Goal + Action = Reality

[TopNotch]

Daily Push-ups Day 26
Dead Hang Day 23
Touch Your Toes Day 6
1 Minute Plank Day 6
Glutes of Steel Day 6
1 Minute Yoga Day 6
Easy Core Day 6
Easy Abs Day 6
First Thing Water Day 5
One and Done Day 5
Fit December Day 5

I got the two quotes today, one $16 higher than the other but given the total price that hardly matters. I think I'll go with the higher one, the place from where I actually got customer service.

Went to the Other House today to grab the last of my Christmas decorations - but I forgot one thing, so next time. Went to feed the chooks but there was no chook food. They've been eating food leftovers and such - not a great diet for chickens. I had been going to take three and leave three but a) I don't need three chickens, and b) one chicken is missing and another is perenially broody, so I decided to take two - one black one (Spot), and the white one (Snow White). But Snow White escaped me. Rose Red (white back end, white/red wings and front) got herself wedged so when I managed to unwedge her, she came with me instead. Creed was very interested in them and kept wanting to go out and investigate them.

That's Rose Red you can see, Spot is hidden by Creed.

Heating up but the forecast keeps being for some rain, even a fair bit in a few days' time. I like rain, but I really need at least four completely dry days so I can waterproof the concrete floor in my shed. Come on!

It's about 27 degrees in my lounge at 10:30pm, even with the fan on, so of course Footsy is on my lap and Creed is keeping my feet warm! Earlier, though, Footy showed her displeasure of my putting the Advent calendar on the piano top. She likes lying there, you see; it's cool, and nothing was going to stop her!

 

[MadamMeow]

That coop is so adorable! And of course all the pets, too.

 

[TopNotch]

Daily Push-ups Day 27
Dead Hang Day 24
Touch Your Toes Day 7
1 Minute Plank Day 7
Glutes of Steel Day 7
1 Minute Yoga Day 7
Easy Core Day 7
Easy Abs Day 7
First Thing Water Day 6
One and Done Day 6
Fit December Day 6 - Okay, so this morning when I got up my knee twinged and when I told it we had reverse lunges it said, "heck no! 100 reverse lunges? Man, I'd rather do 50 step jacks." So we got a Hall Pass today.
PD - 55 minutes

Phone call this morning from the aircon people - could someone come over for a site inspection today? Sure, I had to go shopping but I'd be back early afternoon so scheduled for 1. Had been going to get a hair cut but realised I didn't have time for it. I guess I'll just do it myself again. And what happened at Aldi was not my fault. I fell victim to my own addiction - which is probably better than falling victim to someone else's! I mean, they had Clementoni jigsaw puzzles for only $12.99 - which is just over 1/3 of normal price! One of the pictures I already had but the other... (cough, cough, very small voice) three I - er, now have. And as I didn't buy them with the intention of giving them to myself as Christmas presents, I can do them anytime!

Today was the first day in about 10 or so months that I've worn a singlet. And though they could be better (as everything always can which is why we keep going!), I was not displeased by my shoulders.

The aircon bloke came at 1 and left about 1 minutes later. Fun fact: the ACT and NSW governments decided to impose noise restrictions on domestic air conditioners without looking at what was actually available in Australia. NO airconditioners on the market meet the current standards! Good work, people! So you just have to hope that your neighbours don't complain. Anyway, he said there were a few slots available before Christmas and there was a possibility that I might get one. Otherwise, mid-January. So fingers crossed. If I do, that's great; if I don't, well, I don't and I'll just have to wait.

The chickens used one of the two nesting boxes and I collected two fresh eggs today. The eggs that have been in my fridge for ages are finally able to be peeled when boiled (so I scoffed one whole egg and one white, giving the second yolk to Creed), which really makes me wonder about the age of eggs that you buy from the supermarket, because they pretty much can be immediately boiled and peeled.

The Lad's coming over tomorrow.

 

[Laura Rainbow Dragon]

which really makes me wonder about the age of eggs that you buy from the supermarket, because they pretty much can be immediately boiled and peeled.

Yup! Which, if you want boiled eggs, is AWESOME!

