View Full Version : Fall Challenge
I have some fun things this season:
1. Use up the rest of my vacation time, leaving just my floaters for inclement winter weather.
2. Hear more presidential candidates speak.
3. Celebrate family birthdays and Thanksgiving. This is most challenging for my parents who are limited in their celebrations due to their age and dietary restrictions.
4. Volunteer for a local candidate - if my favorite makes it out of the mayoral primary for them, otherwise for a council candidate.
5. Stay on budget at least one of the months to meet my yearly goal of doing so 9 months out of the year. Have only missed one so far, but home heating oil season is upon us.
6. Try to resolve and wind up the 14 open complaints I have pertaining to the City, starting with one phone call I have scheduled for this afternoon.
7. Block a planned Communist farm in my city which the organizers want the taxpayers to fund but not let them use if they were born in the US. Yes, truth is stranger than fiction.
8. Hike every month until the snow flies.
Glad you started this, just read your followup on summer and appreciated the closure. Here is my new list:
1. Participate in family memorial service for Mother next month. This is about 10 things all in one, none of them very pleasant.
2. Arrange for final resting place for the sets of ashes I have, and get myself a niche at same place.
3. Record spending every day beginning in October.
4. Use Everydollar budget thoroughly for one month then evaluate if I like it or want to try a new one.
5. Follow up with Medical Examiner office and hopefully get report on Mother's death.
6. Reorganize major storage spaces in house and hopefully get rid of some stuff. But at least know what's in there.
7. Sell something to start fund for cemetery plots.
8. Get unclaimed property for estate from out of state.
What a responsible list, Tybee - not fun things, but taking care of business.
What a responsible list, Tybee - not fun things, but taking care of business.
Yeah, I am definitely in a low-fun time.
1. Participate in family memorial service for Mother next month. This is about 10 things all in one, none of them very pleasant. Service is written, with music planned and church and minister booked. Ashes are in ash scattering tubes for what brothers want to do with their part of ashes. One son has ticket so far.
2. Arrange for final resting place for the sets of ashes I have, and get myself a niche at same place. Finally located a place!!! Yesterday sent paperwork and check into rector. So arrangements are off to a great start, just need to get them there somehow.
3. Record spending every day beginning in October.
4. Use Everydollar budget thoroughly for one month then evaluate if I like it or want to try a new one.
5. Follow up with Medical Examiner office and hopefully get report on Mother's death.
6. Reorganize major storage spaces in house and hopefully get rid of some stuff. But at least know what's in there.
7. Sell something to start fund for cemetery plots.
8. Get unclaimed property for estate from out of state. Sent paperwork off yesterday, so now wait 8 weeks.
iris lilies
9-30-23, 9:35am
1. In anticipation of my town’s bulk pickup in November, go through this house with DH to identify things for the curb and also for metal recycling
2. see that DH drives a truck load of metal to the recycler. We usually get $200-$300 for each load
3. plant lilies, relocate a few of them.
4. plan and execute table decorations for my town’s Holiday table display fundraiser. I am doing a Grinch themed table this year.
A Grinch themed table--how neat!
I am amazed you get that much for metal recycling. In Michigan when we were clearing out the pole barn we were lucky to get 20 dollars. What on earth do you have?
iris lilies
9-30-23, 11:05am
A Grinch themed table--how neat!
I am amazed you get that much for metal recycling. In Michigan when we were clearing out the pole barn we were lucky to get 20 dollars. What on earth do you have?
I really don’t know what DH collects but he showed me the last check and it was over $200. That was for at least six months worth of metal collection, and not for appliances.
