The Simple Woma's Daybook: April 18, 2017

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Outside my window:

For the most part the weather has been surprisingly pleasant.  Enjoyed a long string of beautiful blue skies and sunny days. But I know the hot weather is around the corner.


I am looking forward to:
One of my yearly goals was to do some travelling this year and I really have. I was in Vermont in February. I'm going to Gulf Shores in May and plan to shop here heavily for the house. I'm going to Maine for a long Memorial Day weekend and planning another trip for a long Labor Day weekend, right now, looks like it will be to Niagara Falls.
 

 



 Around the house:
This is somewhat of a sore subject. A flood update....  The few I know whose house is already fixed complains about the poor workmanship and quality. I try to have patience and not rush the contractor because I'd rather have it done right and avoid years of complaining about the finished product. The progress seems to happen all at once then nothing happens for the next few weeks. Its getting depressing. The wooden front stairs are built and are prettier than ever, the new iron spindles are in, I have electricity downstairs, and the fridge is plugged in (its sitting in the middle of the kitchen, but it is plugged in). I have a washing machine hooked up but no dryer. The master bath tile shower has been started and a new fence is about to go up. But, it is so slow. If I get moved in by August, I'll feel lucky.

I am watching:

I finally came to the realization that living upstairs is not as temporary as I think it is. Its been 8 months since the flood and 6 months since I moved upstairs. There is realistically no end in sight. I've been without cable the entire time. I do have a TV but its more trouble than its worth to move it from window to window and arrange the antenna just so, hoping to get a channel. I broke down and got both Netflix and Sling TV.  Now I'm just moving my laptop from place to place. Its weird to watch TV on the computer, and I wouldn't have chosen this, but I get to watch  HGTV, the Food Network and Lifetime. I just started watching the Crown. Its been a LOOOOOOOOONG time since I watched a series.

I listening to:
Since I've been watching very little TV, I can finish an audio book in 2 to 3 days.  I read about 2 books a week. I decided that I need to make efforts to read more of the classics. Last year I read The Great Gatsby. Now, I'm reading Jane Eyre, (and you cant get much more classic than a book written in 1840s). Some parts of it are vaguely familiar so I think I half-heartedly read it (or probably the cliff notes) in Jr. High like everyone else.


I am reading:

Bible study at church, uninvited by Lisa Terkuerst. Its not the first study I would pick, but its what the women's group at church is doing. Honestly, its not my cup of tea. I'm muddling through it.

 

I am cooking:

I'm trying to cook more, its still not easy. I  can make breakfast and I made Taco Lettuce Wraps this weekend. Having a real fridge downstairs (with a freezer) helps a little.  I can make smoothies now, and put more than 2 bottles of water in the fridge at one time.