Taking Stock – June 2018

June 28, 2018
sunset, moreton bay, wynnum

Taking Stock, June 2018, Soup, Slow Cooker, Kitchen, Dog, Walk, Waterfront, Camellias, Flowers, Packing

Well here I am, on the eve of the beginning of the kitchen reno.  Tomorrow the new cabinetry and appliances are delivered, the old 90’s kitchen gets taken out, plumbing and electrical are disconnected, and the new cabinetry will be installed.  It’s going to be a big day! 

This will be the last Thursday post until 19 July (see more details in this post), but my Skin Care Saturday posts will continue as usual. 

So I’m due for my next quarterly Taking Stock post and here she is.  The last one (and the first for 2018) was in March 2018.  The next Taking Stock post after this one will be in September 2018.

Making:   Plans for how to survive 2+ weeks with no functioning kitchen
Cooking:  Lots of meals in the slow cooker – one of my favourite winter things to do
Drinking:  … up the new baby feels at the recent baby shower I went to for my friend’s daughter. Yes my friends are becoming grandmother’s.  I miss cuddling a newborn baby.  Love them! 
Reading:  Blog posts only.  Still haven’t found time to read more of my current book (The House on Willow Street by Cathy Kelly)
Next read:  Can’t go there – need to finish my currrent book before I can plan the next
Wanting:  Another getaway very soon.  Last one was the holiday at Mooloolaba in February.
Looking:  Forward to seeing my new kitchen when it’s completed
Playing:  Words for Friends on my phone helps me to unwind and zone out
Deciding:  On kitchen benchtops, cabinetry doors – style and colour, tapware, appliances, splashbacks, etc was difficult but I am so excited and thrilled with the decisions I eventually made
Wishing:  I could click my fingers and shazam … be picnicking in the Smoky mountains, or pop over to Kyoto for tea, or meet a friend for lunch in Paris, or be cruising down the Seine River in Germany, or camper vanning around New Zealand, etc. 
Enjoying:  The yoga classes I’ve been going to every Friday!  I’ll become a yogi yet!
Waiting:  For tomorrow when the kitchen reno begins has taken a lonnnng time but here it is at last!
Liking:  The beginning of my orchid collection – three to start with!  One I bought myself, one was a Mother’s Day gift from my children, the other was a birthday gift from my Mother.  I’ll stick with three for now till I know I can keep them alive!
Wondering:  What my purpose is?  What am I meant to be doing?  I still don’t really know.
Loving:  The new kettle and toaster I got for the new kitchen – matt black with rose gold trims – how delish!
Pondering:   Time, and how it seems to speed up the older we get.  Why is that?
Considering:  My dislike of mess and chaos, my need for privacy and time alone, and my anxiety over Ava escaping (if she sees a way out she just bolts – no sense at all), I’m doing all I can to lighten my load to help me cope with the kitchen reno without being a pain in the butt to all!
Buying:  Pendant lights for over the island bench in the kitchen and a new dishwasher cos our current one decided to half die (half die because it’s a two drawer one and one drawer decided to kark it!) and um … a whole brand new kitchen!!
Watching:  My sister told me about The Handmaid’s Tale series on SBS on Demand and OMG I was obsessed from the first episode. I watched 7 episodes in my first session!  I’ve finished watching Season 1 (Season 1 is only available on SBS on Demand until 30 June just so you know!) and have started on Season 2.

