Busy First Friday of the New Year
The Calm before the Storm
A little bee, on my rosemary plant, doing what bees do.
We’re in a flood watch until 10 PM tonight, accompanied by a high-wind advisory, which is quite typical for an Upper Northern California winter rainy season! Right now, my husband is outside, checking the house to make sure we don't float away.
Today, our roofers came by to inspect our roof after last week's severe storm, which revealed leaks in our garage. They identified a few missing shingles and some bent by the fierce winds. I am truly thankful for the service they provided and for a good warranty on the roof.
We will have to address the sheet rock in the garage - the buckling in some places once the spring comes. It's not anything major.
I had to look as if I was doing something, too, so I walked around the yard - it is still muddy, swampy, and that sump pump is still pumping sump. We have to leave it on 24/7, 365 days a year, because of all the drainage from the hill.
The marguerite daisies love this time of the year! They are just a bush in the summer.
Oops, forgot to bring in some of the outside Christmas stuff -
We packed up the tree the other day. Before my husband crammed it back into the box, I told him to leave off a third of the lower branches. Voila! We went from a 7.5-foot tree to a cute little 4.5-foot shrub. Unless I change my mind, which I have been known to do, we're downsizing to a smaller tree next year!
My husband wanted to organize all the ornaments into categories...
So I let him do that!
I have a huge box to donate. I hadn't realized that just by taking down all the Christmas stuff, I was also doing some pre-spring cleaning!
This is the last of it.
I held on to some wintery decor. Small naked trees and pinecones...oh my!
Today I washed all Laydee's bedding -
While grocery shopping, I noticed people smiling and being kind...I do live in a friendly community, but it did seem extra - maybe a New Year's resolution and trying to turn over a new leaf for the new year, and maybe, just perhaps, kindness is trending for 2026.
Wouldn't that be nice?
Then some people are challenging. They can frustrate us, but we'll always have those kinds of people, or else how would we learn patience, self-control, and grace?
That's it for me. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. The first weekend of 2026. Make it memorable.
Debby
Happy New Year Debby. I have been taking things down too. A bit sad but getting things back in order is nice. Your header is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI like getting back to regular life but I too miss it. Don’t worry, before we know it, Christmas will be here once again.
DeletePraying you are all safe in this bad weather you are having. Keep safe and take care.
ReplyDeleteGod bless always.
Thank you Victor. We’re doing fine and so far not as bad as predicted
Deletecan't wait to see what you did with the black chairs. I wish I had an ounce of what you have at reusing things. no skills there for me.. Bob had the skills and now they are gone. when we first got married he built beautiful end tables and a coffee table, and a really nice free standing movable wooden stand to hold the GIANT microwave. back in 1985 they were huge. Our neighbor still has it, we gave it to her when we left St Pete to come here.
ReplyDeleteI went from a 4 foot to a 3 foot to a 2 foot and now 18 inch tree over the last 40 years. a foot or two each year.
praying for you and your family and friends and homes to be safe from the new storm on the way, I saw it on TV yesterday and said out loud, Oh No, Bob never did understand why I said it.
We can remove the top layer for a really little tree but not ready for that yet. I got the black chairs and put them out. They need to be sanded and painted but I can still use them instead of storing them in the garage. Looks like I have a lot of painting and staining in my future
DeleteI think we may go with a smaller tree next year, too. We wanted to decorate as usual since family was coming over the holidays, and we won't take everything down until Epiphany. Happy New Year, Debby!
ReplyDeleteWe take down the nativities on the 6th. Happy New Year Martha - good to see you back and glad you had a wonderful Christmas with the fam.
DeleteDebby...your new header is so pretty...It blessed my heart. and I really like your new layout. So sorry about the roof and the leaks. This can be so stressful, but it sounds like you guys are on top of things and will have it all fixed in no time. Looks like Spring out your way. So very pretty..
ReplyDeleteIt’s all fine now and just needed to be tended to. A first for us. Certain bushes flower in the cooler months and go dormant in the hot dry summer. That’s what we’re seeing now. It’s nice to have some flowers in the bleakness of winter.
