Simple Woman's Daybook

For today...Outside my Window... I am seeing the dwindling down of the Morning Glories. Before long, the view there will be drab. I'm thinking of planting Pansies this year. They bloom through the winter. I love their smiling faces, which always make me smile back.

I am thinking... about our ladies meeting at church tonight. Last week was enjoyable, though I do hope we can spend less time eating and more time meeting. I love the fellowship and sharing of our meal beforehand, but last week, we barely had time for a quick prayer at the end of our meeting, as some needed to go to pick up kids. I feel that prayer is such an important part of our time together.

From the learning rooms... eh...not so much going on there.

I am thankful for.... the two new (to me) burgundy leather recliners in my living room. My next door neighbors ordered new ones and asked if we knew anyone interested in buying their old ones. They aren't old, they just aren't new. They look great, and I know she paid mucho money for them new. She said she'd sell one for $75, and let the other one go for free. You just can't beat a deal like that! ;-)

From the kitchen... there is a queso dip with taco meat in it, ready to take to my ladies group tonight. I just need to stop and pick up a bag of dipping tortilla chips. I need to figure out what to leave here for dinner, though. I'm thinkin' somethin' simple.

I am wearing... my nightshirt and flipflops. I haven't even had my first cup of coffee or put in my contacts yet. My day is definitely out of order.

I am reading... eh...not so much. Does bathroom reading count?

I am hoping... I can sell the two small wingback chairs I had in my living room.

I am creating... dishcloths and hats with my knitting needles.

Around the house... I've been decluttering. It's an ongoing chore around here. I've always been such a packrat. I've either bought (mostly at thrift stores) or been given way too many things over the years that I've kept for "some day". I don't do that anymore. I have a hard and fast rule with myself now. If I can't use it now, or at least within the next season, or if I don't know someone else who needs it, it doesn't come home with me. The problem is, I have years and years accumulation of "stuff" that I got before I instituted that rule! Which reminds me of one of my favorite movie lines, from the Jerk.

"I don't care about losing all the money. It's losing all the stuff"

One of my favorite things... is apple crisp. Maybe I'll bake some today!

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... to go through the antique buffet in my dining room, which is used for anything but a buffet table. It's a huge piece of furniture with three drawers across the top, and a cabinet on each side below. There are things stuffed back in those cabinets that have probably not seen the light of day in fifteen years. Disgraceful, I know. It's definitely time.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...of my little dog, Leyna. Bear with me, I don't show a fraction of the pictures of her that I'd like. I do realize not all people melt into puddles over cute pup pics the way I do. When my son and daughter were packing their overnight bags to go to 6-Flags last August, Leyna crawled into one of their bags. My son zipped it nearly closed and snapped this picture of her. I think she wanted to go to 6-Flags, too.

~Visit The Simple Woman's blog to see how you can participate in the weekly Daybook on your own blog. Click on The Simple Woman's Daybook icon in her sidebar for instructions.

For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.

~Jeremiah 29:11

The above scripture was spoken to me by a friend the day after I learned my late husband had drowned while scuba diving. I felt like I was drowning in despair, and truthfully, the scripture did not bring me great comfort at the time. However, she told me God gave her that Word for me. In the days, weeks, months, and years ahead, I did cling to that Word from God. I stood on it as His promise to me, and He kept good on His promise!

The Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today...
Outside my Window... I see drooping tree branches, their still green leaves weighted down with the morning's rain.


I am thinking... about how very much I love this time of year. Even when raining, it's so nice to sit outside on my porch and enjoy the cool air .


From the learning rooms... I am hoping to learn to use the embroider/sewing machine my mom left here for me to try. It would be nice to be able to make personalized gifts for family for Christmas.


I am thankful for.... so very much. My mind, as most people's these days, has been on the upcoming election. Though I have strong opinions of who I hope gets elected to the job of presidency, I know that whatever the outcome, God is still on the throne. He will never leave His righteous forsaken, and we are made rightous by the precious blood of His Son, Jesus.


