Today, it’s blue skies and 32 degrees. I can hear the dripping of melting snow from the living room. And the robins are out in force. Spring fever is high.
Robin
The birds are enjoying the melting snow. At least I think that’s what is happening over on the roof next door.
Starling
However, going back to Wednesday and Thursday, the winter storm paid us a visit. Not horrible, really pretty standard for February snowfall around here. And believe it or not, the news said even with the snow we’re still in a drought. It was cold though. Too cold to take photos except through the backdoor.
Too bad because I had lots of birds visiting the feeders on Wednesday and Thursday. Most of them, I couldn’t get a decent through the door photo to show you. This happened a lot as well:
Time to take the photo and they all decide to fly away as I press the button!
brown-headed cowbirds
The brown-headed cowbirds were out in force. This is the first time I’ve seen them at the feeders since early fall or maybe even last spring. Not sure if they migrate? Looks like our area is right on the line between year-round and breeding.
Not going to lie, they are not my favorite birds. At all. And they were crowding out a few of my favorites like the cardinals and white-throated sparrows.
New Visitors
However, there was another pairing of blackbirds with the brown-headed cowbirds that I’ve never before had visit my backyard birdfeeders. It was very easy to identify the male red-winged blackbird (not pictured as I only saw him a couple of times) but the female bird took me a minute.
Did you have any idea female red-winged blackbirds were so beautiful? I know I didn’t.
Cardinal on left, female red-winged blackbird on right
Perhaps they’ll return on a sunnier day when I can be outside with the camera to get decent shots instead debating if I want to risk frostbite for an attempt. (Sometimes, common sense prevails).
Of course, with the obscene number of cowbirds, I did switch back to safflower seed, the favorite of the cardinals and small finches, not so much the bigger birds. So, I may just have to be satisfied to see them in passing and not in my own backyard.
Other Birds Spotted This Week, Not Photographed
Cardinals, sparrows including the white-throated sparrows, large numbers of dark-eyed juncos, blue jays (loud birds!), robins, tufted titmice, chickadees, both the downy and red-bellied woodpeckers, and occasionally a mourning dove.
In addition as I sat simply watching the birds on Wednesday mid-morning, a Cooper’s Hawk arrived and perched right over the bird feeders. Then, my son who came to see the hawk noticed a second hawk in a tree not too far off from the first one before they swooped away.
Do you ever see different birds when it snows?
*joining in with the Bird Depot hosted by Anni at I’d Rather B Birdin’
The week from Thursday to Thursday was a little rough (and busy) this time. Honestly, I’m making most of this list from memory as I didn’t come down here and log things each night like I usually do.
I started off good getting to Sunday. However, the rest of this week? Not so much. Let’s see what gratitude from earlier this week comes to mind.
Sunrise colors that linger
Time spent together watching movies
A great and exciting season from the Kansas City Chiefs
The gift of art work from a sweet preschool student
All of those sweet preschool students. I’d bring any of them home here in a heartbeat if asked.
J going to his baritone lesson on Monday (small progress)
A beautiful day of weather before our storm
That the roads weren’t bad Tuesday evening when I got off work so that I could stop and get birdseed (we were completely out!)
The wonderful variety of birds I spotted at the feeders on Wednesday morning. New to the backyard feeders: a pair of red-winged blackbirds. We won’t talk about the aggravating brown-headed cowbirds though. And not 1 but 2 hawks! And of course, my regular birds (Cardinal pictured below, saving my red-winged back-bird for Saturday)
An incredibly sweet and kind (and very unexpected) text message from the teacher I worked with all of last week and the beginning of this one thanking me for my help
That we didn’t get the crazy snowstorm predicted (okay, I admit it…I sort of wanted to see 12 inches of snow but I know it’s better we only got about 4-5 inches)
Not having to worry about trash day on Wednesday morning or getting out and going anywhere (Bonus item: that they did come and pick up the trash today!)
The boys helping me clean the cars and shovel the driveway on Wednesday afternoon (plus getting some wonderful and very cold fresh air!)
Two snow days in a row!
Husband getting a snow day today as well (cold day really, wind chill was -9 this morning brrr)
Finding a book that’s holding my attention well, The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah, didn’t think I’d like it at all but am finding I can’t put it down and am going to finish it much too soon.
