Small changes...

are just the things we need sometimes - don't you agree?  I had recently moved the red wooden welcome sign I had affixed to the door with sticky tape and the door was looking bare.  Now I've added this cute little hello.  Getting ready for tax season - and sprucing up a bit around the home office - in between catching up on paperwork and answering the telephone.  I love the way my new greeting looks - it's easy-to-apply vinyl and I found it on Etsy for eight bucks.

I think that's a lot of happiness for a little bit of money.

I found an ME print to replace one that was ruined in a moving mishap so I changed it out for the Count Your Blessings print I had previously hung over the client chair.  The other print is moving to the bedroom where it will hang on the same wall as the floating shelves I hope to finally hang up one day soon.  I always have some sort of decorating plan cooking...

My lovely friend, Erin, sent me an Amazon gift certificate for Christmas.  But what to order?  I needed another book like I need a hole in the head - Erin and I are equally bad about ordering (and reading) murder mysteries!  I'd been looking for some sort of wall rack to hang behind the door and when I saw this one and knew I just had to have it.  Another friend had sent me this adorable burlap bag a while back - that awful acid green color that I love with a bee embroidered on it.  It is definitely me!

The rack and the bag are a perfect combination.

I am thrilled with the overall effect.  Of course, I didn't hang it myself.  I leave such technical pursuits to the experts: my friends, Tom and Al graciously installed it for me on Monday.  Aggie supervised and Bee now seems to be quite fond of Unka Al.  If only Peter would come out and visit when they are here...

We love meeting new people...

and Aedan really is a new person - he's just a little over two months old!  His lovely mother, Cari, came by to drop off some papers and he tagged along.  He was a sleepy little guy, so I didn't get to hold him - but is he ever cute!

Aggie barked and he didn't even wake up.  I guess he's used to his own dog, Ava, at home.  It was nice to finally meet you, sweet baby, and we hope to see you again soon!

Not a bad day at all...

considering the volume of work I accomplished in a mere twelve hours.  Of course, the pile of papers still looks big, but it's getting done, little by little.  I rearranged the desk a little to make folders and things more accessible.

I am also making headway on getting ready for tax season: shredder out of the closet, three months worth of cat litter on hand for keeping the associates happy...

The client folders are already done.

Bee is checking out my shoe for some reason - and probably the boxes I'm hoping to have ready to ship out on Monday.  I've decided to spend Saturday at the sewing machine - I am pretty sure I'll need a break by then!

My sweet friend, Erin, sent me an ME-a-day calendar.  The mailman brought it to me today - and I got to enjoy the first ten days of the year all at once!  The funny thing is, I sent her one for Christmas, too.  Maybe we should coordinate our gift strategy next year - and save postage.  Aggie suggested that - isn't she smart?

The wise one - although she is not much help with paperwork...

I did manage, over the past couple of evenings, to finish reading the latest Hamish Macbeth mystery from M.C. Beaton.  Death of Kingfisher is typical Hamish - he is always one step ahead of his nemesis, Inspector Blair, from the Strathbane Police Department - much to the inspector's chagrin.  Hamish is such a lovable character - for being a lazy village police constable, with absolutely no ambition to advance.  The fact that he is truly happy where he is confounds his superiors and frustrates the would-be Mrs. Macbeths.  I can't wait for the next one - number twenty-eight!

I think I've done enough work for one day - time to blow out the sugar cookie scented candle that's been brightening up my work area all day.  Isn't it pretty?  The candle was a Christmas gift and it fit perfectly in the candle holder that Ariela gave me for my birthday.  Another happy coincidence!

Just hanging around...

the house on Saturday - me and my furry associates.  Aggie has been sacked out on the floor while I am working my way through this pile of client paperwork; Peter and Bee have checked in with me periodically throughout the day.

Looking for treats, probably.

I finished up some correspondence, paid some bills for one of my clients and packed up two belated Christmas goodie boxes for two of my patient friends.

Managed to get a few thank-you notes written -

and a sentence in my Jane-a-Day journal.

My mail lady brought me a package from my friend, Kathy, in Utah.  She is a candy-maker extraordinare, let me tell you.  She found time to make several different kinds of goodies during the holiday season, after volunteering with the Red Cross in NYC for two weeks after Hurricane Sandy.  She was away from home from November 29 until December 15 - and still managed to work her magic in the kitchen.

She makes divine homemade truffles, excellent fudge and this year there is something labeled chocolate log wrapped in parchment paper.

I can't wait to investigate that!

I collected up some books for my weekly Sunday afternoon on the sofa tomorrow.  I think I'll start with A Deal to Die For - second in the Good Buy Girls series.

Review to follow one day soon...

But first I think I'll sample a truffle!

For some reason...

I am excited by the beginning of a new year.  It may be because I spent a lot of months during 2012 down in the dumps - whether I was willing to admit it to myself or anyone else - but there you have it.  I've let go of a bunch of old baggage over the past couple of months and well, I feel happier than I have in a long time.  Truly happy.  Less worried about life.  More interested in living and trying new things outside the cocoon of my carefully self-regulated comfort zone.  Tom & Al brought me some cookies (and a lovely gift) just before Christmas, along with this lovely wall decal quote by Emily Dickinson: Dwell in possibilities.  I love it.  I've always loved Emily, mildly depressed spinster poet that she was - and I love these words.  I hung it right where I can see if from my desk.  A timely reminder.

Thanks, guys - I appreciate your thoughtfulness more than I can say.

I'm also excited about my new Jane-a-Day journal.  Jane Austen, another favorite kindred spirit (and spinster, I might add), is the inspiration for this five-year journal, which has an quote from one of her works on each page.  It was a lovely Christmas gift from my friend, Marie, and I am looking forward to daily inspiration from Jane's timeless witticisms. I only hope my comments are as witty.

