Happy Homemaker Monday

It's time for Happy Homemaker Monday! Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom is our weekly host. So, on to today's questions...

As I look outside my window:::
The sky is blue; the sun is shining; the wind is blowing---HARD!!! It is so nice to see the tulips, daffodils and hyacinths popping up out of the ground:) Soon there will be beautiful color! The lawn will soon need mowed for the first time since last Fall. The trees are coming alive with beautiful green baby leaves. Ahhh, it looks like I made it through another winter!!! I so enjoy Spring, Summer and Fall but Winter??? Not so much!

Right now I am:::
Sitting by the wood stove, warm and cozy, with my cup of Yerba Mate working on this post.

Thinking and pondering:::
About all I need to get done in the next few days. Also what I would like my next knitting project to be so I will have something in mind when I visit Twisted Ewe yarn shop on Friday.

On my bedside table:::
Sanctuary by David and Beverly Lewis (still)
Redemptive Compassion by Lois M. Tupyi
New magazines:

• Knit Simple
• Women's Health
• Popular Photography

On my TV tonight:::
Might check in on The Voice tonight but looking forward to watching The Paradise on Sunday. I missed it the first time around so am enjoying this wonderful PBS/BBC series.

Listening to:::
The blustery wind:(

On the menu for this week:::
No menu this week! Just flying by the seat of my pants, as usual! I changed over to the Simply Filling option for Weight Watchers so I just look at the list of Power Foods and see what I feel like eating. Similarly, I just ask the guys what they feel like eating and make it for them. 

On my to do list:::

• Laundry (as always)
• Get ready for Happy Stampers Club
• Shabby Chic card swap project 
• Easter Sampler Swap squares need to get in the mail
• Continue to work on decluttering/organizing my office--about 8 more hours of work (it was really bad)!
• Pack for Boise trip (just a quick one)

Happening this week:::
My Happy Stampers Club meets on Wednesday then Hubby and I leave for Boise on Thursday. Hubby has training for work on Friday so I am hoping to visit a yarn shop called Twisted Ewe.

What I am sewing, crocheting, knitting or creating:::
Still nothing! I will be making cards this week but that's about it! I have a couple knitting/crochet projects I will be taking to Boise with me. 

My simple pleasure:::
I nearly panicked when I saw we had THREE of the four ice cube trays on the counter empty. I realized that one very simple pleasure I enjoy is ICE:) I love ice in my water; in my Zip Fizz; in my tea. I enjoy iced drinks year round. I do like a nice hot cup of tea occasionally--especially Yerba Mate--but the ones that bring me the most pleasure are iced! There you have it! I am officially crazy!!! Even when it's 8 degrees (F) outside I am drinking iced drinks--daily:)

Lesson learned the past week:::
There is a difference between giving someone a "hand out" and a "hand up". So often we satisfy the immediate need that someone has instead of looking at the problem to see how we could help that person become more self-sufficient. It is quicker and often easier to give a "hand out"; a "hand up" takes time and commitment to work through the process.

Looking around the house:::
Laundry piled and waiting to be done; dining room table needs cleaned off (our drop spot); fire burning in the wood stove; dogs lying in front of the fire!

From the camera:::

Two more squares received for the Easter Sampler Swap--more coming on these:)

Prayer List:::

• My sister has a bit of infection in her incision from the hip surgery/broken leg bone surgery.
• Friends moving to new area; new work, new school, new church
• My visit to family the end of the month
• Friend's son going on spring break mission trip to Belize this week

Bible verse/Devotional:::
"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers."
--Ephesians 4:29