{ Sunday breakfasts, just a memory now }

 

When my kids were growing up, Sunday was our huge breakfast day.  My husband would always whip up his amazing omelets and bacon, we would also do toast and sausage and biscuits and gravy.  

It was a tradition that we started as a young married couple, and continued through many MANY years.  But as our children grew, they would often sleep in much later than Curt and I, so Sunday breakfast became something that only happened for special occasions, like a holiday, or when we have family sleep over.

We would always sit and chat about everything and anything.  We talked about current events, or things we did in the past, places we lived, places we visited and so forth.  It was a time to bond, to connect, to make sure everyone was doing well.  

We loved these moments, but truth be told, we took them for granted, because now that we don't have these moments anymore, I miss them, and it makes my heart hurt.  But it's life, and it's about change and moving on from season to season.

Maybe one day when both kids are out of the house and we are alone, we will bring this tradition back just for the two of us.  Who knows?  It's good to reminisce about those days though.

 

{ Sandra's Saturday Surfing }

 

 

 Just a few places I have visited this past week, some I visit often and others are newly found.

Paperbackswap - I've talked about this one site many times.  I had a few credits so was able to order 3 more books for my growing collection.  This time they are Tamera Alexander books, the first 3 in some of her series. 

 

Thrift Books - Well, I didn't get anything from this one, this time, but it's a favorite of mine and where I usually get all my books.  

 

 

Radio Garden - This is such a fun website.  I use it to listen to radio from Portugal and South Africa, but you can search any location in the world.  Do you want to listen to radio stations in England, Poland, Japan.  Any country, city, you can listen to instant radio.   It is amazing, give it a try.

MyRetroTVs - Now here's a website that is so much fun to use.  Do you want to watch tv from the 50s through to the 2000s?  Well you can channel browse through all those decades, and watch drama, commercials, cartoons etc.  It's such a wonderful trip down memory lane.

World Wide Telescope - If you love space as much as I do, you will enjoy this website.  You can see pictures in 3D and really visualize the universe.

{ Ins and Outs for 2025 }

I don't do yearly goals.  I think I did it many many ages ago and then ended up putting so much pressure on myself, that when I didn't achieve them, I felt absolutely horrible.  So I stopped doing that.  

Instead I just think of things that I want to continue doing or would like to do, but no pressure whatsoever, if it happens it does, if it doesn't, then it doesn't.

Here are my ins and outs for 2025.  Things I want to try and achieve, and things I really want to try and get rid of.

 

 

Outs 

- mindlessly scrolling on social media (Instagram and X)

I think this is a habit that many of us can relate to.  If I have some spare time I usually sit and scroll, mindlessly.  Just scrolling and scrolling.  I want to try and get rid of that habit.  I would like to open the apps, scroll through once and then move on.

 

 

-  putting pressure on myself to post on the blog or share on Instagram story

I am trying very hard to get back to daily blogging, but I know myself and know that if I put that pressure to do it, I won't enjoy it and will fail miserably, again.  So I'm giving myself grace and so far, I have loved posting daily, I missed it, I look forward to it and don't feel like I HAVE to, I just do because I want to and enjoy it so much.

 

Same with Instagram.  I do love sharing my days on the stories, and many of my followers there constantly message me thanking me and saying that I inspire them whether to cook more, workout, appreciate the simple things in life, and get closer to God.  But, like blogging, I want to share when I feel like it, not because I feel I HAVE to every day.

-  not be so judgemental at times

I try very hard to not judge, even if I don't agree with something I see or read or hear.  But, I am human and sometimes have the tendency to quickly judge before catching myself.  I would like to work on rather not judging immediately.

-  not compare myself to others

This is a hard one, it's very easy especially on social media, to see other people's lives and feel less than.  I would like to get rid of that feeling, and if need be, get rid of accounts on my feed that may indirectly conjure up those feelings in me.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not blaming those people, but if something is a temptation or causes certain feelings, then it's up to ME to move away from it, not expect others to change who they are.

