Clearing out the crowded shed (mind)

Holiday season is always a crowded endeavor. It is crowded in our home, business, project list but also crowded in my mind. That urgent sense of uncluttering is always in desperate sight. So what did I do this past week? Panel a wall, paint that wall, move an entire room around, clean it, organize it, build a bed, do several loads of laundry, dishes, cook dinner, did i mention that was in one day? Did I mention that was in one room? So much still to do and of coarse, walls have not been decorated.

So not only is this rush to get things together but also continue to move things out from inventory. I need to wrap several things to be mailed today but also get a new perspective of what I really want to hang onto. I really can't see me continue to take on things from people that are not in line with what  I have in mind. Christmas and the New Year are those times where you can reevaluate what you are doing.

Monday followed Christmas and we were well on our way to New Years weekend. I have items on hold to reach their destination this week but also I have to do a follow up on people who claim items and really haven't given me a time or any real communication. Frustration is not something that will be following me to next year.

We had decided to get off our mountain and away from snowbunny activity to see what was up at Antiques at the Barn and Antique Asylum. We spent less then a hundred and got a dozen and a half things, but it was just nice to get out, have lunch, take a drive. People were friendly and I can see they were happy to be back selling. Came home, relaxed, did some chores and rested since I wasn't 100%.

Tuesday morning now has arrived, I have been up most of the night feeling less then perfect. Have big goals for today, basically regrouping, cleaning, making lists, straightening out. As I stay on task and muddled through ill health, I want to focus on these things and bring those overwhelmed feelings to a manageable state.

2016 has basically been a big zero starting with my bf's fathers passing in February, my continued estrangement from one of my children, feeling the loss of my best friend and business partner and finally our decision as an electoral nation to pick the man child, I do have to turn that around in what we do and what we focus on. There is a light at the end that tunnel.

My youngest offspring, Wesley 15, made it clear a couple of weeks ago that he wanted to become more of an intricle part of my business. Which actually brought a smile to my face. It would mean scheduling more shows, making decisions together, planning in a more productive manner. Although I have support, I would not feel like I am out there flapping in the breeze alone. This could be what I need, he needs and the positive change we are welcoming.

So 2017 could be a definite turn around in the shadow of not so great 2016. It is up to us.

Friday is deceptive

Friday is a funny thing. Throughout my adulthood it is suppose to be exciting because it is the gateway to the Weekend. But the premise is you are not working over the weekend, so it is actually a let down. I always work on weekends. When I taught, all my prep was on the weekend and when I did anything else it was on the weekend. So some, like the BF, think it is great, I think it isn't so much.
Fridays predicament was getting some things accomplished and then go down below to do a little shopping. I had acquired an outdoor work table or so i think it is an outdoor work table in aqua. This fellow brought it by for me too buy. I should have known when he said he would grab it out of the truck that things weren't going to be that great. He talked my ear off and then left.

 

I know this color is a hip thing at the moment but not for me. So I moved it to my work area near the garage. That is when i discovered what i had in store for me. Where the long pieces meet their perpendicular companion my hand could go through it. Upset, I decided much like the Six Million Dollar Man, I would build it better then it was. Ok that just gave away my age. 

I pulled the bad plank and found two in my reprotoire that I could fill in. There was still a problematic area that was to be filled in with wood putty. So I cut things to jive with one another and then followed with putty. When that finally set, I opted for an indoor outdoor paint, barn red. Standard off the shelf. 

So not complete, but will find time this week. Since it needs to go away. 

As quickly as I could I moved on to going down the hill to shop. First stop was a Latte from Starbucks by the Outlet mall and off to Target. I spent a good hour and a half shopping, browsing and figuring out what I needed. From there I went to a series of places until I ended up right back at the outlet mall for Pottery Barn. I had eyeballed this Killim rug for the longest time and I was waiting for a sale. Rug in hand I made my way home. Unload, organize, dinner and then out til morning Saturday. 

Good Morning Saturday!! Slow start but then I realized we were picking up an armoire and have to demo the closet out. Demo you ask. Yes, this was a makeshift closet that was made from the shower of the original two room cabin. Of coarse I did not wear shoes, safety glasses or gloves. Of coarse I was injured. We got it done, got truck packed for the dump and left. It was a joint effort. Wes would clean and we would demo. 

 So we picked up the Armoire!!

Got it home, purged a couple bags of clothes and organized. Then we ordered a pizza and called it a day. 

Sunday we spent the day doing two different things. I focused on pickups from clients and the BF focused on all around chores. Between working online and getting things done, I realized I was still in my pajamas. I guess I was relaxing in a way. With Cape Fear playing the background and Robert Mitchum being his eerie self, I got off the computer and we decided to take a ride out to an area I have mentioned before, Lockwood Valley. 

He was looking for quail, I was looking to relax and maybe collect a few rocks for my landscaping project. I read, listened to music, worked on my phone and eventually Chris returned. No quail but we drove around a little to see if there were any signs of anything. I gathered some rocks and by 5 it was starting to get dark and time for us to come home.

Chris made burgers on the grill, hung out, watched the telly and talked about the weekend. My hands hurt, I have multiple cuts and such from wielding the hammer. But the weekend was a wrap. Maybe tomorrow will be a better day for a little R and R.

So Friday is not a lead in to rest and relaxation, but really the opening of a can of hard working worms.