Monday, June 30, 2014

Three Things: I Use Everyday...

1)"Prayer Basket": 

The space where I have my morning devotional time can change from one spot to another depending on what is happening in the house at any given time.  That's why I created this sort of "prayer closet" in a basket!  It contains my devotional Bible, my journals, pens, index cards and notecards.  Add my item #2 and I'm all ready for my quiet time each morning...


2) Nook: 

I resisted the idea of an e-reader at first.  I'm a BOOK reader.  I love the feel of a book in my hand, the feel of the spine giving the first time you open a new book, turning the pages. But now I am completely sold on my Nook tablet!  Being able to carry all. those. books. with you wherever you go?  Add the ability to check email, google something, waste time on Pinterest, or play a game. I think I might be lost without it now!


3)  Home coffee station: 

 Complete with Keurig and all the required coffee essentials (K-cups, coffee mugs, sweetener, etc)  And if you have been reading this blog for a while - you know how much I love me some coffee. This area of my dining room gets plenty of use every day!

What three things do you use every day?


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Sunday, June 29, 2014

The Song In My Heart: Walk on Water


"let your fear fall to the ground.  No time to waste,  Don't wait.  Don't you turn around and miss out
 on everything you were made for"
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Friday, June 27, 2014

That Was Yesterday, This Is Today

That was Yesterday:
  • I bought the perfect new notebook and started setting it up to use as my new prayer journal.
  • I found a porch umbrella - originally cost $399.  Got it on sale for $114.
  • I laughed at the offspring as they tried to create a homemade redneck slip and slide in the backyard.
  • I had plenty of energy for getting things marked off the to-do list

This is Today:
  • I woke up with a vicious sinus headache and I can't stop sneezing
  • The grand baby spilled my cup of coffee all over my yarn bags and prayer basket (completely soaking and staining my new notebook)
  • The dog will not stop barking.
  • I am super tired and cranky.

 Life is like that.  You have some good days.  You have some not so good days.

You can focus on the not so good day.  Which will make them feel as if they are taking over your life and most all the days are bad days.

Or you can choose to focus on the good days.  Look hard to find what good there is hiding in the not so good days and give thanks for it.  (and there is always something!)


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Thursday, June 26, 2014

A Spirit of Gratitude: June 26


THIS WEEK I AM THANKFUL FOR: 

The female offspring driving the male offspring to guitar lesson for me
Afternoon thunderstorms
The sunset after the storm
Blueberry waffles
Lilies from my mother
Beautiful buttons
http://www.etsy.com/listing/194398053/
The grand baby announcing "I am HAPPY!"
Smoked, pulled pork sandwiches
A refreshing walk at the park
Painting completed in the office/guest room

A short break before stage 2 of redecorating begins in office/guest room
Finding just the right piece of furniture 
Back porch inspiration
Most recent order completed and delivered
New furniture for back porch
photo: Cost Plus World Market
 The grand baby playing with his new sand table
The male offspring working hard on his projects
Picking up the new flooring for office/guest room
Lunch with the offspring
The male offspring getting excited about starting on his room makeover
The Man of the House picking up milk while he's out


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Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Spring Followup And Looking Ahead to Summer

Spring sprung, and moved on.  Summer is here at last!  Let's begin by revisiting the Spring To-Do list and seeing how things went as to marking items off .  Shall we? 