-  stop trying to live so caught up in the chaos around me and the world

Another difficult one to do because everywhere you turn there is chaos and grief and craziness going on.  Also, as humans we have a tendency to try and be like others, to go with the cool thing of the moment, to do what everyone else is doing, watch what they're watching etc.  That is going for sure, I've realized over time that I'm not happy living in the modern times, I am happier when I pull away, live simply and hold on to the memories and a way of living that is more in touch with my culture and my upbringing.

-  processed foods, excessive sugars and unhealthy foods

I've done really well this past year, but the truth is that at times, I still fall back into old habits.  The holidays especially are terrible to maintain a healthy lifestyle.  I have had too much sugar, too many processed foods and carbs etc.  That is going away again.

Ins

- more time with God

I don't know why we neglect this important time.  We tend to give excuses for not reading the Bible, for not spending time with the Lord.  I am making a big effort to change all that, I want more time with Him this year.

-  learning more about the history of Portugal

I only did my first year of school in Portugal, so even though I'm Portuguese, sadly, I don't know too much about our history and I want to change that.  This year I am determined to learn more.  I actually have a book on the way from Portugal about one of the Kings and Queens.  I intend to get more and really learn our history.

-  more period dramas and family shows and movies

I'm just going to say it, I don't like the movies and tv shows of today.  Aside from When Calls the Heart, I truly do not enjoy anything that is put out.  I'm sick of gross storylines, disgusting characters, politicized TV.  I want to go back to enjoying watching it.  It's supposed to take you away, to take you to another place and time, not make you feel judged, disgusted or angry.  

-  blogging

More and more blogging.  Daily posts, recipes, sharing my life and recording those memories the best I can.  It is something that brings me so much joy.

-  continue focusing on my health journey

Continue working out, continue eating healthy, continue focusing on filling my body (temple) with good things.  I think of my body as the temple that the Holy spirit and Jesus abide in, so why destroy that temple and create a place that is sick or unhealthy?  God deserves the best of me, and this is a small way to do it.

- reading my Bible daily and learning more scripture

I am currently doing the Bible Recap, so I'll be reading the Bible every day anyway, but I really want to stick with it and create a habit for myself.  I also want to do more scripture writing and memorizing.

-  spend more days like my great grandma and grandma

I miss the life they lived, the life that I remember as a child.  I really want to do either a day or two a week, where I retrace their steps, live the day as they did, and do things like they did.  I guess a step back in time, I think it would be fun to do.

-  listen to more Portuguese music and watch more Portuguese shows

I am fluent in Portuguese and English, but the truth is that, if I don't keep listening and immersing myself in my native language, eventually it will be forgotten or hard to speak.  I do speak it daily with my stepmother and when my brother is over for dinner, we speak Portuguese to each other.  But, I want to watch more of live TV, or shows or movies in Portuguese.

-  go outside more

Step outside, do more gardening, spend more time in the sun and working on my yard, or just being out in the fresh air.  

-  making my home a cozy place, going back to older ways

I'm sorry guys, but I have to be honest, I don't like homes that look like museums and are way too put together.  I am all for a clean and tidy home, but there's a difference between a tidy clean lived in home, and a home that filled with all the coolest, newest trends.  I want more doilies, more thrifted, more things from my grandparents, more family photos, old blankets draped on couches.  That is what I'm feeling for this year.

-  read more

Read, read and read again.  Read a ton of books, old books, new books, but not exactly following the trend.  I am sensing a pattern with me.  I want nothing to do with the mass production of ideas, things, books, shows, homes and so forth.  It's like being a borg, where there is one collective mind and all the millions of little bodies just nod and follow along.  Everyone eats the same, dresses the same, thinks the same.  Just NO.  Books seem to have fallen into that category too, where everyone reads the same thing because someone on Youtube or Tiktok or whatever, said that it's the IT book of the month.  Nope, not interested.  So I plan on reading more, but reading more good, homey, old, classic beautifully written books

I have many more ins and outs that I could list, but I would end up being here forever, so this will do for now.  I am excited for the new year and will probably do a look back at the end of 2025, to see how many of these ins and outs I actually stuck to.

