Oh, what a beautiful Mornin’
Oh, what a beautiful day.
I’ve got a beautiful feelin’
Everything’s goin’ my way.

I am singing a Happy Little Working song this morning. I have much to do. I have company coming tomorrow for the morning and for lunch. I want to have as much done as I possibly can today.

It is a beautiful day and I feel energized. I woke up early this morning and was up before 6 am. At 7 am, I drove to the grocery store and did my shopping. Home by 8 am and put everything away. At 8:45 am, Little Bear and I took a lovely walk. Breakfast at 9:15 am and chance to catch my breath.

Aside from my regular chores and laundry, I want to do some baking. I’ll make the sugar cookie dough this morning and then roll out, cut (Shamrock shapes), decorate, and bake this afternoon. I also am going to bake a special something for my guests. (It’s a secret for the moment.)

I’m tempted to start decorating for Spring though it is still days away. The weather is so spring-like (though we are supposed to get rain/snow this weekend). Perhaps I’ll just put out a few Spring decorations.

I am behind in visiting everyone’s blogs. I hope to catch up sometime today or tomorrow afternoon. Please forgive my absence.

Blessings

I had the most wonderful time on my ladies weekend retreat. I have been on ladies’ retreats in the past and this one by far has been the best one. The women were so loving and humble and I felt all the fruits of the spirit just radiate from each of them. Such a blessed time.

The food was delicious and plentiful. (I weighed myself and gained 1 lb this last week.) That pound was worth it though.

The shared stories, the Scripture, the prayer, the songs – all of it spoke to my heart and I felt God’s loving care. This weekend was such a lovely experience and I shall always remember it. There is a “reunion” one evening next week and I am praying about joining the team to work on next year’s retreat. That is how wonderful it was! (And for me, being so shy, that speaks volumes.)

Everyone at home survived while I was away. Little Miss Matilda Bear was so happy to see me home again.

I have much to do today but with a joyful heart, work is not a burden but a prayer.

Can it be so that spring is only days away? Be still, my heart. The weather has been not quite so dreary and I have had the pleasure of listening to birds singing their sweet songs.

A little bird landed on one of the front porch rails and Little Miss Matilda Bear did not care for it to be there. She barked and barked at it and the little bird just looked at her and cheeped. Off it flew to sing another song where it would be more welcome.

I am almost ready for my weekend away. My clothes are clean, pressed, and almost packed. I have my dinners planned for tonight and tomorrow for my family. I have my check list for them almost complete.

I am eager, and a bit nervous, for my ladies retreat. I’ll tell you all about it when I return.

Blessings

Today I have decided to do as many chores as I possibly can to free up the end of the week. Friday morning, I have my Lenten Bible Study. Last week, it was canceled due to the storm. I am hoping it does not snow this week. I also am going to be attending (God willing!) a ladies weekend retreat at church. I will be away from Friday evening until Saturday evening. I am looking forward to this quiet time away and getting to know more ladies from the church.

I am going to try very hard to watch what I eat until then so I can enjoy the lovely food that will be served on the retreat. Yesterday’s diet went well. I may have not had enough calories and I’ll have to watch that. I tend to be OCD about things like this and need to be balanced. It really is best to lose just one pound a week. I will weigh in and report on Mondays what I’ve (hopefully) lost and not gained.

And now to my chores – Blessings to your day!

It is Monday morning, March 1st, and I can see the faintest light of spring at the end of the tunnel. My thoughts turn to what I’d like to accomplish between now and then.

One of the first items on my list of Needful Things To Do is to lose a few pounds. I gained a few over the holidays and I would like them to go far far away. My husband has also added this item to his list and as a bit of incentive for both of us, we’ve decided to put our money where our mouth is (grammatical error yet “mouths are” just doesn’t look right to me). We both weighed ourselves this morning and we will weigh ourselves on June 1st to determine how much weight we’ve lost. (We can weigh ourselves periodically as well if we’d like.) For every pound that we’ve lost, we will receive $20. The more weight lost the more money we’ll receive. It is a fun little challenge. I don’t know what I’d buy with the money I win but I will think of something!

