The Simple Woman Day Book

The Simple Woman Day Book 

For Today...October 31, 2016

Outside my window...

This was actually yesterday's  beautiful sunrise in the mountains of NC.

I am thinking...
what a marvelous weekend we enjoyed with our cousin  at their  fabulous cabin home . 

  I  got my wish..  to enjoy  the porch  fireplace  as we  watched  the  World Series!!!  What a fire!!! 

I love mountain living!

I am thankful...
to get to see the  glorious  autumn colors  this weekend...  Our colors  around here  have been negligible..  but  Saturday when we took the Polaris out  driving  around the mountian  it  was awesome!!!

Grandfather Mountain in the  background!!! 

I am wearing....
my flannel  lounging   pj's.. yes.. so comfy~~

I am creating...
I  have actually  cleared my  dining (sewing) table and  am prepared to start  my sewing project ... one step in the right direction!

I am wondering...
about  the  hours I spent this morning  online ordering  for Christmas... Hoping  that  in its totality  it  all goes together I  manner in which I hope it does...  Christmas for us will be  just  a few weeks away!!

I am reading...

Jesus Calling  Devotional 

1Thessalonians

Mr. Miracle by Debbie Macomber

I am learning...

to take more chances in life and do the things that heretofore I enver imagined I could do!!  And it is FUN!!

I am hoping...

with my  whole being to see  our nation  turn more and more  back to  the knowledge   and  relevance of God

I am learning...  and this is my  current motto::

to  try to make the most of each  realm of my  existence each day..

  physical...  mental...  spiritual!

In my garden...
the muted colors of autumn on a  grey day!

In my kitchen...
nothing planned..
I know that sounds terrible.. but   I have been busy today...
Hubs did  get the marketing done...  so there is food,  I just  have no ideas at this time~

A favorite quote/scripture for today...

I am praying this scripture into being  as I have  heard that many  prophetic words  of the present   are  saying  that  God has  heard our  cries and and that the  election has  already been decided in the heavenly courts...

    One of my favorite things...
spending time  with our girls...  Our daughter  told me this morning on the phone that our 3 year old grand  precious,  Birdie  said,,  maybe  Gaa Gaa  and  Baa Baa  could move next door...  I'm still  beaming with that one!!!

From the board room... Pinned from my board...

yum

Post Script

"Youth is like spring, an over-praised season more remarkable for biting winds than genial breezes. 

Autumn is the mellower season, and what we lose in flowers we more than gain in fruits."

- Samuel Butler

Wednesday Hodge Podge

1. Besides your very own house, describe a place where you feel most 'at home'?  I  had to give this one a lot of consideration...  It was a toss up  between my daughter's home   which I dearly love...  being with her and her  precious  tots...  her new home..to them...   during this   most exciting time of making it their own...

But, as far as feeling truly at home...  Id have to say it is my friend, Lynne's, home.It is  a very sweet and comfortable home...  but that isn't why I feel so at home there..  I  truly feel  a blessing there  that comes from why we Prayer Gals gather there.... to  seek the  face of God...  His presence is  there  and  it is  a tangible presence... I believe for the most part many of us gals  cut our teeth on corporate prayer there...  learned to hear the  Spirit  urging and leading us.. and it is the closest place to heaven I know beside our own home.

2. When did you last 'hit a home run' with something? Explain.I  suppose to was today...you see last week as small group leader I was  really excited that our study was opening  a segment of God's Word that is so rarely  discussed,  but  the  Charismatic in me  really longed to get to this topic and  teach the powerful dynamic of it...  the laying on of hands  by  God's spirit...  in Beth Moore's study, Entrusted! You see, a while back a dear friend  asked if he could lay hands on a classmate in the church  to pray for  a lady's healing and she was so offended she went to the pastor to  report   my friend...who was called in,,  rebuked.. and  subsequently left the church...my, my my  so much misunderstanding  in the church today... It was  my deepest wish to  shed  scriptural light on this  important  issue,  when a lady in my group   suddenly took the  negativity  route  pressing  her  disbelief into the  lesson..  squandering our time    and  all the  extra  study I had  done to  demonstrate it's need  in church...   at any rate.. I became impatient   with this  lady and  pushed my book  toward  her, I  said, " Perhaps you would like to go ahead and teach"... oh the  devil had a hold of me...  and it showed... All week I  sought  God and  knew that I had to humble myself before the group today  in apology and  explanation...  and  ask forgiveness..  Amazing to say the least  our  first text in  class  came from 2Timothy 4:2

2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.  

At any rate,   The ladies  said  I basically hit the ball out of the park in my humility and  willingness to demonstrate  the lesson in  the most powerful way...  by  living it  before others.

