Labor-less Day Weekend

Ah, the end of summer.  A lot of things run through my mind when I understand that today is September 1st.  Coziness.  Hell (aka -35 with snow).  Sweaters.  Jackets.  Sliding on ice & crashing.  A couple months of lovely weather for running and hiking.  Followed by the aforementioned hell.  The gradual and heartbreaking fading of the tan I've worked so hard for.  Birthday parties, great holidays, the end of feeling guilty that I didn't weed or water enough.  Barren and birdless trees.  First snows.  Cuddling. 

Hey. This is the first winter I've had a guy to cuddle with for a long time.  Maybe it won't be so bad.  Plus, he's going to teach me to cross-country ski.  My current technique involves a lot of falling.  I'm not a fan.  And I'm signed up for yoga classes every weekend and during lunch on Thursdays.  But I still don't look forward to having to put on 10 layers of clothes just to walk to the garage and back.

So, to kick off this ambivalence, we're having a weekend staycation.  Friday we're going to go spend the day in Bozeman--shop, the man's going to get a haircut, I'll hang at the mall, we'll go for a hike with the dogs, and follow it all up with dinner at MT Aleworks.  I'm really looking forward to a non-rushed day in the big city.

Saturday I'm going garage saling, to the farmer's market, and to breakfast with Aaron.  And then I don't know what, although the man wants to watch a bunch of movies.

Sunday, church in Livingston and then maybe some crafty-type stuff.  Fix a nice dinner.

Monday, the man's working, so I'm going to lounge about, read, and get to work on some Christmas presents.

Yup, sounds like a lovely, lovely labor-less weekend.  I hope everyone else enjoys their rest from toil as well.

A

My new pal

Introducing...Neeko!

What I Need...

What I need right now…


Alone time.
Time to write something for me.
Time to cook something for me.
Time to read a really good book.
Time to go thrift store shopping.
Time to sit on the porch and gaze at the trees.
Time to go for a long run followed by a long walk.
Time for crafts.
Time to work on the house.
Time to miss Billy.
Time to meditate.
Time to listen to music.
Time to listen to silence.
Time to watch a bad tv show.
Time to hang out with the dogs.
Time to go for a hike with the dogs.
Time to do nothing.
Time for me.

Happy Summer!

Summer's in full swing.  Family is showing up tomorrow for a long week of fun and relaxation.  They're going to see the new house, greet the new dog, and meet the new man.  It's going to be a good, good time.

Hope everyone's well!

Er...Hi.

So, I'm still working 2 jobs.  Still trying to get stuff done on the new house.  Still trying to be creative on some level in the few hours I have that are "free."

New things:

• Some kind of terrible imbalance where I'm hungary and irritable (watch out, Ruffers and Lucy and Mom) pretty much all the time and feel like I'm constantly ready to *snap*.  It reminds me of riding really high-strung show horses.  And my arms are getting tired from holding onto the reins.
• Still waiting to hear about a possible promotion in my job.  Keep praying.
• I've started jogging!  I'm up to about 3 miles/day, although it's been tough since we  had a horrendous snow storm last week.  Please, people: SHOVEL YOUR SIDEWALKS BEFORE I KILL MYSELF IN FRONT OF YOUR HOUSE!  Thank you.
• 2 authors whom I'm loving, loving, loving: Susan Hill and Christopher Fowler.  Wonderful mysteries!  Almost as good as my beloved Charles Todd.

That's it.  I'm so ready to go home for Christmas.  2 blessed weeks in sunny San Antonio, TX.  I feel calmer just thinking about it.  Hopefully I can get through the ensuing 18 days without killing any puppies.  Or my career.  Or my poor sainted mother.  Who I love very, very much.

Chillin in the yard

Beautiful autumn day in the backyard

The Hunter

Orion the Hunter greeted me this morning as I opened my eyes from a deep bus-coma.  He was striding across the sky above and seemed to wave to me while he continued on his journey and I smiled in recognition.  I miss him during the summer months; he's my favorite constellation and seeing him again in the fall is one of those rituals that I have come to look forward to.  But take note--it was so dark when I got to work this morning, the stars were really, really bright.

So I didn't paint my entire bedroom last weekend as I had planned to.  No, I went to Plan G.  I decided that I'd rather wait til my mom visits next summer and we can do a big decoration project on the whole room.  In the meantime, I painted the fireplace and moved in.  It's much quieter back there and I love the view from the windows.  It's the biggest bedroom I've ever had, so sleeping with that much space around me is really nice, somehow. 

I think it looks pretty good.  I'm not crazy about the blue walls, but I can live with them until early next summer.  I love my new room.