Joining once again for Blogmas with Tamy over at Chasing My Life.
Today’s topic is the infamous Elf on the Shelf and whether we participate with it.
My answer is we do but quite casually. The craze didn’t really exist when G was little. And he thinks the whole idea of the elf is quite creepy. I can’t completely disagree though I mostly just threaten that it’s next placement will be to watch him sleep.
We didn’t actually get “Buddy” our elf until J was in the 5th grade and came home telling us about the one in his teacher’s classroom. So for us, it’s been mostly about moving the elf and finding him each morning. Not about any thing else. Just for fun. And I don’t start on December 1 (or earlier!). One word for you stressed out parents worrying about a whole month of shenanigan’s: snowstorm! Poor Buddy was often lost in a snowstorm on the way to our house. I doubt I’d change that even if the kids were little.
It’s a fun tradition for us because it’s mostly no stress and even G eventually came around and helped with the elf once in a while.
Does an elf sit upon your shelf at Christmas time?
Happy Black Friday though around here it’s also Red Friday (Go Chiefs!).
Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. We went to my brother’s house and had a nice time with lots of good food. Brought home the leftovers of our contributions of cranberry sauce, pumpkin, and chocolate pie. Had to run to the store this morning though to pick up some deli turkey for sandwiches though.
Didn’t think to take a single picture yesterday! Oops. And filling today’s post with pictures of previous Christmas decorations…
Moving On…
Each year I try to participate in the Blogmas hosted by Tamy over at Chasing My Life. I love that she’s extended it this year to start today!
So, let’s talk about Christmas decorating.
I do enjoy Christmas (Fourth of July is my favorite but I concede Christmas has better decorations) and decorating. My husband’s rule is not until after Thanksgiving.
Many years we traveled for Thanksgiving. So didn’t get much done in the way of decorating until the Sunday night after the holiday. Sometimes, not until the following weekend.
Today’s Decorating Plans
Today, I need to take down all the Thanksgiving/fall decorations and clean. I’ve looked up and clutter creeped into a lot of my prime Christmas decorating spots. SIGH. So, I’m on a bit of a declutter before decorating mission today. Also, I’m trying to finish up a Thanksgiving candle. It’s too low to really put back into the cabinet but I can’t bring myself to throw those candles away until they are completely done.
I’ve already put the Christmas bedding on the bed in the our bedroom though I may switch it to the more festive plaid side. And I’ll put the holiday shower curtain up after I clean the main bathroom as well as put out the Christmas towels.
The Rest of the Weekend
The truth is I need help for some of our Christmas decorations and so it depends on my husband and sons’ schedules. I’m hoping they’ll help me at least with the moving of the furniture and putting up of some lighted greenery tomorrow. Although if it doesn’t happen, I’ll be okay with it. Sometimes it’s nice to let the house breathe a minute between holidays. However, sometime by the first weekend in December (that’s next weekend), I’ll have the house decorated for the holidays.
Thinking of Scaling Back or Changing the Christmas Decorating Theme
My style (if you can call it that) has always been a bit of the traditional “throw all the ornaments every collected over the years on the tree.” This year, however, I’m feeling the need to scale it back a bit. The all the ornaments on the tree was my mother’s style and of course, it helped when the kids were little and loved decorating the tree.
New year, older children, and maybe it’s time for actually choosing a style more in-line with my personality. I love the outdoors and all the nature greenery I see brought in for the Scandinavian type of Christmas decorating.
So, this year I’m thinking of not putting all the heavy and breakable and of course, meaningful ornaments on the tree. Instead, just keeping it simple with candles (battery operated that I saw at Menards) on the branches, maybe some birds and I don’t know what else. And adding lots of candles and greenery throughout the house.
*Stay tuned on whether the kids young adults revolt if I try this idea. And I did look into a real tree but vetoed the idea because of the cat and fire hazard thoughts.
What are your holiday decorating plans? Do you stick with the same each year or change to different themes?
I made myself go out on a walk again this past Sunday. It took a bit of effort to get going and I ended up at the same park as the previous week. However, it’s large enough that I had plenty of new spaces to walk. I’m so glad I went because I finally saw one of my bucket list birds.
