Simple Sunday

It's been a quiet week here. I've been working on other projects. I don't like to let this happen, but I guess it does, once in a while. Sometimes I don't like what I write. I second guess myself. I have to get over it...

I wanted to make sure I made an appearance!

My parents and Jim's parents right before our wedding was ready to begin.

Oh, it's that day?

Yes, I can remember the first Valentine's Day that Jim and I were together.

I can remember that I made him chocolate chunk cookies from a big Hershey Kiss that he had given me for Christmas. Money was tight. I was a single mom with a little girl, living with my parents, working full-time at a minimum wage job and doing my best to get my bills paid and trying to get us out on our own. I was looking for something special that didn't cost much. By that point in our relationship, I knew that he would love cookies more than anything I could have bought for him. And I broke up that big kiss by hand with a butter knife. It took forever! :) That was a labor of love!

Since then, I've discovered that Jim really doesn't go all out for these kinds of days...meaning Valentine's or Sweetest Day (even though we set our wedding date for Sweetest Day without realizing it). I mean, I'm sure that we celebrated them while we were dating. And don't, for a minute, think that he's lazy or not romantic and don't think that it didn't bother me...at first. I have since come to accept that he just feels that he doesn't need a special day to show me that he loves me. He's always gotten me flowers when I least expect them. And that is something that I love!

So, we recognize the day in a simple way and whisper sweet nothings to each other. And that, my dear, is that!

Except for this year.

Last week, we stopped at Dunkin' Donuts and I noticed that they would have something special to celebrate today. I said to Jim, "Next Monday I want a heart shaped donut."

So, you see, he is romantic and he does love me!

Simple Sunday

Fell in love with the gracefulness and tranquility of the Beluga Whale
on a trip to the Georgia Aquarium in Nov. of  '08

Heroine Love!

So, what have I been up to?

I've been heading to The Heroine's Bookshelf every day since the first of February where author (and 2010 LauraPalooza spelling bee winner) Erin Blakemore has been all about Heroine Love.

Erin's book, The Heroine's Bookshelf: Life Lessons, from Jane Austen to Laura Ingalls Wilder, is a great read.  I have actually been savoring it, reading about each literary heroine, one at a time, when the mood strikes me.

If you stop by Erin's place between Feb. 1 and 18, a guest blogger is being featured each day with their take on a famous literary heroine. I have really enjoyed it, as it has ignited a little spark in me to read some books that I have not yet read and really wanting to do a reread of others that I haven't thought of in years (which is actually what her book has done too). It's also given me some food for thought, as there are some that I hadn't really considered to be heroines, but indeed they are.

And the fun part? Prizes every day. All literary heroine related!

And the funner part? I won yesterday's prize package! How cool is that? And on the birthday of my most favorite literary heroine of all, Laura Ingalls Wilder!

I especially enjoyed yesterday's post which was written by Sandra Hume of Beyond Little House and the Homesteader fame (other things too :) but I know her through our mutual friend, Laura Ingalls Wilder). It's about Margaret of Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret. I had read this book as a child, then again a year or so ago, with different takes each time.

There's still plenty of time, so click here to visit Erin and her friends!

Laura's birthday, but not this Laura

Ingalls Homestead, De Smet, SD

Today is Laura Ingalls Wilder's birthday. Most everyone who knows her, knows that.
I had things on my mind, Laura-related, that I wanted to write about, but my brain is addled with a sinus infection. I've decided to share this, an old post about my Laura.

Simple Sunday

Snowy dogs on a snowy day

View from my front window

I haven't ventured out of the house today. Hey! It's cold and snowy and blowy! I'm not goin' out there.

We didn't get as much snow as was predicted, but we got a fair amount. We're not snowed in and we do live on a main road so life goes on.
It is snowing again so we may just get a couple more inches.

I did take pictures from our dining room window.

Enjoy! That is, unless you're absolutely sick of looking at everyone's snow pictures. Which you probably are. In that case, enjoy my snow pictures.. :)

The dogs go on the front porch and then Duke comes onto the
ledge behind the bushes and bangs on the window to come in.
"For the love of all that's holy! Pleeease let us in!"

Looking at our road. Snow covered, but not snowed in.

Jim plows our yard and then makes the rounds.

"Please! I just want to come in. I need a nap!"
Duke is becoming like a cat. He sleeps about 23 hours a day.

Love my birds. Love my birdfeeder.
Jim made it for me for Christmas a couple of years ago.

HaHa! Sosha has a snow beard!

Okay! I'm coming.
Poor little guy!