Greetings from Terra Dulcis this Thursday afternoon.  The sun is shining, the wind from yesterday (!) has died down, and it's a pleasant but cool day.  

Listening to:  NOTHING!  Even Lovey my parakeet is sitting quietly in his cage, the clock on the wall is ticking but barely noticeable.  And that's quite alright by me at the moment.  Silence is golden.  A wind chime outside in blowing lightly.

(this is one of my favorite scriptures!)

What's happening at Terra Dulcis?   * Az and I are at the last hour of Return of the King which we'll finish tonight.  Next week, we'll start on the Hobbit Trilogy.  We break the movies up since they're so long.  LOTR is coming for back in theaters for limited time, but I don't think I can do that!  Each movie is around 3 hours long. 

*Still purging stuff but it has slowed down a bit.  There's an outbuilding I can't get into at the moment, but it'll happen! 

*Laundry done and put away, I'm going to make a little lunch and maybe knit a while.  

Praying for:  *every day the news just gets worse.......

*Getting lined up for Lenten practices, as it's just over a month away already.

*Everyone.  Esp. Melania, Rachel, Kastl, Molly. 

*Gratitude for my continued health.

What's cooking? This week I've made pork chops, steak, baked potatoes, bought a rotisserie chicken (thinking of chicken and dumplings?), will probably make a stew at some point on Saturday or Sunday.  ((Temps in the teens expected Sunday morning!!??)  Stew always hits the spot when it's cold.  With cornbread.  Now I'm hungry.....

My Current WIP: Still knitting on the grey/pink combo blanket.  Now, when I say pink, it's more a pinky blush.  Very elegant, very pretty shade with the grey.  It's going to be bigger than I planned!  I have yet to be good at gauging starting stitches at cast-on!  I think for a baby blanket, I should stick with 75 to 80, but I've been second guessing myself and going to 98 to 105.  Oh well.  It is what it is. 

Ok, I'll keep today's fairly short, because it is past lunchtime, and I've got a couple of phone calls to make.  Let me leave you with a really good quote from Bishop Baron I heard the other day:  

"He is King, or He is nothing!" 

Christus est rex in aeternum,

Until next time, kellie

 

New Daybook, new year.

 

Happy New Year! Happy Epiphany-tide! (Yes, that's a thing!) Merry Christmas! (We're in Christmas season until February 2nd!)  Ok, that's a lot of exclamation points..........

Well, it has been a minute.  We were allowing ourselves to observe and enjoy the beautiful season that is Advent and Christmastide.  So, I'll just get right into this first daybook of 2026.

Listening to:  Lovey is chirping the song of his people.  He's enjoying the sunshine pouring into the dining room (after this morning's rain).  Not complaining about that rain though.  December had zero I believe, so we're due.  The 'thingy' on the wall says we got .54 of an inch.  Now I hear Lulu barking at something as well.  Dryer going. 

What I've been up to:  Since the New Year, I've embarked on a task that might take me through the springtime at least, if not into summer.  

1.  I've started thinning out my house of clutter.  Yes!  I've already taken two large loads to donation.  

2.  Some of the stuff is from our move - gasp! - 4 years ago into the small century-old+ farmhouse on our property.  Stuff that at the time was easier to just box up and store.  Easier, because I was not in the mindset to 'let go'.  We had just moved from our 4-bedroom house that was home since 1993, so I was letting go already. 

3.  There are still outbuildings to go through, but I'm now ready to let go of a lot, and I mean a LOT!  I realize now that stuff is like emotional baggage.  I don't need the stuff to keep the memories.  Not everything will go, but what I keep will be sorted, properly contained and marked so I can find it when I need it.  I never did find my regular Advent wreath and one of my favorite Nativities from last year, but I bet I find it when I start digging.  I had to improvise, and was pretty pleased actually with the end result.

This week:  Otherwise, here at Terra Dulcis: 

*Alexander (my youngest) and I have watched Lord of the Rings, Fellowship of the Ring; and plan to start the second film in the Trilogy tonight.  I like to rewatch both trilogies every couple of years or so.  LOTR/Hobbit geek, guilty as charged.  

*Celebrated a great-nephew on Sunday who turned 13 at my brother in law's.  

*Enjoyed a thrift day with all my sisters yesterday.  We went to 4 different places and had a quick lunch.  I didn't go overboard and bring back in a lot of stuff.  😁 But I did find a really pretty white throw for a couple of bucks that after washing, got put onto the bed. 

*Got the tree down and everything put away - just in time before the rain!  

((I have to admit, as much as I love the tree and decorations, I'm always glad to have stuff back to normal.))

 What's cooking:  We had Mexican take out while watching the movie.  That was so relaxing just sitting with tv trays and enjoying the film and each other.  We don't eat in the living room often, so it felt special for a change. Last night I cooked burgers and fries.  Tonight, pizza and salad.  I don't remember Tuesday.  

Looking forward:  Sunday is our pot-luck at church, 2nd Sunday of the month.  It's always a pleasant meal chatting with friends, old and new.  I have yet to decide what to take for the meal. 

Current project:  At the moment I'm really into knitting, and I'm working on a pretty cream/white, pink and grey combo.  

There is always a project in the basket by my mama-bear chair. 

Praying/pondering:  

*For all my family, friends, and benefactors, living and deceased.  Praying for the sick and those who are in danger of dying an unprepared death each day.  For the souls in Purgatory.  Please say a prayer for Lyman E. who passed away yesterday.  He's my sister in law's only remaining sibling.  And for his family, grieving the loss of a father and brother. 

*For our troubled world.

*For a blessed 2026.

*In thanksgiving for all we have and have been given.

I think it's time to bid farewell, as my dryer has stopped!  In closing I'll leave you with this lovely thought from Tolkien himself. 

(photo from facebook)

Peace and blessings to you until next time, kellie