Outside My Window ~ 9.5.10

Outside My Window…is a beautiful morning.  There is a light breeze….blue skies with an occasional touch of white, wispy clouds painted across the sky.  Our temperature is currently 78ºF at noon with a forecast high of 82ºF for the day.  Just beautiful!  Yesterday was pretty much the same, except no clouds and a bit more wind than today.  Funny how after a hurricane passes through, you always seem to end up with these beautiful days….almost as if it has sucked all the humidity and cloud cover from the area as it exits.  The wind is common as well but it is generally nothing to worry with…just adds to the beautiful day.  We were very lucky that Earl turned as predicted and stayed off the coast enough to only give us a bit of rain and wind.  In fact, the nor’easter we experienced this past November was far worse than Earl was.  🙂  I’m hoping perhaps this will be our only close call this year….but I’m also well aware of the fact that we haven’t even reached the peak of the season.  One of the worst storms to hit this area in recent years, Hurricane Isabel, came through our area in mid September. 

I am thinking…about what I would like to do today.  I know what I should be doing…cleaning…but that doesn’t sound as much fun as ~ well, anything else.  🙂  I know I need to get my work station and surrounding area together….it is in a bit of disarray at the moment.

I am thankful…that I have the best manager ever and that my tire disaster wasn’t any worse than it was.  I know I’m very lucky this one made it into the office without incident even though it came apart about halfway to work.  And even though I just got four brand new ones….I will be checking them a whole lot closer than I was before!  As far as my manager….how lucky am I that I have one that will change your tire for you in the middle of a very hot and dirty parking lot first thing in the morning….without complaining!  He even apologized for dripping a bit of sweat on my back seat as he replaced the jack ~ I told him that was absolutely no problem at all!!  He is truly a gem in my book!

From my kitchen…well, right now I’m enjoying a glass of blackberry sage iced tea ~ sweetened of course.  Later today I will probably make some hamburgers.  But my most creative endeavour in the kitchen today will be making some bread.  I think I will make a loaf of my crusty bread and a pan of loaf bread.  I have been thinking of different ways I can possibly save money on my food bills and that is one thing I believe will help.  I know I can get a loaf of white bread at the store for less than $3.00 …. but it doesn’t taste good to me.  I know my crusty bread is good….and I’m pretty confident I can make a good loaf bread too.  It will require a bit more time, but that will be good too….enjoying something I made gives me great satisfaction and if it saves me money ~ even more.  Right now, I’m making some home fries with eggs and turkey bacon for a late brunch.

I am going…to have to pick up some more bird seed at the store very soon.  I have noticed there have been a few more birds around the past week, especially cardinals.  It must be time for some of them to come home for the winter.  I do have a lot of cardinals around during the winter months.

I am hoping…that when it is cold and wet I won’t be telling you how I wish it were hot….but I probably will be.  I just know that it has been so very hot and dry (rain wise not humidity) this summer that I am actually looking forward to cold and even some wet.  But first, I will hopefully be able to enjoy a very nice autumn ~ cool, crisp temperatures.

I am hearing…my wind chimes singing to me….the ticking of my many clocks….some neighbors laughing with each other outside…an otherwise quiet house.

Around the house…the never ending task of laundry….a messy work station….a clean kitchen…plants to water and care for.

Plans for the week included…back to work after my last holiday until Thanksgiving….back to school for Cailin ~ a junior this year.  Junior year means a school ring….sixteen going on seventeen….graduation next year.  It was surreal when Alanna graduated ~ it is going to be even more so when my baby does! 

One of my favorite things…holidays ~ the ones you celebrate with family and friends, and the ones you get off from work.  Cause everyone knows that equals ….relaxing time!  😀

A picture I’d like to share with you…I take many photos of the birds, sunsets and other scenery all the time.  I don’t get the opportunity to photograph people as much as I would like ~ I could use the practice.  While I was in South Carolina recently, my daughter and her friend allowed me to take some practice shots on them ~ a mini shoot if you will.  I have also included one I took of the kids while we were at the beach in June.  Here are a few images….