Five things #4

1. The electrician fixed the dishwasher outlet situation and added 2 outlets in the garage since there was only the one by the dryer. In the process they discovered the breaker sub-panel had issues and fixed those. The fact that we have 2 fuse sub-panels is less than optimal, but we're not ready to address that yet.

2. The dishwasher is installed! It's nice and shiny and quiet.

3. Interestingly, in the 2 big metro areas of California, on Jan 1, 2027 it will no longer be possible to buy and install a gas water heater. Next project is researching replacing the existing gas tank water heater with the same or installing an integrated heat pump electric water heater. Regardless, replacement will happen this year as the current water heater is 14 years old.

4. Oh, almost 3 year olds! We babysat briefly on Monday as son had an appointment and schools were closed. "Read me the poop book Nana!" Uncle & Aunt gave her a book titled "Who Poops in the North Woods" for Christmas. It actually was about animal tracking, but her focus was on the poop!

5. No rain continues but it is getting colder and grayer. The lovely warm sunny days were great though.

What I am reading Wednesday #3

Winter is when I read the most so I am zipping through the 52 prompts.

Prompt 28 - From a series at least eight books long

There are 14 primary books in this series with many, many short stories in addition. This was a good read although the plot started to get redundant. 4 stars.

Prompt 12 - A genre-defining read

I don't recall actually reading this before and, after reading about the author being a founder of the white feather movement in England during WWI (shaming men who were presumed to have avoided military service) and her belief that the aristocracy were much superior to everyone else, I almost skipped it. 

However, she was one of the Queens of Crime along with Agatha Christie, so reading it meets one of my personal curriculum goals. It is considered to have created and defined the masked avenger genre.  The writing is rather overwrought. 3 stars.

Prompt 10 - Spans a decade or more

I have such mixed feelings about this book. It ran the gamut of deep human emotions, jumped around in time and character perspectives and spanned at least 30 years. But I kept reading! It was translated from French and apparently was a big hit in France. It gets either 2 or 4.5 stars - can't make up my mind.

Prompt 24 - Uneven number of chapters

A rather silly premise but an enjoyable read. Part of a series. 3 stars.

Mid-month update

First off, I made some good choices in what I asked for for Christmas gifts.

- I used the Dustbuster to vacuum the car. OMG, so much easier and faster.

- The foot roller really helps alleviate pain and cramping.

- Love the AirPods especially when Hubby is practicing drumming.

- Looking forward to booking our brewery tour in Sonoma County which is N/NE of us a bit. This was really a gift to Hubby but the tour is for 2.

And now a focus on the progress I have made with my goals related to changing habits. 

It is so easy to add a pleasurable habit or one of necessity but others not so much. Of course, whole books have been written about how to get new habits to stick.

I have made progress so far this month - 

- It is turning into a "dryish" January not dry January but that is progress and I am ok with that.

- I have found an approach to brushing the dog's teeth that he doesn't hate so much. Now to link it to another habit to make it a routine that I always do.

- Journaling every day using prompts. Just brief entries but helpful.

- I have been exercising although not as much as I want or need to. A plus is that I haven't had any sciatica flare ups or other issues that stop me from exercising.

Better results in non-habit development goals for the month.

- The dishwasher replacement "project" will be finished this week. Hopefully we will also have one or two additional outlets in the garage at a not-astronomical cost.

- Managed to adjust my sewing machine so it is working properly again.

- Lots of reading which I really enjoy.

- Went to the vision board workshop and had fun.

- Thrifted a scarf in just the color I was wanting plus 2 long sleeve tops. I've worn the scarf and one top which turns out I really like. If the other top isn't a good addition I'll add it to my Go Bag as I need to upgrade the clothes in it.

I am feeling positive about the rest of the month with things to look forward to and continued focus on forming habits that stick.

- Saw family and helped them out.

Five Things #3

A week of progress in small steps and helping family by spending time with them.

1. I fixed my sewing machine which turned out to be easy. Since I was frustrated that it, the iron & ironing board were stuffed into my closet, Hubby moved them upstairs to the office closet. Since my desk up there is empty now that I have a laptop, I can use it if I want/need to sew.

