January Monday

The weather in my neck of the woods: Not bad at all for January.

Things that make me happy: Sunshine in January!

Book I'm reading: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

What's on my TV today: I'm really enjoying Downton Abbey on Masterpiece Classics this month. Lyle chooses most of what we record and watch, but he records that series for me. (And even watches them with me. What a guy!)

On the menu for dinner: Chicken-andouille gumbo sounds really good. I think I have the stuff to make it... so, yeah... that!

On my To Do List: Get some extra work and homeschooling done this week, as I will be gone 4 days next week on a business trip.

New recipe I want to try soon: Dutch Baby pancakes. I had one at a local restaurant on our breakfast date Saturday and it was wonderful!

In the craft basket: Still working on my bedroom curtain. I also have a pair of socks on knitting needles, as a take-along project.

Looking forward to this week: I've been wanting to go to our local Kroc Center to check out the facilities and get some exercise in this winter. What with sickness and other busy-ness, it keeps getting put off. I'm really hoping to make it this week!

Tips and Tricks: I discovered a liquid herbal supplement at our health food store that has helped with my chronic winter cough better than anything else I've tried. (And yes, I've tried the "100%-effective-Vicks-Rub-on-the-bottom-of-your-feet" thing. I don't know how something can be 100% effective and not work for me... but it sure doesn't.) Anyway, this concoction is put out by Wish Garden herbs. It's not cheap... about $12 an ounce... and it's very bitter. But it only takes a few drops at a time and seems to be effective for whatever-kinda-cough-this-is that I get every winter.

On my mind: Looking forward to my trip to Denver next week. And then long range, planning for Laura's graduation activities later in the spring.

Inspirational Reading: The Never-Wavering Few @ Lady Liberty Patriot.

Visit Diary of a Stay-at-Home Mom for more Happy Homemaker Monday posts.

Enjoying the winter

Picture credit: Laura Cook, 2011

Winters are long in northern Idaho, but usually they aren't terribly harsh. Some winters we get way too much snow... and others we don't get much at all. So far this winter has been an interesting mix of cold and snow, followed by warmer winds and rain, which clears away the accumulated snow... so when it snows again it's all fresh and new. I especially appreciate the rare days when the sun comes out and makes the snow sparkle.

For two or three days last week the daytime temps even got up in the low-50s! That's shirt-sleeve weather around here! We knew winter couldn't possibly be over yet, but it was sure a nice break.

I'm looking forward to spring... but I'm trying not to wish the days away.

Friendship Tea

 I love the way God brings special friends alongside to encourage me just at the time I need it most. One day last week I received a package in the mail from my childhood friend, Denise. I haven't seen Denise in... oh, 20 years or more... but we reconnected online about 3 years ago and have stayed in touch sporadically since then. However, it had been awhile since I had heard from her. Her family has some health problems, so I was sure she had been busy with that. But when my daughters carried the package in to me the other day and I saw the return address, I just knew it was going to be something special!

And I was right! The box was filled with bubblewrap with this note on top:

Merry Christmas, Karla!
    Enclosed are three different tea cups with violets that I have collected for you! The collection was started when I briefly left my husband's hospital room for a break and visited a favorite thrift store nearby. There the snack plate with tea cup was spotted. A thought of you brightened my dreary day and the collecting began!
    Tea for one is fun... but not as much as tea with three! So, I thought I would wait to send it until I had enough for you and your girls! Yesterday, I finally found the third one!
     Enclosed are some homemade Buckeyes from the Buckeye State~ sweets from where you and your Sweeties first met!
     I trust you had a wonderful Christmas that 2011 will be the best year yet!
Love,
     Your Childhood Friend,
          Denise

 

 I have to say, that quite made my day! And gave me just the lift I needed! I loved unwrapping and admiring each beautiful piece to add to my eclectic violet tea set. My girls were just as charmed as I was.

Thank you, Denise, for such a lovely gift... and especially for your words of encouragement!

Winter Sunset

Laura has inherited my enthusiasm for sunsets.Sunny days are rare this time of year, but if there's any kind of color in the sky at all late in afternoon, she'll holler at me on her way out the door, "Mom, I'm going down the street to take pictures!" We have a good view of the western sky from our kitchen window, but we get the best pictures a couple blocks further west.

This evening, however, her most spectacular shot was of the mountains to the north. This picture was taken in our front yard, looking up the street. The picture is not as sharp as Laura would like, but the bright pink sunset light reflecting off the snow and low-hanging clouds was very dramatic!

I noticed this evening that sunset is a little later than it had been. Spring is still a ways off... but it's coming!!

In a heartbeat...

When they placed her in our arms we looked at each other and said, "Can we do this?"

18 years seemed like an eternity.

It's not.

It's more like a heartbeat.

With gratefulness for God's enabling grace, we are so very proud of the beautiful young lady our daughter has become.