Tuesday, January 1
Happy New Year to everyone!
Since Nancy had come over yesterday and asked us to share New Year’s lunch with their family, that’s exactly what we did! It was a great way to start off the year. After helping to clean up the mountains of food and dishes, Jim and I ran over to Edith’s to visit with her a little while. We found she hadn’t even eaten so we quickly dished out the food Nancy had sent over.
When we returned to Jerry and Nancy’s we played Apples to Apples before Karen and her boyfriend, Conner arrived on their way back to Hobbs from Ruidoso. We all agreed that ham sandwiches would hit the spot, but before we did that, we returned to Edith’s just to check in with her. She and the puppies were doing great so we stopped by Wal-Mart and picked up the game Leah and Ryan had taught us, Fact or Crap. With that in hand, we returned once again for another meal and a night of game playing.
Wednesday, January 2
Well, it was back to the real world for us this morning. While Jim started unplugging everything, I dismantled the inside of Big V so he could take it to fill up on gas and propane as well as dump and clean the tanks. Sounds lovely, doesn’t it? Since he was having so much fun, we thought I should have my share by going over to do laundry at Edith’s and take down her Christmas decorations.
Surprisingly, Jim and I finished up about the same time; so I headed out to Jean’s to help get us settled back in. We completed this chore just in time to meet the Wednesday bunch at Chaos for lunch and visiting.
The afternoon was spent finishing laundry, visiting with Edith, running errands, etc. Real exciting stuff!
We found out during the evening that Edith was supposed to go to Dr. Osmani’s this afternoon. Oops! We’ll just have to reschedule.
Thursday, January 3
First rattle out of the box this morning, I contacted Osmani’s office; apparently, Edith had cancelled the appointment when an automated system called to remind her of it…so we’re back on now for next Wednesday. Then it was over to Edith’s to tell her what had happened. Sure enough she remembered saying “No” but she thought it was a political phone call. No blood, no foul…we’ll see him next week.
Jim and I then set out to find a picture frame easel so I could put out the frame Kelly and Mike gave us for Christmas. We were successful at Hallmark so we came home for me to start choosing 4 photos for it. At first, I thought I should put the kids and their families in it, but Jim sent me in another direction since he felt it should be about us. Once that mind set was lifted, I was free to really think about our life.
The mat of the frame says, “Happiness is not a Destination, But a Way of Life.”
So...here's the process I then took... First and foremost, the photos had to go with the saying. I pondered over lots of good ones...but, finally I chose these 4 because they seemed to exemplify that statement the best.
1. Us in front of Glennis' house in Marianna getting
ready to take cycle and cargo trailer to Key West...certainly a happy beginning for a dream trip...so it nailed the statement a "way of life."
ready to take cycle and cargo trailer to Key West...certainly a happy beginning for a dream trip...so it nailed the statement a "way of life." 2. Jim and I at the 50's Diner in Richmond with Kelly and Mike...That place held happy memories of our youth (it surprised us with how authentic it was to the places we used to go in our teens). Plus, it was important, quality time with them…and they gave us the frame.
3. Me taking a photo using Jim's helmet to get the scenery we had already passed and just being silly...happy and free...enjoying what Jim loves and I sometimes don't quite enjoy as much as he...but, it's a way of life that makes me expand my thinking and photo taking skills!
4. The birds enjoying breakfast leftovers on the deck of the motel in Clearwater Beach, FL...Jim and I, as well as others, rolled with laughter when this occurred, especially when the waitress came running out apologizing and shooing those "sky rats" away...what a fun memory!
We really liked the results so for a time we are using this photo on our blog site, too. That pretty much took up the rest of my day.
Friday, January 4
Unfortunately, this morning was a no messing around one since we had to be at Edith’s by 10 to take her to Carlsbad for her Parkinson’s disease (Dr. Dewan) appointment. Everything seemed to be holding up as well as can be expected so we don’t have to go there again until July.
Once we returned home, we came out to the house to await the arrival of the propane guy. He had promised that they would deliver a smaller (125 lbs.) tank so we won’t have to continually take Big V in for refills. It also means we can put away the electric heaters! Sure enough, they arrived about 1:35.
Once that was taken care of, Jim and I decided to add indoor/outdoor two-sided tape to our big carpet by Big V’s steps. This was much more of a chore than we first thought, but with perseverance, we prevailed!
Jim spent the rest of the afternoon working outside getting the hoses, cords, and etc. cleaned up so we don’t look like pack rats out here!
