Goodby September - What will October bring?

 

The month kicked off with my birthday including a visit from older son & DIL, all family fun dinner, a visit to SF MOMO and more. There was lots of dog and additional family time, lovely walks outdoors, better persistence with exercising and getting household chores and small projects done. Lots of books read too of course.

I enjoyed the month and feel more settled with the house and yard than I have since we moved here 3 1/2 years ago. 

Now onward to October starting with our son, DIL & 2 grandgirls staying with us for 3 days while work on their house is finished. Going for 2 to 6 people in the house is going to be both fun and exhausting! I'm glad we can do it.

October has a couple of art related outings on the calendar plus a couple of family things so far. Lots of self care/health stuff plus a good sized list of house, yard, tech, life admin and long distance family/future family activities as goals. I am pondering if I should take clean the car inside of the list and hire the 2 neighbor boys who charge $40 but do a very thorough job of it! I suspect I will. 

What are your plans for October?

Goodbye July - Hello August

My interpretation is not as cuddly looking

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From my Art Dogs calendar for July
"Jackson Pawlock"

August is arriving with warmth, not much on our calendar so far except the neighborhood National Night Out potluck.

This is my final month as a 76 year old so I want to make it count.

First though, a summary of July with as usual my ambitions outstripping my energy and motivation!

- We went out five times with several driven by outings for Nana & Papa camp. We also had ice cream as promised. The camper declared she had a fun week with us so success on the grandparent front. 

- I did some drawing, bought some drawing pencils and decided to sign up for a beginning drawing class in September as a refresher. 

- Worked out about 50% of the time - need to improve on that!

- One small home improvement project was completed by getting and hanging a blind in the upstairs bathroom. We also replaced a shrub.

- I cleaned and set up the patio although it has generally been chilly that we haven't used it. Perhaps this month we will. I also cleaned most of the accessible garage areas with just a bit left to finish.

Hello June - Fun while adulting

It’s June 1st and since it is a new month it always feels like a new month. I’m looking forward to things and adulting my way through others. The weather will be full of June Gloom overcast days with 20 degree daytime temperature swings - that is the Bay Area’s version of the start of summer. There will be sunshine too!

FUN POSSIBILITIES

June 5th is National Donut Day - let’s celebrate. The 7th is the city Maker’s Fair also with music and food trucks. We can walk to it.

The new season of Enola Holmes starts the 14th and there is free jazz at the nearby bookstore on the 15th if I remember to sign up for it. I want to get tickets for us to the SF MOMA and head to SF one day. Not sure what if anything we will do for Father’s Day as family will be unlikely to be around.

The local family leaves on vacation on the 19th and back the 27th but the S Cal family will be pet sitting nearby and visiting before or after they start. I will take care of the local family garden and harvest (and eat) as needed. The 2 local farmer’s markets will be full of good stuff too.

ADULTING AS ALWAYS

At the beginning of the month I always balance the previous month’s finances and look at what occasional big bills are due in the new month. This month it is estimated taxes which is painful because of the things this administration has cut and is instead spending billions on. Law abiding person that I am I will pay them as always. 

We will make donations to the county food bank, Democracy Now, and the grandgirls college funds. I also need to buy a bunch of stuff at CVS but will wait for their monthly coupon mailer to arrive. We have received the Ace Hardware June coupons so I do need to see what they have that I can buy there instead of at CVS.

I need to head back to Kaiser to try once again to get my glasses adjusted right. Since I tripped and fell they just aren’t right despite repeated tries. I also need to make appointments for a full body skin check and with the periodontist for a consultation.. I already have a mammogram appointment, the dog and I get haircuts, the patio needs cleaning and to be set up, a tree and shrub replaced, and I should do touch up painting on the metal benches in the yard. There is more but I won’t bore you with my to do list.

I’m also trying a 90 day self care and goal achievement plan which I will share if I succeed. Whew😁

Welcome to February - Vision board + task goals

I am trying out doing a monthly vision board plus specific tasks/goals each month. The vision board is

reflective of what I want the month to feel like. Tasks/goals are what I hope to accomplish.

