Semi-Snow Day

We've already gotten about 3 inches of snow (compared to the forecast of 1, maybe 2 inches) and the freshly-shoveled driveway is in danger of being covered again as the snow started falling again just after L finished clearing it.

I decided to take the day off; my whatever-it-was is lingering and being out in the cold makes it painful to breathe. If I didn't have such a hike from the parking lot into the building to get to work, I probably would have gone in but I just couldn't face it, which is why I'm calling it only a semi-snowday. It's snowy and I don't want to leave the house, although I certainly could if I HAD to.

Since I feel semi-ok as long as I'm not out in the cold, I'm trying to get some housekeeping type things accomplished today, but since it is only semi-ok, I'm following flylady's suggestion and only working for 15 minutes at a stretch. Then a 10-minute break, then another work session. So far I've got the downstairs bath cleaned (except for the floor) and stocked, a load of laundry started, trash gathered and out, more laundry gathered, the entryway tidied, and dishes gathered from around the house, newspapers and magazines recycled, and some general tidying downstairs.

Yes, it's lots of laundry because it's all the bedding from our houseguests; since they were all sick I do mean ALL the bedding, including blankets that don't usually get washed everytime someone visits). The nice thing about this stuff is there is no rush on getting it done; whatever I manage today is good, but I don't have to finish it in order to have clothes to wear tomorrow or anything.

This is one of my breaks, and the timer is about to ding telling me to get to work. I'm planning on updating because it helps keep me getting stuff done. Next up is a session in my closet.

Update:
I couldn't stop at just one session working on my closet; I got deep into it and accomplished a lot. Still have a lot to do, but I pulled out all the boxes of paperwork and have them in the guest room for easier sorting - I needed more space! I also pulled out a bunch of clothes and shoes to go to Goodwill. And finally, the extra stuff that was added to my closet due to the bathroom remodel is all restored so yay for that.

There is still plenty to do in there (like I said, it's a huge closet) but I'm feeling good about everything I managed to accomplish.

Thankful Tuesday

• I am mostly recovered from being so sick last week. Antibiotics are a wonderful wonderful thing. I am so grateful to live in a time and place where they are available.
  
  
• L is also on the road to recovery. He was much sicker than I am, and his antibiotics are giving him bad side effects so his recuperation has been slower than mine. He has to travel for work all next week though, so I'm praying he gets completely better soon.
  
  
• Our houseguests are gone! We have peace and quiet in the house again, and I especially appreciated that after I was home from work one day because of being ill and they were working. It was not very conducive to resting and recuperating. Once they departed I could actually rest much more. They also had a safe trip home which was a relief since it's a very long drive and a good chunk of it was done in bad winter weather. Thank God for that!
  
  
• Our bathroom is 98% done. Don't hold me accountable to exact statistics. What's left? Painting a couple of panels. The downstairs bathroom is basically done, and all that's left is cleaning it and stocking it (tp, extra towels). The guest bath is maybe 70% done. We need to replace the countertop & fixtures, paint the vanity, paint the walls, and seal the grout. The countertop and fixtures are waiting until L's brother returns in April (don't ask), but we need to paint and seal. Or seal and paint, I don't suppose we have to do it in any particular order. This will also involve picking out a paint color which is always a challenge for me.
  
  
• I am so so so grateful that we have cable tv. When I was lying on the couch coughing and feeling generally miserable, it kept me somewhat sane, because daytime shows on non-cable channels are pathetic. Apologies to any who watch soaps and/or talk shows and/or courtroom shows. I can't stand any of them. Instead, I watched a lot of Food Network, HGTV & TLC.
  
  
• I am even more grateful that my eyes have stopped bothering me enough so I can either wear my glasses or contacts again which means I can read again, and avoid tv altogether. I watched more last week than I usually watch in a couple of months, so I am very happy to be able to get back to my books (and blogs!) Yes, when I get sick it often involves watering eyes and/or sinus headaches to the point that I can't put in my contacts or bear the pressure of my glasses resting on my nose. It's one of the few times that I am jealous of people (like L) who doesn't use either. But it does make me more grateful that at least my vision is still good enough that I don't walk into walls or anything like some people I've known.
  
  
• Finally, because it just can't be stressed enough, I am so thankful that I am getting better. I've had some years with major respiratory problems, so one week of illness, while difficult, is significantly better than months of problems like I've had in the not-too-distant past.
  

Making My Home a Haven

I missed last week's challenge because I was coming down with something. I didn't realize it on Monday, just knew then that trying to articulate our laundry system was beyond me. That probably should have clued me in because our system isn't that complicated. ;)

Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that I'm glad to be participating again. I love the challenges posted on Biblical Womanhood.

This week is closet clean-up, which is absolutely perfect for me. Our bathroom remodel is basically done (more on that tomorrow) which means that the closet which had been holding everything from the bathroom can be put back in order. Yay for that because the closet is in dreadful shape from being stuffed with all those extra items. The floor is covered, I have bathroom supplies stashed just about everywhere, and any organization my clothes once had is long gone. And there might be a slight issue with papers (it's my storage area for old paperwork, such as tax returns, that I need to retain. But it's gotten super out of control, and I need to pare it down to just the items that need to be kept).

If I can get my computer to cooperate with pictures, I'll post a before and after. I'm not holding out a lot of hope however.