{ Snow Day }

Once a year, we get a good snowfall here in North Texas.  It's not ever something huge, except for February a few years back where we got that huge debilitating snowstorm, that practically brought the entire state of Texas to a halt.

 

But, at least once a year, and usually around March, we get some snow.  

 

It arrived early this time, due to a cold front and a winter storm that is hitting quite a few states, at the moment.  Now I know that traveling and driving in snow is no fun, I did plenty of it back in Idaho, but I love snow days, love snow, love how it makes everything look so magical and as if you are living in a real winter wonderland. 

 

Kaia of course loved it, and the minute we opened that back door, she was running, doing zoomies, eating snow and just having the best time of her life.  

 

I always enjoy watching our pets being happy.  It brings me so much joy when I can see joy in others, even if it's in our dog running in the snow.

 

Or the birds in the yard enjoying the snowflakes coming down too, as they fly back and forth between the trees and our fence.  Remember when I used to take a lot of bird photos?  Back when we were stationed in Arizona I went through a phase where I was just obsessed with bird photos, and spent so much time outdoors just watching them, snapping pics and enjoying their presence.

 

I miss that, and I think it's something I need to add to my goals for this coming year.

 

The snow has continued to come down, steadily, never stopping.  Sometimes fast with tiny flakes, sometimes slow with huge flakes that look like cotton balls falling from the sky.

 

The earth tends to take on a quiet mode, everything is silent, and you can literally hear the snow falling on the ground.  It's definitely one of my favorite things, and I know I say that a lot but I do seem to have a lot of favorite things don't I?

 

Guess that's not a bad thing.  It means I love my life and really do try to enjoy every moment, every detail around me. 

 

It's been a wonderful day of quiet reflection, bible reading, laying on the bed with my fur babies and just relaxing.

I did make a yogurt banana bread with white chocolate chips, and yes, I had a slice.  A single slice and now I get to just look at it and wish I could have more, but I won't.  Hahahah

Also made a delicious pork roast, just like my great grandma Ema used to make.  Isn't it amazing that you can take bite out of specific type of food and immediately be transporter back in time.?  Just like music, food has a way of cementing memories within us that stay forever.

Wherever you are, I hope you are safe and warm through these snowstorms.  

I do want to end this by praying for the state of California.  I pray that rain comes forth to help stop the fires.  I pray God's hand calms the winds and I pray for every single person who has lost their home, for every pet and animal who is just as scared, probably even more so without understanding what is happening.  I pray for the firefighters and all the emergency personnel putting their lives at risk to help others.  We can't do much other than pray, but prayer is so important and remember that where two or more gather in His name, He is there with us.

{ When God starts working through you }

 

I am in absolute shock and awe at the moment.  Pure overwhelming, awe, love, thanksgiving and amazement at God and what He does.

I always heard that when you start having a close relationship with God, that He will sometimes work through you.  He will use you to minister to someone, to send a message, to tell someone something they really needed to hear.  It hadn't happened to me yet, but this afternoon, at my doctor's appointment no less, He used me, gave me the words and helped me minister and encourage my gynecologist.  Unbelievable!

I had mentioned that I was nervous and anxious, as I always am for these appointments, let's be honest, it's not something that any woman likes doing.  It's scary, it's uncomfortable, awkward and seems to instill this fear in you of what could possibly go wrong or be wrong.

My biggest thing has always been the breast exam.  For some reason that just freaks me out more than even a pap smear.

I had been in prayer the past week, because my previous doctor who I absolutely loved, left the beginning of last year, so by the time my appointment rolled around in November, I had a new doctor.  

