SNOW IS IN THE FORECAST TODAY AND TOMORROW, but I woke to the sound of RAIN. In the early hours of the morning, I went outside to sit on the front porch and prayed. Very quiet even as it rained.
A train rumbled by blowing its horn with a couple of automobiles going in opposite directions on the road out front. It's a busier street than I remember. The sound of the train is louder than I'm comfortable with. sigh. I suppose when we go through things that it is an opportunity to make plans and decide which way to go.
The chill of the air didn't bother me as I was wearing a heavy housecoat. I didn't stay long. It was refreshing to me to get out so early and breathe in fresh air. Remembering when we lived in the country comes to mind. I miss this. The place we were living had a glassed in porch where I'd take my black coffee to drink and sit in peace. I was HOME alone and it made for a pleasant day. I waited with excitement to see my Husband drive up the road after work.
We'd greet each other with a kiss and talk about the day. Supper would get fixed and we'd relax. No chores or remodeling to do. I miss this so much. Then we had puppies and they needed tended to.
PRESENT DAY. Listening to it gently rain is relaxing. No thunder or lightning. Perhaps some snow will mix in with it and we'll have slush. Returning to the indoors, I heard geese flying overhead honking. Thankful I can hear. Hubby has gone to town to take care of banking. I am HOME alone for a few minutes. I truly need my quiet time each day or I get cranky.
MY PLANS TODAY will be to stay indoors and work at washing my Mom's old dishes, clean the Living room up, vacuum the carpet, do a few loads of laundry, read, paperwork, go through a few boxes in the Dining room. Have some quiet time, sip Hot Tea with cayenne pepper, research, write a few letters.
I took my morning meds with about 4 oz. of Spring water. Over the last few years drinking water has become an easier task for me. I don't fight it. I surrendered and I like to drink fluids NOW. My elderly mother drinks very little water and it concerns me, but she is 91 1/2 and still ticking. Morning coffee for her and milk at supper. Little sips of water with her medicines throughout the day. That's it. I understand that if you do not drink enough water, it can cause high blood pressure. You can get dehydrated and your organs not function well. Not what I want.
TIS SNOWING!!! I pulled the lace panel back from the window so I can watch it fall. Cold outside, but so pleasant indoors. A blessed WINTERY DAY.
Do you have a 5 year plan of any kind concerning your LIFE, living arrangements, retirement, weight loss, improving health, decluttering, moving, regaining your strength, getting organized, learning more about a subject, traveling, paying off debt, saving money, buying a different house or car, etc. ???
I know that plans can be changed in a blink of an eye, so they are not made in concrete. Still, I think it helps to think about what direction to go. Time passes quickly.
PRAY. MAKE PLANS. PERSEVERE. REPEAT.
When thinking back to 5 years ago, where was I? What was I doing? Have I changed? Am I where I had hoped to be 5 years ago? Did I succeed in some areas? Did I fail in others?
5 years ago, I had been suffering with some gall bladder issues during the Summer of 2018 going to the ER needing my Gall Bladder removed. Turned out to be gangrenes. I was 62 turning 63 in 12 days. This incident lead me to take an interest in health issues, going more natural with grooming, what food additives are being used, etc. Looking back on this. This past Summer, I had a hysterectomy due to uterine cancer. I turned 68, 10 days before the surgery. Summer birthdays seem to be kind of rough on me.
Having a 5 year plan may be like a pipe dream. Still, I'll give it some thought. At this point, I have to make plans to get the COTTAGE up and going. It is a fixer upper. Each day, I plan out something along with hopes for the week. This week, we'll buy a vanity. Next year, we'll install it. This week we'll purchase a hot water heater. Pause. Sometime in the near future we'll install it. This month we'll do this and that. Paint. Hang some new curtains. We'll travel to Iowa and get some bricks for a patio. Next year, we'll get the patio put in. This Summer we'll put up a fence. Yada yada yada.
There's so much that needs done. I think it is ideal to move into a place that is already remodeled, but that's not always the case. MOVING FORWARD. A 5 year PLAN is needed. If we work faster than planned, okay. That would be alright.
DURING THE FIRST YEAR OF BEING HERE will be dedicated to getting moved into the Cottage and selling the Main house across the river. DONE.
Getting settled. WORKING ON THIS.
Everything out of boxes and dealing with each item making sense out of the mess. WORKING ON IT.
House leveled. DONE.
Christmas decor moved to cellar. DONE.
New mini freezer purchased and installed. DONE.
New Garbage Deposal purchased and installed. DONE.
Purchase new Hot Water heater and install. HALF WAY DONE. Waiting to get it installed. This week a reality.
Storage Shed made into temporary Art Studio.
The 3 storage units emptied throughout the year.
WINTER PROJECT: The Bathroom completely remodeled.
Antique mirror installed. DONE.
Vanity Lights purchased and installed. DONE.
New tile for floor purchased. DONE.
Tile laid. DONE.
Vanity purchased. DONE.
Vanity installed. DONE.
Tub installed.
Floor to ceiling cabinet built.
Bathroom door cut down. DONE.
Painted and installed. THIS WEEK.
Barn door fixed and installed to closet.
SPRING: Flowerbeds cleaned out and thriving.
SPRING and SUMMER: Front PORCH rebuilt.
Front doors painted.
Thinking about a backyard fence.
AUTUMN: Reroof the garage.
Garage remodeled.
Art studio moved into garage.
She shed turned into spare quarters.
BREAK.
2nd year
FALL/WINTER PROJECT: Finish the inside of the garage if not finished.
Front bedroom remodeled.
Redo ceiling.
Window trim and baseboard sanded and painted.
Carpet pulled up.
Wood floor repaired.
Built in floor to ceiling book shelves made.
Light fixture up.
SPRING/SUMMER: Exterior of the Cottage repaired as we go.
Living room and Dining room redone with paint and paneling.
AUTUMN: Patio made.
BREAK.
3rd year
AUTUMN/WINTER: Kitchen.
SPRING/SUMMER PROJECT: Utility room.
4th year
5th year
PLANS in the making for the COTTAGE.
Playing it by ear.
HOME sweet HOME,
