{Simple Daybook} 24 February 2020

For Today ~

Looking out my window ~ beautiful sunny day.  The roses in front are growing new shoots but I had meant to cut them back this year.  I think I will anyway, and hope in the additional sunlight and fertilizer to get them growing again soon . . . better and fuller and more beautiful than before.

I am thankful ~ for my home.  Always.  Every Moment.

One of my favorite things  ~ is sitting with my daughter in companionable silence with a movie on, we each working on our own project, or working on bullet journals together.  I love her creativity.  She inspires me.

I am creating ~

 

 This is a small Biscournu cross stitch.  I started it at the beginning of the month while I was in hospital.  This past weekend I started using it as a daily Stitch 30 project, which simply means that I'm committing to stitch on it for 30 minutes every day.  I'm pleased with even the little bit of progress that has been made so far.  

 

I am reading ~ Only the River Runs Free.  Four chapters in and the story is developing really well.  It is the first book of a trilogy.  Looking forward to seeing where it goes.

I am hoping ~ to get the pantry rack placed in the kitchen where it belongs, once daughter and I move the existing cabinet out to the garage.

In my kitchen ~ the dishes get loaded and counters wiped every night {happy noises} Yesterday I made the Curried Quinoa which was delicious.  I added an extra lemon (juice) and a little pepper.  The recipe will be going into my folder as a regular.  I also made a pan of our favorite Amish Baked Oatmeal (per Sue Gregg I use 2 cups of buttermilk instead of regular milk) and tonight daughter is making homemade tortillas for some green chili chicken enchiladas she has planned.  Lots of yummy things happening here.

In the school room ~ a nearly complete high school curriculum is sitting in my hall closet.  I really need to pull them out and list them of find someone to give them to.  That's a goal.

Shared Quote ~ 

Just because you're trash doesn't mean you can't do great things.  Its called a trash CAN , not a trash Can NOT.  

(a quote daughter found on Pinterest and wrote on our chalkboard as inspiration for the week)

Truth from Scripture ~  

 

He who troubles his own house will inherit the wind.  Proverbs 11:29

(the reality of this truth is evident in our lives today.  all traces of what was are slowly being wiped away and replaced with beauty, peace, and happiness)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

{Simple Daybook} 18 Feb 2020

For Today

I am thinking . . . of all the pins I've pinned and ideas I have for reclaiming my home.  Glass shelves in my large kitchen window - painting kitchen and laundry room, cute pink accents, rearranging furniture, the new chair that arrives tomorrow with decor pieces to follow.  Excitement!

One of my favorite things . . . doing genealogy.  This past week has been full of new discoveries filling out ancillary branches on Ancestry and linking family members together on FindAGrave. 

I am watching . . . Lie To Me with daughter after we recently discovered it on Prime.    I'm waiting for Only The River Runs Free to arrive at the library.

I am hoping . . . to keep active this week with more cleaning, organizing, and walking.  I need it physically and mentally.  For too long I told myself that I don't have to do it (move) because it's too hard and it hurts.  That time is over now and I want to be Doing!

I am learning . . . that I can do much more than I think. (see above)

In my kitchen . . . I've been keeping up with cleaning off counters, dishwasher loaded, everything in it's place, and floor swept and mopped.  Amazing. Really.  I live with my youngest children - adults - and sometimes I just want to give up.  A Curry Quinoa recipe is floating in my head that may soon be made.

In my garden . . . an iris rhizome I planted last winter has finally bloomed - a gorgeous deep purple.  A beautiful surprise for mid-February.  Some bare root roses will soon be making their home in my backyard, along with at least a Gincko Biloba tree.  Their lovely, delicate leaves won me over the very first time I saw one.

Board room . . . I haven't pinned for several years (severe health issues) but now that I am reclaiming my home, the inspiration keeps me going with the deep cleaning and de-cluttering that is needed.  My top Boards the past few days are Kitchen Inspirations, Naturally Pest-Free,Eating To Heal

A Photo from my day 

Daybook 27 December 2017

For Today ~

Looking out my window ~ a sunny but cold morning, cars were frosted this morning, and my bird feeders are empty

I am thinking ~ about how fortunate I am - - but fortune means arbitrary luck so that is not the word I want.  How about how grace-full I am.   Because my present state has nothing to do with me and everything to do with the goodness, steadfastness, and mercy of the LORD

I am thankful ~ for my family, ALL of them, and especially my four beautiful, funny, quirky, nerdy, intelligent, and totally unique children.  They absolutely make life worth living and I (usually) can't wait to see what they will say or do next

One of my favorite things ~ DS #2  gifted me with a Chromecast for Christmas and it has been delightful! 