From the kitchen... await the makings for tortilla roll-ups for taking to my ladies meeting at church tonight. We bring our own dinner or snacks, whether picked up on the way by those ladies working all day, or prepared in our kitchens by those of us fortunate enough to spend our days at home. We then pool our goodies and have a meal and fellowship for a half hour or so before beginning our meeting. I'll probably prepare spaghetti with meat sauce (ground beef/italian sausage) for Mr.Studley and my son John to eat for dinner.


I am wearing... a cotton t-shirt and a pair of cotton shorts. I'm barefoot with my Obikashi slip-ons nearby for when I take Leyna outside to do her 'bidness'. I pretty much wear my shorts around the house right through winter, especially now that I'm in the throes of the pleasures of menopause.....rooooiiiiiggghht.


I am reading... I'm still making my way through Spirit, Soul & Body by Andrew Wommack. It's not difficult to read, but I'm not finding much reading time lately. That, and again, that whole pleasures of menopause thing seems to be affecting my ability to concentrate.


I am hoping... that we have a good turnout for our ladies group meeting tonight. Our meetings have pretty much been on haitus since earlier this year. I'm happy we're starting up again, as I feel it's a good means of the women at church getting to know each other and being connected. Plus, my pastor's wife is leading it, and she always has good indepth things to share with us.


I am creating... scarves and hats with my knitting needles. My daughter, Nikki, informed me it's already cold in northern England where she's now living. "Make me scarves", she pleaded!


I am hearing... the whir of the Stanley fan sitting at my feet. They market it as being powerfully built for use in workshops. If they were smart, they'd add to that "powerful enough to cool a woman having hotflashes". That might be false advertisement, though, 'cause there are days when even my little Stanley doesn't do the trick. Seriously, my body feels like a racecar engine. I can go from a comfortable 98.6 body temperature to a raging 500 degree internal inferno in 0-60 seconds!


Around the house... I see signs of a very playful little dog. It looks like there's a toddler in residence. A toddler who likes to chew on rawhides. There are stuffed toys, balls, and half-chewed rawhides strewn about the living room and our bedroom. I wonder if I can train Leyna to put her toys away?


One of my favorite things... these days is when Jim (Nikki's boyfriend) sends me pictures of Nikki walking about their new hometown. He sent me some of her standing in a gorgous flower garden park near their hotel this weekend. I keep imagining myself, along with Mr. Studley, seeing all those sights, and walking in all those same places, next spring. Tentatively, we're thinking a possible March visit is in order. Nikki turns 25 in March, and she's really wanting us to come and be there for her birthday. We're praying about it, as it will be a big expense for us. Granted, we won't have to worry about lodging or transportation once there. Airfare, meals, sightseeing and souveniers will be our expense, the bulk of it being airfare, naturally. We never made it to Germany while she lived there those nearly three years. We don't want to let another opportunity pass us by.


A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... are to do more knitting, never ending housework and laundry, meal planning and stocking the RV for our upcoming camping trip to Arkansas. Oh, and getting a box of Nikki's stuff packed up and sent to her, that she keeps calling me every day asking if I've sent yet. She left her thick robe, houseshoes, and her ukelele here so they wouldn't take so much baggage space on her flight to Dublin. She knew I was a procrastinator when she left them here, so she may as well quit her nagging/begging/nagging. I will try and get it done this week, though. I need to find some bubble wrap for the ukelele, as she hasn't yet bought a case for it.


Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

Fall 2005 Beaver's Bend Park outside Broken Bow, OK. View from our campsite on the river.


Happy Monday, y'all! I pray your week is productive, pleasant, and blessed! ~Visit The Simple Woman's blog to see how you can participate in the weekly Daybook on your own blog. Click on The Simple Woman's Daybook icon in her sidebar for instructions. ********************************Let your character or moral disposition be free from love of money [including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions] and be satisfied with your present [circumstances and with what you have]; for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]
So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. What can man do to me?~Hebrews 13:5-6 Amplified Bible

The Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today...

