Happy Homemaker Monday

Welcome  to  New Year- 2020
Well, it is back to life as usual  here in the Mid-Atlantic.
We were  so fortunate to be able to spend Christmas in the Boston area with our daughter and family

 

I wanted so badly to be with them,  but the two day drive there and back  becomes more and more daunting. Oh, if we had the  road to ourselves it is manageable, but  the traffic and crazy drivers   makes for an exhausting ordeal.

But the kids love the hub bub of the city  and  we made several treks into town for church activities and other  wonderful adventures!

Historical Park Street Church candle lighting service 

 It was a grand way to    put a rubber stamp on  the  relatively good year of 2019.. Living in Virginia, I do not have such high hopes for the coming year  so I have   decided to  call this the year of 'Thanksgiving" as I purpose to  see God's hand  in all things and give Him the glory, as I pray for His will to be done!

Hosted by Sandra!

The weather outside is::::

Sunny and  warmer...The day began very wet and drear!

I really do not like such temperate  weather  in winter...  before long the insects will be hatching out again!!!

On the breakfast plate this morning::::

Hubs took us out  for  my favorite breakfast  since  I had no supper last night.. I showered and went to bed.
2 eggs over medium,  crisp bacon and  a gravy biscuit!  YUM!!

As I look outside my window:::

The colors are drab, but the sky is blue! The  wreaths  still  offer a cheery welcome!

Right now I am::::

Listening to Pandora..  O Holy Night by Mannheim Steamroller!!  Yes!!!

As I look around the house::::

Christmas is everywhere!!!!Love  abounds!!!  Although  we still need to unpack some bags that just got brought in and dropped yesterday!

On today's to do list::::

Out for breakfast  
marketing
  work on blog
 Doctor's appt( I had an episode with my knee  while we were away!  Bah Humbug!

On this week's to do list::::

After today I have nothing on the calendar  except Intercessors for America prayer group   later in the week!  Of course, we will welcome in the new year  but no formal plans as of yet!

On the menu this week::::

Tonight we will enjoy  a lovely pork loin and salad

Currently reading::::

Book of James~  Preparing for a new study in Sunday School 
I just finished Season of Love** by Debbie Macomber
and 12 Days at Bleakly Manor** by Michele Griep,  a  present from  Amanda  very good!!

New books I got for Christmas  to be read soon...
The Cotswolds Town and Village Guide
The Victorian Christmas Brides collection (9) stories


Loving God by Charles Colson


and a beautiful  and wonderful book  from Amanda
Beholding and Becoming
The Art of Everyday Worship  ,by Ruth Chou Simons


On the TV this week::::

Last week   Amanda and I actually went to the movies.  I had to knuckle under and purchase  a $5.00 bottle of water..  I was so thirsty!  But  we saw Little Women.  Best  version ever!!!

I also got to watch the movie Downton Abbey on Prime...  just like  visiting with old friends!
Last night in bed I enjoyed Charlie Brown's Christmas, The Christmas Train,  and The Polar Express.  I have no idea  about this week.. Hope for something good! 

What I am creating at the moment::::

Organizing my new year's planner

Photo to share:::

Beautiful memories with our  family!

The girls both got   beautiful dolls 

 Amanda prepared  delectable   food, everything looked so festive!

Many story times took place on that sofa!! 

And Lady Bug turned 4 over the holidays! 
5 Guys  catered the dinner HEHEHEH!

When we left on Saturday,  the house was a wreck  so  sad to leave it  for poor  sweetheart, Amanda! 

but sad to  say my knee went out big time  on Thursday   and Amanda  went out and purchased my first came!  BAH! 

Hobbling around  travel plazas on the  interstates  across 6 states on the busiest   time of the year  was  daunting to say the least!  Took  a lot of humility I can tell you that!!

Prayers, Inspirational Quotes or Devotionals::::

           Praying for  health, vitality, purpose,  obedience  to  do what needs to be done, especially  leg and core exercises, happiness, 

and attention to the  important things in life.. God, His word, and Commands in serving others!

    

Happy Homemaker Monday

Hosted by Sandra!

The weather outside is::::

Sunny and  warmer...yayaya

On the breakfast plate this morning::::

2 hard boiled eggs and a  piece of toast with cherry jam!!

As I look outside my window:::

It is very still and sunny out today

Right now I am::::

Listening to the Piano Guys  playing God Rest You Merry Gentlemen

and working on my blog after a bit of a break!

As I look around the house::::

Christmas is everywhere!!!!Love  abounds!!!

On today's to do list::::

do some errands and  meet  folks  for dinner!!

On this week's to do list::::

Prep for Christmas
Go to  Honey Ham to purchase some ham

Celebrate

On the menu this week::::

The Spirit if Christmas will  move us through the week  as  it  deems  appropriate!!!

