{ Christmas decorations }

I have been slowly decorating.  Well, let me refrain that, I started off diving in deep and pulling it all out the week of Thanksgiving.

 

Then life happened, loss, and grief and all sorts of things, and I slowed down a bit, and just finished this past week setting up the last of the Christmas bits.  Thought I would show you all what it's looking like.

 

This weekend we are cleaning up the back and front yard, winterizing it all, covering furniture and so on.  Then we have just a few last outside decorations to get up, and we will officially be done for the holidays.

 

With my family arriving in less than a week, I don't have time to do much of anything, starting today I will be basically making Rissois all day long.  Rissois are the Portuguese savory version of a fried turnover with a creamy filling, usually the more traditional being shrimp, but you can do meat, chicken, tuna or whatever you like.

 

I will be making both meat and a shrimp and seafood mix.  They are time consuming and do take a lot of effort, but again I can't be doing that when the family is here because we will be full steam ahead with Christmas, so it's best that I get all of these jobs out of the way when it's just me here.

 

Anyway, let me show you the Christmas decorations, hope you enjoy :)

 

{ Wordless Wednesday }

{ Bitter cold days }

The windows are opened early in the morning, to let the crisp air come in and refresh the house, but with it comes a bitter cold enveloped in ice, that chills you to the core.

 

But as I always say, winter is beautiful, it is magical and when that ice sits on the grass or the branches of trees, it twinkles in the sunshine, as if it were rare diamonds.  I love that!

 

So I thought I would show you what the bitter cold days have been like around here.

 

I know many of you are dealing with really cold temperatures and snow already, so this probably looks very mild in comparison to your area, but keep in mind we are in Texas.  Hahahah

 

I do love Winter, and funny enough as I have grown older, I have started disliking sunny, hot days and much prefer a cold, dreary, cloudy or rainy and snowy day.  Maybe I'm losing my mind, but that is how I feel lately.

 

I caught this grackle mid flight and just absolutely love how it turned out.  Aren't birds just majestic when they fly?  I still get amazed at how just a simple flat of a wing can bring this small animal to flight.

I hope wherever you are, that you are staying warm and safe.

{ Happy Homemaker Monday - 12/08/2025 }

 

Good morning everyone.

 

It is a very cold morning here in Texas.  Come on in and sit with me a little as we go through our Happy Homemaker Monday for this week.  

 

I apologize for not having any posts up last week, but we had a death in the family.  My half brother Joel, who was just 14 years old, passed away suddenly of a heart attack.  It was an incredible shock to everyone, and my poor dad was with him when it happened, and is just broken.  I am not in South Africa so I can't be there physically for my dad, and it's such a helpless feeling.  Please keep my dad in your prayers, please.

 

Anyway, I am hoping this week to add a few more posts in the lead up to Christmas and the family arriving next Tuesday.  

 

I hope you and your families are all well.  Have a blessed week friends!

Sandra

♥♥♥♥

 

 

 *** The Weather *** 

It has been very cold here in Texas, wintry mix, ice, and freezing temps.  However, this week we are getting some warm weather.

 

Monday - Abundant sunshine, 52 

Tuesday - Sunny, 68 

Wednesday - Mostly sunny, 63

Thursday - Sunny, 68

Friday - Sunny, 62

Saturday - Partly cloudy, 56  

Sunday - Mostly sunny, 46

 

 

*** Right now I am *** 

In my warm bed with my fur babies.  I am working on this post, listening to a video on tv and checking on my dad.  

 

 

  *** Thinking and pondering *** 

Christmas, family arriving, and life in general.  How precious life is, that you are here one minute and within 10 minutes you are gone.  Hold your family close friends. 

 

 

*** How I am feeling ***

Sad, in disbelief, helpless, happy that my family is arriving and excited at the same time.  I'm a mess of feelings at the moment.      

 

 

*** On the breakfast plate *** 

I've just had a cup of coffee, but won't be having breakfast for a while.  Not even sure what I'm going to have, probably just some eggs and toast.  

