This tree doesn’t want to let go of its 2016 leaves!

 

Outside My Window… the sun is shining and it’s a brilliant blue sky, just like the above picture from yesterday’s afternoon walk.

I am thinking… that not everyone got the memo about January 2nd being a Holiday.

I am thankful for… sunshine and a teeny, tiny bit of rain (without the accompanying severe storms).

From the kitchen… silence and odor-free.

I am hoping… that Bill’s flights this month are stress-free.

I am reading… The Immortal Irishman, by Timothy Egan (for the 2017 European Reading Challenge); The Last Child, by John Hart (for the 100 Bestsellers List Challenge); The Tenth Gift, by Jane Johnson.

I am busy creating… crocheted hats (for granddaughters) and bookmarks (for myself).

I am hearing… Danny’s Song, by Anne Murray (on Spotify) – one of my top 5 favorite songs.  Whenever I hear it, I start singing and feel happy.

Around the house & garden…  my soil sample is gathered, ready to turn in for my Master Gardener Class.  Christmas decorations are still up – I intend to take them down in a couple of weeks.

In other news… today is Day 2 of No Added Sugar, No Snacks.  I’m doing well, thanks to the plant-based cocoa I can make in the Vitamix.

One of my favorite things… the wallpaper on my computer desktop.  I bought the 2017 Birds in The Garden Lang calendar, with artwork by Jane Shasky, which came with a free download for monthly wallpapers.  January is chickadees in a winter scene – Chickadees remind me of my Grammy; she used them frequently in her artwork.

Christmas Chickadee by Mabel A Gibson

Our Weekly Overview… 

Monday: Bill has the day off, but is doing computer stuffs, including expense reports.  I’ve already had HUBA work this morning.  Hopefully our afternoon will be free to enjoy some more downtime.  David is at work.

Tuesday: I take Bill to the airport early (5:30 a.m.) so he can fly to Houston for the rest of the week.  The rest of my day will be spent trying to ignore the siren call of sweets (always an issue when I’m tired), handling any HUBA work that comes in, and catching up on Quicken.  David is off work.

Wednesday: Bill in Houston, I’ll continue with any HUBA work and Quicken.  Probably make a run to the bank and maybe even get a haircut.  Oh, and I need to drop off my soil sample in Denton.  David is off work, so maybe he and I will make an event of the trip to Denton and eat lunch out together somewhere.

Thursday: Bill is still in Houston.  Hopefully we’ll have a paycheck and I’ll be able to pay bills (a different payroll company and a mix-up in the direct deposit numbers means we will receive the first check in the mail.  Ugh.)  I’ll also continue with HUBA (as needed) and Quicken.  Hope to have Quicken caught up by the end of the week, as I only have about 5 weeks to input – the closest I have ever come to being caught up at the end of the year! David will be at work.

Friday: Bill comes home from Houston late in the evening, so I’ll be driving to the airport to pick him up.  It will be too late for him to take the trains, as the last connection doesn’t go past 8:30 p.m. on Friday.  I will need to do some general house pick-up, run the vacuum cleaner, and (hopefully) write a book review for The Last Child. David will be at work.

Saturday: & Sunday:  Saturday will be a sleeping in day, as Bill will be tired from all the travel.  And then a laundry day and repacking the suitcase, as he leaves early Sunday morning for Anaheim, CA for the Citrix Summit.  Sunday, while he’s gone, I’ll probably watch football or movies and do a lot of crocheting.  And try to avoid sweets again – maybe a nap will be in order.  David works his earlier shift on both days of the weekend.

Here are some picture thoughts I am sharing …

Fiona with her Christmas bike.

 

Liana with her Christmas of Little Ponies

 

Granddaughter’s enjoying their gifts from Grandma & Grandpa.