New Resolve

     I am guessing many of you have made a New Year's resolution or two.  The start of a new year always seems like a good time to start a new goal... or more seriously tackle an old goal not yet achieved.  There are things I want to accomplish in 2013, but have not actually listed as resolutions.  But, it is with new resolve that I plan to start working on some of these goals.  I got this image from Good Housekeeping, and think it reflects my philosophy.  We are all going to loose sight of a resolution from time to time, but instead of completely giving up on it, if we get back on track and continue to try, we can reach our goals or at least get closer to achieving them.

      The cows enjoying some seldom seen sunshine.  I started out the year being fairly sick with the flu, that hung on for too many days and still has me weakened.  I immediately made a resolution to get a flu shot next fall, which I hadn't done this fall.  Another one of my resolutions, to cut back on sweets, automatically happened.  Both sweet food and fatty food made me nauseous.  So, as I started feeling better this week, instead of digging right back in to the cookies and candy, I decided to hit them with great moderation.  They still didn't appeal that much anyway.  As far as upping my walking and exercise time... that was an impossibility to begin with because I had no energy and got light-headed easily.   I spent over a week on the couch or in bed much of the time... and still have little get-up-and-go.

     It was a slow trip to recovery, but when I woke up last Thursday morning, I could tell I had made a turn for the better, and was going to survive the nasty flu that plagued me the week before.  It was a cloudy day with a drizzle that came and went throughout the day, until turning to serious rain by late afternoon.  I felt bad for the poor horses who just stood with their butts to the wind and rain.

     I got a little light-headed doing chores again, so took a break and sat and rested on a bale of hay.  I had to really exert myself  when pushing the heavy wheelbarrow through the muddy paddock.  Then later, during my shower, I got really tired again.  Britney, who had been on the go all day, came home and took a nap by the fire with Abbey.

     I was going to cook for our family Christmas dinner, so ran into LeRoy to grab a few items at the store.  Once home I started dinner, a simple meal of spaghetti, toss salad and garlic bread.  I made brownies and bought ice cream for desert. 

     We opened gifts after our meal and then had desert.  Just after everyone left, I got a call from the neighbors, that they thought they had Brother.  So I jumped in the car to go see.  And low and behold.... there he was.  He wasn't quite sure he wanted to leave the warmth of the house and go with me out into the dark, foggy night of mist and wind.

    Once home, I locked Brother in the barn with Missy for the night, cause I didn't want him wandering off. 




     Missy wasn't so sure about Brother at first, but by Friday morning, she was glad to have him back.  It was another dreary day, but was much warmer.  Chores went a little easier, except for the wheelbarrow through the muddy paddock.  It had rained all night.  It was good to have Brother following me around once again... and Missy kept near too.

     Joe, Britney and I drove to Iowa Friday afternoon.  More fun and holiday celebrating occurred.  We played Redneck Life after dinner.  Britney was the biggest loser, with no teeth, house, car, money or job by the end of the game.  She was a good sport though.

     We went out to lunch Saturday and then us girls rode home together, going eagle watching on the way.

     We spotted many eagles along the Iowa River, perched high in the trees.

     After some more fun and games, we hit the road for home at four in the afternoon.  We had about 40 minutes of driving in freezing rain before getting to Peoria, and then it was just rain the rest of the way home.  The horses were so glad to come into the barn just before 8pm.

     I was still too sick to go to Church Sunday morning.  I was supposed to work in the nursery, but decided that was not a good idea, so sent them an e-mail.  Abbey and Kaysha watched out the windows, at Britney, who left before 8am to go back to Greenville to visit more people.  We had gotten freezing rain over night, so she took the Expedition this time... which would be much safer for her on bad roads. 

     The sun never came out and the temperatures never got above freezing, so the paddock mud remained frozen hard, but rutted by horse hooves.  Zorro came to see what I was doing when I went out to dump the manure wheelbarrow. 



     I stuck to the house all day and worked on taking down and putting away Christmas decorations as energy and boredom permitted.  I mixed "work" with naps and TV.  By bedtime the place was in shambles and no longer at all festive.
   
     Monday morning I still didn't feel up to going to my 8am Water Lilies class. Somehow, coming home with wet hair in 14 degree temperatures didn't seem like a good idea.  I actually had a very productive day, taking down all the rest of the Christmas decorations and putting all of them away.  I did more dusting and cleaning as I put back out all the regular
                                                     decorations and knick knacks.  By the
time I went out to do stalls and chores, I was tired, so I was glad to see Joe show up out in the barn to help me.  Still congested and coughing, I decided to stay home from Growth Group again, so I wouldn't get anyone sick... especially Dean, whose weak immune system is still recovering from cancer treatment.   
    
     I finally made it to Water Lilies Tuesday morning.  I only worked out for 45 minutes, which was enough to make me pretty tired.  Britney came along and lifted weights and ran on the treadmill. 

     It was kind of a do-nothing day.  Britney went out with me while I did chores, and got some farm yard photos.


     We were pretty much bums all day... reading, watching TV, and messing on our computers.  I did cook a beef roast for dinner and did more research on retirement places.  But I can't say I was an asset to society or the good of mankind or even my family.

    
     Look how big Stew is getting compared to Babe.  He may be her size by the time we take her to market in the spring.


     Wednesday was an equally unproductive day, although I did a lot of reading of a Clive Cussler novel that was getting exciting.  We also met Courtney at the movies and enjoyed Les Miserables (and popcorn) together.

     I am so glad to have Brother home, coming to greet me when I go out to the barn.  Missy is also glad to have her playmate back, and his warm body to snuggle with on cold winter nights.  Below, Abbey sits in the sun under my holiday tree, ready for Valentine's Day.




     Unmotivated, unenergetic, uninspired, unproductive, and under the weather still when I got up today.   I stayed home from Water Lilies again, and was a bum all day.  My big task for the day (other than chores) was grocery shopping.  It took a lot of time and energy to pick out $150.00 worth of stuff, load it in the car, drag it home and put it all away. 

     I am tired of being tired.  I feel useless and lethargic.  I need to gain new resolve (and energy) to start being a productive member of society and this household.  Being in my mid-winter slump, and still kind of sick, I guess I just need to be patient and wait this out.  Warmer, healthier, more gratifying days are soon to come.

     I like this video of the ten most common New Year's resolutions as illustrated by cats.  I have many of the same resolutions.  But, rather than aiming to reach a goal and then be done with it, I hope to make life changes that become the new norm... and, it is my resolve to keep working at resolutions year round.  There is always room for improvement, growth and change, as there will also probably be set-backs, hurdles, and times of weakness.