It’s Almost Done! - January 23, 2025 @goldenoakfarm

On Thursday morning I got the post up, got a shower and sat down to work on Christmas lights. I’d gotten about half of them done on Tuesday. Many were no longer working properly but the newer ones were on the bottom of the tree so I hoped things would go faster.

I would tie up the layer once the lights were off so I’d have easier access to the removal. The layers had to be tied up anyways to store them. Once I finished a section, I took it off and laid it aside.

I got all the lights done and then I sorted them and packed them in boxes. Next I figured out how many were actually working and how many more I’d need for next year. Then I went and ordered them.

I got the storage bags for the tree repaired and my helper friend arrived at noon. We got the rest of the tree in the bags and then took the bags, boxes of lights, and the rest up to the attic.

He took the single box up to the spare room and then ran the vacuum where the tree had been. Next he brought in more wood while I washed the Christmas stockings and ironed and starched all the clean Christmas linens.

Once that was done we both sat down to rest and eat lunch.

After lunch we moved the dining room table, emptied the china cabinet and dusted and polished it, moved it into place and put everything back into it. Then we put the dining room to rights.

Next he brought the fairy down from the second floor and I put the window shelf back up and put plants on it. He and I got the everyday linens (that I had ironed and starched back in November) back where they went.

We finished about 2:45PM and he went home early. I headed to the shower and got ready to go to the dentist.

That was a hairball! I’ve had this health insurance since 2005 and never once had to pay for dental work. So I never bring my purse because if I don’t plan to use it, the chance of me setting it down somewhere and forgetting it is too great. Well, the only thing the dentist could do for the tooth besides pull it cost $50, to be paid on the spot. Sigh…

So I headed home only to discover A: I couldn’t have paid as the front office was closed, and B: I couldn’t call my driver because the front office was closed! I went out to see if the van was in the parking lot and it wasn’t. I got lucky in that a young man was working late inside one of the other rooms and let me in and loaned me his phone.

By the time I got home at 5:15PM I was exhausted. I got the shades pulled, the fires checked, and sat down for a while before trying to figure out another soft supper.

On Friday my helper friend arrives at 8AM, I have to get the milk order done before that and then at 8AM call the dental office to see when I can get an appointment to get this work done. Then my helper and I will water house plants, put up the bird feeders, put away the Christmas linens and play Tetris trying to get all the boxes back in the store room, and several other chores.

I have PT in the afternoon, but I may have to cancel if I can get a dentist appointment. Another chaos Friday…