February important tasks/goals:

- Manet & Morisot Exhibition at the SF Legion of Honor with my neighbor

- Date Night babysit for 9 year old grandgirl

- New recipe and/or restaurant

- Outing with dog

- Brewery tour (Christmas gift) with Hubby

- Try Feldenkrais 4 week program at rec center

- Research water heater replacement options and schedule work

- One small house fix it/upgrade project

FEBRUARY INSPIRATION BOARD

CALM SPACES

KEEP DINING ROOM TABLE & OTHER FLAT SURFACES CLEAR

ADD MORE FLOWERS OR PLANTS

ADD COLORS I LIKE IN SMALL DOSES

RELAXING DAYS

READ A LOT

DRAW WITH COLOR

PLAY WITH DOG & GRANDGIRLS

NEW EXPERIENCES

FELDENKRAISE AT REC CENTER

NEW RECIPES & RESTAURANTS

ART EXHIBIT

BREWERY TOUR

Here we go! Happy 2026

I'm doing monthly plans for 2026 to stay focused. Here are my tasks for January to achieve my "Improve" vision.

Exercise daily & track it. Limit snacking to healthy choices. No coffee shop cookies/treats, but one latte a week ok. Try for a Dry (or at least dry-ish) January; that weight will not go away by itself. 

Read 3 books for my Personal Curriculum that I dropped last year. One also counts for the 52 Book Club 2026 challenge and I will read 3 more for that. Watch Netflix and PBS shows I have bookmarked as they become available.

Go to a library Lunar New Year calligraphy class and a lecture of interest. Make a digital vision board for February.

Thrift a piece of art for our office or a back pillow for my bedroom bench. A scarf would be nice too.

Brush the dog's teeth daily despite his opinion of the task.

Fix my sewing machine or, if I can't, take it to the repair shop. 

Replace the dishwasher and bring related electrical up to code - or at least start the process. At same time add 2 outlets in garage if possible. Fix a sticking drawer in the old wooden built in hutch in the dining room.

Start discussing vacation options and timing. Book brewery tour that was a gift. Get Air-Pods that were a gift working. 

Is that tortoise like enough? Small steps - low stress.

July Goals

I'm keeping my list shorter this month and underlined the ones to do first. Note that I do not include the routine house & yard maintenance, cooking, laundry, paying bills, etc. or the chores Hubby does regularly as that all gets done without reminders or goal setting.

July GOALS 

Me

Note: I probably won't be going swimming as the city pool requires some serious repairs. We'll see when it is going to be closed.

• Focus on increasing exercise especially bone and muscle strengthening plus more aerobic walking
• Go at least one new place

Paperwork

• Update Kaiser final wishes documents
• Update passwords
• Check beneficiaries on all accounts (both of us to do)
• Get credit score
• Additional credit card
• Credit freeze

House/Yard (Repairs, Improvements & Non-Routine Cleaning)

• Clean/Declutter final 3 kitchen cupboards (Done: 4 cupboards; 16 drawers including stove)
• Check flickering can light - call electrician or replace bulbs?
• Clean windows upstairs
• Deep clean office including spot cleaning rug
• Outdoor benches paint touched up
• Rotate couch and chair cushions after vacuum

Socialize

• Dates with Hubby- trying for weekly
• Spend time with family/grandgirls (on out of town on vacation 2 weeks)

June goals wrap up

I'm pretty happy with all that was done! I'm especially glad that there was more social activity. 

The unfinished items are being moved on to appropriate lists. I do not include the routine house & yard maintenance, cooking, laundry, etc. as that all gets done without reminders or goal setting.

June Goals Completed

Yard

• Pruned neighbor’s shrub overhanging fence (Hubby after I borrowed tool from son)
• Bought 2 replacement plants for by patio & Hubby planted
• Moved bench to make patio step obvious
• Cleaned outdoor furniture and put on patio along with rug

House - Repairs, Improvements & Non-Routine Cleaning

• Mop wood floors
• Steam clean main bath floor incl shower
• Clean frig inside and outside

Socialized

• 4 Dates with Hubby
• Lunch with friend
• Email conversation with brother
• Spent time with local family on 6 days

Other things added

• Got prescription sunglasses adjusted
• Cobwebs cleaned up outside
• Washed 4 trash cans
• Cleaned sticker residue off windshield & washed car
• Mended a top
• Rotated mattress

June goals/to do list

Here is everything on my constantly updated list! I do not see getting them all accomplished but will see how much I get done.

