What a Gift
I am fortunate to have the gift of perseverance. There is a huge difference between one who is a perfectionist and then . . . there is me. I give it my all regardless of what I am doing. With patience and an equal amount of perseverance, I like where I am today and what I am doing in “today.” I have a sweet life. With any given day, with any given task, I do have expectations as to the outcome.
This is a weekend that finds me home alone. That does not happen as often as it has in the past when Dennis was on an active circuit of taking in trade shows. Dennis knows his limitations in energy and physical endurance as to how often he runs away from home. This show, in South Dakota, Dennis has taken in every year for 22 years. He is grooming a friend of his who has shown an interest in taking over Dennis’ rental spot in a year or two. Dennis would continue taking in the event, but not the setting up, tending it non-stop for the weekend, and taking it down and coming home a bit weary.
I have no set plans for a weekend such as this, it just evolves. I am on livestock duty with the garage kittens. Some of those kittens are getting a bit of age on them, not to mention the weight that they carry. Yesterday while I was waiting for the shop to come and pick up the car that needed a new battery, I found myself giving the garage porch some TLC. As we put down new carpeting last summer, we do have some carpet rag rugs taking a hit where the doors to the outside are. Hmm. I can still produce a pretty good snap when shaking the rugs. My Mom would not approve as that puts a lot of strain on the warp of the rug.
Some of the livestock chose to leave the porch and others just moved as I moved around with the vacuum. Somehow dirt from two potted plants found its way to the carpeting. That Snuggles just has to crawl in and around the plants. I did leave the dusting for Dennis to take care of when he gets home. It is surprising how much dust a television screen can hold. Butter Ball kept an eye on me as I emptied the water dish and gave it a clean. Of course, as I was putting new water in, his paw just happened to catch the water stream. Butter Ball loves to play in water. In the end the litter box was totally tidied, food bowls were cleaned and refilled and I left the porch for the cats to check out all that had been moved or cleaned. A good work out on the perseverance. When the fellows returned the car into the garage, they took a peek at the garage porch and were amazed as to how it was tricked out. A perfect quiet place to put off cabin fever.
I slept until nine this morning. Amazingly the train two blocks away and the semi trucks that pass within 50 feet of our home do not interfere with my rest. When my feet do hit the floor, I am ON. One trip to the bathroom and when I came out the washing machine was filling with water. By the time I had come in from letting the cats out for a run, the coffee pot had brewed some awesome smelling coffee. I treated myself to an apple fritter to enjoy with the coffee.
The sun did not stay out for the entire day, but believe me I had windows open on the east end of the house as well as the west end. As I am typing, I am enjoying the last of the cold breakfast coffee. I have had a rewarding kitchen type of day. Chocolate cookies are filling the cookie container, cold crab salad is co-mingling in the refrigerator, pork steak is marinating in the blue speckled roaster in the refrigerator right beside the baking dish that is ready to pop into the oven. That baking dish is comprised of our favorite carrot casserole. Par cooked carrots layered with sautéed onions, Velveeta cheese and ready to have crumbled club crackers on it before going in the oven. I am pretty sure the pork and carrots will be fixed for Monday’s supper. I had the kitchen going and it just kept on going and going until I was tuckered out. Man, there were a lot of dirtied dishes.
Good grief, I have had several great days. I did not even go into the sewing studio since Dennis has been gone. It is hard to explain, but going solo for a couple of days is good for my soul. I can persevere and I do persevere at my own speed . . . at my own time. Dennis will be home tomorrow, Sunday, sometime between five and six in the late afternoon. I will be rested without anything left on my tick list . . . taking in all of the tales that Dennis will share about his weekend at the trade show. Priceless!