Friday Letters

 

Please stop by Paula's blog to participate in and read more Friday letters!

 

 

Dear Hubby, Thanks so much for bringing my home two big bunches of tulips!!  I love them and I love you!

 

Dear Robyn and Nathan, Thanks for coming over and baking, working out, throwing Tupperware, playing drums with my bread pans, feeding the dog the banana you didn't want, cuddling and snuggling!  It was a wonderful busy day!  And I need to harness some of that energy.

 

Dear Creator of Minecraft, Thanks for making such a wonderful program that my kids all enjoy and I can use as a tool for school.  I don't understand it at all, but my kids love it!  ( I have been taught to play it, all I can do is mine a huge hole!)

 

Dear Hormones, PLAY NICE!  It is not so cold at night that I need night sweats, only to freeze to death when I walk around the house to cool off.  My family would also appreciate it if you toned it down, they don't like the grouchy, moody woman I become!!

 

Dear Weatherman, What no snowstorm this weekend?? No ice, freezing rain, ice pellets or giant globs of slush falling from the sky?  Sunshine??  Are you serious? 

 

Have a great weekend!

 

Simple Woman's Daybook

 

Thoughts for Today

 

Outside my window... It is overcast and icy, and we are awaiting another storm on Wednesday.  There was a flock of blue jays at the feeder this morning, we haven't seen any since October.  I sprinkled corn outside this morning for the crows, ravens and deer, and am hoping a deer will peek out during daylight.

 

 

Snow storm, this one was not forecast!

 

 

Giant icicle!  This was at a local grocery store.   The water froze in the roof and it is going to be quite a mess once things start to thaw out.

 

I am thinking... I just saw a photo of Melanie Griffiths at the Oscars with her daughter.  I am thinking that there are some people who need to know when enough is enough when it comes to plastic surgery.  I think the surgeons that continue to perform these surgeries should get their own eyes checked.  Seriously, there needs to be a line a surgeon will not cross, there is such a thing as too much.  If your face doesn't move when you smile, you have crossed that line! 

I am thankful... For friendship, in real life and in blogging land!

In the kitchen... I am about to bake blueberry muffins with Devin, who wants to learn to cook.  As for what I am making for supper, it is a surprise....even to me!

I am wearing... Black wide leg jeans, and a grey long sleeve shirt.

I am creating... I am about to make some burlap pillows out of old feed sacks, I have been trying to do this for a couple of weeks! I also just finished knitting some dish cloths.

I am going... Crazy.  Snowbound, ice bound....I can't go for a walk without worrying about slipping and falling, and driving into Halifax is scary, the roads are bad, with the snow covering entire lanes of 4 lane roads. You can't see over the snow banks when you pull out of intersections or driveways, and people are getting very touchy and grumpy.

 

 

I am wondering... When is the best time to be exercising?  So far I have been exercising in the afternoon, which I like a lot, but if we are out, I skip it ( and I really am enjoying the exercise).  I am just trying to figure out what works and fits the best.

I am reading... "Walking the Walk: Getting Fit With Faith",  by Leslie Sansone.  It has a two mile walking DVD with it which is good.  This is an older book, and I prefer her newer walking DVD's, but it is still really good, and especially good for beginners.

I am hoping... That my dental appointment (cleaning and check up) this week is uneventful.  I am dental phobic and I can handle a cleaning, but have to take my anxiety meds for anything more than that. 

I am looking forward to...  Daylight Savings Time starts March 8th!  I am so looking forward to extra hours of daylight, even if they may be cloudy and gloomy.  Longer days = a happier, less grumpy me!

 

 

Ahhh, spring!!!  Leaves, grass, flowers......

 

 

 

A view of the Northwest Arm from the Dingle Tower.  Look at all that blue sky and blue water!!!  Sigh....

 

I am learning... That I need to stop nagging so much. 