Not too bad of a list after all. Do wish I had a few more pictures to go along with it. Hoping if it warms up above negative wind chills to get out for a walk somewhere. Of course, I may just still stay here drinking cocoa while planning my dream flower and vegetable garden.
The groundhog may have said 6 more weeks of winter but really, spring is only 6 *short* weeks away! And it’s just about time to perhaps start some seedlings indoors. A “throwback Thursday” photo of my daffodils in the warmer Spring sun:
What things are you thankful for on this wintery February day?
Another quick planning post as I’m still working a bit this week. Have a feeling it’s going to be another full week unless there’s a snow day or two in there.
*I started this post right after the Chiefs game on Sunday night, original title was Sunday night blues. However, life kept me busy and I’m just now sitting down to finish it on a snowy Wednesday morning. Snow days for all of us (except my husband).*
Definitely working tomorrow so trying to get this done late (too late really) on Sunday night. Still a bit sad about the Chiefs game but congratulations to the Bengals, coming back like that at Arrowhead stadium, a very well-deserved win!
Supposed to be crazy warm tomorrow, almost in the 60’s, so that means a day or two later: snowstorm on the horizon. Nothing like hit the east coast but a decent snow for sure. We’ll see what happens. Same old hot/cold weather pattern. Today wasn’t bad, in the 40’s.
As I mentioned, it’s Wednesday now and we did indeed get the snow (after a very nice Monday and cool, somewhat rainy Tuesday).
How I Am Feeling
Disappointed about the football game outcome, a bit frazzled about the week ahead, and a bit tired. I really should go to bed. (How I felt on Sunday evening). How I am feeling on Wednesday morning: Glad to have a snow day to reset, still a bit unsettled about a lot of things.
On The Breakfast Plate
Toast with probably too much butter and coffee. Vitamins.
On My Reading Pile
Really struggling to find a book that captures my interest enough I can simply “escape” into it. Non-fiction: How to be Sad by Helen Russell (probably finish it today). Fiction, currently trying to read Dune and I also started Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan after watching the movie on a whim over the weekend. Dune is probably going to end up as did not finish for me. Hoping the first reads from Amazon has an engaging read as a choice this month.
On My TV
Congratulations to the Bengals and the Rams! (I’ll be cheering on the Bengals, since the 80’s is a long time to wait for another championship, just ask any Royals baseball fan)
Mentioned I watched Crazy Rich Asians, really enjoyed it! Probably a little more chick-flick than I’d normally choose but a nice, feel-good kind of movie if you need one. J and I watched Kung Fu Panda 2, we’ll have to watch 3 now (1 is on Netflix but even with a “million” streaming services we ended up renting 2 from Amazon as I couldn’t find it anywhere).
TV series I’m watching right now: Around the World in 80 Days, really enjoying it. Going to be sad when it ends.
My guilty pleasure show of Joe Millionaire. Been planning a snack for Thursday nights as I watch it making a whole ritual of the experience of watching my trashy tv show. And if you’re watching it with me, I’ve come up with a theme song for Caroline: Sweet but Psycho by Ava Max. Or maybe you are fan of Caroline? Personally, I am not and was sad they didn’t just send her home last week. Oh, the drama! On that note, glad my Missouri millionaire is so far somewhat staying out of it all. Oh, I am way too invested in this show. Help me!
On The Menu This Week
Thankfully, I went to the store before the game on Sunday so we’re pretty well set here for snow days and such. For the game we had BBQ little smokies, precooked heat and eat chicken wings, and I made the winter salad Carrie shared a couple weeks back (it was a hit!) along with a pineapple upside down cake for dessert.
MONDAY: It was a bit of rough day with us all going in different directions *G and I had BBQ ham sandwiches, J had heat and eat chicken wings, and my husband had leftover taco meat* *I worked 8:15-4:45* J had a baritone lesson at 6:30* My husband had to attend a visitation*
TUESDAY: Pepper steak and rice, G doesn’t like steak so I made some of into pepper chicken using the same recipe, turned out good *I worked 8:15-5:00*
WEDNESDAY: beef stew (crock pot), homemade bread of some sort
THURSDAY: ham steaks, corn bread, salad *Meeting at high school at 1:00*
FRIDAY: Frozen pizza
From The Camera
Feel like I say this every week lately, but I didn’t pick up the camera enough last week. Took the first photo from the deck on Sunday night, no coat needed. The second one out the backdoor this morning, definitely need a coat, gloves, all of it if I go outside even on the deck today.