When I went for that appointment, I was so nervous and though she was very sweet, I felt that she was a bit rough with the breast exam.  I know they have to check and prod and poke but she was pushing super hard, I felt like I was sore for days after.  I didn't want that to be a repeat, and so I had been praying over that.  Turned out that I didn't even need to do the breast exam.  Apparently they are no longer being used if you are low risk and are up to date with mammograms.  I don't know, but right there a huge relief washed over me.

She proceeded to do my pap smear and pelvic exam, everything was fine, and then we were doing the final chat, you know when they tell you everything is fine, what and if they need you to do as a follow up, like my routine blood work, and she also wants me to get my colonoscopy done.  (I have been putting that off forever, but it needs doing).

She commented on how amazing I looked, how much younger and healthier, she was shocked that I had lost 45 pounds, and was genuinely so happy for me.  

I was telling her what a blessing this whole blood work had turned out to be, because even though I was upset at first, if she hadn't sent me for the blood work, and my triglycerides hadn't show a slight increase, I never would have started this health journey.  She was a blessing in disguise, and the results of the test were a blessing from God too because it gave me the push I needed to get healthy.

At this point, I started feeling the tears pooling in my eyes.  I tried very hard to not cry, but I couldn't help it, and I started crying and before I knew it, she had moved her stool next to me, and was crying herself.  I then started feeling this immense need to minister to her, to talk to her about God and I am not a person to do that at all.  I am quite shy in public.

It was an internal struggle for a minute or two, the holy spirit pushing me and me essentially going "nuh uh, I'm not saying anything."  And then it happened, before I knew it, it just started pouring out of me.  I told her that God loved her, and she began bawling, she grabbed me and hugged me so tight, just sobbing, and I continued to tell her that He loves her, she's an incredible doctor and such a blessing not only to me, but to her other patients.  I don't know why I was saying these things, I have no clue, but she pulled back and through tears said "Oh my God, you don't know how much I need to hear that today, how much I needed that today.  I've had a horrible year, lost so much that was dear to me, and felt like I wasn't doing right in anything.  I have been praying to God to please shine some light, to help me, to let me know that I'm on the right path, that I'm helping my patients, and you come and stand here and give me exactly what I was asking to hear."

Needless to say, there was more hugging and crying.  At one point the holy spirit prompted me to wipe her tears from her face and when I tell you all, that it was almost like it wasn't even me, it was surreal.  I again didn't want to do it, but my hand came up and slowly wiped away her tears and continued to tell her that it's going to be ok, that no matter what she faced last year, that this year is going to be amazing, she's got so much to give, and she is going to do amazing things.  I told her that sometimes God allows us to go through tough situations to mold us into the people He wants us to be, to be better versions of ourselves, to move us out of places and things that no longer work for us. 

 

Before I knew it, she asked if we could pray.  She held both my hands really tight, and prayed, such a beautiful heartfelt prayer.

 

In that moment, I thanked God so much for what He had just done for me and through me.  I have always wanted to have a doctor who is a Christian, who loves God like I do and is not afraid to show it.  And now to have a doctor who is all that, but then prays with me right there in the exam room.

 

I wasn't even dressed guys, this is what makes it even crazier.  I was still in my gown, with my little white sheet over my bottom half.  Essentially naked, and God used me to lift her up and give her the words she needed.

 

When she said goodbye, she told she was going to have the best day, and that seeing the rest of her patients was going to be so wonderful, because she felt she had a purpose again and was doing what God wants her to do.  She left the room with these words to me "I love you sister and I thank God for bringing you to me.  When I first saw you today, I could tell you were different than last year, not just physically but I just felt and saw a light coming from you."

 

Wow!!!!  Just no words!!!  I left that hospital in tears, tears of joy and awe, of shock of what had just happened,  of so much love, so so much more love for God, I can't even put into words the love and the gratitude I have for Him. 

