Going on a 'Staycation'

(original tea image courtesy Pixabay. A little added photoshop artistry, me)

It's nearly the end of February, a time of year Henry and I begin to long for warm weather. He starts itching to get out his boat and fishing rod and I'm knee deep in seed catalogs and drooling over all those fabulous gardening boards on Pinterest.

We had hoped to take a trip down to the coast (B.C.'s west coast), lounge around in our favourite Bed and Breakfast, visit with my sisters, and go on a few adventures but . . . truck repairs, dentist visits and new glasses have put that out of reach for the time being.

What to do, what to do . . . 

Normally I would plan a lovely 'Staycation' at home that would include adventures here at home, working on a big project or lots of learning about some new project I'm hoping to do.

But this year???

This year I'm tired. There's been lots going on for months and, although my post shingles pain is mostly under control these days, I feel rather worn out.

 I have something totally different planned for this 'staycation' This year it's going to be all about resting and relaxing. Poor Henry's still going to have to go to work, so all his relaxing and resting will happen in the evenings. (not to worry though, he had a lovely golf holiday last fall)

Me???

I'm going to be madly getting stuff ready for the ultimate 'at home' retreat week. I'm cleaning and fluffing and staging lovely vignettes around the house. I'm going to bake all my favourite cookies, squares and cakes and pop them in the freezer so I'll (okay, we'll . . . I might share a few things . . .) have tasty treats all week with out any effort from me. Some of those cookies won't even see the inside of an oven. They'll just be yummy dough. If I'm really, really smart I'll put together a few things to make quick meals next week but, and I hate to say it, I'm pretty sure there will just be a whole lot of 'Help Yourself' suppers instead.

There will be piles of books beside the bed, movie marathons and . . . I may not even change out of my pj's!

I do have a few things booked that will get me dressed and out of the house, so I won't be a total hermit. For the most part though, I'm going to pretend I live in Regency England and not 'At Home' when people come to call. Or in this day and age, email, Facebook and text . . . ;D

Sigh, I can't wait. But now I'm off to wash the sheets and scrub the bathroom. There's nothing cozier than a bed with crisp, freshly washed bedding that's piled high with pillows and extra blankets. Add in a sparkling bathroom complete with fluffy towels and fresh flowers???

Bliss.

See you all in March!

That Annoying Voice in my Head

Do  you ever have that? An annoying voice in your head that just won't leave you alone??

I do and it happens all the time. Some days that voice decides it's not content to stay in my head and appears around the corner inside a body.

I hear the Voice in my head most often while I'm chopping vegetables . . .

"Be careful!" "Stop waving the knife around, it's dangerous." "No, no, don't hold it like that, you're going to cut yourself." "Tuck your fingers in!!"

The other day the voice got so loud I was totally flustered and nearly cut my finger off!

But, when that Voice decides to get out of my head and reunite with it's body???

It's either very, very good or very, very bad.

It's very, very good when the body sighs, grabs the knife and says "Move over and let me do that, I can't take it any more . . ."

And it's very, very bad when it not only scolds me for playing when I should be working, but actually uses it's rather large body to gently remove me from my desk chair, turn off my computer and lead me into the kitchen to make dinner for the guests due to arrive any minute.

I mean, really, there's always peanut butter sandwiches right???

You know you're getting old when your son turns into your dad . . .

 

Out of Surgery and a Thank You . . .

I'm finding peace in the small details of God's creation today.

There's something about macro photography and the act of looking for beauty in the smallest bits of God's creation. There's a sense of wonder and astonishment that God cares for things down to the tiniest detail.

 Nothing is so small that it would escape his notice.

Psalm 95:4-5

4 In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him.

5 The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. 

 

Dad came out of surgery and, although it took him awhile to recover from the anesthesia, and a few, not unexpected, things came up afterwards, he had a relatively comfortable night last night. We are still waiting to hear how the surgery itself went. He was in an observation room overnight and will likely spend the day there as well.

 

I wanted to thank everyone for your sweet comments and prayers.  They are a huge comfort and encouragement to us all.

 

Praying for Dad V.

 Henry's dad is in surgery as I write this. The surgeon is removing 65% of his liver and his gallbladder today. If all goes well, in 6 to 8 weeks he will be in surgery again, to remove the tumor in his colon, the place where his cancer began.

 I wanted to write a beautiful post for him today, something to tell you how special he is and what an inspiration he's been to all of us with his wonderful attitude and steadfast faith.

But . . .

I don't have the words today. Instead my heart and mind is filled with prayer as we wait . . .

Philippians 4: 6-7

  6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 

I'll leave you with dad's words as he was being wheeled into surgery: "I'm in the Lord's hands."