Who? Me?
Oh no, not you silly little sparrow!
This one, right here. Photos aren’t great but I have to share anyway.
Pileated Woodpecker
We are barely on the edge of their range here but they have them in the area where my husband hunts as well as in Arkansas. I spent lots of time searching to see one when we went on our Arkansas trip. I did hear them a few times. Alas, never spotted any.
And then, just in my own neck of the woods (well, a little 15ish minute if that drive south to the park) and my wish came true!
I had just walked a little further past the bridge where I saw the cedar waxwings last week (I was actually looking for them) and stopped to look up into the tree line. Funny thing, it was sort of a long week and I was having a bit of a silent conversation with God about how I could use a “win.” And then, this magnificent creature flew and landed there for much too brief of a moment before flying all the way to the other side of the park.
Feeling a little extra grateful this Thanksgiving week.
Are you a Keurig fan? Or a brew a whole pot of coffee fan? Or a tea kettle person?
We’re mostly coffeemaker, whole pot of coffee, people in this house. Well, the husband and I. The kids still don’t drink coffee or tea. Hot chocolate is their warm beverage of choice. And that’s mostly J.
Back when we used to travel to Oklahoma, my husband’s aunt had a Keurig. Bigger than the one pictured. And she loved the flavored coffees and coffee creamers. Plus there was always a regular choice as well. My husband despises flavored coffee.
For a long time, I asked for a Keurig. My husband always vetoed the idea. His opposition dated back to a cabinet filled with tea choices I’d tried and not liked. Still have the tea cabinet, just limit my choices now to things I do like. So if you come for tea, your choices are Green Chai or Earl Grey. Might be some Yogi Sleepy Time in there (I wouldn’t serve you that though!).
Finally, last year…for my birthday, he relented and I got a mini Keurig! Our compromise was that I’d use it while he was away hunting to enjoy flavored coffees. So, after enjoying it through Christmas last year, I put it away until hunting season this year.
My Thoughts on the Keurig
The good:
It’s easy! Convenient if you are the only one drinking coffee.
Flavored Coffee! And other beverage choices!
(This is where I must intervene and tell you that the Target hot chocolate in that photo up there is disgusting! Big time weird aftertaste. It is milk chocolate (yuck) and contains both sugar and stevia. I should have paid better attention. Or not been so cheap and just paid for the brand name stuff.)
It’s kind of fun!
I know exactly how many cups of coffee I’m consuming (this could also go under “the bad”)
The bad:
I can’t find individual K cups anywhere making it a bit expensive to experiment. And my husband might have been right (don’t tell him), now I have a box of hot chocolate we don’t like. I’ll probably donate it to work. Of course, it’s so yucky I’m not sure I’ll even do that.
It’s LOUD. Are all of them that loud? I don’t know.
There’s no way to refresh your coffee if you drink half of it and then, it gets cold. You have to just make another cup.
My Thoughts on the Coffeemaker
The good:
It’s convenient if more than one person is drinking coffee in the morning. And it smells nice while it’s brewing.
The coffee in the pot stays warm so you can simply refresh your cup with a little warm coffee if needed.
Definitely less wasteful: 1 coffee filter vs who knows how many k cups (and yes, I know you can buy the keeper kind).
The bad:
Brewing good coffee is a bit of an art form, getting the scoops of ground coffee to water ratio right. My husband is very good at this, me not so much.
No choice, if I want flavored coffee and my husband wants plain old Folgers (which we do both like), we aren’t going to brew 2 pots of coffee.
I have no idea how many cups of coffee I’m actually consuming (this could also go under “the good”)
Takes up a fair amount of counter space.
The Winner
For me, the coffee maker wins but I still plan to pull my Keurig out and enjoy flavored coffees/hot chocolates over the holidays. Currently, I’m boxing it back up for a bit. It will come back to the counter probably around Christmas Eve until the New Year.
I just can’t get past not being able to refresh my coffee without making a new cup. I mean a fairly full cup you can of course, microwave. However, there’s always that not quite a half-cup that needs refreshed with me.