the handmaids tale

Next watch:  A friend suggested heaps of movies I should watch, so I’d better make a start on them next (if I can hunt them down)!
Hoping: 
My leg improves soon.  I had a fall and hurt my fibula and hamstring.  Thankfully no fracture or break!
Marvelling:  At the talent out there!  I saw a video of a 13-year-old girl on ‘America has Talent’ in my Facebook news feed and I was blown away!  It’s at the end of this post for your enjoyment.
Cringing:  I kid you not, a mobile mechanic came to my house to service my little car …. sweetheart.  Grrrr!  Yes there are still men out there that think they can talk down to women like that!
Needing:  What my heart wants
Questioning:  My choices all the time. I have some birthday money to spend. I fill carts all the time but never proceed to checkout. What if there is a better choice just around the corner?  Am I the only one who does this?
Wearing:  My heart on my sleeve.  That’s me!
Following:  My instincts
Worrying:  About Ava and her escape artist ways while I have tradespeople coming and going in my house. 
Noticing:  That I’m now 54. I had a birthday on 31 May.  I still cannot believe it.  It’s like one day I was 35 and blinked and now I’m 54.
Knowing:  That it’s about time my camellia’s grew more and flowered so beautifully … and they finally are!
Thinking:  About my Dad every single day
Admiring:  My daughter – her confidence, her determination, her bravery
Sorting:  Through my kitchen has been time consuming, long overdue, and quite cathartic!
Getting:  So much enjoyment out of my waterfront walks now the weather is cooler. It also means I can walk at any time of day rather than being restricted to early mornings or late afternoons.
Bookmarking:  Slow Cooker recipes!
Coveting:  An overseas holiday – so many places to see, experience, explore!
Disliking:  How fast this year is going. I mean really … how can it be nearly July already!
Opening:  Lots of cards and birthday presents on 31 May was lovely and heartwarming!
Giggling:  With a friend who I do pilates with 3 times a week and yoga once a week. We laugh a lot!
Feeling:  Nervited.  Exvous.  Nervous crossed with Excited (with regards to the kitchen reno starting tomorrow).  I’m a bit of a weirdo like that!
Snacking:  Ok it’s still cruskits. I am addicted to rye cruskits! 
Hearing:  Ava (my dog) snoring as usual! lol

So since my last Taking Stock post in March, we’ve had Easter, I’ve started yoga in addition to reformer pilates, I’m walking a bit more frequently, the weather has become a lot cooler, my goal of reading more books has slipped terribly, I’ve completed Mindful in May, and I’m another year older!  I really hope that by the next Taking Stock post, I’ve had a little nature getaway to somewhere lovely and read some more of my book and hopefully another!
 
Before I go – here is ‘Courtney’, the 13 year old girl who blew my socks off (see ‘Marveling’).  She’s fantastic!  We will be seeing more of this young lady for sure.  
 

 

Ciao for now,

 

Link up here at WOTM or with another of us in the Lovin’ Life Linky team:
Leanne of Deep Fried Fruit Kathy of 50 Shades of Age  |
Deborah of Debbish  |  Jo of The Hungry Writer – Joanne Tracey.
It doesn’t matter where you link up as it will magically appear on all five blogs.

 


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30 Comments

  • Reply Sue from Sizzling Towards 60 & Beyond June 28, 2018 at 7:13 am

    Hi Min, I so enjoyed reading your Taking Stock post and we have so, so many things and thoughts in common. I’m fortunate to be getting lots of baby cuddles with Elliot at the moment. I’m almost 61 and wondered where the last 30 years went as I still feel 30. I don’t have a green thumb at all but was given an orchid which I thought I had killed and then a couple of weeks ago find a new stem and fingers crossed some flowers! I’ll be interested to get any tips you find growing yours. Our camellias are blooming. We are planning a kitchen reno for our GC apartment over the next few months. The similarities could go on but I will stop now. Happy belated birthday Min. I hope that you find your purpose but don’t rush it. We all struggle with that and it will come. Take care and I’m always here to chat if you need to. Have a beautiful day and take care of your leg.

    • Reply Min June 28, 2018 at 3:13 pm

      Hi Sue, I’m so glad you enjoyed the post. Yes we have many things in common for sure. Aren’t the camellia’s gorgeous at the moment?! I’m looking forward to meeting up with you in person soon and having a good chat! You’re so lucky to have a fresh new gorgeous grandson to cuddle – enjoy every moment! Hope your day has been a good one! xo

  • Reply Jo Tracey June 28, 2018 at 7:19 am

    A great taking stock. I haven’t been able to get into a Handmaid’s Tale – and I have no idea why. I watched a couple of episodes on a plane, but I haven’t watched any more. As for yoga – I’m determined to get there. Truly.

    • Reply Min June 28, 2018 at 3:14 pm

      Thanks Jo! I’m surprised I can even watch The Handmaid’s Tale – it’s a bit dark and gruesome at times and usually I can’t watch dark and gruesome … but this has me completely sucked in. I just walk away or cover my eyes/ears at the yukky bits! Go do the yoga – it’s fab! 🙂 xo

  • Reply Ingrid June 28, 2018 at 8:28 am

    How exciting to be getting a kitchen Reno!