Me

• Go swimming
• Try Water Aerobics - 10:00 to 10:45 Fridays 6/13-8/22
• 4 longer walks w/o dog

Paperwork

• Update Kaiser final wishes documents
• Kaiser direct deposit of Medicare reimbursement - find out why it isn't working and fix
• Credit score
• Credit card
• Credit freeze

Yard

• Prune neighbor’s shrub approaching our house 
• Buy and plant 2 shrubs by patio that had to be removed
• Pots or something to make step between two levels of patio obvious 
• Bench paint touched up - 3 benches
• Repot large black outdoor pot and/or add some new colorful ones

House

• Front door weatherstripping replacement/repair
• Kitchen cabinet kick plate and end caps - see if can fix/improve
• Dishwasher replacement plan (Bosch 300 or 500 series)
• Check flickering can light - do we need to call an electrician or is it the bulb?
• Mop floors
• Clean main shower and bath floor
• Clean windows upstairs
• Deep clean office
• Clean frig
• Inside
• Outside
• Clean/Declutter remaining 4 cupboards and 4 drawers including stove (Done: 3 cupboards; 12 drawers)

Social/Connections

• Date with Hubby
• Letter to cousin
• email/messages to family seen at wedding
• Call brother
• Spend time with local family/grandgirls
• Father's Day

January Review & February Intentions

Oh my, but Grandfriends’ Day with a second grader was uplifting! Such a positive environment making learning fun.

As a reminder, my motto for the year is Do the Hard Stuff - meaning things that are actually difficult or that I avoid or procrastinate on for some reason. Did I do that in January? Yes in some cases and I feel good about how the month went which is most important. 

Let’s review my grades for my overly hopeful goals for the month.

Health & Self Care (goal: increase strength, lose weight, less stress)

F     Dry January for an evening routine/habit change and weight loss as it will reduce my carb snacking too

F     Try different baked pancake recipes to come up with healthier substitute for commercial frozen waffles (reduce cholesterol & increase calcium)

Room by Room project (goal: improve function and aesthetics with minimal spending)

B+    Focus on our office: deep clean, organize and declutter files and closet, finish computer transition and dispose of old computer, try to get rid of white ring on desk or get large desk mat. 

         - I still need to deep clean and dispose of the old computer. Decided against working on desk finish or getting a mat. We jumped ahead and upgraded the family room with a new TV and TV stand which also added more storage

Home improvement (goal: increase comfort, conserve energy, and improve safety as 

A+   Learn about services offered by 2 companies doing home energy audits and book one. I’m especially interested in what they are able to fix based on the audit. 

        - The audit was completed and we are waiting for report

B     Get the names of people who might be able to build and install our desired new stair rail that will be safer and to code. Talk to them. 

       -  I still need to talk to them but have 2 names

A     Replace the gifted houseplant that died 😊 

        - Yeah, it is still alive and growing

Family, Friends, Fun (goal: build connections and happiness)

B+     Start using my reading journal for more thoughtful reading while working on the 52 book club 2025 reading challenge

All F’s

     Try a dim sum restaurant with Hubby and perhaps family 

      - he decided he didn’t want to do this

      Invite 8 year old granddaughter for a first sleepover 

       - she is too busy with swim team, etc so a no, but we did go to Fairyland and to her school Grandfriends day plus took her to swim practice and more.

      Try the library mystery book club or some other activity in my search for “my tribe”

       - I’ve realized this is not going to be my thing lol

Moving on to a more realistic February

Health & Self Care (goal: increase strength, lose weight, less stress)

• Doctor appointments for physical and eye exam
• Continue building strength through Pilates
• Try for healthy afternoon snacks
• Each morning ask myself: How do I really feel today? What will I focus on? How can I be gentle with and helpful to myself and others today?

