For Today - October 30, 2010 - Saturday

Outside My Window. . .It's chilly & the sun has almost completely set.  Bright yellow mums are watered.  A few of the brightly colored leaves & acorns are swept from the sidewalk.  The rug has been shaken out & is back down in front of the door.

I Am Hearing . . . the football game that my hubby is watching in the next room.

I Am Wearing. . . white jeans, red turtleneck, black fleece vest & walking shoes.

I Am Thinking . . that I need to go wash dishes & tidy the kitchen before making supper!

I Am Wondering . . . how much I will get done tonight.  There is *stuff* on the dining room table.  *Stuff* I need to work on a project.  I was *suppose* to work on that project today, but instead I walked in a parade w/my hubby throwing out candy to the kidlets & then visited w/my daughter for longer than I intended.  But my hubby wasn't going to be home & her hubby was gone, so it was just us two girls & we had a great, great visit.

I Am Grateful. . . for a fun & low-key kind of day.

From The Kitchen . . . Since we had Mexican food for lunch, supper is going to be meager: Chicken Soup.

I Am Reading . . . The bright pink booklet, explaining how to work the polls.

I Am Hoping. . .to get ideas for my project so I can work on them Monday morning. 

Around The House . . .  Really nothing much except a project in progress & a few dishes to wash.

One Of My Favorite Things. . .Hearing my hubby relaxing in the next room. 

Something You May Not Know About Me. . .I once was an Election Judge. . . . maybe you didn't know that.

About Today's Photo. . . Me. . . . this is about as *costumed* as I get!  :)

For Today - October 29, 2010 - Friday

Outside My Window. . .Chilly willy outside! Very cool. . . almost cold. . . . but it's suppose to get up to 70 so I'm a-okay. Still lots of acorns & Sweet-gum balls on the ground. . . .And bright yellow mums near the porch! Yay for sun-shiny, yellow mums!

I Am Hearing . . . a car in the distance, crows caw-ing, & a clock ticking.

I Am Wearing. . . the softest blue plaid knit sleep pants & a sweat shirt!

I Am Thinking . . we're not getting new flooring any time soon in the dining room.

I Am Wondering . . .What we're doing this weekend.

I Am Grateful. . . for my health.

From The Kitchen . . . Old-fashioned oatmeal w/chopped organic apples & cinnamon & Lemon - Ginger tea.

I Am Reading . . . Nothing much at all.

I Am Hoping. . .to take my sewing machine to the repair shop. The man on the phone said they can fix anything that sews. Mine is a Swiss made Elna hubby bought for me about 36 years ago. We paid $1200 for it in 1974 & according to an inflation calculator it would be worth $5162.42 in 2009. Since it's had only one tune-up in all these years, I think I'm gonna' keep it!!!!

Around The House . . .It's cool & the house is clean & the dining/computer/sitting room is full of morning sunlight! Anyone want to come over to have their pix taken? It's the perfect time of day for natural light photography!

One Of My Favorite Things. . .Crunchy leaves.

Something You May Not Know About Me. . .Hmmm? Have I told you I hate dusting & dusty furniture doesn't really bother me. I think it probably should bother me. . . .but it really doesn't. Clutter drives me batty & I'm usually pretty good about putting things back where they belong. But dust? It's a-okay w/me! Shameful, I know.

About Today's Photo. . . The little cabin is on a corner, surrounded by cattle, pastures & woods. This was seen on the little side road while walking the dog yesterday. . .

For Today - October 26, 2010 - Tuesday

Outside My Window. . .It's cool, damp & breezy w/a chance of rain this morning. Last chance for this week.

Lots of acorns & Sweet-gum balls on the ground. . . .

I Am Hearing . . . the wind blowing, crickets chirping & Shiloh snoring.

I Am Wearing. . . the softest blue plaid knit sleep pants & a T-shirt

I Am Thinking . . that as much as I want new flooring in the dining room, it's a bit of an undertaking to have it done by Thanksgiving. Hubby will do the job himself. . . . he's just that kind of guy. . . and more than capable. . . . but a lot to do before Thanksgiving.

I Am Wondering . . .if we'll be able to do a controlled burn this weekend, as planned. I need to call the Fire Station today & find out if they think it's safe enough. I'm guessing the answer will be "no".

I Am Grateful. . . that the house is clean.

From The Kitchen . . . organic banana & pear. Planning to have a super protein drink for breakfast 'cause I'm not really hungry for anything else. And it's still warm enough for smoothies. I don't care for them during cold weather, so might as well enjoy while I can!

I Am Reading . . . current issue of Texas Monthly.

I Am Hoping. . .to buy some pumpkins and mums!

