Sweet Summer

In a couple of weeks, summer will officially be here. I don't know when I lost track of Summer's arrival, but only recently have I been cherishing the soft hints of its return. The smell, the shift in the air, the various flowers blooming, the shift in the sun, the long days...

I am so filled with gratitude for summer right now. This morning, Pook and I went outside to garden. Okay, I gardened while she poked things with a stick. I cleared up the mint, made room for the mulch I need to order (thanks for the tip about that Ed - although I'm still not sure if 1 or 2 yards will be enough...), and weeded. It felt really good to get out there and clean up the place. I'm looking forward to the mulch.

Yesterday a friend painted the bottom portion of our house, and tomorrow or Saturday, we'll be putting the shutters back on. We've still got to paint the front door, do trim in the Pook's room and Fish bathroom, and maybe a few other touchs ups here and there.

They say that you should always leave a house as you'd like to find it. And, as I'm filled with a delightful sense of accomplishment, as well as a sense of amazement at what I've been capable of getting done these last few weeks, I feel really good. I am a bit sad that we're pretty-ying it up before we leave, but you know what? That's okay. Because I'm hoping I won't have to wait until the next house before prettying it up. Donations for Playful Garce's new house fund are willingly being accepted.

It's summer, my house is looking lovely, getting decluttered and organized... I love this feeling.

In other news, having all these activities during the week is causing me to get more done. Go figure. I'm enjoying it, loving the sense of accomplishment, and excited about recognizing my ablities through all this. Don't know if that makes sense. I think over the last 5 years, I've really let house things slide. Maybe it's just me, but there is an amazing feeling when you are putting your home in order. I guess I should be psyched that after this house, then, I'll get to work on the next at some point. Hmmm...

Serenity of a clean desk...

There is something about a clean desk that set me right for the day. I've noticed that I tend to feel more serene when things are clean and clear. As we go through and prepare to release our clutter, I've been packing up books, unneeded knick knacks, and things we don't or won't use for awhile.

I'm loving the freedom and the flow of having more space. It's challenging to describe, best to say it just feels GOOD!

Simply Lovely...

It was a simply lovely day today. And, I got a lot done too. I'm on the accomplishment badwagon, yessir! And I'm hanging on while it lasts.

I was blessed enough to get out of the house and have a picnic lunch with Pook and her pal C and mom T. It was a lot of fun, I got to get fresh air, and even managed quite a workout. (You try pushing a Pook on a see saw - you're either doing squats or arms reps.) And, my little darling climbed up the tall, straight, ladder for the big slide - on her own. I did spot her, but we had trouble keeping her off.

As most of you know, or may have guessed, or not, I'm a bit of a homebody. Seriously, sometimes, it's like pulling teeth to get me to go somewhere or leave the house. So, hanging out with T and C has been forcing me to get out of the house and get fresh air. This summer, T's come up with a list of activities and places for us to go on our playdates. I'm excited. I don't usually venture out on my own. I'm not sure why, I've just always prefered staying in. But today, the fresh air and sunshine did me good.

Sometimes, I feel like such a fool when I don't take advantage of being outdoors - especially when the weather is so lovely.

Today's list of Accomplishments for those who care: I managed to do a bit of yoga, repack boxes, pack up books and games, spend a day at the park with Pook and friends, catch up on my magazines, watch a movie with the family, repack 2 more boxes in the basement, rearrange the shelves in the kitchen to look less cluttered, pack up 3 boxes in my office, talk to the acocuntant, water the flowers, confirm the painting arrangements, and work. Yup. A good day overall.

Interesting quote to share...

"The irony of commitment is that it's deeply liberating – in work, inplay, in love. The act frees you from the tyranny of your internalcritic, from the fear that likes to dress itself up and parade aroundlike rational hesitation. To commit is to remove your head as the barrier to you life. " -- Anne Morris, a New York Starbucks customer

I'm not sure how I feel about this just yet, but, thought it was interesting.

