Simple Woman's Daybook

Yes, it's been a while! Thought I'd get back into the swing of things with one of my favorite link ups: The Simple Woman's Daybook . Join me?

For Today...

Outside my window...

a pair of mallard ducks are back, repurposing our winterized pool for their own personal pond

Oh, and just now, this....

I am thankful...

my daughter is back in town again, after six months of solo trekking adventures in S.E. Asia!

I am learning...

about YL Essential Oils and enjoying my diffuser!

ahhh... Lavender... 

I am wearing...

jeans, t shirt (short sleeved) with a sweater close at hand, socks and slippers. Nothing that would make me stand out in a crowd!  It's a blustery, cooler day outside.  After several days of warm sunshine, this is an adjustment!  Socks to barefeet and back again!

I am creating...

a knitted comfort throw for my older sister's birthday coming up in June.

I am going...

to the Gold Medal Women's International Hockey game tonight! Canada vs USA

I am wondering...

..about decisions I must make. There's always that balance between being true to my own needs/feelings/desires and the needs/desires of others. What's the right thing to do..??

I am reading...

a number of books (as usual). Looking forward to getting into

Presence - Bringing Your Boldest Self to Your Biggest Challenges by Amy Cuddy. Maybe it will give me some insight into what I am wondering (see above)..

I am hoping...

for a clean bill of health in the next little while! Time to do the annual bloodwork, etc.. and more.

I am learning...

more about myself through reading The Enneagram: A Christian Perspective by Richard Rohr and Andreas Ebert. Here's looking at you, Type Five!

In my garden...

the garlic is growing, and that's about it 

right now. Enjoying the first pop of color in my flower bed.

In my kitchen...

I have a Whole30 Paleo Minestrone soup/stew cooking in the crockpot. I hope it's tasty!! Day 4 of Whole30. So far, so good.

A favorite quote for today...

"Never confuse your perception of yourself with the mystery that you really are accepted."

Brennan Manning, The Ragamuffin Gospel

One of my favorite things...

kicking back at the end of the day, enjoying The Voice on my iPad app

A peek into one of my days...

hiking companion-- Battle Bluff family hike Easter 2016

Post Script

A playlist I'm enjoying on Spotify..

Acoustic Spring

Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today... Wednesday already!?

Outside my window...

there's a breeze blowing and the clouds are keeping the temperature reasonable, thankfully!

I am thinking... 

summer goes by much too quickly, so I must be sure to enjoy a summer moment each day, to make the most of it.

 I think I will make some cold brew coffee this afternoon! 

I am thankful...

for fans to keep the house cool when there is no air conditioning!

I am wearing...

my default  clothing these days: short (but not too!) denim skirt and a blue t-shirt and of course, flip flops :)

I am creating...

a prayer shawl.. almost done, but haven't been knitting much lately

I am going...

to be painting up a storm this weekend at my son's newly purchased home!

I am wondering...

why I have more energy when I'm visiting my sister than when I am back at home?

I am reading...

She's one of my favorite fiction writers. I've enjoyed every book she's written, 

and this one is no exception. 

I am hoping...

to be inspired to continue my computer work once I post this blog. I am really hoping to be done my work by the weekend. I am truly hoping that this is possible.  

I am learning...

that the prayer of relinquishment might be a good thing.  

In my garden...

grows a little of this and a little of that - carrots, beets, strawberries,

 beans, zucchini, garlic, kale... and I mean little.. everything is still LITTLE! 

(except the weeds)

In my kitchen...

there's a sink full of dirty dishes, which I aim to clean up very soon. You'd think with only two people living here right now, I'd keep things super tidy. 

Doesn't seem to work that way, though! 

A favorite quote for today...

"When it feels impossible to see the world differently, begin by moving your body, not your attitude. Movement triggers a chain of physical, mental, and emotional reactions that ease the passage to a larger perspective. " from Healing Walks for Hard Times by Carolyn Scott Kortge

A peek into one of my days...

This was a few weeks ago, but my girlfriend and I refinished my tired old chairs. Love them now!

One of my favorite things...

is this little wee addition to our family. Meet Enzo. Or Taco. Or Twitch. Or Henry.  We haven't quite decided yet. 

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For Today..

Outside my window...

I see blue skies, wood stove smoke wafting down  from our chimney, tree branches trembling in the frigid temperatures (-16 C!! = 3.2 F) 

I am thinking... about priorities today...work or play? 

I am thankful...for Christmas purchases done online! 

In the kitchen...I have several lbs of stewing beef thawing in preparation for making Dutch croquettes (can't have Christmas without 'em!)

I am wearing...comfy jeans, my "on second thought" sweater retrieved from the giveaway bag, homemade wool socks, slippers, and silver hoop earrings

I am creating...fingerless mitts from Kenzie wool, a  Christmas gift for my son's girlfriend

I am going...to a dessert fundraiser tonight for our local university's 

International Student Ministries. Dessert and friends - no better combination than that! 