Around The House . . .Clean sheets with that wonderful clean smell! Freshly swept & vacuumed floors. Tidiness abounds!

One Of My Favorite Things. . .is a house that doesn't need much work done to it.

Something You May Not Know About Me. . .I am usually reading several books at one time. And I don't read fiction. I used to. But now I find it much more interesting to read up about photography or Essential Oils or gardening or. . . . .

About Today's Photo. . . Grandson & Anolis Carolinensis @ Texas Fresh Water Fisheries.

For Today - October 25, 2010 - Monday

Outside My Window. . .It is cool, damp, & breezy & branches & twigs are down. . . but that's not really new. East TX had horrible weather over the weekend & we drove through some if it: trees down across the highway & a transformer *blew* as we drove by. But we are safe. The house is safe. And it appears we got enough rain to settle the dust. . . . but that's all. No significant rainfall at all for us. Bummer! And with it being so breezy today, I'm guessing everything will be dry & brittle before long.

I Am Hearing . . The wind blowing through the trees & a couple of birds chittering away. Acorns, gumballs, & pine cones landing on the metal roof. Yep - it sounds like the little cabin is under attack! ;)

I Am Wearing. . . a red 3/4 sleeved, v-necked T & khaki pants.

I Am Thinking . . I want to go back to bed. I've been up since 3AM; it's cloudy outside & it seems like a nice thing to do.

I Am Wondering . . .about nothing. . . . really. Nothing at all. Some days are like that . . . .

I Am Grateful. . . that I went to church yesterday & even though I worked the nursery & didn't get to hear the sermon, it's been reported that my son-in-law gave a wonderful message. I *did* get to hear Amanda & Christiy sing a duet, but missed their solos. I wish I could have heard them both, especially this one Amanda sang. . . . it's a new one for me. She wants it sung at her funeral.

From The Kitchen . . . Leftover Jambalaya & leftovers from Applebees. We went out into that horrible weather on Saturday! Saw the movie, Red, & ate at Applebees. It's been years since I've eaten there. . . I didn't much care for it. Blech! But the movie was a lot of fun & made me laugh. A lot! And plenty of action for the men, too!

I Am Reading . . Still - nada!

I Am Hoping. . .to catch up on rest? I don't know. No real plans for today.

Around The House . . .oh - I should probably wash the sheets. . . . .

One Of My Favorite Things. . .is a house that doesn't need much work done to it.

Something You May Not Know About Me. . .I started wearing contact lenses when I was 13. They were big, round & hard.

About Today's Photo...

For Today - October 25, 2010 - Monday

Outside My Window. . .It is cool, damp, & breezy & branches & twigs are down. . . but that's not really new. East TX had horrible weather over the weekend & we drove through some if it: trees down across the highway & a transformer *blew* as we drove by. But we are safe. The house is safe. And it appears we got enough rain to settle the dust. . . . but that's all. No significant rainfall at all for us. Bummer! And with it being so breezy today, I'm guessing everything will be dry & brittle before long.

I Am Hearing . . The wind blowing through the trees & a couple of birds chittering away. Acorns, gumballs, & pine cones landing on the metal roof. Yep - it sounds like the little cabin is under attack! ;)

I Am Wearing. . . a red 3/4 sleeved, v-necked T & khaki pants.

I Am Thinking . . I want to go back to bed. I've been up since 3AM; it's cloudy outside & it seems like a nice thing to do.

I Am Wondering . . .about nothing. . . . really. Nothing at all. Some days are like that . . . .

I Am Grateful. . . that I went to church yesterday & even though I worked the nursery & didn't get to hear the sermon, it's been reported that my son-in-law gave a wonderful message. I *did* get to hear Amanda & Christiy sing a duet, but missed their solos. I wish I could have heard them both, especially this one Amanda sang. . . . it's a new one for me. She wants it sung at her funeral.

From The Kitchen . . . Leftover Jambalaya & leftovers from Applebees. We went out into that horrible weather on Saturday! Saw the movie, Red, & ate at Applebees. It's been years since I've eaten there. . . I didn't much care for it. Blech! But the movie was a lot of fun & made me laugh. A lot! And plenty of action for the men, too!

I Am Reading . . Still - nada!

I Am Hoping. . .to catch up on rest? I don't know. No real plans for today.

Around The House . . .oh - I should probably wash the sheets. . . . .

One Of My Favorite Things. . .is a house that doesn't need much work done to it.

Something You May Not Know About Me. . .I started wearing contact lenses when I was 13. They were big, round & hard.

About Today's Photo...Autumn in east TX

For Today - October 23, 2010 - Saturday

Outside My Window. . It is clear & cool & breezy. But the weatherman says to prepare for some storms. I'm looking forward to that - - - we so desperately need the rain.

