Small Success Thursday

Happy Thursday, the day of the week when we take time to reflect on the little things we do each week that we tend to forget about.

My city  was on the edge of last weekend's big snow storm. We got some flurries, Instead we spent a good part of Saturday with the 16YO and his fellow band members at the annual Solo and Ensemble contest. I think the freshman gorl percussionist was a bit overwhelmed when the six guys and their parents sat in on her session. LOL! It was fun even though I had a list of Things To Do.

I did finally get on my sewing machine. I am slowly working on a black and white quilt. My Flying geese blocks are now in pairs. My sewing machine is in the same space and the 16YO's XBOX. and we don;t work well together.

Lastly I had the grandson over last night while both of his parents were in class. He's tall enough to reach all of the light switches and takes advantage of it. We built and tore up the wooden train tracks, read some books and watched a little bit of TV. My son borrowed our vehicle since his is in the shop. He came home and said the oil light came on which is why the 16YO paid a visit to the Auto parts store and were adding 2 qts of oil at 9 PM last night. It will go in for an oil change this weekend.

Linking up with Catholic Mom.

Small Success Thursday - Jan 21 edition

Thursdays are the days we are encouraged to acknowledge the little things we do to make our lives and those of our families run more smoothly.

I am watching the weather report. It is looking as if the snowstorm that is predicted to hit the east coast tomorrow is going to bring the Ohio Valley, where I live, a small smattering of snow. My 16YO is of mixed opinions on this. He has a big music contest Saturday that he has been working hard for that he'd hate to miss. But he got a snow day yesterday courtesy of a little snow that fell at the wrong time and snarled local traffic.

I am trying to get back into working out. I hit my mark M & W.  So I workout tomorrow and I have nailed my goal.

I made a batch of grape jelly on my day off Monday from a jar of juice. It looks to have gelled firmer than my last batch.

I am hoping to have lunch with 2 girlfriends today. It was mentioned a couple of weeks ago and then I did not hear anything. I sent a text to both and got a reply "I was supposed to send an email and did not, Sorry." I am not very good at that sort of communication. but I did it.

Linking up with Catholic Mom.

Small Success Thursday - Back to ordinary

Hi everyone,

Well, first Thursday in weeks that I have had a normal Thursday, crazy as my normal Thursdays are. Last week I was still in Holiday mode as Hubby and i were lucky enough to sneak away for several days in the Caribbean. We had a great time and avoided sunburn.

I made dinner at home Tuesday, but last night to kitchen sink backed up as I was getting ready to cook. A few applications of industrial-strength Liquid Plummer did not get it flowing enough. So I ordered Chinese takeout. Just going with the flow here.

This evening, after remembering that Hubby and the 16YO would be away at dinner, I called my parents and visited them. Mom felt bad that she was not cooking. They planned to go out for pizza. fine by me. I had a very nice visit.

So That is my week of getting back to normal.

Linking up with Catholic Mom.

Small Success Thursday: A day early

Here is my usual spiel, I work from home M, W & F. The office where I go on Thursday's blocks a lot of websites, so I am not able to write or link up on Thursdays until really late in the day. If I am thinking clearly at 6 AM, i write my post and send my URL for the linkup to my email and then can post to the linky from my phone.

Anyways, not feeling too successful right now, even though it is not my issue. My son is finishing up semester exams. He is my scholar. He wanted to take honor classes, but he fell into a hole in one class and procrastinated and stalled to the point where he did not pass for the quarter. Ugh, I do not get it. Hubby did not get in touch with scholarly side until midlife is more sympathetic. I have said my piece and am now trying hard to keep my mouth shut. Don;t my boys want to do well? Don't they push themselves to do well? Why don't they just do that damn homework? Ok. vent over, moving on. Yeah, I was a good student.

But lets see, Finally got both Christmas trees decorated.  My shopping is done unless I need some fabric for one of my sewing projects. All gifts are wrapped.

