The First Day of May....

The first day of May......and look at that view of the sky from my front porch!!!

The mesquite trees are totally leafed out and shedding that nasty stuff they shed each Spring....all over the yard and freshly mulched flower bed.  But, the vibrancy of their green hue is worth the temporary mess....especially when viewed against a brilliant blue sky filled with puffy white clouds.   But, changes are coming.....

Seems like we've just gotten past the cold snap we had last week and another one is barreling down upon us.  It's nearly 90 degrees outside this afternoon.....hot and muggy.  We had a very brief shower about 11:00 last night.....just enough rain to turn the dust on the cars into mud.  And, now the heat feels nearly oppressive with humidity, despite the occasional breeze.  And, we are waiting, waiting, waiting......for that cold front just to the north and west of us.  They predict the possibility of some volatile weather due to the incoming cold air colliding with the superheated air mass in place......

Perhaps the hardest thing about this time of year is the wild swings we can experience with the weather here in Texas.  Some days, you just don't know what to wear!!!   

I just saw a post from a friend who flew out of DFW this morning, on her way to see family in Montana.  She is stranded in Denver, in snow, in capri pants and flip flops!  Oh, my!!!  I guess she didn't check the weather report in all her excitement about traveling to her grandbaby's second birthday celebration.  I'm sure she has warmer clothes packed in her bags, but the journey in ill-suited clothes has to be miserable.....

Oh, well, the weather should bounce back quickly here.  By the weekend, we should be back in the 70's and warmer.  And they're not calling for snow or freezing precipitation here - we should not get below the mid-30's over the next couple of nights.  It's just going to feel a little weird this evening to switch A/C back over to heat before we go to bed. 

But, through all the wacky weather on this Wednesday, I give thanks for this beautiful day....truly, a gift from God. 

"To every thing there is a season, 

and a time to every purpose under the heaven...."

~ Ecclesiastes 3:1

"This is the day which the Lord hath made; 

we will rejoice and be glad in it."

~Psalms 118:24

Peace be with you.....

What's Been Going On.....

With the arrival of Spring, the busiest time of the year has started for me.  And I haven't quite yet found a way to balance work/business with creating/writing.  As a result, Janie's Porch has been sadly neglected.....

I did make my way to the garden center and fill a few pots to place out front.....

Other than that and a quick sweep through the house about once a week in an attempt to clean up a bit, there hasn't been much going on except work, work, work!  But, here's a quick run-down of what has been going on in our little part of the world this Spring.....

We are eagerly awaiting the arrival of our new granddaughter here in the next couple of weeks.  Bonnie and Matt are all set and ready for Autumn to make her appearance.  We are all so excited to welcome her into the family!  Bonnie's friends had a baby shower for her recently and Mom and I really enjoyed this special event with her and Ansleigh.

Ed's daughter and son-in-law, Anita and Jimmy, came in from Ponca City a couple of weeks ago to spend a weekend.  If you've been with me for a while, you might recall when I wrote about their wedding HERE.   We had a great visit with them and they are welcoming their first child, Paisley, in late July.  So, our grandbaby blessings are doubled this year!  While they were here, we did some shopping and went to Frontier Texas!  And, of course, Eddie Dale cooked brisket and the works for everybody.

 

Earlier in April, I joined a group of local Realtors our annual "Hill Visit" in Austin, where we got to meet with some of our elected representatives to discuss legislation affecting the real estate industry.  It was a great experience and we got to do a little of the "tourist" thing at the Capitol.  Here I am posing in front of George W. Bush's portrait, much to the amusement (or, maybe that is dismay) of the spectator in the background.....

And now that I'm this deep into the post, the photo uploader has decided to stall out!  So, I will just have to sum it all up - 

• Add into the mix, lots and lots of work!  Business is brisk right now and I am truly feeling blessed.  
• This next month will bring my new billboard and I can't wait to share that with you soon.  
• Eddie Dale are I are trying to find a place near Abilene to take the RV out for a quick overnight trip this weekend.  
• We need to get scraping and sanding so we can paint the house before it gets too hot.  
• And our annual trip down to the Guadalupe River is coming up in less than six weeks.  I'm tired just thinking about all of it!!!  