3. Tell us about something you love in your house or kitchen that is 'homemade'. Last year  for Christmas,  Amanda, my daughter  had a very special gift made for me...  One of my favorite bloggers is someone we all know... Ann Voskamp,  author of 1000 Gifts...  Her book is one of my very favorites  and I gave it to Amanda a few years ago.. A word Ann  uses  in the book  to express her heart  back to God for the  gifts He provides throughout  our days..   is used  to  describe the tiniest  thing like a dew drop on a leaf 

to  the  magnitude of  the prairie moonrise

The word in the Greek:  Giving  thanks to God!!

4. 'A man's home is his castle'...which of the world's ten most captivating castles (according to The Travel Channel) would you most like to visit and why-

Mont Saint-Michel (France), Edinburgh Castle (Scotland), Neuschwanstein Castle (Germany), Glamis Castle (Scotland), Windsor Castle (England), Chateau de Chambord (France), Hampton Court Palace (England), Prague Castle (Prague), St. Michael's Mount (England), Leeds Castle (England), and Swallow's Nest (Ukraine)

Without a doubt it would be  Glamis Castle, home of the Queen Mother..  mother of Queen Elizabeth.

The Strathmore Estate The Strathmore Estate lies nestled at the heart of the Vale of Strathmore in Angus, Scotland and has been in the Lyon family since 1372, when Sir John Lyon was granted the Thaneage of Glamis by King Robert II.

    

  

   

I have been planning a tour of Scotland for some time and Glamis is definitely on my bucket list..  not only for the  beauty, but  for the fascinating history!

5. What's a recent or upcoming plan or project that's required you do a little homework before getting started? Did the homework cause you to abandon your plan or adjust it in some way?

This would definitely be the sewing project I  have been putting off now for months.. ever since March when dearest bought me a sewing machine for our anniversary...  I have plans to make  Christmas presents for the tots...   and  that necessarily means  boning up on my sewing skills that I haven't really used since  Amanda was a tot herself...  Oh me!!!   And to think I  actually made a  lovely  suit and modeled it in the 8th grade  Home Ec. class fashion class for our  school...  Those must be the good days of yore I keep hearing about.

6. In your opinion, is homework an unnecessary evil or a valuable practise? Should schools be done with homework? Why or why not?

Absolutely homework is very important. I taught school for  30 years....  8 and 9 year olds...  and they needed to practise what they learned that day...  especially in  math and  English... Not  a zillion problems,    but something to show they  had a good grasp of the concepts.  Many times they needed parental  reinforcement..  which I  valued because  it connected  the parents to what the children were learning..  But homework shouldn't be so lengthy it robs  the family of time together!

7. Share a favorite memory of your childhood hometown.

I grew up  in the Star City of the South..

and it was  famous for the  beautiful Mill Mountain Star  situated on one of Blue Ridge  mountains  that rimmed the city..

Many a picnic  was  held here atop  the mountain  because the view  of our fair city  is so magnificent.

But as a youngster  my favorite thing to do was  go to the zoo  right on top of that mountain...

We  got to ride the train..

and back then  the  zoo theme was nursery rhymes

  I can remember   wearing my  circus striped  playsuit on hot days when we'd  drive up to the zoo  to see and get to pet some of the farm animals  and then  quake in my  tennis shoes  when I saw the elephant,  giraffe, and tiger!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I am so excited for our hostess,Joyce,  as she gets to move into her long awaited new home...  What a thrill... moving is a daunting task to say the least and   hubs and I  are always thinking  it is  getting time to think about down sizing..  well, almost past time.. but  does one ever get  their  now home  fully ready to put it on the market..  We need to redo a bathroom.. and  redo the basement...  paint,  new floors,,  clear out a ton of stuff we would never consider  taking with us...  why, oh, why do we keep the  stuff we keep!!!  Well,   blessings to  you, Joyce,, may  this new beginning bring  great happiness and joy!!!

Blogging..An Extension of Myself

This week on Monday's Musings  Naomi is asking  us to share about how we get into blogging... I retired from teaching in 2003  after 30 years of working with 8 and 9 year olds.. One of my  favorite   studies with them  was  teaching them the elements of writing... As they composed, I would write,  as well, to demonstrate the lesson... and the  kids  learned so quickly and  applied the  objectives and really  enjoyed  their  journalling  so much more  as they displayed purpose in the creative process.  

(pinterest)

My students asked me, "    Teacher, we know you love to write,  how are you going to  continue  your  pleasure  after you quit teaching us?"  That was  a very  life changing question for me...  because  self expression had always  been   a habit.. I am a a rather solitary soul... being an only child and  at that time an empty -nester,   I felt I did wish to document   my days.. I  immediately bought a new journal.. I love  breaking in those stiff , new bindings .   Now that I had all the time in the world, I started keeping a spiritual journal to document my  quiet time and write praise and prayers  to the Lord...and I still keep  journals.   but then in 2008  I got  my first digital camera... and  began the quest to  go online..  I  started  participating in writing  contests  which were  quite enjoyable...   but  wasn't  the fit I was  seeking..  Then I found 

Blogger....  I couldn't believe how easy it was to set up  my own blog...  