Outside my Window...the birdbath, which just a few short weeks ago was the most popular bird hangout on the block, sits empty and lonely looking.

I am thinking...I would rather be outside where the air is crisp and the sky is blue, now that Tropical Storm Ike has passed through (it was a Tropical Storm when it reached us).

From the learning rooms...I'm trying to wrap my 50+ brain around a simple computer online job I'm doing for a company, and wishing I still "thought" like I did even five years ago!

I am thankful for....cooler temperatures. I do love fall!

From the kitchen...Chocolate cupcakes, though no dinner plans yet. I guess I can always be like Marie Antoinette, and declare "let them eat cake!".

I am wearing...Khaki capris, a short-sleeved linen shirt, and am barefoot. I'm in the menopause stage of life. All my clothing is geared toward keeping me cool, at least in the physical sense of the word, though not necessarily in the fashion sense. ;-)

I am reading...Spirit, Soul & Body, by Andrew Wommack.

I am hoping...to hear from my daughter soon. I can't remember if she flies out to Dublin tomorrow, or the next day.

I am creating...Christmas gifts with my knitting needles and yarn.

I am hearing...soft music playing from Cora's blog, which I didn't exit out of after reading her Daybook entry.

Around the house...I am getting overwhelmed at the things I need to get done, though I did make a good dent in the laundry this weekend. I'm loving my new homemade liquid laundry soap, especially because I know it's saving me money!

One of my favorite things...is my little dog, Leyna. She follows me around the house, though she doesn't get underfoot. She always has such a sweet and quizzical look on her face, as if to ask "where are we going now, Mamma?".

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...is to mainly concentrate on the small computer job I'm currently doing; and working with my good friend, Marilyn, who is revamping my blog for me. I'm so excited about that! After eight months, I am ready to rearrange the furniture a little. I have zero aptitude for doing such things, but for Marilyn, it's a fun challenge, and she graciously offered to do it for me, even blessing me with the purchase of the graphics she'll use. Trust me, it's not because she's sitting around bored, either. She always has a full plate! I am so blessed by her friendship, and not just because she does stuff for me.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

Taken at Beaver's Bend Park in Oklahoma, when we camped there three years ago. It was a beautiful and serene place to be. ~If you'd like to particpate in The Simple Woman's Daybook (each Monday), you can visit The Simple Woman's blog here. To get instructions for particpating, click on The Simple Woman's Daybook icon in her sidebar.
"When you have read the Bible,you will know it is the Word of God,because you will have found it the key to your own heart, your own happiness, and your own duty."~Woodrow Wilson

Keeping Cool

This was in the late afernoon, after the temperature had dropped.

This was in the yard mere inches from my feet, letting out not a peep. It's a miracle I didn't step on him. It could have been a 'her', but since I'm unsure, I'll call it a 'he'.

Here he is again, having hopped up to the porch when I attempted to pick him up. I was going to tuck him safely in a nearby tree until 'Mom' returned with breakfast, but I didn't catch him. Notice the little "gift" he left me. Yep, it was bound to be a 'he'.

Just a shot of the ivy in our backyard, gradually taking over our backyard.

I've been busy preparing for company this week. My mom and her husband arrive on Monday, for an extended visit. My daughter, Nikki, is driving down from Minneapolis this week. She'll stop over at her stepbrother's around the Arkansas/Missoure border to spend a night or two there before continuing on here. She said her length of stay there will be determined by whether or not she can sleep on the blow up air bed on the floor. Their apartment is small and they don't have an extra bed. She's young, and can probably handle it. I, on the other hand could not.

As you can imagine, I am very excited to see my daughter. She'll be here much of the month of August. She'll be off seeing friends some while here, and she and her brother are planning a trip to the DFW area to go to 6-Flags and Hurricane Harbor and spending a night or two over there. Still, I'll get plenty of time with her while she's here.

