Thursday, December 31, 2015

New Year's Eve-2:45pm

Well, it's New Year's Eve!
Karma says hi.
I've been getting ready for the new year.  Several months ago I ran across someone using Journaling Sage writing prompt stickers on youtube.  Seeing the 365 day journaling prompt stickers was what sparked my wanting to do writing prompts in 2016.  You may recall how I planned to use up some terrible for fountain pen journal refills I had for the writing prompts.  As the new year approached I finally lost the debate with myself and ordered the stickers from her etsy shop in the UK.
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Meanwhile, I have been struggling for many months with a daily journal that I can't use my beloved fountain pens in...and, quite frankly, I came to the conclusion that life is too short to write on crummy paper.  I miss my fountain pens too much to give them up for probably an entire year--awk!  
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I did have this one small exacompta refill (5 X 7 with clairefontaine paper good for FPs) so I decided to use that for the writing prompts for 2016.  And I actually ordered three new journals--one I have never written in with FPs, though.  An Exacompta (a little larger 5.5 X 8), a QuoVadis Habana (my favorite!), and a Leuchtturm medium lined journal.  I am using a Leuchtturm 1917 for my bullet but have never used fountain pens in there--only frixion erasable pens.  (I know--my weirdness never ends!)
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Anyways, I figured whichever journal came first I would start out the year using that one for my regular daily journaling I've been doing for several years.  The Exacompta came first...and I am so disappointed.  It has really wide lined paper.  :(  You'd never know it to look at me but I am a devotedly narrow girl.  *sigh*  I will use it, of course, because the paper is such good quality--but I won't order one again unless I can get blank pages.  I couldn't find any blank ones when I ordered it on Amazon and not sure they make them with blank pages--some brands don't.
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Regardless, I am all set for 2016.  Spent all day yesterday getting my bullet journal ready and the night before that I painted the prompt sticker page for January.
That's the cool thing about these.  They are on a matt paper and you can color them if you want to.  I got out some watercolors and had a good time.  Left them to dry overnight and then peeled away the outside--FUN!! 
I've had some questions as to how I have adapted the bullet concept to fit my life.  You will probably have to click on these to enlarge them.  My first monthly page is a daily chart for the month.  I saw this online someplace and loved that idea.  Then you don't have to rewrite the same things over and over all month long. 
I was drawing in the grid for a few months and thought--this is way too time consuming!  So I made up a graph for 31 one days, print them off, trim them down... 
...and tape them in each month with some double-sided tape. 
I happened to have gold month stickers and used one for January. 
As I mentioned, I only use frixion pens in my bullet (and my fauxdori and Franklin covey planner).  I make too many mistakes and plans are changed too often around here.  This way I can just erase!  I use the frixion highlighters for the same reason.  
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I keep the bigger frixion pens in the pottery mug on my desk and keep the skinnier ones in the pen case on an end table right next to my chair and the fauxdori.
After I tape in the new monthly grid and get that set up, then I get the rest of the month ready. 
Have a new set of calendar stamps.  Which I stamped wrong this first time--LOL!  Forgot to put the "S M T...." stamp over the top before the month.  I'll remember next month.  These are just perfect, though!!  Now I don't have to search online for small calendars I can print off any more!!
Here's what the monthly page spread looks like all ready for January (added some washi tape on the tops of the pages).  The second page for the month is a monthly goal list.  On the right hand side I make a column with the little calendar on the top and then under that I keep track of who I am writing to/owe letters to--birthday cards and thank you cards go on the bottom of the column.