Looking Around The House
Giving it a good cleaning it definitely on the list for today!
On My To Do List
Clean the house (see told you it was on the list!)
Laundry
Enjoy my snow day!
Call new trash company as I’ve lost the billing info (yahoo e-mail glitch, grr)
Set up appointment for J
Something Fun To Share
J showed me this fun you-tube channel of Kotaro and Hanna, river otter pets in Japan and I can’t stop watching them.
On My Prayer List
Those still sick with the virus right now including the teacher I’ve been working for as she deals with COVID induced pneumonia, the co-director at my work as he’s also battling lingering effects from the virus as well as in need of kidney transplant (from diabetic kidney disease), the young (and older) children struggling. A friend of ours who just lost her husband back in August and also suddenly lost one of her brothers a week ago, that she is enveloped in peace as she grieves her losses. My son, for us to get answers so he can overcome the anxiety and depression he’s currently suffering through. Friends, family, strangers. All those out working in today’s snowy and cold weather to stay safe. A return to kinder, happier, more peaceful times throughout the world.
Quote For The Week
Proverbs 3:5-6
5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
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I definitely plan to spend part of my snow day catching up on a few of your blogs!
Another short post that is just straight to my list. Just a reminder I start my list over each Thursday afternoon/Friday. So some of these go back to last week.
J going to school (Last Friday)
Everybody getting home safely (Friday was quite the day with J deciding to walk home from school, G having car trouble, me getting locked outside for a bit, and my husband dealing with most of it while still at work)
lazy Saturday mornings
Sunshine!
A new book arriving in the mail (through Amazon)
An exciting play off football game and of course, a Chiefs win!
An old friend willing to help out and share her experiences as well as some very sage advice
Coffee!
A really wonderful compliment from the teacher I’ve been working with this week. She said it’s been very peaceful in the classroom while I’ve been in there. And that she even feels peaceful herself when I’m working in her classroom.
Another compliment from one of the kids telling me I look like one of the other young, pretty preschool teachers (We both have dark hair but that’s about it…still, a nice compliment and I’ll take it)
J getting his driving learner’s permit. Hooray for a confidence boost!
McDonald’s getting the order right for our entire family right (J’s choice for a celebration dinner)
Clear kitchen counters and sinks
Green plants that just keep growing.
Lots to be thankful for around here even in the midst of an otherwise somewhat busy and stressful at times kind of week. What’s on your thankful list for this last week of January?
Ten degrees and feels like 0 this morning. It was a high of 50 degrees yesterday and then got colder all day long. Same old up and down stuff. Not a snow/rain cloud in sight so far this week.
How I Am Feeling This Morning
Tired, rushed, frustrated, and slightly hopeful. Lots of feelings. Looking into switching J to online homeschooling. (If you have some experience with that, let me know) As well as trying to figure out if he can still do band at the high school so a mixed option of sorts. Have a friend calling me to talk about it more later tonight.
On My Reading Pile
Dune by Frank Herbert (honestly, glad I saw the new movie first) and How to be Sad by Helen Russell.
On My TV
NFL play offs. (Got to say it, GO CHIEFS! and wow, what a game…that I watched mostly through my hands screaming, I can’t watch! Tell me did he get the field goal? Did they score? What a great game that truly could’ve gone either way.) I am sorry and bit disappointed it won’t be a Green Bay vs KC match up. Of course, the Chiefs still have to face the Bengals and I’m thinking that’s not going to be an easy game either.
Looking way too forward to my Thursday night viewing of Joe Millionaire.
On The Menu
Sad to say I’ll probably be winging it a bit this week.