Around the house...  My husband painted me a shelf yesterday, to put in our TV cabinet.  He spray painted it black.  In my laundry room.  The overspray is all over my floor.  And more than likely on my clean laundry!  But I am very grateful for the shelf!  I am hoping I can get this cleaned off with my stem mop.  I am also working on decluttering.

I am pondering...I am pondering what I am pondering.  I am not sure what I am pondering today!

A favorite quote for today... "You can't change how people treat you or what they say about you.  All you can do is change how you react to it"

One of my favorite things... Downton Abbey.  Oh how I love it, mostly because I like the history behind it and that time period.  Next week is the season finale, darn it!   I won't say anymore as I don't want to ruin it, but it is going to be a cliff hanger ending!

 

 

A few plans for the rest of the week... Hmm, a doctor appointment tomorrow, dentist on Wednesday ( ughhhh), Devin and I are hoping to meet up with a new friend we met on our local home school group Facebook page, and grocery shopping with my daughter.  I hope to sneak some Grammie snuggles in there with my grandson!

 

 

Yes, the cleanup was fun!!  We babysat Nathan on Saturday and my goodness, he is a busy guy!

 

A peek into my day...

 

 

Welcome to Canada.... playing hockey in the driveway...this time with skates!

 

Please stop by Peggy's blog to peek into more Daybooks!

 

 

Friday Letters

 

 

Join Paula here to read more letters and to share your own!

 

Here we go....

 

 

Dear Ice storms and flash freezing, Last week I wrote a letter to the snow. I would be delighted if you, too, would go to Antarctica.  They like you there. We don't like you here and we are getting tired of the mountains of ice on the roads, and the snow banks we can't see over because they are encased in ice.  Perhaps you could come back for a quick visit in July when it is so hot I wish I was surrounded in icy wintery weather for an hour or two?

 

Dear Snow Plow drivers, THANK YOU so much for what you do, for going out in crazy weather, and most importantly, putting up with all those people griping and whining at you for not performing a miracle and making every smidgen of snow disappear.  Sorry for the run on sentence, but you don't have time to be doing lots of reading, get back to your plowing!  And thank you!

 

Dear Ellen, you are only one person.  You cannot shovel all the snow and chip off the ice by yourself.  You may not shovel out the interceptor.  You are too sore and you are not allowed to do it.  Get your kids to do it!!

 

Dear Eagles, it is so nice to watch you soaring around here, and watch your young ones getting around on their own.  You are majestic and beautiful!

 

Thanks to Paula for hosting this!! 

 

 

Simple Woman's Daybook

 

Thoughts For Today

 

 

Outside my window... Snow, and lots of it!!  We had a huge storm yesterday and while some people got 60 cms of snow( about 24 inches), we got 30 cms of snow, then freezing rain, then 30 mm of rain, and a flash freeze yesterday afternoon!  Our neighbour got out and plowed our long driveways just before it froze solid.  Now we have 3 inches of ice covering the driveway.  Many roads in the area are impassable, some cars are frozen in huge frozen puddles to the ground.  The city of Halifax had flooded roads, the water had no where to run off as the drains are frozen solid, so it is a big, big mess.  Today, it is partly sunny, with wind chills of -29 C (-20 F), and very windy, with light flurries.  There is more snow coming this week!  There is no salt, sand, ice scrapers or shovels to be found in the city stores right now!

 

 

Me with the snow pile at the end of our part of the driveway.

 

 

Snow piled up where we part by the house.  The boys had made forts the day before, which they must rebuild again!

 

 

Jeremy and Mixie watching the driveway get plowed out.

 

I am thinking... I am trying not to think.  I am feeling a little trapped in this house, and thinking about it makes my anxiety start to creep up.  I can't allow that to happen today!  I tend to overthink, and that is never a good thing!

 

I am thankful...That today is provincial holiday, Heritage Day, and what a blessing that is that most people can stay off the roads.  I am very thankful for our snow plow operators, and the thankless work they do.  I am thankful my hubby has today and the next two days off!  I am thankful for my warm house!

