Friday's

I love a Friday...seriously.  The excitement of what is ahead for 2 whole days makes me exuberant!  I love making a plan of what I want to accomplish.

Tomorrow & Sunday....

I plan to tackle and organize my bathroom under-sink cabinets. 

I plan to move a desk that I painted last weekend upstairs. 

I plan to rearrange my sun-porch furniture.

I plan to mow the backyard with my new push mower if not raining.

I plan to clean out  & organize my hall closet.

I plan to clean & organize my upstairs landing.

Okay, looks like I'm setting my "LOFTY" goals again!

Lets see how many I get done!

TTYL...Sue Ellen. 

The Hate Machine

The treadmill.  I can't believe I spent Christmas money on this contraption about 3 years ago.  Thought I always wanted one. And did.  I've used it seldom in the past years.  But, due to the horrific heat lately, I decided that if I were ever going to start walking for exercise again...it would have to be on the treadmill.

See, I joined, no re-joined WW last week.  This is not a new experience for me.  I've joined several times.  I'm determined that this time will be a new experience...so far it has been. 

I joined an online challenge on the WW site.  Walking...30 Min's 2 times a week and 45 Min's 4 times a week.  I really want to succeed at this.  I use to be an avid walker.  Usually 4 miles per day.  I loved it.  No, craved it.  It was very addictive.  And satisfying.  I couldn't go to sleep at night until I got my walk in after work.  I got out of the habit in 2005 after my hysterectomy.  Two weeks post-op I decided I could walk and started out on my usual trek to realize about 1/2 mile into it that I was in no shape to do this yet.  I thought I would have to crawl back to the house.  The MD informed me that I wasn't allowed to walk for exercise until 8 weeks!!!  OOPS!!!  And haven't ever been able to get back to it.  Good habits are hard to start and easy to stop....

But, back to the treadmill story.  So, I have it set up downstairs in the finished part of the basement.  Usually, it is out of sight, out of mind.  Right now, it is 10 pm and it is 80 degrees outside.  I could walk in that temp...but like I said...its 10pm!  Not so scared of peeps as much as I'm scared of critters.  Remember...I live in the country!  So, I'm walking on the dreadmill...I mean treadmill!

Each night, I've watched TV while walking.  And to be bearable, I've taken a break after 15 or 20 Min's to break it up and make it doable!  And I've been hating it!  Forcing myself to take it one step at a time.  But, while walking tonight, I notice the time seemed to be going by more quickly?!?!?!  Could I be creating a new habit again...?  Yea!...maybe a SPARK is starting.....I sure hope so!

(PS:  If my treadmill were to break...I would be upset...so please don't think I'm ungrateful!)

A Full House...

We basically have 3 households...in one.  Yep.  That's a lot of stuff. 

Twenty years ago after living in a mobile home and then an 1100 square foot house for about 10 years, we built the "then" house of our dreams.  Around 3500 sq ft.  Huge compared to our previous living quarters.

But bigger house, means more junk to keep and not get rid of as you should!

The pile grows....

Then 8 years ago, Kent's aging parents sold their home near Atlanta and moved their cummulated belongings of 60-ish years of marriage to our home.  They pared down by all means...many of the kids got furniture items (thank goodness) but they still brought plenty...a truck load. 

The pile grows again....

Then in May, my son and his family, moved to Knoxville.  They moved from their own home to an apartment...on the 2nd floor.  Needless to say, they needed a place to store tubs of children's clothes and some furniture items as well.  Wha-lah....our basement.

So the pile grows even bigger....

So today, I decided a project was in order.  We have a sofa graveyard down there.  3 large sofas.  We are paring down to 1.  It is almost hoarding and selfish to keep the others.  An executive decision has been made...by me.

There is a bed set up down there that mice have decided was for their pleasure.  Yep, gross as it seems.  It's gone now.  Yuk and PTL!  The mice will have to look elsewhere.  I'm sure they will. 

So today, I spent about 3 hours sweeping, killing spiders, removing icky webs...and moving 11 tubs of clothes, 15 garbage bags of clothes, 2 changing tables, chairs, bed frames, and finally repacking my Christmas decorations!  For me, I had a major case of the "heebie-jeebies".  I don't like things that creep and crawl and surprise you unexpectedly...yuk!

To the visiting eye...it will still look totally cluttered.  To the way it was...it is pristine!  Scarey...huh?!?  The picture does not do this room justice.  But I have a plan.  More tubs for the clothes...for trips to TN...removing of a broken treadmill that found its way here from GA and will continue the paring down process of old TV's and GA boxes that have never been unpacked/opened.  Most of the tubs will going to TN when they find the buy the house of their dreams.  I'll be removing the tables...etc. You should have seen this room and the back of the basement before I started...I failed to take of picture of that unfortunately.

