Observing My Senses

For Today, September 29, 2012...

I am seeing...sunshine!  Wow, that's a bit of a change from most of this week, which has been overcast and cloudy everyday, even when it wasn't raining.  It's a welcome sight.

I am feeling...sad, because I know it must be hard for my aunt and my cousins to say goodbye to my uncle.  We know he's in a better place, but it's still rough on the ones left behind.

I am hearing...my son tell me he loves me.  Those three words have just brightened my day more than the sunshine.

I am tasting...my pumpkin spice breakfast - Eggo's and swirl bread.  It's sort of become a staple for me.

I am smelling...the smells of breakfast.  Toast, sausages, waffles, coffee.  I love those smells.

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

Follow Friday Four Fill-In Fun

No matter what's going on in my life, I can't go a week without my Friday Four Fill-In post.  You can join Hilary at Feeling Beachie for some fill-ins too.  Only try to do them on Friday like everyone else.


1. when I was little I was called ___
When I was little I was called Sweet Pea by my mom.  Remember, from Popeye?

2. ___are my favorite candy
Chocolates are my favorite candy.  Hershey's, or Nestle's, or Reese's, or anything with chocolate will be just fine.

3. If I could have one magical power it would be______
If I could have one magical power it would be...none.  I like me just the way I am.  I don't need magic to improve on me. :-)

4. If I could go back to school it would be to become a _________
If I could go back to school it would be to become a teacher or an interior designer.  I love working with children, and I love decorating homes.  Either would be a great choice.

Five Question Friday

I realize I'm a day late with my Friday posts.  I wasn't in the mood to blog after posting about my uncle's passing.  I feel a bit better today, accepting I guess.  He's remembering all the things that he'd forgotten, and for that I'm thankful.

Okay, so here we go, a day late but still enthusiastic.

1. Do you prefer to drive to your vacation spot or fly?
As far as personal preferences go, I like to fly.  I don't have to worry about watching cars (or planes) around me, and I get to my destination faster than by car.  However, with the price of airline tickets being what they are, a family traveling together is better off going by car.  Even with soaring gas prices, it's cheaper to drive one's own car than pay to fly and then rent a car.

2. If you could live any where in the world, where would you go and why?
Here.  In Florida.  Where I love living.  Anywhere in the beautiful state of Florida is just fine with me.  It's got the weather I like, the sunshine I like, the trees and grass and flowers I like, the vacation spots I like, the style of living I like.  It's everything I like.

3. Should grown women wear leggings?
Oh great, a touchy subject.  Have you watched the show What Not To Wear?  I used to watch it daily, and while I may not agree with every fashion trend that's out there, I did agree with many of their basic rules.  One of those rules was, dress your age.  To dress like you're younger than you are makes you look just as old as if you dressed like an elderly person.  It emphasizes how old you really are when you try too hard to look too young.  Leggings may look cute on young girls, but I've yet to see a grown woman look attractive in them.

4. If you could change your name to any other name, would you? And what would it be?
I didn't used to like my name because it's uncommon, which meant it was easily forgotten or confused with similar names like Eileen or Irene.  Now, I like the fact that there aren't a lot of Arlene's out there.  What used to bother me before is what I like most about my name now.

5. What magazines to you have subscriptions to?
The only magazine I get and read is the Costco Connection, because it comes with my Costco membership. I'm not a big magazine reader.  I prefer a book.

Now it's your turn.  Visit Mama M at My Little Life and answer your Friday questions.

RIP Dearest Uncle

After battling Alzheimer's disease the past few years, my dear uncle has said goodbye, his earthly journey completed.  He lived on this earth 89 years, and was married to my aunt (my mother's sister) for 61 years.  They were the most loving couple I've ever met.  He is survived by my aunt, his two daughters, his grandson, granddaughter, and great-grandson, in addition to a large extended family who loved him dearly.  Goodbye my dear uncle.  Your absence will be felt, and you will be sorely missed.

Chats on the Farmhouse Porch

It's a cloudy morning in my neck of the woods.  Good thing Patrice's porch is covered!  Pull up a chair, your favorite coffee, and let's have a chat on the porch at Everyday Ruralty.


1. Please tell me a fond autumn memory. Or tell me something interesting you're doing now that fall is here.
My fond autumn memories are all centered around Thanksgiving.  I used to have my husband's family over for Thanksgiving, and it would take me a couple of weeks to get the house and meal ready.  Last Thanksgiving I went to Orlando and spent Thanksgiving there with my children and no one else.  My daughter and I cooked the meal, we enjoyed eating and watching movies, and my youngest son dressed up in his older brother's costumes, which made us roar with laughter.  That's the happiest and best Thanksgiving on record.