I am wondering...if Sadie Robertson from Duck Dynasty is going to win the mirror ball trophy on Dancing With the Stars (I've been catching the last few episodes online...it's my guilty pleasure! )

I am reading...Let Your Life Speak by Parker J. Palmer

I am hoping...to spend a little time making Christmas cards today. 

I am looking forward to...setting up the Christmas tree in the corner of our living room today. No ornaments and decorations till next Saturday's family brunch, though! I hope I can hold back! 

I am learning to let go of regrets. Sometimes it's the little ones that keep coming back and pestering me. Every happen to you? 

Around the house...hardly a noise but the tap tapping of computer keys, the soothing music of Classical piano and strings on Spotify, and  the lulling sounds of the dishwasher. A quiet Saturday..

I am pondering...why I seem to be misplacing my mitts so often..should probably knit a few more pairs just for me. 

A favourite quote for today...

Lead, Kindly Light..

Keep thou my feet:

I do not ask to see

The distant scene; one

step enough for me

One of my favourite things... is watching really good movies.. any recommendations?

A few plans for the rest of the week: the week's almost over! Wrap up a Christmas gift or two, make some cards, pick up an interlibrary loan book at the library, knit, and hopefully do a bit of online work. It's already early afternoon, so I probably won't actually get to all of that today. But there's always Sunday!  I'm on coffee bar duty, so I'll make a few lattes for fellow gatherers at church tomorrow and visit with a few other couples at our life group tomorrow night. 

A peek into my day...

Join in the fun with The Simple Woman's Daybook here. 

The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY

Outside my window... it's been raining on and off all day,

 and it's quite cool in the house.

I am thinking...that I wish I was done with my online work so I could get 

my hands dirty in my vegetable and flower garden without guilt! 

I am thankful that our pool is now open! (even though it's too cold to use)

In the kitchen...I have leftovers waiting. Leftover steak, chicken kabobs, and potato salad made from small potatoes -- very yummy!

I am wearing skinny jeans, purple T shirt, and bare feet wrapped in a blanket!

I am creating a knitted pair of wool socks for winter. Some of mine are getting well worn and I'd like to have one new pair ready for Fall. Haven't been knitting much lately, though.

I am going nowhere this week, since I was gone for 3 days last week

 and now it's catch up time! The farthest I may travel is from the computer to the bedroom, or maybe the garden. 

I am wondering how to balance my time so that I can still enjoy other activities

even though I'm on a deadline to get these Report Cards done! It's been 10 years and I'm still not satisfied with how to balance work and play!

I am reading so many good books now, I can hardly stand it! Pursue the Intentional Life by Jean Fleming (reading along with InCourage Book Club -- highly recommended!)

The Distant Land of My Father by Bo Caldwell (great fiction that reads like a memoir..maybe it IS true? mmm... )Reclaiming Eve by Suzanne Burden and Madeleine L'Engle's A Circle of Quiet, and more.. have begun in broken places by Michele Phoenix, with the Midday Connection's 'You Pick' book club, but it hasn't grabbed me so I've put it aside. Not sure I'll finish it..or maybe I should give it more time.  

I am hoping to exercise more regularly (again). Had a  cold and cough which dragged on and  stole my energy and drive. Feeling a lot better now. No excuses, is what that means.
 

I am looking forward to taking a short writing course online this Fall called "Journaling For Creative Growth" I'm a little afraid, because it takes commitment and I'm a 'commitment-phobe' at times!

I am learning that when you stick yourself out and take a risk, 

most often it's a good thing. Not always, but often. 

Around the house, it's awfully quiet. It's supper time and no one's home but me. 

So, I keep typing. Will warm up leftovers when my man gets home. 

I am pondering how great it was that our sons did the time-consuming work of opening up (summer-izing) our pool this year, surprising their dad who was working overtime on Saturday. He sure appreciated it! 

A favorite quote for today... "Ironically, to soar I must taste my weakness and my need. In the turbulence of life, I reach out to God. Surely, hurricane gales would carry me off if God's firm grip failed. But His love will not let me go. I find refuge in Him, and I soar. I soar in the growing knowledge and experience of God himself. He reveals Himself in Word as faithful, compassionate, loving, and able. The Lord meets me in my "squall". Life's storms and stresses draw me closer to Him. I soar most in the shadow of His wings."  (from Pursue the Intentional Life by Jean Fleming, p. 43,44)

One of my favorite things is to have a highlighter or pencil with me when I'm reading. Then, later, I can find the quotes I so enjoyed, in order to share them. 

A few plans for the rest of the week: work, work,work, take a break, buy flowers, replant some seeds in the garden, break off the scapes from my garlic plants (I'm so proud of them. They are growing so well!)

A peek into my day:

Buddy the Cat in a quiet moment

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