I have been doing a new exercise program of body weight exercised 3 days a week. I missed last Friday, but vow to not skip this one. I have been using our ancient, hand-me down treadmill. So feeling good about that.

Everyone have a blessed Christmas.

Linking up with Catholic Mom.

Small Success Thursday- Dec 10, 2015

Wow, Busy week. School Christmas programs abound and I have been in the office everyday this week. Working from home 3 days a week has spoiled me. I am looking forward to tomorrow.

I have lots of things on my to do list. I have 2 undecorated trees in my house and at least 2 sewing projects to work on.

But I did make it Mass on Tuesday. Glad I made the effort to gt to 6:30 AM as I had a work meeting go until 6:30.

Tuesday was also a big win for me. My son was unable to find his school tie. - Needed for Mass day uniform. He told me " I haven't seen it since you clean my room" Of course lectures of personal responsibility started playing in my head. I was able to let it go and keep my mouth shut. I suggested a few places an then left the house. I got home that evening and asked if he found. He sheepishly told me it was in his locker. I managed to say nothing but responded with a hearty laugh.

Linking up with Catholic Mom

Small Success Thursday - Dec 3

Hello everyone,

It has been a few weeks since I have participated.Hard to believe we are in the full swing of Advent.

We have been working on a remodel of our powder room. Hubby laid ceramic tile, patched,prime and painted the walls; replaced the light fixture and installed a new toilet. I have been re-staining the vanity cabinet. This is a Pinterest success in using a dark gel stain to re-finish the oak cabinet. The cabinet needs one more coat of poly.

I cleaned out the Armoire in the living room  and got it out of the house. I still have some table linens to find a new home for. I am not exactly a minimalist, but it was taking up so much room and it is not heirloom quality. This has been on my to-do list for a couple of months.

Lastly, not so small, Hubby and I will celebrate our 23rd wedding anniversary on Saturday.

Linking up with Catholic Mom.

Small Success Thursday - Babysitting Edition

Hello everyone,

I am working from home today instead of going to the office as usual on Thursday because DS had a doctor's appt. (It went better than he expected) and then I have a cold. I decided not to subject my co-workers to my coughing and sneezing.

I survived the weekend with my grandson. His parents left early Friday morning on a 9 hour drive for her grandmother's funeral. Actually, my Mom, Grossmom (German for grandma) picked him up. Friday afternoon Hubby went to their house. It was me and him a good part of Saturday as Hubby and DS went to the High school football game. Then Sunday Hubby left about 2 PM for a business trip. Sunday night he spent with my parents and I picked him up after work and his parents picked him up Tuesday morning. Buy is a 21 month old busy. Lol! But I think he shared a cold with me before he left. He was good as gold in Church, he wants to see what is happening. He also knows we pray before meals and folds his hands.

I am ready for a quiet weekend. This Saturday is the band's fund-raiser, an Antique show. We sell concessions and charge an entry fee. I work and afternoon shift in the kitchen. Tonight I need to make some Pumpkin rolls.

Linking up with Catholic Mom. 

Small Success Thursday - Marathon Wedding Edition

Hello everyone,

We had a whirlwind weekend. Football game Friday night. It was a big rivalry and our team won. Then we were up early to drive 5 hours to Chicago for the wedding of Hubby's best friend from High school. Hubby and other friends took the Groom out to lunch and then had a boys afternoon out. I walked along Chicago's Magnificent mile people watching and windows shopping. I certainly got my steps in. My friend, wife of one of the guys Hubby was hanging out with, had prior commitment. Then up early ofr the Wedding. Did you see the story about the couple ho got married in the middle of running the Chicago Marathon? That was the wedding we attended. The story has gone viral. picked up by People and Runner's world.

After the vows at mile 8, 6 of us made our way to the 26 mile mark with a bouquet to hand off ot he bride to carry across the finish line. We killed some time withe lunch and some drinks in a bar near the finish line. Goodness was it fun to just kick back and enjoy the company. I think we were all ready for a weekend like this.