 

[TopNotch]

Daily Push-ups Day 28
Dead Hang Day 25
Touch Your Toes Day 8
1 Minute Plank Day 8
Glutes of Steel Day 8
1 Minute Yoga Day 8
Easy Core Day 8
Easy Abs Day 8
First Thing Water Day 7
One and Done Day 7
Fit December Day 7
DB Shoulder Press 3 x 20

Went to the Other House at 1 this afternoon. Tried to talk to #2 but she absolutely hates me like poison and told me in no uncertain terms to get out and never come back (that's the expurgated version). The Lad and I got here at about 2. After a bit, we watched a movie (that wasn't quite as funny as I had remembered it, but oh well), and played a game. Enjoyed a smoothie which was thick enough to be like ice cream but way healthier. For dinner, he wanted my coleslaw and after that, although he seemed a little reluctant, I took him back to the Other House before 7:30 as promised. He's booked me in for a hike Tuesday after next but I said it would depend on the weather. Quite enjoyed the day.

 

[TopNotch]

Daily Push-ups Day 29
Dead Hang Day 26
Touch Your Toes Day 9
1 Minute Plank Day 9
Glutes of Steel Day 9
1 Minute Yoga Day 9
Easy Core Day 9
Easy Abs Day 9
First Thing Water Day 8
One and Done Day 8
Fit December Day 8 - I so reckon I deserve EC on this one! As soon as I got on the floor, face-down, Creed was all over me, trying desperately to get at my face and/or ears. My laughter didn't calm him down any either! Eventually he stopped but he lay down right up against me, which made those reverse flyes a bit of a challenge. When I'd finished all 5 sets, I rolled onto my side and gave him a cuddle and he always thinks that's the best thing in the world. Isn't it funny how a dog can make you feel so important!
Close-grip lat pull-downs 3 x 10 and then a bit later, another 3 x 10 because I thought, why not?
Hand gripper - 20es plus 20-count hold
PD - 65 minutes

Yesterday's prospective deluge didn't eventuate so after I (finally!) got the washing done (the underwear drawer was beginning to look... sparse) and hung up, I hosed down the interior of my little garden shed (it's only 1.5m x 1.5m) so I can put the gardening stuff in there from the big shed, preparatory to getting the rest of the stuff out so I can clean and then waterproof. The forecast has changed and there appears to be no rain this week so things should dry. We'll see.

 

[TopNotch]

Dead Hang Day 27
Touch Your Toes Day 10
1 Minute Plank Day 10
Glutes of Steel Day 10
1 Minute Yoga Day 10
Easy Core Day 10
Easy Abs Day 10
First Thing Water Day 9
One and Done Day 9
Fit December Day 9 - well, I think a lot of butts got kicked today, what with the Challenge too!

Cloudy day, and pleasantly cool. Started with a haircut. Should have wet my hair, smooth down the curls but oh no! I always know better right? Anyway, not a bad job and one crossed off the To-Do list. Next one was the garden shed. Smoothed down the dirt and round pebbles that was in it and lay down some rubber mats. Moved the gardening tools and chicken stuff into the shed and that's all it can hold. Went to the tip to drop off cardboard from the big shed and on the way back, decided to pop into a supermarket. By taking a different road, found a new-to-me shopping centre. There was a newsagency there and as my eldest had been unable to buy a bus card for the newly started system, I thought I'd see if they had any - and they did! So I bought two, but that meant I had to go all the way to the Other House and drop them off. Daughter was linking card to her account almost as soon as I gave them to her. Still grey and cool when I got home so I decided to mow the yard. More convenient being able to wheel the mower right out rather than lift it out of the big shed. A few drops of rain just as I was finishing but nothing significant. Had a ridiculously late night/early morning (1:45am) so I reckon an earlier night is in the offing (it's currently 11:26pm so I should move soon).

 

[TopNotch]

Dead Hang Day 28
Touch Your Toes Day 11
1 Minute Plank Day 11
Glutes of Steel Day 11
1 Minute Yoga Day 11
Easy Core Day 11
Easy Abs Day 11
First Thing Water Day 10
One and Done Day 10
Fit December Day 10

And the tree is ready for decorating again! In 2020, I did squats - so can't do them this year; in 2021 it was push-ups, so they're out too; 2022 saw me doing jumping jacks, so nope; 2023 I planked - but we don't have them this year. I was left only with punches and kicks. So I did kicks. Perhaps I could have included the ones in this month's challenge but forget to count. Instead, I chose a workout. I'll probably feel this tomorrow. Or later tonight...
500 Kicks - which gets me a Stocking.