Then I split up my month into four "weekly" spreads.  The beginning of the month and/or the end will be smaller or larger, but I find this works the best for me.  I have so many, shall we say, less productive days that I learned right off the bat that a daily bullet was not for me.  I was constantly having to bump things to the next day and the next day...too much rewriting.  I do enough bumping when I have a whole week--LOL!  
I divide the pages there at the bottom so I have a section to write down if there is something for a specific day--a visit, appointment, etc. 
And I do color code with the pens and highlighters.  Still haven't totally got that down yet (have so many colors to choose from), but have the main areas color coded.  I'll likely have it all figured out by the end of this year.
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This bullet system developed for me over this past year.  That is what I love about bullet journaling--you can adapt it any way that works for you and change it whenever you need to.  I stick lists in here and there...and it is all indexed.  Been one year of using the bullet and I am loving it more now than when I started because I have altered it to fit what I needed and what works for me.  I still look at videos and blogs sometimes to see what other people have come up with.  You never know what I might want to try in the future.
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My fantastic deal arrived, though!  This rug I had in my cart off and on for months.  (I'm sure I'm not the only one who is a cart-juggler--LOL!)  It had been as high as $39 at one time, but had been bouncing around about $30 lately...when it suddenly dropped down to $11.12!!!  No lie!  So I snatched it up.  
It was rolled very tightly and kind of folded or smashed down so it is not going to lie flat any time soon, but I do like it.  Kind of in the same color scheme as the other two rugs I have in here.  (It would be so boring if they were all the same print, right? LOL!) 
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Karma approached that rug like it was going to leap up and bite her.
She finally got brave enough to step on it. 
Karma never seems delighted with change anymore.  When she was a kitten, yes.  But she grew out of that pretty quickly and turned into an antisocial, stick in the mud, old lady cat that sleeps half her life away--ROFL!  (And I love her dearly, the old poop.)  
The cream colored rug is now in the pantry--along with the shoe mat.  I like it.  I'm hoping extra rugs will maybe prevent as much kitty litter traveling into the kitchen.  ;) 
I caught Karma resting on the new rug later on... 
...but you can tell by her ears that she just wasn't sure about the entire situation. 
She didn't even look comfortable in her attempt to lie on it. 
But she has to lie on everything she possibly can that is brought in here...so she forced herself.  I'm sure it will become easier with time.  ;) ;)  What I put her through, eh?  ROFL! 
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 See that clump out there right on the edge of the patio?
Yup!  Was a clump of grouse.  
Karma missed them that time.  
Sawing logs. 
Well, I am going to have to have something set up to play with just in case I do manage to connect with the Ringing in the New Year event tonight.  Maybe just paint some more journaling prompt stickers or do some zentangling or something.  Sounds like it could be fun.  But I don't want to be doing anything complicated.
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Also need to set up my new year's eve celebration paraphernalia, too, so it is ready to go for the last thing I do tonight.  Candles, angel cards, the goal list, burning bowl, Tibetan bell, a few crystals and such.  I do love that ritual.  Contemplating the old year and welcoming the new.  Was quite a roller coaster year in 2015!  I am still draggy and easily too sore...but am getting back to my pre-move self little by little.  (I hadn't felt that rough since I was trying to finish college.)  This is going to be a fabulous year--can just feel it!
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Well, I have to go make preparations!  
See you soon in 2016!!  :):)
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“Tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365 page book.
Write a good one.”
Brad Paisley 