So here I am on Day 1 at X weight. If I lose a pound a week, then I will have lost 14 pounds. I think I can do that. I feel like the little train going up the steep mountain I think I can. I think I can.

I have been trying to eat healthier for the most part. It is very difficult when the food tastes so good. I am thinking that smaller portions, more fruits, and less desserts will be my game book. And of course that four letter word exercise. With the weather improving, I look forward to walking with Little Bear daily.

I think writing online about my adventure will help keep me accountable. At least I hope it will. Please feel free to share any weight loss tips that have worked for you.

Blessings

The storm has subsided and it is time to dig out! Thankfully, we did not experience hurricane force winds and the trees remain intact. We have quite a lot of snow – almost 2 feet. The world looks magical. I am expecting to see Mr. Tumnus standing near my lamppost, any time now, expecting a cup of tea. My kettle is on just in case he does drop by for a visit.

I find myself at a crossroads. Do I continue on as if nothing has changed or do I follow what is “best”? Sometimes what is best results in falling down the rabbit hole.

I can relate very well to Alice. She is not the brightest of characters but I must say that her life is never boring. Or perhaps I should say her “lives” are never boring?

I have struggled lately with writing this journal. I feel as if I have “written myself into a corner”. And I see how this may not have been the “best” thing.

Though I have always been honest and will continue to be so, I have become myself a character, much like Alice in her real world, when in reality, I am more like Alice through the looking glass.

There are moments of clarity and peace and there are moments of madness and peace. There are also moments of clarity and unrest and there are moments of madness and unrest. Peace is not always an option.

Yes, there is the peace of God that surpasses all understanding. It is with God’s grace that His peace comes most in those times of unrest. Faith brings clarity to the madness but does not stop it.

When I say madness, do not picture padded rooms, blood-curling screams, and men in white coats with big nets. Rather picture falling down the rabbit hole: what is upside down is right side up and what is right side up is upside down.

Why now? Why write of this now? No doubt that some of this is all the emotions involved with my mother who is in hospice but it also due to an email I received.

I received an email from someone I know who sees my life as being “ideal”, who wants to know how I do it, and so on and so forth.

And I want to say

NO. You do not want my life. What you read is truth and reality but it is a small part of who I am and what my life is.

Yes, I am the quiet gentle spirit who loves God, her family, and her home. But I am also a woman broken into a hundred puzzle pieces. Some days the pieces fit and some days the pieces don’t and some days the pieces are not all there.

It is not lack of faith. It is not because I am not saved. It is because it is. And the light I see is God working and healing and using me in spite of it all. And there, my friends, is God’s grace.

If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is, because everything would be what it isn’t. And contrary wise, what is, it wouldn’t be. And what it wouldn’t be, it would. You see? ~ Alice in Wonderland

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The first headline that I read this morning was

Monstrous, Damaging Storm Looms for the Northeast.

I am struggling a bit with being content.  The freezing cold temperatures, ice, and snow have been relentless this winter. I find myself playing The Glad Game ala Pollyanna. This storm is forecast to include hurricane winds, coastal flooding, and blizzard conditions. It is due to start tomorrow afternoon into Friday morning.

Would you care to play the Glad Game with me? I’ll start by listing wonderful things about being snowed in..

*my husband may not be able to go to work (NYC) and if so, I will enjoy his company

*sitting all cozy by the fire

*hot cocoa tastes better during blizzards

*if the snow doesn’t turn to ice, Little Bear can play in the snow (always a joy to watch!)

The weekend went by too quickly for my liking.  I enjoyed every moment with the girls.  We did all that I mentioned earlier including going to the movies.  We saw Shutter Island.  It was different than I imagined it would be but I really liked it nonetheless.  There was quite a Hitchcock flavor to it and I think the acting was superb (Ben Kingsley especially).