All is as it should be

I go through these moments, when everything just feels as though it's just as it should be. It was a good day today, although we might've spent way too much money on plastic storage bins, however, they will indeed be used. Now, I've just got to find the time to start organizing and filling them.

I think Stacie's motivation and accomplishments have been rubbing off on me. Or, maybe it's all the new blogs I've been reading lately. I seem to keep coming across blogs with women who have a tons of children, yet still get a lot accomplished.

3 plus years of being a mom, and my attitude is finally changing. When I first started out, I used to get petrified of doing certain things, and I was quite negative in regards to what my capabilities were. Meanwhile, I was feeling down as my friends with 2 or more children were cruising along.

I think it's a combination of looking at my life through different eyes and perspectives, and just adapting to the attitude of getting it done. These last few weeks, my weeks have been fuller then ever, and I'm not only keeping up with the activities and work, but I'm doing house projects too. In preparation for our move, we are decluttering, repacking, reorganizing, painting, mulching, fixing things.

This week a friend is coming to paint the outside of the house on Wednesday. I've also got to find someone who delivers mulch, and get it delivered. There are tax forms to sort out with my accountant, updates to my new website, an oil change to schedule, a wellness visit for the pook, planning for the summer, final hand over for the 4 part project I was working on, siding to be power washed, a purple front door to be repainted, baseboards to be repainted, a basement with a car load or two of stuff for the Good will, baby clothes to go through for consignment, stuff to get rid of, stuff to pack...

Thankfully hubby is teaming up with me on this. Yay! Who's awesome and great? (Pook will tell you that she is... and so is Daddy!)

Today, as I sat on the hill in the backyard, looking at the house, I felt sort of strange. The things I finally wanted to do to my house, were finally getting done - in preparation for the move. Blah.

At least, I should be able to enjoy it for a little while. Or, maybe after we move, I'll just have to have a house party, where we'll provide food, floor space to crash (and/or maybe a yard to camp in!), as well as paint, building materials, and yard stuff depending. :)

Anyway, keep your fingers crossed that we find a house with at least a good acre, 3-4 bedrooms, kitchen, dinning room, cave space for hubby, 2 baths, front porch, that's cozy, comfortable, affordable, and well-kept and loved, in WV. :)

The next step...

I've been avoiding that all to familiar feeling in my stomach of taking that step forth. It's that step where you don't know what's next, or how far down (or up) the next step is, and, to be honest, you've nested rather well on the level you are on.

You see, we're prepping our house for the market, and looking for a new place, with an acre or two of land to move too. Last week we looked at a few houses, and I fell in love with a cute little farm house form the 1900's, on 1.8 acres. But, no central air, no storage space, and the only trees on the property were a small grouping in front of the grogeous front porch. (And, the back porch is lovely, as well as the laundry room.

Hubby didn't like it and felt cramped, but I felt cozy there, and could see myself there. It was quite a sweet lil place.

In any case, we're taking that step, our feet dwindling in the air, you know that spot right before you step down to the next step? I say down, because to step up, you've got an idea, or direction per say. It's an interesting place to be.

Then too, I got a strange reading from my reading, "You need to know that you cannot go back." Hmmm... Not sure what that means, except, that if I get pregnant, that's another step I'll be taking. And yeah, I wouldn't go back on that one. Plus... life with two?

Okay, not ready to think that far ahead yet.

Life changes are happening. That's for sure. And, if the cards are right, we'll be in a new home by the fall. Wild.

Finding our first home just flowed so right. It's wonderful. We pay less for our mortgage than people pay for an aparment here. But, we both want more land. And that, seems to be the only thing we agree on for the moment.

Ah...

Time for bed.

Oh goody goodness!

Someone please send me a dose of motivation. I am SO the procrastinator today with my work. Although, did find 6 T-shirts (nice ones) for $16 at a Gabe's store around the corner, started working on my new business website, made phonecall to the accountant, helped calm a friend, and found time to read this morning...

Um... I really need to get back to work now.

Blarg.