Thank you, Marie, for thinking of me.

I am looking forward to a happy 2013 - a year in which I vow to speak less and listen more, read fewer books and finish writing one of my own.

And this year, I choose happiness.

Out with the therapy chair...

thanks to my dear friend, Ariela, and her husband, Marco.  A lady where Marco works is redecorating her condo and gave them several lovely pieces of like new furniture.  Ariela thought one of the accent chairs was perfect for the spot in front of my desk.  I love the beautiful bargain chair I bought last year just before tax season, but it really was too big for the space available.  And some of my clients got a little too comfortable in it - hence the therapy chair designation.

Aggie watched them take away the old chair - and Bee's favorite sleeping spot.  She was understandably curious as to what was coming in - and she was probably hoping it wasn't another cat.

And here's Marco with our beautiful new client chair.  Isn't it pretty?  And the upholstery color even goes well with the color scheme.  Serendipity!

Thank you so much, Ariela!

A much better fit - and comfortable, but not too comfortable...

And apparently, it even meets the Bee's approval!

I know it's been awhile...

since I've actually blogged about anything of consequence.  My friend, Tom, asked me why and I replied, "The mully grubs."  Isn't that a great expression?  I mean, I thought it was some kind of big-assed Texas bug when my friend, Linda, wrote about cleaning until the mully grubs were gone, but it really just means being down in the dumps - a blue funk as it were.  Sometimes I'm like Mr. Monk, bogged down in the OCD details of obsessing over perfection, or the lack thereof.  For the past couple of months, my whole house looks like each room has had some sort of minor explosion; I start a project, get distracted and move on to something else.  Well, I am happy to report that today something finally got done!

Tom and Al came by to do their monthly sales tax report, drop off their bookkeeping paperwork for October and put up the living room curtain rod.  You know - the one Richard and I puzzled over, cursing the engineer who designed it, until I realized after he left that the decorative ends of the rod unscrewed...  Duh!  They also brought me a case of Greek yogurt and a can of pumpkin from their morning trip to Costco, but I digress...

It didn't take long - since they know what they are doing.  You can see Al supervising the finishing touches once the rod was up and the valance was in place.  There was great gnashing of teeth and more than a few expletives deleted in the sewing room last night as I sewed the wrong edges together and had to rip it apart and start over.  I've been dithering over this thing for a month, worrying about ruining the cheap daybed quilt I bought to turn into this fabulous window treatment!

Of course, there's always too much light when you don't need it - 

but you get the picture. 

You can see that the valance matches the quilted throw and pillow on the chair - and it doesn't clash too badly with the lamp.  Thank you, guys - thank you so much!

I love it when a plan comes together.

I am really happy with the fabric and the wall color coordination - and it was really a happy accident.  Like most of the really good things in life.

Trick or treat?

Is it Halloween already?  Amazingly, the candy jar is still full!

And the mail lady brought me a surprise Halloween box from my friend, Erin - we didn't even have to go door to door this year.  How cool is that?
Treats for Aggie and the cats, too.  Thanks, Erin!

We hope you have a safe and happy All Hallow's Eve!

It's a good year for plums...

apparently, and my friend Erin in Arkansas made a big batch of plum jelly!  She was kind enough to send me a jar - along with some blueberry muffin mix.  Guess what we'll be having for breakfast on Sunday...  Thanks so much, Erin!

Isn't it amazing...

how one little part is integral in making a vehicle run?  Ray and I had a small near-meltdown this morning when he suddenly died at the post office - in the drive-through mailbox lane.  I deposited my envelopes and as I pulled forward, he went slower... slower... slower and then refused to move at all.  When I tried to restart Ray's engine, all I heard was click, click, click.  After a momentary wave of panic - and flash of deja vu to my dead twelve-year-old Expedition a couple of years ago, I took a deep breath and calmed down.  This is not the worst thing that has ever happened to me, I thought.  Not by a long shot.

Fortunately, I have AAA and I called them for assistance.  After a fashion, that is.  My cell phone, which I rarely use, was not cooperating and the AAA lady hung up on me three times because she couldn't hear me.  I finally got through and then the idiots people who had begun to congregate behind me started honking and yelling obscenities at me and poor, dead Ray.  I mean, honestly, do you really think anyone would actually choose to block traffic at the exit of a one-lane postal drop off?  A nice man did try to help me before the tow truck arrived, but he determined that it was probably the alternator and that I did indeed need a professional's help.  I also called Ariela, bless her heart, who came and picked me up and we followed the tow truck to her husband's friend's garage.  Jose said he'd check it out and to come back in an hour.  We retired to the nearby Burger King for a chat and a mango smoothie - so the morning wasn't a total loss.  After picking up Baby at the preschool, we check backed with the garage; it was indeed a worn-out alternator.  And praise be to heaven, the battery was fine!

Payroll and piles of old files awaited me at the Tortilleria - my new weekly venture away from my cozy home office - so Ariela dropped me off.  The mechanic said that Ray would be ready by three, so it gave me a few hours to get some work done and find a ride to pick up my little SUV.  After sweltering for four hours in a small, poorly ventilated room with several tortilla ovens and conveyors operating around the corner, I finally threw in the towel and called Richard to hitch a ride to pick up good, old, trusty Ray the Isuzu Rodeo.  A few minutes later, I saw his mini-van outside and off we went.  By the time I got home, I was hot, worn out and $200 poorer, but Ray was running like a champ.  His alternator worked fine for ten years - or at least for the last two he's been with me, so it was just time for a new one.  Years ago, I would have freaked out at the sort of day I had today - but I've learned to be thankful for small things.  Today I was grateful for AAA, for my friends who were willing to give of their time and gas, and for being able to afford an emergency car repair.  Life is good.