Ahhhh Serenity Sunday!

Sunday, August 15, 2010

A day to rest and recharge my batteries before heading into a new work week. Although it will be a 4 day work week for me, my day off comes on a Thursday. We have company arriving the evening of the 18th and staying for the day on the 19th, leaving the morning of the 20th. It will be nice to see them and it will put a nice break into my week. Although having to get up on the 20th for work will be strange, as I'll have to be up and gone before anyone else is even awake. It will all work out though.

I had a lovely phone call yesterday from our Nancy. Bless your heart for making my day even brighter.

Our company from the weekend left late Saturday afternoon to head to Red Deer and spend some time with Garry's other brother. It was sure nice to see his sisters.

Another raining looking day outside. We really need some sunshine if I'm going to actually have any tomatoes to pick off all my plants. The tiny wee little tomatoes that are beginning to form now are going to need heat to really become a useful product. I'm so looking forward to making salsa, tomato sauce and canned tomatoes.

My Positives:

A great family visit.
Friends arriving on Wednesday.
A phone call from Nancy.
Shyra got a job that she had applied for at the library. It means that she has a job with enough hours to qualify for benefits. She has been working two jobs at the library, but neither one of them had enough hours in either position to qualify her for benefits. Now, even though she will be still working two positions, one of the positions has more hours. YAY!
As I celebrated my 3 anniversary mark with Spark...it's awesome to know that I am so much further along my journey to health that I was three years ago. Not to my goal yet....but I'm okay with that, cause I'm not where I used to be.
Be blessed with internet access and all the support and encouragement I need.

Have a wonderful Serenity Sunday everyone.

Hugs,
Wanda

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

NJMATTICE 8/15/2010 11:54AM

Ahhhhhh, I can feel the serenity. Thanks for passing it on. I have spent my morning taking a walk, taking a swim, enjoying a healthy frappe and getting dinner prepared so that my kitchen work is light the afternoon. I wish I could send you some of this warm Texas sunshine for your tomatoes. It's another sunny, sultry day here. Thanks for counting me as a blessing. You know that I consider you one of mine as well. Have a great Sunday. I'm going to chick out this week's challenge. Love, Nancy Report Inappropriate Comment

Late night....results in need for more sleep!

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Oh boy, a very late night last night, but lots of fun.
Garry's sisters arrived, then the kids with their girl/boy friends as well as our other honorary son (Q's best friend). What a blast. Due to it raining once again, Garry was able to BBQ supper, but we all gathered in the garage to eat and that is where we ended up spending the rest of the night. So much fun, lots of laughter. Quin brought out his guitar and the singing started, we just pretended that we had a campfire going in the center.
We ended up with a couple of Q's fellow guides from the lodge joining us as they were on their break time also. Not sure what the neighbors thought of all the laughter and singing that was going on at our normal exceptionally quiet home, but as Garry said...we have never had a garage party in the 7 years we have been here and if they wanted to join us they could too!

I have a bit of a headache going from lack of sleep (No...I don't drink...so it is not the culprit...can't say the same for others though!). I was up for work yesterday morning at 4:30 am and that made for a very long day and night...let's just say not quite a 24 hour day. lol

My Positives:

Got my beets canned.
Company and a great time.
Having the kids and their friends join us and stay the whole evening was wonderful.
Lots of reminiscing, lots of silly laughs.
A day for fun and relaxing ahead of me.
Family and friends.
God, who guides and leads.

Have a wonderful Silly Saturday.

Hugs,
Wanda

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

NJMATTICE 8/14/2010 11:56AM

What a nice get together! Have a delightful Saturday. And catch up on your beauty sleep this evening. Lots of love, Nancy Report Inappropriate Comment

Summer, where have you gone??

Friday, August 13, 2010

Yesterday morning we went in for a meeting at 9:30 am and came out an hour later to find that we thought there had been a time shift. It was so dark outside, it looked like night. The lights had all come on in the building. We had such a down pour that concern for flooding was an issue. By late afternoon the rain had stopped, but started up again during the night. It's still raining very hard outside.

Garry sisters arrive this afternoon for an overnight visit. Sure hope it stops raining so we can still have our planned BBQ...otherwise we will need a change in plans for supper tonight.

I'm looking at my kitchen counter right now, it's showing a lovely display of canned pickles! I managed to get 14 pints of dills done yesterday after work. As I'm off work early today, I might even have the time to get my beets canned!

My Positives:

I'm rediscovered the joy of canning. It's been several years since I've had the time to even consider canning. I'm really enjoying it once again. If the rain ever lets up and the sun comes out again...I might even manage to pull a crop of tomatoes out of my own garden. Those plants are growing like crazy, but the flowers are struggling to produce some fruit for me with all this rain and cool temperatures.
Garry's sisters are arriving for an overnight visit.
So glad out sump pump is working so well, it's been kicking in all night making sure our basement stays dry. All this rain has raised the water tables quite high.
Only a half day for me today at work. Which for most people would be like having the whole day off. My half day finishes at 10:00 am!
It's Friday...Fabulous Friday!
God, who continues to help and assist me through my daily journey.

