Monday Morning Coffee

Good Monday morning, my friends! We interrupt the regularly scheduled Monday morning coffee posts in front of the fire for this one, taken outside in Florida this morning. Yes, we boarded a plane for the first time in over five years, and two and a half hours later, we traded the cold and snow for some partial sun and warmth. When I woke up yesterday morning and took the pups outside, I was sure we would not be able to fly that day. It was snowy, freezing, and windy. By the time we were ready for takeoff, the weather had transformed into this...

Here we are, all ready to go! Don't be fooled by my borderline manic look. Steve hates flying, and I just realized I was the one to keep calm and hold things together. Fortunately, he did great, thanks to Rhett setting him up with headphones and a movie to watch. 

Before we knew it, we were at our first stop, and I promptly showered, changed into my cozy clothes, and settled in with Madison for the evening. We enjoyed the room service and The Miss America Pageant while the others headed for dinner. A homebody is a homebody, no matter where she is!

Have a wonderful week, my friends! Stay warm and cozy, and as always, thanks for visiting!

Billie Jo

 

Some Small Moments

Good morning! Welcome to the weekend, my friends. This morning, I was reminded of my not~a~resolution~ idea of noticing and appreciating the small moments in my day that bring me joy. Good thing because here it is twelve days in, and I almost forgot already. What reminded me, you ask?

This is one of those things that literally causes me to stop and simply look. So that is what I did. This, in turn, allowed me to reflect on this past week and remember a few other moments that did the same.

Schooling on the couch with two extra students...

Coffee in a favorite Bambi mug by the fire on a cold January morning...

And pups in sweaters on a random afternoon.

Reflecting on these moments of joy does not imply that my week was without trouble. Instead, doing so enables me to better deal with any difficulties a day brings. Simple joys will be different for each of us, as are our challenges. Choosing to remain a moment longer in the good is a way to balance the not~so~ good. And an extra cup of coffee on a cold January day never hurts!

I hope your weekend is filled to the brim with fun and joy! Stay warm. Stay cozy. Watch football. Or not. Whatever you do, do it for you! 

What little things brought you joy this week?

Care to share?

Thanks for visiting!

Billie Jo

Because They are Too Good To Keep To Myself...

 I am going to fill you in on...dare I say...the absolute BEST brownies you will ever eat. And I mean best. Take a look.

I know, right??

Here, one more...

These brownies are the most perfectly balanced bites of chocolate and fudgy goodness and bake up perfectly every time. But the absolute best part of these delicious treats?? 

The recipe. Step one: Open the box.

Steve found these at Sam's Club. And we are glad!

Happy Wednesday, my friends!

Billie Jo

Monday Morning Coffee Talk ~ Snow!

 

We got snow! It has been quite a while since our area saw a significant amount of snow. Saturday, it snowed all day, and it was beautiful. Now, there are two types of people in the world regarding snow. Some people get excited when the first flakes fall because they can lace up their boots and head out to walk, sled, ski, or do whatever other physical activity they enjoy. Then, there are people like me. We get excited BEFORE the first flakes fall. We watch the weather forecast to see just how much snow we are forecast to get. We are so excited when the snow begins to fall so that we can remain inside, drink cocoa and coffee, snuggle on the couch, and look at it. While I am happy to be one of those who watch from the cozy of my home, I appreciate and applaud those who enjoy the snow from outside the house. All my children fall into that category. And how thankful am I that they are old enough to do it on their own and that their father is an outside person too?!?!

Now, lest you think I did nothing while this fun was being had outside, I have photographic proof of everything I did inside. I spotted some birds at my feeder and got a few pictures through the window.

And I did pack up the Christmas ornaments until next year. And then I took down the tree. This led to me vacuuming and then putting all the Christmas decorations away. And then why not get out a few Valentine's Day things to set around? And finally, I collapsed on the couch. Because I realized I am not thirty years old anymore. Ok. Not even forty years old anymore. 

I had helpers all afternoon. 

So there you go. Our weekend snowstorm and all that went with it. I hope you have a cozy day, my friends. We have schooling and laundry here. Ordinary days. My favorite.

Thanks for visiting!

Billie Jo