    Orchids are the best! They’re the one flowering plant I seem able to keep alive no matter what! And their flowers are spectacular and last for ages!

    I share your dislike of how fast the year is going! Why is it flying past so fast?! My to do list unfortunately us nit decreasing at the same speed.

    Ingrid

    • Reply Min June 28, 2018 at 3:16 pm

      The kitchen reno is exciting but boy oh boy is it throwing the house into chaos LOL! It will be worth it though. My orchids are still alive so far *touch wood*! xo

  • Reply Vanessa June 28, 2018 at 9:14 am

    I could do with a click and shazam being somewhere myself right now too!

    • Reply Min June 28, 2018 at 3:16 pm

      Yes – someone, somewhere, needs to get this sorted for us!! 😉

  • Reply Natalie June 28, 2018 at 10:08 am

    Happy belated birthday, Min! Hope your kitchen reno goes well and before you know it, you’ll be using the new kettle and toaster in a fresh-looking kitchen.

    • Reply Min June 28, 2018 at 3:17 pm

      Thanks Natalie! Hilarious isn’t it … to be so excited over a kettle and a toaster LOL but these are so cute. You wait and see! haha

  • Reply Jodie June 28, 2018 at 12:11 pm

    It’s always so fun to catch up with you this way, Min!
    It really goes to show how the kitchen remodel is taking over so much of your life—and of course so. It’s huge!! As for living 2 weeks without a kitchen…I have to admit I’ve never done it except on vacation. Maybe that’s the answer? Vacation!!!
    Our kitties are funny, aren’t they? When we were having remodeling done, I ended up locking them in a bedroom upstairs while the crew was here. It just made me worry less!!!
    I hope you’ll be showing us the finished kitchen when it’s done?? It sounds marvelous!!
    XOXO
    Jodie
    http://www.jtouchofstyle.com

    • Reply Min June 28, 2018 at 3:19 pm

      Glad you enjoy the Taking Stock posts Jodie. The kitchen reno is completely taking over my life right now LOL Amazing isn’t it?! You will be seeing the new kitchen for sure. There will be before and after photos and a dedicated kitchen reno post in the near future! 🙂 xo

  • Reply Leanne June 28, 2018 at 12:29 pm

    I saw that little girl on FB too – an amazing talent! Good luck with the kitchen reno and dog wrangling – and the mess and the workmen and etc. Keep telling yourself that it’s only a few weeks and you’ll be in heaven. Glad your leg wasn’t in a cast through all the kitchen chaos (cooking in the laundry in a leg brace would have been a challenge!) Loved reading all your little snippets and I’m looking forward to the big kitchen reveal next month xx

    • Reply Min June 28, 2018 at 3:21 pm

      Thanks Leanne! You describe the scene at my place so very well! LOL I am so glad I am not in a cast. OMG can you imagine! 7am tomorrow morning they turn up to rip out the old kitchen. Ready, setty, GO! 😉 xo

  • Reply Sydney Shop Girl June 28, 2018 at 4:11 pm

    Happy belated birthday, Min! Best of luck with the reno and may it finish perfectly and on time. A huge fan of my slow cooker especially at this time of the year as well, With you about yoga! How good is regular practice?

    SSG xxx

    • Reply Min June 29, 2018 at 2:56 pm

      Thank you SSG! I went to yoga today. I so needed it. It was wonderful! 🙂 xo

  • Reply Jan June 28, 2018 at 5:03 pm

    I’m guessing that mechanic won’t be coming back any time soon. Did you put him in his place? I find just saying, ‘my name is Jan but I’m not your darling/dear/sweetie’ gives them a big shock and in this case along with ‘my other car is a pickup truck’. Isn’t it infuriating!

    • Reply Min June 29, 2018 at 2:59 pm

      Your guess is right Jan. He won’t be coming back anytime soon. From the moment he phoned me to say he would be late because he was doing another job on the other side of town first (he was 1.5 hrs late) and said to me “I’m the mechanic coming to service your little car, sweetheart’ … he had got on the wrong side of me. It sure is infuriating. Would he say that to a man? No! Grrr! When the company phoned me for feedback on my experience, I told them the truth.

