Observing My Senses

For Today, January 9, 2010...

I am seeing...rainfall. It's been raining all day, and judging by the clouds it's not going to stop anytime soon.

I am feeling...the COLD. Weatherman says it's 43 degrees but with 14 mph winds it feels like 36 degrees. The rain makes it feel even colder. I'm so thankful I don't have to go anywhere today.

I am tasting...soup. Chicken soup. What else would anyone eat on a cold day?

I am hearing...Batman cartoons. Superheroes never seem to get old. At least not the classic ones.

I am smelling...onions, zucchini, garlic, tomatoes; a delectable medley of vegetables.

It takes just a moment to stop and observe what's going on around you. Won't you join me?

The Week in Review

Actually, I did a mid-week update, so just to fill in the rest of the days:

- Hubby is still in Central Florida. At this point it looks like he may be there all weekend. New stores mean all the shelves and freezers have to be filled, and it takes alot of work. We're just thankful he has work.

- I switched out the furniture in the family and living rooms, and I'll be posting pics soon. It's so different, my daughter's best friend came over and thought we'd bought new furniture! Both rooms look bigger which is nice also.

- If you're in the frigid North, South Florida is the place to be today! It's 75 degrees out, sunny, no humidity, just beautiful. Weatherman says it won't last, though. Another cold front is due in tomorrow, and Sunday we're down to the 30's. This weather is just crazy! We hadn't had so many cold days in a row in a long time. It's due to get back to normal on Tuesday. Let's see if that's true.

- Wednesday night Bible study was a very interesting and thought provoking topic. "If 2010 were your last year on earth..." Hmm. What would I do? Who would I speak to about Jesus? Truth is, our lives can end at any moment. There's no guarantee any of us will reach old age. Do I live my life like today is my last day here?

- Cub Scouts are preparing for a big camp out this month. I hope to attend with my son, though I'm not an outdoor girl by any means. That will be a brand new experience for me.

Since it's Friday night and Hubby is still out of town, we'll be having frozen pizza for dinner. A's friend JB is coming over and we're gonna play a card game called Phase 10. We played it before and it's fun, though I was pretty upset after I was so far ahead and suddenly found myself losing. My son R cleaned the floor with all of us! Too bad he has to work tonight. It's so much fun when we have game nights.

Hope everyone has a blessed weekend.

What's Going On

- It is COLD outside! This morning the temperature reading was 39 degrees, but with the wind chill factor it felt like 32. This is South Florida, we aren't supposed to have wind chill factors! I know there are those up North who are poo-pooing weather in the 30's because they're suffering thru much more frigid temperatures. Let me just remind them: whether you're in sunny Florida or the snow capped mountains of Colorado, 32 degrees is COLD. And we're feeling it.

- My hubby is in Central Florida starting today for some store openings. It's colder up there: wind chills make it feel like it's in the 20's. He's not too happy. It's bad enough to be away from home and family for 3-5 days, but in this weather it's even more miserable.

- I took my daughter and her best friend to the mall yesterday because A had some gift certificates she wanted to spend, one from the Gap and two from Banana Republic. Mind you, we don't normally shop at these stores because the prices are what I call "stupid ridiculous". I had no intention of getting anything for myself because frankly, even if I could afford it, I won't pay $80 for a shirt. Since we went to an outlet mall the prices tend to be better, though. They had some corduroy skirts in the clearance rack which caught my eye. Corduroy is a fabric not commonly seen in South Florida. Out of curiosity I checked the price: $6.99. "Okay," I thought, "what's wrong with it?" I turned the skirt inside out and looked all around. It was a perfectly good skirt. I went to the dressing room; it's a little shorter than I typically wear, since it's right on the knee, but it's not too short to look tacky or immodest. So I went back and got one in burgundy and one in black, because at $6.99 it was a steal. Then I saw some more skirts and thought, "Could it be?" Sure enough, I found a beautiful grey pinstripe wrap-style skirt for $7.99 and a brown tweed skirt, same style as the grey, for $15.99 (better quality fabric). I got 4 skirts for $40 and was thrilled! We then went to Books-A-Million and I found a Bible Dictionary and Concordance for $9.97, and the book Having a Mary Spirit by Joanna Weaver for $4.97. I was so glad, because I was wanting a study guide for my personal study time and this price can't be beat. The book has a fourteen week study guide which I'm gonna take advantage of.

- I've got almost all the Christmas stuff packed in boxes waiting to go back into the attic. Problem is, my son's in school and working and now Hubby is out of town, which will delay things a bit. Still, I plan on pressing on. My latest decorating idea: I'm going to switch the living and family rooms a little. Not entirely; the furniture in the living room wouldn't all fit in the family room because of the layout. Just switching the sofas, love seat and chairs. It'll give the family room furniture a rest.

That's what's going on in my life so far. Have a blessed rest of your week.

The Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today, January 4, 2010...

Outside my window...it's COLD!!! I woke up to 44 degrees this morning. I know, for many Northerners that's spring weather right now, but for us it's very cold. And tomorrow promises to be in the 30's.

I am thinking...yes, it's cold, but Minnesota is colder. I'd rather be here.

I am thankful...for our warm and cozy home.