What about a tea kettle? I admit to kind of wanting an electric one of those or maybe even an old fashioned heat it on the stove kind. For now, I just boil my water in the microwave.
What about you?
Are you a Keurig or a coffeemaker person or tea kettle person?
Are you ready for turkey day? I had a brief moment of panic this morning when I couldn’t locate my cranberry sauce recipe but thankfully, I found it. Back from a quick early morning grocery store trip (not too busy yet, whew!) and ready to plan the rest of the week.
Time to join in with Sandra over at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom and the other fabulous bloggers who participate in the weekly link up.
The Weather
It’s been COLD (for November). Back to normal this week with highs in the upper 40’s/low 50’s. Think they added a chance of rain for either Friday or Saturday. That single digit wind chill stuff was more typical of January/February for us.
As I Look Outside My Window
Putting a different spin on this today. Outside this window, I also have a window open with Bloglovin’ pulled up, a post from My Scandinavian Home, and my Yahoo e-mail. Outside the other windows, the sun is shining in a blue sky and the birds are chirping.
Thinking And Pondering
Where the year went. Why I did so poorly at my 22 for 2022 list. And things I’d like to do to get ready for the Advent.
How I Am Feeling This Morning
Not too bad, slept pretty good. A bit frustrated though as I broke my glasses yesterday. And apparently getting in for an eye-exam is not a same day appointment kind of thing. SIGH. Sam’s club is going to be my last call and then, I’ll just schedule a real appointment somewhere for next week. (My husband taped my glasses together with duct tape for the moment, stylish!)
On The Breakfast Plate
Apple cinnamon instant oatmeal, vitamins, coffee. And more coffee in the form of an Irish Cream cold brew from Starbucks in the grocery store. Pretty sure that one is my favorite of their holiday drinks.
On The Lunch Plate
A sandwich of some sort, chips, maybe grapes or pepper slices.
On The Dinner Plate
Plan tonight is for ham steaks, salad, cornbread. May make potatoes if I feel ambitious.
What I’m Wearing Today
Light purple (not light enough to be called lilac) long sleeved shirt, navy blue leggings, and tennis shoes.
On My Reading Pile
I broke down and read a Christmas book early. If you need light, feel good, escape to the UK or Scotland type stories, read something by Donna Ashcroft. Most her books are on Kindle Unlimited if you have that. I just finished Snowflakes and Secrets in the Scottish Highlands. Probably going to have to have a re-read of some of her books in December. Right now, I’ve just started a new book by a new to me author, Christmas at the Island Hotel. It’s written by Jenny Colgan and somehow I’ve picked up another book set in Scotland. Also, didn’t realize it was 4th in a series. Oops.
On My TV
Mostly Doctor Who. I do, however, plan to make a list of 25 Christmas movies to watch starting on December 1 (or maybe a tiny bit earlier). And of course, how ’bout them….CHIEFS! They certainly like to keep us on the edge of ours seats around here. Hoping the next game YAWN might be at noon though.
On The Menu
As much as I enjoy the holidays, they do make menu planning a bit of a pain. Well, it’s a bit of a pain anyway.
MONDAY: ham steaks, salad, corn bread *J has a lesson at 6:30*
TUESDAY: Tacos *I work 7-3:30*
WEDNESDAY: chicken sausage, broccoli, orzo skillet *I work 7:30-4*
THURSDAY: Thanksgiving at my brother’s house with turkey/ham/fixings. I’m bringing homemade cranberry relish and chocolate meringue pie.
FRIDAY: Leftovers
Looking Around The House
Ugh. Needs tidying/cleaning.
On My To Do List
Grocery store *DONE*
Make eye appointment (get new glasses, way overdue)
Take J for a hair cut (his request)
Write and schedule a couple blog posts
Wash bedding *in progress*
Take stock of stocking stuffers
Make cranberry sauce and chocolate pie (probably do this on Thursday as dinner isn’t until 4)
change out bathroom shower curtain/bedding for holiday stuff
Start watering the amaryllis again, somehow I have 3!
