Simple Woman's Day Book

It's Monday and time for my weekly Simple Woman's Day Book. If you would like to participate, just click here.

FOR TODAY: October 31, 2011

Outside my window... cloudy and rainy, though it looks like it may be clearing soon.

I am thinking... how fast the year has gone and that tomorrow begins the month before Christmas!

I am thankful... that although money is short with me not working, we still are paying our bills and have food on the table and my first social security check is only 2 months away.

From the learning rooms... teaching myself to quilt and am trying to get a project together for my mother for Christmas.

In the kitchen... chicken and rice tonight and cauliflower. Had a wonderful, filling breakfast of steel cut oats.

I am wearing... blue pants and red t-shirt, socks and shoes. Usually in sandals but too chilly today.

I am creating... hopefully a quilt project for Christmas.

I am going... to the grocery store tomorrow and taking my mother to the doctors on Friday. Otherwise, home - a very nice place to be!

I am wondering... on the timing of my move to Tennessee. Still praying it is in April.

I am reading... my Bible.

I am hoping... for a safe, uneventful Halloween. I don't like the holiday and I'm always glad when it's over.

I am looking forward to... The Thanksgiving and Christmas with family and not having to be concerned if I'll get the time off from work.

I am hearing... Tabbie, my cat's tags jingling on her collar as she walks. Occasionally, I hear the patter of feet as Mandy, my silky terrier chases Tabbie.

Around the house... quiet, with a Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin candle burning on my desk as I write this. I really enjoy Bath & Body Works candles!

I am pondering... have a lot of things on my mind right now and several going up to God in prayer.

One of my favorite things... the times when my little Mandy is quiet and calm and falls asleep next to me on the couch. Otherwise, she is an almost one year old dynamo who loves adventure.

A few plans for the rest of the week: mostly cleaning, a few errands, answering the phone for my son's business.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...


This was taken by my DIL, Stephanie up in Tennessee. She is a gifted photographer and has captured some awesome images of fall colors this year.

Give Me Jesus

The first time I heard this song was at the Holy Land Experience in Orlando, Florida. One of their buildings called the Scriptorium takes you through a self guided tour of how the Bible came to be. It takes you to scribes writing on papyrus, to early printers of the Bible and finally to a modern living room and dining room. The whole tour is inspiring and I was in awe of how God has protected His word through out the ages. The final scene in the living room takes me abruptly back to the present complete with a flickering television screen. But, in the living room is a desk with a large open Bible and softly playing is "Give Me Jesus" by Fernando Ortega. The tune and words are so simplistic. They were like arrows to my heart and I found myself standing still with my eyes filling with tears. The rest of my group went on ahead to the gift shop area but I stayed behind for awhile. I didn't want to leave.


Give me Jesus. No matter what is going on in my life, no matter what mountains I am facing, no matter who has let me down - give me Jesus. When I'm feeling on top of the world or when I'm down in the deepest valley - give me Jesus.


He is all that matters. Listen and enjoy.

A wee bit of a makeover

You may notice that things look a little bit different here. This poor blog has gone through so many makeovers in its life. I really would like to find one that sticks. Part of me would love to re-create things often, according to seasons etc but the other part would rather concentrate on content rather than the wrappings, so to speak.

I had at one time had a design made for this blog. You may have remembered it. This was the header.

The design was lovely and had a lot of the bells and whistles that I love. I grew tired of the pink though and my tastes have migrated to nature colors - browns, tans, greens and the like. I still have the html saved and could use it at some future time.

I'm also working on another blog that I've had on my heart for some time. It will be for devotional writings and the like. It's up and running and sometime soon, I'll add it to the side bar here for those interested.

I love it when the creative juices get going. I light a pretty fragrant candle and begin to write. I have to be in a certain state of mind to do this though and lately the state my mind is in is definitely not where the rest of my body is!

Hopefully, they are going to reunite soon! Until later....

Limbo

I'm trying to get in the habit of posting every day for awhile. It's difficult sometimes to find interesting things to say. It's when I'm racking my brain for blog content that I realize my life is just not that intriguing reading! I guess I could get very creative and make up stuff but I'd feel guilty. So, here goes....