 So, there are a few of my reasons for not having stopped by for a visit lately.  But, I am going to really work at getting back into a regular posting routine.  Stay tuned and let's see how I do......

Janie

Longing for a New Look....

Weather here turned much cooler the last couple of days, so I guess it's a good thing that I haven't gotten to the garden center to buy plants yet!  

However, I am eat up with Spring Fever!!!

Picked up the latest edition of one of my favorite magazines the other day and it has me drooling.....

I am in love with all the bright spring colors.....photos filled with beautiful sunlight......

longing to transform one of our spaces into something lovely as this.....

Have you been bitten by the Spring Bug yet?!?!? 

What inspires you when it comes to decorating your HOME?  

Glossy magazine spreads like this?  Pinterest?

Feeling the urge to make some changes.....

 

First Day of Spring???

It's the first day of Spring and I'm sitting here in my snug little home office/guest room, listening to the whir of the lawn mower outside the window.  Eddie Dale is working out in the yard a bit today, raking up dead leaves and cleaning up out there.  I snuck away from the office for a bit....but, I have to be back in a couple of hours......

Not enough time to clean up the house, which looks like a hurricane hit!

Not enough time to bathe the dogs, who stink like the dickens!

Not enough time to "purge" my closet, which needs to be done so badly!

Not enough time to really accomplish much of anything, since I would probably just get started and then have to head back up to the office!

So, what to do????

Well, I sat down and browsed Pinterest a bit.  And caught up on a little blog reading.  But, the photos of pristine cottages and perfect place settings started making me feel a little bad about the state of things in my own home.....

I long for a little perfection around here!  Sorry, but I do.  I know that striving for perfection will only lead to disappointment and unnecessary street, but honestly, I need to shoot for a bit more than I have been in order to achieve a little better result.  Right?  Because the results right now, having let it go for a while, are abysmal....

I am using the last bit of my time to make a list.  Yes, my all-time favorite activity - list-making!!!  I need to at least have a road map of a plan.  Otherwise, I will forget what all I need to get done.  And, while I list, I will dream of the satisfaction I will feel when I start checking each of those projects off, one by one.....

One of the first things I am putting on the list - get my silk tulips out, in honor of the arrival of Spring!!!  Tulips are just about my favorite flower and these purple ones have held up nicely for several years.  Oh, and I am going to put getting some fresh tulips on my list.......

Happy First Day of Spring!!!

AUTUMN Arriving in May.....

Hey, everyone, take a look at our new little princess, due to arrive in May......

Bonnie, Matt and the kids invited the family out to watch one of these new-fangled sonograms......3D....or maybe it's 4D.  I don't know, but the technology is amazing!!!

Just a couple of more months to go until Baby Autumn gets here and I can snuggle and love on her!  (Middle name is still up in the air.....Matt feels like he needs to get to pick that one since Bonnie selected Autumn.  But, if he's made a decision, he's keeping mum about it!)

Went shopping with Bonnie on Saturday for a few new clothes to get her through the rest of the pregnancy and a special dress for her baby shower.  Then, we went by and finished her selections at Kids' Village.  Her crib full of goodies to shop from should be up this week.  Man, it sure is different with baby showers these days!!! 

Hope things are going well in your neck of the woods.  Enjoying very spring-like weather here and ready to get going on dressing the porch for the season.  Can't wait to get my hands in some potting soil!  Now, just to find the time......

Hugs.....

CHICKEN TACO CHILI in the Crock Pot!!!

Yesterday was one of those days when I hung out in sweats all day and didn't put a lick of makeup on my face.  Those don't come along very often and you cannot imagine how much I enjoyed it!!!

