The Week Ahead: Almost There

I think we've all been waiting with bated breath for 2020 to come to an end and we're very nearly there now.   I can't say that for us it's been a particularly horrible nor particularly good year.  It's been different, a kind of different I don't necessarily want to repeat whatever the lessons were this year.   Just before John's actual retirement date we started spending a lot of time at home, more than we ever had.   Add to that his actual retirement, the 'big' event of the year,  getting accustomed to being paid once a month and slightly less than when he worked, family in and family unable to visit and homeschooling and....Well, it was never a stable year, really and I'm glad it's coming to an end. Agreed?   

I felt very much that I needed the time off this past week.  Thanksgiving was tedious for part of the day and a pleasure for part of the day.  Then on Friday, I felt emotionally wrung out with all the news Amie had to share.  I'd thought I'd decorate for Christmas but all I had heart to do was to exchange last year's wreaths for this year's fall wreaths. 

But ideas will surface even when tired if my mind isn't occupied with work.  I began to make plans for 2021...Now there's optimism!  

Work: 

 

Zone 1: Kitchen, back entry and laundry  No job in particular stands out.  After all I spent a goodly portion of the previous month wiping out cabinets, courtesy of the ants.   I think I'll just look for the obvious tasks and if none present themselves I'll do a good general cleaning and wiping down.

Christmas decorating.  I don't have to finish it all this week.  I just want to do something each day if only one thing.

Balance the check register, write out some bills due around the first of the month, and just generally get an idea of where we are after this month of spending.

Plan for a possible family Christmas day. Menu, gifts, etc.

Birthday cards and Christmas cards sent out.

Go pay our property tax.

Plan a grocery shop next week.  Plan Christmas baking so I can add the necessary things to my shopping list.  Plan the month's meals so I will have what I need on hand to prepare those, including family day, Christmas and New Year's Day meals.  Yes. All that.

Plan my 2021 Budget.

Write out my goals for 2021.

All the usual day to day chores and routine work.

Kitchen:

I'm starting this week's menus off with what we had on Friday and over the weekend.  Most everything on my menu is on hand except the chicken thighs I hope to purchase this next week.  We'll see.  Some of the menus are repeats from last week that I didn't use.

Sausage and Rice Stuffed Acorn Squash, Salad with Red Cabbage, Apple, celery and Lettuce, Green Peas

Pot Roast with Cherries, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans

Poultry Rice Soup, Homemade Apple Cobbler

Steak, Baked Potato, Salad, Rolls

Goulash, Green Salad, Crusty Bread, Applesauce

Black Beans, Yellow Rice, Orange, Olive and Onion Salad

Chicken Thighs, Sweet Potato Patties, Green Peas

Mac n Cheese, Salad, Steamed Broccoli

Leisure:

After taking time off, I feel rather shy about suggesting I'll need leisure time in the week but I know that I shall because I can't work all of the time.

I hope to finish Adler's book An Everlasting Feast.  I've also begun reading Gladys Taber's  Country Chronicle.

On December 1, I will begin an Advent reading.  I have three to choose from immediately and may find another as I troll about online.

Plan for 2021.  I like planning and making lists and it's fun to me to do them, so onto leisure list that goes as well as...

...Decorate a little each day for Christmas.

Do some family research.  Amie gave me details on a relative of hers that I'd been trying to trace and I hope to find that information.