 

 

I think it is so cold this guy wants to come inside!

 

 

 

 

In the kitchen... I am really not sure what I am  doing for super tonight, but we just had these yummy English muffins for lunch, which had pizza sauce, cheese spread, ground beef and parmesan cheese on them.  YUMMY!  I make them up and pop them in the freezer, and then they bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes.  They are handy and quick to make!  As for supper, I think we may have turkey pot pie.  Or a stir fry.

I am wearing... Blue jean, grey tank top, with a blue long sleeve shirt over that.

I am creating... I am knitting some washcloths, and this week I made these two photo frames for some friends.

 

 

 

I am going... I may try to walk to the top of the driveway today to see what the condition of our road is, but it super icy.  I am also going to pack up a box for some friends that should have been sent weeks ago!

I am wondering... Why people seem to think it is okay to write in library books, to check off recipes they like, or draw little stars beside things.  And filling in the puzzles!!! 

I am reading..."Come Home to Supper" by Christy Jordan, what an amazing book, a cookbook with snippets of stories and wisdom sprinkled throughout.   Also, I just finished reading "Craft Fail" by Heather Mann, a really funny book celebrating some of the crafts that look great on Pinterest, but can go horribly wrong at home!

I am hoping...The anxiety that is bubbling underneath will simmer down and stop.  I am hoping some fitness walking will keep it in check. 

I am looking forward to... My birthday on Wednesday!  Well, sort of.  The age o meter is creeping up there and that is yet another thing I cannot think about, lol!

I am learning... To be quiet and keep my mouth shut and my fingers off the keyboard, when what I sometimes want to do is let my temper fly. To just wait, and wait on the Lord, not jump ahead. ( I am always learning this!)

Around the house...I have laundry to finish, and I need to make up Devin's loft bed today, that is so hard to do!!  And it is so high up there too!  I also need to make some blueberry muffins, and cookies for these hungry boys in this house. 

I am pondering...What my next project will be.  I just go some new material for rag doll making.  I also have some antique burlap feed bags to make into pillows, and an antique dough board to distress.

A favorite quote for today... "How to be a positive person. Here is my no-fail, tried-and-true way to be (or become) a positive person in TWO easy steps!

1. Think about the next thing that comes out of your mouth-make it positive.

2. Repeat step one."

~Christy Jordan "Come Home to Supper"

One of my favorite things... FABRIC!!  Fabric stores, the smell of fabric, washing and ironing it, ohhhhhh, love everything about it!

 

 

Rag dolls, here we come!!  At some point I should make a new ironing board cover, it is so old and stained!

 

A few plans for the rest of the week... My birthday is on Wednesday, I am not really sure what the plans are for that day.  I will need to get out with my daughter at the end of the week to get groceries.  Devin and I just started a unit on the Vikings and we are enjoying it.  I suspect that since my husband has a couple more days off work, we will take it easy on the bookwork until Thursday.  I also need to get to the post office.

A peek into my day... A hike on our trail to the stream

 

 

You can see where the water rose and then subsided again.

 

 

Devin's little fort ( or the spider house as I call it) and my thoughtful spot where the chairs are.  I love to sit down here, just not in the snow, lol!

 

Please visit Peggy's blog to check out other Daybook entries!

 

Friday Letters

 

Here are my letters for this snowy Friday...

 

Dear Snow, PLEASE STOP!!!  GO AWAY!!! CEASE AND DESIST!!! We have had enough already!  Please go to Tahiti, I am sure they might like to know what snow is like for an hour or so, then you can go to Antarctica!

 

Dear Leslie Sansone, I love your walking DVD's so much!!!  They don't seem like work, and you are always so happy and barely breathing while you are leading them.  Well, let me tell you, now I can feel the work, I can barely get up the stairs!  Can you try to look like it is hard work and at least sweat a bit so I don't feel so bad!?  Can you remind me to breathe more often so I don't forget to and keep holding my breath?

