It is amazing, isn't it, Lilo? If one put down every task they do in a day, many would be surprised at how busy they really are.

My morning routines vary a little according to the season, and the winter routine is very different than the summer, as well. I was thinking of morning routines this week myself, and had to smile. For somebody who has switched gears a big part of their life, I find a comfort in the time I spend in little routines.

In fall, I roll out of bed, when the animals insist...usually my old schnauzer, who thankfully still asks to be relieved. I switched over from my pot of hot tea to coffee about two or three years ago, when caring for my mother made me need to snap to attention with often little sleep. So, if I beat the dh up, I brew a pot. I usually check my email as I sip it..then medicate the dog. I use cheese too, lol. Feed the cats their morning meal, and let the Tom cat out.

I always sweep the main downstairs rooms, and usually take a mop to them. No, I am not THAT clean, we are that dirty. LOL. I pull up the blinds, and make open the windows if it's warm enough to let the house air out. Put the clean dishes away, and load any errant ones I find out and dirty into the dishwasher. Then I scrub the kitchen counter on the isle. It never ceases to amaze me that after a day's use, it's filthy. I usually burn a scented candle in fall as I am working, and sometimes kick on the CD player and listen to music as I work. Since I am not working the g'houses from dawn to dusk this time of year, and tend to relax until the busy holiday season hits, I'll prolly switch over to my pot of tea or cocoa. My stomach revolts on even one cuppa coffee a day.

I then usually go feed my flock and gather eggs and put them in cartons. When I'm out that way, I check the veggie garden and fruit trees out to see what needs gathered, and when. My trip back to the house usually includes a bag of something. Lately it's been apples or fresh lima beans.

Then I make the beds. If there is nothing pressing, I go to my sewing room and work on some quilts for an hour or so until I feel motivated to tackle outside work. Lately, that means doing a little cleaning in the g'houses to make ready for the Christmas crop/or spring, depending on which house.

By this time, it's noonish and I take my first meal of the day. I do not make my husband b'fast, and he seems ok with that. Then I start the shank of my day when I attend to the projects. Working at home, I am blessed in that I can sneak in to the kitchen any time through the day and take care of the cooking for supper, so that when my work day is ended, I don't have a full meal's prep to do.

Usually it's the dogs who wake me. It varies depending on what time we go to bed but it's either 5.30 or 6. I let them out with the admonition to "take care of business" and if it's 5.30 I go back to bed for an hour. If it's actually 6 then usually stay up and get the coffee pot on before feeding the dogs.

Radio gets turned on to NPR and with coffee mug in hand off I go to my computer to check for mail. There I read my online New York Times. Then I look at a couple of photographic sites I belong to and after that I usually take a look at the GP (even when I am not posting I often check in, just to see what's up).

Two cups of coffee and all of those things later I'm into the shower, followed by my almost always bowl of oatmeal, Today I was out of oatmeal and so I had a soft boiled egg and dipped toast "soldiers" into the yolk just like I used to do when I was a kid and Mum cut up the toast for us for dipping. It's a sweet memory. My mother left me a lot of sweet memories of childhood like that. Bed gets made, dishes get put in the dishwasher ~ more than three in the sink is my yardstick for that:)

Today I'm back at the computer (doing this obviously) but I'm also writing a two minute piece for church on Sunday to talk about an upcoming Social Justice Empowerment Workshop we're going to be doing. I also want to print up a photo for tonight's meeting of the photo club.

Then I'll be out of the house and down to the Larry Scott trail alongside the beach for a walk (about two miles round trip) and then run a few errands, like get more oatmeal, pop into the post office.

I realize I need to eat lunch before I go out. Leftover chicken on a panini bun with with tomatoes. I might have had a bite to eat while out in the past ....now I'm economizing big time.

When I come back I have to dig a hole for an espaliered apple I want to plant. Couldn't find anyone to do it and so I'm going to do it myself. Also going to top dress some fertilizer on my brocali and brussel sprouts. How come I can never spell broccali? Brocalli? Broccalli? Help!

