Simple Woman Daybook

Outside My Window....another dreary day! Wet and cold just like yesterday....which was fine and dandy when I was home and sitting in front of the toasty fire with the boys! However, the good news is the sun is suppose to come out tomorrow and it should be pretty through the end of the week....

I am thinking....how very happy I am that we will be spending time with family and friends over this holiday week! We are very blessed to have such wonderful people in our lives.

I am thankful for....a colorful fall - the trees have been just beautiful this year. It's hard to complain about the leaves falling when they make such wonderful colors in the sky!

Someone who made me happy....my mom, who took me to Sam's Club this weekend....boy oh boy, I love that place! $85 later....

How I made someone happy.... I taught a friend of mine at work - a colleague - how to figure Facilities and Administrative costs in a simple way....rather than using the algebraic formula/equation that is considered to be the official method! Much easier and quicker too. Really people...algebra? When do you ever use equations in real life?

I am creating....wreaths for the windows this holiday season. Mom is lending me the greenery and I am adding the "bling, baubles, and bows"....and there will be a wreath on each window in the front of the house this year!

We are going....to Charleston on Thursday with Jon's family and my folks house on Friday (my brother will be home!) for two family Thanksgiving dinners....can you say extra time at the gym on Saturday and Sunday???

I am hoping and praying....that I passed the GRANT Certification Exam that I took this morning! WOOHOO....it's finally over!

On my mind....how lucky I feel to have such a wonderful husband. He puts up with me and loves me for who I am....flaws and all. Thank you my love....

From the kitchen....Jon is cooking tonight. Yippee! As I said before, he is the official chef in the house. Unfortunately, during band season, the job gets handed to me. I'm ready for him to take it over again and defer from the same old same old! Please.......

Around the house...a couple of projects for the extended weekend. Even if we do have family obligations, I plan to clean the carpet in the den and paint the trim work going up the stairs and in the upstairs hallway! Finally!!!

I am reading...."The Art of Racing in the Rain" by Garth Stein. It is the story of a dog and is written through the dogs eyes....just started reading, so I'll let you know how hard I cry. I can tell it already that its going to be a tear-jerker!

Pondering these words in honor of Thanksgiving.... 'As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.' ~ John F. Kennedy

The Weekend

"The rhythm of the of the weekend.....with it's birth.....it's planned gaieties.....and it's announced end.....followed by the rhythm of life and was a substitute for it. "

~ F. Scott Fitzgerald

Merry Hallowthanks....giving?

Really? Can it be true? Is it really the most wonderful time of the year? The reason I ask is that Jon and I went to Lowe's the other night to purchase the yard vacuum (which by the way....is the official name of the leaf chopper I mentioned before) to clean up the FALL leaves and they already have aisles and aisles of Christmas 'stuff' up and ready to sell.

Another thing I've noticed as I've perused through the status updates of my friends on Facebook, is that many of them are counting down daily until Christmas or posting photos of the Christmas decorations that they have already adorned their homes with....all I can say is....Are you serious?

However, the final kick in the pants was yesterday....when my neighbors (whom I adore) spent their entire day pulling out the lighted reindeers, trees, trains, and snowmen that they will proudly display over every inch of their yard throughout the month of December. I have to admit that I do love it - when the time comes - but that time is not here yet! Come on people....its not even Thanksgiving!

Now, I don't want to sound like the ultimate scrooge because in all reality....I am not. I love Christmas. I mean I really really love the whole festive holiday atmosphere! The way it feels in the air, the way it smells, shopping for the ones you love, wrapping gifts, the decorating, the cooking and baking, spending time with family....I love it all. In fact, it truly is one of my favorite times of the year.

I guess the problem I have is that when we keep extending it out over other holidays, then aren't we taking away from what makes it so special in the first place? Halloween was just a couple of weeks ago and Thanksgiving is still a week away....wasn't it nice when the holidays were individuals? Can't we wait until the day after Thanksgiving for Christmas....at the least?

Wordless Wednesday

(Reminder: Click on photo to enlarge)

Simple Woman Daybook

I was surfing the Internet the other day and came upon a blog called "The Simple Woman's Daybook". The blog invites women to use a template every Monday of the week to post their feelings, things they are doing, their dreams, etc. on their own blogs, but to share it with her via her blog as well.

So....I've decided to do this! Of course, me being me, I am a day late with my first entry. So, from this point on the Simple Woman's Daybook will be posted each and every Monday. Until then....here goes:

Outside My Window....Lots of fog this morning, but should burn off to a beautiful fall day. We are expecting more rain, so I will enjoy this while I can.

I am thinking....I would like to take a trip somewhere over the holiday break. Jon and I are both off work and a short trip to some place close would be nice.... and overdue. I can hear The Rooftop in Charleston calling my name...

I am thankful for....wonderful family and friends.

Someone who made me happy....my friend, Helen, brought her newborn baby - Elliott - in to visit us at work. He is truly one of the most beautiful babies I've ever seen.

How I made someone happy....I gave Jon a new fishing reel. It was intended to be a Christmas gift, but I decided since he had worked so hard during marching band season and reached his goal of making state finals....well, he deserved it early!

I am creating....nothing, nada, zip! Which is strange for me. I do have a hankering to start knitting. Could be due to the nip of chill in the air...

We are going....to purchase a leaf chopper. I'm sure that's not the official name of what we are looking at to buy, but basically its a machine that not only sucks up the TREMENDOUS amount of leaves that we have, but will also chop them up and condense them into such small pieces that we have less bags!

I am hoping and praying....that this horrible cold that I have will go away....soon.

On my mind....I still want to learn a foreign language. Not just the little hello's and greetings and such, but I want to be able to SPEAK it....Jon and I have discussed learning French....'Oui?

From the kitchen....this is a funny topic for me....considering my husband is a much better cook and THE cook of the house and considering that I will never be able to bake like my mother. However, I have been thinking about trying some baking for the holidays.....maybe.

Around the house...always seems that during marching band season, we put things off until marching band is over. So I guess all those things we said we are going to do, are due now! The good thing is, I cleaned the house so thoroughly last weekend, that the hardwoods will make you slip they are so clean! LOVE IT!

I am reading...."For One More Day" by Mitch Albom. It is the story of a man who gets the chance to spend one more day with his mother, who died 8 years earlier. Very full of life lessons....

Pondering these words....'Find ecstasy in life. The mere sense of living is joy enough.' ~ Emily Dickinson

Where in the world is Cindy Brady?

I haven't written in a very long time and for those of you who followed my blog entries often, I apologize for my absence. Life has been very busy and a lot of interesting things have happened since I last posted. However, the main reason I've been missing in action is simply because I wasn't sure what to write about. It seemed that all of the responsibilities of life were taking up too much of my time....and that I didn't have time to write. When in all honesty, these responsibilities were just kind of boring! So, I took a much needed break. I've pondered whether to start blogging again and - deep down - I know that I want to. I enjoy writing and sharing my thoughts. Not to mention, that I witness so many amusing, mundane, witless, and amazing things each day, I do feel the need to share. So, I've given the template a face lift - a new life - and I will attempt to blog often. I've missed you all...and I hope you will check in here and there. Its good to be back!