My Tireless Retirement - Week 194

 

Oh my gosh you guys!  Next week is Christmas!  Did that seem to sneak up on you really fast?  It sure did for me.  Our year is rapidly headed to a close, and to be perfectly honest with you, I’m ready to put this one in the books.  It has been a weird one.  Good, but kind of weird.

 

Fried egg on a beef patty with cheese

I worked a very full and busy Friday at the senior center so Saturday I gifted myself a jammie day with rest and relaxation.  I slept in a bit, did some writing, enjoyed my coffee, watched some TV, drank some wine and ate some delicious, healthy food.  It was exactly what I needed because Sunday I was in Fall leaf and yard clean up mode.  After a good day off I was ready for it too - fresh air, a little sunshine and a lot of activity.

 

The leaves finally fell from the trees (much later than usual) so I got out my Toro blower/mulcher and got busy blowing all of the leaves into piles before I switched to the mulcher and sucked them all up.  It took me over two and a half hours, but once it was all done the results were more than satisfying.  I gave the hens a bag full of mulched leaves which freaked them out initially (first time), but they quickly figured out what to do with them.  I also filled up the thirty two gallon trash can I keep in the backyard so they’ll be getting more of these throughout the year as well as my trash wheelie bin and a paper leaf bag.  It was a lot of leaves.

 

I went through my card making supplies and was able to purge quite a bit of stuff I no longer wish to keep.  By the time I combined some things and reorganized everything I had another empty large container.  Go me!

 

I worked Monday afternoon and on the way home I stopped at Albertson’s for one final Christmas gift (a gift card for someone in need).  While I was at it, I also picked up four packages of cream cheese (loss leader) and two cans of whipped cream on sale for 99¢ each so I’ll be adding that expense to my January grocery tally because I am officially done with all shopping for December and the entire year for that matter.

 

With Tuesday and Wednesday off I enjoyed two days of paper crafting and sewing which I felt was long overdue.  I have a friend going in for knee replacement surgery and bless her heart she is scared to death so I made a journal for her.  She loves to journal.  I also have plans to make her a couple freezer meals for when she has the actual surgery.

 

Moving into the new year ahead I will be devoting more time to crafting, sewing and creative endeavors because I realize how important it is for me and my quality of life to do these things.  I always said that once I retired I’d “have more time” and would spend a lot of my time creating, but as it has turned out, I really haven’t made that a priority the way I thought I would have.  Time for me to change that, don’t you think?  Less work; more joy!

 

I worked all day Thursday covering for a co worker that smashed her hand in a door.  Ouch!  It pains me to even think about it.  This weekend will be a three day one for me so I’m going to make it a Christmasey funfest.  I hope all is well in your world.  Take care and enjoy the week ahead!  Ho, ho, ho!