 

There is no bigger compliment than to have someone tell you that they see light shining through you, even if we don't see it ourselves.  To see Jesus in you, to feel closer to God because of you.  That is the most incredible joy anyone can feel.

I wish more than anything that I could somehow transmit to you what I feel and what I experienced today.  If this has happened to you before, you will understand exactly what I'm feeling, but if it hasn't, and if you don't know God, I encourage you to seek Him tonight, right now.  Stop what you're doing, and seek Him, He is waiting with open arms, ready to welcome you and to work on a relationship with you.

Being a Christian is not easy, you go through a lot, you are tested, you are put through the wringer, and some people find that enough reason to not want a relationship with God.  But, if you actually have that closeness and that bond, it is the most powerful, most wonderful most beyond words blessing you could ever have.

Open your Bible, read, get to know Him, don't waste anymore time.

This is an experience that will forever stay with me, it will live etched in my soul forever.  I wish the same for you, truly, I really really do.

 

Let me know if you've been through a similar experience, I would love to hear all about it.

{ Cold days }

It's been so cold here. The temperatures have dropped due to the cold front and snow incoming tomorrow night, but the wind chill makes it so much worse, actually dipping us into negative temperatures.  Not exactly weather that makes you want to leave your house.

 

Mornings have been spent getting the fire started, enjoying my coffee sitting on the couch, in the darkness with nothing but light from the flames and the fairy lights on the fireplace. It really makes for a magical atmosphere and sets the tone for the rest of the day. 

 

I do have a doctor's appointment tomorrow afternoon, thankfully before the snow storm rolls in later in the night.  I wish I didn't have to go out for that either, but it has to be done.  If you could send a little prayer my way too, I would appreciate it.  It's just the yearly women's well check, but I've noticed that as I get older, my anxiety when it comes to health or doctor appointments, is incredible.  It drives me crazy!

 

I know everything is fine, but it's also an appointment that is so uncomfortable and awkward, I always just cringe when it's time for it to come around.  Just praying for a good appointment and for me not to get so nervous.

 

It's actually so bad that my doctor told me last year that I apparently seem to now have White Coat Anxiety, which means my blood pressure is perfect except for when I am at the doctor's office, then it shoots up and they have to take it 2 or 3 times to get the right reading, because the first reading is always super high.  Crazy!

I've really grown to enjoy a cup of hot coffee or tea in the afternoons.  Sometimes with a little cookie, sometimes just on it's own.  

My absolute favorite cookie ever is a shortbread.  I am nuts for shortbread cookies, just there is no other cookie that comes even close, matter of fact, I may not have mentioned this before, but I am not a fan of cookies, they can sit in the cookie jar forever and I just won't even think about having any.

But give me a good shortbread cookie and all common sense flies out the window.

One of my Christmas gifts from my Jasmine, was this M&S Cookie Tin from England, filled with Scottish Shortbread, and oh my.  Ohhhhhh my!   Healthy lifestyle be darned, because I could not stop eating those.  They are gone, not even a crumb left.

 

In the tin now sit my McVitie's Digestive Biscuits.  The closest thing I can relate them to, would be a yummy graham cracker.  So good!

I've been sitting here doing my Bible Reading, taking notes and reading my devotional.  At the minute, I am enjoying a hot cup of Decaf Green Tea with Honey.  My stomach is a bit off, not sure what I ate, but it's very noisy and bubbly and just basically getting on my nerves.  I'm hoping the green tea calms it down.

 

Here shortly I need to go and put Kaia's chicken in the oven.  I always buy a big pack of chicken legs and roast them in the oven with just a tiny sprinkle of salt and either turmeric or a little oregano.  Not much at all, just the tiniest of sprinkles to give it a little taste.  That usually lasts her all week long, I add some plain white rice, and then it gets mixed with her kibble.  

 

I also need to get dinner started and all the evening routines etc.  

I may need to start another fire, but we need to chop more wood as our pile is dwindling and I don't want to use it up before Thursday when we are really going to need it.  We have some weather reports indicating that between Thursday and Friday we may see up to 12 inches.  