2. The old dishwasher is out and Hubby has leveled the floor for installation. The electrician is coming on Monday to put a GFCI outlets in the right place per code. We have purchased the new Bosch dishwasher, it will be delivered today and Hubby will inspect the outside before accepting it. Then the appliance guy will come back to install it. Hopefully no more electrical upgrades to code needed for this house in our future.  

3. We picked up grandgirl #1 at her afterschool program and got takeout pizza and salad to take to her house for us, DIL & grandgirl #2. Our son is on a business trip and DIL could not leave work in time to get both girls. We got a visit which is always great!

4. We are on grandgirl #1 pick up duty again today after her swim team practice and then she will hang out with us for parent's date night. 

5. I have enjoyed being outside and on dog walks this week as the weather has been sunny and nice. Looks like the same for next week.

What I'm reading Wednesday #2

We have been having beautiful Bay Area winter days with lovely sunrises and sunsets, interesting clouds and want to get outside weather. Still, I've been reading as always.

I tried asking AI what prompts in the 52 Books Challenge 2026 the first book fit and it came up with quite a few. I may zip through the 52 prompts this year by easily figuring out where to slot the books I'm reading!

Prompt 2: Kangaroo word on the cover

I went literal after I saw this book recommended on the prompt list. It was cute but not great. 2.5 stars.

Prompt 11: Requires a suspension of disbelief

I bought my 9 year old granddaughter the other 2 books in this series because she said this one was so good that she wanted to keep going! Middle grades fantasy based on Indian folklore stories written by an American pediatrician of Indian heritage. I look forward to talking about the series and learning a 9 year old's perspective. 4 stars.

Prompt 39: A book that cost you nothing

This was an engaging read checked out from the library that moved along quickly. Well we do pay property taxes that support the library but we'd have to pay those anyway so free to me! The latest in the series. 4.5 stars.

Vision Board Workshop: Scissors, glue, paper, wine, snacks & friendly people

That's me in the orange fleece.

You can see it is basically cut and paste.

I signed up for a local small business' 2026 vision board workshop that is part of their community building efforts to be in a social environment and have fun. 

I also felt it would be interesting to see what I focused on without my goals lists and plans!

There were 12 attendees - 11 older women and one teen girl. Lots of magazines, stickers, paper, etc. available plus scissors, glue and 3 sizes of "boards" to choose from. The owner showed us her 2025 vision board from a similar workshop she had attended and offered to find and print any types of images we wanted off of Canvas. No instruction - just light snacks and various drinks.

We all were familiar with the process and as the evening went on the consensus was that it was a very welcome respite from the news we are bombarded with and think about each day. 

I really enjoyed the calm chatting and friendly atmosphere. It was fun to see what others were looking for to put on their boards or requested help getting. 

Since I love playing with color, I started by covering my white board with some sunrise/sunset colors and then grabbed magazines, stickers, printed sayings to pull together my vision - no projects, habit building or other tasks made the cut. Travel (we want a vacation), healthy eating and happiness did get included.

All in all, it was quite relaxing and fun. A good way to be present and tuned in to the moment.

Five Things #2

 

1. I took my granddaughter to the bookstore on Sunday afternoon to get books 2 & 3 in a 3 book series she is reading and she was quite happy to get gently used books. I checked out the first in the series from the library to read myself so we can discuss it. It is called The Serpent's Secret and the first chapter is titled A Monster Visits Suburbia. What's not to like!

2. At the bookstore I found the cutest 2026 calendar (all calendars half price) - Art dogs! Check out the names of each dog such as Henri Muttisse or Paw Klee. I don't need a paper calendar, but I have it hung where I will see it several times a day and it makes me smile each time. I hope to draw my version of each picture each month.

3. I got my new AirPods working by myself and am unreasonably proud of myself.

4. After a year of mailing us refund checks despite us having gone through the electronic deposit process, Kaiser started electronically depositing the money. I am unreasonably happy about this. Btw, our plan includes a refund of our Medicare premium each month.

5. I decided not to attend a Lunar New Year Calligraphy program at the library after getting a longer description of what it entailed. Signed up for a vision board workshop at a local shop instead.