People set out their old appliances in our alley when we lived in the city, and those appliances were gone by noon that same day. There are trucks that troll the alleys just looking for metal scraps, so obviously someone is paying the bucks.
rosarugosa
10-19-23, 7:03am
I've already done some of the things I would usually list - closet cleanout, cleaning and storing fans, shed cleanout. I also have a lot of really mundane stuff that isn't even interesting enough to list. So here's what I've got:
1. Do another crafts fair on 12/2
2. Hire someone to repair or replace a rotted sill in our basement
3. Meet with attorney regarding Mom's affairs (make sure we have all necessary documents in place, etc.)
4. Arrange a new "lock box" for Mom's house through the fire dept. We have one through her emergency alert company, but when she accidentally pressed the button for help last weekend, the company did not provide the lock box code when they called 911. Luckily a neighbor saw the FD, went over, and called me and I provided the code. Mom was fine and watching TV, so I'm especially glad they didn't have to break the door down. Fireman told neighbor I can have them install a lock box for which they would have the key.
5. Declutter linens and bedroom drawers (I already did some clothing drawers when I did the closet, but I want to do a thorough review and cull)
6. Outdoor seasonal - empty planters, put away hammock, drain & store hoses, etc.
We have someone to paint the big shed!!! Not purging, but sprucing up.
Have heard 6 candidates now, but haven't volunteered for anyone locally other than answering questions on how government works to the best of my ability.
Birthday celebrations start this weekend.
Am now down to 7 open complaints/records requests and focusing on the Communist Farm. Hope to have an op ed published on it soon.
iris lilies
10-19-23, 6:38pm
Have heard 6 candidates now, but haven't volunteered for anyone locally other than answering questions on how government works to the best of my ability.
Birthday celebrations start this weekend.
Am now down to 7 open complaints/records requests and focusing on the Communist Farm. Hope to have an op ed published on it soon.
Oh do tell! The Communist Farm. What is that about?
Oh do tell! The Communist Farm. What is that about?
Using taxpayer money to set up a farm where people have to rent forever from a nonprofit and never get to own the land. Knowing most people want to own the land they farm, the nonprofit preys on refugees and immigrants. A better approach would be first time buyer assistance for new farmers. The City is being very secretive, but an analogy might be sharecropping. It may be that the tenants pay a share of their crop as rent. It's unclear and the Agricultural Commission refuses to respond to public records requests.
Finished 2, 5, 7, and 8. Still to do:
1. Participate in family memorial service for Mother next month. This is about 10 things all in one, none of them very pleasant.
3. Record spending every day beginning in October.
4. Use Everydollar budget thoroughly for one month then evaluate if I like it or want to try a new one.
6. Reorganize major storage spaces in house and hopefully get rid of some stuff. But at least know what's in there.
iris lilies
10-21-23, 5:18pm
Using taxpayer money to set up a farm where people have to rent forever from a nonprofit and never get to own the land. Knowing most people want to own the land they farm, the nonprofit preys on refugees and immigrants. A better approach would be first time buyer assistance for new farmers. The City is being very secretive, but an analogy might be sharecropping. It may be that the tenants pay a share of their crop as rent. It's unclear and the Agricultural Commission refuses to respond to public records requests.
is there more than one “farm quote in this deal? If so, how big are the plots of land?
is there more than one “farm quote in this deal? If so, how big are the plots of land?
14 acres in total.
iris lilies
10-21-23, 10:18pm
14 acres in total.
So 14 acres is divided among how many people? I’m sorry, but that’s not a farm Although if they’re growing edibles, that’s plenty of land to do that.
So 14 acres is divided among how many people? I’m sorry, but that’s not a farm Although if they’re growing edibles, that’s plenty of land to do that.
Agree. These will not be full time farmers. They will grow vegetables as a side hustle to sell at expensive farmers markets because selling at supermarkets (which in my area do have sections featuring local produce) would not net them enough to cover the overhead costs of all the overseers from the nonprofit organization. Unsure how many "farmers" they will have.
That sure sounds like sharecropping to me. The Yankee version, I guess.
They sure sounds like sharecropping to me. The Yankee version, I guess.
Yep.
Back from the epic vacation and realized I didn't do a Fall challenge so here we go.
Distribute vacation gifts between now and Christmas.
