Early morning Owls

           

                                          

A Hoot in the Morning

There’s something special about early mornings in the country. This morning, as I stepped outside to get into the car and head off to work, I heard something that made me pause for just a moment — the soft, steady hoot of an owl somewhere out in the east field behind our house. It caught me a little by surprise, and I just stood there for a second listening. There’s something almost magical about that sound, especially when you aren’t expecting it.

Moments like that remind me just how blessed we are to live out in the country. The sights, the sounds, and even the scent of the air are completely different from what you’d experience in town or in a big city. Out here, you notice things more. The quiet feels deeper. The air smells fresher. And little things, like an owl greeting the morning, feel like a small gift to start the day.

I tried to take that moment in before getting into the vehicle and heading to work. Sometimes those simple pauses are exactly what we need before the day begins.

I can hardly believe it’s already March 10th. Time seems to move so quickly, especially after being sick last week. Missing several days of work really throws things off, and now it means I need to buckle down a bit and focus on doing better and making more saves at work. Getting back into the routine always takes a little effort after you’ve been down for a while, but I’m determined to get myself back on track.

Part of that effort includes trying to get back to healthier eating habits as well. I packed a simple but sensible lunch today. I brought one of those little individual cups of chicken salad along with about five or six crackers. I also packed a chocolate pudding that has 15 grams of protein in it — a little treat that still helps with protein. For breakfast, I brought a small container of berry yogurt, which honestly sounded pretty good this morning even though I haven’t eaten it yet.

To drink, I have a sugar-free beverage and two 20-ounce bottles of water. I’m really trying to be mindful about not consuming extra calories or snacking on things I don’t actually need. Will I eat everything I packed today? Probably not. But I’d rather have it with me than end up hungry and wishing I had brought a little more.

After work today, I’ll need to stop by Walmart and pick up a few things. Then I’ll go by Brody’s to pick up Mr. C. He’ll be there babysitting Sophie this afternoon so Brody can take Landon to his speech appointment. It’s always nice when family can step in and help each other like that.

Once we get home this evening, we’ll settle into our usual routine — making supper, winding down for the night, and getting everything ready for tomorrow. Nothing fancy, just the comfort of a normal evening at home.

But honestly, I think the highlight of the day may have already happened before the sun even came up — standing quietly in the morning air, listening to an owl call out from the field. Sometimes the best moments are the simplest ones. 

A Saturday well spent

                          Movies, Bridal Shower, & Shopping 

Some Saturdays feel extra full, and August 30th was  definitely one of those days. Mr. C. and I started our morning slow, which is always a treat on the weekend. We woke up around 6:30 AM and curled up with a couple of movies. First was Culprit, which turned out to a really good movie. Then we watched The Hungting Ground, it was filled with drama and some disturbing scenes.  By the time the credits rolled, it was already time for me to get ready for the day ahead.

The main event for the morning was Kaitlyn’s bridal shower in Elgin at her fiancé mom‘s home. It started at noon so I grabbed the card I had prepared with $25 for her honeymoon fund and headed out. I’ll be bringing a separate gift for Ethan and Kaitlyn‘s wedding itself. 

When I arrived, I was struck by how beautiful everything was decorated. Right at the entryway was a table set up with a cute, welcome, sign, and fun games, guessing the candy in a jar, leaving a date, night ideal, And offering advice for the soon to be newlyweds. My ideal was a creative one-and immersive art experience at mix-tape at Factory Obscura in Oklahoma City. Above the table, balloons spelled out bride, which added such a cheerful touch.

This is where Kaitlyn will be opening her gifts. The stunning balloon, arch, with boots filled with silk flowers in shades of peach, yellow, red and greens. It was clear the theme was “ Flowers of many colors,” and it gave the whole space, a lovely and joyful atmosphere.

And then there was the food-Wow! The buffet was overflowing with delicious options: Two different vegetable tries with dips, fresh fruit (Grapes, blueberries, strawberries, and apple slices) with fruit dip, Pasta salad, chicken, salad, sandwiches, ham, and cheese, sliders, crackers, and cheese and chips. 

The desserts were just as tempting; Decorated gourmet cookies, homemade wedding cookies, chocolate-Dipped strawberries, and cupcakes. Sweet tea and lemonade, rounded it all out perfectly.

After the shower wrapped up, I headed home where Whitney met me at 2 PM for our afternoon shopping adventures. Our first Stop was basket market in Oklahoma City. Whitney has a love for Christmas decor, while I was on the hunt for fall items for my porch. She enjoyed browsing the holiday treasures, while I snagged several gift boxes, a Christmas ornament, and a set of assorted pumpkins for my porch decor this year.

From there, we made our way to a couple of thrift stores. I’ve always loved thrifting-It feels like a little treasure hunt. At one store, I found a pretty full arrangement that will work perfectly with the porch set up I’ve been imagining.

Dinner was at Bubba‘s 33, Which has a little bit of everything; Pizzas, pasta, burgers, and more. I went with a Philly cheesesteak sandwich, which was absolutely delicious. While Whitney ordered the Monte Cristo sandwich-And let me just say it looked and tasted amazing. We both loved it so much that we ended up buying matching Bubba 33 T-shirts before we left!

The loaded cheese fries were very tasty!

Our next stop is Burlington, where I picked up some new shower items. I couldn’t resist the pineapple scented line, and I also grab some cherry, scented items along with two  deodorant’s. 

From there, we treated ourselves to smoothie king, I tried the lemonade- strawberry twist, smoothie, which was so refreshing-perfect for this season since I’ve been really enjoying Strawberry-Lemonade flavors lately.

By the time we pulled back into the driveway, it was 8 PM- a long but fun filled Saturday. Looking back, it amazes me how much we packed into the day. From celebrating Kate at her beautiful shower to shopping, thrifting,eating, and laughing with Whitney, it was the kind of Saturday that left me tired but happy. Sometimes, the best days are the ones where you just keep moving from one joy to the next.

As I think back on it now, I’m grateful-For family milestones, for friends to shop and laugh with, and for simple pleasures like a good sandwich or a perfect fall decoration. Life is busy, but days like this remind me that joy often comes in little pieces scattered throughout the day. All we have to do is notice them.