Naturally messy but organizationally inclined...?

Although I've always thought of myself as an organized person, I've come to the realization that I'm rather just a person that greatly appreciates organization. Neatness and lack of clutter does not come naturally to me. I can't believe it's taken over 7 years of independent living for me to figure it out

I'm embarking on a mission to get myself organized - not just lack of clutter and having things put in their proper place, but my time, too. I'm getting tips and ideas from The Complete Idiot's Guide to Organizing Your Life. I know, it's a pretty intense title. It's a great book though! Joe and I's first mission is to figure out a better system for moving from place to place each week.... I've been brainstorming for a while. This one's quite the challenge, folks!

The new desk space

So far, we've also ousted our stash of recycling with the help of my parents, who drove their truck down here filled with furniture to help furnish our quarters at the cottage. They also brought us a gorgeous antique desk from my grandparents. It is thanks to the desk that I'm sitting here blogging. For some reason I just can't write from a couch... and we haven't had any kind of desk space since we moved here!

Long weekend

It's amazing how you can miss one day of blogging and get completely thrown off your game. Last Wednesday I wasn't feeling so great so I rested a lot, and then the rest of the week just seemed to disappear!

The long weekend was wonderful, though.

It started out on Friday with Joe coming home from work and planting flowers by our back door and finished with dinner cooked on the grill last night. How perfect.

Dear Mel

I'm sorry that I never had the chance to meet you; attending your funeral was the closest I ever got. I have heard such fun stories about you - your laughter and loving spirit. I know that you were an amazing uncle to Joe and you would have been an amazing great uncle for our son or daughter.

Thank you so much for the person that you were. Thank you for your smile, your humor, and your creativity. We are so blessed to be able to use the crib you made for baby Joe and be reminded of you every time we put our baby down to sleep.

Love,
Jen

Planting: a photo log

Painting pickets

Joe has been working with my parents in their small home repair business since we've been back to help them out as well as make a little cash. I get to stay home and do my own work - growing Baby.


Painting pickets for the fence they're working on

The weather here has been perfect for the past few days. [Notice in the above picture Joe and Dad are both wearing hats to protect them from the sun. Unfortunately for Joe, his neck still got a little red by the end of the day.] The weather man says that a cold front should be coming through any day now, so hopefully they're able to finish their outdoor work in time!

In our "spare time," Mom and I have been working on a baby quilt. The pattern we're using is called a rag quilt. One of my American friends in Bulgaria had one for her daughter, and I mentioned it to my mom as something we should try.



The quilt is "work," but it's so much fun! I highly recommend that you try making one if you can get a hold of some flannel and a sewing machine!