MONDAY: husband heated up leftover ham and rolls while I went to the grocery store *I worked 815-445*
TUESDAY: Something easy, maybe BLTS and fries *I work815-445* *Phone call at 6*
WEDNESDAY: Maybe chicken fajitas of sorts *I work 815-1* *J to take driver permit test in afternoon*
THURSDAY: ???? *I work 815-445*
FRIDAY: ????/ *I work 815-445*
Looking Around The House
It’s been worse
To Relax This Week I Will
Watch my guilty pleasure TV show with snacks
From The Camera
Managed a picture of the sunset sky one evening over the weekend. I usually can’t get a decent photo because of houses but that night my timing was great and the colors extended high enough into the sky that I could point the camera up at the sky enough to capture it and not the houses.
Something Fun To Share
Today is Rudolph Day, a day to celebrate/plan for Christmas on the 25th day of each month.
Quote For The Week
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7)
This was definitely a better week than the last one with everyone sick. Nice to have everyone on the mend and things slowly returning to a routine.
I’m going to keep this post brief and just get to my posting my list of things I jotted done from last Friday until today:
J showing me how to change the language on you-tube and laughing with him at funny videos in Swedish
An Irish Cream Cold Brew as the featured coffee at Starbucks
G getting to work (and home again) safely during the snowstorm
A warm house providing shelter from the storm
Hearing a couple of barred owls call to each other early Sunday morning
Everyone slowly starting to feel better after COVID and that our family didn’t have any serious issues with it
An older brother who takes great care of his younger brother even when he doesn’t have to do it
Hyacinths blooming indoors in winter
Returning to routines of work and school
Remembering trash day and a great new company that actually picks up our trash and recycling
Zippers that look like toasters and preschool kids in my life who point out such wonderful observations to me
Wonderful coworkers who make work as pleasant as the kids who see toasters in zippers
My oldest son buying me lunch
Getting a little (very little) cleaning done
Guess I should add a bonus item and say I’m thankful I decided to splurge on these hyacinths as they bloom because they are also starting to give off a wonderful scent as well…
Do you enjoy the scent of hyacinths? What things are you thankful for this week?
My focus this week I’ve decided is going to be on clearing clutter.
Cleaning is actually the focus for the third week in my self-care journal.
Want a funny story about that? I share lots of photos of our cute little gray cat. Chelsey is a tiny little Russian blue cat with a big bossy attitude.
She’s also a puking kind of cat. I’m sure you cat people know what I mean. She usually does better in the winter but sometimes she’ll get those hairballs or get into the wrong thing outside and then, blech. Puking cat.
Guess I should probably add being thankful for hardwood floors to my current thankful Thursday list. However, they didn’t save me yesterday.
I keep my self-care journal on the table by the couch. And since cats aren’t always particular about where they puke, she chose right on top of my brand-new self-care journal. SIGH. Glad it’s a hardbound book. Cleaned it up, wiped it off with a Clorox wipe.
And then, opened it up to see what the focus for this week was going to be about.
What are the odds?
My plans for clearing clutter this week:
Clear off my nightstand (easy since it’s one of the flylady missions anyway)
Sort through and declutter the holiday tubs as I switch them out (had some Christmas to officially put away still. Got out some Valentine’s Day stuff)
Make a casual plan for clearing the rest of the clutter especially in the basement
So far this week, I’ve already managed to clear off the kitchen table (it was bad) and clean out our make-shift mailboxes in the kitchen as well. I was also happy to finally get the Christmas books sorted and put away (it’s a weird deal but they’re stored in J’s closet and he’s been home sick so…). Now, I have 2 empty boxes to fill with donation things since I’d boxed the books up and put them in our bedroom until I could put them away.
Sometimes it really is the little things. Do you find clearing clutter helps clear your mind?
Happy Monday! I feel like we are having a delayed start to our New Year’s over here. I know it’s the 3rd week of the New Year (already!). However, since the boys all had Covid-19 (I might have as well but never had any major symptoms, a minor headache one day, being tired a bit…which could have easily have been caregiver fatigue), it seems as if we are just now starting our New Year with the holidays behind us. At least that’s what I’m pretending.
sun shining through lemon grass plant on front porch
Of course, it wasn’t like everyone being sick was a huge extra holiday. It did delay our return to routine and the excitement of a fresh New Year. So, I’ve decided I’m treating this new week like the first week of a New Year. Complete with starting over on the New Year resolutions I didn’t really make (see my list of 22). Tomorrow (since today IS actually a holiday), I’ll focus seriously on drinking my water, eating less crap food, etc.