  • Visit NC Arboretum to see all the Spring flowers in bloom
  • Go to tailgate market to purchase some fresh Spring veggies
  • Read outside
  • Spend more time on back porch (in my defense - there was a porch painting project, which turned into a major porch overhaul project.  The porch is still in progress and hasn't exactly been accessible for sitting out and relaxing)
  • Start an herb garden
  • Clean windows - inside and out
  • Hike!  It was our May "Date of the Month"!!
  • Give my self a bright Spring-like pedicure  First it was Mother's Day pedis with my mom and the female offspring.  Then I gave myself a beautiful Tiffany blue pedi. 
  • Dine outside  Between waterfall and mountain top picnics and sharing a meal while watching Shakespeare in the Park - the man of the house and I had this one covered.  :0)
  • Eat my weight in jelly beans   Ok... in all honesty, I don't think I managed to eat my actual weight, but I made a very valiant attempt at it! 
  • Walk outside more and on treadmill less I have enjoyed getting outside and walking the trail at the park with the Man of the House.  Nice change from the monotony of the treadmill.
  • Buy sidewalk chalk. Make a mural (or write love notes to the Man of the House) on the driveway This was a fun way to spend some time with the grandbaby one afternoon!
  • Color Easter eggs with the family
  • Fill a vase with fresh flowers Three times! Once with some pretty spring flowers the grand baby brought me, once with beautiful Mother's day roses from the Man of the House, and once with some lovely wildflowers the male offspring picked for me!
  • Go berry picking Fresh blueberries at my dad's house - YUM!
  • Make a new wreath or other decoration for front door
Petty much a mixed bag.  A little over half the things I wanted to do were accomplished.  Seems like a win to me.  And there is still an entire glorious summer in front of me!  Heres what I would very much like to accomplish this summer.

  • Finish up redecorating projects in office/guest room and the male offspring's room
  •  Hike!
  • Get rid of another 10 pounds
  • Take part in my first 5k
  • Make new decoration for front door
  • Create the gallery wall in entry
  • Pick wildflowers
  • Make homemade ice cream
  • Complete Adult Summer Reading program at library
  • Finish sewing pillow covers for living room throw pillows
  • Spend a day outside relaxing and reading

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Monday, June 23, 2014

Three Things: I can't hear enough...

There are many things we all enjoy hearing.  And somethings we wish to never hear.  But these are three things I will never get tired of hearing no matter how many times it's said:

1) "You're pretty" - even though I often roll my eyes when the Man of the House says it - and often I don't feel even the tiniest bit pretty and have a hard time believing it -  I love hearing him say it and knowing he thinks it (even when I don't).  I know, I know... I should want to be told I'm smart.  Or capable.  And I like that too.  But there's just something about having the man I adore tell me I'm pretty that I can't get enough.

2) "Oma" - I love love love being a grandma.  And it just makes me all sappy to hear that sweet little boy call me his Oma! He could say it a million times a day and I don't think I could ever get tired of it!
photo: inktastic.com

3) "I love you" - whether it's the Man of the House, one of the offspring, the grand baby, my sisters or parents or a close friend.  I mean really... who doesn't enjoy hearing that they are loved? Especially from someone they feel the exact same way about!
photo: publicdomainpictures.net

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Friday, June 20, 2014

Holes

Redecorating her old room.  Patching walls to prepare for painting.  Tedious work.  Filling small holes.  Seems like hundreds (thousands?) of them per wall.  A little frustrating.


Until I realize - each nail hole, each prick from a push pin, each anchor you pull from the wall -  represents another stage of her childhood.

Disney pictures.
Boy band and movie heartthrob photos ripped from magazines.
Pictures with friends.
Drama club flyers.
Posters from the year she "discovered" the Beatles.
Memorabilia.

Each passing age with its own symbolswere once pinned on these walls.  Leaving their mark.


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Thursday, June 19, 2014

A Spirit of Gratitude: June 19

This Week I Am Thankful For:

Playing with the grand baby
Chalk pictures on the driveway
Making pillow covers
Seeing a hawk in Walmart parking lot
Shakespeare in the Park

The rain stopping just before show time
Dinner outside at sunset

Remembering how much I love live theatre
Pretending to be William Shakespeare
My sweet helpful husband
Visiting with my dad
The grand baby "swimming" (playing in the pool)
Picking blueberries
Sunday morning breakfast
Projects moving along
Homemade pizza
Feta cheese
The Man of the House
New bed pillows
Pretty new purse

Clean car
Grand baby silliness in the car
Maxi skirts
Clothes on the line
The male offspring working hard on porch painting project
The grand baby playing with the pop gun
Lunch with the Man of the House




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Tuesday, June 17, 2014

A Date A Month: Shakespeare in the Park

My Valentine's Day gift for the Man of the House this year was a A Year of Date Nights.  One date a month for the next twelve months.  This is our date of the month...

