Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Winter is coming...

I saw this post on Lisa Russo's wonderful blog. We had such a mild winter here last year, I look forward to snow like this again (aren't her pictures wonderful? I always admire them, but we are working on saving money, so they are on my wish list-maybe we'll repaint the dining room and get some of these to hang up in the spring?) I grew up in Michigan, and we had snow almost all winter, until the robins came out signifying spring had sprung. I love snow, shoveling our driveway, watching the kids play... although they are so big now they rarely "play" in it... time by the fireplace, hot cocoa, sweaters. I love it all. I am really looking forward to it, and Lisa's lovely pictures encouraged that thinking! :)

Thankful 14

I am thankful that my husband is my dearest friend. He's been gone on business and I keep thinking I will tell him something that evening. He isn't here to tell. Our phone conversations are different this time, since he is three hours different. We are saying nightly prayers when he is getting ready for dinner, for example. During the evening hours, when we normally catch up on our days, I think of what I want to say to him and he is working. Morning hours, he isn't up yet. And then I am off to teach. I know, for the women who have husbands who are gone often, they must think me silly. I got married to my husband young, and we had children young, separating us from our peers. We lived in a state away from family, so we learned to do things without help, or with each other's help. He has rarely had to travel for business and, well, they don't pay teachers to travel, so I'm not gone often...ever. :) I'm lucky we enjoy each other's company. :) I'm grateful for it.

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Grateful 13

On this November 13, I'm grateful for sleep. When my husband is away on business I don't fall asleep or stay asleep. I am the only pair of ears listening for the girls in that rare event that they need me. The dogs wandering, prowling, checking on us all, is a sound that normally doesn't bother me, but on nights I'm alone, I hear every toenail clack, every collar jingle. The first night I'm alone, I think that I'm going to go to bed early, catch up on rest! But, then I wake up 5 times and never really settle in to a good, deep, long-lasting sleep. The second night I stay up way too late, hoping this will help me stay asleep. It doesn't. Then I wake up and have gotten even less sleep. The husband isn't usually gone on any trips, and if he does, they aren't usually longer than a day or two. I'm thankful for deep sleep, when he is here. It's funny, as I read this, that I am such a creature of habit. It's not just having husband here, it's my routines that I like. I don't sleep well at other people's houses or hotels, either. :)

Monday, November 12, 2012

November 12, 2012

My gratitude posts have fallen behind. I finished the last one on November 6, Election Day. Since then, I missed a few. I am thankful for: 7-Dinner with friends-we had a family over for chicken quesadillas and we all enjoyed our evening! I was also thankful our youngest daughter didn't have basketball practice so she could enjoy the evening dinner with us, as well. 8-I'm grateful that we can eat out sometimes. During the day on the 8th, I met with a friend. I'm going to be doing some part time work for a small business and I met with a friend to get me started on the information last week. After we worked for a few hours, we met my husband for a dinner out. It was a nice afternoon/evening. 9-I am thankful I can run. I had a nice day for running, with beautiful weather and I was well worn out. 10-I'm grateful for family get togethers. We got together with my husband's family and had our own version of Chopped. Our ingredients in our bag were apples, mustard greens, pork belly and matzo ball soup. 11-I'm thankful for our Veterans. So grateful for those who are willing to put their lives on the line for me, and my freedom. My Grandpa Red was a veteran in WWII. He had stories I wish I had listened to more carefully. I miss him, dearly. 12-Today I am thankful for my job. I have the opportunity to teach children about history and, though they may not always appreciate it, I think they are learning. ;) What have you been thankful for? I hope all is well where you are, Reader.

Tuesday, November 06, 2012

Election Day 2012

I am grateful for the opportunity to vote! Loved this article-wish everyone had this perspective. http://www.jennymeyerson.com/lesson-learned/lesson-learned-my-father-and-president-bill-clinton/

Monday, November 05, 2012

Butternut squash soup

The other day my husband and I met for lunch. I had half a sandwich and some butternut soup. It was delicious, and had carrots in it, too, so I thought I'd try one of my own. I looked up a recipe and got the groceries to make it tonight. Then I saw a "butternut squash recipes" tweet by Whole Living. Some of these look wonderful! Thought I'd share. Are you trying any new recipes, Readers? Edited: Soup was delicious and filling. Would have been better with the nutmeg it called for, but turns out we didn't have any. Otherwise it was a very good recipe! Also, the recipe said it would take 25 minutes to roast the squash and it took closer to an hour.

