Feel Good Friday

Friday is here!

Is it the last day of the week? Or the first day of the weekend?

If you answered, last day of the week, then are probably working today and will begin your weekend at the end of the work day. But if you said, first day of the weekend, then perhaps you are off work today, or retired. But either way I am choosing to say, first day of the weekend. 

That way my weekend gets to have 3 days! Somehow that makes me feel better. That is what life is all about after all. It is all in how we look at it. You know the old adage, half full or half empty. Well half full makes me feel better! So half full it is! 

Now here is a little challenge to you all. Lets all face this weekend with a positive attitude. If something comes your way that tends to be different, then take a moment and stop and see what you can do or say to turn it around. Now I understand that sometimes it is not that simple. But most of the time it is! So lets see if we can make the most from this weekend and take some mental notes of how it affects those around you. Perhaps if I can remember to do this on a regular basis I can make it a habit. 

So how about it will you join me? Let me know what popped up and how you handled it.

Happy weekend!

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Wow! I have to revise this a bit. You see I wrote this on thursday to be released on friday. Well coming home on thursday evening found me putting this to the test. 

You see this is what happened!

I was coming around a curve after dark and just as my headlight caught up with the turn right in the middle of the road stood a deer. I could not swerve to miss her, going right I would have hit the guard rail and going left I would not have been able to correct it and would have hit the hill side and ditch. So zip, bang, boom! 

Well the van was drivable and I was only a few miles from home. We were not hurt. The airbags did not deploy. So, accidents happen and it could have been worse. 

So, what kind of a weekend are you having?

Update....................they TOTALED my van!
I really have to be careful what I write about! But on the other hand I do get to go car shopping.

Thankful Thursday

Today is another beautiful day and

 I am thankful for that.

I am thankful for our health and safety during all the cold weather that we have had.

I am thankful for my son's recovery from the flu.

I am thankful for books to read.

I am thankful for exercise, the ability to do it and the energy it gives me.

I am thankful for my husband of 34 years, he's the best.

I am thankful for the ability to do so many things for ourselves here around the home place.

God is good!

Wordless Wednesday

                                                                                 
                                                                                   

Tasty Tuesday

This is the day I like to share a recipe of a dish that we like. 

We are adapting to a healthier lifestyle than we had in the past and so lots of new recipes are showing up in my recipe box. This is an easy one that can be used as a side dish or a salad. I just love them!

Marinated Brussel Sprouts 

2 boxes or 1 bag frozen brussel sprouts

1 bottle of italian dressing of your choice

Cook brussel sprouts to fork tender, drain and cool. Place in bowl and cover with dressing add pepper to taste and put lid on top. Place in fridge and stir occasionally till ready to serve. Let marinate for several hours or overnight.

******fresh brussel sprouts can be used if you have them*****

Feel Good Friday

Sunshine and blue skies are the best medicine for "winter blues". We had talked about SAD earlier in the season. Read about it here.

But as the weather has changed in the last week, it has really made a difference in how I feel. Energy has returned to my heart. 

I love the blue skies and the sunshine.

Not only are the skies beautiful but I am starting to see alot more birds in the last week or so.

Sunglasses are a must if you are out and about.

I even had time today to hang out some laundry. I love laundry on the line. 

And with all the wind that is blowing out there my wind chimes were singing a real melody. Natures Melody!

But with all good we must expect some negative and here is what else has came to stay a while.

Water is standing all over the yard just like this. So if you go outside you have to wear muck boots. But, bring on the boots I will wear them for as long as it takes to dry it all up.

Also we have more snow heading our way in a few days. But I sure do thank God for the little sighting of springtime that has been here this week.

What about you? What has your weather been like this week?

Thankful Thursday

This week has been wonderful.

The good Lord knew how much I needed to see some sunshine. So I will have to start out this week by saying how thankful I am for the sunshine that has been around this week.

And also for the warm weather. Today it hit 67 degrees.

I am thankful for the wind that is blowing as it serves to dry up the mud that the melting snow has left behind.

I am thankful for new friends.

I am thankful for exercise.

I am thankful for my family and all that they mean to me.

So that is what I am thankful for.

Wordless Wednesday

Tasty Tuesday

Well our weather is starting to break. It is 59 degrees outside and the sun is shining bright. The blue skies are astounding. I had almost forgot what blue skies and sunshine looked like. Almost all of the snow has melted, which means we all need to get out our muck boots.

