Planning for the Turtle

I found the perfect gift for the Turtle Momma.  With this being my third grandbabe, it is her first baby.  So I thought it would be helpful to have all the information you need at your fingertips.  No not one of those heavy your having a baby book.  But instead a neat PINK organizer where she can keep the information she needs.

With the Family Facts Pregnancy Organizer & Planner everything she needs to plan for her baby’s arrival is at her fingertips. There are 128 pages for collecting information from whom to call when she goes into labor, to questions she will have for the doctor, to detailed lists including favorite boys/girls names, items she will need for her baby, items she will need for herself, and more and more.  This is like having her own personal staff to find and keep track of all essential information dealing with her pregnancy. The wipe clean clear-view vinyl binder along with business card holder, pocket folder, zippered pouch, stickers, and pen makes this the go to pregnancy organizer. Helpful tips and advice throughout. This is perfect for both first-time moms and women who are having their 2nd or more births.

I wish to thank Pam Socolow for sending me this wonderful organizer.  Of course I was not paid, just have the great book.  I sent this on to my daughter-in-law and she says it is perfect.  With her not near her own mother she is relying on her other mother-in-law to help her with the steps she needs to take.  Now with this aid she has a way of knowing what she has done, what is next and what to plan for after that.  PERFECT!

Related articles

• Turtle Life (theysayimnuts.blogspot.com)
• Turtles are Coming (theysayimnuts.blogspot.com)
• 10 Tips to Getting Organized Before the Baby Arrives -- and a Giveaway for a Pregnancy Planner and Organizer! (susanheim.blogspot.com)

Perfect Pairings: Couples Who Pray

Today I am joining That's Baloney on her Sunday Perfect Pairings.  It is where you pick a bible verse to pair with a photo you own.  I am going to place mine with a book I am currently studying. 

So for my perfect pairing I have picked the verses on love from 1 Corinthians to place with my favorite photo of Dear Hubby and I taken on our honeymoon trip.  This will go perfect with our goal we have set too!

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (New International Version)

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

I chose Couples Who Pray to review from BookSneeze and received a free copy for doing so.  This was because Dear Hubby and I have wanted to strengthen our prayers together.  As can happen so easily we have let our religious beliefs become more and more private.  Now we feel it is important to make a point to pray together.  It is a slow process...and I don't know why it is for us.  Other than it is a very intimate part of our lives, prayer.  But we are starting off praying once a week together.  We are also adding in bible study time too.  This is with the aid of a wonderful bible that our son provided for us.  Set up just for couples to study with.  My thanks to Lil J!  I know it says:

Matthew 18:19-20 (New International Version)

19 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two . . . gather in my name, there am I with them.”

I love that there is a 40 day challenge to help a couple strengthen this aspect of their lives.  And since I am one who learns best studying the question guide in the back of this book is a wonderful help to me.  I am sure it will help spurn some great eye opening conversations with Dear Hubby and I.  I want to leave you with one more item from Couples Who Pray.

Remember the acronym for remembering Six Steps to a Happy Marriage:

L – laughter
A – appreciation of your spouse
U – understanding
G – God (at the center)
H – honoring one another
S – support, or being supportive


DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy of this book to facilitate this review. No other compensation was provided.

Move Over Barbie Giveaway

Barbie may have showed young girls they could go anywhere and do anything.  But Carol Roth is guiding them to be leaders in the business world.  With common sense and business sense combined, The Entrepreneur Equation has step by step instructions on how women can be business owners while holding on to their self identity.  Today we are lucky to have Carol Roth guest post on the 7 Ways to Mentor a Future Businesswoman, adapted from her new book, "The Entrepreneur Equation"  Carol take it away!  (Watch for the giveaway of a special doll at the end!)

For girls, Barbie has been a good role model, showing them that attractive females can be astronauts, diplomats, and doctors. But when Ken launched his aggressive social media campaign to get Barbie to take him back by Valentine's Day (she did) after their 7-year breakup, Barbie's work-life balance seems to have gone out of kilter.

Message to Barbie: Ken's great, but don't let him distract you from your serious career goals. Like many young professional gals, Barbie has been successful working for others. But she's also occasionally worked for herself and been entrepreneurial, as an aerobics instructor, veterinarian, wedding stylist, photographer, pediatrician, and makeup artist, to name a few.