Room by Room project (goal: improve function and aesthetics with minimal spending)

• Finish office project by deep cleaning it and disposing of old computer responsibly after deleting files
• Focus on dining room project by deep cleaning, decluttering/maximizing space on storage part of hutch
• Limit spending on upgrades: Keep looking for good buys on just right art for office & bedroom and for placemats

Home improvement (goal: increase comfort, conserve energy, and improve safety as 

• Get at least one bid for first phase of work based on energy audit suggestions

Family, Friends, Fun (goal: build connections and happiness)

• Start dealing with logistics for attending lovely niece’s June 1st (summer formal Palm Springs) wedding including dog sitter, plane tickets, gift, clothes for both wedding and dinner night before
• Go to local history talk at community center
• Family in town for a week - enjoy!
• 2 year old’s birthday party
• Lunch with friendly neighbor
• Mark pup’s 3rd birthday and Valentines Day in some way

January 2025 - Making it a good month

I’m looking at my January calendar and see notes for 

• finishing becoming a Kaiser member on January 1 (select primary care doctor, transfer prescriptions, send medical records, understand how to use benefits including gym membership, etc.). We did drive on Sunday to the comprehensive Kaiser medical center, hospital and ER near us so we know how to get there and where things are. I still want to drive to the smaller medical office location also near us before picking a doctor.
• babysitting on January 3rd
• a dentist appointment on January 6th
• a haircut
• hopefully going to a Lunar New Year event with my DIL and the grandgirls
• 3 Pilates sessions

Not enough for a meaningful month. Like many, I am very concerned about what is ahead for the country and world in the next 4 years but can only focus on what I can control in my own life to make my days and years meaningful.

I do have other things in mind.

Health (goal: improve strength, reduce cholesterol, increase calcium, lose stress weight)

• Dry January for an evening routine/habit change and weight loss as it will reduce my carb snacking too
• Try different baked pancake recipes to come up with healthier substitute for commercial frozen waffles (reduce cholesterol & increase calcium)

Room by Room project (goal: improve function and aesthetics with minimal spending)

• Focus on our office - deep clean, organize and declutter files and closet, finish computer transition and dispose of old computer, try to get rid of white ring on desk or get large desk mat. I’ve started on the files and learning my new computer.

Home improvement (goal: increase comfort, conserve energy, and improve safety as age)

• Learn about services offered by 2 companies doing home energy audits and book one. I’m especially interested in what they are able to fix based on the audit.
• Get the names of people who might be able to build and install our desired new stair rail that will be safer and to code. Talk to them.
• Replace the gifted houseplant that died 😊

Family, Friends, Fun (goal: build connections and happiness)

• Try a dim sum restaurant with Hubby and perhaps family
• Invite 8 year old granddaughter for a first sleepover
• Start using my reading journal for more thoughtful reading while working on the 52 book club 2025 reading challenge
• Try the library mystery book club or some other activity in my search for “my tribe”

Mid month goal check in

 🎂🧣🍎🧘🏼🎨🎼🍁💻🐶☔️🍗

MAKING PROGRESS

After 3 days of being sick I’m feeling like I will be able to attend granddaughter’s birthday party and enjoy family time with older son and DIL plus celebrate Hubby’s birthday this week. Have gotten a few things done. I can see that I forgot to focus on self care once again 🤔

CELEBRATE

* Waiting for her gift to arrive (fingers crossed) and still have some housework to be ready for guests - Enjoy celebrating our Granddaughter’s 8th birthday and the accompanying visit by our older son and DIL. 11/17 & 18

* He wants to go out to lunch by the water so we will - Celebrate Hubby’s 72nd birthday however he wants on 11/21

* Called my brother and SIL so far - Send cards or make calls for my cousin’s birthday and brother and SIL’s anniversary.

* Done: He had to head back early for business reasons but we saw him 3 times - Enjoy visits with my nephew who is in town for most of the month but lives in Taiwan.

* Planning to take a charcuterie board for appetizer - Thanksgiving with DIL’s family

LEARN & DO STUFF

* Completed first of 3 steps and got directions for other 2 - Sign up to change secondary health insurance to Kaiser for 2025 and beyond.

- Become comfortable with Google docs, sheets, drive and photos.

- Set up weekly exercise program and specific exercises targeted for my body.

