October Challenges

     Several months ago my monthly challenge to myself was to spend at least 15 minutes a day cleaning or organizing an area that drastically needed it.  Last month Martha set herself the task of de-cluttering for at least 15 minutes a day, and she has extended it through October.  I had meant to join her on that one in September, but never got rolling on it.  Well, I'm doing it for October, starting today.  I am going to clean out and rearrange the bottom of my china cabinet and the cabinets where I keep my pots and pans.  They have needed it for a long time.

     I am also, like Jae, going to start walking again.  Today I won't push myself too hard, but will grab my daughter and a dog or two and walk briskly for at least 30 minutes this evening.

     Those are my challenges for October; not too hard of a goal to reach, surely?

                                                  

Tags: October challenges

Comfort on another bad news day........

Thank you, Donna, for the beautiful graphic.

Here, the sun is shining. 

It is 78 degrees, a gentle breeze is blowing, and the neighborhood is quiet.

Homemade chicken noodle soup, flavored with bay and thyme, is bubbling in the slow cooker.

I just made snickerdoodles for the kids.

In less than 90 minutes my husband, son and daughter will come through that front door.

We'll share news about our days' events, start homework, eat a cookie, run outside for a few minutes' exercise with the dogs, sit down to a hot, home cooked meal.

We'll read the Bible together for a while, as we do on Monday evenings.

We'll settle into various evening activities, shower, get into our PJs and go to bed.

We'll set our alarms to get up in the morning and do it all again.

But near Lancaster Pennsylvania, at least three families are living a nightmare right now.  *Update: at least six have been confirmed dead.

Make sure you kiss your family today.  Tell them you love them.  Call them to tell them long distance if you have to.  Don't put it off.

Something Brighter To Think About

This is from The Breast Cancer Site:

On Oct.01, you and others who clicked on the "Fund Free Mammograms" button funded 6.3 mammograms for underprivileged women. See Daily Results for more info.

                                       

Tags: Breast Cancer Site, Fund Free Mammograms

Again???

Just got a news alert that "a number of people" have been shot dead at an Amish school in Pennsylvania!!

Popping In to say Hi

A couple of Saturdays ago  Martha sent out a  Saturday Challenge: she, along with anyone who wanted to join, would do her Saturday jobs around the house, cooking, cleaning, etc, for at least 45 minutes, take a little break at the computer and log what she'd accomplished in her own journal's comments; then return to work for another 45 minutes.  Anyone who wanted to join in would do the same, and leave a comment in Marths's journal as well.  I wasn't able to join in, but I really enjoyed reading the comments thread that day.  Martha was a whirlwind, and she had some competition, too!  I thought it was a neat idea, because it was like cleaning and cooking along with a bunch of friends.  Made the work go a lot faster. 

This past Saturday she did the same, although she wasn't feeling well.  Again, it was really neat to read the comment thread for that entry.  Again, I wasn't able to join in because I was a "chair-potato" all day.

Well, today, it occurred to me that, since I don't work outside the home anymore, Saturdays aren't necessarily my big cleaning and cooking day, anyway.  So this morning, following Martha's lead, I worked around the house for 30 or 40 minutes at a time, interspersed with 15 or 20 minutes on the computer playing, writing, and reading journals.  Not quite as much fun as Martha's Saturday "Clean-alongs", but, hey, it made it just a little more interesting for me!

So, so far this morning I have: done two loads of laundry, washed, dried and put away; swept my front porch, walk and drive, cleaned my bathroom and kitchen; run to the grocery for some stock items; and started something in the slow cooker for dinner.  When I get up from here I shall clean out my refrigerator and clean that little water trap under the ice/water dispenser in the door -- that little sucker gets gross really fast, and I'm a little bit fanatic about it being clean inside the tray!  I'm grabbing a bite of lunch, as well.  So more, later.......

J-Land Chat

Guido has asked that we spread the word about the next J-Land Chat, so here it is:

As the month of October is now here, I thought to announce that this month's J-land chat will take place on Sunday, October 15th at 8pm BST or 3pm EDT or 12noon PDT.

This is also the day that nominations start for the VIVI's. Rather than discuss such weighty subjects, I'd like to turn it into an informal get-together. The link to the Journals Cafe is in my  Sidebar, and I'll post another reminder next weekend.

!!! SPREAD THE WORD !!! SPREAD THE WORD !!!

Tags: J-land Chat

Ready for a great week!

         I'm sitting here having a great cup of coffee.  Andrew is getting ready for school, and it isn't quite time for Eler Beth to get up yet.  My weekend kind of went by in a blur, but this morning I feel better than I have in a long time!

Friday night I started getting a headache -- a PMS headache, along with accompanying discomforts -- and knew it wasn't going to go away very soon.  I was up most of Friday night, because nothing that I took or did got rid of it. 

Saturday I had the house to myself for most of the day, and I sat here in front of the computer for most of that time.  There was nothing that was urgent to do, and I felt like crap.  I did manage to get caught up on my email and my journal reading, and I made a few entries.

I want to thank everyone who sent best wishes to my friend, Julie, and everyone who has said they will keep her in their thoughts and prayers.  I really appreciate that.  Julie has always been like one of the family, just another sister to me (and I have so many, what's one more?), so it is as if a member of my family is going through this.  I will call her later on today, to see how she's doing, and her surgery is tomorrow.

I also want to thank everyone who is going to send a postcard to Mrs. Carman.  I'm putting mine in the mail today.  I think those kids in her class will be tickled to get cards from so many states, and I'm anxious to see how many she gets in total.  Thank you guys!

Sunday, because of still feeling like crap and because of not sleeping much Friday or Saturday, I spent most of the day in bed.  I guess I needed it, because I was able to get up early this morning and spend some time with Thomas while he was getting ready for work, and I feel like I can actually get some things done today.

I hope everyone has a wonderful day!