That is a lot for Texas, but we did have that huge snow storm a few years ago that dumped so much snow on us I felt like I woke up in Alaska somewhere.  

Anyway, enough babbling.  Dinner will be a Turkish Pasta, thank you Mary for the recipe you left in the comments too, I'm going to save it.  

Have a fantastic night friends and God Bless.

{ Happy Homemaker Monday - 01/06/2025 }

 

Good morning dear friends.

 

It is the very first Happy Homemaker Monday of 2025.  Routine and normal schedules are back in place, I just saw hubby off to work after two weeks at home, and as much as we enjoyed that time off, we were both ready to get back to normal life.  

 

It is a very cold morning here in Texas, we are under a cold front bringing freezing temperatures and some snow further on into the week.  Welcome Winter!

 

Anyway, I hope you all have a blessed week ahead and thank you for still being here, all these years later.

 

*** The weather in my neck of the woods*** 

Very cold at the moment, and getting colder as we speak. 

 

Monday - Sunny to partly cloudy,  38

Tuesday - Mostly cloudy, 37

Wednesday - Cloudy, 38

Thursday - Snow, 32

Friday - Cloudy, 39

Saturday - Sunny, 43 

Sunday - Partly cloudy, 46

 

 

 *** Things that make me happy ***

My sweet pets.  Just sitting down with them near me.  There is such a huge unconditional love from our babies to us, and sometimes we overlook that.      

 

 

*** Book I'm reading *** 

Currently doing The Bible Recap with Tara-Leigh Cobble, reading the Bible chronologically.  I've read the entire Bible 2 years ago, and wanted to start again, and then came across The Bible Recap through Candace Cameron Bure on Instagram and thought "This is exactly what I want to do".  Loving it so far, check it out if you're interested in joining in. 

 

 Women of the West series, by Janette Oke. I just finished the first book in the series, The Calling of Emily Evans. 

 

  

*** What's on my tv today *** 

YouTube

I have been finding a lot of European vloggers (UK, Scotland, Ireland, Norway, etc. ) and have been enjoying following them. 

 

Great American Pure Flix

When Hope Calls Christmas

 

Hallmark

New season of When Calls the Heart started last night, so very excited for that. 

 

*** On the breakfast plate *** 

On my second cup of coffee, don't know why but really need it today.  Cinnamon Raisin Bagel with Cream cheese. 

 

 

*** On the lunch plate *** 

Chickpea tuna salad 

 

 

*** On the dinner plate *** 

Chicken Tava with Mashed Potatoes and Steamed broccoli

 

 

*** On the menu *** 

Monday

Chicken Tava with Mashed Potatoes and Steamed broccoli

Tuesday 

Pork Roast with Buttered Rice and Salad

Wednesday 

Turkish Pasta with Sauteed Cabbage

Thursday

Winter Minestrone Soup, Grilled Cheese and Ham

Friday

Tortilla Pizzas

Saturday

Fend for yourself

Sunday

Gnocchi Bolognese, Garlic Bread, Salad

*** On my to do list *** 

Today:

Change bed linens

Workout

Get my 10k steps in

Pay Bills

 

This week:

Women's Yearly appointment on Wednesday

Clean out and organize hallway closet

Gym workout Saturday and Sunday

 

*** New Recipe I tried or want to try *** 

This week I'll be trying the Turkish Pasta that I mentioned last week.  Hoping to share that with you all.

    

 

*** What I am creating ***

Moving along on the Nordic Winter Afghan.  Really want to finish it so that I can use it this Winter. 

 

Working on cleaning out and redoing some of the closets in the home, to start the year off organized.

 

*** No words needed (favorite photo or picture) *** 

Sir Elliott ♥   I sure love this sweet boy.  Never in a million years did I ever imagine having a cat, and loving said cat.  Never been a cat person, but am so in love with this sweet boy.  God always knows what we want and need, even when we don't.