Lilo, I can relate. Mine sort of goes, wake up & pull on some clothes.

Start coffee. Put leash on dog & take him for his walk into the woods followed by Archie the crazy cat screaming for food.

Come back & feed the dog & give him his epilepsy meds. Feed the outside cats to shut up Archie.

Come back inside & feed the inside cats.

Clean cat box.

Finally get to check email & read the NY Times on line with a cup of coffee, a hour after I've swung my feet out of my bed.

It's kind of funny how similar our routines are!

Get up around 04:30 - 04:45 AM.
Hit bathroom, take my pill and get dressed.Turn on TV for weather report and early local news while letting cat out, feed stray outside at the front door and give the racoon his kibbles at the backdoor, pick up newspapers.

By 05:15 - 05:20 head out for my 4 miles fast morning walk.

Back around 06:30, let the cat back in, feed her, make a cup of tea, read newspapers, check the news on TV, eat my low carb breakfast (it was so much easier when I could get just a bowl of cereals) and then the rest of the day starts.

Being retired, that can be anything, as long as I don't make noise upstairs and wake up my husband. He is up most of the night and then sleeps all morning.

Anneliese, your DH must be related to mine.He spends most of the night messing around on the Internet & then sleeps until about noon.

Seems it's usually the pets who sound the alarm for most of you...I'd dearly love a cat but with poor vision and fear of falling when the cat wants to get right under your feet I had to decide best not get one.

Since living alone now (DH is now in assisted living facility) I can indulge in whatever sleeping habits I like and do so, which might mean dawn rising and afternoon nap or sleeping until noon. Watering my container plants outside are the only "must do" items and now that it's cooler they aren't quite so demanding. The inside plants are cared for a few at a time as needed.

Sometimes I finish a book started the night before or sometimes get right on net for news and email, but always have 2 cups coffee before even thinking about what I'll do with each day. Sometimes have a list but often ignore it...rarely urgent. The list might just be "use up cheese" and then it's deciding on grilled cheese sandwiches or making pimiento cheese spread or macaroni 'n cheese....LOL Once I'm in kitchen I might get more inspired ...or not.

Trying to make space to bring more tropicals inside is on my agenda...but still a few weeks before must be accomplished. Changing out a few pictures...I love to change things around and enjoy making collages, too. Still rereading slowly thru mysteries...I rarely remember the final solution,,,I chase every red herring still. LOL

Love my lazy long days..with no pressing problems...it's what retirement should be. josh

My mornings are very different, and yes that's mostly due to not having a pet. Remember that I am still a night owl, suffering the life of a lark's schedule.

I wake between 0330 and 0430, staggering through my morning's morning until I've had several sips or even a few gulps of caffeine. Over the next hour, I fix my lunch, eat some breakfast, and either read or crochet on the new afghan (I found the directions). DH is still sleeping, so housework consists of dusting, and maybe some shining-up in the kitchen, such as polishing the cabinets. Anything noiseless. It's too dark to wander through the garden, and if the fox passes by, she's just another shadow. About 0545, I notice the time and pack a container of ice cubes and my lunch into the carry-bag; say thanks for the solar lights shining on the steps, and leave for the day at the office. If the paper has plopped onto the driveway [not often], I'll take it in for DH before leaving.

It's not quite frost-scraping weather, but I wipe the condensation off the car windows... sometimes they stay clear and sometimes they are re-fogged before I've wiped them all. Driving this early is usually quiet with little traffic on the sidestreets I travel. I peer at the interstate as I go over the bridge, seeing the red tail lights are nearly bumper to bumper and covering the 5 lanes northbound. I remember that 5 years ago, there would only be the occasional car at this time of morning... I think about the increase in local population, with the corresponding increase in vehicles, and realize that I won't miss them after retirement.