I Am Hearing . . Cicadas doing their thing & a crow. And as suddenly as they start, they fall silent. And I hear nothing. No thing. Maybe a storm is heading this way after all? Usually we hear the birds.

Now I hear the wind.

And the cicadas are starting back up again!

And acorns, gum balls, & pine cones are falling on the metal roof of this cozy little cabin.

It's just that kind of a day!

I Am Wearing...a pink nightgown. Yep - it's almost 4 PM & I'm still in my gown although I've been up since 6:30.

No shoes either, although I have been productive: made a triple batch of jambalaya, washed 3 loads of clothes, edited some photos & updated my other blog, The Cozy Little Cabin, . All-in-all a lazy kind of day.

I Am Thinking . . I need to mend mama's coat & take my 35+ year old Elna sewing machine for a tuneup!

I Am Wondering . . .why, oh why, mama cannot understand that it's not her cell phone - but *operator error*. Maybe we should just get her a land-line & be done w/it!

I Am Grateful. . . that I saw my daughter-in-law & two youngest grandchildren yesterday. And oh-so-grateful we all caught some catfish! Grandson caught 6 or 7 of them himself! And he learned how to get catfish off the hook w/o injuring himself! Yee haw!

And I'm very grateful that the Prairie dress & pinafore perfectly fit granddaughter! It looked so very long, hanging up. . . . but the length is perfect. I think she's grown a great deal since July when I saw her last.

From The Kitchen . . . A triple batch of Jambalaya! And fresh organic pears, bananas, lettuce, spinach, peppers, etc.

I Am Reading . . Nothing at the moment. A rarity, I know!

I Am Hoping. . .to get mama's coat mended.

Around The House . . .Hubby snoozing on the couch. A load of whites waiting to be folded. The windows are open & the smell of autumn is in the air & in the house. In other words: perfection!

One Of My Favorite Things. . .is a lazy day.

Something You May Not Know About Me. . .For a short while I was a midwife's assistant.

About Today's Photo...Lotuses from yesterday's trip to Texas Fresh Water Fisheries

For Today - October 18, 2010 - Monday

Outside My Window. . It is cloudy & cool w/a predicted high of 85. In October. Yeah - what's up w/that?

I Am Hearing . . .Dogs panting. I have my dog & my daughter's two. We just came in from the porch. Apparently lounging around outside wore them out!

I Am Wearing...black velour pants &red v-neck, 3/4 sleeve T & bare feet.

I Am Thinking . . I need to finish decorating the porch & put out some bird seed. Also need to fold a load of jeans.

I Am Wondering . . .if mom's cell phone miseries are now over . . . . she has a new number. . . . hopefully the nuisance calls will cease. At least for a while.

I Am Grateful. . . that my hubby dealt w/the cell phone issue. I've done it every other time & was in no mood to mess w/it again. He handled it. Thank you, Honey. I owe you!

From The Kitchen . . . Soapy water w/morning dishes waiting to be washed.

I Am Reading . . .Max Lucado from When God Whispers Your Name.

"It is quiet, It is early. My coffee is hot. The sky is still black, the world is still asleep. The day is coming. In a few moments the day will arrive. It will roar down the track with the rising sun. The stillness of the dawn will be exchanged for the noise of the day. The calm solitude will be replaced by the pounding pace of the human race.

The refuge of the early morning will be invaded by decisions to be made and deadlines to be met. For the next twelve hours I will be exposed to the days demands. It is now that I must make a choice. Because of Calvary, I am free to choose.... And so I choose…

I choose Love…No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love. Today I will love God and what God loves.

I choose Joy…I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical, the tool of the lazy thinker. I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings, created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God.

I choose Peace…I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live.

I choose Patience…I will overlook the inconveniences of the world. Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I’ll invite him to do so. Rather than complain that the wait is too long, I will thank God for a moment to pray. Instead of clinching my fist at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.

I choose Kindness…I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone. Kind to the rich, for they are afraid. And kind to the unkind, for such is how God has treated me.

I choose Goodness…I will go without a dollar before I take a dishonest one. I will be overlooked before I will boast. I will confess before I will accuse, I choose goodness.

I choose Faithfulness…Today I will keep my promises. My debtors will not regret their trust. My associates will not question my word. My husband will not question my love. And my children will not fear their Mother will not come home.

I choose Gentleness…Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle. If I raise my voice may it only be in praise. If I clench my fist, may it only be in prayer. If I make a demand, may it only be of myself.

I choose Self-Control…I am a spiritual being. After this body is dead, my spirit will soar. I refuse to let what will rot, rule the eternal. I choose self-control. I will be drunk only by joy. I will be impassioned only by my faith. I will be influenced only by God. I will be taught only by Christ. I choose self-control.