Forecast was for dry and sunny, so I spent 20 minutes clearing out the big shed, then another 20 minutes giving it a good sweeping out. Then it was fun time with the jet setting on the hose. Blasted any spiders and other bugs to another dimension, then got busy with the broom again. It was hard to get the water over the lip at the door, so there was some water left on the floor but I was confident that it would evaporate. I figure the concrete should be completely dry day after tomorrow and then I can seal it. So the shed was done. I left it and found Creed crouching on the lawn, something dark between his front legs. On closer inspection, I saw it was a little chick who seemed to have a broken wing - and there went the rest of my morning/early afternoon. Man proposes, God disposes, as they say. But I wish God would stop disposing of his broken birds in my bailiwick. Twenty-five minutes driving one-handed with a blackbird chick in the other hand to deposit it at a vet. They called me later and said that the wing had been badly broken and they'd had to euthanase. Sad, as I'd been watching a frantic blackbird searching my yard much of the afternoon...

 

[Laura Rainbow Dragon]

Poor little bird.
Thank you for trying to help.

 

[PetiteSheWolf]

We had the same thing with a young seagull... Sad, but better than being mauled by a dog or a cat. Hugs.

 

[TopNotch]

Dead Hang Day 29
Touch Your Toes Day 12
1 Minute Plank Day 12
Glutes of Steel Day 12
1 Minute Yoga Day 12
Easy Core Day 12
Easy Abs Day 12
First Thing Water Day 11
One and Done Day 11
Fit December Day 11
Power Pose Day 1 - ooh, the chance to stand like a superhero for 2 minutes each day. I just imagine the breeze is sweeping back my hair and rippling my cape!

And a workout too because - well, just because:
Back and Biceps Express

On a summer's evening, what better smell is there than that of freshly watered tomato plants?

 

[TopNotch]

Touch Your Toes Day 13
1 Minute Plank Day 13
Glutes of Steel Day 13
1 Minute Yoga Day 13
Easy Core Day 13
Easy Abs Day 13
First Thing Water Day 12
One and Done Day 12
Fit December Day 12
Power Pose Day 2

So gave the shed another good sweeping and then got going with the waterproofing. It's a decent sized shed - 3x6m - so it took a while. I had to go out to the hardware shop and there was roadworks. What sadist decides that roadworks in December are a Good Thing?! Consequently, I avoided the main drag on the way back and went a roundabout way that I'd never travelled before. It probably took me longer than crawling through the roadworks would have, but I found a gem. Had to stop and get out for this picture:

They had just been sitting on the tree but my approach startled them and they took off.

One coat of sealant on the floor then I had to wait an hour before I could do the second coat. The floor is a little shiny! I haven't decided yet if I want it a bit shinier - that would involve another coat, but it's easy enough and I have plenty of sealant left. I'll think about it and have a look tomorrow when it's all dry.

Today was Rocking Horse Day. Okay, so that's not a real Day (so far as I know. I'm happy to be corrected!). Many years ago, when the children were little, I made and stuffed a plump four-sided Christmas tree out of felt. It stands about 40cm tall and I sewed pompoms on to hold the decorations. I sewed 24 little decorations, one for each Advent box. Today I pulled out my favourite - the rocking horse. Why is it my favourite? Because I managed to master those darned french knots! Really pleased about that, because they've always foxed me. Each decoration is two-sided (the people were easy because only one side has a face!), so that was a lot of little knots - one each side for the eye, seven for the saddle, and one for the bridle. Doing the knot in the fine gold thread was a challenge but it worked, too. So here is my little rocking horse. It's 7cm across.


And speaking of the Advent boxes, we all knew this was going to happen, didn't we?

I'm sure she was thinking something like, "the human slave sure was lucky those candle-holders were there".

 

[Laura Rainbow Dragon]

Wonderful photo of the birds! Are they Australian White Ibises? Thank you for sharing!

Your rocking horse is very cute! And wow! Those knots are tiny!

 

[Mamatigerj]

I love your Rocking Horse!

 

[Anek]

Very cute horse!

 

[TopNotch]

Are they Australian White Ibises?

Yes, a.k.a. bin chickens due to their foraging nature. I'd not seen any around here before. Guess I just hadn't been where they were!