DeleteHappy New Year! Oh, I'm doing the same and going through things and tidying up for the new year. It's been raining here too, and we're supposed to get snow this weekend, but we'll see. I like your guest sign. That's a great idea that your husband wants to organize the Christmas ornaments. Mine are all just scattered in a plastic bin. That's a nice picture of your white flowers, and even prettier with a few drops of rain. I hope the new year brings you peace and joy in the days and weeks ahead. : )
ReplyDeleteThank You Sheri. All is well here and the rain was not bad at all. Right now it is very windy with gusts. Had to take the flag down from the pole to keep the pole from breaking. I’m hearing all my wind chimes around the house which is a nice sound but wow it’s windy.
DeleteHappy 2026
Our girls' bedding is also in the washer, as we speak! (I like to believe they appreciate the fresh aroma.) I do believe from your photograph, our Christmas trees are first cousins; that's a good idea about omitting a layer. Things that make me go "hmmm..."
ReplyDeleteI'm praying all your storms will be but a bad memory in the days to come!
Well so far it’s the wind that is making an impression. The rain was more like a mist. We pretty much just started our rainy season so we have a ways to go.
DeleteGood to see that you are in the repurposing business. Love the eclectic look.
ReplyDeleteFinally all of our Christmas debris is down and back on the garage shelves. House looks dull but also less chaos.
We are under a flood watch too but I don't think it will be necessary in our part of town. We do have the pumps set and ready to go if needed and candles out and matches and flashlights and our small camp lantern.
Doing eBay photos and research today and just puttering ...I'm really good at that !!! haha ...
Your daisies look like our camillas , so profuse this year and now a lot are a lovely carpet on the ground. The Hummers have been so happy to have all of the flower nectar to sip.
Have a great weekend and hope you stay safe..
Wow we just had a huge blast of wind come through and the weather guys say that rain is on the way by noon.
Take care
Sue
We’re having some strong winds and mighty gusts. Had to bring in the flag as to not snap the pole. That happened years ago - during wind gusts the flag pole snapped and bent our gutter.
DeleteI have the two chairs here and they need some paint but I’ll do that later. I like them.
You have done a lot of work today. And seems as if you are still working. Do you have rain issues every year? We had a sump pump in Chicago - not here in GA. The dogs are probably so happy with fresh bedding. Our tree was some - but getting bigger every year. Glad your husband sorted things out for Christmas.
ReplyDeleteRain issues? No but the storm we had was a 50 year storm. That’s what they’re saying. We don’t live in a flood zone either but we still had some street flooding. Closer to the river and creeks, those people did have issues. This is our typical rainy season. Without it we’d be in drought trouble. I enjoy it for the most part. We’re already over what we normally get so everyone is happy about that. And to think we’ve just started!
DeleteI can't wait to see the black chairs. I have three black chairs and now 5 oak chairs that are the same style. I really like the black ones best, but I don't want to paint the others, so they will stay like they are. We rarely have to use all 8 chairs, but it is nice to have them when we need them. I love your flowers and things that are blooming. I do hope you "weather" the storms well with no more leakage, etc. We are finally getting some rain tonight! I don't know that it will accumulate much in the pond, but at least it is moisture! We'll take whatever we can get. I've thought about doing what you did with your tree...mainly because I'd like to put our train/village up on a table so it's not on the floor where I can't get to it, and then have a smaller tree in the middle and above the village. Now that I see how your tree looks with a layer removed, it gives me a thought about trying that maybe next year. We'll see. I may do away with the village altogether because it is so much work to set it up and so hard to get to it on the floor. None of us are that agile anymore. I enjoyed your post so much, and it's nice that people are in a friendly frame of mind in your area. I hope that carries over to everywhere!! It would be a great way to start out the New Year and keep it going! Have a blessed rest of your New Year beginings.
ReplyDeleteThey need to be freshened up with a new coat of paint so that is for later.
DeleteI hear you about being less agile...I like to lay down and cuddle with Laydee in her human sized dog bed, and getting down is fine but hoisting myself back up is another story. But I am finding the more I do it, the easier it is becoming.
We. have a smaller tree too now. I took down all our decoration on New Years day.
ReplyDeleteOh no not more rain. Seems you either have too much or not enough.
Well the last 4 years we have been out of the drought and we've had healthy rainy seasons. Those BIG STORMS are needed to keep us in the water. WE just have to be prepared and accept it.
DeleteYour colorful foliage made me smile on a gloomy winter day.
ReplyDeleteIt's always nice to get back to normal after Christmas, my decorations are all away ready for December 2026!
ReplyDeleteI do like your header photograph it's lovely.
Happy New Year Wishes.
All the best Jan