for today ~ may edition

The Simple Woman's Daybook

Looking out my window ~
I finally see green! 😍

I am thinking ~
about certain friends and relatives that are battling cancer, having complications from diabetes and facing surgery.

I am thankful ~

for the abundant sunshine and perfect temps we've had lately, which have made the plants and trees explode with greenery and flowers.

 (Bleeding Heart)

(Bishop's Cap)

One of my favorite things ~
fresh, clean bed linens. 

I am creating ~
handmade cards for Mother's Day and other occasions. I looked in three stores at Mother's Day cards and was appalled to find that I couldn't find a decent card under $6. Besides, I can make a prettier one on my own and then write my own sentiment. 

I am wearing ~
A gray and white striped cotton top and denim capris.

I am reading ~
Stretch Marks by Joan Anderson...from Amazon:

"Drawing on personal experiences and her research of the transformative changes in a woman's life, Anderson illuminates the rewards of nurturing long-neglected talents, revitalizing plans sacrificed to the demands of family, and stretching toward new possibilities and values. Suffused with her candid introspection and humor, these essays off a panoramic vision of issues that haunt the modern woman. This book means to breathe new life into the reader who longs to be an individual beyond the roles that she plays with the intent to help her emerge from between the covers of Stretch Marks with something approaching vision."

Also reading A-Z Great Modern Writers by Andy Touhy...from Amazon:

"Artist and graphic designer Andy Tuohy turns his hand to the world of literature, in this new installment of the A-Z series. Rendered in his distinctive style, this new book features portraits of 52 key modern writers significant for their contribution to literature, with a whole host of names from across the world including Gabriel García Márquez, Samuel Beckett, Émile Zola, Jung Chang, Franz Kafka and Leo Tolstoy to name but a few."

I am listening to ~
Home by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

"Alabama, Arkansas,
I do love my Ma and Pa
Not the way that I do love you

Well, holy moly me oh my
You're the apple of my eye
Girl, I've never loved one like you

Man, oh man, you're my best friend
I scream it to the nothingness
There ain't nothing that I need

Well, hot and heavy pumpkin pie
Chocolate candy, Jesus Christ
Ain't nothing that please me more than you

Chorus:
Home, let me come home
Home is wherever I'm with you
Home, let me come home
Home is wherever I'm with you...."

I am hoping ~

for a rain-free Mother's Day on Sunday so that we can grill.

I am learning ~

the importance of being mindful.

In my kitchen ~
Freekeh! Have you ever had this Middle Eastern grain? It's wheat that was harvested when it was still green. It has a chewy bite and a slightly smoky, nutty flavor. It's also a nutritional powerhouse: it has more protein than quinoa and twice the fiber. It's lower on the glycemic index, high in iron, calcium and zinc, and even acts like a prebiotic, promoting the growth of good bacteria in your gut. You can substitute it for rice, quinoa, bulgur or farro. Try it hot for breakfast instead of oatmeal. Add it to soups. Or make a salad - which is what I did. I cooked the freekeh then let it cool down. I then added chopped cucumber, tomatoes, red bell pepper, Greek olives (which I got at a Middle Eastern grocer last week), red onion, feta cheese, and fresh parsley. The dressing is extra-virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, fresh lemon juice, oregano, salt and pepper.

Post Script ~
(Add a favorite link that you would like to pass along. It can be someone else's website, etsy shop, Instagram feed, Facebook link, OR it can be your own.)
How about an Instagram shout-out? Sharon Lovejoy is an author, artist, and wonderful cook who lives in a gorgeous house in California. Her photos are beautiful, uplifting and the essence of home and a life well-lived.

Check out her account at https://www.instagram.com/sharonlovejoyauthor/

Shared quote ~

A moment from my day ~
Zippo (dark kitty) and Clementine enjoying the morning sunbeam. Zippo's 19th birthday was yesterday! He's doing pretty well for an old guy. He has the usual elderly feline maladies...he's a bit senile and deaf, has glaucoma and cataracts, thyroid disease and borderline kidney disease. He sees an eye vet and has meds for his eye problems and is on medication for his thyroid. He still has a good appetite, uses the cat box, and is a fantastic snuggler. We know our time with him is very limited, which makes us sad, but of course we're grateful for the many years we've had with him. Someone dumped him and his two brothers on our property when they were only about three months old. A friend took Zippo's two brothers. 

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