Summer Goals

You know that old saying, "if you want to get something done, ask a busy person?" Well, that's been the story of my life this month. Unfortunately, it seems like everything I could put on a list of accomplishments has been doing things for others. It's a good list and it all needed to be done, but, really I need to focus on my own goals for June. One goal for June - taking a vacation. We've decided to go to Galveston. At least that's what we're thinking as of right now. However, we'll be keeping a close eye on the weather because I do realize the south is entering into hurricane season and I have no desire to experience one of those, or even excessive rains. I like my vacations without hurricanes, personally. We're taking our grandsons and our middle son, who is still in college (Go Pokes). I think Mr. Red Dirt thought it would have been better to just travel with the two of us, but the deed is done and the cat is out of the bag - I've already invited the others and I'm not backing down. We're finally going to Austin for our first attempt to see what keeps Austin weird, plus see our youngest son, who I've previously mentioned, happens to live there. Plus, I've been in the mood for palm trees and sandy beaches since last winter, so that's why we have to go to a beach, somewhere. Have I mentioned how long winter drug on this year? We have actually had nights in May we had to use the electric blanket again.

My other big goal is to make progress on getting our house ready to go on the market. This is one of those things that I understand intellectually, but let's just say I'm a bit stymied at the moment. I can't seem to get my head in gear with getting rid of stuff, deciding what's trash and what needs to stay vs what I just want to keep because I think I'm going to need it someday. I started reading pages on FB to try and get inspired about a new approach to minimalism and shedding stuff. About all it's done for me is convince me there's some pretty screwed up people in the world - as if my 18+ years of child welfare hadn't already showed me the way to that little tidbit of knowledge. And of course, when I have these internal or real deadlines to get stuff done, that's what my head goes off on other tangents that I try to justify in my mind, i.e. doing recipe searches for ideas to cook for Sr. Adults and other stuff and nonsense. Like I need any more recipes. Even if I could never collect another recipe as long as I live, I'd probably have enough recipes to do me for the rest of my life. I have at least been able to keep myself from falling into that time warp, otherwise known as Pinterest...most of the time. However, in all honesty, I cannot tell a lie, yes, I have been known to dip my feet into the pinteresting waters now and then. 

If I were one of those glamour home blogs, I'd be posting pictures of my before's and eventually after's. But, this isn't that. One of my younger FB friends has the true gift. As soon as her kids finished school earlier this month, she moved in one day to a neighboring state, posting the picture of the U Haul truck as they were driving. The next day, less than 24 hours later, she posted the FINISHED pictures of her new house. I swear, it looked like the magazine shoot was in 15 minutes. I was entertaining ideas of calling her up and asking what she would charge to come do my move and reorganization, because the girl knows what she's doing. However, sadly, I'm afraid it's a job that I can't pawn off on another person. I'm only writing this to keep myself in gear. They say public confession is good for the soul. So, here's a toast to the organizing bug...let's hope it kicks in and bites me soon because I need to get on a roll. 

Time for a new view from a different kitchen sink. 

Elaine, aka, the Red Dirt Cowgirl

It's Summertime Already

I saw one of those funny e-cards the other day on FB. It said something along the lines of, "I forgot to be appreciative for the 3 hours of spring before summer arrived." After the long drawn out winter, I had promised friends and family I wasn't going to complain about summer this year. In fact, I believe I actually said, "If I complain about the summer heat, just slap me." Of course, I only said that because I was bound and determined I wasn't going to complain about the Okla. heat. However, I can't help but remark, "One hundred degree heat on May 5th? Really? That's how it is nowadays?" The same day we were recovering from the 100 plus days here, a woman on FB that lives in Maine was worrying about a possible snowstorm or hurricane. But, for clarification, I'm not complaining, I'm just reporting.

Here's hoping we get spring back. We just had a hailstorm hit our neighborhood. It was smallish - marble size maybe, nothing golf or baseball sized. A few weeks ago, I had a little intersection with a deer that did some damage to my car. Just to be on the safe side, I had decided to not have the damage repaired until after the traditional hail season was over.

P.S. Here's a little early evening storm report from last night. This is what the clouds looked like when the high winds started. It turns out some of our neighbors weren't so lucky last night. There was a path of torn up farm equipment and one person had damage at his house. This was after the tornado warning was lifted. We still had lots of clouds left over.

Elaine, aka, the Red Dirt Cowgirl