Outside my window….the sun is shining brightly and the temperature is well below zero.  Just sitting here contemplating the puzzle of that.  Whe I was a little kid the sun shining automatically meant warmth.  I never thought about the fact that the sun shone in the winter and it was cold out.  Now as I get older it somehow feels as if the laws of nature rather than being comforting in their regularity are betraying me by not being as I think they should be.

I am thinking….about staying inside since it is so cold out.  I have decided that today’s workout will consist of a date with Billy Blanks instead of a brisk walk up the road.  I don’t think that I can walk briskly enough to overcome sub-zero temperatures.

I am thankful for…husbands who tuck you in when you fall asleep before they come to bed, children who pick up before they come upstairs at night, and sons who do their chores and more without being asked.

From the schoolroom….I am down to two Literature courses and Matthew continues to plug away.  This is MK’s last week of break then her next semester will start.  A lot of academics going on in this house.

From the kitchen….there are lots of leftovers from the weekend to sustain us today. Doug made five large pizzas yesterday and Layn and I made two large shepherd’s pies on Saturday so there is plenty to get us through until tomorrow.

I am wearing….layer upon layer of warm clothing until the fire can take the chill of this old house.

I am creating….some original creations that will be going up for sale…more on that later.

I am going…nowhere today. Melissa took my car to work this morning so there will be no trips today.

I am reading….Linda Truss’ book “Eats, Shoots & Leaves”

I am hoping….for some good grades on the two subjects that I finished last week.  The final projects that I turned in were deserving of superior grades, I think.

I am hearing….Matthew cleaning up the breakfast dishes and listening to his music.  The dishwasher is running and the washer is filling.  The house is full of very homey sounds this morning.

Around the house…..the stove and furnace are chasing the chill out of the corners while the love and good will of the occupants is busy chasing the chill out of the hearts of the occupants.

One of my favorite things….the afternoon we had yesterday.  Our treasure came to spend the afternoon with us and enjoy pizza and a game of Scrabble.  Kay, we love having you in the circle of our family.

A few plans for the rest of the week…..the usual activities sprinkled with a lot of love and laughter.

Here is a picture thought that I am sharing with you….

Layn helped me make shepherd’s pie Saturday afternoon.  He got a big kick out of scooping the mashed potatoes out of the pan and spreading them over the vegetables.

It was hard to make him wait until we were all done before he could lick his fingers.

Sometimes when Layn gets to be a bit overtired he and I sit down in the rocker and put in a Thomas the Tank Engine video.  I taught Layn to pump his arm in the air and say “choo, choo!” when he sees the engines.

Now he doesn’t even have to see the engines, all he has to do is hear the opening bars of the theme song and he raises his arm and looks at me as if to say, “let’s watch Thomas.”

Even with a graham cracker in one hand he still has the other free to do his “choo, choo!” when Thomas comes on the video.

Avoid alliteration. Always.
Prepositions are not words to end sentences with.
Employ the vernacular.
Eschew ampersands & abbreviations, etc.
Parenthetical remarks (however relevant) are unnecessary.
It is wrong to ever split an infinitive.
Contractions aren’t necessary.
Foreign words and phrases are not apropos.
One should never generalize.
Eliminate quotations. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “I hate quotations. Tell me what you know.”

Outside my window…the thermometer is in the toilet (it’s warmer in there).  It is minus 20 out there and not likely to get a whole lot warmer.  Do the math (even I can)! Our high today is supposed to be around 5.  That means that and additional 25 degrees will have to be added to the mix to raise us up to our high.  There still won’t be enough degrees out there to go around.  I am staying by the stove.

I am thinking…how much I love chainsaws, wood splitters, go devils and men who use them.

I am thankful for….the God who grew the trees, the son who procured the wood, the husband and sons who split the wood and the daughter and sons who stacked it. Oh, and did I mention that I love being warm.

From the schoolroom…I am on my own! Matthew is in Washington standing up for the rights of the unborn.

From the kitchen….I saw Melissa put some chickens in the crockpot this morning so I know that there will be something hot, good, and filling to put into us tonight.

I am wearing…layers, upon layers.

I am creating…some superior writing for my finals this week.  I have finals in two English classes this week and I must write like I have never written before.

I am going…to Verona to pray for those who are in Washington witnessing for life and for all the lives that are being threatened by abortion.

I am reading…Elizabeth I’s speeches for my 16th century literature class

I am hoping….that all the vehicles on this farm continue to perform in spite of the sub-zero weather.

I am hearing….Layn chattering to himself, MK bustling around cleaning up the kitchen, and the sound of the tractor across the road filling the round bale feeder.

Around the house…it is fairly warm and everything has been put in its place.  MK is in charge today so I know things will run smoothly.

One of my favorite things….a nice hot cup of tea, a warm quilt and a good book.  That is what is in my future for today.  I have a pile of reading to do before I write and today is a good day to do it.

A few plans for the rest of the week…school, prayer, family, friends.  That about sums it up.

Here is a picture thought that I am sharing with you….

A baby and a pregnant woman…that is why we do it.  Thousands will converge on Washington today to witness to the sanctitiy of life.  I don’t know what the weather is like there today but there have been years when ice storms have been braved, fanatic opponants have been smiled on tolerantly, and rude and ignorant bystanders have been fielded with love and patience.  Today is a prime example of the American system in action.  The right to demonstrate peacefully.

