Effortless Effervescence

Outside my window…
…it’s very different from the world outside the windows at my grandparents-in-law’s home in smalltown PA! Firstly, no snow flurries, twoly, lots of cars and people and other animals. I really enjoyed walking our dogs through the fields and country roads and brisk fall air. But now I’m home in the “big city” (as hubby’s family would call it!) and although I’m always glad to be back in my own little world, I miss the peace and quiet.

I am thinking…
About Christmas preparations… and money… and trying not to stress. And about long-term goals and wondering where on earth I’ll “be” a year or two from now.

I am thankful for…
An extended family that has welcomed me wholly. Oh, and that I married a man who isn’t afraid to fix things around the house! I mean, I’m a feminist and I’m all about women feeling empowered to tackle things like car repairs and home renovations and everything else supposedly “masculine.” I’m also all about doing what you’re good at and what you like to do - and I am NOT good at solving plumbing problems, nor do I LIKE doing it. I am good at cooking yummy food and making sure we don’t run out of toilet paper. Hence why the division of labor in our house is so “traditional”… and I’m glad I’ve finally stopped feeling guilty about it!

From the kitchen…
I got a package of several different cuts of beef for a decent discount, and tonight we had pan-fried steaks, noodles and sugar snap peas. Tomorrow morning I’m loading the slow cooker with a roast, carrots and red potatoes.

Also, the freezer is stocked with Italian ice and ice cream sandwiches. Shopping while pregnant and hungry guarantees that I will purchase several different kinds of frozen treats. I’ve also stopped feeling guilty about that!

I am wearing…
My Philly E-train tee shirt, which I bought in (you guessed it) Philadelphia a few years ago. And black yoga pants covered in paint.

I am creating…
A blog post… it feels so good to have access to the net again!

I am going…
…back to work tomorrow And to the OB, for the results from some routine blood tests.

I am reading…
The backlog of blog posts in my Google reader, LiveJournal friends list, and Dreamwidth subscriptions! Also Anne Lamott’s Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith. Lamott is such a brutally honest person that sometimes I’m wriggly and uncomfortable reading her words. And at the same time, comforted by the fact that someone else out there is as screwed up as I am, and willing to admit it, and certain that Jesus loves her (and the rest of us jokers) anyway. And I find myself nodding along quite a bit, too, because she’s got a tight hold on the fact that life is damn hard but God i big and grace is real.

I am hoping…
That I’ll be able to finish all of my Christmas crafts in time!

I am hearing…
The TV show my hubby’s watching in the living room. Something about guys that drive heavy duty tow trucks.

Around the house…
… there’s lots of luggage, stuff we toted back from the grandparents’, dirty clothes, various snacks and trash and nearly a week’s worth of junk mail. It’s going to take me awhile to recover from vacation!

One of my favorite things from the past week…
Our dog Milo snoozing on my lap nearly the entire way up to PA and the entire ride back home!

A few plans for the week ahead…
Laundry, balance the checkbook, work on a training presentation for work, crochet, eat ice cream, read!

A picture for thought…

I found this picture when I searched for the word “grace” on Flickr. I have a thing for cute animals, and that is one darn cute animal… but more than that, she seems full of joy and light. Isn’t it awesome how animals manage to transmit happiness to us with a look or a touch? It’s a beautiful mystery…

(Photo credit.)