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Saturday, August 20, 2011

Not so much Comings, as Goings.

Hasta la vista, Miguel.
Thursday evening, as I paced and fumed waited patiently for someone who never showed up, I took the time to look over the "grounds" and took a good look at Miguel.  You may have noticed that I haven't mentioned Miguel much.  After going through the winter with a nice 6-foot coat of snow, he fired right up this spring.  Then the tires kept going flat, then the battery connections got covered with acid stuff, then the mice invaded, then he wouldn't start.  I had thought about selling it to someone with car knowledge but, upon closer inspection of the incredibly rusted frame, I decided that if I was too afraid to drive him, I sure shouldn't sell him to someone else to drive.  I had loaded his bed in the spring with the last of the junk that had been bequeathed to me by the previous owners when the tire thing happened.  Then he wouldn't start.  So, there he sat, listing to port, rear view mirrors wrapped in feedbags to ward off the evil red bird, old bits of cages, broken glass, old mailboxes, broken hive frames poking out of his bed, parked in the driveway. "Cripe," I thought.  "This is a scene from the Beverly Hillbillies, without the Beverly".

Not ten minutes later, the dog alarm went off and a car pulled into the driveway.  Thinking it was the ingrate who was supposed to come look at my ducks, I approached the guy in a less-than-friendly manner.  Turns out, he was a neighbor who buys scrap metal and had spotted Miguel.  After about a half hour (mostly filled with detailed recounts of his entire life including ex-wives), we had a deal and Miguel (and most of the junk) will be leaving Sunday.  Sunday may also be the day the lambs leave.  And, if the idiot who wanted the ducks actually comes through and shows up, two of the ducks will be heading out as well. 

I am looking at this as an opportunity to spruce the place up a bit.  If time and weather allows, I will wash down the front of the house and rid it of it's mold coating.  I might even weed around the currants and mulch them.  I might even vacuum out my car.  Whoa, there!  I do find it difficult to balance all the animal needs/work with other things that need to be dealt with - home repairs, car cleaning, weeding, planting, etc.  But I do feel I need to work on gaining more of a balance.  I need someone to organize me -- Erin!!!  Sylvie!!!  Putting on my big girl panties, I have decided to take myself in hand and make three lists.  One will be animal-related (coop - still not finished; etc.), the second being house-related (mold, remove Christmas lights left by last owners), and car (vacuum, clean upholstery).  Then I will, each week, try to knock one thing off each list.  I will have to try and further balance the workload by breaking the major jobs into steps, and knocking off a step each week.  Am I over-thinking this?  Am I doomed to fail?

14 comments:

Jane @ Hard Work Homestead said...

Good for you for organizing a plan of attack. There is no way you can fail with a LIST. Lists are magical pieces of paper that force you to get the stuff done. After all, one of the best feelings on a farm is actually crossing something off the list. And you must be on a roll, think about getting rid of the truck and what comes down the driveway? Now think about winning the lottery. Lets see if lighting strikes twice.

Michelle said...

I think you have set yourself up for SUCCESS!

Mama Pea said...

Sounds like a darned good plan to me! The autumn time of year has always given me a burst of energy to shape things around ye ol' homestead and house (and myself) up. I know most people typically feel this way come spring, but for me it's always been in the fall. So I can so relate to your need to get a grip on all aspects of what you want/need to do. I agree with Jane. How can anyone function without those lists??

melanie said...

Sounds just like me....that's probably why I like you so much!

Erin said...

Well I would just love to come and help you, but my place would be a wreck without my constant glue holding it together LOL! And oh, I live in Virginia, we don't do Christmas lights like that - sure, we'll put em' up, but they won't come down LOL!!!

Judy T said...

I like the idea of three lists. I'm a multiple list maker. I've got the 'master list' divided into inside and outside categories and every week/weekend I make a shorter 'to do' list. There seems to be something about writing it all out that helps me organize myself... and I need all the help I can get!!
I hope the guy shows about the ducks.
Judy

Anonymous said...

I am a list-maker too... I think you'll feel much better if you get organized and ahead on things. And I hate waiting on people also. It just irritates me!

Sylvie said...

"The soul that has no fixed goal loses itself; for as they say, to be everywhere is to be nowhere" - Michel de Montaigne. Read this quote this morning and think it is very true. You have a goal(s)...you have already made HUGE progress.

judy said...

I must have been out to lunch when the list idea was handed out- I am trying the white board &white board marker to keep up but another one of my save a dime-the dumb thing only has 1 hangy thing and since the whole thing is mostly metal----its another one of those "you get what you pay for mother lectures "

The Apple Pie Gal said...

You will NOT fail. I don't believe that word is even in your vocabulary. How awesome that Miguel's deal just fell out of the sky like that?! I admire your list-making-willingness. I really think you accomplish more solo than we do duo. And I always thought I had more money solo too. How is that possible?

In any case...you rock on girlfriend!

Susan said...

Jane - I often THINK about playing the lottery, but I just can't part with the moola. I do lov it when the universe lines up, every now and then.

Michelle - Thank you for the positive thoughts! Let's hope so...

Mama Pea - Yes, I love Fall! I end up with a whole lot of energy and I hope this new listing method will allow me to get more done. Less got done than I would have liked, thanks to some strong storms, but I will persevere!

Susan said...

Melanie - Yes, ma'am. Two peas in a pod!

Erin - Oh, rats! I didn't get to the lights, thanks to heavy rain and thunder and lightening! But they are driving me crazy, so they are at the top of the list!

Judy - Hey there! I am, so far, doing well with my multiple lists. I got the goats' house cleaned and mine! The duck guy did not show up. Or call. I'm waiting to see if he has the nerve to contact me again.

Ruth - I find that craigslist and freecycle are hit and miss. Some people just like to be the first to respond, even when they don't want the item. It's very irritating.

Susan said...

Sylvie - I do feel good about all that's over and done with this weekend. It has given me a boost and the energy to tackle the rest.

Judy - I put all my "important" projects on my chalk board. That way, it's in front of me every time I'm in the kitchen!

APG - Aw, you are so sweet! I am trying to talk the dogs into earning their keep. So far, no dice. I sure don't have the duo income, but we manage scrape by. Thanks for the boost!

Kayten said...

You're just trying to make me feel even more inadequate.