It’s the last day of February! Twenty days until spring! It’s time to once again reflect on the last week and look for the highlights and blessings God places in our path along with Susanne and friends at Living to Tell the Story.
1. My daughter-in-law’s birthday was actually the week before, but they took a short trip to Chattanooga, saw Ruby Falls (a waterfall in a cave), and took a train ride that week. We celebrated her birthday Sunday by going to lunch at Kern’s Food Hall–a big food court with a lot of ethnic cooking to choose from. Not being an adventurous eater, I stayed with pizza. 🙂 But Mittu, Timothy, and Jim got Indian food while Jason got Mexican and Jesse got sushi. Then we went to their house for presents and cake. Mittu made her own cake–a black forest cheesecake. Jason or I have made her cakes in the past, but she wanted to do this one. We Face-timed with Jeremy while there and enjoyed the afternoon.
2. A schedule adjustment. With an empty nest and a retired husband, I don’t have to get up at any set time most days. I’ve been sleeping later and later until it feels like I don’t have a lot of the morning left to accomplish anything. Though I’ve loved not having to set an alarm, I’m starting to time it for about half an hour earlier than I’ve been getting up. So far, that’s going well. Once I get used to that, I’ll set it back another half hour. The key–and the hard part– is getting to bed earlier. I’m naturally a night owl, but I get more done during the day than I do at night.
3. Nice weather. A lot of our winter weather has looked like the picture at the top. But we’ve had some lovely days this week–sunshine and afternoons in the 60s and 70s.
4. Lunch with Melanie. We talked about trying someplace different, but we ended up at one of our favorite places–Cracker Barrel. I always enjoy the time together, and I had enough leftovers for lunch the next day.
5. Daffodil leaves peeking through the soil. They’re not my favorite flower, but I love that they signal spring is coming.
Happy last day of February!
Stray Thoughts 
Those temps sound perfect to me!
Happy Birthday to Mittu. I LOVE that family pic and that cake looks beautiful although I’m so allergic to cream cheese.
I also love not having to get up with my alarm at 5:15 for teaching any longer but I tend to go to bed with hubby at 10:30, read for a half hour and lights out by 11. I’m typically up anywhere between 6-7 am and I’m like you: I get my best work/chores/errands/devotional time/hiking/fitness workouts in, in the morning hours. One thing I had to teach my self at the beginning of my retirement (almost 2 years ago now!!) was that I should NOT feel guilty for just sitting on the deck or in a comfy chair in the late afternoon and spending it reading a fiction book for an hour if i wanted. I had to get out of the “get everything done before dinner” mindset.
I haven’t eaten at Cracker Barrel in a long time but I think I might suggest it to hubby for lunch on Saturday. We need a lunch date 🙂
Happy Weekend!
Those temps sound great!
Glad you had nice outings for your daughter-in-law’s birthday.
Good luck with moving that schedule back. I’m a night owl and honestly feel like I accomplished more then too!
A lovely week of blessings, my friend. Glad that Mitty and family were able to get away for a few days. Her birthday cake looks delicious. Reading about her wanting to make her own cake reminded me of the year my one brother called and invited me to his birthday lunch…that he insisted on making himself.
Glad you and Melanie had a good time together. The fellowship is always as good (or better) than the food. She is such a delightful lady
Have a great weekend.
Mittu makes the most beautiful cakes! That one looks amazing.
I enjoyed lunch this week. Cracker Barrel is a favorite, isn’t it?
I have a cat who makes sure I don’t sleep in! But, compared to the hours I had to get up when I was in nursing, I’m not complaining.
Have a great weekend!
I forgot to include spring bulbs popping up outdoors, on my list this week. They are a welcome sight.
I’m a night owl, too, but find I wake up earlier as I get older. I need to adjust my bedtime, but I love the house when it’s so quiet late at night.
Mittu’s cake looks delicious! Happy Birthday to her!
Happy milestone birthday to your DIL, that cake looks WONDERFUL! Ruby Falls sounds like a treat too. Good for you getting up earlier. I’ve always been more of a morning person, but since the girls have finished school, I have been morphing more into rising/going to bed later. I do think you’ve picked the right time of the year for this since we’re getting more light now 😉 Now I’m hungry for Cracker Barrel!
I bet that indoor waterfall was amazing! I went in a cavern in Texas and there was a large pool of water. They had light to highlight it. Then they turned off the lights and it was pitch dark! We were under the freeway! Happy Birthday to your DIL! How nice that you and Melanie got to meet up!
Mitu is a beauty — inside and out. So pleased you could celebrate her 40th with her.
I know what you mean about not having a required getting-up time. In the past, I had cats that made sure there was no sleeping in. Good for you for finding a way to adjust your schedule.
Hurray to warmer weather towards spring and color in the garden.
My step-son and daughter in law live in Chattanooga. I haven’t seen any daffodil shoots yet but a co-worker said she saw some. I plan on getting out for a walk today and I’m hoping to see signs of spring.
I’m a night owl too and am so thankful I’m retired and don’t always have to get up early.
Happy Birthday, Mittu!
Daffodils are my favorite spring flower. Yours are ahead of mine which are just now popping up a bit of green. I can’t wait!
Happy March! May our days in this month be warm and sunny. Willow
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Belated birthday wishes to Mittu. Sounds like you all had a good time celebrating and her cake looks delicious. I think I need to work on my scheduling too – it’s easy for time to run away with me and not feel like I’ve achieved very much.
It’s sunny here today and spring flowers are starting to appear but it was still frosty overnight. Have a good week.
Happy birthday to Mittu! I love cheesecake and that one looks awesome! No spring flowers here yet. I can relate to #2. I am more a night owl and though I still work I find that Saturday mornings, my only day where I don’t have anything going like work or church tend to slip by me but then I don’t get as much done.