All the other stuff I can’t remember right now
From The Camera
I went back to the same park as last week, these photos are mostly from a different section of it. It really is a very big park. And I’m so excited to share the bird I saw this time (I’m going to make you wait until Wednesday for that).
Quote For The Week
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called to one body. And be thankful. (Colossians 3:15)
Thought I’d just do a Five on Friday today. It’s been a while. Here it’s a freezing Friday with single digit wind chills. The actual temperature is something like 19 degrees, I think. Good day to do inside things. So happy next week is supposed to be back to normal November weather around here.
First: Thanksgiving Plans Sorted
It’s been a bit of a week between J’s birthday, my husband’s hunting, and G having a bit of car trouble. However, my brother sent me a text last night and we’re going to go over there for Thanksgiving. I’m contributing cranberry sauce (homemade, no cans here!) and a chocolate meringue pie. Both easy things, which is great as I agreed to work a full day next Wednesday.
I’m so happy to have plans for Thanksgiving and be seeing family. All our family won’t be there, just my brother hosting, my other brother, and then some of my sister-in-law’s side. A few others may or may not show. My sister and brother are still at odds, so I won’t see her or her family or my other brother who lives in Texas. I keep saying other brother and thinking of the Bob Newhart show though none of my brothers are named Larry or Darryl:
Second: Follow Through Friday
Back when I blogged over at So Not Organized, I thought I might be rich and famous for my “real life” organizing. Pausing a moment for us both to enjoy a laugh at that one. A feature I often had was “Follow Through Friday” which I now realize is basically just the Fly lady anti-procrastination day but on a Friday instead of a Wednesday. So basically, I’m spending some time today to get some tasks I’ve been avoiding checked off the list. Cleaning off the kitchen table, the sofa, finding time to look at the blender my husband bought me, bill paying, laundry, etc.
Third: Three Nice Things from The Week
I’ll start with this sunrise from Monday. Have I mentioned it enough how much I enjoy the sunrise being at a normal time again?
The restaurant where we ate for J’s birthday gave him his meal for free. Super nice! I really wish I’d liked the food a bit better but the red sauce on the pasta was too sweet for me. My eggplant parmigiana was great though.
When I worked on Wednesday afternoon, a student told me that I was one of his very favorite teachers. And one of the more “spirited” students at that. Warmed my heart quite a bit.
Fourth: Too Many Sales
Warning: Grouchy rant ahead. As I glanced at the papers while cleaning off the kitchen table (just the free Wednesday grocery ads), I noticed a Lowes flyer for a Black Friday sale. Except it ended the day before Thanksgiving? Wait, what?
So many early Black Friday sale confuse me. Is the better price now or do I wait until after Thanksgiving? It’s too much. And all these one day sales (looking at you Bath and Body Works) lose my business rather than gain it. Give me a day or two to ponder things.
Tis the time of year to remind myself: There’ll always be another sale.
Ranting about it all because I’m moving into Christmas mode and starting to think about what gifts to give to the family.
Fifth: Random Stuff
Starting with another photo from my walk last Sunday.
Starting with last week, I’m planning to go for a walk at least once every week, weather permitting. Mentally prepping my Winter Wednesday posts as well.
I saw a blog post as I was messing around doing research on Pinterest where they stated the winter season November to April. Um, maybe because I live somewhere we can have all the seasons in one week (and often do) or I’m too technical…that time span seemed so wrong.
Technically it’s December 20 to March 20 in these parts. However, I’m not opposed to giving into saying it starts in December. However, I’m going to give a firm no to it stretching to April (even if we’ve seen snow on the 1st day of that month and sometimes even in May).
What time frame do you consider winter?
And with that question I’ll conclude this rambling mess of a blog post.
And maybe a few random thoughts. As I mentioned Monday, I went for a walk at one of my favorite parks on Sunday afternoon. It felt nice (though a bit chilly) to get out the camera again on a walk.
The weather did come as expected on Monday night, not too much snow. However, it’s still cold this morning as we’re sitting at 24 degrees with NW winds making it feel like 18. Next week, seems to be back to normal. Definitely thankful for that!