She's got a busy summer planned. After she leaves here toward the end of August, she's flying to DC to spend a few days with a friend from Germany who's living in the states now. After a few days there, she'll take the train to her cousin, Mandi, in Virginia (who's fiancee' Rich had the recent kidney transplant) to visit for a few days. After that it's another flight to Orlando to spend a week or so with her best friend, then it's off to Dublin, Ireland. From there, she'll catch a plane on to Leeds, England, where she'll meet back up with her boyfriend. Phew! It all makes me tired just thinking of it! She leads a much busier life than her mamma ever did.

When angry, do not sin; do not ever let your wrath (your exasperation, your fury or indignation) last until the sun goes down.
~Ephesians 4:26 Amplified Bible

And I Call Myself a Mother!

After pouring through my Picasa folders, I discovered I don't have that many pictures of Putty Tat. You know how it is, you take lots of pictures of the baby, but sometimes the older ones, not so much. Our baby, of course, being Leyna, the dog.

I feel like a bad person this morning, a bad mother. As I was bringing Leyna inside last night, after doing her last 'business' of the night, I saw Putty come running toward us from across the yard. I hurried on inside. With one last glance over my shoulder, I saw her bewildered face as I said "no" and closed the door. Just a twinge of guilt.

It isn't that I have no regard or affection for the cat, but cleaning up piles of puke and hairballs from all over my furniture yesterday had hardened me somewhat against her pitiful look. The cat is not sick. She's seemingly quite healthy, and she's not thin. I think she's just bulimic. And we won't even get into the hairballs I swept from every corner. At the rate she's been shedding her winter coat, we have enough hair to cover some poor, hairless cat somewhere.

So I issued the edict that from now on, the cat would remain outdoors except in inclement weather. Only I didn't bother to check the weather forecast before going to bed last night.

I was awakened suddenly at six o'clock this morning by a loud clap of thunder, followed by a flash of lightening which lit the bedroom. My very first thought upon waking? "And I call myself a mother!". I could hear the torrential downpour of rain outside the window. I mean, really hard rain. I could imagine poor Putty outside getting drenched. Her little paws soundlessly scratching at the back glass door. In dry weather, those claws against that glass are akin to nails on a chalkboard, but when it's raining, she could be doing that for an hour, and no one would hear her as her wet paws slide against the glass.

I hopped up and without even taking time to do my morning 'business', I ran for the front door. Since it has a small covered porch, I figured....hoped she'd be there waiting. I knew the look she'd have on her face as she sashayed in the door, too, water spraying me with each determined flick of her wet tail. Only she wasn't on the front porch. I ran for the back door, the one where she can send shivers up my spine on a sunny day. No Putty. I flipped on the outside lights, hoping it would signal her that her humans were up and about, and that she'd come running through the torrential downpoor to the door. By that point, she'd about have to swim. I've heard it said that cats don't swim, though that may be an old wive's tail.

She never did show up at either door. I can just hope she's safely tucked away in someone's open garage. No doubt she'll be home soon. I sure hope there's some canned tuna in the pantry. Guilt tuna.

*UPDATE*

She's home, and she's mad.

For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God.

~Hebrews 6:7

Aging Dog, Old Cat, & Excuses

I feel like a bad blogger. It's been a busy week, and blogging got pushed to the bottom of a "to do" list which never got done. My daughter left alot of clothing behind when she moved. Some, I donated to our local Salvation Army, and some, I've been listing on eBay this week. I have a storage bin full of cross stitch paraphernalia I've been meaning to list for some time now, since I no longer do cross stitch. I barely scratched the surface of that pile, but I at least got started.

I love the privilege of selling no longer needed items on eBay, but it is so time consuming! I'm sure if I did it more, it would become quicker for me. Writing out the listings, taking pics and loading them, packaging and weighing the items, then calculating postage all takes so long!

Added to the eBaying, I had my mom and her husband here visiting for the last few days. That meant shopping for supplies, and cooking ALOT. All that extra cooking required all that extra cleaning. I don't cook as often when it's just Hubby and I. My mom offers to help, but she feels bad most of the time and I know it's hard on her to be on her feet for long. She had surgery on her neck and spine two years ago, and it's been a long and painful recovery for her.