- Farmer’s Market to get apples for eating and cooking.

* Signed up for it - Attend card making class 11/21 at rec center.

SELF CARE

- Practice a month of daily thankfulness.

- Buy cool weather clothing on my list.

- Art, music or nature outing.

- Find a colorful piece of art for bedroom - thrift store?

PREP FOR RAIN & COLD

* Done - Buy a better raincoat for the pup. His current one blows up in the wind and he gets wet as well as annoyed. This week I was able to buy myself rain pants so once he gets a better coat we are set.

* - Ready the house and yard.

* Done - wash patio furniture and store much of it in garage

X - touch up paint on metal patio furniture that stays outside (delaying until Spring)

* He didn’t show up for appointment so I am going to try to talk Hubby into doing it - hire a handyman to fix attic door so it closes tight and to hopefully replace the front door weatherstripping 

Hopes & Goals for November

🎂🧣🍎🧘🏼🎨🎼🍁💻🐶☔️🍗

As usual this is probably too much but time will tell!

CELEBRATE

Enjoy celebrating our Granddaughter’s 8th birthday and the accompanying visit by our older son and DIL.

Celebrate Hubby’s 72nd birthday however he wants.

Send cards or make calls for my cousin’s birthday and brother and SIL’s anniversary.

Enjoy visits with my nephew who is in town for most of the month but lives in Taiwan.

Thanksgiving. 

LEARN & DO STUFF

Sign up to change secondary health insurance to Kaiser for 2025 and beyond.

Become comfortable with Google docs, sheets, drive and photos.

Set up weekly exercise program and specific exercises targeted for my body.

Farmer’s Market to get apples for eating and cooking.

Attend card making class at rec center.

SELF CARE

Practice a month of daily thankfulness.

Buy cool weather clothing on my list.

Art, music or nature outing.

Find a colorful piece of art for bedroom - thrift store?

PREP FOR RAIN & COLD

Buy a better raincoat for the pup. His current one blows up in the wind and he gets wet as well as annoyed. This week I was able to buy myself rain pants so once he gets a better coat we are set.

Ready the house and yard.

- wash patio furniture and store much of it in garage

- touch up paint on metal patio furniture that stays outside

- hire a handyman to fix attic door so it closes tight and to hopefully replace the front door weatherstripping 

Bye May/Hello June - countdown to 75

 I’m going to try to do a “prequel “ to turning 75 on September 1st. Changes in exercise and eating, exploring the area to find some favorites, cozying up our home.

I remember my Dad’s 75th surprise birthday party clearly and he was energetic, happily engaged in activities and relationships, exploring the area in which they lived, using his artistic talents, and generally loving life. Ten years later most of that had dropped away due to health issues but he still had a looking forward positively attitude. He is my role model except for the health issues lol.

I thought I was doing ok in May with exercise and eating but my weight did not drop. I did walk 39 miles outside, exercised more (including a lot of yard work), and did some research on how to improve my diet for this stage of life. This week’s grocery shopping got us back on track with a wider variety of protein, veggies and fruits. It is easy to fall in a rut.

I find the Minimalist Mom’s idea of hushing your house intriguing as I am both very visual and really want to keep things organized and clean. Hushing a room means removing anything not used, enjoyed often, etc. For me it also means congruent colors, a pleasing visual, easy cleaning, etc.

I started with the main bedroom and changed to chair to one a better color, put the dog crate more out of the way since he is rarely in it now, changed the dog’s blanket on the bed to one that is a better color, switched around a couple of pieces of art, and managed to move the hamper into the closet. I like the result although I would like different color sheets and bedspread but that is for later. 

So, here goes June - keeping it simple and focused

• Push myself to exercise daily and track it
• Have more protein in meals and fewer carb snacks
• Cozy up and “hush” the living room, my part of the office and the bedroom closet (the office will be the big project and the living room more fun)
• Explore the area once each week to find our favorites for walking, eating out, etc.

What are your goals and hopes for the month?

February Goals

Here are my goals for the month!

