Sunday Summary

 Well, the beginning of March started quiet but it didn't last long.

Last Monday, B and I were able to get out and get haircuts.  He said we were beginning to look like the hippies we had tried to be when we were dating so long ago.  Funny man!  After the haircuts, we headed to the grocery store to stock up as we had heard the reports of the snowstorm coming our way.  It's a good thing we did because the snowstorm turned into a 2 day blizzard.  The snow started on Tuesday as white fluffy but by Wednesday morning, it was that heavy wet snow.  So between wind gusts up to 40mph, white out snow conditions and ice on everything, the only thing to do was hunker down at home.  Everything was closed including the two universities which never close unless it is a full blown blizzard.  We were lucky with power only going out once but only lasted an hour.  Of course, getting out to get ashes on Ash Wednesday was completely out of the question but all of the churches rescheduled ashes for Thursday because of the weather.  By Thursday, all had stopped except for minor flurries.  We had so much snow at our front door that B had to dig it out for us to open the door.  It took him all day to snow blow us out and then he only got the front of the house done.  The second half he did yesterday.  I hope this is the last storm of the winter but living in the UP for all this time, I know that is not always the way.  We have gotten snow in May and June some years.  Where is Spring!!

We were able to get out Friday and get our taxes done.  Nothing too different from last year.  We are getting a refund from the federal but nothing from the state.  However, we don't have to pay anything to either one so we are happy about that.  Who knows what the next 4 years will bring with a certain orange one and his minions in office.

My eyes after the cataract surgeries are doing beautifully.  I am still getting eye drops but they should be done in another week.  I am noticing how clear everything is when I am looking long distances.  I still need my readers for close work but I can live with that.

For Lent, I am getting up earlier so I can spend a quiet hour focusing on my faith.  With a cup of tea, my journal, and a devotional book called "Mornings with God" by Joyce Meyer (a Christmas gift), I try to focus on what I will give to Him to handle and what I can handle myself.
 

"If the heart wanders or is distracted, bring it back to the point quite gently and replace it tenderly in its Master's presence. And even if you did nothing during the whole of your hour but bring your heart back and place it again in Our Lord's presence, though it went away every time you brought it back, your hour would be very well employed."      
St. Francis de Sales

I did remember to "spring forward" on the clocks.

Blessings to you all

Sunday Summary for the Week of August 5

                                                          Al is so interested in my blogging
 

Monday, B & I went grocery shopping.  What a way to start the week. We have been having meals from our pantry and freezer but still needed to purchase other things. I shopped with a list and coupons and still it was very expensive.

Tuesday, I had to empty three flower pots that have been on my deck.  The flowers had finally given up and there was nothing to do but toss them.  The pots were kept and put into the garage for next year.  I still have three pots of flowers left and they seem to be hanging in there.  It seems the creatures of nature have decided that my plants are an open air restaurant for them.  The deer have had a marvelous time munching on my hostas and now the chipmunks have decided to join them.  Perhaps they will go to lunch someplace else soon.

Thursday, I went to see my specialist.  It was a fairly early appointment as I had another one at 11am.  Turns out when I got there that I misread the time and showed up a half hour early.  What fun! A half hour sitting in the doctor's waiting room.  He did have some good news, not much, but enough for me to hang onto.  He also asked me to get blood work done while I was there.  Seeing as I had time after his appointment and the lab was not that busy that early in the morning, I was able to have blood drawn before my 11am appt.  I was quite happy that the girl was able to do it in one poke.  It seems my veins are "floaters" and sometimes it takes 2 or 3 pokes to draw blood. My 11am appt is always a short one.  Once a month I have to go in for a B12 shot since medication doesn't seem to work for me. I was out of the medical building finally at about 11:30am.  

B and I then went to the library (one of my happy places). I donated some books that I had finished reading.  They have a set up in the library where you can purchase used books for $1 to $2 and the proceeds going into the library fund.  It's a good cause that I donate a lot to.  I was able to pick up 3 more books to read.  B always says that leaving me alone in a library and/or bookstore is a mistake because I always come out with a pile.  After the library, B took me to Applebees for lunch.  I love their mozzarella sticks plus I like their lunch special of 1/2 salad and bowl of soup.  I had the grilled chicken salad and the tomato basil soup.  Afterwards it was to the farmer's market where we picked up peaches, blueberries and tomatoes.  A trip to the local antique store had nothing of interest and then we headed home.

Friday, B did some work on the house and I wasn't feeling up to anything.  I stayed in and read one of the library books, cuddled with my cat, Al and watched the Olympics on tv.

So that was the week.  It looks busier than it really was but busy enough to help keep my mind off things.  Hope life is treating all of you well.

                                                            "God has a plan.

                                                                      Trust.

                                                                      Wait.

                                                                    Believe."

                       
 

Sunday Summary

 Sunday Summary for the Week of Sept. 12

**donated many CDs & Books to library used book sale.  The proceeds go to providing breakfasts and lunches to children in local daycare facilities.

**did some more downsizing this past week.  I find it hard to let things go but I have found that when they are going for a good cause then it gets easier to let things go.  Also, whenever I am trying to decide whether to let something go or not, I ask myself if my children will want it after I am gone.  If the answer is no, then it goes.

**got the paperwork together to get enhanced driver licenses for B and me.

**visited with neighbor who just got back from California where her husband had a stem cell transplant.

**started a new book series, "Beyond the Page Bookstore Mysteries" by Lauren Elliott.  Book 1 is a good read so far.  It looks like I will be looking for more in this series.

**went for a ride with B on Saturday.  Stopped at a couple fresh fruit and vegetable stands along the way.  Picked up cucumbers, apples, corn, peppers, potatoes and tomatoes

These are the girls at the farm across the road from us.  I have always enjoyed watching them just do their thing.  Very relaxing to watch.

Sunday Summary

 *Cleaned up the garage while getting things out for the summer months.  Do this every year and by September, it is in chaos again.  B and I realized that we had so much junk that we called the youngest son and asked him to come out with his truck, load it up and take to the dump.  When he did, he fould some things he wanted: old wooden steps to make over for his deck, boxes in good shape to use to organize his garage, etc.  So he took what he wanted back to his house, came back and loaded the rest to take to the dump after the holiday.

*Made a list off plants and bushes I want from the local nursery.  Weather should be good on Tuesday or Wednesday to head there.

*Excited to see buds on my lilac bush.  We  did not get any blooms last year so am hoping for them this year.  I love the smell of lilacs.

*Saw 3 hummingbirds and an indigo bunting at my feeders on Friday.  I love watching the birds as does my cat, Al.

*Have been trying to use what is in the freezer and pantry for meals.

*Gas prices are outrageous so any errands are bundled together (if possible) on days when we have medical appointments.  Also, when making a medical appointment, I always ask if it is possible to do both of ours on the same day and times close together to save on gas.  Usually it works out that it can be done.

*Hard to believe that May is about over.  The months seem to go by so fast this year.  I am hoping that the summer months take their time as we don't have that much warm sunny weather to enjoy before the cold weather of Fall and Winter return.