If, like Barbie, your girl has a nose for business and dreams of owning her own company one day, here are some ways you can help her grow into the role. If a girl can learn these skills while she's still playing with dolls, she'll be well on her way to success in any future profession.

Tell her she's good enough. Even the young businesswomen I coach hit a brick wall of fear. Can I do it? Can I learn it? Will I succeed? Yes, yes, and yes. Remind your girl often that she's got what it takes.

Stop her when she's self-critical. There's a difference between having high standards and beating yourself up. Women and girls tend to be hard on themselves. Teach your girl to do the opposite.


Don't discourage her inner Barbie. These days, I see lots of beautiful, successful women in business who have embraced their femininity. It's okay to be a girlie-girl. In fact, I've found it has some real business advantages.

Help her be honest, not nice. Our mothers taught us to be nice all the time, which was not always to our advantage. In business and in life, your girl needs to learn how to be polite, but honest. She'll garner more respect that way.

Tell her not to wait to be called on. Girls raise their hands and then wait for their cue to talk. Successful businesswomen speak up and contribute their ideas before they're asked to.

Help her think big. No goal is too big for a young girl to believe. When girls create an ambitious vision for their future, it will shape everything they do -- in school, extracurricular activities, and socially.

Encourage her to fear not. The fear of going after something and being rejected is often stronger in girls and women because they are taught to be safe, while males are taught to be risk takers.

* * *

Carol Roth has been helping businesses grow for over 15 years, ranging from solopreneurs to multinational corporations. A popular media personality on Fox News, MSNBC, and WGN-TV Chicago, among others, she is author of a new book, The Entrepreneur Equation: Evaluating the Realities, Risks, and Rewards of Having Your Own Business (BenBella, March 22, 2011). Because she aims to be a role model for girls and young women, she created the Carol Roth special edition doll -- sporting a smart black dress, leather computer bag, and hot-pink heels -- to show girls it's okay to be beautiful, successful, and powerful when they grow up. Carol Roth is on the cover of February's Doll's Magazine (http://www.dollsmagazine.com/.)

We are lucky enough to have a "Carol Roth doll" giveaway for my readers.  Isn't that exciting?  And it is easy to enter to win.  Just leave a comment (with you email listed in it please) telling us how you have helped break the Barbie image with yourself or  your children.  I will give anyone who becomes a new friend on GFC 2 extra entries.  Just let me know you added on to my GFC and the name you listed under.  (Put it in two comments please.)  

Related articles

• Here We Go: Carol Roth's Equation Helps Calculate Your Business Trajectory (revenews.com)
• 6 Steps to Take before Starting a Business (businesspundit.com)
• Advice for all Entrepreneurs (benspark.com)

in·di·vis·i·ble

in·di·vis·i·ble: consisting of one whole whose parts cannot be divided or treated individually 

This coming April is going to mark the 5 year anniversary of Dear Hubby's sobriety.  I am so very proud for him.  But I am also understanding how this has at times been a day by day battle.  Things are much easier for DH now.  At first is was pretty hard for him.  He says that stress is the hardest thing to handle for a problem drinker.  To not let the stress take over and then hide with a bottle to keep from dealing with the issue.

I know that is the underling story line with Indivisible by Kristen Heitzmann too.  This is the latest novel (out of 18 published) for Kristen.  She provided me a suspense story where Police Chief Jonah Westfall has to keep to his sobriety while working to catch the one who is creating a terrifying situation in his small town.  Add in the underlying tension between Jonah and Tia, the Police Chief is not sure how well he can hang on to his promises to himself. You can read chapter one here.

I love the quotes that start each chapter too.  One of my favorites is by an unknown author.  "A part of you has grown in me.  And so you see, it's you and me together forever and never apart, maybe in distance, but never in heart.

At the end of the story is another important part.  Tia also realizes that she has her own demons to release.  Every partner of an alcoholic has to learn this lesson.  We can not expect for them to battle, overcome and win while we sit on the sidelines.  I know I had to learn to forgive my Dear Hubby for the things that happened while he was drinking.  And I had to let go of the fear of what may happen.  Instead to grow closer to him and live in the day we have together.  That is what I am so thankful for....our days we share one at a time.

DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Deep End of the Pool

Did you ever think that raising children is like swimming in the deep end of the pool?  Well it is a way I sorta look at things.  I am talking about boundaries here.  Kids will say they do not want rules but they do.  Honestly!  For without them they are swimming in the deep end of the pool.  And they did not even know how they made it that far out. 

Image via WikipediaLet me explain.  When a child is learning to swim they step out a lil at a time testing the depth with their toes.  Bouncing up and down in the water to see if they can still touch bottom.   Eventually it gets just a lil too deep and under they go.  Spitting, sputtering and all wet now, the child will turn around and get back to where they are safe.  They just found their boundary.  Now as they learn to dog paddle and get around better they can venture out a lil more each time.  But they learn that going past that rope floating in the middle of the pool is where the deep end.  No matter what they do out there they will not have the safety of touching bottom.  We have all see the kids float up to that rope and look longing over it, knowing one day they will be able to venture out that far. 

Well if we do not show them their boundaries with rules in life.  Then I feel we are just throwing them in the deep end of the pool.  That sink or swim mentality.  And that is not the way to raise a child who will feel safe and secure.  Of course they eventually learn how to swim.  Go past the rope and even start jumping off the high dive as they become more and more accomplished.  Just like life.  The rules we give our kids are the testing grounds.  You can go here but farther out is not safe at this time.  And they test that limit.  Many times as a matter of fact.  Til they learn that is where it really is safe to be.  In that safe area, kids can enjoy life.  Play, learn and soak up all around them.  This is where children are happiest at.  Knowing they are loved, cared for and protected. 

An example of that feeling in life is the basis of Hollywood Nobody by Lisa Samson.  Here Scotty, a 15 year old girl, writes in her blog, Hollywood Nobody about the lack of limits in her life.  And how it is illogical of her mother to let her do as she pleases while living an uncommon lifestyle.  Traveling from movie site to movie site with her mother's job, Scotty has not been given boundaries.  Her mother expects her to wing it and make it safely.  Well of course it does not go that way.  I have to say that it was enjoyable to real this novel this last week.  But I cringed at how Scotty had to fend for herself so often.  She had to figure out what and who was safe.  What a responsibility to put on a teens head.  I loved the blogger format that was throughout the story too.  (Of course!)  A good Young Adult read.  This is the first book of four where you can follow Scotty through her travels and as she grows up.

Now, what do you think.  Do you agree that they rope is in the pool for a good reason?  Is there a way you help your kids know the rules and still feel safe.  Are you one of the free thinkers that feels kids will make their way?  How do you approach teaching your kids? 

I received this book free from NavPress Publishers as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Taking advantage of the cape trend

Guest post written by Caty Crawford

I put it off for a few months but I just couldn't stand it for all that much longer to not have a winter cape. They're just so adorable and I think that by the beginning of this month I was the only one of my friends that didn't already have one of them.

So I went online to try and find some that were on clearance in all of those after the holidays clothing styles and when I was on my search for them I came across the website ClearTVBundle.com and decided to look through it. I showed it to my roommates and they agreed to order an internet package for our internet service at our apartment.

Well, I did finally buy a cape that got me in on the cape trend. It just got shipped to my place last week and it's the cutest thing ever! I feel like Blair Waldorf from Gossip Girl when I wear it because it's pretty preppy and chic, not too much so.

30 Minutes for the ME Project Giveaway

You know I have been telling you about my 30 Minutes for Me idea.  Yesterday was very hard for me to get in that lil 30 minutes.  Why?  Well as I can do so well, I get caught up in helping others.  As a matter of fact that is what the whole of today has been too.  But I can say that I did do something that I enjoy deeply just for me.  And that is to relax, read a bit, just escape for a while.  If no other time other than laying in bed before I go to sleep then that is a lil of my time.  I do wish to learn to do better than just that though.

This idea of taking care of Me is not mine though.  I have been working on The Me Project that was started by Kathi Lipp.  Kathi Lipp is the author of The Husband Project and The Marriage Project, serves as food writer for Nickelodeon, and has had articles published in several magazines.  The Me Project invites you to spend "21 days to living the life you've alway's wanted."  I really feel it is important to put yourself first for your own sake.  Mom's especially are horrid about caring for everyone else.  Taking that back burner.  And honestly, this is not even the lesson we teach our own children.  We know that if we do not care for ourselves than how can we care for anyone else.  But, if we start looking at how to change our own attitudes of our rules in life and how to reach the goals we set, then we can both become mentally and physically happier.  According to Daniel Pink, author of Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, taking small steps every day will not only help you stay committed to your goal, but will also help you ultimately achieve that goal when obstacles come up. Author Kathi Lipp wants us to live out those dreams—and have some fun along the way.  Her gracious tone and slap your side humor helps us along the way too!

