A Lighthouse and More

Yesterday, the Farmer's Almanac had an Instagram post that said, "As November 21st, so the winter." Then it said, 

farmersalmanac

This old saying suggests that the weather on November 21 sets the pattern for the rest of winter.

Well, the weather here yesterday was a winter I can live with. The fall has been mild and I am sure to some, it hasn't not been like the fall they welcome, but for me it has been just right.

I saw snow happening in Ohio on Instagram, but here it was sunny and bright and yes, cool. Cool for Florida standards. I chuckled when I took Mama for an appointment and saw a lady wearing boots. We more native southerners and especially those as close to the coast as me think winter has arrived for sure and out comes the winter attire. I think what gets me the most in winter is the shorter days with clouds. I need my sunlight as I am sure I have droned on too much here on this blog.

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I finished my Pensacola Lighthouse stitch. 

I love how it turned out. I added the script at the bottom and the compass rose on the upper left as I felt it needed something in that area to balance the stitch.

The day after I finished I saw kids from here had gone on a field trip to the lighthouse. I loved seeing it right after I had finished stitching. The photos were great of the kids at the top and the building too.

My plan is to make a Florida wall. I am taking something down in my bedroom to accommodate this idea. My next stitch is some sandpipers on the beach. I actually have several patterns already bought to stitch for the wall. Stay tuned. 

One thing I have gone back to: is just stitching one thing at a time. It has made me more productive and fits my personality well. I can see how the stitching rotation works for many because we are so different, but I am better sticking to one thing. I do like to have something small to go to if I make a mistake or need a little mental break from the larger piece. 

I will be starting the baby name soon. I am kind of mentally getting my ideas together. I am revealing the name as I know it now. I think they are pretty confident. I am already calling her this....

Valerie Mae

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The room has been started and Katie is off this next week. She will probably pull it all together then.

Palmer won the contest for the best turkey disguise at his daycare. The first photo was taken right after Lindsay, Tucker and Palmer had completed him as a group. He was proud of it.

He was even more excited when he won the contest and got a gift card for ice cream.

I have a very busy week ahead with family, but I am looking forward to all of it. It is supposed to be nice fall weather all week.

Gus is tired just thinking of all the festivities. Just kidding! He will be up and following me around in all of it. He is my sidekick. I just couldn't resist showing you how cute he is.

Tyler had the boys on the golf course to just hit some balls, but they ended up seeing 2 eagles. I am just sharing the 2 in the tree and then the close up. He got some great video. 

Do you spy them in the tree?

Nature is just so amazing.

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I settled down after my last post. We did have the realtor visit. I think we have much to pray about and I know HE HAS THIS! 

After walking around the house, I realized I am not bragging, but very organized. I have spent the last 10 years going through things each year and slowly letting go of things. I think when the time comes I will know what to take and what to let go of. No more stressing until the next time:)

God will guide us on this journey.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving. I will see you after all of those festivities.

Sandy

P.S. I am still having trouble with comments. Many of you are showing up as no reply commenters...even ones who have not been. I don't know if it is from my end or blogger. I will work on it, but until then I am reading them.

A Few Thoughts

Jeff and I slipped away for Veteran's Day 3 day weekend. The extra day was sooooo good as Little Palmer says all the time. We were able to stay up there for both days of the weekend and rest and enjoy, then drive home on Monday. Just what I was needing before the holidays get going.

As we move towards Thanksgiving and Christmas. My mind begins to plan and think, but somehow it is always a time where I am very reflective.

Last October, I pulled the journals out again. I always use Moleskins. I prefer unlined paper, but the one I started with then was lined. I guess it keeps from getting larger and larger as I pour out those emotions. I filled up one and started a new one this week. 

A lot has been thrown at me the last couple of years and there are a few things that keep me grounded. Morning Scripture within the first half hour of my day, walks outside in nature with Gus of course, going downstairs to sit and listen to music and peruse an old magazine (I don't buy new ones anymore), puttering in the flowers, lots of prayer time, and getting the thoughts out of my head via a journal so it doesn't get too cluttered to name a few.

I really really want to blog some Treasures' posts. I want to write about some things that are special that I can't hold on to like my mom's china for one. Those posts are coming. Lately though, I have just had more in a day than I can do. Hopefully, after the new baby is born and I get a little time from babysitting (which I love doing) will leave me with some time to do some of that.

The other day as I was writing I was thinking how much I have decluttered and how my generation has been the generation of keeping things. I am the household of so many family things that I have been left with. I do love them, but I realize I can't continue this forever. I was chatting with a couple who are our friends. They were saying the same thing. We just chuckled and commiserated together.  Now, if I stayed put, it would not be a problem other than thinking my kids would have so much to go through.

I have worked on the sentimental things and have made much progress. I still have a ways to go, but....

this morning....

Jeff went off to a meeting. He has allowed himself to be on one board and it has been just enough I think to keep him busy. He also has church duties. He needs a little, but not too much.

While there, my sister-in-law, Donna's bestie called Jeff. I can just hear her now. "Jeff, I have a house for you to downsize too." 

I didn't even know she knew we were thinking of it. To be honest, the fact that she knows puts terror in me. She is go getter.

Anyway, I truly felt a very anxious half hour before I got hold of myself. I was thinking there is no way I am moving at Christmas!

This home is 40 years old next month. Jeff and I married in September 40 years ago, and his parents moved in our current home in December. The tree was up and boxes were all over, but the first of 37 Christmas Eves have been spent here for our family. The only 2 that we haven't spent here were the one before my mother-in-law died and the one just after her death . The first one, she had full time caregivers and she was able to come to our home around the corner. The next year she had passed in October before Christmas and we were in the process of clearing the house and deciding what to do with everything. 

This year will be the 38th Christmas Eve here. I know things will change, but my heart for about half an hour couldn't even register something like that.

I think it was the nudge I need to probably get serious about some things. I am going to pull out the things the children can look at over the holidays and have them go through some items. 

Now, the lady does not have our idea quite down because while the home she wanted us to get is waterfront, one story, smaller and all that, it will not minimize the taxes and insurance one deals with in Florida. I was able to relax for the moment. Oh and while I get up every day and enjoy my view I don't think waterfront will guide our next home. Smaller, one story, newer...things like that will be important. 

Change comes whether we want it or not.

On that note, I am going to go get cracking on preparing my home for the holidays and then as '25 comes in I am going to try and be realistic about some things. Lots of prayer and reflecting will continue through this next month.

That is it for now,

Sandy

BTW, Blogger is at it again. All comments are coming in as no reply bloggers. I even saw this on another blogger. So I can only comment back on the blog. Hopefully, it will fix itself.