We're into a warming trend again and highs are supposed to be mid 80's tomorrow. I've enjoyed our cool weather and am glad to hear that another cold front is coming down this weekend. This cold front, I understand, will keep Hurricane Rina who is out in the Caribbean from coming up too far north and hitting Florida.

I can't believe that we are nearing the end of October. The time sure flies. I've been not working since the end of July, living off savings, so to speak. My first social security check will come in January even though my retirement age is the end of November. Money is tight right now but we're paying bills and eating and I'm thankful for that.

The "limbo" I spoke of in my post title is difficult to deal with. Not being a patient person, I like things done yesterday. This state of waiting to move to Tennessee, hoping it's April, but realizing it may be next October, is not a comfortable feeling for me. I want to pack up, order the U-Haul and get going. But factoring in moving expenses, house leases etc I have to wait. I don't feel comfortable here in Florida or where I live any longer but I don't feel at home in Tennessee yet - obviously because I'm not living there. Oh dear.

I've not as yet begun my wall quilt. I hope to select a pattern today and begin planning it. When I have some progress, I'll post photos here.

Well, that's about it for now. Hope you all are having a lovely day.

Still watching the tropical updates!

Our all-news TV channel has weather updates every 9 minutes and at 49 past the hour is our tropical update. I also have the NOAA bookmarked in my computer. This year, we have had an uneventful season as far as Central Florida is concerned.   Weather experts say that the months of September and October are the likeliest months to experience a hurricane on the west coast of Florida. I remember well in 2004 when we had Charley, then Francis, the Ivan and finally Jeanne all in September. I packed up essentials and evacuated for Charley. When Francis came along I had to repack again. After Francis, I stayed packed up. It was quite a time.  Right now in the western Caribbean is Hurricane Rina, expected to reach a possible Cat 3. Thankfully, if she curved up to Florida, an expected cold front will take some of the wind out of her sails and won't be any big deal. 

We are having lovely weather here - 50's at night and 70's during the day. The next couple of days are expected to reach mid 80's again but then a cold front comes through and we cool off. Expect for maybe first thing in the am, I haven't been running either air or heat and I'm thankful that our electric bill will be much less than the previous 2 months. My lawn had hopefully it's last cutting last week for the season. I've trimmed down some of the bushes. I'm ready for winter.

I am settling into the retirement life quite well. I have a routine down now and it feels good. I find that I thrive on routine. I answer calls for my son's home security business. I do the E-Commerce side of it and although I have sold some home security systems myself, I usually am taking names and numbers and Jim does the selling. If you are interested, his business site is Home Security 4 Life. It is a family-run business and though right now Jim is subcontracting out to install and repair home security systems, he eventually will be doing it through his own company, Kingdom Security. Sorry for the commercial! :)

I have made great progress with my scrapbooking, using albums and things that I had been collecting for years. Now, I'm at the point that I have to buy an album and probably will buy one from Creative Memories as I seem to have a lot of pages that go with those albums.  So, for the time being, I'm going to work on a wall quilt. I would love to take a quilting class but right now, money and time just won't let me do it. So, it's a "learn as I go" project.

Well, I've chatted long enough. Hope you all are having a lovely day. I'll stick in a photo taken by Jim last weekend in Tennessee in the Smokey Mountains. I think he sent it to me just to torment me!

It's Monday and time for the Simple Woman's Day Book

If you would like to be a part of the Simple Woman's Day Book, simple click here


FOR TODAY - October 24, 2011

Outside my window... sunny and pretty. There is a cool, crisp feeling to the air and I love it!



I am thinking... about my future, a possible move to Tennessee and how Mom will handle the move.



I am thankful... for God's provision and His faithfullness. He has never let me down.



From the learning rooms...going to tackle beginning a wall quilt. I'm a novice right now.



In the kitchen...Just had a very satisfying breakfast of steel cut oats and an egg. Chicken tonight with some potatoes and veggies.