The theme for June was "Shakespeare in the Park".

In Asheville, North Carolina there is a delightful little theatre group known as the Montford Park Players. Every weekend during the warmer months you can see them perform at the Hazel Robinson Amphitheater for (this is the best part) FREE!



You can rent lawn chairs for a couple of dollars each if you prefer not to sit on the ground; and they do ask for donations during intermission - but a few dollars in the hat per person is pretty cheap for live theatre! 

It's one of those things that I think about doing every year, and somehow never seem to actually do.  A perfect choice of a new adventure for our Date of the Month!

This month was Shakespeare's "Henry V".


Late on Friday afternoon, the skies kept getting darker and darker.  I could hear thunder rolling off in the distance.  And then the heavens opened and the rain poured.  I was a little worried that date night would be  rained out.  But a few quick prayers seemed to be answered as the rain stopped and the skies began to clear just as we left to head downtown. Yeah!!

Once there, we found our seats - pulled out the picnic dinner I had packed - and waited for the show to start.

The play was... well, it was Shakespeare.  It takes about half the first scene or so to start getting used to the Elizabethan speech.  But it was funny... dramatic... romantic... and entertaining.   



At intermission, they have someone come up on stage to play the part of  "William" (yes, Shakespeare) complete in doublet, jaunty cap, and fake beard.  And guess who got the honor at this show?  Oh yeah... that's right.  It was ME!  (It helps to know people) I got to wave to the crowd.  While they sang Happy Birthday to Will  in honor of his 450th birthday this year - oh, and to anyone else in the audience having a birthday this month. No.  I do not have pictures of that.  But, it was fun, and silly, and I got a free beer out of it. The beard was itchy...




It was a wonderful evening.  I love live theatre.  Seeing it under the stars (clouds?) with the Man of the House makes it even better.

I would definitely go back.  In fact, I hope to do it again in August when they present "The Taming of the Shrew"!

More "Date of the Month":

You can find me connecting at these link ups and blog hops:



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Monday, June 16, 2014

Three Things... I am kinda obsessed with right now

1) Maxi skirts and dresses:  They have all the comfort of yoga or sweatpants... but, you get to look like you actually put in a little effort to dress up.  Win... win!!  I am not kidding when I say I have seriously considered giving away every pair of pants I own and stocking my closet with these little gems!

2) Quinoa: If I didn't think the family would stage a complete coup and toss me out of the kitchen for good- we would eat this atleast 3 to 5 days a week.  I'll eat it made into some sort of salad, plain as a side instead of rice or potatoes, or as part of a prepared dish such as quinoa and black bean enchiladas. Love that I can make it up easily in the rice cooker.

3) 1) Game of Thrones: I never imagined I would get into this sort of tv show/book.  But here I am.  Well into the third book of the series.  I can't believe this season is already over.  It's soooo long until next spring!


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Friday, June 13, 2014

Top Five Blog Posts of All Time

I get curious (and/or bored) sometimes and take a look at my blog stats.  Just to see what posts are getting lots of views, what is not so much.

At last check (the day I wrote this... ) these were my Top Five Blog Posts of all time:

5)   Why I Hate Spring
         Ok... I don't really hate Spring. In fact, if questioned I would probably say that I love spring. The effect it has on my body - not so much.

4)   It's Ok
          Sometimes things aren't perfect... and that's Ok.

3)  Seven Days without Coffee: Coffee Dreaming
          Part of a series of posts where I quit coffee cold turkey for seven days.  Yeh.. I know.. WHAT was I thinking?


2) Coffee Talk
          "It's like having coffee and conversation with a dear (and very wise) friend"

And the number one viewed post of all time is.....

1)  And Then I Look In The Mirror...
          Most days I still feel 26.  And then...

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