Around midday, being slightly off due to the time change, I threw the ingredients for Chicken Taco Chili into the crock pot.  So, dinner was a breeze!  This is one of our favorite dishes and it makes plenty for leftovers.....

CHICKEN TACO CHILI

1 onion, chopped
1 16-oz. can black beans
1 16-oz. can kidney beans
1 8-oz. can tomato sauce
2 14.5-oz. cans of diced tomatoes w/chilis (I use Ro-Tel original)
10 oz. frozen corn kernels
1 packet taco seasoning
1 tbsp. cumin
1 tbsp. chili powder
24 oz. (3-4) boneless skinless chicken breasts (frozen is fine!)
chili peppers, chopped (optional)
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro (optional)
sour cream and grated cheese topping (optional)

Combine beans, onions, chili peppers, corn, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, cumin, chili powder and taco seasoning in crock pot. Stir to combine.  Place chicken on top and cover.  Cook on low for 10 hours or on high for 6 hours.  Half an hour before serving, remove chicken and chop/shred.  Return chicken to crock pot and stir in; cook for additional 30 minutes.  Top with fresh cilantro, sour cream, grated cheese.....we even like crumbled tortilla chips on top.  Enjoy!!!

This is super simple to prepare and mighty tasty.  And you can't mess it up!  I inadvertently only added 1 tsp. of cumin and chili powder yesterday, and it still tasted just fine.  So, experiment with it a bit and let me know how it turns out.

Now, back to that pesky time change thing......it's got me and the dogs all messed up, for sure!!!  Honestly, it is dark until nearly 8:00 am here.....and light till 8:00 pm.  If the weather were warmer, it might make more sense.  But, as it stands now, it's more annoying to have to readjust to Daylight Savings Time than anything!  Feel free to grumble about it with me.....

First Monday in March...

Happy Monday, sweet friends!  We are into March now and I'm totally infected with Spring Fever!!!

Life has been busy, busy, busy!  But, I am resisting the urge to ask the Lord for more than 24 hours in the day.....or to help me cope with life on four hours of sleep a night.  Instead, I pray that I manage the time that I do have and still take care of my earthly body.  Somehow, I don't think He necessarily wants me to burn the candle at both ends.....but, wants me to learn to TRUST in Him to work with the situation He has given.

This past weekend was my grandson's 9th birthday.  So hard to believe that Trayden is that old!!!  Seems like just yesterday that we were rushing to get to the hospital before he was born.  And now is he is a kind-hearted, courteous little gentleman who hosted a delightful party on Saturday. 

I rushed around the house on Saturday morning, trying to tackle some cleaning and laundry since it's been rather neglected lately....and then I was off to the party!

Unfortunately, Ed and Matt (the SIL) both had to work.  But, it was good to see everyone else and spend time with family.  Here is a shot of the birthday boy, looking all grown up.......

And, of course, a silly shot!  (Because, he is a 9-year old boy, after all....)

After the guests all left, one of Bonnie's friends snapped some photos of the family for me on my camera phone.  First, Ansleigh and I cuddled up on Bonnie and did some belly-loving on Baby Autumn.  I simply can't wait until our newest little princess arrives!!!

Then, we pulled all the rest of the family in for a shot that just steals my heart every time I look at it.  Oh, I wish Eddie Dale and Matt could have been there so it would have been complete!!!

You'll have to pardon the lighting - it was an iPhone and their place gets lots of wonderful afternoon sun streaming through the blinds!  I need to play with the photos in Picasa or Picmonkey a bit and then I fully intend to upload and order some prints of these. 

Spending time with family was a nice break in the hectic routine over the weekend.  It was back to work yesterday afternoon to work the company booth at the Home & Garden Expo and then meet, greet and network with other vendors.  I have been working from home today and am still trying to get that dang laundry finished!  It has to get done, though.....I was fresh out of undies before I finally got a load in on Saturday.....not good!!!

How are things moving along with y'all?!?!?  Take a moment to leave me a note in the comment section and let me know you stopped by today!