 

 

*** On the lunch plate *** 

Salad 

 

 

*** On the dinner plate *** 

Shrimp Fajitas, Cilantro Lime Rice  

 

 

*** On the menu *** 

 

Monday - Shrimp Fajitas, Cilantro Lime Rice

Tuesday - Chicken Saganaki, Roast Potatoes, Salad 

Wednesday - Beef Stroganoff, Spaghetti Noodles, Sauteed Cabbage

Thursday -  Pork Chops, BLT Pasta Salad, Salad

Friday - Homemade Pizza

Saturday - Fend for yourself

Sunday -  Lahmacun (Turkish pizza)

 

*** What I am wearing *** 

As usually at this time, still in my warm pajamas.  I will throw on some leggings, tank top and cardigan later.   

 

 

 *** On my reading pile *** 

Bible Recap 

A Falcon for a Queen by Catherine Gaskin.   

 

 

*** On my TV this week *** 

YouTube Vlogmas. 

Turkish Series: 

Guller ve Gunahlar 

Halef Koklerin Cagrisi 

Esref Ruya 

 

Hallmark Christmas movies 

Great American Pure Flix Christmas movies 

 

 

*** Looking around the house *** 

I think I am finally decorating for Christmas, and I did take some pictures for you all, just have to edit them today and get them up in a post tomorrow.  I promise I will do that.   

 

 

*** To do list for the week*** 

Daily homemaking chores

Water inside plants 

Continue with Part 5 of the Solstice Star Blanket 

Daily 10k steps 

Daily workout, minimum of 10 minutes 

Prepare house for guests

Start baking Christmas cookies 

 

 

*** What I am creating *** 

Solstice Star Blanket CAL by Helen at Crystals and Crochet 

 

 

*** From the camera *** 

I love Christmas and twinkly lights.  

 

*** Devotional, Prayers, Bible Verses *** 

Praying for my dad as he goes through this grief period.  

 

Praying for my youngest brother Bruno, as he is going through some huge life changes. 

 

 

{ Why Not You? by Ed Newton - TLC Book Tour }

 

About Why Not You?: Believing What God Believes About You

• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (November 11, 2025)
• Paperback: 240 pages

God is going to use someone to walk in purpose, meaning, destiny and anointing. So why not you? You can operate in your God-given abilities when you operate out of your God-given identity.

There is a very human tendency to believe the best for others and the worst for ourselves. To believe that someone else can operate in their full potential, while we settle to exist in our scraps of talent and personal limitations. But what if we could identify these lies for what they are and learn to take hold of the life God has actually called us to?

When Ed Newton was ten years old, a woman at McDonald’s prophesied over him that God was going to use him in a great way. Ed, who was eating lunch with his deaf parents, didn’t even have a relationship with the Lord at the time. He had no idea that the story that God was writing would one day be something he’d feel compelled to share with others.

Ed has walked the road of biblical identity and is now inviting others to do the same. Why Not You? is filled with his stories of growing up as a child of deaf parents (CODA) as well as other life experiences. Ed shows how the truth of God’s Word can cut through the web of self-doubt so many followers of Christ struggle with and show them who God created them to be. This book will help readers:

• battle through negative self-talk, doubts, and insecurities;
• retrain their minds to view themselves from God’s perspective;
• see their setbacks as setups for success;
• stop questioning their gifts and talents and start living in them.

Backed with Scripture and a raw look at his journey from childhood until a miraculous, spiritual encounter with the Lord in early 2024, Ed shows readers that it’s not only possible for God to use them, but that God wants to use them. Each chapter challenges readers to confidently walk in the calling and identity God has placed on their lives.

About the author

Born in North Carolina, but raised primarily in Florida, Dr. Ed Newton graduated from Clearwater Christian College and holds multiple graduate degrees in religious education, as well as a Doctorate in pulpit education and expository preaching from Memphis Mid- America Baptist Theological Seminary. Ed has been the lead pastor of Community Bible Church since 2016. He has authored several books, the most recent being an evangelism resource titled My 8: Embrace and Engage in the Wonder of Evangelism that dives into practical methods of sharing the Good News of Jesus with others.