This morning, I am going to try to run as many of my errands as I can.  Snow is predicted for the rest of the week and I’d like to get it all done.  Spring can not come soon enough for me.

For now, a cup of tea will do with a promise of another when I return.

I am a happy mother with almost all my little chicks home tonight.  Our weekend plans are filled with baking, cooking, games, and a movie.  I don’t think I will have much time to write.

I did want to let everyone in on a wonderful surprise – Little Miss Matilda Bear’s groomer is going to be on Animal Planet tomorrow night.  She is being featured on the show Underdog to Wonderdog.  Her name is Ellen Ehrlich. She often does charity work with dogs such as grooming homeless shelter dogs and helping raise money to help animal associations. She is a sweetheart and I am very excited to see her on television. We’ll get to see her groom a dog in her Mobile Grooming van. I am going to DVR it so Little Bear can watch it too. The show is on at 9 pm Eastern Standard time here. I’ll include the link to the show so if anyone is interested, you can check to see what time it is on in your area.

Underdog to Wonderdog

It is late Thursday afternoon and I am just now sitting down to write. Yesterday was filled with numerous activities and errands. My favorite being going to mass. I can’t remember the last time I received ashes on Ash Wednesday. What a blessing the service was. I’ve much to think about this season of Lent.

I usually would save my marketing for Thursday but I had heard it would snow again so I went yesterday. I am glad that I was wrong about the weather as it was sunny today. I was extra careful walking wherever it was icy. Last week, I fell in the parking lot. I’m just a bit banged up and rather colorful. It could have been worse and I am thankful that it wasn’t.

Today was a lovely stay at home day. I have been busy cleaning and doing laundry (six loads). My eldest and youngest daughters are coming home this weekend for a visit. I want as much done as possible.

I will be attending my first Lenten study group at church tomorrow morning. I am a bit nervous as I am quite shy. Your prayers would be greatly appreciated.

I hope everyone is warm and cozy. Blessings

The period of time between now and the end of March is an odd sort of time. It is always winter and not quite spring. It is time to put the Valentine’s decorations away and too early for the Easter/Spring ones to come out. I don’t think this is necessarily a bad thing. My little cottage home almost breathes a sigh of relief from the holiday festivities. It says Less is More. I agree.

The snow outside is lovely enough and I am encouraged to feather my little nest with a candle or two and most definitely a warm fire in the fireplace.

My books are calling to me to read them this day. And I think I will listen.

I love three day weekends. My husband is home today and it was wonderful spending most of the day together. No alarm was set to wake us up this morning! We were up by seven o’clock anyway. Neither one of us are night owls and sleeping in until seven feels late!

I have almost all my Valentine’s Day decorations put away. I didn’t have that many out. Sometimes I just like a little touch of holiday here and there.

Tonight’s dinner will be leftovers: Sour Cream Enchiladas. We went out to a steakhouse yesterday for lunch and dinner was a little of this and that. I could not finish my steak and salad for lunch so I ate my salad for dinner. My husband feasted on the Gluten-free brownies that I baked just for him (well, I had a small piece).

I hate to see the long weekend end. The good news is that it won’t be too long until our next weekend.

Blessings

Let me call you sweetheart
I’m in love with you
Let me hear you whisper that you love me too
Keep the love light glowing in your eyes so true
Let me call you sweetheart
I’m in love with you

Let me call you sweetheart
I’m in love with you
Let me hear you whisper that you love me too
Keep the love light glowing in your eyes so true
Let me call you sweetheart
I’m in love with you

Beth Slater Whitson, 1910

Click on the link below to listen to Bing Crosby sing

Let Me Call You Sweetheart

Happy Valentine’s Day to you, dear ones

It has been a busy Saturday. It is only six fifteen and I feel as if I could settle down to sleep right this very moment. I think I’ll fix a cup of hot cocoa to wake me up a bit.

