The transition has started.

 Well I'm starting to train someone to do my job.  It's strange, but that was the company's decision.  I'm not sure it will work since the system is so old but I'm doing my best.  Retirement accounts have been adjusted and I'm starting to make some plans for the house like all the rooms need painted.  Some haven't been done in the 20 years we've owned it.  I'm picking paint now and as I have mad money I'm purchasing paint.  My first few weeks are going to be spent decluttering and painting.  I'm getting excited.  Some decisions still need made for expanding into the attic and creating another bedroom as well.

We keep thinking we might build on some property we already own, but with the way the economy is I think we need to fix what we have and sit tight for a bit longer.  When we had the roof done earlier this year we had the old chimney removed to just under the roof.  We will be dropping it all the way to the basement and fixing the hall closet where it was in the corner.  I might tackle taking it down to the first floor on my own.  I'd like to have my hall closet all done and rearranged before school starts in August.  The drywall will have to be patched, etc for this to happen so that is a learning curve for me.  

There is so much more, but I'm starting to ramble.  I need to make lists and just get moving when I have time.  Some of it is making supply lists so that I have stuff bought or money to purchase it put back while I'm still working.  The list is growing and I'm excited.

New Year and a New Perspective

Well it's a new year and I'm posting has been on the back burner more than I want it to be.  The holidays were a bit blah for me this year and that is soooo unusual.  I love the holidays and all the crazy stuff that goes with it.  Christmas movies are my favorites and decorating the house always brings me joy, but not this year and I really can't tell you why.  Everything just seemed off and I'm sure it was just me, but my family did notice some.  I went through the motions of things as normal, but it just seemed joyless and I can't put my finger on it.  I've thought about it several times, but I still don't really know.  

Anyway the new year has started and my big news is that I am officially done full time working as of July 5.  There were some financial considerations if I stayed until July 1 which is a Friday and the holiday is a Monday so I will go in one last time on July 5 to hand in my id badge and finish emptying my office out.  It's scary and a bit exciting as well.  It has been a long time coming and I've prayed and prayed for this.  I know there is never a "good" time to do this and it is a risk, but Sprout will be starting high school next fall and my time with her is getting smaller and smaller.  I already feel her moving away, as she should, but I just see so much I need to teach her yet and there is so little time.

The house is crazy as usual with the addition of the Nubby cat that I just couldn't send back to the barn.  We call him the special cat and I'm sure being the runt and sickly for so long did some long term damage.  He's a bit cross eyed and has something up with his back.  As long as you pick him up carefully it doesn't seem to bother him.  The dog is still jealous, but he doesn't seem to mind and if pushed too far will let her know that he isn't putting up with her.  He was curious about the tree this year, but we kept an eye on him so no major disasters.  

I'm starting to plan for a total declutter of the house and painting each room.  It's been several years since several rooms have been painted so it's time.  I'm starting to pick colors.  Some rooms will be a similar color and some will be totally different.  Several were painted when I bought the house pre husband and child so it's been a longggg time and single me and married me have a bit of a different taste.  The clutter isn't really bad, but I know if I were home everyday it would bother me so it's time to part with some things.  I want Sprout to help so she can see my thinking on things.  It's important to do this occasionally and I don't do it often enough.  Her room is dead last.  She's been working on cleaning it, but it's time to really clean it out of the little kid things and move on to grown up things.  It will be hard for me, but I have to do it.

I'll be working on some other goals over the next few weeks and creating a real home management book and not the haphazard one I've been using over the years.  One big goal is to get back my Sundays.  The weekends have always been the days to "catch" up on all the things that didn't get done during the week because of schedules, events and whatever else popped up.  Since FarmBoy's schedule is a rotating 4 days ( 4 days, 4 off, 4 nights, 4 off, etc) I want to have the flexibility to help when he's off too.  There are times when a parts runner, tractor chaser, etc. are needed and I've rarely been able to do that for him. I won't even talk about paperwork...  It's my most hated thing, but I need to figure out how to do it better.