Today, I’m taking it easy and refreshing the house a bit. Changing out the bedding, laundry in progress. And of course, working on this post so I can join in with Sandra over at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom.
The Weather
Winter arrived over the weekend. Cold and snowy! Of course, it’s supposed to boomerang back up to almost 50 tomorrow and plummet to 15 on Thursday. Still on the roller coaster. I prefer the sunny, warm days but the snow does make everything pretty.
How I Am Feeling This Morning
Ready for a return to some type of a routine. And in the mood to clean and clear clutter away.
On The Breakfast Plate
Bacon and biscuits (husband cooked), coffee, and vitamins. Need to go drink some water.
On My Reading Pile
Went on a bit of a reading binge last week/over the weekend. Finished The Secret Garden, now one of my all-time favorite books. Might break down and order a hardbound illustrated copy like the one from the library. Read one called The Nanny by Gilly MacMillan, it was one of those creepy fun suspense kind of novels. When the Stars Go Dark by Paula McLain was a bit predictable I thought, found myself more interested in the secondary plot than the main one but it was a fairly quick read. Dark material though as it dealt with the kidnapping and assault of young girls. Also a dark one but well-written was Good Neighbors by Sarah Langan. *Spoiler Alert* The neighbors are not good. Not at all.
On My TV
Husband and I binge-watched Kobra Kai, I’m still enjoying it, he’s on the fence about it. Tried to watch the new 2020 version of The Secret Garden but it was so far removed from the book, I couldn’t finish it. A dog in place of Ben Weatherstaff? I don’t think so! Then, why stop at one bad movie…I watched The Eternals. I did finish it but was unimpressed (and seriously, a love scene in a Marvel movie? It’s brief but still UGH). Sad when the 2nd end-credit scene was more interesting to me than the entire movie.
To make up for bad movies, I watched 3 good movies, one a classic. Guardians of the Galaxy, needed some humor. Then Shang-Chi, worth your time if you’ve not seen it yet. A very well-done story. And finally, at J’s urging since I’d never seen it, I watched Citizen Kane. Very good and of course, worth your time.
Other things I watched: Joe Millionaire, at least I expect that to be bad, guilty pleasure tv. Next Level Chef, despite saying I wasn’t watching any more cooking shows, I’m intrigued. And the NFL playoff games including watching my Chiefs beat the Steelers. I did wish they’d have let Ben Roethlisberger have that last touchdown pass.
On The Menu
Now for the hard part of the weekly planning…
Still trying to clear out the freezer a bit
MONDAY: Chicken strips, either cooked from freezer or homemade, just depends on how the day goes
TUESDAY: Ribs in the crock pot *Carryover because I keep forgetting to thaw them*
WEDNESDAY: Baked ravioli (in bag in freezer), salad
THURSDAY: pork chops (already cooked in freezer), baked sweet potatoes
FRIDAY: Homemade Pizza *I work 7:45-4:15*
Looking Around The House
It’s okay but I’m feeling the need to spring clean even though it’s only January
To Relax This Week I Will
morning glory seed pods in the garden
spend some time with the huge pile of gardening and seed catalogs calling my name
From The Camera
Last Friday, before the storm arrived, I went out, took a walk, and did a little “house-hunting”. The trail at a local nature center had a wooden gingerbread house display (families and organizations paid a fee to charity for a cutout to decorate).
This was my favoriteLittle Pink Houses for you and me…The detail on this Mario one impressed me
Something Fun To Share
On a whim, I’ve been trying to learn Swedish on Duo Lingo. I can now tell you I’m eating bread and drinking water in very broken Swedish. J helped me and said a better way was to change you-tube to Swedish. And while playing around on there, I found this fun video. (It’s mostly in English as it’s an Ed Sheeran interview of sorts)
On My Prayer List
An end to this virus, for the numbers to decline (our local community is at a 41 % positivity rate!), the health care workers, those who are struggling with any aspect of this awful virus, a peaceful week. Friends, family, and strangers.
Quote For The Week
I have to share this quote again since it is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.”
