Move It Mondays

Remember that song by the Carpenters, "Rainy days and Mondays always get me down,"?  Well, rainy Mondays are killers!  The rain started shortly after we got home from church yesterday and it hasn't let up much since then.  We got to play Parcheesi and The Game of Life Spongebob edition, something we enjoyed very much.  Right now it's drizzling, which doesn't seem like much except that we've gotten so much rain the past week or so we've developed new lakes in our area.  Thankfully our backyard hasn't flooded (yet).

So, what's the perfect thing for rainy Mondays?  Soup!  I'll be making my Mexican-style chicken and vegetable soup for lunch.  Before that, I have about 4 loads of laundry to do, and the floors need cleaning.  Molly comes in and out and tracks dirt, so I've got some major cleaning to do.  The good thing is, she doesn't like going out when it's raining so basically she goes when she needs to, about twice a day.  Less clean up afterwards.  I may move some furniture too.  I'd switched the living room and family room furniture, but I think I'll put everything back the way it was.  We like our recliners in the family room so we can...recline!  It means I have a busy morning ahead of me.  And that's just fine.

Have a blessed Monday everyone!

Observing My Senses

For Today, October 15, 2011...

I am seeing...the sun trying desperately to shine through the cloud cover.  It feels like it'll rain today.

I am feeling...joyful.

I am hearing...my cell phone go off.  Must be a text message or email.

I am tasting...pancakes and sausages.

I am smelling...maple syrup.

It just takes a moment to observe your surroundings.  Won't you join me?

Five Question Friday

Welcome to another edition of Five Question Friday!  The day before what's expected to be a rainy weekend. Hmm.  We only got so much rain this week there's a new lake in our park and the backyard started flooding.  The good thing?  It washed away all of Molly's backyard mountains ;).  Here we go:

1. Do you prefer your ice cream in a bowl or in a cone?
I'm not a fan of cones, because they tend to get soft before I'm done savoring my ice cream and they fall apart. My favorite way to have ice cream is in a bowl on top of apple pie or apple crisp or something with apples.  Apples + ice cream = happy me!

2. What three things do you love the smell of?
Roses, towels out of the dryer, and a newborn baby's skin.

3. Giftcards or no? (In regards to gift giving...)
I prefer not to give gift cards because I think an actual gift is more personal.  However, in the case of people I'm not particularly familiar with (school teachers, for instance), I don't mind giving a gift cards to Starbucks or Dunkin' Donuts.  These are people I know as acquaintances but I may not know their personal taste, so I figure this way I can't go wrong.  Unless of course they hate coffee and sweets. :P

4. What sports did you play in high school if any and do you still play them?
I've never been the athletic type, but I did enjoy playing volleyball in high school.  I don't play it anymore.  Again, not into sports.

5. Were you in band in high school? What instrument did you play?
In elementary school and junior high I played the clarinet, though not in a band setting.  Music in high school consisted of singing, and I wasn't in the chorus either.

Now it's your turn.  Mosey on down to Mama M's and answer your five for Friday.  Then have a blessed weekend.

The Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today, October 12, 2011...

Outside my window...the sun is helping the waters recede from yesterday's intense storms.  The rain started around 4:30pm and continued till late into the night.  It rained heavy enough that the backyard was starting to flood.  Good thing the waters went down - I was starting to thing we were gonna have to build an ark!

I am thinking...of the reading for this week, Genesis 37, and Joseph.  A righteous young man who served the Lord yet everything kept going wrong.  Life is often like that, and I'm glad we have these godly examples in Scripture to remind us God is in control.

I am thankful...for my family.

I am going...to Awana tonight.

I am wearing...a blue top, blue and white prairie style skirt, and flip-flops.  It's still warm here, in the mid 70's during the night and morning, and mid 80's by the afternoon.

I am noticing...darker mornings.  Daylight savings time is coming up, and not a moment too soon.

I am pondering these words..."God is responsible for the end results of my efforts to obey and follow Him.  I'm responsible for staying on the path He has marked out for me." - Dr. Bob Barnes.