My sweet husband accompanied me this morning on a variety of errands. We first visited Chef Central to purchase the last items I will need to bake my artisan bread. Starbucks was next and then Pet Goods. I returned an item that I hadn’t realized was so expensive and purchase other items that were much better for the same price as the one item. Little Bear even received a little stuffed squeaky bone and has not destroyed it yet. Whole Foods was our second to the last store to visit and the grocery store was the last. I usually don’t go to that particular grocery store as it is farther and usually crazy trying to find parking. We were in and out fairly quickly. Little Bear was happy when we returned home.

I decided to try a new recipe, Sour Cream Enchiladas, for dinner and it was very good. I served them with the pinto beans that I had cooked last night. My husband and I are both glad that there are some leftover!

Pleasant Saturday Dreams to you and yours.

My husband took this picture of one of the Valentine cookies that I baked. I baked large heart and small hearts. I sprinkled about 3/4 of them with red sprinkles. The others I set aside to ice and decorate.

I was a little unsure as how my cookies would turn out as I didn’t use butter, margarine, or crisco. Instead I used a natural oil blend (soybean, palm fruit, canola, and olive) “butter” that contained no dairy. I found it at Whole Foods and it is called Earth Balance. My son is allergic to dairy and I used to use a margarine that he could tolerate that didn’t include dairy. The company has since changed and includes dairy in that. I wasn’t sure how this Earth Balance would turn out.

I am very happy with the end product. The cookies are delicious! They taste better than those made with butter and they are healthier. (Does this mean I can eat more of them?)

Yesterday, I mixed up some Royal Icing and iced the plain cookies all in white. I let them dry overnight. This morning, I mixed up more icing and added pink to it. I decorated the iced cookies with hearts, flowers, and names. I’m pretty new at “decorating” cookies as I usually just make them simple. I will say that I did enjoy doing so. I may have to make them more often.

I’ll ask my husband to take a picture or two of the iced hearts when he has the chance. (Unless they are eaten too quickly!) I am enjoying one as I write. It was my first attempt at decorating and it had a mistake on it so I had to eat it!

I haven’t decided what to do next after my tea. My errands are done – post office and to get my hair cut. (I love my hair short!) The house is tidy, the laundry is done, and I have beans and chili simmering on the stove for dinner tonight. A lovely Friday, it is.

Blessings.

Little Miss Matilda Bear loves the snow.  My husband took these pictures yesterday.  She stayed nice and warm in her pink parka and snow booties (though both were a bit big for her). At some point, one of her booties fell off but my dear husband found it in the snow.

She had a wonderful time frolicking in the snow. After she came in and dried off, she settled down for a long nap.

Thank you all for your kind words and prayers. I am blessed to count you as friends.

I looked out the window this morning and the world was covered in such a beautiful blanket of snow. It is snowing still and should continue most of the day. The winds are due to pick up and we are supposed to have “blizzard conditions”. I am thankful not to have to go anywhere today.

My son has the day off from school and my husband is working at home. Today is a gift (as each day is though sometimes I fail to recognize that).

I decided to make Valentine sugar cookies today. The dough is ready and chilling in the refrigerator. My husband is going to help roll them out and I’ll cut them (heart shapes) and decorate most of them with red sprinkles. I am going to save the rest to ice and decorate tomorrow.

After I made the cookie dough, my husband and I played with Little Bear in the snow. This is the first time she’s worn her little snow booties. She didn’t seem to mind wearing them and loved frolicking in the snow. She did lose one of her booties but my dear husband searched for it and found it. She had a marvelous time and should now settle down for a long nap. That sounds like a wonderful idea and I may join her when my cookies are baked.

Blessings

I appreciate everyone’s responses to my question below. Without getting into too much of the whole story, I would ask prayer please for my mother. She is in hospice now and I don’t know how long she will live. I am unable to visit her for reasons I can’t really discuss. My heart and prayers go out to her and I pray that she is comfortable and knows and feels God’s loving grace. I know there is nothing else I can do. I am doing my best day by day and resting in the arms of our Gentle Shepherd.

When you are going through a difficult time, do you share it with others or do you tend to keep it to yourself? Is it best to not burden others? I often don’t know what to do.