Welcome to the Thankful Thursday evening edition. Remember when newspapers used to have both morning and evening editions? And were actually paper? Delivered in the driveway?
Sometimes, I miss those days. However, I’m thankful for the Internet and the way I can use it to share all the great things from my week with all of you. And connect with other bloggers and readers.
The reason for the evening edition of my post is the weather. Today was sunny and in the mid-50’s. I was outside most of the day wearing my sweatshirt, no coat needed. One of the devotional verses this morning was Psalm 118:24, This is the day that the Lord hath made, we will rejoice and be glad in it. And that’s just what I did with some help from a certain bossy little gray cat.
And I opened the windows and aired out the entire house. As much as I love candles, diffusers, and the like there is no better scent in the world than fresh air. Especially, after many in the household were sick.
Financial aid and a scholarship helping with G’s college costs
A few pleasant exchanges with the teenager
On-line church
Drive-thru windows
On-line grocery shopping
Keeping my sense of humor (though it’s only Monday as I type this one)
Sunshine, warmer weather, and blue skies in January
Watching out the back door as two Carolina wrens called to each other
And a few extras from today:
A chance to open the windows and air out the house
Managing to keep one pack of these Prosecco Bon Bons hidden for my Joe Millionaire viewing party tonight (I’m the only guest, lol). It’s not a giant jar like in the link, it’s just a bag I ordered from Universal Yums.
Finding a few “forgotten” images on the bridge camera SD card
Cooper’s Hawk, not sure when I took this
A glimpse of a spectacular sunset out the back. Unfortunately, we are well suited for me to grab sunrise photos, not so much sunset pictures. The sky was filled with the most brilliant orange and red hues. Since I couldn’t get a decent photo of a sunset, here’s another from the forgotten SD card, a sunrise from a few weeks ago:
Remembering to fill the gas tank on the car while the weather was still nice (snow predicted for the weekend)
What things are on your thankful Thursday evening list?
So I pick heal for my word of 2022 and we all start the year with COVID. Wonderful. Last week I shared a bit about the self-care journal I found at Target. Right now for this week I’m simply focused on being kind to myself and going slow.
Those sound like such simple things. However, I’m struggling with them a bit.
Why is it so hard to be kind to ourselves? Or is it just me? I can easily encourage a kid, a friend, a family member. However, it takes so much work for me to be kind to myself and give myself the same level of grace. A lot of times it just comes down to the information found in this article I stumbled across. Not knowing what I need. And sometimes it’s knowing exactly what I need but not wanting to disrupt the peace to get it. That really needs to change.
However, for this week here are some ways I plan on being kind to myself:
Spend sometime outside going for a walk alone (We went for a drive yesterday to get my husband out of the house but it gave me worse cabin fever not being able to get out and just be in nature)
Ask (nicely) for what I need. Sick or not, I need my family to show a little (not a lot) appreciation. Thank you goes a long way with me.
Stand up to that mean inner voice that tries to tell me (and sadly, sometimes succeeds) that I’m not good enough.
Drink my water! And forgive myself if I fall a bit short on my goal of a tall glass of water with every meal.
Didn’t I also say something about going slow?
I don’t know if going slow is really what I mean here. It’s more a case of taking the time to allow myself to feel my feelings. Not getting bogged down with them but not simply pushing them away (a bad habit of mine) either. When you don’t take the time to feel your feelings, they tend to come back in a rush and stronger over minor things. At least, that happens to me. Does that ever happen to you?
A minor spat over J’s breakfast this morning brought back so many feelings of inadequacy from this time last year when his struggles with anxiety started. The voice in my head started in telling me that this taking care of a sick family thing wasn’t that hard and I wasn’t doing nearly enough or anything right. That I was a “crap” parent. My plan this year is to take a minute and fully feel things, including sadness and frustration. Hopefully, doing that allows me to heal a bit from some past hurts I’ve simply ignored.
Note, I don’t plan to dredge up the past but simply acknowledge the hurts and not rush away the feelings. Hoping this approach helps to lighten the mental load a bit in the coming year.
Of course, I also plan to take some time and experience the feelings of joy. That’s the focus of my Thankful Thursday posts, new one coming tomorrow.
