Simple Woman's Daybook: July 2019

For today...

Looking out my window...the skies are heavy, overcast with the promise of an afternoon thunderstorm. The grass needs mowed, but heat, humidity, and rain keep it waiting. The raised beds, however, are flourishing. Lots of buds and when I dig deep, down below the leafy green canopy, there are little green tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, and peppers. The shade garden is thriving, as well.

Near the steps to the deck and looking

toward the driveway and street.

I went with a more tropical look for the big pots 

at the corners of the shade garden this year.

Some of the characters that live

in the shade garden.

I am thinking...of all the things that need doing before we leave on vacation in 3 weeks. Clothes shopping for the husband, packing checklists to make, actual packing, prescriptions to fill, pet sitting arrangements to make, mail to stop, water to turn off, final days of work to survive.

I am thankful...for my family, who have been accepting and accommodating of the fact that my job of the past year has required me to work every holiday. They have been gracious in delaying our celebrations and have complained very little. It has helped me with my own disappoint in not being available for the first time in my life.

One of my favorite things...spending time with our youngest grandson. He is wonderfully outgoing, charming, funny, and sweet. He is one of my biggest joys in life.

I am creating...new Happy Planners, both a large for the desk and a small one for my purse. It's fun to decorate them with stickers, washi tape, drawings, scraps of this and that.

I am wearing...black and purple floral pajamas and a purple terry robe. Don't judge. It's my day off.

I am reading...a silly little cozy mystery about a group of senior citizens who share a house. It's easy and light and it fits in my purse to read on my break at work. I just finished reading The Bookshop on the Corner, a most excellent book.

I am hoping...to find the energy today to get a lot of things done, but we shall see. I didn't sleep well last night due to fireworks in the neighborhood that lasted well into the night and my own painful leg.

I am learning...to accept things as they are and not wish for what they aren't.

In my kitchen...you will find a bit of a mess today. All of the things hurriedly gathered and taken to our daughter's for a family cookout after work yesterday and then brought home when we were too tired to deal with it. You will also find this sweet little $5 gadget that I purchased on Amazon. It works like a dream!

In my garden...an overgrown lushness brought about by abundant heat and rain. I am already anticipating that first delicious tomato and mayo sandwich!

A quote to share...remember it when tempted to complain about your circumstances.

A moment from my day...my blogging buddy, Daisy, looking a little concerned by the amount and loudness of the thunder rolling around outside (the storms have arrived!). We are snuggled in on the sofa to finish my blog post and then read for a while. Nothing is going to be happening outside this afternoon.

Updated: As I just realized the picture didn't originally post.