Touch Your Toes Day 14
1 Minute Plank Day 14
Glutes of Steel Day 14
1 Minute Yoga Day 14
Easy Core Day 14
Easy Abs Day 14
First Thing Water Day 13
One and Done Day 13
Fit December Day 13
Power Pose Day 3
PD - 60 minutes

Did not have a Good Night last night. It's the nature of the beast, and I tell myself that I haven't had a Bad Night for quite a while, and last night's not Good Night wasn't really Bad. Looking for that silver lining. It didn't help when the neighbours' dogs started barking again when a 7 was the first number on the clock...

So the shed's done. One week for the floor to cure completely but light traffic was permissable after 10-12 hours. I set up the two shelving units I had (of course I'll need more!) and replaced everything I'd taken out and left outside. What's in the little garden shed will probably stay there, being as it all is, gardening or chicken stuff. It was nice to get things out of my little house that had been shoved in here for a few days, as well as more stuff out of the laundry. Makes it not so cluttered in there. Really didn't need my mitre box and saw in the laundry, nor the soldering iron (do I even need a soldering iron...?). Still have to sort out the rest of the room.

The Lad called this evening. Started listing all the meals I make that he likes. The meals they get over there are... substandard. Vegetable matter is generally completely avoided and variety is sorely absent. Nutrition does not appear to be of any importance. Now I'm no poster child for healthy eating, but I do well enough. I've never been overweight and I'm generally healthy (chronic issues aside ) so it does pain me a bit. Anyway, after listing about a dozen meals that he liked, he then basically invited himself over for dinner, providing me with the menu - spinach, blueberry and blue cheese salad, and creamy caesar chicken. Tomorrow. Guess I'd better do some shopping - I'm all out of blueberries! And blue cheese because that simply doesn't last long around here. Then he rang a bit later to check on the time I'll pick him up. I suggested 1, he countered with 12:30, then moved it along to between 12 and 12:30... I said about 12:30 but then he has to come shopping with me.

Heat wave a-coming!

 

[Laura Rainbow Dragon]

Yes, a.k.a. bin chickens due to their foraging nature.

Aww! It's not the ibises' fault humans have destroyed their natural habitats and forced them into scavenging human trash.

 

[TopNotch]

@Laura Rainbow Dragon I condemn no living creature for doing its best to survive. Except perhaps cockroaches. And flies. Yes, definitely flies.

Touch Your Toes Day 15
1 Minute Plank Day 15
Glutes of Steel Day 15
1 Minute Yoga Day 15
Easy Core Day 15
Easy Abs Day 15
First Thing Water Day 14
One and Done Day 14
Fit December Day 14
Power Pose Day 4
Bed on Time Day 1 - which was last night. Giving this challenge another go. Determined to make it this time! Aiming for before midnight.

Busy with the vacuum cleaner this morning, trying to remove as much Creed-hair from my car seats as humanly possible. It was only about 28 degrees but didn't stop my singlet getting damp. Phew - a hot car with a hot vacuum cleaner. Still, the car's relatively clean and the dog seatcover is over the back, so hopefully I shouldn't have to do that again.

Just before midday, the Lad phoned to ask if I were on my way. Hey, give me a go! I was looking at leaving around noon. Got to the Other House around 12:20 and then we were off to the shopping centre down here. Got what we needed for dinner as well as some fruit. Back home, Creed was well-behaved - only leaned up against the Lad once. My dog weighs more than my boy. We played Mah-Joong. I forget the rules and do things that make him gasp and clutch his head. It's fun. He won. He enjoyed playing in my shed - idkw. He showed off and did pull-ups in my bathroom doorway. Sometimes I wish I weighed nothing. The salad was excellent, and the caesar chicken was delicious and beautifully tender. He was too full for the very ripe plums we'd bought. Got him back to the Other House just after 7:30 - took Creed along for the drive.

 

[TopNotch]

Touch Your Toes Day 16
1 Minute Plank Day 16
Glutes of Steel Day 16
1 Minute Yoga Day 16
Easy Core Day 16
Easy Abs Day 16
First Thing Water Day 15
One and Done Day 15
Fit December Day 15
Power Pose Day 5
Bed on Time Day 2
Treadmill walk/run - 30 minutes

Sweat. Not such a fan. But it did contribute to my back's make farty noises on a rubber exercise mat!