I am wearing...black capris (although because I'm short they're more like full length pants :), grey t-shirt and flip flops



I am creating...a wall quilt - pattern yet to be determined.



I am going...to the pharmacy later this week and probably to the grocery store. Otherwise, at home and busy.



I am wondering...about my future move and making sure this is what God feels would be best in my life.



I am reading..."Close Encounters of the God Kind" by Jesse Duplantis.



I am hoping...that my new eating plan will clear up some health problems.



I am looking forward to...my birthday next month,  Then I will officially be retired and I'm planning one night away to celebrate.



I am hearing...very quiet right now. I can't even hear my little silky terrier chasing the cat. I may need to check on her.



Around the house...A bit disheveled - I'm doing some sorting and I have piles of stuff here and there.



I am pondering...my future and how Mom will do with a possible move.



One of my favorite things...Feeling the cool, crisp air early in the morning after a hot, Florida summer.



A few plans for the rest of the week: mostly domestic stuff with the usual grocery store trips.



Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

My son Jim and DIL Tina on their day trip last weekend. They drove the Cherohala Skyway and the fall colors were gorgeous. My prayer is that next year, I will be able to share is with them.

Fall...Finally!

I've been waiting and waiting for this moment. I knew if I waiting long enough, it would happen. This morning we had temps in the 50's and tomorrow morning perhaps in the 40's. The air has that crisp, awesome feel to it. I feel alive! If only I could gaze out my window and see trees on fire with golds and reds and oranges! But, I can't have everything.

In Florida, our transition to a different season is subtle. We have cool fall temps that will occasionally dip to even colder. Sometimes, it's even cold enough to produce frost and ice. We call that winter. Then, in the spring, the weather warms, the azaleas bloom and then suddenly it turns hot. We call that summer.  I anticipate that next year I will be residing in Tennessee. Then I will experience all four seasons in their grandeur. I can't wait.

Yesterday was an interesting day.  At 10 am we had quite a bit of wind due to a cold front coming through and for a short time (maybe 2-3 minutes) we had very gusty wind and rain.  Awhile after that passed, as I was on my computer, I heard a big explosion and our power went out. It sounded like it was in my backyard and I knew immediately that a transformer had blew.  A phone call to my electric company confirmed that along my street, I as well as 27 others were without power.  A power line had snapped back behind my house and by 2 pm our power was restored.  Until then I opened windows and let the fresh wind come in. I walked the dog, trimmed the bushes and did some reading.  My son was on his own with phone calls for his business since the business phone is run from the computer.

Last Saturday I went to a Farmers Market/Harvest Festival/Art and Crafts Show in a nearby town. As well as lots of produce, they had some wonderful, talented people there showing their crafts. I salivated over some quilts in one section and inspired me to get going on one of my own.  There was also a lot of displays about organic farming and produce. I've always wanted to get hooked up with a co-op where I could get organic, fresh veggies and fruits and better prices than a grocery store. I found one such place at the Farmers Market but the pick up place and hours don't make it very feasible. But I did get some good info.

Not much else going on right now. Days seem to come and go. I'm looking forward to doing something special for my birthday next month. I had always planned on doing something for this birthday since it marks my retirement as well. Not sure what I'm doing yet since finances are tight but I'm sure I'll come up with something.

Well, hope you all are have a great week. Until later....

Who healeth all thy diseases

Praise the Lord, O my soul and forget not all His benefits. Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healing all thy diseases...Psalm 103: 2-3

I've been reading healing scriptures lately - out of necessity. Several medical issues, some more troublesome than others had been building up for years and now were affecting my quality of life. Not being a fan of doctors and working in the health care field for many years, I didn't want to pursue a myriad of tests and medications.  Also, not having any health insurance made the conventional treatments out of reach. I decided that there were enough scriptures in the Bible to convince me that God would heal me. Not tests. No medications. No medical bills. So, I began to read and read about healing. Piece of cake, I thought.

