Lists, the mundane chores, and redecorating

As Anne pointed out in the comments yesterday, lists are fun and can help keep you on track. It's good to watch each item get crossed off as long as your list isn't too long and you aren't left with more to do than you've actually managed to get done. My problem is that my eyes are bigger than my stomach when it comes to how much I can manage in the course of a day.

So I'm lowering my expectations...but only a bit. I still need something to reach for. Having a list that only has one or two things on it doesn't fill me with a sense of accomplishment. Yesterday I managed to cross off most of my list so it was a good day.

As I mentioned yesterday, I scrubbed the kitchen (although there is still much to do in there,) cooked a good supper, washed and put away 3 loads of laundry and got some knitting done. Well, I ripped back a good deal of my baby blanket as I discovered that my stitch count had grown by 4 and there was a row halfway back that looked as if I had knitted it with a much larger needle. I am a process knitter so normally it doesn't bother me to do that but I'm also trying to get a set amount of projects done by Easter so I have to consider that. Still, I don't like sending out knitted items that aren't my best. Especially when I consider that new mothers are getting these and deserve the best I can offer.

So I'm not quite back where I started but I did make good progress. Zach and I finished up the Farscape saga with Peacekeeper Wars. I sniffled a little and as always, when I finish up a series, felt that letdown. I know that leaving them always wanting more is good, but I still want more. I'm so amazed how much better other countries do television and movies. It used to be that Hollywood was the giant but more and more I prefer British or Australian productions. And I must say that many Asian productions leave Hollywood in the dust as well. And happily I'm finding many Australian and British shows in the library system. So I'm not alone. Corporate Hollywood needs to learn from those who are doing it well instead of trying to Americanize those programs and making an inferior product.

End of rant. :-)

I've also been thinking about my blog and just what I'm doing with it. No worry. I'm not thinking of quitting, but I am thinking about why I blog and for whom. Initially (and this is a painfully embarrassing confession) I had dreams of becoming a blogger with a huge following and enjoying the popularity. But more and more I like just what I have and the readers who are still reading in spite of how mundane my writings are.

I don't have great insight or innovative ways of doing things. I'm a plain, simple person just trying to get by. I'm not an inspiration to anyone but I am sharing the journey with a lot of people out there who are just like me. Those are the blogs I love to read the best. The ones where I feel like I'm making friends and sharing life like my mother did, over the fence with her neighbors. These blogs are those backyard fences.

But I will admit that, like I have a need (sorry, Tom) to rearrange furniture now and then, I've been putting off giving my blog a new look. Mostly because I don't want to run off the few readers I do have. (just kidding) So if it looks a little different in the future, it's just me rearranging the furniture. It will probably go back to the old look eventually.

Or not. I'm so predictably unpredictable.

I've got brownies in the toaster oven (on bake this time) and bread rising in the pan awaiting its turn in there as well. The bathroom is screaming for me to come clean it and Zach is getting his togs on to go shovel snow and set the trash out. A few dishes that won't clean in the dishwasher need to be taken care of and some vacuuming and then supper to fix. After that I'm thinking of working on some mending: socks, Zach's coat pocket and anything else I can find that needs done. Then curling up in bed to knit, watch Midsomer Murders that I taped last night and the rest of House, season 1. I should catch up on my blanket tonight and maybe get another hat done.

TTFN