Ed lives in San Antonio with his wife, Stephanie, and their four children: London, Lola, Liv, and Lawson. He enjoys skateboarding, basketball and running, as well as exploring the culture of his beloved San Antonio in his spare time.

 

 

My Thoughts:

This book was such a joy to read.

 

The author takes us chapter by chapter and focus on learning how to understand and believe that God truly loves us.  We can be our strongest critics, often questioning if God loves us, if He hears us, if He understands us.  it's not easy to give up that control and live a life that is God centered, we want to control every minute detail about everything around us.

 

The book isn't just about learning our own identity and being the people God called us to be, but it also teaches us through the author's own experiences, how he himself tackled this journey.  

 

With Bible stories and Ed Newton's own life experiences, it teaches us how to grow in our God given identity and how to see how God is at work in our lives.

 

I thoroughly enjoyed everything I have read so far, and while not being completely done with the book, I am very much looking forward to reading more and implementing those lessons in my own life.

 

 

 

Thank you to TLC book tours and Thomas Nelson for providing me with a review copy. 

 

 

 

 

 

{ Happy Homemaker Monday - 12/01/2025 }

 

 

Good morning and a very happy December to you all.

 

Here we are, the beginning of the most glorious season, Christmas.  I am can't tell you how much I love this time of year, I look forward to it all year long, and when December arrives I am but bursting at the seams to get going with the festivities.

 

I have a very busy next two weeks, as we prepare to received our family from South Africa, who will be spending 3 weeks with us.  I am so excited, but there is work to do, as you all know when you host someone in your home, there is always a lot of preparation and two weeks doesn't seem like nearly enough time for it all.  But it will get done.

 

Right, let's get on with our post, I added a cute new button for this month.  Feel free to use it if you wish.

 

Have a wonderful blessed start to the season, and I'll see you all back tomorrow.   

Sandra

♥♥♥♥

 

 

 *** The Weather *** 

It is bitterly cold, oh my goodness.  We have been in the twenties for the past two days.  Winter is definitely here.  We have more of the cold weather sticking around the next week.  

 

Monday - Cloudy skies, 44 

Tuesday - Sunny, 56 

Wednesday - Mostly sunny, 58

Thursday - Mostly cloudy, 40

Friday - Mostly sunny, 55

Saturday - Sunny, 60  

Sunday - Mostly sunny, 55

 

 

*** Right now I am *** 

Sitting in my warm bed, as always, typing up this post, and watching the first Vlogmas video of the season.  Oh I do so look forward to Vlogmas on YouTube, so glad it's here. 

 

 

  *** Thinking and pondering *** 

Christmas and the family arriving.  I am once again surrounded by lists so that I don't forget anything, which will no doubt happen anyway, but we try.  

 

 

*** How I am feeling ***

I'm ok, it's the beginning of that time of the month, so fun fun.  Aside from that, I am good.  I am ready to get back to eating well because Thanksgiving was, well....it just was a few days of indulgence which my body is not happy with.      

 

 

*** On the breakfast plate *** 

I have had one cup of coffee and will have another and some weetabix cereal, in a few minutes when I'm done with this post.  

 

 

*** On the lunch plate *** 

Chickpea tuna salad. 

 

 

*** On the dinner plate *** 

Chicken Kofta, Curried Quinoa, Cucumber and tomato salad  

 

 

*** On the menu *** 

Will be working on the new meal plan today, and it will kick in on Wednesday, so don't have meals planned after Tuesday. 

 

Monday - Chicken Kofta, Curried Quinoa, Cucumber and tomato salad

Tuesday - Five Bean soup, Grilled Cheese Sandwiches 

Wednesday - 

Thursday -  

Friday - 

Saturday - 

Sunday -  

 

*** What I am wearing *** 

Warm winter pajamas, but will change into some leggings and a long sleeve top. 