Financial:

• Prepare to do taxes
• Update all financial passwords for better security
• Pay 3 insurance bills (homeowners, earthquake and excess liability)

Family & Friends

• Host family biweekly dinner
• Celebrate Valentines Day 
• Help prepare for first birthday party
• Host son and DIL coming for first birthday
• Outing with Hubby
• Write cousins
• Connect with friends
• Invite neighbors over

Fitness & Health

• Stretch 2x/week minimum
• Strength train 2x/week minimum
• Long walk sans dog 1x/ week minimum
• Pilates weekly

Home:

• Get rid of patio umbrella and rug at minimum
• Deep clean/fix one thing a week minimum
• Keep up with weeding
• Keep up with routine house cleaning
• Call about cost of energy audit

Technology:

• Critical documents into secure cloud storage
• Delete unneeded files and photo
• Uber app on phones

Projects:

• Make Go Bags for us and pup
• Plan various evacuation routes
• Get Emergency Alert app on phones
• Get dog finder app for here

October Goals - maybe they will be achieved!

Could I please just have a lovely vacation this month? No? Darn.

Well if that isn’t happening then maybe these things will.

• Finish that darn move to do list.
• Get ready for my first session with new Pilates trainer by doing consistent mix of exercise video, upper body strength exercises and walking miles without the slow sniffing and pee on everything pup. He will still get all his walks.
• Alter 2 items of clothing, deep clean dishwasher, vacuum frig coils, clear off  the “ Do I want to keep it?” table in garage.
• Keep shopping (including food) to a low $ amount which requires planning meals detailed shopping lists, and determining emergency/back up food, pet supplies, toiletries and household consumables quantities.
• Finish yard purchases and get rid of yard Reno trash and excess materials.

Then there are the things scheduled so far - watching older granddaughter at swim class and then lunch with family, full day of babysitting, my Covid shot, visit by nephew who lives in Taiwan, Pilates intro session, and AAUW monthly meeting. 

September goals

 I have a broad set of intentions for this month around becoming healthier and being happy. I’m trying to each day track if I do my Pilates program, miles walked outside, something I enjoyed and people I  interacted with happily. We will see if this works.

I will be trying to come up with fun and interesting things to do and socialize some.

Otherwise my goals for September are to do list oriented.

• Power through 25 items remaining on my move to do list. Some will take minutes and others many hours.
• Make list of home repairs and improvements to do the rest of the year including needed and wanted purchases.
• Hem pair of pants.
• Make plant decisions, a landscape plan and stages of installation.
• Clear garage as much as possible and decide on better storage solutions
• Shop for few needed cool weather clothing items so I am not cold all the time!

August Goals Recap

Here's my goals and progress for August. I’m happy with what was accomplished.

DONE:

• Increase emergency water supply - added 5 gallons so have a 3 day survival supply.

• Deep clean kitchen & larger bedroom - except for windows and mopping floors which is a whole separate project!
• Small home repairs & improvements done by Hubby - fixed gate latch & hole in wall that plumbers made.
• Landscaping begun (8/7) and paid up to date
• Complete termite work and pay fully
• Complete plumbing work and pay fully
• Work on better use of bonus room  - for now it is primarily going to be for exercising but art has been hung and I have my dresser in a small niche in there; now to actually exercise!

• Brief visit by older son & DIL 
• 3 day Nana & Papa camp for 6 year old 
• Have 2 “dates” with Hubby exploring area - One date for lunch at a new to us restaurant and the other was my birthday adventure.
• Make short list of clothing needed vs wanted and shop when needed - bought  PJ pants & 2 pairs of shoes that were priorities 
• List needed vs wanted household items and shop when needed only - this worked too

PARTIALLY:

• Give away 20 items on BN or donate elsewhere - managed 12 not 20

• Use up 6 freezer or pantry items - this was not a well thought out goal as we usually replace anything we use. Did use up some duplicates.

NOPE:

• Exercise at least 3 days a week (stretch/Pilates session, arms with weights and/or long walks or active yard/house work) - I do think my activity level increased but not enough
• Set up leak alert app with water company
• Work on better use of upstairs closet
• Work on better linen storage
• Pick up 6 year old after school one day a week for Nana and Papa time (twice this month) - so far she is enjoying after school program and prefers that so we will find other times to be together
• Invite neighbors over
• Volunteer for something in group joined