I feel like I have climbed Mt. Everest today.  In the process, I found the full bed that was my daughters while she was young...she's been looking for one to paint white...she's thrilled!!!

So a huge step has been taken.  No longer do I fear Neicy Nash will come with her crew to proclaim she has found the messiest house in the nation! 

No more Neicy...I'm doing this one .....one room at a time!

July 4th Celebration/Employee Apprecitation/Bring your Child to work day

Well, our event was wonderful...employees enjoyed it and Melissa did go to work with me that day!  It was such fun having her for a few hours and I'm so proud of the woman she has become...she is just as pretty inside as she is out!!!  It was great having her.  She is an elementary school teacher and also in school for her Masters at Meredith.  So glad she could join me to brighten my day. 

Hate that Robb couldn't be there, my son.  They moved to TN in May.  They posted the cutest  picture of my precious grandbabies celebrating the 4th at an event in TN...these girls are amazing!!!  Of course, I am their grandma ZuZu...but they really are! 

Anyway, it was a fun weekend...just wish we could have all been together...we were in spirit...Have a fun week everyone!...Sue

I feel a project coming.....

My precious, sweet, brutally honest, organized, "no non-sense when it comes to clutter" daughter is coming today!  I'm super excited.  She is actually coming because, being in health care, my agency is not usually closed for holidays.  So, traditionally, on July 4th Monday, we have an employee cookout at the office for those employees that choose not to take the holiday off as PTO.  Also, b/c this is a common issue on holidays, we have offered to those with children...to have a "Bring your child to work day"...b/c daycare centers are typically closed as well.  So, being funny, I sent the email to my son in TN and my daughter.  He ignored me.  She, on the other hand, is coming!!!  A little tongue in cheek of course.  But seriously, I will love having her help with the event!  

So, she is due to arrive in about 3 hours and I am attempting to clean & straighten a little prior to her arrival this evening.  Or else....!!!

I love having her here.  She is an Elementary School teacher which means she is off for a couple of months in the summer even though she is in grad school 2 nights a week.  A few post back, she came for the weekend and wow...clean, purge, and organize she did!  She kept telling me there is "FREEDOM" in purging & organizing and actually......I have truly felt it!  I have a large house with about 3600 sq ft of space.  That's a lot of room to stuff things in and forget they exist!  She and I haven't even drifted toward the basement...it's loaded!!!

So today, I'm super curious as to what she has in mind...I'm sure she is thinking & planning!  I feel it!

So, here is to you out there celebrating Freedom this weekend...meanwhile, I will be here...in my home....fighting for my freedom...one trash bag at a time!

Happy Independence!

I posted on my "work" blog about being Independent....please join me and check it out!

Happy Independence to everyone!

...Sue Ellen

A New Toy

Well, I finally did it.  I have been wanting one for a long time.  So, I broke down and got it.  A push mower!  And, to beat that...an electric one!  YEA!   But not everyone is sharing my joy.  My husband is not the least bit happy about it.  Long story.  But here is the brief version it.

My husband is a professional Lawn Care & Landscaper.  Owns his own business.  He's licensed and certified.  It is his lively hood.  It pays for our house!  But, I wanted this....for me. I can't work his zero turns, plus they are so expensive that I would be fearful!  I don't even like his regular riding John Deere mowers.  I can't crank the weed eaters....and the blower packs are too heavy!  I had planned to get a regular, run of the mill, push mower.  He kept telling me that I knew I wouldn't be able to crank it...true.  But when I got to Walmart....there was this electric version for the same price.  Now, you all are probably like the man at the checkout or my husband and saying "You're gonna hate that thing"...as I purchased the 100 foot electric cord to go with it.  But this is why I disagree.

I knew that eventually the cranking of the push mower would win and I wouldn't be able to do it.  I would end up very frustrated.  But I was still going to try.  When I saw the electric mower in my price range, I thought "This might be the answer!"  I KNOW it is not the best, strongest, prettiest, heavy dutiest (is that a word!) mower out there!  But so far....I love it!!!  

I can mow under trees, around plants, bushes, under the back steps....yep, I love it!  It is light as a feather.  Ultra easy to crank.  Turn off and start right back.  No gas, no oil!!! 

My husband is none too pleased.  He thinks I'm slighting him.  But I am trying to convince him that I am HELPING him.  He doesn't agree.  Being a "Professional" he says it looks bad.  But, I'm trying to be sensitive.  I think eventually I will win him over. 

Especially when I quit fussing about our grass being the last lawn on his work list!

Here's to hoping!