November 5 2012

Didn't get to post yesterday. Busy weekend. We were supposed to run 12 miles yesterday, but didn't get that far. Both feeling injured and listened to our bodies. Was nice to have someone running with me to talk it out with. Normally it's a mental battle between the "I-Can-Do-It/Fight-Through-It" person and the "Ouch-This-Really-Hurts/Could-It-Be-An-Injury" selves. We decided, this close to race day (two weeks) to err on the side of caution. That, too, can be mentally defeating. I am grateful-grateful to have a running partner who cares about me and my well being, while knowing I am strong. We also spent time with our families, writing our Thankful Feather Letters! I am grateful for family and friends to send them to. :)

Saturday, November 03, 2012

5 Immunity boosting foods

I just read a blog post I need to note for future reference. It was 5 delicious, immune boosting foods. I can always tell when my system is feeling down, but I don't always know, besides food with vitamin c, what to help. I know to sleep, but wonder what to eat. Do you have anything you eat when you are feeling low?

November 3 2012

Thankful for my girls as always. Our oldest is down on a nearby college campus, staying overnight with a friend in the dorms and going to today's football game. Seems odd to not have her here. So thankful for texting: she knows I'm a worrier and checks in every now and then. My youngest daughter is across the street babysitting for our friends/neighbors. I sat with them for 2 hours earlier, while she was out to lunch with her grandparents. We crafted crowns and then played Sleeping Queens -which is a really fun card game for kids-in our crowns. When they were done with that we went out and drew fairies with chalk on the driveway. I'm grateful for good neighbors-we appreciate them so much, even more since a break in at our neighbor's house. My husband has spent the day working in the garage, making a good use of wall space for storage. I'm thankful he has energy to do such things and takes the time to, even though he has work he has to be doing.

Joy

Always love Kristin Armstrong's posts-her writing is wonderful-but the most recent "Regular Joy" really spoke to me. Regular readers know I have two daughters, one in high school and one in middle school, who run. I have run with them and loved it. I hope they continue to love running, even just for fun/exercise/etc. Our oldest uses it as stress relief. The night before school started, she was very stressed about the senior year beginning. She asked my husband if he wanted to jog up to the school (high school nearby) and run on the track. He did, they ran and then came home. She felt better and could sleep when her head hit the pillow. I love that about running.

Friday, November 02, 2012

Love this post!

After my complaints, ramblings and grumblings about the time-eating social media websites, I read Jenny Meyerson's post today and LOVED it-oh my goodness!! Love it! Totally what I need to do, less FB, Twitter, and iPhone apps and more of Him, more time scrapbooking my family memories and spending time with my girls who will soon be out of our nest!

November 2 2012

I just read Cathy Zielske's blog post. I agree...I have been reading articles today about people's homes and businesses being broken into, gas being siphoned out of their cars... Just the sucky side of people being displayed in an already awful situation... I am grateful for power, heat, a dry place to sleep, a neighborhood I can get around in without being knee deep in water, or worse. My heart goes out to the cities hit by Hurricane Sandy. See Cathy's post if you'd like to help. She has links that should be good guides. I hope you are dry, well and safe, Reader.

Thursday, November 01, 2012

November 1 2012

Gratitude Here in the United States we celebrate "Thanksgiving" in November. The reason for its celebration have evolved over the years. A good site that talks about it is here, and another, here. Recently it has become a focus on being thankful, grateful. So, I'm going to try {Note I said try, as sometimes I get too busy, once I proclaim a set blogging item} to blog something I am grateful for each day in November. Yes, I am most grateful for my family and that almost goes without posting or I shall post it daily... November 1, I am grateful for my family. I am also grateful for my big dog. Yes, he is a loyal companion, snuggles, etc. But today I was reminded of the little things like when he sneaks into my office just to lay beside my chair. Then, when I head down to the kitchen, he tries to keep his pace even with mine so he can have his head touching my hand. He really is very sweet. Then, when my husband comes in to my office to vacuum, our dog runs and hides behind me... some protector. ;) I do appreciate his presence when the girls have gone off to school and the husband has gone off to work. The house is quiet, yet I hear his snores and I do not feel alone.