  • Reply Kathy Marris June 28, 2018 at 8:15 pm

    You have lots of stuff going on. I would be freaking out about a kitchen reno! I’m sure the end result will be worth it though. Just breathe!!!

    • Reply Min June 29, 2018 at 3:01 pm

      I do have a lot going on! It’s rather chaotic here. I’ll get a break from the noise and activity for the weekend and it all starts again on Monday! Might need to do a few meditations and yoga to keep some zen and calm about me! haha

  • Reply Patrick Weseman July 1, 2018 at 3:05 pm

    I really need to do something like this. I think it is a wonderful tool to use. Thanks for sharing. #lovinlifelinky

    • Reply Min July 3, 2018 at 9:51 am

      So glad you enjoyed Patrick. It’s fun to do!

  • Reply Suger July 2, 2018 at 10:30 am

    I tell you what, if I could click my fingers and just travel, that would be a life changer. I have a few events coming up over the next couple of weeks and I feel like I’m going from one end of the state to the next. Teleportation would be so much more efficient. Haha.

    • Reply Min July 3, 2018 at 9:52 am

      Teleportation is the super power I would wish for if I could wish for one! Flying and being able to make myself invisible would come close seconds! 🙂 xo

  • Reply Becky - BeckyandJames July 2, 2018 at 12:37 pm

    We did a kitchen reno about 11 years ago now and we lived off microwave food, which was living in our lounge room and we ate at the box which our new oven arrived at (our place was tiny and had no room for a table, our reno included some bench space).
    I hated every minute of it, especially having people in my house but once it was done I LOVED my kitchen. When I think about it I feel so sad to have moved from there.

    • Reply Min July 3, 2018 at 9:58 am

      Wow – 11 years ago! I am with you with having people in the house. I don’t like it but I know it has to be if I want my new kitchen! I like my alone time very much and I don’t like noise and mess! This is my first kitchen reno or any major reno of any kind really. We’ve had microwave meals, used the BBQ, the electric frypan and I’ve used the slow cooker. Yesterday was hard – very noisy all day. There was a cabinetmaker here from 7am till 6pm with an electric drill and saw going all day, as well as hammering. I am enjoying the blissful silence today with no tradies here till tomorrow. The longest, noisiest and dustiest day is behind us now – shorter tradie stints ahead and excitement as all the elements start coming together. xo

  • Reply Denyse Whelan July 3, 2018 at 5:01 pm

    Thanks for joining in. I hope the kitchen reno goes better for you as time passes. Can you go out when they are there?
    I loved your photo collage. Very snazzy!
    Thank you for linking up for #lifethisweek. Next week’s optional prompt is “My Home Country” 28/52. Denyse x

    • Reply Min July 6, 2018 at 2:24 pm

      Thanks for visiting again Denyse. My pleasure to link up! There was only one day of the reno that was trying. The rest have been just fine! 🙂 xo

  • Reply Sue July 9, 2018 at 4:50 pm

    I’ve been wondering about your kitchen reno Min, hoping it’s all going smoothly. You must be almost there now…….. exciting!!
    I can totally relate to the anxious potentially doggy-escape moments during a renovation though – we don’t even have our own dog, but when my son’s dog comes to stay (quite often) and there are tradesmen around all day, I get very stressed that he’s going to disappear. The saving grace is that he LOVES people, doesn’t matter who, and most of the tradies have loved him back, so he’s so far been very happy to hang around wherever people are. And the tradies have all been perfect at keeping the gates shut, so no doggy disasters yet! Looking forward to hearing about your beautiful new kitchen being finished!!

    • Reply Min July 11, 2018 at 1:45 pm

      Thanks for thinking of me Sue! Still a way to go yet but getting there. I’m very excited about tomorrow because our stone benchtops will be installed. The following day the electrician and plumber will be here to installed appliances and reconnect us. The kitchen will then be functional but no splashbacks yet. They come next Monday to measure up for those and then it’s a 2 week wait till they’re installed. There is also some painting we will need to do – particularly the new bulkheads and cornicing but walls will need to be done as well. Getting there! 🙂

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