a journal of the journey

FOR TODAY Monday, 15 December 2008:

Outside my window snow flurries are falling!  It’s such a rare treat to get even a little rain.  It’s even rarer to see snow flurries.  It’s not sticking to the ground here but the snow covers the mountains in the east all the way down to the base.  We will enjoy the view while it lasts.

I am thinking with the weather as it is, I’d love to sit by the sewing machine & sew all day today.  Unfortunately, I do have a little work to get done.  A nice cup of hot chocolate would really be nice though!

I am thankful for having finished up Rachelle, Heather & Koren’s Christmas presents.

From the kitchen comes too many sweets.  I am trying so hard not to over indulge as I don’t want to gain back any of the weight I’ve lost in the last 6 months.  It’s just so much easier not to have all that in the house.

I am wearing my “I’d rather be Quilting” sweatshirt, black jeans, Christmas socks and sneakers.

I am hoping that Nathan & Koren will get to come out to visit for a day near Christmas & New Year’s Day.

Around the house fudge, M&Ms, peanut butter balls, and about 15 different kinds of cookies are all calling to me. . .

One of my favorite things is playing with fabric to create quilts.

A few plans for the rest of the week: I plan on finishing up the Christmas table topper for Mom.

Here is picture thought I am sharing:

I’ll be celebrating Christmas with homemade gifts this year.

To read other’s posts and find out more about The Simple Woman’s Daybook click here.

FOR TODAY Tuesday, 9 December 2008:

Outside my window it’s cold and windy.

I am thinking I really should be working on finishing up Christmas presents.

I am thankful for family close by.

From the learning room I am still hearing from Father about the difference between operating in Love as Jesus did and our natural tendency to operate in Love’s opposite which is fear and recognizing the difference between the two in each and every thought and feeling I have towards ALL others. (Perhaps this entry is suppose to be for homeschooling families? We did homeschool but all the chickadees have since flown the coop. However this Mom is still learning & will be forever so I’m going to post about the things that Father is currently showing me. Hope that’s okay!)

From the kitchen comes leftover sausage and rice for dinner.

I am wearing a white thermal shirt with butterflies, comfy jeans and sneakers. Oh, and Christmas socks!

I am creating homemade Christmas presents this year.

I am going no where today. Thank goodness as I’m such a homebody.

I am reading Color Magic for Quilters & other quilting books for inspiration.

I am hoping to get all my Christmas presents finished up in time.

I am hearing my Mom baking Christmas cookies in the kitchen.

Around the house not a creature was stirring not even a mouse. Oh, wait, there’s a fly Ludo just spied. He’ll hunt it down for as far and long as it takes him.

One of my favorite things is Mom’s Christmas cookies. *smile*

A few plans for the rest of the week: I plan to list a few more auctions and work on Christmas presents for Koren, Heather & my Mom.

Here is picture thought I am sharing: While Ludo is a companion sometimes, Christ Jesus is my constant companion. . .

Find out more about The Simple Woman’s Daybook here.

It was too nice outside not to go for a walk today!  And it’s been too long since I’ve been able to get out for a power walk!  I’ve changed my routes a bit since moving. . .  not sure if I’m liking the one I mapped out & walked today.  I guess I’ll give it some time and see if it grows on me. *smile*

Temp: 70° / Sunny
Time: 59:38 / 14:55 avg pace / 4.01 mph
Route: 4 mile trail
Daily: 5 mi / Monthly: 16.5 mi / YTD: 266.25 mi

Still no power walking to report but I do have mileage from some regular walking to log. . .

Monthly: 11.5 mi / YTD: 261.25 mi

Hmm. . .  There hasn’t been a lot of power walks on the agenda lately.  Not much of anything at all on the agenda actually.  Just trying to focus on hearing from Father on what to do next about a place to live and all.  Makes it hard to stay motivated and stick to your routine when you’re really worried about something. . .  But I did want to log the miles I have walked — most of them to the store and back.

Monthly: 7.5 mi / YTD: 257.25 mi

I added yesterday’s trip to the grocery store to today’s totals so I wouldn’t have to make a separate post for that.  Today was another beautiful fall day.  Great weather for walking.  Tomorrow should be nice weather for a walk; however, I’m not sure if there will be a large number of people on the trail training for the marathon because it’s Saturday.  Do I dare brave the crowds of runners?  I guess I’ll decide that in the morning.

Today is Halloween.  I bought some candy in case there were a few trick-or-treaters.  I sampled some of the Almond Joys and M&Ms I’d bought.  All I can say is, “What on earth have they done to the chocolate bars we loved as kids?”  Bleck.  It all has a greasy taste to me and it melts very easily making me think that the recipe has been changed somehow.  It’s definitely not the chocolate of my youth. . .    I didn’t see one trick-or-treater either.  Now the question is what to do with the stuff that’s left?

Temp: 65° / Sunny
Time: 1:25 / 14:55 avg pace / 4.02 mph
Route: 5.75 mile River Park trail
Daily: 6.75 mi / Monthly: 76.3 mi / YTD: 249.75 mi

The freeze on Monday night must have wiped out the Black-eyed Susan’s down by the river.  There are very few left.  The hills around Tulsa have a bit of color.  Not as spectacular as New England; but the reds, oranges, and yellows of the trees remind me that it’s fall.  I love fall.  Have I mentioned that before?  Fall in Tulsa is a lot more colorful than in NV, BTW.

Temp: 60° / Sunny
Time: 1:24 / 14:43 avg pace / 4.07 mph
Route: 5.75 mile River Park trail
Daily: 5.75 mi / Monthly: 69.55 mi / YTD: 243 mi

On Monday night we are suppose to have freezing temperatures for the overnight low.  HUH?  What happened to fall?  (I think it’s just a “glitch in the matrix.”)  I broke the 15 minute mile mark today!  Yippee!  (I hope that is not just a “glitch in the matrix.”)  *smile*

Temp: 66° / Sunny / Breezy
Time: 1:25 / 14:56 avg pace / 4.02 mph
Route: 5.75 mile River Park trail
Daily: 5.75 mi / Monthly: 63.8 mi / YTD: 237.25 mi

Another trip to Walmart. . .  this time for food.

Daily: 1 mi / Monthly: 58.05 mi / YTD: 231.5 mi

I decided to splurge — to treat myself — today to the Land’s End fleece jacket at the thrift store.  I also bought a long sleeve Danskin (or maybe it’s Athletic Works) shirt at Walmart to wear under my tee-shirt on colder days.  Yeah, my world is falling apart (roommate moved out leaving me with no way to afford the apartment. . .) and I’m splurging on clothing for my walks.  Makes perfect sense to me.  Not.

Daily: 1.5 mi / Monthly: 57.05 mi / YTD: 230.5 mi