5 thing Friday - Spring, book club, organizing files, meals, photos

Its been a long couple of weeks - finally spring feels like its here (in Austin) and the weather has been beautiful.  I have been walking about 25 minutes a day, out in the sun.  Sometimes raking the leaves.  Sometimes watering the grass.  Sometimes just sitting on my patio with a glass of wine, decompressing.

I found another book club and am enjoying chatting with people my own age and gender about books.  That seems like a small thing, but I feel like most of my friends are younger than me, so this is a chance to be with, more or less, my peers.  {This was an election sign outside of the library where we meet.  I promise I am not running for office!}

I am ordering less and less from Amazon, opting to shop in person whenever possible.  One of the reasons is pictured above - an anticipated book purchase that turned out to be not what I ordered.  A couple of weeks ago it was washi art tape that did not arrive, even though I was charged.  I know it sounds like an old lady thing to say, but I think I would just rather know I am getting exactly what I am paying for.  In both cases, a resolution was had.  But still.

I dragged out all 9 of the life insurance policies* and had a meeting with the agent (an associate of Mark's) who is helping me stay on top of them.  In addition I updated my VIP notebook where I store a household inventory, legacy list, copies of important documents, and all this policy information.  It was kind of overwhelming and made me feel a little sad, but I know that since I am organized, my kids will have an easier time of it when they need this information some day.  We will call it a gift of love, from me to them.

Nothing exciting on the food front, unless you count me making a batch of cookie dough for the freezer (recipe on Monday) and eating a couple of lunches out this week.  I also did an overnight crockpot of butter beans with some ham.  Dinners have been more streamlined and usually involve a protein and a veggie, like above.  I keep it simple and its manageable.  I run the dishwasher every other day or so and clean the kitchen each night before bed.  Maybe simplicity was the key after all!

The photo project is slowly coming along.  I find that I can only do about an hour at a time on it - its so hard to relive memories of a happier time.  I know it wasn't all roses - raising four kids and experiencing all the curve balls life threw at us.  But the photos show smiling, happy, loving, beautiful children and their parents.  And sometimes, I wish I could go back in time, just for a day.

I do need to finish this up so I can use this table for my jigsaw puzzles!

*Mark was an insurance agent for 36 years, as well as a Certified Risk Manager and Certified Insurance Counselor.  He worked at John Hancock, Prudential, and Nationwide, among others. Most of these policies were purchased when the kids were born, or very young, and there are a mix of term, whole life, and accidental death.  The premiums on them are low and since I am not sure if my 30 somethings have life insurance, I will keep these from lapsing until they can take over. I am the owner and primary bennie, siblings are contingents for each other.  For now, I will hold onto them.  

Gina