Killdeer
Sometimes I see these little birds at this park but not always. They’re usually pretty shy so I was happy (with the help of the zoom lens) to get some semi-decent pictures.
I also saw a rather large group of doves. It was fun to capture them all in flight when I was trying to determine what they were.
Doves
Not the best pictures of the doves because we have these in the backyard so I wasn’t too excited once I saw them properly.
We also have lots of sparrows in the backyard but I never realized until I started seriously bird-watching how many different types of sparrows existed. I think but very well could be wrong that this little bird below is a song sparrow.
Sparrow
Sometimes without the high end zoom on a camera it’s hard to get a decent shot (and of course, if I had said high end zoom, then it requires a tripod to get a stable shot and that’s too technical for me). Here are couple of shots that needed better zoom and/or more cooperative birds.
Hide and Seek
some type of sparrow hiding hereYou have to search but there are 2 Cedar Waxwings in each of the photos.
The Random Bits Plus Another Bridge Photo
Clearly, I don’t do well with the concept of wordless Wednesdays.
Anyway, a bit of fun about this park. It used to be an old race track so it’s quite large and tends to feel empty. It’s been a work in progress for years probably.
I have a terrible nickname for it of “Serial Killer Central” (Note: I’ve never really felt unsafe here, just need to use common sense). However, now they’re doing this:
Gonna need to find a new nickname, I suppose. At least the parking here will be better (I hope).
Today is anti-procrastination day in Fly lady land. I’m off to clean up a bit around the house, pay some bills, and work. Later, I’ll deal with the last task on my anti-procrastination list and call my brother to see if there are any Thanksgiving plans out there.
Well, this week marks a milestone for us. After Tuesday, I’ll officially be the mom of adult children. Yikes! Of course, I guess I should say young adults because research shows our brains aren’t even fully developed until the mid to late 20’s.
However, before all that, perhaps I’ll just focus on the planning of the week. Joining in with Sandra over at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom.
The Weather
Not as cold but still too cold for the 2nd week in November. Getting cloudy and cooler. AND we’re under a winter weather advisory starting later tonight. It’s supposed to start raining tonight, then change over to snow! Highs in the low to mid 30’s most the week but morning lows in the upper teens. I’m so confused, this is not our typical November weather.
As I Look Outside My Window
Probably lots of annoyed birds (and squirrels) because I’m out of bird seed. Menards is next on my to-do list this morning.
Thinking And Pondering
Our Thanksgiving plans. Still up in the air. And I guess it’s the weather, I’m also looking ahead to Christmas and thinking about gifts. I saw some really cute coffee mugs (Golden Girls on them) at the grocery store and am debating them for gifts for one of my friend groups. They weren’t super expensive.
We don’t normally do gifts so I’m in that place between “these would be so fun!” and not wanting to hear some that would probably be upset at getting a gift because “we don’t do gifts/I didn’t get anyone anything/etc.” Probably overthinking the whole thing really.
How I Am Feeling This Morning
Not too bad though this cold weather was making me a bit achy. Definitely not feeling old enough to have a son turning 18 tomorrow. (The new sub at work told me she thought I was in my 30’s so I’m feasting on that compliment for another week or two)
On The Breakfast Plate
Had the new usual of oatmeal yesterday so this morning I went ahead and ate a cinnamon sugar swirl bagel. And I’ve drank way too much coffee plus a flat white mocha from the grocery store Starbucks. Need to take my vitamins still.
On The Lunch Plate
Not sure yet. Either soup (I finally cleaned/organized our pantry!) or just a pbj.
On The Dinner Plate
Depending on the weather, I might grill pork chops early or if not, probably just turkey sausages and chips, fruit (My husband and J will cut their turkey sausages up and cook them with hash browns, G and I will eat ours on a bun)
What I Am Wearing Today
I was thinking it’s a good thing this isn’t a Friday question or the answer would pretty much always be the same since during football season, every Friday is red Friday for Chiefs fans. However, today I’m wearing a long-sleeved black tee-shirt, jeans, and tennis shoes.