Last night was their last night here. As it was a cool evening, Hubby lit up the Chiminea and we all sat outside by the fire for a couple of hours, talking about old times, old movies, old movie stars, the Lord, and whatever else came to mind. It was a nice evening.

I also managed to squeeze in a tiny bit of knitting during the last week, but I don't have any FO's to show for it. Soon...really!

This week should be easier as I have less commitments. I just finished the heel flap on each sock of the Magic Stripe pair I'm knitting. I'm nearly through with this preemie hat at Wool Windings. It's a quick knit if I had just had the time to sit down long enough to finish it.

One of my readers accused me of favoritism pointed out to me that I am always showing pics of Leyna, my Min Pin, but never mention my aging dog and old cat. So, MSM, to prove they exist and that I do love them enough to take their pictures, I present to you...

Aging Dog~aka~BooBoo

and

Old Cat~aka~Puddy

BooBoo~aka~Mommy's Iddle BooBoo (is there an 'aka' useage limit on Blogger?)

BooBoo (& now deceased Sally's hiney in left corner)

Puddy Tat (betcha wish your pets had such creative names)

Puddy in the Kitty Pi felted bed I made her, which Leyna claimed as her own.

Render Unto Ceasar

April 15th, more commonly known as Tax Day.
For some, mere mention of that date causes their heart to palpitate.
For others, it's just another day.
Some will be required to write out big, fat checks to Uncle Sam.
Some will get a big, fat check from Uncle Sam (and yes I know, it's not a gift from him).

If you're one of the checkwriters, I am sorry.
If you're one who will get money back, I hope you'll spend it wisely.
In these uncertain times of economy, it's good....no, it's imperative, to have a good savings plan.

As a whole, we are a materialistic and spoiled society here in America. We have more stuff than our ancestors from only a couple of generations ago could ever have dreamed. Items they'd have considered luxuries, are to us, necessities. Granted, in the fast-paced technilogical age in which we live, much of it is necessary...and much of it, we've only convinced ourselves is.

Think about what's really important before you run off and spend that tax refund.

Happy Tax Day to you!

For this same reason you pay taxes, for [the civil authorities] are official servants under God, devoting themselves to attending to this very service.

Render to all men their dues. [Pay] taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, and honor to whom honor is due.

~Romans 13:6-7 Amplified Bible

I don't think I LIKE that

Remember this baby hat pattern (at left) I shared several weeks ago, that I bought at Woolie Ewe in Plano? It was a sort of impulse buy, which I'm not ordinarily inclined to make. I sat down with it the other day and read through the patterns. They're all written for flat knitting. I don't like flat knitting.

Speaking of which, have you seen that Pediasure commercial on tv with the little girl in the cart who declares her dislike of everything her mom puts in the shopping cart? In actuality, I think it sends a poor message that kids should control what we buy them and what they eat, but that aside for a minute, I think that little girl is so cute!

I can tell it's going to be one of those scattered thoughts days for me. Proclaiming "I don't like flat knitting" reminded me of the Pediasure girl's "I don't like broccoli". See what I mean? Thoughts flitting from knitting to tv commercials.

I love knitting in the round, especially on double pointed needles. I know alot of knitters like the Magic Loop method for socks, as well as knitting socks on two circular needles. Though I would love to learn both methods just to try them, it wouldn't be because I dislike knitting on dpn's.

I have heard that it's relatively simple to convert flat knitting patterns to knit in the round patterns. Of course, anything is simple if you know how to do it, which I don't. I'll have to look around on the net and see if I can find out how to do it, but that will have to wait for another day.

My mom and her husband are coming to visit for a few days. My house in not company ready, and I haven't yet grocery shopped. They arrive today. Ever since I had the flu, my get-up-and-go seems to have got-up-and-went. I need a megadose boost of energy, and I need it now! Maybe I should drink a can of Pediasure. Tv says it's good for you (well, kids anyway) and we know tv doesn't lie.

