A Snowstorm on the Outside and Some Organizing on the Inside

Hi everyone!

Here in Virginia, we've had some winter weather this weekend.  A lot of states are dealing with it at this time.   We didn't get as much snow as they originally thought but the sleet has been going most of today.  This evening, some freezing rain on top of everything else.

I will be working from home on Monday and possibly on Tuesday as well.  My little car is not going to get out and about with all this ice.    Super cold temperatures too.

I took this photo of the backyard on Saturday

Later in the day on Saturday

I took this one on Sunday right before dark.

I will be honest, it is so cold out there, I didn't go out today.   The sun is suppose to shine on Monday but the temperatures well below 10 degrees F.

I filled one of the bathtubs and filled up some containers with water just in case the power went out.

On Sunday morning, I woke up very early.  I made my first coffee and looked at the snow out the windows.  Heard the sleet falling hard and fast. 

A while ago, when my health was giving me some trouble, I added a small table and chairs to an area of my bedroom.   I journal a lot and do all sorts of paper crafts, so the idea was a cozy space in my room instead of sitting at the dining room table.

Unfortunately, I brought in all of my "stuff" and added most of it to the rocking chair in the corner and.......well.    That was it.  I never completed getting this all set up.   Every morning when I woke up, I saw this rocking chair and knew I had to do something.  Soon.

My little granddaughter, Olivia, comes and stays with me some weekends.   She said.. "Nana, rocking chairs aren't for that"

 

So today,   was the day.  

I like a little clutter and what I refer to as coziness, but this disorganized mess had to go.

I started by emptying the boxes and containers onto my bed.. piling common things together.

Finally, I was able to sit in the rocking chair!

As I progressed, there were empty drawers in the little storage cart and empty containers.

Having it all sorted now, I threw a lot away and then put things into the drawers and containers, organized and neat.

The area is now acceptable to me.   I know what is where, how to find what I need when journaling at this little table, at this window, in a room that is my sanctuary space.

As I was sorting through it all, I came across something my little granddaughter had done

Oh!  And do any of you have a "junk jar" with all kinds of odds and ends?  

I do and I added to it today.

I was finished with the project by 8 am.  

Had my second coffee first and then made a nice breakfast.

I guess what started this desire to organize a little more was my freezer.

I do a pretty good job keeping my refrigerator in order.  But the freezer?  It was ridiculous.  I had no idea what was even in there. 

So on Saturday, I started my day with completely emptying it out.   Throwing some stuff away.  Cleaning the freezer and then adding stuff back.  Organized and neat.

And now... I know what I have in there. 

Haha!

And yes, after I was finished organizing I thoroughly cleaned the bottom of the fridge.  (now I gotta get the dust off of the ceiling fans this coming week... geesh! )

Feels good to get things in order. 

My kitchen cabinets and bathroom cabinets are in good shape with that.  But the spare "closet" bedroom is on my list to start.   Also, my closet in my room.  I have a large walk in closet, and for the most part it is okay but does need some TLC so it doesn't get out of hand.

In crochet this week, I have continued to work on the prayer/meditation shawl.   It should be done within the next couple of days.

Then it will be back to doll clothes for awhile!  I have two more little granddaughters that have those 18 inch dolls.  :-)

Thanks so much for stopping by this week!

Hoping we can get dug out from this winter weather and return to milder temperatures here in Appalachia Virginia.

I love the snow.

But this extreme cold and ice... not so much.

I added this video to the YouTube channel this morning.   You can hear the sleet falling.

Frankie says hiya

 

 

A Week in the Ordinary, yet Extraordinary. Life ♥

 Hi everyone!

It's been a good week.  We've had some mild temperatures here in Appalachia Virginia as well as a few cold and windy days.

I'm not much on cooking during the week.  I leave for work in the dark and return home in the dark.  Most days I'm just not interested in making the kitchen dirty just for me.  So it's a sandwich or something simple.

Every once in awhile tho, I do like to putter around in the kitchen as I call it.

This was white rice and then I cut up some Turkey smoked sausage and added some red onion and celery and fried it.  Was a simple dinner but very good.

The workweek was busy and most of my evenings are spent right here at home.  With some of my favorite YouTube channels, maybe some binge watching a favorite TV show and my crochet hook.  

I took a complete break this past week on the doll clothes and started a Prayer/Comfort shawl for a friend who has had some serious health issues.

It is yarn that I had actually started a different project with a while back that I decided not to complete.  So I undid all of that and started this.

My daughter who lives in England and I are in constant contact.   One of the reasons that I love the internet so much.   I still remember the days, when I was young, and how my grandmother and I communicated with letters.   Phone calls in those days were very expensive.  And even tho I cherish those days of her letters arriving, I absolutely adore the instant communication with my daughter.

On one of the YouTube channels that I watch, there was a girl who's family gave her letters to open and feel them nearer on days she might get lonely as she had moved far away.

So my daughter and I have decided to do something similar.

We will each have a basket full of letters, cards, small handmade gifts that will be in envelopes from each other that we can do the same thing with.  It is our intent to have them mailed to one another in bulk by March 15.   Gives us both time to choose the basket they will be in and to make up many.

I have my first two done and plan to do at least two per evening.

The weekend was great. 

On Saturday, the weather was so beautiful.  Mild and sunny. 

My little granddaughter and I went to the park to walk, and play and spend some time in nature.  I even got on the swings with her.

I am so grateful to live in such a beautiful place.   So many parks nearby and the surrounding mountains are breathtaking regardless of the season.

So many of the parks have one of these book exchanges.  I didn't take any to drop off today or pick one up, but I truly love coming across one of these boxes.

On Sunday, I spent some time helping a young mother, who works full time and then some, organize her food shelves in her kitchen and clean out the fridge.

It gives me such a sense of service.

Daily, I try to ask God, How may I serve?

 

Plus, helping someone else always inspires me to work on projects I have.

I placed a Amazon order for some things I need.  I needed buttons, snaps, jewelry cleaner, some vitamins..... plus I got a new smart watch.    I've never had one before.  It was easy to program and sync with my phone.   I have to say, it's my favorite purchase!

I thought with my iPhone, I could only use a iWatch.   But this one is compatible and the price was within my current budget.

As I sit here on Sunday night, with the workweek stretching before me, I think of how lucky I am.  My family.   A small group of genuine friends.  A lifetime of wonderful memories.

And the hope of making more.

Sometimes it gets a little lonely, but I am never alone

I wish you all a great week ahead!   Thank you so much for stopping by.

Visit and subscribe to my YouTube channel.   First time for that and it is based on this blog, which I have had for many years.   Mostly shorts uploaded at this time.  But as I learn the art of editing videos, I plan for the channel to grow.

Appalachia Whispering Horn

Frankie sends a hiya