battle... I organize room by room, and by the time I get to the last room, the first room is a disaster again. :(
As for leaves... I haven't raked any... yet. I have thought about doing it a couple of days, but of course those were all extremely windy days, and it seemed a little counter intuitive to be raking leaves only to have them blow all over the yard again. When we get back from Canada...
To sum up: I feel like I have made good progress on my goals, but there is still much more to do. It's a work in progress!
P.S. I typed the web address for Etsy wrong the last time, so here it is again: http://www.etsy.com/people/ourhumblecastle
Monday, November 15, 2010
Etsy!
I'm full speed ahead working at developing an Etsy business. My shop name is ourhumblecastle (surprise surprise... )
I just finished an update, so head on over to
www.etsy.ourhumblecastle.com to check out the goodness! Just a fair warning, some of the yarns I listed today are already spoken for.
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| Group photo of some of my yarns |
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| DJ, enjoying the warm fall weather. |
Monday, November 8, 2010
Grandpa M look-a-like?
Just stopping in with a couple pictures... what I know you've all been waiting for.
Doesn't he look like his grandpa M in that first picture?
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| DJ sitting on the couch with some of his favourite toys |
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| hard at work pushing buttons! |
Monday, October 25, 2010
A choose your own adventure.
As promised on Facebook- to those of you who follow me both places- a choose your own adventure! Well, sort of. Let me explain a little bit of background here first.
I love lists. I lived by them in collage. Well, my whole life actually. If I don't have a list, I don't get it done. However, since the birth of my son, I find that lists can be very discouraging. When DJ was first born, I would sit down at the beginning of the week, just as I used to, and make a "master list" of all that needed to be done that week. Then I'd break it up into days... These 5 things need to be done on Monday, I'm going to do these 2 big tasks on Tuesday, run errands on Wednesday, etc. However, when you're living with the beautiful unpredicability of a small child, it becomes hard to get things done. Monday would end, and I'd only have one thing (if that!) done. Tuesday would begin and I would be determined to get both Tuesday and Monday's list done. And, once again, major fail. It got discouraging very quickly. I tried to lower my expecations and not worry about getting anything done, only... I would end up not getting anything done, even when I did have the time to do it.
The following is something that has been brewing around in my head for a while. I have been starting the day without a real list, but with the attitude of trying to get as much done that day as I am able. This "Choose your own adventure" (Us scientists like to call them dichotomous keys) has guided how I approach my non-existent to-do list. At the end of the day I find I am able to look back and have a good number of things done.
So here you have it:
A choose your own adventure in getting things done that weren’t on your list.
#1) You see or think of a task that needs to be done. Can you do it now? Yes - go to #2. No- go to#3
#2) Don’t delay! Do it now! ~
#3) Why can’t you do it? If something else must be done before you can tackle this particular task, then go to #4. If you don’t have time- go to #5. If you don’t feel like it, throw your feelings out the door & pick one of the other two options.
#4) Can you do that other task now? Yes -go to #2. No- go to #3
#5) You don’t have the time because: The task takes more time than you have right now – go to #6. If you are in the middle of something else- go to # 9.
#6) Do you have your schedule or paper handy? Yes- go to #7. No- go to #8.
#7) Yes! You always carry your schedule or paper with you. Write in the task that needs to be done in an appropriate time slot. ~
#8) No! You’re not one to have paper or scheduling devices handy. You need to either get it and write down the task, or (less desirable) make a mental note.~
#9) You are in the middle of something else. Is your current activity more important than the new task? (eg. - are you entertaining a baby? Or watching a TV show?) Yes- go to #10. No- go to #12
#10) Can you pause your activity? Yes- go to #6. No- go to #11
#11) Carry on with that very important activity! ~
#12) The activity isn’t as important as the task, so the task should be your first priority. However, does your current activity really need to be done? Yes- go to #13. No- go to #16
#13) Do you have paper/schedule book? Yes- to got #14. No- go to #15
#14) Write down your activity so you can remember to do it later, and start the new task. ~
#15) Get paper & write the activity down for later, or make a mental note, and start the new task. ~
#16) Drop whatever you were wasting time on & start the new task! ~
I love lists. I lived by them in collage. Well, my whole life actually. If I don't have a list, I don't get it done. However, since the birth of my son, I find that lists can be very discouraging. When DJ was first born, I would sit down at the beginning of the week, just as I used to, and make a "master list" of all that needed to be done that week. Then I'd break it up into days... These 5 things need to be done on Monday, I'm going to do these 2 big tasks on Tuesday, run errands on Wednesday, etc. However, when you're living with the beautiful unpredicability of a small child, it becomes hard to get things done. Monday would end, and I'd only have one thing (if that!) done. Tuesday would begin and I would be determined to get both Tuesday and Monday's list done. And, once again, major fail. It got discouraging very quickly. I tried to lower my expecations and not worry about getting anything done, only... I would end up not getting anything done, even when I did have the time to do it.