Every Word of God is pure. He is a shield unto them that put their trust in Him.

~Proverbs 30:5 King James

Getting Organized-One Yarn Pile at a Time

My friend, Marilyn, over at Mixed Bouquet, has been harping on and on about getting organized....nag, nag, nag, she's such a nag.

JUST KIDDING, MARILYN!

Seriously, she has been sharing a weekly getting organized post on her blog, and she offers some very helpful tips. She's also a good enough friend that I can yank her chain and she won't get mad at me. Right, Marilyn? Marilyn? MARILYN??? Well, she's probably off farming or something, but I know she loves me.

I am not an organized person. I could never be confused with someone who is..organized. I do still strive for it, though. Getting organized is an ongoing quest of mine. I find that if I have a place for everything, I don't have a problem keeping things in their place. I keep a fairly neat kitchen, but that's because a kitchen is built in mind with a place for all that goes in it. The problem with my house is that the builder didn't take into consideration where the lady of the house would store her yarn. Quite an oversight on his part if you ask me!

This weekend, I decided to try and do something about the growing piles of yarn taking over our house. I didn't even really have a "stash". I had piles, and piles, and piles.

The pictures below are not all my stash (as if), but it was all I could fit neatly into this lovely white wicker armoire on loan to me from my mother. I do also have two large plastic storage buckets packed to the gills with yarn, stuffed in a corner of my bedroom. I also have a few piles, still, in my office/computer room/daughter's former bedroom; but at least I no longer have it piled all over the house, thanks to the armoire, and mom. Thanks, Mom! :-)

The basket in the first picture contains some of my WIP's *. I think I counted eleven WIP bags in the basket. Unfortunately, I found at least three more after I shot this picture. I'm sure if I look in my various knitting bags, I'll find even more. Okay, I admit it. I seem to have a serious problem finishing things. I suffer from KADD**.

We have now established that I am unorganized, and don't finish things. I think I better end this post now before more awful truths come out about me. Have a blessed, organized, and productive week, all. :-)

WIP Basket
Top Basket-Sock Yarns Lower Basket-Nicer Wools

Wool Blend Yarns

Wools for Felting
Assorted Yarns for Baby Items-Mostly Cotton or Cotton Blends

Cottons

FO's*** & Circular Needles

*WIP-work in progress

**KADD-Knitters ADD

***FO's-finished objects

Life Renewed

After a week and a half of being sick with influenza, I am once again beginning to feel human. Next year, I will get my flu shot.

I am so far behind on laundry and housework, I don't even know where to start. Since we can barely squeeze the doors open on either side of our master bathroom, I'm thinking I'd better bring in a wheelbarrow to haul the dirty laundry from there to the laundry room. Now, if only I had a wheelbarrow.

There are things growing in our refrigerator. Back in our homeschooling days, I could've dubbed them "experiments". I have no such excuse now. I have to call it what it is...garbage. I guess I could give it a fancy French pronunciation and call it "gar baj"; but while a rose by any other name may smell as sweet, garbage with a fancy pronunciation still stinks.

I have two charity knitalong commitments which need to be met first and foremost, as my time of possession of said items has met the deadline. What a shame. All this housework to be done, and I have to sit and knit. Tsk, tsk.

Actually, I have a pretty good excuse to do nothing but knit today. We're leaving after lunch to drive to the DFW airport to pick up my son. He's been visiting his little sis in Minneapolis this past week. That's four solid hours of driving time (Hubby driving, me knitting). I should be able to knock out alot of my knitting.

I'm still coughing, but aside from that, I feel pretty good. It feels so good to feel good again, like my life has been renewed!

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

~Corinthians 5:17

My Morning Cuppa

That's what kickstarts my brain each morning. Well, that and the stupid cat that woke me at 6'ish on a Saturday morning, demanding to be fed. Can someone remind me why I have a cat?

Hiding Out

Life is going at warp speed this week. This guy's got the right idea. I think I'll take his cue and crawl into my shell for a day or so. I'll be back, though.