I am going...grocery shopping.

I am wearing...blue button down shirt under blue sweater, jeans, socks.

I am remembering...Y2K. Can you believe that was 10 years ago?!?!

I am creating...well, already created a shopping list.

I am reading...Exodus for morning devotions, finished Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen, and I'll be reading Sense and Sensibility again because my youngest son gave me the book for my birthday.

I am hoping...this cold weather doesn't aggravate my son's cough.

On my mind...I need to get all the Christmas decorations put away, but my oldest son hasn't been available to get the boxes down from the attic.

From the learning rooms...it's the first day back to school for E and R. My daughter A doesn't go back till next Monday.

I am noticing that...winter came later than usual for us. Does this mean it's gonna stick around longer too?

I am pondering these words..."He who guards his mouth preserves his life, but he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction." - Proverbs 13:3.


From the kitchen today...tilapia. I didn't make it last week because we had so many leftovers.


Around the house...one word: LAUNDRY!!


One of my favorite things...is snuggling up under the covers on a cold winter day.


A few plans for the rest of the week...we're getting back to normal, with Awana and Cub Scouts. My daughter and I will be going to the mall to burn some gift cards. Hubby may be going to Central Florida this week for some store openings; he won't find out till later today. Haven't made too many plans waiting to see his schedule.


From my picture journal...the newest addition to the family: cousin N Jr. I've known his mom since she was 4 years old; now she the mommy of three little ones. My, how time flies!

Wanna join in the fun? Visit Peggy at the Simple Woman's Daybook. God bless.

Observing My Senses

For Today, January 2, 2010...

I am seeing...sunshine on a "cold" day. Cold for South Florida, anyway. It's 50 degrees outside, and windy.

I am feeling...the chill from a winter day. Not too cold, not hot. Very nice weather.

I am tasting...Italian cookies my niece made. Yummy with my morning coffee.

I am hearing...my son cough. He's got a bit of a cold.

I am smelling...clean air. When the weather is like this, the air smells crisp and wonderful.

It takes just a moment to stop and observe what's going on around you. Won't you join me?

The Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today, December 28, 2009...


Outside my window...looks like we might get a shower this morning. It's in the 60's, but the weatherman says it'll be in the upper 40's tomorrow. Brrr!!!

I am thinking...of all the packing up of Christmas decorations that I'll hopefully start today. It's so much stuff, and I've enjoyed having it out, but it's time to go back to the attic till next Christmas.

I am thankful...for the lovely Christmas we enjoyed, remembering the birth of our Savior, and for my 2 precious children who had birthdays yesterday: my daughter A turned 20 and my son E turned 10.

I am going...nowhere today. Too much stuff to do at home.

I am wearing...a red housedress for now, will change after posting this.

I am remembering...my daughter's face when she opened her present. I'd wrapped a keyboard stand in red paper with a big gold ribbon on top, and it reminded us of the Red Rider BB gun in the movie "A Christmas Story". She looked at it and wondered why we would give her a keyboard stand if she has no keyboard. I brought out the large box from my bedroom and her face lit up as she understood.

I am creating...a list of things that need to be done around the house.

I am reading...Genesis for morning devotions, and Puerto Rican Cuisine by Oswald Rivera, which my son R got me for Christmas. He loves giving me cookbooks because he loves my cooking.

I am hoping...the weather stays cool but not cold.

On my mind...decorating the home.

From the learning rooms...we've taken it easy these last few days of celebrating, but reading needs to start again.

I am noticing that...I'm getting more and more forgetful. If I don't write things down I forget to do them. Old age?

I am pondering these words..."Everything has its wonders, even darkness and silence, and I learn, whatever state I may be in, therein to be content." - Helen Keller.

From the kitchen today...pot roast in the crock pot.

Around the house...laundry to fold, and Christmas decorations to pack up.

One of my favorite things...is my new camera, although I'm still having trouble getting the card read by the computer. It works when my son puts it in but it won't work for me. Hmm....

A few plans for the rest of the week...New Years Eve is on Thursday, and we'll be going over to grandma's again. Other than that, it should be pretty quiet.

From my picture journal...sorry, couldn't get it to work this morning. I'll try again later. :-(

Wanna join in the fun? Visit Peggy at the Simple Woman's Daybook. God bless.

A Humorous Picture of Christmas

From Church Laughs at ChristianityToday.com:

A little girl came home from Sunday school waving a paper for her mother to see. "Look Mommy," she exclaimed, "Teacher says I drew the most unusual Christmas picture she ever saw!"

Her mother took one look and had to agree with the teacher. Hoping her daughter could explain her creation, the mother asked, "Why are all these people riding in the back of an airplane?"

"Well, Mommy, that's the flight into Egypt."

Accepting that, mother asked another question: "Who is this mean-looking man in the front?"

Her daughter answered quickly and knowingly: "That's Pontius, the Pilot."

Looking at the picture even more closely, the mother said, "I see you have Mary and Joseph and the baby. But who is this large man sitting behind Mary?"

"Can't you tell?" the little girl asked, beginning to shake her head in disappointment. "That's Round John Virgin."

Kids are funnier than any comedian! Merry Christmas!