Mid-May Monday Morning Daybook

I haven't done a Simple Woman's Daybook post in quite a while. It really isn't much different than Currently, but the questions are a little bit different so I thought I'd switch it up this week.

For today...

Looking out my window...it's a gray morning and growing grayer as rain and storms push this way. Most trees are finally completely leafed out. The Catalpas are the lone holdout. Azaleas, Rhododendrons, and Peonies are blooming. Lilacs were a bust this year. The temperature is in the 60's and will remain there all day.

I am thinking about...tomorrow's elections here in Pennsylvania. The pundits are all buzzing about it this morning, wondering which way we will go. Will we remain under liberal leadership or vote in the conservatives. I have my own hopes and am praying about it all, that God's plan will prevail.

Also about the economy and rising prices, shortages, and such. (Aren't we all?) I'm thinking in terms of what I can do to save money or make a little extra, without actually having to return to work...at least until after our vacation in September. I am looking into a few online things that could possible add a few hundred dollars in income per month. 

I am thankful...for a great visit yesterday by one of my younger cousins (actually the daughter of my first cousin so I guess that makes her my first cousin, once removed...I think) and her family. We had a cookout at our daughter's home since they have kids of similar ages. I don't get to see her very often and it will be even less soon as she and her family are getting ready to set off on the adventure of a lifetime. They've sold their home, SUV, and most of their belongings in order to buy a HUGE 5th-wheel trailer and pickup truck. They got new jobs that they can do online from anywhere and they plan to travel where the mood takes them and eventually end up in Florida (at least for a time) as my cousin's job is as a travel agent specializing in all things Disney. She is also working on her master's degree in mass media marketing. Her husband is a life insurance broker, but is also a pretty handy guy so he can always make extra picking up side jobs here or there. I'm proud of them for making their dreams come true and doing life exactly the way they want to.

The kiddos all had fun playing together even though they'd never met before. Since my cousin's family will be in the area for another month or so, there are plans to get the kids together again.

Mackenzie is great with little ones and Leah sure adored
her bigger cousin and followed her everywhere.

Colton and Bryce are very close in age and were fast
friends, united against the girls when it came to their
"clubhouse" which is actually Leah's playhouse.

One of my favorite things...a rainy day, listening to the patter of the rain on the roof and the harder sounding splats against the windows, and even the rumbling thunder and flashing lightning.

I am wearing...Ha! Being a lazy bum this morning and I am still in my pj's. They are traditionally styled with a button-down, collared top and cropped pants. They are black with lavender, pink, and coral colored flowers.

I am listening to...Fox News' interview with Melania Trump. Whoa! And lots of loud rumbling thunder. BOOM!

I am in awe of...God's creation. Did you stay up to watch the lunar eclipse last night? I was excited because we usually miss anything in the skies thanks to cloud cover. Last night there were some clouds, but they moved out in time for the show. I didn't stay up for all of it, but it was still amazing. I borrowed this photo from a local Facebook friend.

I am ready to (or fixin' to for my southern friends)...sell my cat to the gypsies! He is in one of his "moods" today where he gets into absolutely EVERYTHING! When I finish here my next job is cleaning up the mess he made in the kitchen by knocking a potted cactus off the window sill above the sink. There is dirt all over the window sill, the counter, and all through the sink and the dishes in the dishpan. Grrrr. I also have to repot the poor cactus and hope it lives. 

In the kitchen...nothing's going on today other than cleaning. There are lots of leftovers from yesterday's cookout with my cousin's family. There is taco salad, potato salad, jello salad, baked beans, hotdogs, hamburgers, and kielbasa.

Happening today...not much other than an appointment with the weight loss doctor this afternoon.

A quote to share...in light of this weekend's mass shootings and the ongoing arguments about abortion, this seems an appropriate reminder for all of us.