On My Reading Pile
Here’s a new answer. Nothing. Just a few magazines. I’ll need to find a book before J’s lesson tonight though.
On My TV
If you have Netflix and are looking for something lighter, I highly suggest watching Blockbuster. It’s a shorter comedy series about the last Blockbuster store. Other than that, still working my way through Doctor Who, trying very hard to give Jodie Whittaker a chance but at this point not overly impressed. I actually like the companions in this series better. Football, of course. Hoping to actually catch The Masked Singer on Wednesday. And I still need to get back to The Walking Dead.
On My Menu
Banana cinnamon crumb muffins I made on Saturday
This week is thankfully a little less busy than last week.
MONDAY: turkey sausages or pork chops, depending on the weather (want to grill the pork chops so if it’s raining I’ll skip it but if not, maybe) *J has a lesson at 6:30*
TUESDAY: J’s requested Fettucine Alfredo for his birthday dinner and I have no idea. I bought a jarred sauce (I’ll have to make red sauce for my husband who won’t eat alfredo sauce). Or we might go out to a restaurant. Depends on the weather a bit. Cookie cake. *J’s 18th birthday*
WEDNESDAY: Whichever meal I don’t make today, I’ll do on Wednesday. *I work 1:30-5:30*
THURSDAY: Chili *I work 11:30-5*
FRIDAY: Pizza, leftovers, or OUT
Looking Around The House
It’s not awful but my husband is due back from hunting today so I don’t even want to think about what it’ll look like after he unloads all the stuff he took.
On My To Do List
Grocery Store *DONE*
Menards for bird seed
This post *In progress*
Clean the bathrooms/fly lady missions
Water plants
Figure out our Thanksgiving plans
Finish laundry (most of it is done)
Tasks on my other list (I’m trying something new and following along with Diane in Denmark’s holiday planning lists)
Wrap J’s birthday present/maybe look into getting him one more small present
Pay bills due at end of month (just a couple that came in after I paid everything else)
From The Camera
Since the sun was shining yesterday and I knew they were predicting yucky weather for the next few days, I skipped out on the 2nd half of the Chiefs game to go for a walk. Most the photos in this post are from my walk. I’ll probably share more of my bird photos (ones actually in focus) on Wednesday but I was so excited to see one of my very favorites, a cedar waxwing!
Quote For The Week
This is the day the Lord had made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118: 24)
Um, I just learned something new as I started this post. And it has a new title because of it. I wondered why the red squiggle line was under the first word of my title. Sleepy is fine obviously.
I started to call this post “snoozy” Saturday. Um, turns out that word doesn’t mean exactly what I thought it means in all circles. I thought it meant sleepy and drowsy and according to the normal dictionary it still does. However, in the urban dictionary it has some entirely different (and not so appropriate) definitions. Oh my, I AM old. Anyway, post title switched to Sleepy Saturday.
Why is it a sleepy Saturday?
First, It was a long week
Not a bad week, just a long one. Remember way back in Monday’s post when I thought it was going to be a busy week? I wasn’t wrong. For the first time in some time, I ended up working every day. Originally, I had Tuesday but ended up working a half-day that started early. Add in taking J to his lesson Monday night and a fun night out with friends on Wednesday. And waking up at 4:00AM for every day of it. Not on purpose, our little gray cat doubles as an alarm with only one setting.
Work wasn’t bad as I was in my favorite classroom for most of it but it’s still tiring working with preschool kids. Thankfully, we were able to be outside a lot during the week prior to the cold front moving into our area. And that brings us to the next thing in the making of this lazy day.
The Weather
Perhaps all those people putting up Christmas lights and trees (I did see one all lit up in someone’s window as I drove home on Thursday evening) triggered something. It went from 70 degrees on Wednesday evening to a cool, rainy Thursday. The temperature went from 50 to 45 degrees as I drove home that evening (and just for your reference, I’m talking about a 10 minute drive). Yesterday, we woke up to cold, felt like it was in the 20’s though the actual temperature was in the mid-30’s.