Have a wonderful day, thanks for stopping by for a visit.

Hugs,
Wanda

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

MAURIZIA 8/13/2010 10:46AM

Wanda, ohhhh, what memories of my nonna and mom canning veggies - pickling peppers, cucumbers, canning tomatoes, zucchini, corn, beets...so we could have a bit of summer amid winter's cold and snow!! Ahhhhhhh.... Enjoy your visitors...My little Italian nonna would hang a rosary on the clothesline when she didn't want it to rain for an event...as a little girl, it seemed to me it worked every time! :) Hugs! Report Inappropriate Comment

NJMATTICE 8/13/2010 9:28AM

Nice to have an easy day at work. Getting a head start on your weekend! I'm impressed with your pickling endeavors. Especially since I paid $3.49 for a jar yesterday that will last about a day in this house. Perhaps I should discover the joy of canning. Right now I'm discovering the joy of cleaning. Trying to get all organized for the start of the school year. I got up early this morning and my goal is to make my new wake-up time 5 a.m. and my bed time 9 p.m. Something to aspire to. Have a fabulous Friday and thanks for sharing the good stuff! Love, Nancy Report Inappropriate Comment

Farmers Market success!

Thursday, August 12, 2010

After an amazing brief rainstorm that came through just as the girls and I were heading to Costco after work yesterday, the skies turned sunny again and the air smelt so clean and fresh.
The girls managed to get all their shopping done quickly and as they headed home, I headed to the Farmers Market. (Side line...I just looked out the window and I see that it is pouring outside once again!) Farmers Market was packed. It is such a popular event, I'm hoping that as it continues to grow that it can find a location that not only provides ample parking, but also indoor facilities so that we can have a Farmers Market year round.
I'm thrilled to say that I not only got some beautiful beets, but a large bag of pickling cucumbers and dill to go with them. Yay, dill pickles coming up and pickled beets as well as plain beets for making borcht this winter.
I just might have the opportunity to get started making my pickles after work today. I do have an appointment at 6pm, so not sure if I'll have enough time prior to the appointment or not and I don't want a late night...so will see.

My Positives:
Lots of little tomatoes beginning to be visible on my tomato plants. Yay!
Successful trip to the Farmers Market.
Nice rain coming down this morning...means I won't have to water the garden today...God has done it for me!
Fresh fruit to take for lunch today.
Life...there's just so many blessings that come my way. Thank you.

Have a wonderful day...be a creator of a positive ripple effect. Brighten your day as well as though around you.

Hugs,
Wanda

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

MAURIZIA 8/12/2010 11:52AM

Wanda, I so need that ripple today...so thank you!!! I love farmers' markets! There's a great one near my friend's house on Thursday afternoons...hope to get there one of these weeks!! I do pick up veggies in the CSA in which I bought a share...that I split with a friend since it is upwards of $400 for the share...This week I have lovely early tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, fresh basil, fresh parsley, an eggplant and potatoes...oh, and fresh eggs! Yum! Hope to cook with them tomorrow eve when I'm finally home! Nothing like shopping at those places! Enjoy your veggies!!! Hugs! Report Inappropriate Comment

NJMATTICE 8/12/2010 10:24AM

Sounds like a delicious shopping trip! Have a great day and thank you for creating that ripple that is sending me on my way. Love, Nancy Report Inappropriate Comment

Hump day....

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Mid way through another work week already...time sure flies when you are busy and having fun.

Farmers Market tonight, yay. I'm looking forward to making some nice fresh veggie purchases. Hoping that I can pick up some nice beets and get those canned right away. We love pickled beets as well as borscht soup. It will be nice to have all the ingredients at hand this winter and know that they are lovely and fresh, not something I buy in the store and you wonder when they were picked.
The girls want to make a Costco run after work today also. Seeing as Mom is the one with the Costco membership...they need me along too. Always up for some time with my girls. Poor Shy has been feeling ill the past couple of days. She snagged herself a very bad summer cold. It's really affected her sinuses. She had to call in sick for work yesterday they were so bad.


My positives:

Another great night of sleeping last night.
It's mid way through another work week.
Company coming this weekend.
Farmers Market tonight, also one tomorrow night that has different vendors.
Had a good performance review from work. Yay...I still have a job lol
A Positive attitude and a grateful heart.

Have a wonderful day, keep focused on what you want your life to be like. What you think, you can create,

Hugs,
Wanda

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

NJMATTICE 8/11/2010 8:48AM

Thanks for the report and the reminder to maintain that proper focus. Happy Hump Day to you. Love, Nancy p.s. enjoy your outing with the girls! Report Inappropriate Comment