Spend the day with me

The morning sun seeps in through the window.  The curtain shifts slightly with the breeze, and the sound of birds chirping waft in, saying good morning, welcome the new day ahead.

 

I used to rush out bed every morning when my kids were little, but now that they are grown and have their own lives, I have taken to slower mornings.  I like to take my time, to slowly wake up, to move my body gently instead of hitting the ground running.  It sets the tone for a slow, relaxed, and go with the flow kind of day. 

 

 

:::: MORNING :::: 

Making the bed is a first thing for me.  I don't know, but if I don't make my bed first, I feel like my day doesn't run as smoothly, plus I believe that if your bed is made, the whole house seems to be neat and tidy.  

 

That makes absolutely zero sense, but in my brain it does.

 

 

Once the bed is made, I will get ready for the day while listening to my Bible reading for the day.  I used to read the physical Bible and I still love doing it, but I find it much easier to use my Bible Youversion app, and to just pop it on while I'm getting ready.

 

Breakfast is always around 8 or 9.  I stop eating the night before, around 5pm, so by 8 or 9 I am starving and I've done a good intermittent fast.  Oatmeal, or toast, weetabix, a keto pancake, or eggs are my go to. 

 

After eating, I usually will start a load of laundry, and then move onto the dishes.  I wash the dinner dishes the night before, but will usually leave pots and pans soaking overnight, and there has been the occasion where I rinse the dishes from dinner, pop them in the sink with hot soapy water and leave them until the morning.

 

It's something I would never do before, but I have found that as I've gotten older, there are certain homemaking chores that I don't mind slacking off on *so to speak*.  The dishes will still be there in the morning, and I sometimes prefer to go have a cup of tea and play a game with the family, rather than sit at the sink.

 

I also, really, really enjoy doing the dishes in the morning, while listening to the birds.  I have a beautiful view from my kitchen window which helps as well.

 

Once the kitchen is put in order, I will move into the rest of the house.  Today meant dusting and giving all the wood surfaces a good clean.  I absolutely love using Orange Glo for that.  Love the way it leaves everything shiny and smelling like fresh cut oranges.

 

Living in the country means that there is always outside work to be done.  Whether it's our property, or the neighbors across the street, or down the road.  Someone is constantly mowing, weeding, planting, taking care of animals and so on.

Spring and summer mean that every morning, I am watering all our container plants.  We have yet to put anything in the ground, opting for container gardening instead.  Although, I do plan to get some flowers planted out in the backyard, but that will have to wait until next weekend, as this weekend we are focused on finishing the area for the new flock of chickens, and getting them outside.

 

:::: AFTERNOON ::::  

Lunch today consisted of a honey vanilla greek yogurt with some homemade granola and frozen blueberries. 

 

Some days I have leftovers, usually the protein and salad or whatever vegetables I have, and some days I opt for yogurt.  It's already so hot around here, that it felt like the perfect thing to enjoy.

 

Laundry is never ending isn't it?  Today I had tow loads to get through, plus some kitchen towels and bed sheets.

 

I don't iron everything, though I did grow up ironing every single item of clothing.  I think the difference is that we didn't use dryers growing up, so clothes definitely needed some help after sitting out on the clothesline.  I find that if you use a dryer and immediately take them out after they're finished the drying cycle, and fold, they don't usually need it.

 

But there are some items that I still prefer to iron, so that was on the agenda today.

 

While I iron I like to watch a movie, and I have been back on my period drama kick.  I've watched some very good ones lately.  For today, I chose to watch To Walk Invisible, which is the story of the Bronte Sisters.  So good.  I had recently read Romancing Miss Bronte and loved it, so this was almost like watching the book in action.  Highly recommend both the book and the tv show.

 

I have also been really enjoying my quiet afternoons. I get my 10k steps in and do my daily exercise, then I am rewarded with something fun to do, and the past week, it has been my Jane Austen puzzle.

 

I have always loved puzzles but hadn't done one in a really long time.  I had almost forgotten how therapeutic and calming they are.  I get lost in the puzzle pieces, just sitting quietly by my bedroom window, with the window open, listening to the wildlife outside and working away.

I am also deeply engrossed in a new book series about the Civil War.  I had never heard of this author, and happened upon her books at the store that was going out of business.

I've already read through the first and am in the second.  They are 4 in total, and I am absolutely loving every second.  I love the setting, I love the era, I love learning more about the Civil War and I love every character in the story.

If you're wondering what series I am reading, it is the Shadowcreek Chronicles by Elizabeth T. Renich.



:::: EVENING ::::  

As the evening rolls around, time seems to quicken and I become quite busy, between preparing dinner, setting the table, and getting things ready for the next day.

 

Tonight for dinner, I made a delicious sausage rice, a dish that my great grandmother used to make for us.  It's a great way to serve up a filling homecooked meal and also use up whatever sausage you may have.  I have used smoked sausage, I've used hotdogs and today I am using a Kielbasa sausage that I had in the freezer and needed to use up.

 

I love using what I have on hand, and I find that sometimes I deviate from my meal plan because I want to use leftovers or whatever is sitting in the fridge needing attention.

 

I didn't want to eat the carbs in the rice though, so for myself, I had some leftover Bean salad in the fridge from the night before, which I added a can of tuna to, and 2 boiled eggs, and made a quick and delicious tuna salad.

 

 

Once dinner is done, I get the dishes sorted out and the table clear, clean the kitchen and end the day by setting the coffee machine for the next morning.

 

We get up at 4:30am, so it's always wonderful to wake up to the smell of coffee brewing.  

The last thing I do each night, is to get the leftovers in the fridge, make sure everything looks tidy and not chaotic, as we know a kitchen often gets during meal times, then I head to my bedroom.  

 

I will usually have my shower, and then either watch some tv, read or crochet and end the day with a sense of accomplishment.

 

My days tend to be a very slight variation of each other, unless there is a place to go, or an appointment or grocery shopping, they tend to be pretty much the same routine, and I'm ok with that.

 

I hope you've enjoyed spending the day with me, as I have surely enjoyed sharing it with you.