Catching Up

Over the weekend, I got three manuscripts edited and worked on two other manuscripts.  Ken and Vicki did all the errands on Saturday.  Sunday we went out to breakfast.  We have a couple of places we like but wanted to try other places.  So we went somewhere other than our favorites.

The food looked and tasted good but all three of us had unpleasant stomach issues after going to this place.  We will not be returning to that place for a Sunday meal again.

Saturday, I spent a couple hours at Natureland.  I can’t hike anymore which makes me exceedingly sad as it’s such a nice park.  I sat in my car and edited while the beauty of the place helped me cope with a few things.  I parked in an end stall in order to be out of the way and in the shade.  The tree closest to it seemed to reach down to try to tease me.

It was productive for me to be there.  I turned my phone down.  I worked on editing.  I watched the lake and the trees.  I watched the people come and go.  I wrote two scenes (by hand which means I need to type them up).

Sunday Vicki and I worked on food prep for the week.  I cut up a bunch of stuff for her for lunches and supper tonight.  I made pudding for Ken and Vicki.  We got a lot of stuff done.

Surprisingly, we sold the snare drum which has been on Facebook.  I thought we were going to sell Vicki’s table and chairs but unfortunately the guy never showed.  When I messaged him, he said he couldn’t get a van.  It would have been nice if he had let me know.

We still have a few things to sell and they are listed on Facebook.  I’ll see how they go.

Every weekend we’re working on things in the house.  Ken’s been painting our bedroom.  We picked a color and they went to get.  I thought it was darker but didn’t say anything.  Ken got two walls done and had to go back for more paint.  When they mixed the color, it was different.  There was a bit of back and forth.  It was decided whoever mixed the first gallon did it wrong.  So they got the new gallon for free.  They talked about leaving one of the walls the darker color and painting the other three walls the lighter color.  I’m good with that.

Vicki’s been working on getting her space more organized.  She’s been painting, building shelves (book and bedside table) and a desk.  She’s been working on organizing her books, getting lists made, and making it portable so she can have lists so she knows what she needs to purchase.

I’ve got several crochet projects I need to work on but the writing has been pushing me.  I’ve finished a number of things.  I have a meeting with my artist to see about covers and other things.  I’m hoping to finish several projects and get them published soon.

I’ve been getting journals from all sorts of places.  I took one of them and made it into my writing to do list sort of.  On one page I outlined what I’ve got the projects I’m working on.  I’ve been losing track of what stage I’m at for different projects.  This means I’m doing work twice when I shouldn’t have to.  Hopefully this will help me keep better track of where I am for the projects.  It will also prompt me to work on different aspects of the projects like writing the synopsis and so on.

In the journal I think I’m going to work on pages for marketing things as well.  Maybe take a page per book and write where I’ve sent requests for book reviews.  I have a hard time tracking this which again leads to a duplication of work.

I feel like I’ve been so busy, I hardly have time to breath.  I know it’s good because I keep going but there are times I want to just take a moment.  I guess that’s why I went to Natureland – to take a moment.  Even though I was editing, it changed my perspective.

Hot House Flowers…

The girls arrived safely finally.  Their plane was delayed an hour and being goofy I watched online while they traveled north.  I kept bugging my sister giving her status updates…

Ken and I ran errands after work.  When we got home, there they were peeking around the edge of the door.  Almost the first thing they said was can we open gifts.  Reminded me of when they were little (or last year).  Patience has never been one of their stronger virtues…

Ken had to start a fire because they were cold and we spent the next two hours chatting and catching up.  It has been wonderful.  Now the girls and Ken have gone off to shop.  I’m home alone in the blissfuly quiet house.

Tomorrow will be busy.  Our Christmas stuff in the morning, traditional tacos for lunch.  Then bunches of people in the afternoon.  I have no idea how many are coming but it will be a good time with friends and family coming to see the girls and hang out. 

Sunday will be a quieter day, I think.  I’m not quite sure what we are doing yet.  I’m sure it will involve a lot of laughter and joy… and maybe a bit of grumbling.  There usually is in our household but it is all good because we just deal with it. 

It seems like such a short time but at least we are together and can enjoy each other no matter how long we have.  It is wonderful to have the whole family together….