The funniest 16 seconds on film!!!!

you choose.  Often when she sits down to the piano to practice MK takes Layn up on her lap and lets him have his chance to “play.”  Now that he has done this so much he can’t pass the piano without begging to get up and pound on the keys for a few minutes.  I don’t know if this portends great talent or my being locked up in a mental institution.  Time will tell.

Outside my window…we are in a deficit situation!!! It is -6 out there so I advise everyone to stay inside.  There is absolutely no chance of running into non-existant degrees.  Stoke up the fire, put the kettle on to boil, today I am staying inside and in my jammies.

I am thinking….I have the best bunch of kids that anyone could ask for. 

I am thankful for….my family and the way that they get along together.  I also love the fact that they can be so goofy without any worry for what the rest of us think.

From the schoolroom…Matthew and I will continue to engage in feats of scholarship.  I am of the opinion that Martin Luther King would have been better served by keeping the schools open.  Just saying.

From the kitchen….leftovers from yesterday’s celebration.

I am wearing….long johns and a long pink flannel nightgown.  Remember, it is cold out there.

I am creating….surprises for my Pay it Forwards.  I hope that the recipients like their surprises.

I am going…nowhere today! Too cold, too much to do, and too little motivation.

I am reading….nothing at the moment. I have so much required reading for school right now that I haven’t got what it takes to add on another book. But I do have a Barnes and Noble gift card!!!!

I am hoping….that this cold snap lasts for awhile.  My daughter reminded me that the NYS apple growers need some of this cold weather for a good growing season.  It would be good to have some sub-zero weather so that we can have some good apples come fall.

I am hearing…Isabella snoring, MK and Melissa chatting in the kitchen, and Matthew rustling around in the livingroom as he settles down to say his morning prayers.

Around the house…it’s not too bad around here.  MK and I picked up last night before we went to bed and a lot was done around here on Saturday so there really is not too much that needs to be done this morning.  Laundry calls but that is about all.

One of my favorite things…a hot cup of tea, a warm shawl, and a good conversation with one of my children.

A few plans for the rest of the week….school, perhaps some sewing (Melissa and I have a plan), staying warm, and spending time with my family.

Here is a picture thought that I am sharing with you…

Yesterday in honor of my birthday (which is actually today) my daughter MK and my soon to be daughter Melissa planned and prepared a special celebration in my honor.  There was gluten free lasagna.

Half moon cookies that evoked good memories of my childhood and my beloved grandmother.

An evening spent with my goofy family playing games.  Doug can be very intense when he is playing Wii archery.

Matthew has the whole thing down to a science, of course he won.

Mary-Kate even managed to have some fun amidst all of her duties as hostess.

Thank you everyone not only did I have a good time but it was so good to be wrapped in so much love.

MK just came in with the mail and there was a package in it for me.  I love surprises and I love packages and I love Pay if Forwards!!!!!!!  I love most of all how God works.  Monday is my birthday and I bet Joanne Collins didn’t even know that when she mailed out these beautiful mittens and scarf.

Thank you dear friend! Not only will I stay warm but I will think of you and the care with which you made these and say a little prayer for you.

My birthday is coming up.  That means a celebration in this house.  For the past two weeks MK and Melissa have had their heads together whispering their plans.  Last night they were baking cookies. 

When I was a kid my grandmother used to give me halfmoon cookies from the Hemstroughts Bakery.  They were the best cookies you could ever have.  After she died they were something that always reminded me of her.  For this birthday these two goofs have decided to make halfmoon cookies for me.

I don’t know what is going to come from this circus.  While making the icing Melissa turned to MK and told her that she had given her the lemon flavoring instead of the vanilla!  Those two were doing a lot more laughing and giggling in the kitchen than I have heard in a long time.  I looked around and there were no glasses of wine or rum out so they couldn’t have been under the influence.

Unless…..they drank my bottle of vanilla and that is why they had to resort to lemon flavoring?

I was persuaded to take a walk to “clear my head” since I have been having difficulty finding my muse this morning.  Just between you, me and the floor I think my muse has very wisely fled until the thermometer turns to a nice shade of red again.  Since there are only 19 degrees out there and the likelihood of my bumping into one is slim (it is windy also) I bundled up.  Also I took Isabella with me because you know what they say, “misery loves company!”

At first Isabella was inclined to do her business and stay close to the house.  Pretty smart for an ordinarily dumb dog.

Finally she showed her true intelligence and was cajolled into accompanying me on a walk around the property.

We both quickly learned that the sun didn’t even have the courage to come out today.  No wonder there are so few degrees floating around.

The snow was so deep that it went over the tops of my boots and quickly soaked my socks.  Thanks for the advice Mary and Sherry.  Now I am not only without inspiration I have cold, wet feet too.

I think the calves are the only smart people around here.  They care not for the opinions of others they have purchased themselves some warm fur coats and that’s what’s in style in our barn this season.

I have since come inside and am now ensconsced with a hot mug of tomato soup, an apple, a rice cake, and a pot of my favorite tea.  Inspiration, come and get me.