Simple Woman's Daybook

 

For Today…Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Outside my window... The air looks clear and the sun is just behind the mountains.  The snow in my yard is just on the edges. And although there is a chance of snow showers today I am confident it will probably melt.

 
I am wearing... a gray long-sleeved shirt and on top of that a dark maroon scoop neck warm top.  I have on gray jeans and my Uggs on my feet.  I am ready for another lovely cold day here in the west.

I am creating…little paper purses to give four friends this morning to illustrate the importance of using their money wisely.

I am going... to lunch with a friend then to the four neighbors with my lunch friend.  Tonight there is an Artisan Bread class I will be attending.  I will be going to a local TV station with my daughter on Thursday and begin my gym membership training with a personal trainer from the club on Friday.

I am reading... A town Like Alice by Nevile Shute that I obtained from the library this week.

I am hoping... that Spring comes early this year.

 
On my mind... how flowers brighten the day and lift my spirit.  I bought a bouquet from the grocery store with chartreuse spider mums, white roses and red carnations. (Probably left over from Valentines)  I immediately took the red carnations out and put them in their own vase with the baby's breath.  That vase is in my bedroom.  The others are on my kitchen table and I am enjoying them every day as I watch the roses come into bloom.  I think it is a lesson in patience--watching the flowers blooming and waiting for spring to come.

 
From the learning rooms… studying the scriptures more intently.

Noticing that... we are in the last week of February and wondering where the month has gone.  Does time go by faster the older you get?

 
Pondering these words... "I often think in music.  I live my daydreams in music.  I see my life in terms of music"  Albert Einstein    I was so surprised when I read this quote.  I thought it would be from someone like Beethoven or Bach.  It would have been interesting to know Mr. Einstein and find out just how this music, which must have been such a part of him, how it influenced his great inventions and life.

From the kitchen… I have a roast beef and also pork tenderloins that I will cook today.  I think the roast will be with the usual potatoes and carrots but I think I will make a mustard sauce for the tenderloins.  It makes me hungry just writing about it but I just had my oatmeal so I am not that hungry!

Around the house... since I vacuumed yesterday I just have to change the sheets and clean the guest bedroom from having a house guest last week.  I am trying to keep things tidier than I usually do.  It makes me feel good to have things picked up and in their own places.

One of my favorite things... finding a bargain!
A few plans for the rest of the week: making invitations for a church birthday party, the bread class, the TV show, and possibly a trip to my sister's.

 
From my picture journal...My beautiful granddaughter on her 14th Birthday which was Sunday.

If you would like to join us in The Simple Woman's Daybook, please see Peggy for details.

California Dreamin'

The Simple Woman's Daybook that I usually do on Mondays has been moved to Tuesdays so today I will show pictures of my recent trip to CA.  It has been a week since I got back and to be honest I have been a little depressed having come from Spring everywhere you look to very brown and gray here at home.  But, I will buck up and put on my happy face and pretend happiness!  Come with me as I show you what I saw.  I must show you the beautiful green hills first.

I think there is nothing as beautiful as the bright chartreuse color, especially after so much rain in CA, that the hills right next to the main roads and freeway get in northern California.  I was so busy there that I didn't take time to get out of the car to photograph so these pics are from inside the car. (Ignore the bottom half of pics)
There is a place along the road that someone many years ago planted hundreds of daffodil bulbs so that as you drive along the freeway there is this beautiful yellow roadside.  They were just beginning to spring up.

 It is so nice to be with friends that you haven't seen for a while and make new ones.  So, we had a Valentine party and made of course, valentines!

 

 

As well as a cute musical pin to wear and learned how to make a banner too.

I

I loved talking to and catching up on each one's life.

  The weather was beautiful and fun was had by all. 

 A beautiful lunch was served on red and white tablecloths and all enjoyed being together.  I have the best friends!  Thank you Vicki and Angela for the luncheons.

One day on our way down to Pebble Beach we stopped at Wal-Mart where this cute little family were in the parking lot with a line of people backed up next to their truck.

 

    We found out they were selling homemade tamales from the back of their pick-up truck!  Of course, we were on an adventure so we made this part of it too.  They were hot and so delicious!

 The ocean was many shades of blue and refreshing just to see.

I love the charming shops of Carmel with all it's little alley ways, cobblestones and 

dutch doors to the cute shops.

 

  

And no matter what time of year you go to Carmel there are beautiful flowers everywhere.

In planter boxes.

In pots.

 

Or hanging on the side of the wall, they are beautiful.

Even the animals have taken on color it seems as we saw this poodle happily walking down the street in a coat of Bubble Gum pink!

 

We drove through Berkeley on our way back to the airport and stopped at this open Market selling beautiful fresh fruits and vegetables and specialty ethnic foods.  We bought a wonderful "sandwich" made of very thin tortilla-like bread filled with a spinach mixture that was just delicious.  Another filling was a pumpkin pesto that was good too.

Thanks for reliving my trip to CA with me and I hope Spring comes soon to your part of the country just as I am looking forward to the first tulip emerging here in a couple of months.

  Have a wonderful week!

Simple Woman's Daybook

Simple Woman's Daybook
For Today, February 15, 2010

Outside my window...beautiful dark blue and white mountains!

I am thinking...those mountains are going to look great soon as SPRING comes calling!

I am thankful for... a furnace that is working.  When I arrived home last night from California my house was 52 degrees!  Somehow my furnace had gone out!!  I am also thankful for my sweet son in law and his dad that came to my rescue and found the problem.  Heat at last.  (I don't do well without it!)

I am wearing...warm clothes of course, as usual.  Jeans, wool top and sweater (3 layers) .

I am remembering...what fun it was to be with my friends and have fun.

I am going...to get food, fill prescriptions, and sign up for gym membership. (Now the latter is in black and white, I am committed.  I have been dragging my feet on this since Christmas although it has been on my list every week.  It may take me until Friday to actually do it!)

I am currently reading...my mail that has been held while I was away.

I am hoping...to catch up on things that should have been done last week while I was away.

On my mind... try to get all the fake snow out of the containers on my mantel and put up SPRING with birds and green instead

Noticing that...little things around the house need attention.  Also laundry to do and bills to pay--the usual.

Pondering these words... "Your wings already exist.  All you have to do is fly"

From the kitchen...  feel like Old Mother Hubbard as mine is pretty bare today, hence the trip to the grocer.

Around the house...Just gathering up all the hearts and valentines, red and white and replacing them with GREEN;

One of my favorite things...FRIENDS and FAMILY

From my picture journal.

Spring is Coming!

What will you be doing this week?  I hope your week is perfect!