Observing My Senses

For Today, July 18, 2013...

I am seeing...a deceitful sun.  Oh, it looks like the day will start of bright.  It looks like the sun might just come out.  But it's a trick.  I've seen it happen before.  A lot this summer.  It will look like the sun will honor us with its presence, then suddenly dark clouds will roll in and the rain will come pouring forth.  That's what happened yesterday.  It started raining in the morning and either rain or drizzled continuously till almost 6pm. I'm not falling for it this time.

I am feeling...good so far about my time schedule.  We're leaving for St. Augustine on Saturday, early morning.  I have the clothes packed, and today I'll continue packing items for the trip that I don't need on a daily basis.  I've got the hotel taken care of and bought tickets to the trolley and Ripley's.  Hopefully everything will continue to go smoothly.  Lord willing.

I am hearing...sausages sizzle, and an airplane overhead.  Which doesn't happen here very often.

I am tasting...nothing yet.  I made an English muffin, and I think I'll turn it into a breakfast sandwich, with ham, egg, and Swiss cheese.  Yum!

I am smelling...the lingering aroma of the applesauce spice cake I baked yesterday for our church's Family Fun Night.  It disappeared so fast, I'm actually glad I took the first piece, LOL!  To frost the cake, I added 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon to a tub of Betty Crocker vanilla frosting and created cinnamon frosting.  I think it made the cake so much tastier!  I'm gonna have to bake another one soon.

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

Observing My Senses

For Today, July 17, 2013...

I am seeing...rain, and plenty of it.  Enough rain that the East Coast is under a flood advisory.  We're further inland but we're still getting hammered.  I better not hear the town talk about water restrictions this year!

I am feeling...old.  Today is my baby sister's birthday.  She's turning 40.  How is that possible?!  *Sigh* It just means that my trip to the big 5-0 is almost at its destination.  Can I get off the train?

I am hearing...rain.  Mixed with the occasional crack of thunder.  Which is probably scaring Molly.  Good thing she's in her bed, and A is close by to comfort her if necessary.

I am tasting...just my coffee so far.  Breakfast today is bacon and eggs with wheat toast.  On dreary, rainy days, comfort food is a must.

I am smelling...a hash brown patty cooking up in the toaster oven.  My youngest son likes them with his sausages.

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

Observing My Senses

For Today, July 16, 2013...

I am seeing...sunshine, for a change.  I thought last year was a rainy summer, but it seems this summer is giving last summer a run for the money.  We had drought a few years back, so I won't complain.

I am feeling...frustrated, because the check engine light on my car turned on a week ago, turned back off, then turned on again yesterday.  Great, just 5 days before our trip!  Thankfully I was able to get it to Auto Zone before it turned off again.  It seems there is either a damaged sensor or a bad electrical connection from the transmission fluid temperature thing-y, so I'm going to take it to the dealership today and see what the damage to my wallet will be.  It's a 2012 Sonata with just under 12,500 miles on it, but from what I see the replacement parts warranty ends at 12,000 miles.  You'd think they install timers on these cars so they break down exactly when the warranty period ends (they don't really, do they?).  Anyway, I hope the stupid warranty is good for something.  The whole reason we got this car was because it has a 10 year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty.  I'm praying this little repair falls somewhere in between the power and the train.

I am hearing...the coffee pot finishing up the brewing process.  You can't expect me to go to the dealership without my morning coffee!

I am tasting...breakfast.  Standard stuff.  Cereal, English muffin, coffee, vitamins.  Need something solid in my stomach if I'm going to stomach the dealership.  I'm sorry, did I forget to mention I'm NOT looking forward to this? :P

I am smelling...the smell of a home kept cool by air conditioning.  Don't get me wrong, I love it when I can open the windows and let the fresh air in.  But between hot and humid temperatures everyday, rainstorms every other day, and road construction two blocks away, I'm really thankful I don't have to open ANY windows.

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

Observing My Senses

For Today, July 13, 2013...

I am seeing...my little potted mango tree, which is not so little anymore, and which will need to get planted into the ground soon.

