52 weeks of blessings;

Today:

I’m listening to: birds singing their birdsong on my fire-escape aka “The Balcony” 😀

I’m thinking: how easy it is to accumulate “stuff”, how much stuff I have and how much I should use the “stuff” I already have.

I’m reading: The Bountiful Container, The Reboot With Joe Juice Diet, Juicing For Life, Green Cleaning, Beautiful Home on A Budget, 365 Ways to Prepare for Christmas, Mad About A Boy (which I did not enjoy that much). It’s been a time of revamping, cleansing and learning to be content in whatsoever state I am. My reading material this week has been taking me places I’d long forgotten but needed to go back to.

I’m looking forward to: my current home improvement projects. Painting my old lawyer’s bookshelf to accommodate my crafty tools. My long weekend off this coming week.

I’m enjoying: purging my home and seeing its possibilities. Movement towards some level of sufficiency and the effort it takes to do so. The sight of my new Ball jars.

I’m creating: New work-spaces. My bedroom redo that’s done and I’m so very happy with the outcome. Home cooked meals.

I’m grateful for: Nikki and Attah. A week at work of every day being filled with laughter until I cried. My mom’s home building project being in its final week. Daily chats with my brother N. Finding out from my building super that the management company approved my getting an additional work counter and cabinets. These will give me more space in that tiny kitchen to food prep and cook comfortably. Getting approved finally for two days of vacation. It’s not two weeks but I’ll take it. Just being excited at some of the changes I want to make — i.e. re-purposing my home, planting a container garden.

Around the house is: a giant mess. This mess has a purpose and would soon come to an end.

In my kitchen: my stove is calling me. I attacked my spring cleaning / re-decorating with such gusto, I didn’t have time to cook. I ended up purchasing food at a restaurant in my neighborhood.

I’m planning later in the coming week to: Finish my planting. Paint my bookshelf. Finish the preliminary purging and re-decorating. Enjoy a mani/pedi and exfoliation next weekend. Working on my mood blanket that I’ve woefully fallen behind on. I’m 4 weeks behind and I need to catch up before I lose track.

I’m wishing you: the very best of Sundays — well Monday 😀 — and a wonderful week ahead.

the new format for “Gratitude Sunday” is borrowed from “The Simple Woman’s Daybook” series

Today:

I’m listening to: classical cd — Mozart for Morning Coffee. In my case, make that tea.

I’m thinking of: the spring cleaning projects I need to do and some re-decorating plans running around in my head.

I’m reading: Widow of Larkspur Inn. Or rather, that should be, this week I read, this lovely romantic novel in which the story was told without the vulgarity and crassness of modern day “romance” novels. Lots of timely spiritual lessons were weaved into the story. I enjoyed it so much I got the other books in the series. It’s been a while since I read a romance novel (not a fan of the genre) but 434 pages in three days?!! That should indicate how much I enjoyed it. I’m also reading my latest edition of Cooking Light. Can’t wait to try some of these Spring recipes.

I’m looking forward to: buying my seeds (basil, cilantro, parsley) this coming week and getting my hands in some dirt next weekend. Nizzy’s visit to NY; hopefully we can meet up.

I’m enjoying: My first installment of Love Notes; after a long week it was great to see it in my mailbox yesterday. I’m enjoying this exchange sooooo very much.

I’m creating: swatches for my sweater. Just one more swatch then I’ll see the mods I need to make.

I’m grateful for: making it through the week. A slow, lazy Saturday. Home-made shrimp fried rice. A long “just what I needed” conversation with my oldest friend. We’ve known each other since we were 2 and I ain’t no spring chicken anymore. 😛 Long, honest, open conversations with God. A health scare that scared me straight! Yikes.

Around the house are: more open windows. The scent of a Lavendar & Vanilla Glade plug-in. Last winter hurrah, lemme say goodbye to yah in style 😛 — smells of my baking winter’s cranberry nut bread.

I’m planning later in the coming week to: do more spinning on Olga. I think I’m almost there. Spray paint some generic plant pots. Finish these pot-holders for my kitchen.