I soon found out differently.   I am thankful for the church that I attend. These people of God believe that God is still healing today - spirits, minds and bodies. They were always willing to pray for me and believe with me for complete healing.  I was convinced in my head that healing was for today. I agreed and agreed with others that healing was for me. I spoke the words. I read the scriptures.  But there was a wall. Somehow, the head knowledge had not transferred down to the heart. Somehow I felt that God would heal others but when it came to me, well, that may be a different story.

Why did I have that mind set? Perhaps it was because I was blaming myself for my medical conditions. As a nurse, I knew that most of my maladies were the result of years of neglect to my body. I didn't abuse my body with drugs or alcohol but I did indulge it with sweets, fatty foods and then let it sit around and vegetate.  No doubt, I felt that I was only getting what I deserve.

But God is so faithful, so loving, so forgiving. As I would reach out to Him, He would whisper truths to my spirit.  And slowly, this wall of unbelief I had built began to crumble. Then one evening after my Bible reading, I picked up a book written by Perry Stone, The Meal That Heals.  It speaks about the part that taking communion or the Lord's Supper plays in our healing. I'd read it before but felt led to look at it once again.

The very first chapter began with Psalm 103: verses 2 and 3.  As I read this scripture that I had read many times before, something exploded inside of me. As I read.


Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases
I realized that I had no trouble believing in my salvation. The fact that God has forgiven all my iniquities was a given for me.  Then separated from the first truth only by a semi-colon, was another "all" statement. Right next to forgiving iniquities was healing all my diseases. They were one in the same. The book went on to say that being saved means more than assuring us of eternal life with God but being made whole - spirit, would and body. 

Such a tremendous peace settled over me! I finally let the truth from His Word settle down into my heart.  I am healed!

Now, I'm just waiting for the symptoms to go.

The care and raising of Mandy

First let me state that I totally underestimated the trials and tribulations of having a puppy!  Or let me amend that to a silky terrier puppy.  With all the reading and preparing that I did while I waited to get her from the breeder, I thought I was prepared.  I guess I was still thinking back to Doc-Boy who was about 7 years old and already trained when I got him. I felt confident and ready to tackle this new little ball of fur. 

I had read that Silkies were strong willed and, at times, stubborn. I'd also read that they were very intelligent.  Reading between the lines, this means...
    "I want what I want when I want it and I'll go to any means to get it."
Let's just say, we have a battle of wills here at times. But I've informed her that I will come out the winner. She hasn't totally come to that realization yet.

But, all said and done, she is a charmer and quite the little lady. She doesn't like getting her paws wet and so if it's raining or dew on the grass, she is very hesitant to go out outside.  She likes having her fur combed except the top of her head. I really think she enjoys primping.

She is also my early warning system. When the phone rings, the door bell rings, my mother comes out of her room or if a squirrel happens to come into the yard, I am notified by high-pitched barks. She also barks if she wants me to play with her, if she wants Tabby, the cat to play with her, if she needs to go outside (sometimes), and for other reasons I've not figured out yet. 

She is also quite smart. She knows many phrases and I'm sure understands even more than she lets on. She's learned that if she pottys outside she gets a treat.  Lately I've noticed she will quickly squat and then get up and look at me for a treat. I've labeled that a "pretend potty" and told her she doesn't get treats for that.

She's also great for cleaning up things that fall on the floor - napkins, paper towels and other things that you'd just as soon not be chewed into shreds. She loves sticks and often tries to bring them into the house as souveniers of going outside.

At times I despair of her ever being completely potty trained or no longer chewing or barking when she shouldn't. But if I look back, I can see some progress.  She's precious and worth every bit of effort it takes to shape her into the mature, well-behaved silkie she will become.  I keep telling her that I am the pack leader and she is the pack munchkin.

Someday, she will understand that.

The saga of the Farm Book games

Ah yes, I remember it well. It was a game called FarmTown and just everyone was playing it. It looked pretty time consuming to me and so I decided to steer away from it. However, that didn't happen and I eventually joined the farming community.  I had built up a substantial community, complete with a mansion, a tenant farmer (after all, you didn't expect me to manage the farm by myself did you?), a little town and my own version of a national park.