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Tuesday-6am

Good Morning!
Early for me.  This sky pic was obviously a couple days ago because I am up long before the sun this morning.
I hadn't slept well Sunday night (dental nerves) so I was in bed early last night and found myself awake and unable to get back to sleep at 4:30am.  But--what a relief!  No problem saving the tooth--just a new bigger filling--tada!  I did get x-rays.  He didn't see anything offhand, but I go back end of January for a thorough checkup and teeth cleaning.  Done for now!!
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Meanwhile, while McFamily was away...
...and Mr. Ian... 
...was experiencing sledding with his older cousin... 

..Mom and Dad at his side... 
...(I totally stole these pictures off Facebook--LOL!)... 
...I visited their house...
...fed, watered, and scooped for Sammy... 
...and Annie. 
Sorry their pictures are blurry but they don't sit still for me like Miss Karma does--LOL!
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I finished up birthday cards for 2016, been working on letters owed, and doing regular stuff like laundry & making soup.  Evidence of what I've been up to can also usually be found these days on the craft table in the studio.  ;)
But the art table has been kept clean and tidy...
...because to get ready for the new morning routine for 2016 I am already trying it out and spending time almost every morning at the art table...either writing or doing something artsy.  (I pictured sitting there where I could look out the window since my first visit to see this apartment--and I am finally able to do it--whoohoo!!)  I've just been testing various pencil sets I have with water, but at least it is something on the creative side.  I am so totally out of practice and that is at least getting me into my art supplies.  Feels good!  
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This was what it looks like where I am chatting with you right now.
Yup--my red thermal cup is at the ready.  You can check out what other people at drinking over at T-Stands For Tuesday.  :)
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Karma was wondering what in the world I was doing up so early. 
(She is currently softly snoring in the chair next to me.)
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My next project is to set up my Bullet Journal for January!  I even have a couple new planner stamps for 2016! 
McFamily came home yesterday and will be here over Dagan's lunch break today to pick up the Galant.  Leah and Ian will probably stay for a little visit.  Nice!  
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My phone says "19 degrees-feels like 8".  Wind.  Always makes it feel colder.  But why tell us something we already know--LOL!  This is the expected high for today.  Some of you have been warmer than usual and some cooler.  Hope the day treats you well, regardless.
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Oh, and it's almost New Year's!!  Pretty soon time for me to get all my paraphernalia out for my New Year's Eve Ceremony.  And (IF I can figure out how to do it) I signed up for this group of creative-artsy-folk who are hosting an online gathering for five hours on New Year's Eve called "Ring In The New Year From Coast to Coast"--whoohoo!  You can click here if you want to know more about it.  With me--I don't know if the odds are even 50-50 that I'll be able to figure out how to get connected, but what the heck!  Try something new, right?  Might be fun to pop in for a couple hours--if the techno gods allow--ROFL!
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Anyways, if I don't see you before--Happy New Year!!  So excited for 2016!!  I think it's going to be a fantastic year!!  Hang on to your hats!  Brace yourselves!  I think we're in for a fun-filled, exciting ride!  Hug somebody and keep smiling!!  :) :)
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"Today was good. 
Today was fun. 
Tomorrow is another one."
Dr. Seuss

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Tuesday-10am

Good Morning!
This past weekend as I was taking evidence pictures... 
...of further jackrabbit nightclub activity...
...and a glimpse of actual blue sky...
...Miss Karma was waiting for her canned treat...
...complaining mildly about my being sidetracked...
...and rubbing her head on the TV cabinet.
Turned out that was grouse day!!
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Since the rabbits had dug away some snow for them, the grouse came by several times--so I finally caught them on video!  The second time I saw three of them go by on the patio and then there was a gap in the grouse procession, so I grabbed my cell phone...
They even make cute tracks.
Occasionally looking like a drunken sailor--LOL!
The third time the grouse gang passed through they didn't even care (or never noticed) that Karma was sitting like a statue watching them.
I think there were 19 or 20 of them counting the first three that went by!  More than I thought.  :)
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Haven't seen them since.
But maybe you can see across the way there that the wind has now blown away more snow to reveal grass all along that side of the walkway so there are probably a lot more places to scratch out some nibbles. 
 The spot by my patio used to be the only place I could see with visible grass.  It has not been cold enough to melt (22 degrees right now), but the wind always moves the snow around up here if the snow is dry enough.
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I guess we are in just the right spot for grass peekage if it's possible and the snow isn't too deep--because look up the other way--all white yet.
Hey--humor me, okay?  I was up in the air on third floor for ten and a half years and the only thing we saw up close were the occasional baby swallows that landed on the porch railing--LOL!  This is exciting entertainment for me and Miss Karma.  Just love being here so much!!  :) :)
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Anyways, Karma is sitting right beside me in her chair.

I just made coffee.  
That's for the T-Stands For Tuesday group!  Hi, ladies!  I won't be able to stop to see what everyone else is drinking until later on because McFamily is bringing lunch over (that yummy pesto noodle dish they make).  They are stopping by to drop off the Galant and have a little visit before they head off to Henning, Minnesota for the holidays (Dagan's dad's).  Both Dagan's stepbrother and half-brother and their families will be there all week, too.  Neither of them live in the area--or this state even.  They haven't all been together for a while so that will be nice.  :):)
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If I don't talk to you in the meantime, Karma and I will be snuggled in watching It's A Wonderful Life and A Christmas Story as we do every year.  I wish everybody safe travels, good weather, and fun times!!  Love and hugs from Fargo!!  :)
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“Joy is a net of love that captures souls.”
Mother Teresa