 

 

 

*** Devotional, Prayers, Bible Verses *** 

Today's verse: 

Do not judge, or you too will be judged. - Matthew 7:1 NIV   

{ Saturday January 4, 2025 }

We have had a cold front coming in and it has been dropping the temperatures drastically.

After the gym yesterday, we came back home and after my usual shower, I had some lunch and then spent quite a while, in front of the fire with my current book.

This pictures is from back in December, but it perfectly shows what my day was like yesterday, so I thought I would share it again.

I have been finding such joy and contentment in sitting by the fire, and reading, with a cup of coffee or tea nearby.  The world around me seems to disappear, and I am sucked into the current book, fully immersed in the story.

Does that happen to you too?

When you read do you also tend to focus on the book and then suddenly it seems like you are no longer in your own home, but are wherever the story has taken you?  Isn't it incredible how our minds work?

I'm hoping this year will be another full on reading year, with lots of books, fire side cups of tea, and a slowed down way of living.

{ A slow start to the year }

This year hits different for me.

 

I've always been a person who gets super anxious at the end of a year and beginning of a new one, mainly because I get this sense of impending doom, not knowing what is coming, what is going to happen, will we all still be here at the end?  It's unnerving and I absolutely despise that feeling.

 

Also, the feeling of needing to change things, needing to be better, do better.  

 

This time it is different.  I mentioned in a previous post that I wasn't feeling that anxious and had decided to just embrace the new year and go with it.  But, I also don't feel that need to change this or that, rather I feel the need to continue.  Continue being healthy, continue doing what I've been doing, continue leaning into God and His word.  

 

I think maybe my word for this year may just be CONTINUE!

 

My mornings have been slow, of course we are still in this holiday limbo, and I don't know about you all but I'm so ready to get out of this season and into the normal routines and schedules.  

Everything feels a bit discombobulated at the moment, there is no routine, there is not set time for anything, there's far too much eating of stuff we shouldn't, you know the drill, I think we're all in that little bubble at the moment.

As much as I have enjoyed having Curt home for the past two weeks, the time with family, the food, and the laughter, the slow mornings and naps in the afternoons, I am yearning for a stricter routine.  I need it.

How beautiful is my boy Elliott?  I often sit in wonder that God would bring us this gorgeous boy, who was a wild kitty, abandoned by his mother.  I don't think I've ever seen such a gorgeous wild cat.  And what a blessing that he is ours ♥

I don't have much to share with you today, but that's ok, remember I said I would love to try and post every day, even if just sharing a photo or something I'm doing?  Well here's me doing just that.

So you get a photo of my yummy morning oatmeal, which has been my go to for a while.  When I enjoy a certain breakfast I tend to stick with it and can eat it, for many many days, without getting sick of it.  That's a good thing I think.

Just going to finish this post off with some of my plants.  When I think back of years gone by where I killed every plant I ever owned, I am shocked that I am able to have so many now, and such beautiful ones too.

Many of these have been gifted to me from Curt's cousin Cindy.  Her husband Ed loves plants, grows so many and is always sweet enough to share cuttings with family.  Knowing I adore plants too, I always get some new ones.  

You may notice the one on the far left of the picture has a bag underneath, well that's because I need to move it to a bigger pot and get it settled.  Actually looking at the picture now, the only one that doesn't need a new bigger pot is the big one on the right.  The others all need new homes, and that's on my agenda for either this weekend or Monday.

I also worked on my Nordic Winter Afghan a bit more.  I really want to get that blanket off the hook and onto my lap, this winter.  It's an easy blanket to make and works up pretty quickly, but I just haven't had the time.  Hoping to change that in the next few days/weeks.

I hope you've all had a blessed Friday.  Tomorrow and Sunday are gym days for us, although, with hubby home this week, we've gotten in a lot more gym time.  Last week we went twice during the week and then the weekend too, and this week we've already gone 3 times, and then 2 more this weekend, so overall, we are doing well.