So has your to-do lists replaced your goals. If so then you might want a handy guide that coaches women to do one simple thing toward achieving our goals each day for three weeks. Then you find that you will have more to offer as a wife, mother, friend, volunteer, career woman.  Just how to fine that balance between living day-to-day with purpose and how to go after the passion in our heart.  I now challenge you to start your own Me Project.  And here is the way to start.


Kick Start Living Your Dream -

And there are rewards for taking care of yourself.  With the help of The Me Project, Kathi Lipp and Kathy Carlton Willis Communications there is a Grand Prize Giveaway.  By leaving a comment here (make sure your email is in the comment!) on your plans for JUST YOU, your name can be entered to win a Deluxe Starbucks Coffee Gift Basket.  That would be

* Three 2.5-oz. bags of Starbucks coffee
(Sumatra, House Blend, and French Roast)
* Tazo black tea
* Starbucks marshmallow cocoa
* Almond roca
* Almond roca buttercrunch toffee cookies
* White chocolate and raspberry cookies
* 2 Starbucks mugs
* Keepsake black bamboo basket

On March 7, 2011 KCWC will draw and announce a winner of the grand prize.  And as you know....I did not get paid.  Heck, I did not even get this really amazing basket from Starbucks.  I did receive a copy of The Me Project.  And I am very thankful of the support from KCWC and Kathi Lipp in having me be part of their blog tour.

Related articles

• "The Me Project by Kathi Lipp & giveaway!" and related posts (confessionsofanover-workedmom.blogspot.com)

Always is my Name

Dear Hubby has always said he knew he would marry Mrs. Right.  He just did not know her first name would be Always.  Yeah, that's me.  It is so funny that I can tell him right where any thing is in the house.  Missing socks to his toothbrush to that last hidden candy bar.  Of course I know where the candy bar is.   But it is more that I am detail minded (aka OCD) and know EVERTYTHING!  Well not everything....but a heck of a lot of it.

Actually I am a very resourceful finder of things.  Need help getting aid for a person, call me.  I can tell you about food pantries, clothes closets, how to file for aid for homes and medical, the programs to lower your bills and the ones to give you a support group.  If your looking for information.  Click, click, click and I am looking it up.  It was on this day in 1896 that the Tootsie Roll was introduced. It became America's first individually wrapped penny candy. And that just perfect quote.....Well of course I pick up "Women Know Everything".  It is a fantastic lil PINK book that has 3,241 quips, quotes and brilliant (we are talking women here) remarks.   This book first arrived in 2007 but the newest edition was released this month. 

See what would be some favorites?  Oh of course, my love of coffee.  "Behind every successful woman . . . is a substantial amount of coffee." This was said by American cartoonist Stephanie Piro.  I would have to second that one.  But you know it is always to have another woman back you up when your out to win that discussion (we never argue, do we?)  Don't take my word for it.  Hermoine Gingold said "Fighting is essentially a masculine idea; a woman's weapon is her tongue."    Oh and talking about us wonderful females...let's not forget that March is Women's History Month.

Well, I am off.  I have a all so busy day doing errands.  Some of that I know everything kinda stuff.  Helping a man who is homeless.  We are setting up his Social Security benefits, going to see about housing, popping in at the food pantry and clothes closet, to name a few things.  I am really glad that I can help out.  Now ta ta for now........

Dang it, wait.....Thanks first to Quirk Books at their fun site irreference.com for sending me my argument backup book.  Of course they did not pay me just provided me with material to help prove.....WOMEN KNOW EVERYTHING!

Related articles

• Women's History Month: What about her story? (leftfootforward.org)

Monday Mayhem

The ladies over at RHOK have asked, what is your favorite lil' Road Trip? And invited me to link up to share one or some of your favorite places to visit close to your home.