Write evaluation of trip for our tour company contact
Go through summer clothing to donate or store
Get blankets out of storage
Air out the duvet
Finish knitting scarf
Pull out winter gear
Glad the book reorganization project and operation clear the bed was complete before we left. Now the souvenirs are on the bed for staging purposes. We just put them there and will sort and arrange to give them to their new owners. Many are Christmas gifts to family so we need to find a place to hold them until then.
The evaluation will be done this weekend. Been taking notes and have ideas and suggestions on things to improve the experience.
Will probably add other things as I think about them.
iris lilies
10-26-23, 9:57am
Hannah, what was your epic trip? Where did you go? What did you do?
Epic trip was to China.
Went to Tianamen square and the Forbidden City. Spent a day on the Great Wall, no one tells you how steep it is, and there are a lot of stray cats in the area. They had signs not to pet or feed the cats since they bite. Our guide said you can see Beijing if the day is nice and the pollution is not so bad. We lucked out and were able to see the Beijing skyline and some of the taller buildings in detail.
Then we took a bullet train to Xian to see the terra cotta warriors, each warrior has individual features and is based on a real person. There was a middle school field trip also present and we became mini celebrities and the students wanted to practice their English on us and get photos. They were not from a big city so we were the first Westerners they ever saw in person. Husband interacted with them more since I don't have much patience for children. The bullet train was a bucket list item, peak speed was 350kph/219mph.
Spent the bulk of it in Chengdu eating hot pot and doing panda tourism. The pandas are adorable and we went to a reserve further away to see Tai Shan, the first panda born in The National Zoo that survived infancy. He's middle aged and still very active though his first months were rough since he had to learn the commands in Mandarin. Took more video than photos since the pandas are good at hiding and you could only see their movements. Did get photos of a mom panda with her teenage twins. Unfortunately the panda nursery with the babies was closed.
iris lilies
10-26-23, 1:36pm
Hana, trip sounds spectacular.indeed the terra cotta warriors are amazing. I’ve only seen photos. I enjoyed hearing about it all.
New list as of today, by December 31:
1. Record spending every day in November and December.
2. Use Everydollar budget thoroughly for November and December then evaluate if I like it or want to try a new one.
3. Finish knitting two scarves for kids.
4. Reorganize major storage spaces in house and hopefully get rid of some stuff. But at least know what's in there.:
5. Complete Christmas shopping.
6. Wrap and send Christmas presents to family.
7. Buy Christmas cards, write, and send.
8. Decorate for Christmas.
9. Finish all 4 fall classes.
rosarugosa
10-27-23, 6:14am
Wow Hana, that does sound like an epic adventure indeed!
happystuff
10-27-23, 9:03am
Sounds like an amazing trip, Hana!!! Thanks for sharing.
Distribute vacation gifts between now and Christmas. 20% done
Write evaluation of trip for our tour company contact done
Go through summer clothing to donate or store nope
Get blankets out of storage this evening
Air out the duvet this evening
Finish knitting scarf in progress
Pull out winter gear not yet
I wrote and emailed the tour company contact about what went well and suggestions on improving their services. I said nice things about each guide and how much I enjoyed the trip. Gave thank you gifts to neighbors and will give rest to friends when we see them in a couple of weeks. The rest are Christmas gifts so I have time to wrap them and they will live on the spare room bed until then. We're under freeze warning tonight so the after work project is pulling the blankets out from storage and airing out the duvet.
Stayed on budget for October so will hit my goal to stay on budget 9 months of the year.
The state grant for a portion of the communist farm was approved, but it still needs council approval. One councilor has told me he will vote no. Hoping we can defeat this though it's always an uphill climb in our very corrupt state/city to get any spending stopped. Everyone's got their hand in the government till, then they wonder why we have no money for things like paving the roads.
I never did volunteer for a campaign in the traditional sense, though I got info for several who requested it. The election is over and we threw one bum out but have a bunch left. Onward and upward.