The following is something that has been brewing around in my head for a while. I have been starting the day without a real list, but with the attitude of trying to get as much done that day as I am able. This "Choose your own adventure" (Us scientists like to call them dichotomous keys) has guided how I approach my non-existent to-do list. At the end of the day I find I am able to look back and have a good number of things done.
So here you have it:
A choose your own adventure in getting things done that weren’t on your list.
#1) You see or think of a task that needs to be done. Can you do it now? Yes - go to #2. No- go to#3
#2) Don’t delay! Do it now! ~
#3) Why can’t you do it? If something else must be done before you can tackle this particular task, then go to #4. If you don’t have time- go to #5. If you don’t feel like it, throw your feelings out the door & pick one of the other two options.
#4) Can you do that other task now? Yes -go to #2. No- go to #3
#5) You don’t have the time because: The task takes more time than you have right now – go to #6. If you are in the middle of something else- go to # 9.
#6) Do you have your schedule or paper handy? Yes- go to #7. No- go to #8.
#7) Yes! You always carry your schedule or paper with you. Write in the task that needs to be done in an appropriate time slot. ~
#8) No! You’re not one to have paper or scheduling devices handy. You need to either get it and write down the task, or (less desirable) make a mental note.~
#9) You are in the middle of something else. Is your current activity more important than the new task? (eg. - are you entertaining a baby? Or watching a TV show?) Yes- go to #10. No- go to #12
#10) Can you pause your activity? Yes- go to #6. No- go to #11
#11) Carry on with that very important activity! ~
#12) The activity isn’t as important as the task, so the task should be your first priority. However, does your current activity really need to be done? Yes- go to #13. No- go to #16
#13) Do you have paper/schedule book? Yes- to got #14. No- go to #15
#14) Write down your activity so you can remember to do it later, and start the new task. ~
#15) Get paper & write the activity down for later, or make a mental note, and start the new task. ~
#16) Drop whatever you were wasting time on & start the new task! ~
Saturday, October 23, 2010
cupboards & drawers.
There is a problem with cupboards & drawers. They are great for keeping things organized around the house (I.e. keeping messes out of sight.) However, you can perfectly organize a cupboard, and no one would ever know. The rest of your house looks just as messy, or just as tidy (however it happens to be at the time). You do feel a little bit accomplished I suppose, but it is hard to keep that feeling once you look around. I guess you could always leave the cupboard door open to see your work & remind yourself of what you've done?
Just kidding. If you're tall, like we are, you'd hit your head.
So... I'm still chugging away at organizing things in our house- part of my list of October goals.
Less is more. Thats what I'm aiming for. Streamline- organize- reduce/re-use/recycle.
Oh. Quick cool comment on that- we got single stream recycling in our area of Lansing. I am so excited! It makes it really easy to recycle- EVERYTHING goes in one box. I know that's totally off topic, but I just reminded myself of it and had to mention it here. I just broke my only blog rule: one topic per post! Oops. Please forgive me.
Until next time:
Me.
Just kidding. If you're tall, like we are, you'd hit your head.
So... I'm still chugging away at organizing things in our house- part of my list of October goals.
Less is more. Thats what I'm aiming for. Streamline- organize- reduce/re-use/recycle.
Oh. Quick cool comment on that- we got single stream recycling in our area of Lansing. I am so excited! It makes it really easy to recycle- EVERYTHING goes in one box. I know that's totally off topic, but I just reminded myself of it and had to mention it here. I just broke my only blog rule: one topic per post! Oops. Please forgive me.
Until next time:
Me.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
October Goals
Hey guys!
I'd like to start something on this blog. I want to post lists of my goals: In January, my new years resolutions. Goals for the next week, next month... etc. Feel free to post a goal or two of your own in the comments. After that time frame is over, I'll check back in and see how I (we) did. And hopefully we can encourage each other in how we did.
So for October:
A few things I'd like to see done by the end of this month:
1) get a good chunk of my Chrstmas knitting done- particularly the gifts for my Canada family & friends, as we're going to visit in November.
2) I've been trying to do some organizing & streamlining of my life and things (Remember project 333?) and I'd like to continue with that. A closet or drawer or two a week perhaps?
3) As the leaves start to turn, I'd like to keep up with raking them.
4) I think that's about good for now! I'd rather have a few good goals that I know I can reach than a huge long list that I'll be discoraged by when I read it at the end of the month.
What are your goals for October?
I'd like to start something on this blog. I want to post lists of my goals: In January, my new years resolutions. Goals for the next week, next month... etc. Feel free to post a goal or two of your own in the comments. After that time frame is over, I'll check back in and see how I (we) did. And hopefully we can encourage each other in how we did.
So for October:
A few things I'd like to see done by the end of this month:
1) get a good chunk of my Chrstmas knitting done- particularly the gifts for my Canada family & friends, as we're going to visit in November.
2) I've been trying to do some organizing & streamlining of my life and things (Remember project 333?) and I'd like to continue with that. A closet or drawer or two a week perhaps?
3) As the leaves start to turn, I'd like to keep up with raking them.
4) I think that's about good for now! I'd rather have a few good goals that I know I can reach than a huge long list that I'll be discoraged by when I read it at the end of the month.
What are your goals for October?
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