Sunday Inspiration: Strength and Dignity

A Spirit of Gratitude: October 25

I Am Thankful For:

A day with the grand kid

Banana pudding

When yarn is 30% off

Giving my self a "Me" day

A giant pile of orders to ship

Bacon cheeseburgers

When it's easy to turn off the game and go to sleep

Silence

Benedryl and Sudafed

The leaves are finally turning

Homemade tomato basil soup on a cold, windy evening

Sunday Inspiration: Beauty

A Spirit of Gratitude: October 18

I Am Thankful For:

Birthday dinner for the Man of the House

Finding exactly the type of shirt I have been wanting

And it was on clearance!

Coffee gelato

The right Bible verse at the right time

The Man of the House making it home despite the weather delays

A "blustery" day

Bright sunshine and blue skies after the storm

Snuggling on the couch while watching TV

The Man of the House bringing me a bag of my favorite Buffalo Blue Cheese puffs

Going to Michael's with the Female Offspring

Orders completed

Fall weather

A lazy, rainy Sunday morning

October Busyness

Last week was just one of those weeks when I felt as if I was running as fast as I could without getting anywhere.  Whenever I am doing one thing that needs doing, I feel as if I am neglecting about 3 other things that I could/should be taking care of.   Feeling pulled in a few different directions like that hasn't exactly been encouraging me to sit down at the computer and write some blog posts. But - here I am!

The beginning of last week found us celebrating the Man of the House's birthday.  Sunday afternoon, the Female Offspring brought her crew over and we enjoyed a some football, pizza and a ginormous double-decker cookie cake.  (What can I say? The man loves all three of those things)  For his actual birthday on Monday, I made him a nice spaghetti dinner, and we actually sat down at the table with the Male Offspring for a meal.

Mid week had him off to Maryland for work.  Usually I take his business trips in stride; but for some reason this one stressed me out.  I actually cried a little after I dropped him off at the airport.  Which I never do.  (I'm blaming it on hormones)  That was when I decided I needed a trip to Target for some Starbucks and a little retail therapy.

He was scheduled to head home late Thursday afternoon.  Unfortunately, that was also the time when Hurricane (by then Tropical Storm) Michael, decided to arrive in the Washington, DC area.  This led to his plane sitting on the tarmac for about 2 hours before returning to the terminal.  I was a little anxious that he was going to be stuck in Reagan National Airport overnight, or that he would finally make it out only to arrive in Atlanta to late to catch the last flight from there to home.  However, he did finally get to Atlanta, making it just in time for the last flight of the evening.  And all's well that ends well.

Once the storm blew through, the weather finally began to feel like Autumn.  Which - in my humble opinion -  has been a very welcome change!  I can finally start pulling out some of my long sleeve shirts, and thinking about sweaters and boots again  And maybe the leaves will finally start showing some color.    It is odd to look outside in the middle of October and see so much green.


I have also been especially busy with my Etsy shop.  September, and October have been unusually busy months.  It seems as if I barely get an order or two completed, before another one or two are placed.  I can't complain.  I'm very happy to see the shop doing so well!

These tiger hats have been especially popular this month!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/486134227/

How is your October going so far?  Are you as busy as I feel?

Sunday Inspiration - A Positive Life

A Spirit of Gratitude: October 11

I Am Thankful For:

A free drink at Starbucks
Great day 3 curls

Waking up feeling a little better

Seeing the way the fog follows the river valley

Sun sparkling off the dew

Fallen leaves blowing across the road
A trip to Sam's Club with the Man of the House
A ginormous bag of candy corn
Celebrating his birthday a day early
Football, pizza, and a huge cookie cake

Sunday Inspiration: October

A Spirit of Gratitude: October 4

I Am Thankful For:

Phone conversations with the Female Offspring

Figuring something out

Improvising a tool to get the job done

Rejoice.  Be Patient.  Keep praying.

Watching the first of the leaves fall
When the flight I was waiting on is delayed, giving me time to crochet and people watch
Tea with honey for a sore throat
The Man of the House bringing sinus medicine and cough drops for me
A new book
The Male Offspring making plans to buy a new car
Having the whole family together for football and tacos

Currently... October 2018

Hooray for October!!  In my humble opinion, October might just be the best month of the year.  And not just because it's the birth month of my very favorite human. 

I sometimes feel as if October is the unofficial start of the holiday season in our house.  It all kicks off with the Man of the House's birthday next week and from there it's a quick progression through Halloween right on into November with my birthday, our anniversary, Thanksgiving, and then Christmas.

There's also just something special about October.  The sky seems bluer.  The air smells crisper.  Pumpkin spice everything is back in the store, and (most importantly) my coffee.  And if you don't like pumpkin - there's apple!  The leaves change their colors, putting on a beautiful art show for all of us.  

I mean... what's not to love about October?

Reading:  The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd.  I've heard a lot of good things about this book.  And I like that it's a historical fiction based on two real-life sisters.  The Grimke' Sisters were before their time when it came to their beliefs about abolition and women's rights.  Unusual in their day and age, especially considering they were born and raised in Charleston, SC.  

I am also reading Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis.  If you have spent much time on social media recently, you've probably seen someone mention this book.  I put my name on the wait list at the library for this book a couple of months ago.  As of last week, I was number 417 in line for one of 12 copies.  Yikes!!  At that rate, I decided if I wanted to read it anytime soon, I should probably just spend the $20 and buy it already!  

Enjoying:  Autumn.  Every day when I look out my back yard, I can see just a little more yellow popping up in the trees behind the house. Which means that reds, oranges, and rusts can't bee too far behind.  And it is just lovely to feel the cool evening breezes we are now experiencing.  

Working On: Getting my Etsy shop ready for the holiday season.  During September, I had every intention of creating some Christmas themed items.  However, the month turned out to be one of my busiest months ever which meant I never had the opportunity to work on the things I had originally scheduled.  Once I complete the orders I have now, I hope to get a few holiday items completed and listed before November arrives.  

Anticipating:   Did you see that long list I created up there of all the great October things and upcoming holiday?  All of that!!

Wanting:  To plan a weekend drive or hike up into the mountains to enjoy the fall colors.   I am fortunate to live in a part of the country where fall puts on one it's most beautiful displays.   Not to mention access to the Blue Ridge Parkway, numerous state and national parks, and some amazing hiking trails. 

Needing:  About 12 more hours in every day.  But doesn't that always seem as if it's the case?  There's always just so many things that need done, and that I want to do.  

Feeling:  Not great.  I haven't been feeling well since the end of last week.  It started with sinus congestion and a sore throat.  The sinus stuff has mostly cleared up, but the sore throat continues.  It doesn't really feel like the sore throats I have been used to in the past when I have had strep or tonsillitis.  And I'm not running a fever or anything.  It is disrupting my sleep, so I am also feeling tired. I guess if it's not better in another day or two, I will go to the doctor.  

What are you currently up to as we head into October?