 

 

 *** On my reading pile *** 

Bible Recap - I am just counting down the days until it ends.  I didn't realize how constrained it would make me feel, so I am not enjoying it at all, but I'm determined to finish the plan.

A Falcon for a Queen by Catherine Gaskin, it's still sitting on my nightstand, I read maybe a few words here and there, but would love to find some time to read.   

 

 

*** On my TV this week *** 

YouTube Vlogmas. 

Turkish Series: 

Guller ve Gunahlar 

Halef Koklerin Cagrisi 

Esref Ruya 

 

Hallmark Christmas movies 

Great American Pure Flix Christmas movies 

 

 

*** Looking around the house *** 

I am in love.  I will take some pictures to show you all tomorrow when I do my Christmas decorations post.  But, I just love the house during the season, all the twinkly lights, the tree, the garlands, the red bows, the fire roaring.  Just love it! 

 

 

*** To do list for the week*** 

Daily homemaking chores

Water inside plants 

Starting the fourth row of Part 5 of the Solstice Star Blanket 

Daily 10k steps 

Daily workout, minimum of 10 minutes 

Finish all the outside Christmas decorations

Finish wrapping Christmas gifts

Prepare house for guests

 

 

*** What I am creating *** 

Solstice Star Blanket CAL by Helen at Crystals and Crochet 

 

 

*** From the camera *** 

Food prep during Thanksgiving.  Here I was chopping up bread for my homemade stuffing.  

 

*** Devotional, Prayers, Bible Verses *** 

I just want to take today, to remind you to pray and protect yourselves and your families during this time of the year.  We should always be covering ourselves with the blood of Jesus, but especially during this time.  

 

Plead the blood of Jesus over yourself and your family, over your home, your vehicles and your place of work.  Speak life over you all, speak and activate Psalm 91 and Psalm 23, as well as John 10:10.."for the enemy came to kill, steal and destroy, but He came that we may have life and life abundantly".

 

I also always ask God to make sure that my family and I are always at the right place, at the right time.  I even plead the blood of Jesus over all my animals.

 

We are in a huge spiritual war, and we need to protect ourselves and our families.  Finally, I do this every morning and every night, I speak and activate Ephesians 6:10, and ask God to equip us all with the complete and total armor of God.

 

God bless you all ♥ 

 

{ A cloudy, rainy, calm Saturday }

The morning arrived with clouds, fog and a soft constant rain.  The constant pitter patter, methodically and rhythmically falling on the rooftop.  Rain has such a calm effect on me, it always has.  Where some dislike clouds, grey skies and rain, I prefer it over summer days.  

 

So as this morning rolled around, I knew I would have just the day I needed.  A homey, quiet, pottering around with Christmas decorations, coffee drinking, Christmas movie watching and cooking homemade meals, kind of day. 

We went to the gym early in the morning, both not wanting to go, both preferring to stay home in the warmth, but after the Thanksgiving holiday and all the over indulging, we knew we needed to get in there.  For me, it was more about some physical therapy for my aching knee.  Using the machines my physical therapist advised, and using the stationary bike too, all exercises to strengthen my knee and help with the pain.

 

It worked.  Some were a little hard because of the pain, but I took it slow, did a only a few reps and made sure to not overdo anything.

 

Once home, I got busy with the house chores I needed to do. 

I finished all the inside decorating, save for two doorways that I want to get some garland hung over.  And then Curt and I started on the outside.  

 

I just love Christmas and love all the lights and the decorations.  I think that when we get to the end of the year, after enduring all the trials and tests and craziness that life throws at us, when December rolls around, the whole world is so ready to jump into the season.  The whole atmosphere shifts, things seem lighter and people are happier. 

I watched some more Christmas movies, I listened to Christmas music.  I talked to my family back in South Africa, received more gifts in the mail, wrapped them immediately and set them under the tree in our bedroom.

 

I cleared out all the Thanksgiving leftovers and made my yearly Thanksgiving pie.  It's become something we all look forward to.