Will see you all back tomorrow, right here, with a cup of hot coffee and no doubt some more babbling posts.

{ Reading Goals for January }

Hello, hello, welcome to the second day of January 2025.

 

You may be shocked to see another post from me, the third in a row.  Yes it's me, I haven't been hacked by a good blogger who posts all the time (hahah).  It really is me.  

 

I want to get back into my old way of blogging and I really want to try to do that this year.  As I mentioned in my previous post, there are a few things that I want to do and stick to, and one of those is definitely taking the time to post more frequently, to share my memories and to be more present in my little corner of blogland.

 

Slowing down and stepping away from social media, albeit not completely, but cutting back on posting and wasting so much time online, for me, means getting back to who I really am.  The girl that loves to cook and bake, read and crochet, sew and take photographs.  That's who I really am and that's who I want to continue to be.

 

I think I've just reached a time in my life, now that I am 50, that I have zero patience for nonsense, and don't want to give energy to things that don't bring me joy, or contribute to my well being.

 

Anyway, all that just to say that I am planning on blogging more.  I've told myself that I don't have to rush back and do huge, long written posts, that it's ok to do smaller little things, as long as I'm putting in the effort here on the blog.  So we will see!

 

Now, I want to just talk to you about my reading goals for January.  

I decided that instead of having a huge pile of books for the whole year, I would break it into months and strive for a certain amount of books each month.  I also want to try and do themed months, where I read a different kind of genre, or a specific author.

 

With that in mind, my pick for January is Janette Oke, who is without a doubt, one of my favorite book authors.  I love the way she writes, I love her stories, her characters, the settings and the sweet family oriented books.  

 

They're just good family books that I so enjoy reading.  I actually wish all her books were made into TV series, not just Where the Heart Is.  Maybe one day, right?

 

Even though she has a few series, I picked her Women of the West series for my first reading choice.  I am just missing the last 3, but they are on the way from Thriftbooks.

 

Women of the West is a series of standalone novels; each one dealing with a different woman living in the west and her relationship with God.

 

Book 1 - The Calling of Emily Evans

Book 2 - Julia's Last Hope

Book 3 - Roses for Mama

Book 4 - A woman named Damaris

Book 5 - They called her Mrs. Doc

Book 6 - The Measure of a Heart 

Book 7 - A Bride for Donnigan

Book 8 - Heart of the Wilderness

Book 9 - Too Long a Stranger

Book 10 - The Bluebird and the Sparrow

Book 11 - A Gown of Spanish Lace

Book 12 - Drums of Change

 

I am not sure that I will get to the whole series in the month of January, but that is what I'm shooting for.  However, if I don't make it, I will just shift them to the month of February, which is not a problem at all.

Looking at the list, I think I might break them in half, and read the first 6 books this month and then move the next 6 to February.  

 

I am also starting my Bible from the beginning again.  I have read it completely from Genesis to Revelation, I think 2 years ago, and loved it so much, that I've decided it's time to do it again.

I thought I would just go again straight from the beginning to the end, but then I remembered that a couple of years ago I purchased the Chronological Tour Through the Bible by Ron Rhodes.  After praying about it, I felt that I should do that instead, so that is what I'll do.

The Ron Rhodes book is a kind of Bible Study, read along, which takes us through the whole Bible in chronological order, breaking it into sections.  I'm quite excited to read it this way and I'll definitely share more on it as I go.

 

For devotional, I have once again picked up one of my favorites, which is The New Morning Mercies by Paul David Tripp.  It is such a wonderful devotional series.

What are your reading plans for 2025, do you plan on reading more, not reading at all, do you have books picked out or are you more of a read whatever you pick up at the moment, kind of girl?

Would love to know, and if you want to share what you're currently reading, or plan on reading soon, I would like that very much too.

Have a blessed rest of Thursday!