Here is a picture Hubby took:

Linking up with Catholic Mom

Small Success Thursday - Birthday edition

Happy Thursday again,
I am joining up with Catholic Mom again for Small Success Thursday. As Moms there are so many things we do as part of our routine, on a daily basis  that we do not take the time to acknowledge. So Small Success Thursday was born.

I actually had a busy week. Friday was another rainy football game. I ended up filling in as a chaperon rather than equipment mover. Another chaperon met us there, but they like at least one parent to ride the bus with the kids. Then I spent a good chunk of the weekend at my sewing machine finishing up a quilt for a wedding gift. The bride and groom are both older, well-established enough that most gifts would hold little meaning, so I made a quilt in colors I saw in her home this summer. I completed it and got it mailed off Monday.

Last night I whipped put a quilt t-shirt baby quilt for a shower gift this weekend. And my birthday was Tuesday. Picture 1 is me and my Grandson at the football game, Then is the wedding quilt, finally the baby quilt.

Small Success Thursday - October 1

Happy Thursday,

Did you notice a couple of weeks ago I figured out how to create my post, send the link to my phone and use my phone to post my linky from the office. 

I've been walking a lot. Part of it is because Hubby is participating in a group at work recording activity in a competition. I need all the exercise I can get. With the free time freed up from not driving my teen to school, I wanted to exercise more. I did take a walk at lunchtime Monday. I don;t need to hoard my "Lunch Hour" To pick up the teen. 

I have the wedding quilt I have been working on on the machine for machine quilting. I want to send it off next Monday,

Have a great week.

Linking up with Catholic Mom. 

Small Success Thursday - 4 hours a week found

Welcome to my Small Success Thursday post. A time to stop and reflect on the little things we overlook in our roles as homemakers and caretakers.

My son passed is driver's test and is now a licensed driver. I am inordinately excited. Parents who have not been through this are shocked at my excitement. But 1) This is my second son 2) Our school district cut busing for high schoolers about 5 years ago and even if he attended the local public school, it is not walk-able/bike-able from my home. His parochial school is about a 25 minute drive. My current work schedule has me working form home MWF, going to my consulting company office on Tuesday when the school is not really out of my way and Th I go to the client office in the opposite direction of school. So MW is 4 round trips and Thursday is 5. Hubby can pick him up from band practice on Thursdays take him on Fridays,  So at a minimum that is 4 hours a week that have been freed up. I am very excited about that. I am hoping I will put this time to good use and exercise during my newly-found free time.

Have a great day,
Maggie

See Catholic Mom for more successes.

Small Success Thursday - This and that edition

Happy Thursday afternoon everybody,

I got sent home from the office due to Network issues. Glad I am not a part of that support team.

But Happy Thursday again.

We are still plodding along. It is t-7 days until I might be able to hand up my Chauffeur's hat. My son has an appointment at the BMV next Wednesday. My husband is heading overseas for the next week. I'd appreciate a prayer for a safe return home for him.

I guess my successes are keeping on the path. We've been cooking from home. I spent $27 on an at home steak dinner for Hubby (He is heading to India). I had thought about taking him out, but the meal for the three of us would have only fed one of us at a restaurant.

Last weekend I had my younger son drive downtown. The Older son said he wished he had done that. He came out of music hall once time and got turned around. So we parked there, walked a few blocks over to an up-and-coming neighborhood, had lunch at a fun restaurant. He loved it. He is my foodie. I need to show him other ways to get to the University as he will go every Sunday evening for his Outside band practice.

We had our married son and his family over for lunch Sunday and ate on the deck.

Linking up with Catholic Mom

Have a great week. 

Maggie

Small Success Thursday - Holiday edition

Happy Thursday everyone,

The past week seems to have been all about our kids and the things we do for them.

Our older son Bent the rim of one of the tires on his car and it took almost 2 weeks for it to get fixed. So he has had one of our cars since Aug 30. I came home form work and his car was no longer parked in front of the house and our mini van was left.