I am creating ~ a set of stamped cards today as a gift for a dear friend

I am wearing ~ warm socks, jeans, white t-shirt, purple fleece jacket, and a handmade pastel rainbow knit wrap/scarf with a turquoise knit beanie

I am listening to ~ Spotify, casting from my phone, my Jane Austen Companion library which plays a beautiful mixture of Haydn, Schubert, Bach, Boyce, and more.  Currently playing is Cello Concerto in C Major: Adagio by Franz Joseph Haydn

I am hoping ~ to get New Years cards and gifts for DS #2 and dear daughter-in-love in the mail today

In my kitchen ~ are leftover mashed potatoes from Christmas dinner with the family.  I used my friend Ginny's recipe ( Crock Pot Mashed Potatoes ) and they turned out perfectly perfect!  This morning I heated up a small bowl for my breakfast and added a few spoons of some fresh corn salsa we have in the fridge.  Oh. My. Word.  It was so delicious!

Board Room ~  Daughter and I are both wanting to get more creative this year, and will be experimenting with Bullet Journaling as a vehicle for that.  I found this series and thought it would be a fun way to get started and practice our mad doodle skills ;-) 

I'm Felicity Farm on Pinterest

Daybook 20 December

Looking out my window ~  The wind is blowing leaves through the air like snow, and there's a small stampede of orange and yellow running down the middle of the street, with strays wandering up my driveway

I am thinking ~ of this time two years ago when joyous things were happening around me (my dear brown-eyed boy was marrying his love) but there was sadness and some fears happening within me (my husband would be served with divorce papers when we returned from this trip)  Knowing all that occurred in the following weeks, I treasure the peace of that day even more.

I am thankful ~ that God is SOVEREIGN.  He has absolute control over all.  He allows unimaginable things to happen, yet there is no limit to his grace and mercy.   An unsolvable conundrum that has preserved my life

One of my favorite things ~ is my Wednesday date with my mom.  She literally dedicated a year of her life to me and now that the day-to-day struggles are over, we have a weekly date to just spend time together

I am creating ~ a scarf for my beautiful daughter-in-love and getting it in the mail today

I am watching ~ Seven Brides for Seven Brothers with sweet son #3

I am hoping ~ to get the Christmas tree up today.  Don't like the work of putting it up but so enjoy looking at it and the glittering lights that brighten the room and my spirit

I am learning ~ how to balance life.  Perspective is probably the best word.  It is so easy to become overwhelmed with all the heartbreaking memories, both things that were in your control and things that absolutely weren't.  But recognizing the hundreds of small joys: family, friends, a smile, the beauty of God's creation and creatures, remembering simple things that make it all worth the struggle.  Each day brings new challenges and new rewards, too

Closing Notes:   If I knew then what I know now.  What a thought.  Yes, so much I would have done differently.  But, in doing things differently, would I have necessarily ended up in a better place?  Or in doing it differently, would I simply have continued the path that I had been on for so many, many years and remained captive in a situation that someone else was controlling?  If, if, if. 
I know for certain that in going through the deepest valley of my life, I saw the Lord from a different perspective; realized the depths of his power and his infinite grace.  And I know for certain that I am in a better place today because of all that I went through, both for me and my children.  We survived.  Now we get to live

Daybook 12 December

For Today ~

Looking out my window ~ Darkness.  It's been a good, full day

I am thinking ~ Of all the things there are to tell

I am thankful ~ For the Internet, and FB Memories which helped me find my blogs from long ago

One of my favorite things ~ Snuggly sweaters that keep me warm during these cold days

I am creating ~ So many things.  Primarily crocheting a scarf and working on two cross-stitch pieces; one VERY detailed and one full of large blocks of a single color

I am wearing ~ Gray yoga pants, though I've never done yoga in my life (!!), long sleeved white t-shirt, and an aforementioned snuggly sweater, this one is an antique rose chenille cardigan

I am watching ~ The last episode of The Crown, Season 2

I am hoping ~ To get my life together and be a productive member of Society again, And get my Christmas cards finished and in the mail before the end of the week!

I am learning ~ To literally take everything One Day At A Time

In my kitchen ~ A counter full of clean dishes, hand washed by me, since beloved dishwasher is currently out of commission

In the school room ~ Alas!  My students are all gone (grown) and I find myself looking very fondly on all the books that caused so much frustration in the thick of the moment

In my garden ~ Nothing.  Truly the bleak of winter.  Simply waiting for the persimmons on my tree to ripen.

Shared Quote ~  O come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our maker.  For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand 

A moment from my day ~ 

 

I stopped by the cemetery where my grandparents and great-grandparents are buried for some much needed quiet and reflection.

Closing Notes ~ I've gone through a tremendous trial for the past two years.  It seems to be coming to an end, but now is the time to process it and move on with life.  I used to participate in Simple Woman's Daybook many years ago, and it is one of the simple, normal things that I am looking forward to doing again as I figure out how to do this life thing alone.