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. To these I commit my day. If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail, I will seek His grace. And then, when the day is done, I will place my head on my pillow and rest."

I Am Hoping. . .to finish decorating the porch! Glory! How nice it will be to have the whole thing livable!

Around The House . . .3 dogs. Need I say more?

One Of My Favorite Things. . .is a homey home.

Something You May Not Know About Me. . .I have not put out very much birdseed since we've moved here. I used to put out pounds per week. Now we have lots of trees. And lots of squirrels. I am not fond of rodents of any variety. They eat birdseed. While enjoying the newly rearranged porch this morning, the Titmice, Chickadees & Cardinals came to accuse me. Accusing me of lying to them. While at the old house I told them about our move, 2 miles as the crow flies &amp that I'd continue feeding them if they followed me here. They know that's not true. They know I lie.

I need to do as my brother did & buy one of those funky squirrel feeders that are off balance &amp as a result the squirrels flip off - flying through the air. I might as well get some enjoyment - right?

About Today's Photo...This photo is from Tara Dillard's blog. I love, love this structure. . . which is in Douglasville, Georgia. Supposedly built from a lot of *found* materials, it is perfect...just perfect! Don't you love the metal culvert over the doorway? I so want this conservatory!

I almost covet it. Except..except....except for our dreaded mosquitoes. And snakes. And what is to keep mice from setting up house in the bed? Or the dresser drawers? Not to mention having to drag everything into the house when rains come. But. . . . . if I lived in Eden - this is the shelter I'd want!

For Today - October 17, 2010 - Sunday

Outside My Window. . It is sunny & cool w/out a cloud in t he sky & lots & lots of crunchy leaves.

I Am Hearing . . .Birds & traffic

I Am Wearing...black velour pants & eggplant colored v-neck, 3/4 sleeve T, walking shoes & a soft Italian made scarf around my neck. I bought it for pennies from the thrift store about a dozen years ago. I still love it.

I Am Thinking . . I need to finish cleaning off the porch.

I Am Wondering . . .if Kevin will really go visit Norway this winter!

I Am Grateful. . . that 5 drops of Young Living lavender on a piece of bread got rid of all my allergy symptoms: watery eyes, running nose, sneezing, sore throat & "blah" feeling. All symptoms gone in less than an hour!

From The Kitchen . . . Homemade chicken noodle soup.

I Am Reading . . am not currently reading anything. Yeah - I know - there must be a crack in the matrix! :)

I Am Hoping. . .to finish clearing off porch, wash some laundry, & tidy guest room.

Around The House . . Heritage photos waiting to go into upper cupboard; floors crying out to be swept/vacuumed & an ironing board set up in the dining room, waiting for me to continue sewing grand daughter's pinafore.

One Of My Favorite Things. . .is a day like today!

Something You May Not Know About Me. . .I keep a crock-pot in my bedroom. I've recently started giving massages & one of the last things is to put a hot, damp towel on the person's back. It's easier for me to prepare ahead of time & keep it warm in the crock-pot. So - - - when I'm looking for it this Thanksgiving - please remind me to look in my bedroom!

About Today's Photo...I miss our chickens.

For Today - October 4, 2010, Monday

Outside My Window. . It is sunny & cool w/out a cloud in t he sky & lots & lots of crunchy leaves.

I Am Hearing . . .Birds & a clock ticking.

I Am Wearing...black velour pants & red v-neck, 3/4 sleeve T.

I Am Thinking . . I need to go walking as soon as I'm finished w/lunch.

I Am Wondering . . .if I have enough paint to finish painting frames. I have a photo shoot tomorrow & we will possibly have frame the student council! ;)

I Am Grateful. . . for Kwabena coming over last evening to encourage me & pray with me. What a wonderful surprise! What a guy!

From The Kitchen . . . Pot roast w/carrots & potatoes in the oven.

I Am Reading . . Feng Shui God's Way by Janet McBride

I Am Hoping. . .that hubby wears the strip to keep him from snoring. I didn't get much sleep last night!

Around The House . . .a quilt waiting to be folded & some stuff in the bedroom to put away. Oh yeah - & I guess it's time to sort through the cold-weather clothing.

One Of My Favorite Things. . .is a day like today!

Something You May Not Know About Me. . . My two favorite salad dressing: olive oil w/salt & pepper. And, are you ready for this one? Carlson's lemon-flavored cod liver oil + a few drops of YL lemon oil + salt + pepper. Yep - those are my most favoritist!

About Today's Photo...I seldom get headaches, but this one (a couple of months ago) was a doozy!