Mine is the WOW tour.  WOW is the Way Out Wineries of Texas.  Since we have an award winning vineyard here in Comanche Texas let's start there.  Brennan Vineyards located in Comanche, TX has the tasting room in the McCrary House built in 1879. The McCray house is one of the oldest houses in West Central Texas. The new winery and event center buildings are only feet away from the tasting room.  My favorite is the Three White Chicks.  This is a sweet white wine that is perfect at the end of the day.  I can sip it and sit on the porch on a summer evening.  Nothing can be better at that time.  Pure relaxation.

The Way Out Wineries offer events throughout the year. In March there is a St. Patrick’s Day Weekend event. Later the Wildflowers Road Trip takes place. The first weekend of July is the Picnic Road trip. Most of the events require tickets.  Road trip winery events take place over the course of three days enabling wine enthusiasts to travel to all of the wineries.  Don't forget to get your Go Texan WOW passport too.  Lots of extras there for free!

My next favorite is Sister Creek Vineyards.  It is located in the heart of the Texas Hill Country in Sisterdale, Texas (Pop. 25).  The Muscat Canelli Reserve is better than the bubbly champagne in my book. You will find a white Italian style wine with residual sugar and slightly carbonated.  This is the perfect pairing with some fruit and cheese to enjoy with friends on a Sunday afternoon.  I can not think of a better wine to serve then.

Another fun thing was that Debra Ann Elliott of High Heels and Hot Flashes tagged me with  this writing meme/blog award called "7 Facts. So now I must tell you seven unknown facts about me and tag 15 of my blogger friends.
Here are the rules:
1. Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to their blog.
2. Post seven random facts about yourself.
3. Pass on the award along to 15 other worthy bloggers.

Here are my seven little know facts:

1.  I am a pen pal to several people in prison.  I can not think how hard it is to be locked up and not have some sort of support system.  So I have different people that I write to on a regular basis.  Giving a outlook to life when they eventually get to go home.  It is very rewarding to have these friendships to build on.  The first thing I had to learn was not to judge anyone.  That accepting them for the person they are now is the key.  Gosh, I know we all have our past and I would not want mine all dug up either.
2.  I ran out of deodorant recently.  And since for a weird unexplainable reason we have 6 men's deodorant here.  I decided not to buy mine but use what was available.  Gosh, I smell all manly now!  EWWW!
3.  I bought me ANOTHER travel coffee cup.  Mine keep getting 'lost' by some man who lives here (eyeing Dear Hubby).  This one is looks like a paper coffee to go cup but is ceramic with a silicone lid. I am going to have to soak the lid...it taste like rubber.
4. My favorite thing to do at night is to curl up in bed with a book and a snack.  We are told not to eat right at bedtime.  But I will say I always fall asleep so happy and satisfied this way.
5. I love playing the Wii with my Dear Hubby.  Especially if I win.  Just so happy to be able to physically move and get him too.  Horrid I know but I have a bad competitive streak. 
6. When I get overwhelmed I do 1 of three things.  Clean/rearrange the house.  Color my hair a different shade.  Break old plates.  Yes I keep old sets of dishes just for this reason.  When I just can not handle life anymore and the stress is making me crazy, I take a few of these not needed dishes outside and bust them up.  Okay, I have to clean up the mess.  But it is so good to hear the crash and bang.  And still have not torn up anything of importance to me.  They say you should try throwing wadded up kleenex as hard as you can.  Just not any loud noise there for me!
7. I miss miss miss not having a houseful of kiddos here.  I miss not doing childcare.  I miss the income from it.  I miss the happiness of the kids.  I miss the order to a day when they are around.  I miss the laughter and awe.  I miss the cuddles and kisses. 

Now I am tagging the following blogger friends:

That's Baloney! -  

Love with Katie

imnotatrophywife

BookReviewsByMolly

tupelodeals

Of Stuff and Things

aquariann

Unknown Mami

Toes That Twinkle!

Furry Bottoms 

Frugal Living by Rachael

itsrandombutrelevant-tome

The Way I See Things

Reinvented Mama

Not Worth Mentioning

Oh and talking about kiddos let me share one more thing.  Princess Emma is a fan of Martha Speaks.  That I am glad of.  So many children's shows that I do not like but this is a great one for content and learning.  This week there are  new episodes of Martha Speaks. PBS KIDS will premiere 5 brand new episodes featuring everyone’s favorite talking dog beginning today, President’s Day, Monday, February 21, 2011 (check local listings). Join Martha and her friends as they explore the arts while learning words such as soprano, conductor, legend, dramatize, and more.

