{ Cardinals, cold day and hot tea }

The kind of day that you step outside with your camera in hand, thinking that you will try and get some good shots of the rain coming down, but really can only manage to be out there for 2 minutes before your hands freeze.

It's been steadily coming down, not stopping, not changing intensity.  Just a constant almost kind of misty freezing rain that leaves you chilled to the bone.

I will say that I'm enjoying it because it's been a while since we've had a good rain shower around here, but I'm also very eager for Spring to just arrive and this coldness to subside.

I've been pottering around the house today, doing things here and there, while enjoying cups of hot tea.  Love having a pot of hot tea sitting in a pretty crochet cozy, just waiting for you to indulge.

I then worked on some schooling with Nick, mostly Sign Language videos he had to record.  He loves learning sign language but he is extremely shy and doesn't enjoy having to record himself on video to send to the teacher.  He tends to put those lessons off for as long as he can until absolutely necessary or once mama has nagged him enough about them.

And then it never goes exactly to plan either because we end up laughing to the point where I turn the camera on, we take one look at each other and burst into laughter.  Let me tell you, the videos take a lot longer than they need to, but I wouldn't change those moments for anything in the world.

My cardinal friends have been loving whatever it is they're eating on the ground.  I don't think I've ever seen so many of them in our area, they sure do make me smile with their gorgeous coloring.

The females are so sweet looking as well, but I have to admit that the red males are stunning. 

I used to take a ton of bird photos when we were stationed in Arizona.  I would take my camera out to the back yard, with my big zoom lens and just sit under the umbrella.  The birds got comfortable enough that they would come hang out with me and let me photograph them without being spooked away.

It's not as easy here, for some reason the minute I step out with the camera, or even go near the windows with the zoom lens, they flutter on out in all directions.  I just hope one day they will trust me enough to let me get some good shots for my collection.

It's almost 4pm here which means I'll be heading to the kitchen shortly, to get dinner started.  I'm making Chicken Strogonoff for dinner tonight with some mashed potatoes and a side salad.  A simple but yummy dinner.

But before that, I'm going to take a few moments to continue with my purging on Instagram.  I've been on an unfollow mission all day.  I follow way too many people and pages and honestly, I don't interact with that many, nor do I relate to most anymore.

And that's something I wanted to talk to you all about, real quick.  We often start following people or pages because at that specific moment and time, we can relate to them somehow or are in a different frame of mind.  There's nothing wrong with outgrowing things and moving on.

I find that a page or person that I may like following today, is not someone I will enjoy a month, or even a year from today.  With that in mind, I'm always changing and removing or adding as I go.

Some people feel bad about unfollowing, but I think that we need to realize that there is nothing wrong with that, and it's in no way reflective of the person or page, but more of who we are and the stage we're in our lives.  I've had many people unfollow my page, my blog, my facebook, and that's ok, I'm in no way offended.

Bottom line, if a person or a page is making you feel anything less than happy or you feel jealous, or that you don't measure up or you can't be like them, then it really might be time to take a closer look and see if you need to continue engaging.

My tastes have certainly changed over the years, and things I used to enjoy back then I no longer do, and by the same token, things I didn't think I would enjoy or relate to, I'm now enjoying. 

It is what it is.

Wow I feel like I babbled for a bit there. 

Anyway, I'm off to finish what I was doing and then get started on our dinner.

Have a blessed night :)