Okay. Break's Over.

It all started a few weeks ago.  I came downstairs to find that the washing machine had been agitating for over an hour while my daughter was going to sleep.  (Scratch that....while my daughter was not going to sleep.)  The timer was just sitting there at the same place it had been when I had started the machine.  "Hm.  Weird," I thought.  The next morning, the next load, same business.  I had to gently nudge the machine to do its appointed task every 15 minutes or so.  If not reminded to stop, it would keep spinning and spinning and spinning for lengthy periods of time.  A call to the local appliance place gave us the sad news that this would be at least a $200 repair. 

So that turned into appliance shopping.  Another few days of researching, shopping, asking around for recommendations.  Two nights before they delivered the flashy new washer (and dryer....thanks to my Grandma's recommendation), I realized how much work it was to unload everything out of that tiny room.  And then I remembered the overwhelmingly deep desire to paint it only moments after beholding its formerly stenciled glory. 

Quickly, a gallon of paint was purchased.  A friend was called.  Late night hours were kept.  All in an attempt to get at least the corner painted where the machines would be.  Everything else could wait until after the delivery.  And did.

Being the mother of a toddler means that big projects such as these only get accomplished during the two hour window between her bedtime and mine.  And for at least a week, she did not cooperate on her end of this.  So the painting took longer than expected and was only completed by a dear friend who knew what he was doing and took matters into his own hands.

And then it was time to hit the road for vacation.  10 days.  One vehicle.  Two suitcases.  One gigantic box of snacks for the road.  One toddler who graciously took up as little room as possible to make up for all of the stuff that was required to travel with her in the first place.  Countless tote bags.  Countless tote bags.  (God bless you, sweet husband.  You're a patient man, and the best packer I've ever met.)  Three people visiting family and friends alike.  

All this to say that since the day that the washing machine kept on agitating, there has been no blogging.  No plumbing the depths of my emotions to figure out how to clean out my messy life. 
Lots has happened in that time.  Lots of new stuff has now been imported back to our little yellow house in the woods and so the boxes have, once again, grown, much to my chagrin. 

But I am renewed, refreshed, and ready to begin again.  As all journeys go, this one has had a bit of a setback.  But tomorrow is a new day, and I have big plans.  Bigger than what I've ever been able to accomplish before.  Break's over.  Time to get back at it.