Decided to count up how many books I've read so far this year. Then I saw the number that I had started but not completed and I got down to them. Mostly they're non-fiction - gosh, what a surprise (not). So three of those have been finished now - one yesterday and two today. Not all will be completed this year. The autobiography that's over 800 pages that I'm only 25 pages into, for example. But I've denied myself fiction for two whole days now! But if I can get three more of the just-started non-fictions finished this year, I'll be happy.

 

[TopNotch]

Touch Your Toes Day 17
1 Minute Plank Day 17
Glutes of Steel Day 17
1 Minute Yoga Day 17
Easy Core Day 17
Easy Abs Day 17
First Thing Water Day 16
One and Done Day 16
Fit December Day 16
Power Pose Day 6
Bed on Time Day 3

Well, it didn't get quite as hot as it was forecast to get today; it got to 35 rather than 38, and at 10:30pm, my house is 30 degrees. It makes me very disinclined to exercise (but I forced myself and didn't regret it) and also to eat. I did make myself something for dinner and by earlier having a smoothie with protein powder, I at least got today's protein quotient, but am 1.5K down on the kilojoule count - and that's already allowing for a deficit. But who wants to eat when it's hot? I had to do some shopping today and treated myself to a couple of bottles of Indian tonic water. I've always loved the stuff, but I'm saving it for Christmas. I had some in North America when I was there - just once because it was full of that ubiquitous corn syrup and was unpleasantly sweet.

I was wrong. Yes, I'm big enough to admit it! I thought the neighbours' dogs started barking when the clock was still on 7. This morning I cracked open an eye and focused on my watch. Darn, those dogs start when the clock is still on 6!

I read more on another non-fiction and one comment in particular stood out. Nothing new or exciting, just that old hoary chestnut that everyone knows - basically a reworking of Go Big or Go Home. I thought of applying that to a different context and that has changed a few things that I'm working on. I'm rather excited about it, actually. So much so that I got two post-it notes and on one I wrote GO and on the other I wrote BIG and then I carefully aligned one below the other (making sure they were straight, of course!) on the wall above my desk. And that will be my motto moving into the new year.

 

[TopNotch]

Touch Your Toes Day 18
1 Minute Plank Day 18
Glutes of Steel Day 18
1 Minute Yoga Day 18
Easy Core Day 18
Easy Abs Day 18
First Thing Water Day 17
One and Done Day 17
Fit December Day 17
Power Pose Day 7
Bed on Time Day 4

The neighbours must have gone out earlier today because their husky started howling at 6:25. Then the rubbish truck came by at 7:05... You can tell I'm not an early riser!

I believe that people make their own luck - by taking advantage of opportunities that arise, most generally, from which other good things may come to which we remark, well, that was lucky! Such, at least, has been my experience. And yet sometimes I think I was just born lucky! Today, for example, I was at the shops. My phone rang. Now, I was in Aldi and Aldi doesn't play music (bless you, Aldi!) and consequently the shop was relatively quiet, so when Tom Petty started blaring out ("Won't Back Down" is my ringtone), I not only could hear it, but I also knew it was my phone. I never normally answer my phone in shops, but it was quiet so I knew I could hear the caller and the caller could hear me without either of us having to yell. And so I answered. It was the air-conditioning people who said they had a cancellation and they thought I'd be the perfect person to get the last installation of the year! So Friday around lunchtime, my split system should be installed and I can do my exercises in air-conditioned comfort! Lucky, hey?

Snowball Fight is on! This better not make me late for bed.

 

[JohnStrong]

Luck made

 

[MadamMeow]

I never answer the phone when I don't know the caller, extra good for you for snagging that last installation!

 

[TopNotch]

Touch Your Toes Day 19
1 Minute Plank Day 19
Glutes of Steel Day 19
1 Minute Yoga Day 19
Easy Core Day 19
Easy Abs Day 19
First Thing Water Day 18
One and Done Day 18
Fit December Day 18
Power Pose Day 8
Bed on Time Day 5
PD - over two hours and then my brain was full.
Oh, and jumping jacks for the Snowball Fight!

Not a very Good night but at least that part of it didn't last too long. And, oh joy! the neighbours' dogs didn't wake me up!