I am praying...for our Awana team and the girls in my group.

From the learning rooms...science projects have begun, and E is doing the Cooked Bean Experiment.  He's also working on a project for Geography, a pictionary with drawings and definitions of different earth formations and such.

From the kitchen...fish tacos.  My newest favorite meal.

I am reading...the newest Duggar book, A Love That Multiplies.  Got it yesterday from Amazon.  Loving it so far.

On my mind...doctor's appointments and possible procedures.  I have very bad monthly cycles which lead to anemia.  I'm looking into a procedure that would help correct that.

Around the house...not a whole lot to do today.  I'm thankful for that.

One of my favorite things...brownies a la mode.  I baked some Duncan Hines brownies that are to die for, and with a scoop of vanilla Blue Bell ice cream, I'm one happy mama.

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

Meet Me On Mondays

Happy Monday!  I haven't been keeping up with my blog as I should, but thankfully it's a new week, a new beginning, and a new chance to get caught up!  Let's start with a Meet Me On Monday post.


1. The best part of waking up each day is __________?
Being able to thank God for a new day.  God is gracious.  No day is guaranteed; I don't know if this is my last day on Earth.  Just to be able to live another day with my family and friends is a great blessing.

2. How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?
Well, let's see...whenever I tell people I'm 47, they're surprised I'm in my 40's at all.  So I'm gonna say the age number for me is 37.  What are 10 years between friends, anyway? ;)

3. Red or Green Apples?
Oooh, tough question!  I'm from New York, and we love our apples!  I love green apples for baking, especially if you're gonna make pies - yum!  But for eating just as God gave them to us, I'll pick red (though gala apples are currently my favorites, and they are red and green and delicious!).

4. Do you forgive easily?
I try to.  When I remember how forgiving Jesus has been to me, it makes it easier to forgive others.

5. If you could live in any home on a television series, which would it be?
Typically I think homes on television series are either over-decorated or impractical.  The only house I thought that was tastefully done and looked like a home a family would be comfortable in was the Cosby house on The Cosby Show.  That was an elegant home without looking like a museum.

To join in, visit Java at Never Growing Old.  Have a blessed week.

Observing My Senses

For Today, October 8, 2011...

I am seeing...more rain clouds closing in.  It started raining yesterday and has stopped only for short intervals.  We've gotten lots of rain and thunderstorms, which is great because it has lowered the temps a bit.  The last few days were dry and breezy, now it's rainy and breezy.  It's starting to feel like fall.

I am feeling...empowered.  The Lord gives me strength beyond measure.  His promise to never leave me nor forsake me is evident.  "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." - Psalm 23:4

I am hearing...the fan in my daughter's bedroom.  I keep it on for our dog Molly.

I am tasting...the hash browns I had for breakfast this morning.  I don't want to keep tasting them, even if they were good.

I am smelling...Lysol air freshener.  Molly needs a bath, but I can't bathe her inside the house.  She hates baths and would make a mess.  I also can't bathe her outside because of the rain.  She isn't the type of dog that freaks out during thunderstorms, but don't expect her to take a step outside during one!  So her bath will have to wait, and in the meantime Lysol will keep the air fresh. :)

It just takes a moment to observe your surroundings.  Won't you join me?

Observing My Senses

For Today, October 2, 2011...

I am seeing...blue skies, white clouds, and some grass that needs cutting.

I am feeling...tired.  E has strep throat, and spent 2 nights with fever and chills.  Thankfully he's feeling better today, but Molly has an upset stomach again.  I caught her eating some berries that fell off a neighbor's palm tree and that seems to have given her diarrhea.  No fun.

I am hearing...nothing but the whir of the fan.  E is taking a nap.  So is Molly.

I am tasting...nothing right now.

I am smelling...very little, since my sinuses are giving me a hard time.  We got some rain earlier this week but it's been pretty dry since.  It's allergy season and lack of rain doesn't help.  Maybe we'll get some later on this week.  It'll help bring the temps down, too.

It just takes a moment to observe your surroundings.  Won't you join me?