{ Countdown To January }

This week every single one of my clients needs me or has dropped stuff off for me and I couldn't be happier! The more I can get through now in December, the more prepared I am for the January year end. So I say, bring it on!

Budget is under control, holiday wrapping is almost complete, Christmas dinner is planned and invitees are invited, and I even got three loads of laundry done today. It's been a good day!

{ Keeping It Small and Keeping It Real }

This holiday season is proving to be a test of my will power. I have more income this year than last (and we're not talking huge numbers but enough to where I'm not looking in the change jar for gas money). It's proving difficult to walk my walk about keeping my holiday shopping small, meaningful and fun. I've got all the core people done and will complete wrapping and mailing for the out of town family this weekend. Now I need to decide what to do about the broad group of friends and neighbors we'll run into this season. We're not baking this year because we, ourselves, are cutting down on sugar and processed foods, and don't want to inflict that temptation on ourselves or others. I like small, consumable or useful things...candles and wine. But where do I draw the line? If it were up to me and money and time were no object, I'd give something wonderful to every person I know. I'd be like Oprah, "you like that? Oh good, because everyone's getting one!" But the lottery commission has clearly misplaced my number and in the meantime, I am on the hunt for that small, thoughtful item that will say, "happy new year, you are important to me and I wish you well" without being something someone has to find a use for or isn't so small it is offensive. I'm glad tomorrow is Market Day around here!

{ Running to Stand Still }

So, I'm about done with the list below. The budget work is done except I have to format a spreadsheet and make some notes. I sent out my rate change notices (!)to clients. The client I saw yesterday opened my invoice with the letter in it (as I held my breath, which is silly because the rate change isn't that high and is still on the lower side of the average range) and handed it back to me for the file. I looked at him for a sign of displeasure and he laughed and said, "Your more than worth it." Wasn't that sweet? Ah, I have SUCH good clients!!

OK, a confession...I am over budget for October!! I have to do some entry to find out where we went off track but I think it was the last of the outside house projects...driveway gravel and fall clean up in the garden, which I couldn't do myself after my severe cut on my hand in September. Gas and propane were also higher than anticipated. Oh, well, can't dwell, I just need to learn from it and adjust the numbers going forward.

One fun note, as I look out the window of the office there is the coolest spider web between the window frame and the weeping cherry tree. I'll try to get a photo of it.

{ Race to the finish }

So, this is my race to the finish on client's quarterly taxes. I'm in good shape but still, my week is a tight one and I have budget work for two clients to compile before Friday. The fun never ends!
This Week's Check list:
Finish up last filings by Tuesday
Circle back and tie down Balance Sheet items
Finish raw entry for new client
Budget Drafts done and delivered by Friday
Invoice and include rate change letter to clients
Write blog for website
Begin my own books!!! EEKKK! So behind!
Go to lunch with Best Friend
Go to Wight's Nursery for Holiday Open House
Whew! Not the longest list I've made, but I've got my work cut out for me!
TTFN

{ Buried Alive }

So, this is one of my crazy quarterly months where I have not only regular bookkeeping but quarterly payroll and sales tax reports due. I walk gingerly in my office for fear of toppling one of the many crates full of client files. And to compound the maddness I have finally pried from the hands of one of my clients, his box of paperwork that comprises a six month back log! If you need me, I'm the one singing along to Radio Nigel, buried underneath all that paper.

{ Creating time off }

Before I "went out on my own" I used to believe that being self employed meant that I could command my own schedule, take days off whenever I felt like it and generally, control my time. Four years later, I look back on that concept and just laugh, sneaking glances over my shoulder to see if my family notices I have crept back into my office. (They have, they just don't argue anymore.)

The reality of being self employed is that I have to keep more balls in the air and I work when there is work to get it done, in case more work comes in the door. Because, if I lag behind, there is no one else to "get 'er done", so to speak. Some days it is overwhelming and others, it's nice because I can work for 4 hours and go out and finish the grocery shopping all by mid-afternoon. But admittedly, those days are fewer and farther between.