This morning, it was so cold that I had to turn on the Netflix fireplace (and bump the actual heat up a bit)! The little gray cat stayed out only a few minutes. The temperature was in the 20’s but felt like 14 degrees. It’s cloudy and dreary out. I’m not supposed to be freezing while filling bird feeders in November. Feeling this funny:
Photo found on “My Crazy Page” on Facebook.
That said, if you want to put up your Christmas decorations, go ahead. To each their own. I guess the weather is right for it anyway.
Holiday Planning
And it’s not as if I’m not thinking about the holidays at all. It’s just we have a November birthday to do first (J turns 18 on Tuesday! Yikes. When did that happen?)
My simple holiday plans so far:
The boys (and husband) are going to write down 5 things they want for Christmas or for every blank space on the list, they’ll be getting underwear. They might get underwear anyway but just not as much if I get an actual idea or two out of them.
In looking for the mini Keurig, I found my Christmas journal from 2021. Nice surprise (so much for the Rudolph day celebrations/planning for 2022 though. Oops!). Reminded me I wanted to do a Christmas tree theme for decorating this year. Based on a stack of Christmas tree mugs I picked up on clearance last year.
If we end up having Christmas at home again, I definitely need to plan the food better. And for my own sanity, make everyone commit to a time to start things.
The holiday planning makes me think I also need to do a bit of blog post planning…
Blog Posts I Want to Write and Share Soon
I’ve been striving (not always successfully) to post abut 3-4 times a week. I’d like to continue that but sometimes I have ideas when it’s not convenient to sit down and write. Here are some of those ideas that have been swirling about in my mind lately.
Keurig vs Coffee Maker. If you’re wondering why I was actually looking for the Keurig, it’s because I only use it when my husband is off hunting.
A series: Winter Wednesdays, I really do want to do this. I want to work on embracing winter by doing something to celebrate it each Wednesday of the season.
Sharing my fall/winter holiday reading list. I try to move from thrillers to “lighter” selections for the holiday season.
I do have more but should probably get back to accomplishing some household chores today while all is quiet around here. Mostly, I’m just focusing on laundry today (so I can watch tv and fold clothes, ha!).
Full on working day yesterday and I wasn’t wrong about this week being busy. Had an early morning work day Tuesday as well, a half-day, voted, then worked in the yard. These photos are extras from Sunday that I didn’t have time to edit before my HHM post. Hope you enjoy!
I snapped these while working in the yard, had taken a break to grab the photo of the bunny I did share in Monday’s post.
A fall hydrangea bloom? And it’s still vibrant and pink…
Can’t walk in the front or back yard now without hearing the crunching of the
LEAVES
Still a few on the trees on Sunday, the Oak tree leaves (and the neighbor’s gum tree leaves, not pictured) are always the last trees to become bare.
And of course, the birdfeeders are kept busy with our constant stream of
Backyard Birds
Never did get a close enough look to determine the species of this silhouetted bird but still liked the photo.
These were taken in no coat (though long sleeved tee-shirt) weather. Still nice this morning, all changes tomorrow when our weekend highs are supposed to be the normal ones for January (36 degrees!), not November.
Thankful Thursday Things
So, this is a bit of a double post. I scheduled the above to publish yesterday morning but for whatever reason, it did not. I think the date on my blog doesn’t match the computer. Something to check into later. However, I’m just going to turn this into a 2 for 1 post. An early Black Friday deal but you don’t have to buy a thing!
A few Thankful Items From This Week
Beautiful weather! The chance to get my wildflower garden seeds and spring bulbs planted.
The right to vote
The joy and laughs I get from working at a preschool. An election day gem: A parent arrived late saying she took her kids with her to vote. Told us how her 3 year old daughter was very confused when they got there because she didn’t see “the boat”. Ha! How fun would it be if we could go on a boat to vote!
New adventures with old friends
Light in the mornings again! (Apologies to my night owl friends but this is so much better!)
And coffee (a staple of any time change)
A good night’s sleep
My list is of course, longer but I’m stopping there today to keep this post from getting too long. What things are you thankful for this week?