2. What's your favorite kind of cheese?
Ah, cheese.  I like cheese.  Swiss cheese, cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese, cream cheese...unfortunately, cheese doesn't like me.  I'm lactose intolerant.  The pain isn't worth the pleasure :(

3. Have you ever been in a wedding, other than your own (if applicable)?
Yes, years ago I was a bridesmaid in a wedding.  I was 16 years old.  Then I was maid of honor at my younger sister's wedding in 2002.  Her 10th anniversary is coming up :)

4. Did you ever do anything as a child to earn money? (Lemon aid stand, crafts, mother's helper, chores, etc.)
My uncle was the super for our building, and he'd buy used stoves and refrigerators to replace broken ones in the apartments.  He'd pay me $5 each to scrub them clean.

5. Do you wear a watch?
Only when I get dressed up, like for church.  I don't wear much jewelry on a regular basis.  As a matter of fact, I own 3 watches but 2 of them need new batteries and I haven't bothered to replace them.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

It's an overcast day outside, but it's not a problem for me.  There's no school today due to a teacher's planning day (actually, it's Yom Kippur, but they don't call it that).  So I get to look at the clouds without having to go out into this muggy morning.  Instead, I'll answer some Wednesday Hodgepodge, courtesy of Joyce, From This Side of the Pond.


1. The Wednesday Hodgepodge this week falls on John Chapman's birth date.  He's more famously known as Johnny Appleseed...what's your favorite variety of apple?

Since I'm from NY, I grew up on apples.  My mom always bought the standards:  red delicious for eating, Granny Smiths for baking.  I like trying all kinds of varieties, but they aren't as accessible here in South Florida.  I enjoy galas and fiji apples.

2.   When did you last say 'ick'?

When my son pulled out a bag of romaine lettuce my daughter had bought and forgotten about.  It was not pretty.

3.   Do you think there's a generation gap?  Explain.

I think that, while each generation may have different views on things based on experiences, generation gaps are created when we refuse to listen to and have compassion for the opinions of others.  Young people can benefit from the wisdom of their elders, and there is much to be learned technology-wise from the youth who are more in tune with those things.  Generation gaps are broken down when we agree that every generation has something worthwhile to offer.

4.  What's on your computer screen saver?  Do you leave it alone or change it often?

I have my daughter's old computer, and her screen saver is...well, none.  Her wallpaper is a winter scene, dark with snow on the ground and on the trees, with a street light illuminating and a colorful swirl running through.  I haven't changed it; I haven't even thought about changing it.

5.  If you had the attention of the entire world for two minutes, what would you say?

"Life on earth is short.  Eternity is forever.  Use the time you have on this earth wisely if you care about your eternity.  Jesus Christ offers eternity in heaven to all who believe in Him.  Why wouldn't you take advantage of that?"

6.  Four fashion trends to try this fall are-brocade/jacquard (fancy printed fabrics), peplum, lace, and printed pants...which of these four would you be most likely to wear?

When you live in South Florida like I do, fashion trends don't change much.  We might go from flip-flops to closed shoes if the weather drops below 60 degrees.  If the temps are in the 50s, we will most likely pull out a sweater or jacket.  Of course, those temps don't visit us till December, when fall is coming to an end.  I don't see myself in brocade/jacquard, peplum or printed pants in our humid weather, so I'm gonna go with lace.

7.  What can make your bad day better?

A hug from my kids.  Or chocolate.  Or having my kids hug me while I have some chocolate.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

This was my grandfather, my mom's father.  I'm helping my son do a heritage report for his Civics class, and I've gotten some pictures for him to include.  It's such a blessing to be able to share our family's history with my son.

The Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today, September 25, 2012...

Outside my window...it's pitch dark.  It was already pretty dark at 7:30pm.

I am thinking...of the 7th grade science fair project.  I came back from a school meeting detailing what this year's project entails.

I am thankful...that I was able to take my son to the dentist today to get some baby teeth pulled that should have come out a long time ago.

I am going...to bed soon.  It's 9 o'clock at night.  Well, not quite yet, but in about an hour.

I am wearing...my pj's.  I've taken a nice refreshing shower and I'm ready for bed.

I am noticing...how tall my youngest son is getting.  It's like he grows a quarter of an inch every month or so. He is now my height, 5'4", and he's 12 years old.  Where did my baby go? :'(

In the kitchen...we had crispy baked chicken wings with garlic noodles, broccoli and salad.

I am creating...nothing right now, but I'll be working with my son to create a science project very soon.

I am reading...Hurricanes in Paradise, still.  I haven't had much time to sit and read lately.

I am hoping...this science fair project goes well for my son.  He has to do a Power Point presentation this time.  Science fair projects have changed since I was a kid.

I am looking forward to...sleeping in tomorrow.  No school on account of Yom Kippur.

I am hearing...my son's chatter.  It's easy to see the numbing medicine has worn off.

Around the house...I did the basics today because it was Molly's bath day.  She got all cleaned up, as did her bedding and her toys.  She smells fresh and sweet now :)

A favorite quote of the day..."Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can." - Charles Wesley.

One of my favorite things...days off from school :D

A few plans for the rest of the week...I'm teaching for counsel time tomorrow in Awana.  I'll be talking about the fruits of the Holy Spirit.  That's all I have planned other than church on Sunday.

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