The fun starts with “The Opera Contest” and “Maestro Martha”. In “The Opera Contest,” a local opera company is holding a contest to get kids interested in opera.  In “Maestro Martha,” bad guys Pablum and Weaselgraft have a plan to turn a charity concert into a heist by using the power of music...very strange music.  On Wednesday, February 23, in “Martha Acts Up,” Mrs. Boxwood offers Martha a part in Alice in Wonderland. Martha is thrilled at her opportunity to become a star of the theater, but when she finds out she’s cast as the Cheshire cat, she’s horrified.  The week concludes on Friday, February 25 with the kids’ take on classic Greek myths. In “Myth Me?” and “TD’s Myth Take,” the gang turns a boring, rainy day into fun by acting out Greek myths.

In addition to the new episodes, join Martha and pals online at PBSKIDS.org/martha for new games, printables, and videos. New this season is a feature called Dog. In addition, kids can play with theater-associated words in the new game Truman’s Word Play. There is a Martha Speaks Facebook page too. We even have a coupon that you can post which enables your readers to get 10% off personalized Martha Speaks merchandise at Ty’s Toy Box.

Now last but not least at all....is my 30 Minutes for me for Sunday was....sat on the porch and had a couple glasses of wine.  It was so nice to sit and soak up some sunshine.  By the time my 30 minutes was up I felt as if I had had a refreshing nap.  Relaxed and ready to start in on the next project. 

So tell me what your doing for yourself every day?  Anything?  Come on....you know how important you are.  Just give in and indulge a little.  You won't regret it....I am sure.

Perfect Pairings: Dance

Ecclesiastes 3:4 - A time to cry; A time to laugh; A time to grieve; A time to dance.

Want to share your own perfect pairing?

Go here for help finding a bible verse to pair with your photo.

I am linking this up with That's Baloney!  Perfect Pairings of the RHOK.

A Day Filled with Promise

Gosh it is quiet here this morning.  Well I guess not quiet as not stirring.  Dear Hubby, College Girl and Granny M all still tucked away.  The herd of dogs have been out and are now giving me a lil serenade of their soft doggie snores.  Sitting here by the front windows I hear birds telling me to fill the bird bath and feeders.  And the wind is creating music for me with the chimes on the porch.  Not a bad way to start the day. 

I am all cuddled up in my soft fleece robe and warm fur lined house boots.  Dreaming of a cup of coffee but not ready to get to making it yet.  Where are my coffee fairies?  Could use a few around here.  Other wise planning in my head the day ahead.  One whole day to do as I wish.  No commitments.  Full of promise.  Limits, yes....financial ones of course.  Always there.  But still ready to be experienced.  So what to do?

Well my family likes to eat so I know I will have to make a couple of meals.  And clean up from them.  There goes a couple of hours.  And not too pretty to look at right now.  A bath would not be amiss.  Deduct 30 minutes there.  Going to sit here and goof off some as that is my daily fun routine.  What do you say?  Minus another 2 hours of my day?  So 4 1/2 hours off of a 15 hour day.  Not bad....round up.  Still 10 hours to play with.                                              Image via Wikipedia

Of course I could weed the front flower beds, rake the front yard of weeds, put out the sticker killer that I doubt will work, cut back the limbs that need to be trimmed, rake the fallen leaves in the back yard and clean the porch.  That would only take oh 4 to 6 hours of my day.  And is needed.  But gosh it sure does not sound like a day full of promise.  Wait wait....look again.  Yes it is work, needed work.  But it is also preparing for those beautiful flowers that bloom in Granny M's flower beds.  And it helps me enjoy those mornings of drinking coffee on the porch.  I love the fresh look when it is all tided back up.  Spring surely can not arrive if I do not prepare for her?  So yes, let's plan a work day.  So that tomorrow I can take a break.  Sit and drink.  Listen to the birds.  And think of the chores to be done.

30 Minutes to Fall Asleep

This is an easy one today. Ran away from family and friends. Curled up in bed and read my book. Loved every moment of it. Right up and though the full nights sleep I had from it too. Totally relaxed and content. What a way to go to sleep.