Ever since blogging has become an extension of my true self.. it has opened my own eyes into the uncharted regions of my innermost self as I have searched out the hidden  dreams and intent of my heart... Foremost, it has deepened my need to express praise and honor to the the Most High God!  I have learned more about denying my will and  knowing and doing the Will of the One who created all things, through blogging.  It is through the times of contemplation, the times of choosing what and even when to post...  what to write and not to write... allowing the Spirit to lead me in every aspect of blogging.. for it is my uttermost desire to glorify God and His precious Son, Jesus Christ through everything I do and say here.

(pinterest)

 Secondly, it is an open portal to the world... at least those things of the world that interest me the most.  Blogging has given me opportunities to learn so much.... as I have researched places, people, and topics of interest  to post about and learn about.    But one of the greatest things about blogging is the opportunity it has given me to meet new friends from all over the country and the world.  To visit other blogs   and build connections with differing views, and interests, learn more about crafting, redecorating, arts, history,   so many things that new friends share on their blogs. 

Happy Homemaker Monday

Today I am posting on HHM with The Diary of the Stay at Home Mom.

On the weather front:::

We are experiencing a clear 64 degree day... As I peer out the window I am seeing russet, but there is still a lot of green, as well!!

On my bedside table:::

Jesus Calling, devotional

lotion, phone

my Entrusted Bible Study notebook by Beth Moore... This week we are going the last of the 6 week study... these weeks have flown by!!!

On my TV:::

Last night was one of the saddest episodes of Poldark... such a moving drama on BBC, PBS...and now things are really going to heat up.... 

Thinking and pondering::::

I am so thankful that I was able to order an important Christmas gift for our daughter and they had it in stock... last week it was back ordered.. so we tweaked the size and I am now praying that will be ok. Goodness, one needs to be on top of online ordering....

Listening to::::

If you've read my posts you probably know how much I Love Pandora and Celtic music...

Right now playing is "Of This Land" by Clannad 

Favorite Youtube Video last week:::

This video displays some awesome shots of Ireland... like the Gap of Dunloe!! The road scene is part of the route we took around the Ring of Kerry .. the desolate islands are off the coast of Dingle!! 

On the menu for this week:::

Monday - pork chops, mashed potatoes, peas

Tuesday - Orange Roughy and slaw

Wednesday- dinner out

Thursday-Pizza

Friday- not sure

On my To Do List:::

Time to take the fall decor off the dining table and transform it into my sewing room...!!!!

Lead final small group at Bible Study

Choir practise for Christmas program

meet Prayer Gals to finalize plans for the pre-election prayer event

Create the prayer point handout and get it printed

Looking forward to:::

Last time I bemoaned the fact that we were detained from taking our beach trip so hubs sweetly is making it up to me by finally purchasing something Ive been asking for for a long time..

What I plan on doing for myself this week:::

Well, I didn't get this done last time so perhaps this week.. even though this is a very full week... 

I really need to switch seasonal wardrobes... not exactly fun, but will make my life so much easier!

Favorite photo:::

These photos were taken Saturday during our ride on the Blue Ridge Parkway... Even at higher elevations you still see a lot of green this late in October!

Lesson learned the past few days:::

Trusting that God has a marvelous plan for us during this crucial time in our nation's history... I am resting in His outcome... even as I vote my conscious.. and I am praying mightily! He does tell us in his Word

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Phil 4:6

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:::

Wednesday Hodge Podge

I get excited when it's time for

Click the icon to return !

1. What would you say is your strongest sense? I would definitely say the sense of smell.. I have a very sensitive nose for someone who has really bad seasonal allergies... For example, we have a neighbor, mind you, who lives down the street and around the corner who has a swimming pool in his back yard. To heat it , he has rigged something up connected to his barbecue pit... and he burns the foulest wood and sometimes yard clippings .. now that smoke rises and wind blows it right over to our house where it descends and infiltrates our atmosphere.. He fired it up this morning because today is probably our last really warm day.. Suddenly our bedroom was filled with putrid smoke at about 5 a.m. and, of course, we had to close our windows and now turn on the a/c... This is a bane of life to me... but, alas, there is nothing that we can do about it... oh, we've called everyone... it is our of our control...one of several reasons we are thinking of moving!