I have no idea what I did, but it certainly must not have been newsworthy!
I did go out to look at his accomplishments just about sunset, and immediately ran in for my camera! This is why we love living out here on Jean’s land in New Mexico! I deliberately left in
the power lines and the fence so that I could capture exactly what we see from our front porch. Is that not awesome??? This picture alone shows why we love, thanks to Jean, living in New Mexico while we take care, the best we know how, of Jim’s mom.
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Wow! A morning to just piddle around here at home…it’s been super. It’s amazing how fun ordinary things can be when you seem to always be on the move.
Jim went into town to take Edith the ham salad sandwich I made her and to do some other errands while I bask in our home listening to CD’s (instead of the wind howling! Though, I do hear it, too.) I am happy to report that the outside carpet has remained stationary even through the gusts of vicious winds! Kudos to Jim for his brainy idea!
Tonight…stay home and kick back and relax a bit.
Jim: What Barbara didn’t mention was that I decided to get a jump on printing our journal for the past six months. I spent Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday proofing and editing all the entries since July 1 (still missed some goofs though) and began printing on Friday. The printer has been running a lot during the past 36 hours, but we’ve been able to run seven copies of the approximately 170 page book. Hopefully, Volume 3 of the Little Retirement series will go to the printer Monday for binding. It was amazing to find as we read through the entries that there were so many activities and adventures that we had already forgotten about.
With working on the journal and setting up the place for semi-permanent residency, it has been a very busy week for both of us. I think I feel a little down time coming on.
Heather and Andy gave me a little pad of church signs for Christmas, one page for each day of the year. I thought the sign for January 1 was particularly appropriate for the new year, so we’re sharing it with you here:
“You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.”
Starting 2008 in Artesia and wishing one and all a wonderful new year,
Jim & Barbara
We really liked the results so for a time we are using this photo on our blog site, too. That pretty much took up the rest of my day.
Friday, January 4
Unfortunately, this morning was a no messing around one since we had to be at Edith’s by 10 to take her to Carlsbad for her Parkinson’s disease (Dr. Dewan) appointment. Everything seemed to be holding up as well as can be expected so we don’t have to go there again until July.
Once we returned home, we came out to the house to await the arrival of the propane guy. He had promised that they would deliver a smaller (125 lbs.) tank so we won’t have to continually take Big V in for refills. It also means we can put away the electric heaters! Sure enough, they arrived about 1:35.
Once that was taken care of, Jim and I decided to add indoor/outdoor two-sided tape to our big carpet by Big V’s steps. This was much more of a chore than we first thought, but with perseverance, we prevailed!
Jim spent the rest of the afternoon working outside getting the hoses, cords, and etc. cleaned up so we don’t look like pack rats out here!
I have no idea what I did, but it certainly must not have been newsworthy!
I did go out to look at his accomplishments just about sunset, and immediately ran in for my camera! This is why we love living out here on Jean’s land in New Mexico! I deliberately left in
the power lines and the fence so that I could capture exactly what we see from our front porch. Is that not awesome??? This picture alone shows why we love, thanks to Jean, living in New Mexico while we take care, the best we know how, of Jim’s mom.Saturday, January 5, 2008
Wow! A morning to just piddle around here at home…it’s been super. It’s amazing how fun ordinary things can be when you seem to always be on the move.
Jim went into town to take Edith the ham salad sandwich I made her and to do some other errands while I bask in our home listening to CD’s (instead of the wind howling! Though, I do hear it, too.) I am happy to report that the outside carpet has remained stationary even through the gusts of vicious winds! Kudos to Jim for his brainy idea!
Tonight…stay home and kick back and relax a bit.
Jim: What Barbara didn’t mention was that I decided to get a jump on printing our journal for the past six months. I spent Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday proofing and editing all the entries since July 1 (still missed some goofs though) and began printing on Friday. The printer has been running a lot during the past 36 hours, but we’ve been able to run seven copies of the approximately 170 page book. Hopefully, Volume 3 of the Little Retirement series will go to the printer Monday for binding. It was amazing to find as we read through the entries that there were so many activities and adventures that we had already forgotten about.
With working on the journal and setting up the place for semi-permanent residency, it has been a very busy week for both of us. I think I feel a little down time coming on.
Heather and Andy gave me a little pad of church signs for Christmas, one page for each day of the year. I thought the sign for January 1 was particularly appropriate for the new year, so we’re sharing it with you here:
“You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.”
Starting 2008 in Artesia and wishing one and all a wonderful new year,
Jim & Barbara
