The Bottom of the List

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The 'To Do' list...

I have a malfunction in my To Do List...the items at the bottom of the list do not seem to want to cooperate, they won't move. Why is that? Do you have this problem as well? It couldn't possibly be our fault, could it?

My 'To Do' list started malfunctioning this morning.  It all seemed to be going so smoothly. I said farewell to Miss Claire as she drove off to school. She recently obtained her driving license and is enjoying those first few days of independence. Remember those days? She is using our convertible which I have some regret over as I have enjoyed those breezy sunny days recently, just me and mine, driving the roads of Surrey. In fact, she is saving me at least an hour of headache traffic in the morning by not having to drive her to school... so I admit to waving her off eagerly.

Darling son, had himself, his school bag, cricket bag, sports bag and dog well placed in 'old reliable', our five year old Volvo wagon. Son then started looking at mother quizzically, she was pacing, inside and out of the house over and over again. Mother was muttering to herself..."Where are the keys??, When did I last drive the car??" Her answer to herself was.."No clue, maybe Friday?".  She carries on "What did I do on Friday?..good grief, I can't remember...it was three days ago, how could I forget?" She quickly checks her iphone diary to jog her memory. No luck. Her last thought, "Why didn't I get the spare key made up?" Son is not surprised, he has witnessed this before.

I quickly recalled shopping for plants one day or another last week and ran to the back garden, emptying newly purchased pots filled with herbs yet to be planted. No luck...frustration is mounting because I can hear Mr. H already. He has been asking me to take care of a replacement car key for the one we lost a few years ago. It has been on my 'to do' list all this time, at the bottom of the list.

I texted him in despair...'Lost key! Have you seen the key to the Volvo'? Answer: 'Oops...it is in my pocket, can you come to London to get it?' I won't repeat my next thought except to say that I was standing in our back yard ready to throw my phone over the roof of our house into the abyss of the woods way yonder, knowing all the while, that he was in London thinking...' I told you so'.

At that point I had no key, a boy, a dog and countless school bags waiting in the car and a daughter who most likely had some very loud music blasting away in my car as she drove into her parking spot outside of her school. Bus, taxi, train...all these options played in my mind and quickly left at the prospect of dragging all those bags with us.

Text message to daughter: 'Come home, urgent'.  Within 30 minutes she was back, we all climbed in the convertible as I made humble apologies along the way, vowing to get the replacement key made and put it at the top of my 'to do' list.

To console myself, when I came home, I walked to town to get a coffee (as you do).

When I saw these oriental poppies blowing in the wind...my morning madness melted away.

Papaver orientale 'Beauty of Livermere'

Speaking of melting, I am off to make the most delicious 'melting moment' biscuits for an event tomorrow. That little morsel below is at the top of my 'To Do' list. Funny how that works....

Image and recipe, here.

PS..Many thanks for your comments on my last post

 regarding Blogger vs. Wordpress, here.

Lots to think about!

Seasonal Sunday and a To Do List

I enjoy Seasonal Sunday it is my time to think, pull it together and write a list. 

This Sunday is devoted to a mother's thoughts as she 

transitions from one season to another.

Today is the end of a nice long lazy dreamy summer for us. 

Our first English summer and it was filled with all the things 

we could have hoped for and more. 

We are in school mode now and that means writing a new To Do list. 

Being a Virgo, I am a big fan of lists. I have journals filled with lists 

and for some strange reason I keep them all. 

I put it down to a little Virgo quirk of mine. 

Looking for inspiration, I picked up a book that has been 

shuffling around next to my bed for years. 

Simple Abundance, A Daybook of Comfort and Joy 
by Sarah Ban Breathnach. 

I seem to reach for this book as each new season unfolds. 

It is my little jump start for what is to come next.  

I came across a page with what I deem to be the Mother of all lists,

The Universal 'To Do' List

This is the first time I have looked at a list and strarted to worry...

The Simple Abundance Universal 'To Do' List

Work:

(meetings, prospecting, marketing/publicity, desk tasks, 

planning, billing, reading, researching, writing, traveling)

Errands:

(Banking, cleaners, library, gas/petrol for car, video store, post office)

Children:

(School, health, lessons, sports, scouts, car pool, clubs, play dates, parties)

Appointments:

(Health, fitness, beauty, automotive, animals)

Shopping:

(Food, clothing, drugstore items, home, gifts)

Correspondence:

(Bills, letters, cards, packages)

Telephone/Fax:

Home:

(Cleaning, laundry, decorating, improvements, cooking, repairs, entertaining, gardening)

Family:

Friends:

Church/Community:

Personal:

(Inspiration, introspection, rest, recuperation, relaxation, 

grooming, creative excursions, educational, pleasurable pursuits)

 Simple Abundance was written in 1995. 

Some of this is a bit dated and of course Blogging 
was still a figment of someones imagination back then.  

Our lifestyles have changed but most of this, for many of us, is still the same. 

 The idea behind this list is to move 'Personal' from last to first and plan accordingly. 

Either way...it is a long list but one that I think will be beneficial 
to me as I plan for what is to come next.

I liked the authors suggestion for another list

 "What I've Done" list

This is for those of us who feel we spend to many days 

accomplishing little or nothing. (Blogging days?)

By doing this we should hopefully realise that we do more than we think.

As I write, a light breeze is passing thru the window, 

the sun is casting a late shadow,

 it is nearly 4:00 pm and I have a list to write.

I have decided I am going to tackle this list. In my mind, 

it is the Mt. Everest of 'To Do' lists and I have a feeling 

that once completed, I am going to feel a wave of relief wash over me.

A new plan...I like that 

and I am going to start by putting 'Personal'

at the top of that list!

Thanks to The Tablescaper for creating

Seasonal Sundays.

It is always a pleasure!

images~me

with exception 

of Simple Abundance (here)
PS..photos taken earlier in the week at Polesden Lacey