Monday Morning...Happy St Patrick's Day!

Haven't had a teenager overnight in a long time. It's time for him to get up....I've been in to wake him, but he isn't moving around. Do I bug him about it or just let it be? What did I do back in the old days with my own kids? Don't want to be a nagging grandma....but don't want him to be late, Oh, well....guess I'll just wait.What is that that I hear? A tiny alarm and he's up. He set the alarm on his phone. Guess I had better get on with the times. Who knew about alarm clocks on phones?When I asked him what he wanted for breakfast....he said, "Nothing thankyou...I'll have a protein shake later at work." What's this world coming to? I had planned pancakes and bacon.....maybe eggs...I'm a grandma for heaven's sake.How can I send this kid out without breakfast? He chuckled and we said our goodbyes. What a great houseguest he was.

 Yesterday, the corned beef was ready and I had it all laid out on the counter...kind of a serve yourself meal. The meal was in my largest roaster and Joe said, "Who are we feeding....all the neighbors?" The plates were filled and we took them in the living room and were going to watch the basketball game. Joe noticed all the corned beef on Brandon's plate. While B. was in the kitchen Joe said, "Is there any corned beef left out there?" Brandon had never had corned beef and he had filled his plate stacking the corned beef on. He came back into the living room laughing.... he had heard Joe's comment and reassured Joe that there was plenty left. He ate this meal until he groaned....no room for dessert! We had forgotten how much kids eat. We have just enough left for a meal today. I'll be having a Reuben sandwich. I love these....marble rye bread, corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese all melty and deliciously toasted.....a dill pickle on the side.What more could you ask for?

This morning is pool day. It looks like it's going to be nice. Lots of appointments this week for Joe. I want to get in touch with Elizabeth for sure. We didn't get together very much this past winter....and I owe her a visit.

I've been going to town on my Lenten Challenge....without Joe's help, I've emptied things into 21 bags. If you remember, I'm trying to lighten the load here a bit.... of filling 40 bags of things in 40 days. Joe isn't contributing, however....but I hope we get to his closet yet...during this challenge. I don't have much more without his. My closet is much lighter....it's so easy to pick out an outfit when there is room to see things. Nothing squished in. Clothes hang nicely and few decisions need to be made. Simplify...that's my goal this year. There is so much in the basement that could be happy in a new home. Things we haven't used in the 11 yrs. that we have been married. I'm not really a hoarder, but have found myself just setting things aside in the basement until I can get at them and put them somewhere. Wouldn't it be better for someone who can use these things to have them? I'll have to tell you what went into 4 bags. We have a coat closet that has a shelf above. We have games there for when the kids come over....also phone books...three stacks of very big phone books. As we get new ones, I throw the previous one away. These books were Joe's old ones. He even had a huge, thick one from Las Vegas. We agreed that these could be tossed. They made for very heavy bags, but the shelf was lightened. Nothing there so far.

While I'm sorting, I'm going to make an inventory of all my things and the history of the pieces...if there is one. I only brought special pieces of furniture and bric a brac when we married.This will make it easier when we are gone. I would never leave a mess for my kids to sort through. I'm determined to do this. It isn't a priority for Joe....so we'll just leave it at that. Two different people...two points of view.

Well the sun is coming out....the bird feeders need filling. I hope to start working outside a bit this week....if the weather is decent. I'll be here with reports of the spring cleanup....inside and outside.

Have a great day.....Balisha