Then along came Farm Ville.  Most of my friends migrated over to there and, not to be outdone, so did I.  I visited my nice community in  FarmTown once in awhile but my energy was now going into my little holding in FarmVille. (Did I mention time consuming?)

Now, many months later, I now have 3 farms in FarmVille - my "home" farm, my English Countryside and now a little holding in Light House Cove. No more visits to FarmTown - after all who has the time? FarmVille keeps me very busy with orchards and seedlings to nuture and crops to plant and harvest.  On top of that, I have all sorts of animal babies being born - anywhere from porcupines to elephants to goats. Feeding babies all take lots of animal feed and I've had to begin begging from my neighbors for some. The begging at times even extends to water cans to water my seedlings from my orchards. I've become more comfortable with leaving seedlings for awhile until I can get more water but the day I had 4 animal babies to feed and no feed, my maternal instinct kicked in I was very distraught until I made myself remember that "it's only a game". Thankfully, my other neightbors are all mothers as well and respond quickly when I ask for more feed.

Did I mention that I also have a pub, a spa and a restaurant located on various farms. I have to try to keep my shelves stocked because friends actually come in and buy from me. Please refer to my comment earlier in the post regarding "time consuming".

Throughout these months, I've also experimented with other games such as "Country Life", "FrontierVille", "Journey of Moses", "Lil Farm LIfe" and some I may have forgotten. None of them had captured my attention as much as FV - until.......

Gardens In Time....now talk about a way to use a chunk of your time!  As you look for hidden objects in scenes as a premise of travel through time, you collect artifacts and buildings known throughout time. My garden right now is quite substantial - complete with Big Ben, the Frankfort Opera House, the Eiffel Tower and the Leaning Tower of Pisa to mention a few.

Now that I'm retired, I have more time to do the things I enjoy but I've found a real problem! The other day while rearranging and decorating my Garden of Time yet once again, and remembering that I had to get to my LightHouse Cove farm to harvest my Chandler blueberries before they withered, I felt the pressure building.  Even retired, it's just to much for one woman to manage three farms and a pub, babysit a bunch of animal babies and travel through time. And in a weak moment, my mind travels back to FarmTown and all the fruit hanging off the trees yet unharvested.

Repeat after me........."It's only a game.  It's only a game. It's only a game".

There, I feel better now.

Finally Fall!!

I have been so happy to feel the fall temps now here in Florida!  Of course, some of you have already been feeling them and my "fall" temps may be more like your "summer" ones but that's okay. It feels so good to take Mandy out in the morning and have to wear a jacket.

Speaking of the lovely Mandy....she had a groomer appointment last Saturday. I really had intended to do it myself because except for trimming around the eyes and the feet and the nails, Silkies don't usually have their coat cut.  But a couple of weeks ago when I was attempting to trim her nails, I cut one too close when she jerked and it hurt her. Since then she's not let me even think about doing that again.  Anna, her groomer said she was very well behaved and was welcomed back any time. Here are some before and after pics.

BEFORE

AFTER

She has such pretty eyes. It was a shame for them to be hidden. She really looks so cute now!

I've pretty well got sorting done and now have a large pile of stuff for a yard sale. A former co-worker has opened up a thrift shop with her husband and she's going to come by and see if she's interested in buying the whole lock, stock and barrel. I would love that and save the trouble of setting up for a sale.  We'll see.

I've also been scrapbooking all the old photos I've found. I'm not as creative as I'd like to be. Just to many photos and trying to use up the supplies I've collected. But I'm happy with the results. I've finished my heritage album and just yesterday, my travel album. Of course, the bulk of it is, you guessed it, Disney World. What wonderful memories!

The move to Tennessee has been on my mind so much that the other day it startled me to realize that Christmas was less than 3 months away. This year it will be home-made gifts since I'm having to save every bit of money I can for the move.

Time I was off and doing things. I really need to get here more often but just don't always have interesting things to talk about.  Wishing you all a wonderful rest of the week.