It was a cooler day today. In fact, the morning started so cool it was almost chilly. So for the first time in a couple of weeks, I made a pot of tea. Last Christmas, my mum gave me a tin of Christmas tea. I 'celebrate' Christmas until twelfth night; after that, it's all over, so this tea has been waiting. I made two pots of it today, and it was lovely. While I was enjoying a cup, my phone rang and this time I saw who was ringing and answered. The air-conditioning people again. I was hastily assured that I was still scheduled for Friday, but could they do it tomorrow instead? Absolutely!

The Lad called while I was getting the laundry on, asking what time I was coming. I reminded him that I'd said 5. He pressed for 1:30 so I asked him if he liked using sunscreen. He said no, and I said in that case, he'd have to wait until it was safer to be out without sunscreen. I suggested 4. He countered with 3:45. I was firm on 4. At 3:15, I was just wrapping the last presents when he rang and said he'd been counting down since 1:30, and then he kept me on the phone so long that I ended up arriving at the Other House at 4:05. He'd whispered in the phone that my other children didn't want me to enter the house, so I'd arranged to meet him outside and he could take in what I'd brought. I had originally collected a large bag's worth of Christmas goodies (including some non-Christmas cheeses), but once he told me what the others had said, I went a bit petty and removed some things. Told him that what was there was all for him but he could share anything he wanted. They were happy enough, though, to accept the few presents I had wrapped for them even though they weren't accepting my presence. Once the cheeses were in the fridge and the other stuff in the house, the Lad and I set off. But he was uncomfortable below the belt. We hadn't even got to the "spooky forest" when I asked again if he were up to this. He admitted he wasn't, so we turned around and went back. All up, a 15-minute walk. He went inside and I returned to my car where I just sat for about ten minutes. Then he reappeared, but he was still uncomfortable. He sat in my car with me and we chatted for about half an hour, and he kept hugging and kissing me. And then I left. Not quite how I expected the day to go.

 

[TopNotch]

Touch Your Toes Day 20
1 Minute Plank Day 20
Glutes of Steel Day 20
1 Minute Yoga Day 20
Easy Core Day 20
Easy Abs Day 20
First Thing Water Day 19
One and Done Day 19
Fit December Day 19
Power Pose Day 9
Bed on Time Day 6
PD - 40 minutes
And snowballs!

The installers and electricians descended on my little house shortly after midday. I'd seen a van outside and quickly got Creed into the other part of the house, then reversed and closed the hall door on him before he realised. He whined the entire time! Footsy didn't like the noise and, as she couldn't escape into another room, she did something different and jumped on the counter, hiding behind the water jug and kettle.

Scaredy cat!
It took about 1 1/2 hours and then it was done. One of the installers broke out his little dust-buster but I told him not to bother; I had to vacuum. And he wouldn't have got behind the television unit where all the plaster dust had fallen anyway. I vacuumed, and washed the dirty handprints off the wall, and then I put up the Christmas decorations. Today was a cool day, reaching only 25 degrees, so I hardly needed my air-conditioner - but I put it on just because I could. I used the fan setting. It's going to be mid-30s over the weekend, so I guess the a/c will get a good try-out then.

 

[TopNotch]

Touch Your Toes Day 21
1 Minute Plank Day 21
Glutes of Steel Day 21
1 Minute Yoga Day 21
Easy Core Day 21
Easy Abs Day 21
First Thing Water Day 20
One and Done Day 20
Fit December Day 20
Power Pose Day 10
Bed on Time Day 7
PD - 1 hour, 20 minutes

And snowballs, of course!

Got carried away this afternoon. Let the dog out then thought I'd pop into the study and do a quick bit of work, around 4:30. Shortly after 6, the cat came nagging that dinner was late. Wondered where the dog was. Poor thing - I'd forgotten him outside! He was very happy to be back inside. Good thing it wasn't so hot today! So much, though, for the "quick" bit of work!

 

[TopNotch]

Touch Your Toes Day 22
1 Minute Plank Day 22
Glutes of Steel Day 22
1 Minute Yoga Day 22
Easy Core Day 22
Easy Abs Day 22
First Thing Water Day 21
One and Done Day 21
Fit December Day 21
Power Pose Day 11
Bed on Time Day 8

And the last of the snowballs. Didn't throw any today - I'm keeping them for my drinks.