I am feeling...elated at my son's FCAT scores!  Florida's Comprehensive Assessment Tests, or FCAT, is the yearly exam given to kids in grades 3-12.  It determines the school's grades, and whether the child is learning or needs to repeat a grade.  The highest possible score is a 6; a 2 or greater is needed to pass.  My son got a 3 in reading and a 4 in math - that math score is the highest he's ever gotten!  I was so surprised but pleased as well.  He had pre-algebra this year with some geometry thrown in for good measure :P, and he told me the exam was pretty hard.  To get a 4 (equivalent to a B) is wonderful!  His reading score is also up; while he got a 3 last year as well, the actual score went from 228 to 246.  I'm so thrilled with his improvement!

I am hearing...the ticking of the toaster oven.  I have some biscuits in there for my kids.  Well, the two youngest.  My oldest son left early this morning for work.

I am tasting...my morning cup of Joe along with my vitamins.  Breakfast is coming:  Fiber One chocolate cereal and a buttered, toasted English muffin.

I am smelling...those biscuits, and a couple of sausages fried up because my youngest son loves sausages.

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

Observing My Senses

For Today, July 12, 2013...

I am seeing...clouds roll in, rain showers pour down, sky clear up, bright sunshine, then the process starts all over again.  This has happened twice within the last hour and a half.  It's gonna be one of those crazy weather days.

I am feeling...pumped because we got a great deal on a hotel in St. Augustine, just a 10 minute drive from the historic district, and with God's blessing we'll be visiting this lovely city on July 20-23.  We are so excited!  There is much history to see and learn about, something I really enjoy, and a chocolate factory tour my son is looking forward to (okay, me too, I can't deny it!).

I am hearing...the washing machine as it prepares to finish the spin cycle.  Occasionally I hear the crack of thunder.  Poor Molly.  She hates thunderstorms.  Oh, there goes another one!

I am tasting...oatmeal today.  I was in the mood for it.  I hadn't had oatmeal in a while.

I am smelling...biscuits, though my allergies aren't really allowing me to smell things like I usually would.  I finished mowing the lawn yesterday, and it looks very nice, but my nose is suffering for it.  Hopefully I'll get over this soon.

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

Observing My Senses

For Today, July 10, 2013...

I am seeing...a less-than-half mowed lawn.  I began mowing yesterday and was stopped by a heavy rainstorm.  I've got errands to run today, so the rest of it will have to wait till tomorrow.  It's not the first time this happens.  Ah, Florida, the Sunshine State.

I am feeling...excited as we look into a trip to the nations oldest city, St. Augustine, Florida.  My daughter and I are looking at hotels and activities, and we're really pumped at all the fun stuff to do in St. Augustine.  My son is looking forward to the chocolate factory tour.  That boy is hungry all of the time.

I am hearing...the whir of the computer fan.  It's 9:00am but my kids are still in bed.  That's part of the joys of summer.  In my head I keep hearing a song from the newest Tim Hawkins DVD which we got a couple of days ago and is as hilarious as I expected.

I am tasting...coffee and and English muffin.  I really like that Thomas' has English muffins that are super-charged with all kinds of healthy stuff.

I am smelling...my morning coffee and the sausages I fried up for my youngest son.  He likes to have his sausages with some Cuban bread and butter.  It's his favorite morning sandwich.

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

Observing My Senses

For Today, July 5, 2013...

I am seeing...the wet ground after last night's showers.  Thankfully we didn't get too much rain.  It was sunny and breezy during the day, and drizzled lightly at night.  Not enough to put out the fireworks, thank the Lord.

I am feeling...like it's time for a new pair of glasses.  Trying to find out what our insurance covers as far as eye doctors go.  This whole "aging" thing is not pleasant, no sir.

I am hearing...silence.  Everyone else is asleep.  Even our dog Molly is still snoozing.

I am tasting...my morning coffee.  I was going to have some of the cornbread I made the other day, but alas, the last two pieces had gone bad.  I guess I'll have cereal and an english muffin instead.

I am smelling...the aftereffects of yesterday's barbecue.  The smell of grilled steak is still in the air :).  I was so extremely thankful yesterday; the grill didn't seem to be working right, the burners kept shutting off which I initially attributed to the fact that the wind was blowing so hard.  Then I realized I was out of propane!  I'm so glad it happened after all the meat was cooked!  It was super delicious, by the way ;).

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