2. Do you believe in the idea of a 'sixth sense'? Why or why not?

If you  are speaking if intuition  then yes,   I am very intuitive,,,  it has actually saved our bacon a few times...  ie, the 2008  economic crisis..but  I  cannot  really divide where it may be  intuition or just  God's blessing on me.. through his Spirit.  I  do know it is  because of His deep love for me for when it kicks in, it is  a  huge blessing...here is an example.. I inherited my mom's apple dishes  which I love  but four of the cups and saucers were missing.  I really  wished  to  replace them because  we always used these dishes for Thanksgiving and what is  pumpkin pie without coffee. One day I was driving  home from the grocery store and  something told me , "Stop in at the consignment shop" I mean it was a very strong impulse even though I had  perishables in the car I thought well , maybe, if I spin through quickly. I  strolled  down the aisle toward the  dining implements.. my favorite  area of any consignment ... I usually have my eye  pealed for transfer ware... and  there  they were 4  brand spanking new looking  Apple   coffee cups and saucers..  for  8 dollars.. 


 Abba Father is  awesome and so loving!  TO Him be the glory!

3. When do you most feel like a slave to time? Explain.

During these seasons of Bible study.... when I am small group leader.. because I really dedicate myself to doing the best job I can, and I do believe that in that the Holy Spirit brings things to me that connect dots of understanding that are so wonderful... last week it was a Ravi Zacharias video I happened to watch... and as I was flipping through the channels of tv one afternoon it was Robert Morris's teaching on sin... the differences between transgression and iniquity.. I gather all my resources,commentaries, Bible concordances, and dictionaries, and my Greek lexicon Bible because I never know what fascinating item will pop out on the page.. I love this in depth study, but it does take time..

4. Have you ever worked in a restaurant? How would you rate the experience? If you could own a restaurant what kind would it be? NO, I know I could never handle those horribly laden trays.. I would have law suit after law suit heaped upon my head. By the same token, I would have no interest in owning a restaurant... all the investment of money, time, sweat equity, and probably blood and tears, is not for me.. When I love to dine out it is always Chinese...and Id never attempt to try to run a Chinese restaurant!

5. Ever traced your family tree? Share something interesting you learned there.

I love genealogy...  and  I am fortunate  to  have access to many sources..  On my  dad's side  a relative had traced our line back to  Braunschweig, Germany...  

I had  5  great  great grand fathers named  Jacob.. the first  of which  lived in Germany  and three of which are buried in a family cemetery in  SW Virginia.  On mom's side  her sir name is Cox  and  we actually have a Cox book printed in the 1950's about the Cox Clan how they  were  Quakers  from Cotswold area of England 

(Quaker Meeting House in Cotswold)

 who settled in Pa. in the late  1700's and  my  great great grandfather and his brother  served in the  Confederacy. The brother  was captured and held in a POW camp in the north.  After the war  upon his release he was   making the long trek home  and was so weak and  ill  a kindly  family took him in and  served him dinner.. He ate too much,  foundered and died  on the spot.

My Irish side of the  family are Higgins... and I  recently  tried yet once again after many  previous  attempts to  push back beyond a John Higgins who married  Fanny Boggess    whose  previous  family  were of the founding  families of Virginia  and whose land marched along side of  the farm of John Smith,,, who married  Pocahontas.. Finally  upon study  someone had researched and found  John Higgin's  line  reached back several more  generations to    Barnstable, Massachusetts..  right  outside of Plymouth..  His ancestor Richard  arrived  there in 1622 and  bought a homestead for 22 bushels of corn!

6. What did your childhood bedroom look like?My bedroom was also the guest room... so I had very little  stuff  just sitting around.. There was a corner desk that  I used to do my homework but  I had organizational  things to keep my "stuff"  and  would  put it away in the closet  when we had   company.   The walls were painted a  soft golden  yellow  sort of a country  golden color... and the drapes were  an early American  print fabric with medallions  or  oval   miniature like  paintings of Dolly Madison..  the  rest of the  print  was  very  early America  style  print....my goodness I found it...



 The  knick knacks were  early American  figures, my lamp had a bald eagle on it..   and the  bedspread was  a green  damask...  Not  very  little girlish,,  but as an only  child  I was  a pensive  reader.. not very athletic or rambustious  at all.  When I played with my dolls  I had the run of the house as long as I  put everything away when I was finished!

7. Anyone who knows me knows I love everything British, Scottish, and Irish!!

8. Insert your own random thought here.
Hubs and I were   have just returned home from  looking at something that takes me hugely by surprise...  Gas logs,  with  a new fireplace doors/screen..

This is the  door insert I love  in bronze...the Hamilton.. I  name it for future reference.

 I have been wanting  gas logs for so long  and I do believe that since I didn't make it to the beach Hubs is  working this out for me and I'm taking it to the limit. I will have  what I want  or nothing..  Let the  battle commence  HEHEH..  No I don't even think there will be a battle... He is being  terribly sweet  about it.. the battle will be getting it done sooner rather than later... HMMMM!