April 4, 2017

The Simple Woman's Daybook: April 2017

For Today


Looking out my window...
it's a wet, gray day, but Spring is showing her face in warm temperatures, green growing grass, and a slow budding of flowers and shrubs.  Oh, and the mess the maple trees are making on the deck.

I am thinking...
of how much I am looking forward to the warm weather and the end of the school year (as that means I am on "vacation" for three months, too). I will probably be doing a lot of babysitting for our youngest grandson while I am 
off and I can't wait for all the fun and adventures we will have during his very first summer.



I am thankful...
that in the search for an underlying cause of the never-ending cough I end up with each winter, all the test results are coming back negative.  No allergies, no pulmonary issues.


One of my favorite things...
this pretty hummingbird suncatcher my husband bought me and this fabulous blue orchid.  (I just couldn't choose between the two!)






I am wearing... 

typical workday attire...jeans, a long-sleeve tee, and hiking shoes because they have more arch support than sneakers.

I am creating...
at least in my head, a new fairy garden for this summer.  My husband expressed how much he liked one he saw in one of my magazines that was in an old suitcase.  I bought a suitcase at an auction and now I'm picking up new items for the fairy village and pondering what plants I want to use.


I am reading...
these books.  One is for the bible study I am in.  I've just begun it and don't have an opinion yet.  The Case for a Creator I picked up at Goodwill.  I enjoy reading the scientific thinking that points to God.  As for the Mary Kay Andrews books, sometimes your mind needs something a little light and just for fun.  I enjoy her stories and her characters.  Plus, she often includes recipes in the books, a few of which I have tried and we have enjoyed greatly.



I am listening to...




I am hoping...
the medical tests my husband has had done recently will point to what is wrong with him.  He has not felt well or been in pain for a few years now and they just can't seem to get a handle on it.  He manages to go to work every day, but beyond that he doesn't do much at all.  It's no way to live and he's only 56.

I am learning...
about faith and how to have more of it. To have strong faith I must believe these five things:

  1. God is who He says He is.
  2. God can do what He says He can do.
  3. I am who God says I am.
  4. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
  5. God's Word is alive and living in me.

In my kitchen...
is a brand new oil-free deep fryer.  I just bought on Saturday.  I have been perusing Pinterest and am excited about all the things that can be cooked in it besides the typical "fried" foods.  I can't wait to start experimenting.  



There is also a bag full of my favorite Tastefully Simple spices.  My friend sells it and had an open house yesterday.  The spice blends are really very good.

In my garden...
nothing is happening so far, but it's still pretty early here.  It's not impossible that we could still see some snow or at least freezing temperatures.  The husband and I are busy planning, though.  If time, health, and finances cooperate, we plan to put in two raised beds this year and fence the majority of the backyard to keep critters out, but also to keep in the two hens I want to have roaming loose.  In addition to researching how to best build and fill the raised beds, I'm also looking into square-foot gardening as a guide for how to plant to get the most out of the beds.  It is lots of fun to plan and dream how the garden will look.

Post Script...
I've recently discovered the website affiliated with the magazine Living the Country Life.  It is an awesome site, just filled with helpful information on just about anything.  Check it out here.

Shared Quote...
I heard this the other day and it really hit me.  It's the chorus from Ryan Stevenson's song, "Eye of the Storm."

In the eye of the storm, You remain in control
And in the middle of the war, You guard my soul
You alone are the anchor, when my sails are torn
Your love surrounds me in the eye of the storm



The image of a ship with torn sails dead in the water and at the mercy of the sea and wind painted such a vivid image of what we are like without the Lord to protect us and keep us steady.

A moment from my day...
As I was the dishes, I see this cute couple on the window sill and they bring back some fun memories. I picked up this salt and pepper set over Christmas when we went to Oglebay to see the lights.  It's Joanie and Chachi from the show Happy Days.  Remember them?  I, like most girls my age, thought Scott Baio (Chachi) hung the moon back in those days.  I also used to hear a lot that I looked like Erin Moran (Joanie).


Here's a picture of me back in the day...



and here is one of Joanie and Chachie.  When my daughter first saw it, a few years back, she wanted to know who was that guy I was with!





Please visit the Simple Woman website
to view more participating bloggers
and to meet the creator and hostess,
Peggy Hostetler.

Have a blessed week, my friends!

8 comments:

  1. Hoping your husband can get some answers. That's horrible to feel so badly every day. :(

    My dad got a fryer one year & I swear, the man fried up EVERYTHINGGGGGGGGG. Try Oreos ;)

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    Replies
    1. This is an oil-free deep fryer so I'm not sure I can do Oreos in it. Not sure I want to. Ick.

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  2. Sorry to hear about your husband. I hope the tests will let him know what's wrong and give some direction to helping him feel better. I've seen those fryers in the store and thought they looked more healthy than the oil fryers.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you. His appointment is this afternoon so we shall see.

      Delete
  3. You really do look like Joanie! I hope you'll show us pictures of your fairy garden when it's done. Have a great day!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, absolutely! It's going to be a while yet. They are calling for up to 6 inches of snow tomorrow!

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