March 14, 2013

March Daybook: Savannah Edition

For Today ( make sure you join the fun! Participate over at The Simple Woman's Daybook Blog!)

March 14, 2013
Outside my window... a beautiful, even though it's a little chilly, Savannah morning! I am thinking...about what project I need to begin. I feel a painting coming on, but I'm not sure where to start.
I am thankful...for friends. It's so true that friends are the family you choose. I am so blessed to have a friend who was willing to pick me up, then drive me to South Carolina when I didn't have another way to make it to see my grandmother on her 86th birthday. Thank you, Deanna!
In the kitchen...I made grits this morning! It's the first time Mary and Deanna have had what I call REAL Southern grits. They enjoyed them, so breakfast was a success!
I am wearing...jammies! Lay-around-and-be-lazy days are awesome.
I am creating...well, just writing right now. My brain is stewing something up, though.
I am going...nowhere unless I feel like it!
I am wondering... Oh, I am always wondering - well, worrying - about what's happening next. I try and try to live in the moment, but my pre-planning gene is too active sometimes!
I am reading... Spirited: Unlock Your Psychic Self and Change Your Life by Rebecca Rosen, Samantha Rose
I am hoping... to keep up with my "training". I found three or four FIRM workouts that I love, so I hope I can keep gaining strength (and eventually see pounds come off. They weren't kidding; after 30 it's so much harder!)
I am looking forward to... seeing what else we get into while I'm here in Savannah!
I am learning... to take every single thing moment by moment. Still. You'd think that lesson was easier to grasp.
Around the house...sleeping puppies. It's so cute when they dream and snore!
I am pondering...nothing deep. Just thinking about another cup of coffee.
A favorite quote for today... "Isn't it funny how, day by day nothing changes, but when you look back, everything is different." ~C.S. Lewis
One of my favorite things...spending time with friends!
A few plans for the rest of the week: The plan this week is to make no plans! It's a do-whatever kind of thing!
A peek into my day...well, this was from yesterday, but it still made my day. My best friends Deanna and Mary took me up to Aiken, SC for the day so I wouldn't miss visiting my grandmother for her 86th birthday! Not only did it make my day, but it was the best present they could have given her (her words!). I love this shot of her blowing out her candles. Nothing better than a day full of family and friends!
I will always cherish this shot! She was so happy when I made it to visit for her birthday, and then we were surprised again with a big family crowd for her birthday lunch! She said "I've had a wonderful day ever since my feet it the floor!"

January 2, 2013

Welcoming the New Year!

Welcome, 2013!

The New Year is always a crazy time of change for me for some reason. Some of it might be the sudden halt we skid to after the build up of the holidays ever since October. I suspect the rest of it is the huge anticipation of the year to come, not to mention looking back on what I may not have accomplished.

We always put so much pressure on ourselves to stick to resolutions! I haven't officially made any, but you know I have things in mind I want to change, make better, learn...insert any word you want there, really. SO, instead of stressing (like I am usually prone to do) I decided to start my blogging year off with The Simple Woman's Daybook; it always makes me slow down and appreciate the little things. (If you want to participate, make sure you click the link!)

FOR TODAY - January 2, 2012

Outside my window... it's already getting dark! I can't believe how late it feels, but I'm glad it isn't cold. I am so thankful I moved to Florida!

I am thinking... I am really hard on myself, even though I am better than I used to be. Why is it so hard to be nice to yourself?

I am thankful...for my loving husband, Rob. It doesn't matter what is going on in my day, he always knows just what to do to make me feel better. That means the world to me.

In the kitchen...thawing out some chicken for dinner. I don't know how I'm going to top Rob's BBQ grilled pork chops from yesterday though!

I am wearing...my jammies, still. Ah, the luxuries of being a house wife, huh? Yeah, I don't do it every day, so don't judge!

I am creating... undue anxiety for myself. I always feel pushed to get paintings started so they will be closer to a finish point. I always rush myself to learn new things faster than humanly possible. This year, I will really work on allowing myself to be human.

I am going... to keep on trying, even if I don't get it right the first time. Or the fifth. Everyone was a beginner at some point.

I am wondering... which project to start first!

I am reading... Discover Your Psychic Type by Sherrie Dillard and Spirited by Rebecca Rosen

I am hoping... to find being more assertive easier than I anticipate.

I am looking forward to... learning more about my new camera. I've only had it since Christmas, so I'm being too hard on myself about not knowing everything I think I should.

I am learning... to give myself time and space. I'm also learning to slow down and teach myself that I don't have to finish a project in one day, or do something "right the first time." It's hard to remember that life is about learning, so mistakes happen.

Around the house...ugh. I have post holiday clean up waiting on me. Why does laundry multiply exponentially during the holidays?

I am pondering...which photography course to take first. I'm pretty excited about starting this new journey! If you have a suggestion, please share!

A favorite quote for today... Those who wish to sing always find a song. ~Swedish Proverb

One of my favorite things... a warm cup of French Vanilla coffee on the couch with my cats snuggled around me. Nothing much better than that!

A few plans for the rest of the week: in an effort to live in the moment, I'm not going to make any hard plans!

A peek into my day...  I'm learning how to do some interesting things with my new camera. I love the Bokeh effect, so I tried and tried, and I think I finally got the basics down! Now if I could just get my beach pictures in focus...