Daily Jots

Britt and I have gotten into the habit of going for a walk each morning. It’s cold and I hate it, but I’m kind of glad that we did. No one else seems to be out and yesterday we stopped at one of our neighborhood parks and we had it all to ourselves. We sat on a bench, watched the clouds for a while and even checked out the playground equipment.

When was the last time you actually sat on one of those bouncy animals and not felt like an idiot? Luckily there was no one around lol…

Don’t know what I’m going to do when my landscaping daughter goes back to work in the spring. I’m kind of liking the company!

If you are trying to watch your budget, buying now, might now be the best idea. All of your decorating needs are going to be at full price. But I came across this article just a few minutes ago and it makes perfect sense. You simply go through your house and use what you already have. And you might be thinking right about now that you have nothing that would work. After reading through these ideas, you might be pleasantly surprised. Here’s just a snipit…

“As the sunny summer fades out and we enter autumn, it’s time to give your home a look that captures the spirit of the season, adding spice and warmth to your home in a simple, natural way. Whether you’re spreading pumpkins and gourds around your kitchen or porch, or adorning your sofa with soft, warm blankets, you’ll find that it’s small touches that go a long way when decorating for the fall.

This year look to the outdoor autumn world for inspiration when you decorate. Why go out and buy plastic decorations when you can find almost everything you need right in nature? Let’s face it, some Halloween decorations can be downright gaudy. Not only will do-it-yourself decorating save you money, but the look you achieve will be more natural, refined, and last in your home long after Halloween has passed. Plus, you can tap into your creativity with hands-on decorating, a fun way to get you into the fall spirit. Get outside and take this opportunity to enjoy the outdoors before the cold of winter moves in.”

Seasonal Notebooks: Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring

More Ways to Decorate

Unless your family is huge, holidays can be few and far between. That’s why I particularly like these weird holidays that I try to track down for you every day. But if for some reason, the day’s holiday doesn’t work for you, simply go out and make up one of your own. For example, as I look out the window, the view almost takes your breath away. The colors aren’t this intense quite yet, but the trees are beginning to turn so we could celebrate “Indian Summer Day”. And for dinner I could look up some native recipes to serve. If nothing else, I could always whip up a batch of bannock to go with homemade soup.

“Here’s a set of plans for a pair of bird feeders that can be made from the scraps left over from other jobs. Whether you’re feeding birds for the winter or attracting them to your yard in the spring, these feeders are a great way to recycle your shop scraps. This also makes a great project to share with a child. You can use the project to teach a child some basic woodworking skills with an emphasis on shop and tool safety.”

Well, chances are that maybe even I could put this together. It looks easy enough!

Directions

This morning I was awakened at 7:20 by the sounds of dump trucks and bull dozers in my side yard. Yes, it is our turn to have our garden graded. Unfortunately, I was in a deep sleep and not quiet ready to face the day.

So, I could either be in a mood for the entire day, or simply look out the window in anticipation of what lay ahead. I can’t believe that I’m saying this, but it actually looks as if it is going to be a gorgeous day! It’s quiet (other than the dump trucks) and it’s kind of warm and misty. And by the end of the week, I will probably have a garden area I can use.

I guess life is all about how you look at something.

“Hummingbird feeders make an excellent backup when your flowers are not in bloom. They are also great to have if you don’t have a place to plant flowers. Even if you do have flowers they will feed from feeders. And you can draw them right in close so you can get a real good look at ‘em.”

How these gorgeous little guys can exist on sugar water is beyond me, but they seem to do quite well on the stuff. I wonder what else they eat?? Okay I just looked it up…

“Nectar also contains very small amounts of protein, and sodium and potassium salts. However, hummingbirds get most of their protein by eating small insects for a short time each day.”

And yes, stretched out on a lawn chair relaxing and watching these gorgeous little birds is good for the soul. But I also slathered on the sunblock. I don’t even want to think about the sunburn possibilities this past week.

Read On
More on Hummingbirds

“In a world dominated by computers and TV, it’s easy to overlook the most wondrous classroom of all: the great outdoors.”

Dominated by computers?? Okay, I haven’t left the house yet today, but we do go for a walk each evening and it is amazing what is out there if you just go exploring. Luckily for me, I haven’t spotted one snake. I just know that I shouldn’t have said that!

And if you think that you have to be a kid to have fun outside, you are in for a treat!

And it might be a good idea if you take along something like this. It can hold your cell phone and whatever else you need… especially if you are exploring on your own!

And just in case you are wondering… I have had a workman free day!! :)

Source

“Summer’s back with a vengeance, and you want to keep your cool without breaking the bank — or causing another blackout. Don’t despair — air-conditioning isn’t the only answer! Whether you don’t have A/C or are trying to save energy (and money!), these 10 tips will stop you from overheating. ”

Personally, I love the heat, but I know a lot of people who can’t tolerate it, so this list will come in extremely handy. My little tidbit of advice… dress with the heat in mind. If you are wearing a long sleeve shirt and pants, is it any wonder that you are hot?? You can easily cool down without the air conditioner… and then there is that pool that I’m after. Ice cream is good too!
;)

Ten Tips

I know I keep finding bags I like, but this one just popped out at me. I love it! It would hold just about everything I need for a day at the beach… which might not be a good thing as I tend to get carried away! :)

And today of all days, I could certainly use a relaxing day at the beach. Sometimes Mondays are just horrid!!

Thoughts for Today…
Prayers
Thoughts on Relaxing
Reviews
Song Lyrics
Thoughts on Spiritual

Now is this gorgeous or what? There is just something about lightning storms that fascinate me! If I had my choice, I would love to live on a cliff somewhere overlooking the ocean. What storms I could see with that view!

Now thunder for some reason scares me big time. Just hate the noise, but something that can kill you… doesn’t bother me in the least!

I tried to look for a quote about lightning, but nothing seemed to speak of the magnificence of something that is here one moment and gone the next. If you know of one I sure would love to add it to my collection! :)