 

Dear Frenchy's, (our local amazing thrift store), I love shopping at your store!  but I would appreciate it if you could remove those amusement park funny mirrors that make you look bizarre, and install some real ones.  I can't possibly look that wrinkly, wibbly wobbly! I am sure I don't look that short and stumpy!

 

Dear People Constantly Bantering About Vaccinations, If you are for or against, that is fine.  But you do not need to bash and grind someone into the ground for their decisions or opinions.  Mind you that goes for anything politics, religion etc.  Respect!!  I am so sick of seeing my Facebook Newsfeed filled up with people belittling and putting down others for their opinions. You don't need to tear someone down, you may need to bite your tongue, you may need to walk away, you may need to not respond.  But you can show respect.  If someone doesn't respect you back, then walk away.  Or try to!

 

Dear Paula, I hope lots of people check out other letters at your BLOG.

Simple Woman's Daybook, for February 9th

 

Thoughts For Today

 

 

Outside my window... It is so cold today, with a bitter wind chill. Is has been sunny and now it is overcast.   The snow is so squeaky under foot and under tire.  We had another snow storm last Thursday ( and the schools had 3 snow days last week alone!) and we have so much snow, more than I think we have ever had since we moved here.  In Halifax, they have no room to put all the snow, and driving is horrendous.

 

 

I had to dig a path for our dog Mixie, who is overwhelmed with the snow!

 

I am thinking... About how to deal with a difficult relationship, unfortunately with a family member.  I don't really know how to handle it.

 

I am thankful... For my now officially one year old grandson.  Wow, this year has flown by!  As I knew from my own babies it would.  We had a wonderful party for him on Saturday with friends and my son in law's family.  (we have no family here in Nova Scotia).  I had a terrible night last night, and went over to say happy birthday to Nathan this morning, and brought him and my daughter home for a bit to hang out and visit.  It was so nice!

 

 

Nathan enjoying his own tiny cake ( which my daughter baked in Devin's Easy Bake oven, lol!) A triple layer chocolate cake!

 

This is Nathan's big decorated cake, Robyn decorated it, and made the fondant as well!  She did such a great job!

 

Here is Nathan's very own cake. 

 

In the kitchen...Wow, I haven't even thought about this yet, I better get a move on since it is almost 5!

I am wearing... Blue jeans, grey tank top and long sleeve purple shirt.

I am creating... Soothing skin balm, two tiny stitcheries, and some soap in Boston Bruin colours.

I am going... I thought I would need to go and pick up my son from work but my hubby is picking him up.  I am so glad about that!  I am going to be making an essential oil blend for hubby's back.  His back is worse this week as he fell on the ice in the driveway last week.

I am wondering... About tweaking my Facebook pages and streamlining things.

I am reading...The same aromatherapy book from last week, and a book called "The Art of Whimsical Lettering" by Joanne Sharp.  I am loving this one! 

I am hoping...To feel like my feelings matter.

I am looking forward to... Spring!!!  Even the time changing at the beginning of March is a great thing to look forward to!

I am learning... That just like poison, people can be toxic.  It is even worse if it is in your family, I guess that is because they know us so well, and know how to get to us quickly and painfully.

Around the house... Well, I have quite a few things to rearrange after Nathan left, oh my goodness, he is such a busy guy!  I need to shovel the deck and fold laundry.

I am pondering... What to say and how to say it.

A favorite quote for today... "Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you" Matthew 5:43-44

One of my favorite things... Driving or walking in freshly fallen powdery snow, and leaving the first footsteps/tire tracks.

A few plans for the rest of the week... Nathan has a doctor's appointment to get his 12 month needles and his check up, so I will take him and my daughter  for that.  Also, grocery shopping, a trip to the library, and hoping to fit in walking exercise DVD's by Leslie Sansone.  They are great, fun and adjustable according to what your fitness level is, and I really need to be walking.  It helps the anxiety. And everything else actually!  Oh and Valentine's Day is coming up, I can't forget that!