So, to create time off means to create limits in the work I take on...a constant internal battle that I have going. Such a difficult thing to do when I love what I do and generally people ask for my services because they honestly need help. This weekend, my niece is here from out of state and I intended to take all four days off, but I found myself working half day yesterday and have put in a couple of hours already this morning. Luckily, she's a late sleeper and I'm an early riser, so that works...for now. But balance must be found and that is not always an easy thing. As the fog lifts from the Puget Sound and the morning dawn lightens the sky, I can maybe finish one more client file before we begin our day's adventure...maybe. And perhaps they'll never know I was here in the office at all!

{ Juggling }

I shouldn't even be blogging right now!! I have so much to do and so little time. Today is one of those days where if I look at the big picture I might get completely overwhelmed so I must look only at the next hour, what's next, check it off, move on and hope by bedtime it's all done. But my girl child is coming for a visit this weekend, which makes all the stress completely ok. How they grow up and move on! And yet, I don't age a minute... LOL! BTW...I checked my budget today for October and I'm on track! Pat, pat, pat!

{ Hiding Out In My Own Home }

Yesterday was one of those days that I stand back and look at late in the evening and ponder the possiblities of renting office space. My office is in the back of the house, has a solid door and I can generally close that door and crank out work. Not yesterday. I had two and half billable hours. SIGHHH...working from home is such a disciplined thing and I rarely have days like yesterday but it's frustrating none-the-less. I was home all day with a carpet installer and my dear friend and handyman, Michael who came to install my new dishwasher. And four other people, for a variety of reasons, called and asked, "are you home today?" Well, yes, but I'm WORKING. (This is the equivelent to someone interrupting you while you are reading with "are you busy?" -- uh, did you not see the book or the fact that I was seriously engrossed in its content?) Why is that if you work from home, it's not perceived as work but if someone walks in to a rented office space, they get you are generating income? Well, on to my 10 hour day to make up for yesterday. (stomp stomp stomp down the hall for my big cuppa tea).

{ Finding My Worth }

Practicing what I preach seems to be the running theme in my life this Fall. I have been struggling with the decision to raise my rates in January. (I like to give my clients lots of notice, so they don't feel cornered.) My current rates are on the lower side of the spectrum and I know they need to go up...it's just so difficult because I know for a few of my clients, I'm a stretch. In my head, I know I have to do it, I deserve to earn a living, I'm good at what I do, it's a fair rate and I bring a lot to the table that other bookkeepers don't. If I were a client I would tell me to value my time. But again, saying and doing are two separate things... I'll procrastinate one more day and then begin the draft letter to the clientele.

{ Fall Clean Up Done! }

OK so my fast tidy up took longer than I thought, but it's done and here's proof (scroll down). This is my tiny little office. I was scrunched in the doorway to take this shot. The back of my chair almost touches the wall (a new chair is on the wish list, this one is TOO big). You can't see it from this shot but the window I look out of actually looks out to my flower garden, so don't feel sorry for me. It's a great place to have tea and run an empire.

{ Fall Clean Up }

The morning fog has descended and outside my office window all I can see are the leaves of the weeping cherry tree and the outline of the evergreen trees. But as my focus narrows and I'm brought back inside I see my desk. Sigh...so much filing, so little motivation. Mise en place should be painted over my window as a reminder, I've learned the hard way about not having things in their place. When my Mom died unexpectedly a year and a half ago and I couldn't get a flight out until the morning but had to spend six hours cleaning up my office so that my accountant girlfriend could come cover the decks while I was out of state for a week during tax season. When I arrived at my parent's home Dad and I spent the better part of two days wading through Mom's paperwork in the office. Dad was the kind of guy who pulled $40 from the atm and figured Mom had the rest covered...and she did, we just had to find it. I came home from that experience deteremined never to put my family and friends through that, ever. So this afternoon, mise en place....everything in it's place otherwise known as Fall clean up. I'll post a photo to prove I did it.