Updates to come, although it'll be awhile. I have to head off to work and then I'll tackle the closets when I return.

Update:
When I got home from work, instead of heading straight for the closet, I followed Crystal's advice from previous weeks and spent some time reading my Bible instead while having a drink. A few Psalms and some hot chocolate made a nice transition home after a tiring day at work.

While fixing dinner, I decided that my highest priority closet-wise wasn't my bedroom closet like I discussed this morning. Instead, it was my kitchen closet floor (a.k.a. my pantry floor). We'd had a water line to the fridge installed in preparation for the new fridge with automatic icemaker that we'll be getting sometime in, oh, 2013 perhaps. The installation process meant my brother-in-law had to remove everything from the pantry floor (which I would have gladly done if they'd told me it would need to be done), then he replaced everything. In whatever fashion was easiest for him because things were completely jumbled. My flour, which I use several times a week, was buried in the farthest corner, underneath some applesauce. Juice bottles were spread around in several places, well, you get the idea. I just needed some order. So I spent 10 minutes and got things back where I can access them more easily AND keep track of supply, rather than wondering just how much juice I have (as an example that happens frequently; L drinks juice daily and prefers the ready-made stuff in plastic bottles).

Before (two pics because some items were already pulled out from when I made dinner):





After:



I realize it's still not fantastic or anything, but it's easily usable for me. And that's good enough.

And now, on to my closet. I figured I had twenty minutes to spend in my closet, so I picked the far left side and started in. My shoes were a jumble and there were random boxes scattered, as well as items for Goodwill and even some socks to throw away. Here it is before I started:



Twenty minutes later, here's that corner:



The empty spot on the top shoe rack is for the shoes I was wearing. I also spent some time rearranging some hanging clothes, but no pictures of that. Goodwill items in a pile ready to take, and trash is all thrown away. There's still a lot more work to do in that closet, but this is a start. :)

Menu Plan Monday

Last week's menu plan was mostly a bust due to me being sick most of the week - from Tuesday through Friday I cooked nothing. Saturday L & I managed to make chili mac, but just that simple meal wore me out. Sunday (yesterday) I made swiss steak in the slowcooker. This week I'm planning on easy stuff because I don't know how much energy I'll have.

Monday - leftovers. My weekend cooking pays off tonight!

Tuesday - minestrone soup. One of these weeks I will make this.

Wednesday - cream of mushroom casserole. Last week when I was so sick I spent a LOT of time on the couch, watching TV. Especially Food Network. I saw RR make this casserole and I cannot tell you how much I wanted it RIGHT THEN. I couldn't convince L to get off the couch, go to the store & buy mushrooms, and make it for me (perhaps because he was even sicker than I was) so it had to wait.

Thursday - sandwiches. See above, "easy stuff" for this week.

Friday - cheesy vegetable soup. No recipe for this because I make it up. Saute veggies in a combo of olive oil & butter. Add flour & cook for a minute or two. Add chicken broth & milk/half & half/whatever you have. Add cheese & stir until melted. Yummm! (Rice is good in this too and if I remember I like to add some.)

For more menus, go to Organizing Junkie!

Getting There...

And by "there" I mean healthy, not organized or the resident of a clean house or anything. But after last week, halfway healthy is a huge improvement. I actually feel like I may be able to get some projects done around the house this week. And do crazy things like cook dinner.

I've already got my Tuesday post half written. Let's just say it has a theme.

Memory Verse

Colossians 1:10, New International Version

And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God

I guess I couldn't avoid it forever

Yeah, so remember my gratitude of last week that I'd managed to avoid the sickness that was running rampant throughout my house? The sinus infections & bronchitis that everyone else had?

Remember that?

Yeah, all I did was delay getting it, not avoid it. I am sick sick sick sick sick. Posting will resume when I feel better. Much better.

Thankful Tuesday

• The remodel is almost finished.  
  
• The remodelers are planning (hoping?) to leave Thursday.
  
• I will soon be able to clean up my house.
  

Really, those three are so big, I can't even think of anything else.  

Menu Plan Monday

Still have our houseguests, so just like last week I'm continuing to try to come up with fairly hearty meals that are at still semi-frugal. And last week's plan got changed a bit so yes, there are some repeats from last week.

Monday - White bean and chicken chili with cornbread. I base it from the recipe in Desperation Dinners.

Tuesday - Pizza. Or something else so long as it's not made by me. :) It's going to be a busy day for me so I'm not cooking.

Wednesday - I *think* it'll be a ground beef & rice skillet dish from Taste of Home. Unless I come up with something else that sounds tasty that uses about a pound of ground beef. Any suggestions? We just had meatloaf & mashed potatoes last Friday so I don't really want anything too similar to that.

Thursday - Chicken. Exact type to be determined. Perhaps chicken enchiladas? Right now nothing is sounding good so I'm having a harder time figuring out what I'll want to make.

Friday - Minestrone soup. Bread. Salad.

Saturday - The remodel should be finished I believe and I think the guys will be leaving. So we may go out as a final thank you for all their hard work. Or else I'll ask them what their favorite meal is & fix that. Or else I'll just fix my favorite meal, spaghetti.

Sunday - Slow-cooker day. Right now beef burgundy sounds good, but I'll probably decide Saturday or Sunday morning what I want.

Memory Verse

Hebrews 13:5, New International Version

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,
"Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you."