I have been trying out a few different recipes lately. Trying to use more whole grains as well. So I thought I would share a recipe I made for a potluck recently and it was a big hit. Now please keep in mind that when I am making something I do not run out and purchase the ingredients for it. I use what I have on hand so sometimes I need to make some changes and I will share those along the way. 

Roasted Red Pepper, Feta and Barley Salad

2 1/2 cups water

1 cup barley

1/4 cup diced roasted red peppers

1/2 cup shredded zucchini 

1/4 cup diced green onion

1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese

1/4 to 1/3 cup sun dried tomato vinaigrette

12 grape tomatoes, quartered

1/4 cup chopped celery leaves

salt and pepper to taste

Bring water to a boil and cook barley on reduced heat, covered , until tender and most of liquid has been absorbed, 40 to 50 minutes. Let stand to room temperature.

Once the barley is cool, toss tomatoes, zucchini, onion, feta, peppers and celery leaves with the barley in a large bowl. Drizzle with the tomato vinaigrette and toss. Salt and pepper to taste.

******I did not have green onions so I substituted red onions.******

So have any of you been cooking anything new?

Mixed Up Saturday

Lots of things to share with you today. 

We got more snow last night. It is pretty but I am so over the pretty part! I keep telling myself that clearing the snow is great exercise! Here is a few pics of what it looks like outside today.

I am spending time inside working on some crocheting that needs to be finished and put away in the gift cabinet. I will also do some walking on the treadmill or maybe do something on the Wii this afternoon.

I have an appt. with my Dr. this coming week for my yearly checkup, so I went this week and got my blood work done. This is the results of that little adventure.

This was the second stick and I felt her blow the vein as she made the original stick.

I hope the histamines do not start this itching on me now.

I hope all of you stay warm and safe and I will see you soon!

Happy V-Day!

This is not a holiday that we make a big deal out of. We share our love each day and in many different ways. So it is not necessary for us to spend on all the over priced items that are out there for this day of the year. 

After all this is just a Hallmark day!

But we do look at Valentine's Day as a day of love. So think of those you love and make a call or at least send an email to say "I love you".  

Still Cold Outside

It is still cold and dreary here. And more snow is on the way! 

Everything outside is crunchy! Thats right, when you walk outside you do not even leave a foot print in the snow. Frozen is the word I am looking for. And if you spend any length of time at all outside. I mean even walking from the house to the van, you are frozen stiff. Going to the mailbox has become quite an expedition. You have to layer up to go get the mail. Today it is to be a high of 20*. It is a whooping 18* right now. 

Can you see the snowflakes in the picture above?

Now I really am not complaining, just explaining!
Lots of folks have frozen water pipes and sewer lines. And we have plenty of food and water stored and the electricity has held on nicely. If it should go off we have an alternative heat source, so even that would only be another adventure.

So most of us are in the same boat weather wise and would have to agree that we have had plenty of time this winter to think about the important things in life. So what has been your big revelation?

Thankful Thursday

This winter has been a cold one for a lot of us.

Snow to shovel, power outages, high winds and plenty of frozen pipes.

The cold is continuing in my neck of the woods. Misty rain that turns to ice and then back again several times a day. Slick porches and step. All of this is not news for winter time. 

But it sure makes me think of all the things that I am thankful for. Of course my family and all our health. But the small things that come our way each day, that maybe I only slow down enough in the winter to see them all.

I am thankful for my Bible. No matter how long the winter I know I will always have reading to do.

I am thankful for electricity to do the laundry with. I would not like doing it by hand and hanging it out in cold weather.

I am thankful for a full pantry, and not having to run to the store every time they call for snow.

And also for hot coffee, tea and hot chocolate.

I am thankful for friends to talk to and hang out with. 

I am thankful for a lady I met recently (Toni) who is a true inspiration. She is a real fireball of a lady and I am pleased to know her.

And for my cowboy boots. They are comfortable and look good in winter. I am always thankful when my feet aren't hurting.

Wordless Wednesday - Outside and Inside

More snow and the day to day

Well we awoke to more snow this morning. A very wet, heavy snow that is hard to remove. All this wet snow will mean one thing when the temps drop this evening. ICE!

So the roads will be bad again. No school today. Again! The kids all think it is great but they do not understand that they will have to make it all up, somehow.

I have been doing some cooking today to help add heat to the house and relieve the heat pump a little bit.

Also been staying busy with BALL making!

Can you guess what color the BALLS were today?

The dogs are enjoying life today as well.

What are all of you doing today?