Friday June 17 2016  THE SCOUTING MISSION

It was a dirty job, but someone had to do it.  Up bright and early to greet a quiet, still world.   I love waking up early.  When I awaken early it seems as if I am given a gift of more time in my day.  After food prep work relating to yesterday’s farm box, and making our lunch salad so it would be ready later in the day when we needed to eat, I left on a mission. 

If you have read even one or two of my blogs in the past month I am certain that you must be aware of the garage sale we plan to have next Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.   I have spent over a solid of month pilfering our house of everything that is taking up space without reason or cause.  I have just made a dent in all that I could gather, if I but had more time.  There are still cubby holes, closets, drawers, boxes, shelves, and pantry that still seem to cry out, “Don’t forget me!”.  So I must revamp every day from now through next Wednesday to allow me more time to do so. 

My mission this morning was to go to a local neighborhood and scour their annual garage sales.  My purpose was to garner ideas of ways to set up and display our “merchandise”.  It was not time wasted.  I observed many creative display techniques.  I even snapped a few pictures so I could share them with Dave.  One lady gave me two stand alone signs, one for an open house and one with another message emblazoned on each side.  Now I must cover them with poster board and paint my “Garage Sale” and arrow sign, and then stick them into the ground.  I hope I can find some more like that.  And of course while perusing the innovative table designs I just happened upon a few treasures for myself.  Like I said, it was a dirty job, but someone had to do it.

After looking over my calendar I realize that I cannot possibly accomplish what must be accomplished by next week if I continue publishing my daily blog.  Some of my readers have made it known that my blogs are quite long, so perhaps there will be some who are happy to know that I plan to publish my daily poem without a lengthy blog.  Some of the poetry will be the ones I compose each day.  Other poems I plan to include will be what I have written in the past.  I plan to return to the keyboard on July 4^th (in order to give you something to look forward to on your holiday)!

Actually, this week will be not stop sale prep, the following week will be getting my house back in order and packing up the leftovers for charity, and any extra hours will be used for mental and physical recuperation.  On Saturday July 2^nd I am committed to being second shooter for an 8 hour wedding (which means a 10-12 hour day).  Notice, I said SECOND shooter, lest anyone get the idea that I am back in business.  I am still 100% retired so no need to call for an appointment.  A second shooter is the photographer who clicks about 2,000 photos throughout the event, removes the camera cards from their camera, hands the unprocessed cards to the principle shooter (the business owner who has the contract with the wedding couple), and then walks away with no post production work.  I dearly love the shooting, posing, running around to catch that “perfect moment” and then handing over those cards!  Post production takes hours of intensive art work and book designs.  With as busy as my days are now I sometimes wonder how I had time to actually work.

 

WHAT I HAVE DISCOVERED TO BE TRUE

By Kathleen Martens

June 17, 2016

 

There comes a time when we dream

Of unhurried days in the sun, 

That time of doing nothing

So we can lollygag and have some fun.

 

Those days sound oh so sweet.

It is almost is worth it to get old.

And those days of retirement to come,

From a distance, they seem like gold.

 

But, oh let me tell you

What I have discovered to be true!

Now that I am retired,

One of Medicare’s true blue,

 

It seems my days are even busier

And I work harder than ever before.

Never a moment to call my own

And some days, don’t even get out the door.

 

From sun up to sun down

A project calls out my name.

Work beckons from every corner

And my house not easily tamed.

 

Just the same for my husband,

He’s never worked harder in his life.

But there is one good side,

He seems to have no strife.

 

Recently, as he left to go outside,

He spoke as his hand turned the knob,

“I don’t think I’ve ever worked so hard,

I think I’ll go out and get a real job.”

 

Oh, do I ever know what he means,

But being retired does have its perks.

Because I can now be my own boss,

And I wonder, “How did I ever have time to “work?”

 

Thank You God that I am retired as well as RE-FIRED!

Thank You God that I still have energy to do what must be done.

Thank You Lord for a joyful heart.

 

MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND WATCH OVER YOU BOTH DAY AND NIGHT.