Pre Thanksgiving update
Distribute vacation gifts between now and Christmas. 70% done
Write evaluation of trip for our tour company contact done
Go through summer clothing to donate or store in progress
Get blankets out of storage done
Air out the duvet done
Finish knitting scarf in progress
Pull out winter gear in progress
Given souvenirs to local friends and mailed others to out of town relatives. Rest will be given in person on Christmas Day. I need to wrap them before then. Blankets are out, aired, and folded at the foot of the bed. Weather is a bit warm so we haven't needed them much. Sorted summer gear and put what doesn't fit or I haven't worn on the Buy Nothing Group. Pulled out the wool socks and fleece lined leggings, still too warm for sweaters.
rosarugosa
12-29-23, 2:38pm
Update:
1. Do another crafts fair on 12/2 - Done
2. Hire someone to repair or replace a rotted sill in our basement - Not yet
3. Meet with attorney regarding Mom's affairs (make sure we have all necessary documents in place, etc.) - Not yet
4. Arrange a new "lock box" for Mom's house through the fire dept. We have one through her emergency alert company, but when she accidentally pressed the button for help last weekend, the company did not provide the lock box code when they called 911. Luckily a neighbor saw the FD, went over, and called me and I provided the code. Mom was fine and watching TV, so I'm especially glad they didn't have to break the door down. Fireman told neighbor I can have them install a lock box for which they would have the key. - Nope. Decided not to go ahead with this one and actually cancelled the service. I was there recently when the alert was triggered and neither of us had done anything. When the agent came on, it was so difficult to understand them, and if I hadn't been there, Mom would never have understood or responded appropriately. Discussed with Sis and DH, and we agreed that Mom would be very unlikely to think to press the help button in an emergency anyway, so the service was more of a liability than an asset.
5. Declutter linens and bedroom drawers (I already did some clothing drawers when I did the closet, but I want to do a thorough review and cull) - Done
6. Outdoor seasonal - empty planters, put away hammock, drain & store hoses, etc - Done
I have some fun things this season:
1. Use up the rest of my vacation time, leaving just my floaters for inclement winter weather. Done
2. Hear more presidential candidates speak. Done
3. Celebrate family birthdays and Thanksgiving. This is most challenging for my parents who are limited in their celebrations due to their age and dietary restrictions. Done
4. Volunteer for a local candidate - if my favorite makes it out of the mayoral primary for them, otherwise for a council candidate. Did informally for a mayoral candidate
5. Stay on budget at least one of the months to meet my yearly goal of doing so 9 months out of the year. Have only missed one so far, but home heating oil season is upon us.Will hit barring a disaster this weekend
6. Try to resolve and wind up the 14 open complaints I have pertaining to the City, starting with one phone call I have scheduled for this afternoon. Down to 3; have a few new records requests open but no new complaints
7. Block a planned Communist farm in my city which the organizers want the taxpayers to fund but not let them use if they were born in the US. Yes, truth is stranger than fiction. Done
8. Hike every month until the snow flies. Done
Final update
Distribute vacation gifts between now and Christmas. done
Write evaluation of trip for our tour company contact done
Go through summer clothing to donate or store done
Get blankets out of storage done
Air out the duvet done
Finish knitting scarf in progress
Pull out winter gear done
Happy New Year, everyone. Didn't finish the scarf on time due to a surprise and lucrative commission. Scarf is for me so no big deal.
by December 31:
1. Record spending every day in November and December.
About 85% recorded
2. Use Everydollar budget thoroughly for November and December then evaluate if I like it or want to try a new one.
Will do another month
3. Finish knitting two scarves for kids.
Done
4. Reorganize major storage spaces in house and hopefully get rid of some stuff. But at least know what's in there.:
Not really
5. Complete Christmas shopping.
Done
6. Wrap and send Christmas presents to family.
Done
7. Buy Christmas cards, write, and send.
Done
8. Decorate for Christmas.
Done
9. Finish all 4 fall classes.
Done
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