Outside my Window... it is cloudy and cool with the promise of the rain soon.  My favorite kind of day.

I am thinking...on how some people will not understand.

From the learning rooms...i read a great article by Marc and Angel Hack Life called "7 Things Happy Healthy People Do Every Morning".  A few of the things i knew about but do not practice but it gave me lots to think about and some things to put into practice.

I am thankful for...my precious family.

From the kitchen...well, let's see.  This morning i washed the dishes and cleaned the top of the stove, made breakfast and made tea.  That's about all just now.  

I am wearing...a denim dress, white turtleneck, and brown slippers.  (Dressember)

I am reading...The Kitchen Counter Cooking School by Kathleen Flinn.

I am hoping....for a peaceful, productive week.  i have lots to do and i keep getting distracted.

I am creating...a few small Christmas gifts and i have some home decorating ideas. . . maybe some painted furniture!

I am hearing...the clock ticking, the cd Christmas Time with Celtic Women.

Around the house...it feels like its waiting.  i'm not sure what it's waiting for, but that is the atmosphere at present.

One of my favorite things...listening to Christmas music.  i make myself wait until after Thanksgiving to start; that makes it more special.  Today i also listened to Josh Groban's Noel. 

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... living on purpose; making a plan for the day.  Today's plan is for a bit of housework, researching sugar scrub recipes, make out lists for Christmas gift giving, maybe a bit of that furniture painting i mentioned earlier, Skypeing with my son, and knitting.

This picture is of the courthouse in the town where i lived for nearly 18 years.  It was built in 1873 and is lit for Christmas every year.  i am feeling a bit nostalgic about the town as 2 of my dear friends who operated a cafe and held live music jam sessions every Friday night for 15 years have just retired.  God bless you, Sue and Monty!

The Simple Woman's Daybook

Outside my Window... it is dark, cold and wet.

 
I am thinking...about the events of the past couple of days.

From the learning rooms...about myself.

I am thankful for...my cozy little house

From the kitchen...not much is happening today but the next couple of days should see lots of activity.  

 
I am wearing...a black sweater, jeans, and brown slippers.

 
I am reading...The Kitchen Counter Cooking School by Kathleen Flinn and The Santa Society
I am hoping....for an at-home day tomorrow.  The past week has been pretty busy and i would love a day at home just to putter.

 
I am creating...a few small Christmas gifts and i have some home decorating ideas. . . maybe some painted furniture!

I am hearing...my clock ticking; or i should say, my mom's clock ticking.  For many years it hung in her kitchen and it became my job, when i would come to visit, to wind the clock.  It needs to be wound now as it isn't chiming any more.

 
Around the house...well, as i look around it doesn't look bad, just a little bit cluttered.

One of my favorite things...sittin' and knittin'; watching old movies.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... tomorrow i want to get caught up around the house and maybe do a couple of fun projects along with Thanksgiving cooking, then Thursday is Thanksgiving Day so there will be lots more cooking, eating and visiting. The plan is to have the main meal at my daughter's house just next door and dessert later at my house.

Here is a picture of a lovely Chinese girl i met while i was in Shanghai recently.  she is a college student waiting for her visa to return to college in England.  We met several times at the Burger King in the mall near my son's apartment for language exchange.  Her name is Susie.

More Favorites

It seems that i can't remember to blog every day, so maybe once a week will have to do.  Here is the next in the series of My 100 Favorite Things.
Today will be a series of pics of my grandchildren ~ who are indeed some of my most favorite things!

This is the newest granddaughter, Alice, born to my stepson last November.  She won't be the newest for long as my son and his wife are due to have their first this summer.

This is the second newest grandchild, Tanner, born to my stepdaughter.  He is 3 years old and quite a cutie!  He is wearing a Minion hat that i made for him.

This granddaughter is now 11 and has taken up ballet.  She lives in Nebraska and belongs to my DD Virginia.

This grandson lives in Kansas, is 16 and a huge Nebraska fan!

This grandson lives right next door to me, is almost 17 and going to the local Junior College.  He changes his hair style frequently.

This grandson also lives in Kansas and is the older brother to the Nebraska fan.  He likes to make funny faces and wear his mom's Minion hat.  He is soon to be 18.

Here is the youngest of the grandchildren who live next door.  She is 11 now and quite adept at martial arts among many other things!
This is not all of my grandchildren;  i'll post pictures of the rest of them soon.
Well, there you have it.  The latest installment of My Favorite Things.  Stay tuned for the next round!

More Favorite Things

Sometimes life interferes with the best laid plans.  i had intended to post a favorite thing every day for 100 days but, unfortunately, i am behind by 5 days.  So that means that i will post 5 favorite things today!  They are in no order of favorite-ness .

i have always loved this picture.  It was taken at Thanksgiving about 9 years ago.  This is my granddaughter, Beanie, trying to look into the birdbath in my yard. 

This picture was taken 5-6 years ago in Southern California and shows my son jumping waves.  He always has had a thing for jumping the waves and i think that was his first time to see the ocean.

This is The Eagle and Child pub in Oxford, England.  It was the place where The Inklings, including C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien met with friends to discuss their latest literary endeavors.  We visited there in 2005.  Such a wonderful memory!

My son and his bride, taken at their Kansas reception the summer of 2011.  Her dress was so beautiful!

One more beach picture ~ the 3 youngest grandchildren who live here on the beach.  They were quite a bit smaller then, and how they loved to run and play in the waves even though it was only about 55-60 degrees out!

i hope you've enjoyed a few more of my favorite things.