A peek into my day...

 

 

We had a couple of visitor's today! 

 

Nathan trying to figure out what Uncle Devin is up to.

 

 

To participate in the Daybook, please check out THIS link.

 

 

Friday Letters

 

Letters for Friday February 6th

 

Dear Nathan, You are going to be one year old on Monday!!!  I have told you since before you were born to not grow so fast!  You are walking and can "ouch" daddy" and "weeeee" ( and weeta weeta, I know I had a whole conversation with you on the phone with both of us saying that, and I do not know what on earth I was talking about!)  You are so precious and funny and make the funniest faces, and I love you!

 

 

 

Dear People coming to Nathan's party tomorrow,  I suck at being a hostess.  I cannot make coffee to save my life.  As I type, I have 4 stinky boys playing Xbox and I can't even get my house clean for piles of snow gear. Please overlook the piles and dust bunnies ( they don't bite).

 

Dear Anxiety, I have friends coming over tomorrow, and you are not one of them. Please stay away.

 

Dear Hubby, I am sorry you wiped out on the ice last night, and hurt your back even more ( hubby has a slipped disk in his lower back).  I hope you feel better soon.

 

Dear Neighbour, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for always plowing us out of the driveway.  Now you have a brand new plow on your truck, and everyone will be your best friend! Good neighbours are a blessing!

 

Dear Mixie, You're welcome for the path I dug for you around the yard.  I am sore and you owe me.  Next time we are out for a walk and I see a snake, you need to kill it, not let it chase me up a tree.

 

If you want to participate in Friday letters and read more, please go to Paula's blog!

 

 

 

 

An icy stormy blast in photos

Yesterday, a nor'easter arrived in Nova Scotia, and left behind in its wake over 8 inches of snow, followed by 3 to 5 inches of ice.  It is treacherous driving, walking is even worse.  I thought I would do a photo post today.

 

My clothes peg box.

 

Beautiful, sunny morning.  There were four deer at the birdfeeders last night.  All very happy now that they could reach the feeders a little easier, as the snow was so deep.

 

 

Icy driveway!

 

 

 

A view out the window in the front door.

 

 

 

Broken tiny branches, and hopefully there will be no trees down.

 

 

Weird lens blur effect.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Walking through this became a game.  Sometimes you would just walk on the top of this crusty snow, and you would never know when you would fall through.  This stretch was a hard slog uphill.

 

 

We haven't seen a deep blue sky like this in a good while!

 

 

 

Home through the forest.

 

 

 

Following the deer trail.

 



 

Our road, in the very distance is Sambro Lighthouse and the waves today are huge, I could see them from the driveway.  So thankful for our neighbours, one who we share our driveway with who plows us all out in every snowfall, and the neighbour at the top of our driveway, who plowed out the hard clumps of snow left by the plow. So many people were out at the ends of their drives this morning with pick axes, trying to break through the waist high snow banks! We are very grateful.

Simple Woman's Daybook for February 2nd

 

Thoughts for Today, February 2nd

 

 

Outside my window... We are having another nor'easter that blew up from the Eastern Seaboard.  The snow is swirling and blowing outside my windows, and we already have 5 cms down in an hour.  We are considered coastal where we are and it is supposed to change to freezing rain, heavy rain and then a flash freeze and more snow tomorrow. The roads are very bad, and hubby still has to drive home in this later.  But we have our storm chips!

 

 

Sunshine this morning quickly gave way to grey skies.  The driveway is a sheet of ice already.

 

The wind has been so strong it blew the chicken off my weathervane last week!  This is an antique so I hope I can fix him up.

 

We have our storm chips.  It is a strange phenomena in Nova Scotia, the stores are overrun by people buying chips when a storm is coming!  So this time I bought some too!  A friend pointed out the label on the box I had set them in, lol!  Not quite fresh vegetables anymore!

