Sunday Thoughts.

                             

Out early to cut down the asters. I'm back inside after doing just a few chores. Brrrrr....it's cold out there. Not knowing if we will have warm weather again...I am not taking any chances.I'll be out on sunny days to finish up.This is how the asters looked early on, but now they are brown and ready to be cut down. I have them in several places in the yard...so my lawn cart will be full .....again;

I used the hand truck to bring the birdbath into the garage for the winter. It was full of ice and leaves. Later on I'll clean it up with a bleach solution. The little birds were watching from the Ash tree. They will have to go elsewhere for water to drink. There's a pond in the back...so they will have to fly a little distance to get water now. 

My mums aren't as pretty as they were in past years. Not quite as vibrant. In looking around the neighborhood, I think that I need a pop of color mixed in. My colors are mostly in the lavender, purple, rose colors. Maybe a pop of yellow would be nice. 

Joe's surgery is scheduled for the day after Christmas. I guess our Christmas will be here at home and getting ready to go. What a disappointment. He's been in pain for 10 weeks and this is the first date that the Dr. would be available. He could have done it a couple of days before Christmas, but Joe figured after would be better. Well, as I said just the other day....we have to ease into things and just go with the flow. I didn't expect the water to be so choppy though.

I got my amaryllis bulb just yesterday in the mail. It is the biggest bulb that I have ever had. I think that I better plant it now...so we can enjoy it during Christmas. They take sometimes 8 weeks, but I hope that this one doesn't take that long. I'd hate to miss it's blooming. 

Our tree in front is just about bare...and the maple is full of red color.So pretty right now.

Well, next on my agenda is to find out where they are giving flu shots. I missed out in early Oct. because of my cold. I sure want to get one, since I'll be in and out of Dr. offices and the hospital. 

That's about it...not really in the mood to write anymore...just want to get outside stuff done.

Balisha

Sunday Thoughts

                                 Parsnips...one of my favorite vegetables...sizzling in the pan. Yum!



It's kind of dreary this morning with a little rainy mix....a good day to stay in and do some fun things. There's a pot roast thawing on my counter. I'll fix it in a cooking bag along with potatoes, carrots, parsnips, onions and assorted peppers. I started adding peppers to my pot roast years ago. I knew how tasty Italian beef was with the green peppers...and thought that they would add an extra flavor. I will do the roast with the packet of onion soup mix etc. I love a cold day with good smells coming from the kitchen. I was reading a book this week about a widow who didn't cook anymore, because there was no one to eat the meal. I thought to myself...no one to cook for...what about herself? I was alone for awhile and always cooked a meal. How could I live without good smells coming from the kitchen? I know that I wouldn't cook the big meals that I do now, but smaller simple things that are tasty. A piece of fish with a wonderful coleslaw, a small steak with a hot baked potato, a pork chop with homemade applesauce, a meatloaf with leftovers for a sandwich, pastas of all kinds, homemade soups that cook all day, and last but not least...tasty veggies....greens, squashes, sweet potatoes, string beans, juicy tomatoes, root veggies, salads...and then desserts...puddings, small tarts, cookies, oh, I could go on all day. I would still set a pretty table....sometimes in the living room. I would have company over for meals...and send some leftovers home with them. I would always cook...it's part of me.
My bookcase arrived day before yesterday and it is full of books already. It is a perfect fit and just as I wanted. I'll show a picture later. Now I can sit by the glass doors and watch the birds and read about them. I have my binoculars on the shelf too...and my camera at the ready.
Tonight we will probably watch the Grammys. We both love music of all kinds and we do enjoy watching the stars and what they are wearing. Downton Abbey is on at the same time, so I will record it. I find that there are so  many good TV programs...you just have to look for them. We have a bazillion channels and find ourselves looking at the same ones all the time. Once in a while we will look through them all and find something so interesting. What a pleasure having a theater in our home so to speak....when we want to put a book down and be entertained.
We went to Mass last night and were told about the Lenten plans for our Church this season. It all begins with Ash Wednesday, which is this week. We'll go to Church and receive our Ashes and then begin our Lenten journey for this year. The liturgical season of Lent coincides with spring...(just as spring renews herself each year we do too with Lent). Lent calls to mind the new life and growth, the hope and change that will characterize the time of prayer and  penance.
Well, that's about it for today. I have things to do...first on the list is breakfast. Have a wonderful day.
Balisha


http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/10/nyregion/starr-saphir-bird-watching-guide-in-central-park-dies-at-73.html?hpw&_r=1&

The above is the story-obituary in the New York Times for the bird watcher...Starr Saphir. It was interesting to read and I thought you might like it.

Sunday Thoughts

After a few days  of ups and downs, I'm back. Things are better...but not perfect. The Serenity Prayer says it all...I'm off to make muffins...Have a nice Sunday.

Balisha

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.

--Reinhold Niebuhr

In loving memory of