 

And as the day rolled to an end, I jumped into a hot shower, got into my warmest of pajamas and got into bed.  My body weary and tired, but my soul filled with joy.

 

Curt and I were having a conversation on the way back from the gym.  We both talked about what a great day we were having, like we were back in a normal routine.  We love the holidays but it does throw everything into the air and routines along with it.  We talked about how happy it makes us to just go to the gym, stop at the store for a few things we needed, go home, shower and then potter around the house.

 

Small things but things that make us happy and remind us that we have a blessed, good life.  We just tend to take it all for granted and forget to stop and Thank God.  

 

It was a good day indeed! 

{ The day after Thanksgiving }

Every time the weather starts changing, and the cold starts creeping in, my arthritis flares up.  As I get older, doing all the holiday cooking and prepping, takes a lot out of me, but I still happily do it because I love it, I love hosting, I love having the whole family gathered and eating and talking, and laughing.  

 

The day after however, I know that I will be down for the count for most of the day.

 

My hands of course hurt, which is normal for osteoarthritis, but my right knee has been giving me issues for months.  When I walk, or squat or workout, it's a crinkle, pop and happy dance going on.  If you have arthritis, you know exactly what I'm referring to.

 

A few weeks ago though, I twisted my knee.  Stupidly on my part, instead of turning my whole body, I just twisted the right knee and immediately felt a sharp pain.  I wobbled around for a week with random pain shooting up, here and there.  It got better, I talked to my doctor and everything is good, it's just part of twisting mixed with the arthritis wear and tear.

 

But, after being on my feet for two days, not only for the Thanksgiving prep and cooking, but also the normal homemaking chores, and grocery shopping and the cold blistery weather, my knee is back to hurting.

 

Randomly.  I will be standing or walking and do a certain movement that brings a sharp pain, my knee gives out and I am limping for a few seconds.  So, I am taking it easy, I used my brace and now I have it taped up with KT tape which is used for physical therapy.  Best thing I ever did was have my physical therapist show me how to tape for different parts of the body and different situations.

 

If you've never taped up you are missing out.  It takes the pressure off the joint and allows you to move freely about without the pain.

 

Anyway, that is how I am spending my Friday.  Taking a good break, resting as much as possibly, and also slowly putting up the rest of the Christmas decorations.

 

 

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!!! 

{ Happy Thanksgiving }

 

{ The day before Thanksgiving.....what is on the list }

This is it, the day before, the rush, the sprint to the finish line.

 

I don't know about you all, but I am already tired and ready to eat and be done with this.  What a terrible thing to say out loud, right?  But honestly, I love the holidays but as I get older, the less energy I have and the more tired I get, without even talking about the pains and aches that seem to radiate through the entire body.  Good grief!  😂

 

Anyway, today is go day, so I am currently sitting on my bed, with my second cup of coffee while Kaia snores next to me, snuggled under her blanket, and Elliott is also fast asleep under his blanket.  I have a video on the TV, listening to a prophet and writing down my list of to do's for today.  The more I add, the more I cringe, knowing that I have to get through all of this in the next 24 hours.  It will get done though and by the time bedtime rolls around, I will have a smile on my face and look back at the crazy busy day in preparation for another busy one tomorrow.

 

So, here is what is on my list for today:

 

• Pull out pie crusts from freezer
• Pull out puff pastry from freezer for Brie and my Custard Tart
• Make Pumpkin, Pecan and Apple pie fillings
• Make dinner rolls
• Boil eggs for deviled eggs
• Clean turkeys and prepared brine to get them in there overnight
• Make green bean casserole, pop in fridge and bake tomorrow
• Make sweet potato casserole, pop in fridge and bake tomorrow
• Make homemade stuffing
•  
• Carpet clean in between all this.  That needs doing so it's nice and fresh for tomorrow.  
• Insert leaves in table and start setting it for tomorrow.
• Make sure guest bathroom is clean.
• Make ham and cheese sliders for dinner.