Currently reading::::

Book of James~  Preparing for a new study in Sunday School 
A New Debbie Macomber  novel for  the holiday!

On the TV this week::::

nothing this week!

What I am creating at the moment::::

A music play list for  Christmas!!

Photo to share:::

Beautiful memories with our  family!

Going to church at Park Street..
driving through the center of the city!

The Old State House

Times around the

Prayers, Inspirational Quotes or Devotionals::::

Tuesday 4~

Today I want to take the opportunity to give thanks for getting to know Toni Taddeo.  Her grace and beauty was always centermost in all of her blog posts and her sweet gentle nature was evident to all who knew her.  Blogland lost a precious , creative, artistic writer and friend this week. This last post she shared is one of the most precious and exemplifies her heart to the world.

Hosted by Toni!

A Repeat ~ Just Wondering

1. When was the last time you tried something new?:

I  made up a new recipe last night. I  needed to use up some eggs and  a couple slices of very expensive country  deli ham. ($22. /lb)  so I    sauteed  onion, red pepper, and the ham in butter with   Worcestershire, and  I added a dash of nutmeg..  after it was  all    cooked through I mixed up 4 eggs with some half and half  and shredded Parmesan cheese and poured over all in the  saute pan  then  place the  over proof pan in the oven for  35 minutes.  YUM!  The nutmeg was a good  choice.    Went very well with all!

2. Who in your family do you compare yourself to?:

I still am much like my mother.. I even saw her face staring back at me in the mirror this morning and I smiled!

3. What lesson in life did you learn the hard way?:

Well, I didn't learn it well,  but  to pass my  required swimming course... believe me.. it was  so very hard!!!

4. What can you do today that you weren't able to do before?:

I  really do not like this question  because I am always reminded of what I used to do  that cannot anymore like jump or run.   But I will say, I  was an accomplished pianist  as a young student.. I played Rhapsody in Blue for my  final recital..   but over time  I have  gone very rusty.. My eyes have been partly to blame...  nevertheless, I  had gotten so I was actually afraid to even try to play but yesterday I  pulled out my Christmas carol book and practice through the book.  I spent a good hour  playing getting better and better. more and more fluid!  I am so glad I  have overcome my   deep feeling against playing.  BTW,  since my cataract correction  my eyes are no longer an issue!

Happy Homemaker Monday

Hosted by Sandra!

The weather outside is::::

We are watching the weather  very closely  hoping for a  good  travel day  coming up!

On the breakfast plate this morning::::

We stopped in and had breakfast out after I got my allergy shot...  Two eggs  over  medium, and  a half a gravy biscuit!  Very yum yum!

As I look outside my window:::

It is  very gray and damp..  brrrr!  Dread going out!

Right now I am::::

Enjoying listening to Windham Hill's Christmas music...  Carol of the Bells!. 

As I look around the house::::

The dining room is a wreck..  We are still finishing up all the gift wrapping!  Will be good to get it all put back to order!!

On today's to do list::::

Allergy Shot
House cleaning

Bible study homework! 

On this week's to do list::::

Morning Bible study tomorrow

Evening Bible study on Lose it for life..

Relax and enjoy the season!

On the menu this week::::

No plans

Currently reading::::

Lose it for Life

Book of James~  Preparing for a new study in Sunday School

On the TV this week::::

Christmas movies  Hallmark and  Lifetime

Christmas cooking shows

What I am creating at the moment::::

A music play list for  Christmas!!

Photo to share:::
Saturday Hubs and I took advantage of the  cold and rainy day to do something special hoping  many folks would stay home..  and they did!  We  drove over to Hotel Roanoke  for the festival of trees for our date day!!

Such a beautiful venue !

 Various groups decorate a vignette or a tree  to be judged..

People come from near and far  for photo ops! 

Always  such a great  Christnassy atmosphere!!  

We  were even able to grab lunch  at the  Hotel Pub,  no one was there!!

Prayers, Inspirational Quotes or Devotionals::::

Music That Moves Me at Christmas time!

Yuletide   Music to Move ya!!!

I discovered a new Blog hop and it looks like fun!!!It's the third Monday of December and so it's time for MusicMovesMe.

This is certainly a season of music we all love to listen to.. I'll share some of my favorites.. I am an Olde English kind of gal ..I love the beauty of the old Christmas carols!

I first heard the Coventry Carol as a teenager and have loved it ever since! 

The Sussex carol evokes such beautiful images of Christmases of the good ole days and images of what you always wanted Christmas to be!

 Ancient carols take on a new twist  when Sting  plays      in his  land!  Enjoy this  cd .. it is  wonderful!

The olde original instrumentation makes for a great carol.. and Sting can really put the joy and fun in an old carol!

But  for  awesome wonder and  beautiful music..  enjoy  these from Windham Hill.

The Yuletide season is full of glory and the divine!

and can't end without an all time favorite!