The younger participated in a marching band competition over the Holiday weekend. The High School band performed at a the football game Sunday afternoon. (Televised on ESPN). So early Saturday morning Hubby and I drove almost 500 miles in case they did not make finals so we could bring him back for the game. Well, they made finals, he stayed, we spent the night (Hubby got the hotel stay on his points), got up early and drove back home to still go to the football game with the band to be a part of the truck crew moving equipment. On our way, we through Buffalo New and made the side trip to Niagara Falls where we spent an hour hiking around and viewing the Falls from the top.

So I am ready for a quiet weekend. I hope to make a lot of progress on the wedding quilt. I have half of the squares complete. Hubby is playing golf and I want my son to drive in the city.

Linking up with Catholic Mom.

Small Success Thursday - Labor day Weekend

Hello Folks,

It is that time of the week to chronicle the little thing we accomplish each week as Spouses, parents, homekeepers, etc. Those things that tend to get overlooked.

So mine start with writing this post. I love this meme, but Thursday's are hard as I go to work in the office and time and firewall prevent me from easily adding this to the Link-up. But I will do it on my phone.

I did more work on a quilt as a wedding gift. I am usually beat in the evenings, but I got myself out of my chair and spent about an hours cutting fabric. I need to finish it up this month.

Finally, all the things I am doing for my kids with a mostly positive attitude. Lending the oldest my car until he gets his bent tire rim fixed, taking my second son to school and picking him up on my "Lunch hour" at a time convenient for him. Taking my son to auditions for a "Youth Winds Ensemble" at the local University - He was selected Yea! (more fees), the road trip this weekend to the city where son's competition Marching core is in their final contest. IF they do not make finals, we will being him home in time to play with the High school band at a football game Sunday afternoon.

Linking up with Catholic Mom.

Small Success Thursday - Summer winding down

Hello,
This week my son has been moaning that his freedom is waning. This week regular evening band practices have been occurring. He has a 1/2 day of school on Monday where they will take picture and have class meetings. Sophomores and Juniors go Monday, Freshman and Seniors on Tuesday. So then band is at 1 PM on Tuesday. Sigh. Hard for this Mom to get him there.

I am struggling to enumerate my small successes. It has been just life around here. We have not resorted to eating out (not counting my lunch on Tuesday).

Last night I helped get a splinter out of my Grandson's foot. We were on the deck and the poor boy was screaming so hard. Hubby arrived home form the airport, heard the screaming, left his suitcase on the driveway and came around the house just in time to comfort the boy once we got the splinter out.

That is about all I have got.
Everyone have a great week.

Join us at Catholic Mom. 

Small Success Thursday - On my own

Hello everyone,
It is Thursday again. I love participating in the Meme, it makes me think about the things I do in my sometimes- frenzied life of a wife, Mom and outside-the-home worker. But it has been a bit hard since work often gets in the way.

On Tuesday I dropped my son off at the High school where he boarded a bus for Band camp. The Hubby left from work for a few days. He will be home tonight after his golf league. So being home alone, I got a lot accomplished.

Before he left I told my son that I was going to clean his room and if there was anything he did not want me going through it has to be put away. He said he did not care. Ok. among the clothes strewn around I found 6 reusable water bottles, 4 umbrellas, 3 reusable ice packs, 2 packages of snack foods (Closed with clips). I discovered he does not need any more ties, He is set for clothing that meets the school's uniform code.

I played plumber  and cleared a clog (And the teen will hear about it).

Last night I got started on a new quilt that will be a Wedding present for Hubby's best freind form High School.

Linking up with Catholic Mom.

Oh yes, Thursday - Small Successes

Hello everyone,

My workdays are still swamped. I got out of the scheduling business but another task came up to claim my time. Fortunately, I am still enjoying it.

I am not sure what my success are. Hanging in there? Getting my 15 YO daily to and from the camp he is working. I got him to prepare dinner last night.

