Five On Friday

 

5 of my favorite things this week:

1.  Early morning walks outside with the puppy.  
She doesn't do well on the leash yet, so we only walk around our yard.  But we have over 3 acres and much of the yard I don't ever get to explore (especially back by the woods or the pond).  I feel like I'm experiencing my own yard for the first time, and now that the seasons are changing, there's so much new to explore.

2.  My electric tea pot.
I used one when we were on vacation, and I loved it.  It's so easy and so fast.  I found this vintage looking one on Amazon and I'm so glad that I found it. The weather has cooled down to the 50's this week (hello fall!) and I'm making a lot more tea.

3.  Fall decorations.
I put up my fall decorations.  They just make the home seem so cozy and festive.  I put up the outside Halloween decorations last weekend when it was in the 80's.  I hope to get the indoor ones put up this weekend.

4.  The library.
I have always loved the library.  Books and reading are a passion of mine. I'm interested in doing some research on a topic that interests me, and I love how I can look up online the books that I need, then put a hold on them, and have them sent from whatever library in the area they are at.  

5.  Go Clean Co's Fall Cleaning Challenge
I've got a lot of cleaning and organizing to do, and I've gotten even further behind due to the puppy.  But the challenge is motivating me to get my butt in gear and get some stuff done.  I don't expect to get it all done, but whatever I do clean/organize will be a bonus.

Five On Friday

 

5 Things that I will be doing (or not doing) for Lent 2022

1.  I will be reading Grace In Tension: Discover Peace with Martha and Mary.  The story of Martha and Mary resignates with me so much.  When I saw this book, I knew I found my Lenten reading.  I am totally a Martha, working on becoming more like Mary.

2.  I will be saying my morning prayers in bed.  Before my feet hit that floor, my prayers will be said.  That's not to say that I won't be praying throughout the day too, but if I don't say my morning prayers right away, the chaos of the morning, the news, something stupid on social media, or anything else that is not important takes my attention away and I either don't say my morning prayers or I try to fit them in later in the day sometimes to no avail.  

3.  Spring Cleaning!  I need to do this.  I started last year, but only got part of the way done.  This year, I have a plan.  I'm working in sections of the house (a room or two at a time) and I'm giving myself a few days to get each section done.  Lent is 40 days.  Why do I try to cram in all the cleaning in one week?  I started to today and I have the foyer, the downstairs powder room, and the hall to the kitchen completely done.  I also washed the walls going up the stairs and in the upstairs hallway.  That was enough for today.  I'm trying something new this year too.  I have the O-Cedar Spin Mop and I love it for my wood floors.  I follow Go Clean Co on Instagram and she recommended it.  And she uses it with hot water and 1 tsp. of powdered Tide.  I've seen people (and maybe her too??) use the same solution and mop combo to wash walls. I did that today, and folks, it was a game changer.  No up and down the ladder and it seemed to do a really good job.  I don't know if powdered Tide is safe for all wall types so you may want to do a test spot before you do an entire wall.  Our walls are painted with Sherwin Williams paint, and it worked great for us.  

4.  NO SNACKING after 7 pm.  This is a hard one for me.  But I can do it for Lent.

5.  Praying the Litany of Humility daily.

I also plan on giving more to the local food pantry.  Our budget will determine what that looks like.

So that's it.  That's what I'm doing for Lent 2022.  I think it's totally doable and I'm praying that it brings me closer to God.

What are you doing this year for Lent?