 



Tea sent to me by a very dear couple of friends, from my favourite tea shop ever!  http://www.bentleyhouseteas.ca/.  It arrived just in time for this storm, hot tea really hits the spot!  I am not a coffee drinker, I really don't like it, but tea....ahhhhh, wonderful!

I am thinking... About doing a craft show in May, but am not sure I can be ready in time.  Ideally I will have things made already and not be stressed to get everything made up in time. 

 

 

 

Finished up my second rag garland in Sunday night episodes of Downton Abbey!

 

I am thankful... That I was able to get Jeremy from work early, the roads were already terrible, but I am glad I didn't have to negotiate those during the homeward bound traffic, or during the dark.  I am also SO thankful he is home from his trip, and had the rest of last week off to recover from his cold. He is much better now!

In the kitchen... I made chocolate fudge cookies today as per Devin's request, and have a lot of bananas that need to go into muffins at some point before they walk out of the house on their own.  We are having left over pork chops, mashed potatoes and veggies for supper. 

I am wearing... A long sleeve black shirt, jeans and Birkenstocks.

I am creating... I made some rice bags on the weekend, for my aching back and costochondritis.  And I am creating two small stitcheries for some friends of ours.  I am also working on a journal of sorts, see the photo below.

I am going...Hopefully nowhere else today!  But this week I need to go to a party supply store with my daughter to get goodies for my grandson's first birthday, his party will be on Saturday, so I will need to get my house tidy.  I also need to get to the library and am back to taking my son to and from work.  I enjoy that time so much, it is just a short drive, but I get to pray and listen to the local Christian radio station.  And spend some time alone with Jeremy, which is a nice bonus.

I am wondering... What else to make for this birthday party.

I am reading... A really great book on aromatherapy, which I got from the library and think I will buy.  It is called "The Complete Aromatherapy and Essential Oils Handbook for Everyday Wellness" by Nerys Purchon and Lora Cantele.  It is excellent! 

I am hoping... My hubby has a safe drive home from work, he decided to stay later tonight. ( And I let him know I was not too happy about it, I likely should have kept my mouth shut. I start to feel anxious and need to give this to God).

 

 First flakes beginning to fall.  Now I cannot see any of this when I look out the window!

 

I am looking forward to... Nathan's first birthday!  And SPRING.  Although Shubenacadie Sam has decided there will be 6 more weeks of winter, wretched animal!

I am learning... How to make more essential oil blends, and the safe use of oils.  Despite what some companies say, it is not really safe to take essential oils internally, aside from perhaps peppermint. (1 drop of peppermint oil is generally equal to 25 cups of peppermint tea - not something to mess with!) And not all oils are safe to use "neat", without the use of carrier oils. Oils are not something to be used carelessly and without research.

Around the house...  Devin and I are starting a unit on Vikings this week, Lego models are being built, Minecraft is being played. I suspect there will be lots of shovelling at some point, and preparations for a birthday party.

I am pondering...  Making a soothing skin balm to drop off at the homeless centre our church operates.  I have thought about this for some time, since I have befriended a homeless man.  I shook his hand and his hands were so worn and rough and full of cuts from being so cold.  I want to do something to help soothe them, and help them feel better.

A favorite quote for today... "You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Trust in the Lord always,
    for the Lord God is the eternal Rock." Isaiah 26:3,4 NLT

One of my favorite things... Watching The Waltons.  I LOVE that show, I have the series on DVD.  My favourite episode is "The Search"  I watched it three times last week while I was making supper and folding laundry.

 

A few plans for the rest of the week... School needs to be caught up, as we are a bit behind, preparing boxes to be sent off to a couple of friends, some soap to make, and oil to infuse for skin balm.

A peek into my day...

 

 

A page from my journal today. I am reading Psalms right now, and included a verse, and then wrote other random thoughts.  I leave the page open so I can write down thoughts or ideas as they come to me.

 

Please stop by Peggy's blog to view other's daybook entries.