Right now it is about survival, one day at a time. I live close enough to Cincinnati to enjoy some of the All star game, but we did not and that makes me sad. But it just was not meant to be.

Oh yes, and my son, daughter in law and grandson had to move out of their apartment due to bug infestation. I they have been advised to get rid of all of their furniture. Poor kids.

But hey, I am only slightly stressed out, I am enjoying my job. I am planning on buying a bed for the grandson. I have a dresser for them also. We are all healthy.

And so the summer of survival goes.  

Linking up with Catholic Mom.

Small Success Thursday - I've got quilts

Hello everyone,
It's Thursday, when followers of Catholicmom.com take a few minute to reflect on the little things we accomplished over the last week.

On Tuesday we laid my cousin to rest. She had been fighting a rare condition where her digestive system just stopped working. After almost a year on the transplant list organs became available. The surgery went well, she was conscious, harassing her Dad and then all of a sudden things were not good. Before she signed papers stating she would never drink alcohol again, she invited friends and family to party with her at a local bar. She was 36. I had made a quilt to send up to her when she got her transplant. It never made it to her, but I understand my Aunt and Uncle are treasuring it. They had is displayed at the funeral home. At the funeral Mass, almost of her cousins and their families participated in the Offertory. There could have been almost 20 more who were unable to attend. All but 2 of her 27 cousins from our side of the family attending her viewing. Three came in from out of town, Such a wonderful tribute to a person who loved her family. She will be missed.She was a big comic book fan. Thus the quilt I made.

Speaking of quilts, I finished one for my 18 mo old Grandson who decided he preferred the twin bed in his room to the toddler bed. I finished it last night and am looking forward to giving it to him. It is 2-sided, Little boy and big boy.

I hope my third success is getting this post into the linkup with CatholicMom

Small Success Thursday - Summer school comes to an end

Hello,
Here's hoping I can find the time to join the linky at Catholic Mom today.

My 15Yo finished his Freshman year on a Friday and started summer school the following Monday. He took Gym and Health so he can take band, a language and a second math. But transportation has been mostly on me. At least getting him to there and home. For the past 2 weeks gym has been at a different place around town and he needed picked up, gotten lunch and back to the high school for health class. We did get him a ride 2 days in exchange for buying the driver's lunch and my parents came down on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Having them move back to town has been such a blessing to me. I am grateful their health is still good and they are active. So my first success is that I survives and it doesn't seem to have affected my job.

Dinner has been put on the table at and from home the last 6 or 7 days. Hubby even planned and cooked 2 of those meals.

I have been sleeping better. I have no idea what was keeping me up prior to last week, but it seems to be conquered. Last night I stayed awake until almost 10 so I did not wake (for good) before the alarm.

Maggie

Small Success Thursday - Summer School edition

Hello,
We are almost through week 2 of the 3 week summer school session. Morning gym class is a various places around town, then my son needs to be picked up, lunch gotten and transported to the High school for Health class. Monday was a change in plans and I missed the email. Sigh. But we have been getting it done. I was really worried about Monday since it is on the other side of town. My son finally decides he figured out a classmate who drives and is in both classes and another classmate/bandmate who lives nearby that he might catch a ride to.

Meanwhile, at work, I have been busy. I am the master scheduler for the migration of email accounts. Talk about data overload. And teleconference after teleconference. So I have not been up to doing much when I sign up for the day.

So my successes,

1. Monday night I teed up Tuesday night's dinner. Since I work from the office Tuesdays (and Thursdays), I can rely on Hubby and son to get dinner on the table if they don't have to do too much heavy lifting. I had sloppy joes made up. a salad prepared.  
2. Made a batch of home baked cookies for the band picnic last night (no cooking dinner)
3. Mostly keeping my cool with bad directions to some gym class destinations and DS's driving. He's more confident behind the wheel but that is causing him to be a little less careful with things liek Right turns on red. Thank goodness for our Guardian Angels. 

Linking up with Catholic Mom to acknowledge those small accomplishments that tend to get lost in the minutia of day to day life.