Last week felt more like March than February. It's been warm, wet, and windy outside, and according to the weather forecast, we're in for another week of the same. I hope that everything won't rush to start budding too soon; we're almost guaranteed to have more freezing weather before it's all said and done.
The birds and squirrels seem to love the break in the cold. The birds are much more active all of a sudden and they've become very vocal, especially first thing in the morning. Young squirrels (probably born last autumn) are scampering heedlessly all over the yard--just yesterday I startled two of them by walking around a corner while they were at play and not paying attention. They're so funny to watch.
Tomorrow is the beginning of Lent, and a lot of my Catholic friends will be giving up something that they enjoy from now until Easter. It occurred to me today that I've got a head start on them, since I've given up gluten since the beginning of the month. Tomorrow will be two weeks! Soon I should have some idea if gluten contributes to my skin condition. So far, I haven't had any big eczema flares, just a couple of short episodes of mild itching. I can't decide yet if it's making a difference or not.
Tomorrow is also Valentine's Day! Not that it's a very big deal in this house. I usually cook a nice dinner and maybe buy some chocolate for dessert, but Wednesday is Gregg's night to work late. I'm not sure it will be worth it to go to extra trouble with a meal that we won't be able to eat until 8pm or later (on a work night). The special meal may have to wait until the weekend...or better yet, once I finish my gluten free trial. I miss bread so bad!!
Are any of you giving up something for Lent? Or have big plans for Valentine's Day? If so I'd love to hear about it!
Tomorrow is the beginning of Lent, and a lot of my Catholic friends will be giving up something that they enjoy from now until Easter. It occurred to me today that I've got a head start on them, since I've given up gluten since the beginning of the month. Tomorrow will be two weeks! Soon I should have some idea if gluten contributes to my skin condition. So far, I haven't had any big eczema flares, just a couple of short episodes of mild itching. I can't decide yet if it's making a difference or not.
Tomorrow is also Valentine's Day! Not that it's a very big deal in this house. I usually cook a nice dinner and maybe buy some chocolate for dessert, but Wednesday is Gregg's night to work late. I'm not sure it will be worth it to go to extra trouble with a meal that we won't be able to eat until 8pm or later (on a work night). The special meal may have to wait until the weekend...or better yet, once I finish my gluten free trial. I miss bread so bad!!
Are any of you giving up something for Lent? Or have big plans for Valentine's Day? If so I'd love to hear about it!
spouse and I go out either the weekend before or the weekend after VD. NEVER on VD itself; too damn crazy.
ReplyDeleteI give up NOTHING; I am an atheist and these "holidays" mean nothing to me. I treat myself to the best!
My husband has tickets to a basketball gave he's attending tomorrow night. When he realized that was Valentine's Day he said, "Wow! What idiot scheduled that?"
ReplyDeleteWhich isn't going to stop him from going to the game which is fine with me.
I made him a cake today that looks like hell but I think he's going to love it. And I'm going to cook scallops so that's all special.
Give up something for Lent? Haha! I can see how that wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing but I"m with Anne Marie. What kind of a god would be pleased to see you give up something which brings you happiness? Unless it's for a really good reason.
I'm giving up being nice to rude people...watch my blog x
ReplyDeleteI really have nothing to give up. I think I'll keep an eye on John.
ReplyDeleteI am just trying to keep on my new meds and keep on the food choices. I think a month of really trying will be good for me.
ReplyDeletecheers, parsnip and mandibles
No, I don't give-up anything. However, I shall be having a few words with the wild birds around here. They are pigs, and eat everything I put out for them in a matter of seconds. They will have an enforced Lent of less bird seed, etc.
ReplyDeleteNo Lent for me, as I am not Catholic (or anything else organised). I don't smoke, don't drink more than what I can handle (never alone, and never too much; rarely on a week night unless it is someone's birthday), and I definitely would find giving up chocolate and/or coffee and/or bread and/or cheese VERY hard! So maybe I should try one of those, just for the sake of testing my mental ability to cope without those small luxuries? I don't think it makes a difference to God, unless, as someone said above, it is for a really good reason.
ReplyDeleteWe don't "do" Valentine's Day here; it is a tradition that has only sprung up in the last 20-odd years or so in Germany. But O.K. and I have the anniversary of our first date at the end of this month, and I hope we can arrange for a nice meal at a good restaurant. It is a week night, however, and us living 150 km apart makes it difficult to do anything together that is not on a weekend.
Well...as I seem to have already given up sleeping, due to the steroids I am on, I think that is enough!!
ReplyDeleteNo giving up anything here Jennifer. No plans for Valentines Day either, I will be spending it on my own.
ReplyDeleteGiven up anything? Er, no. Nothing special for Valentine's day either, I shall cook chilli tonight. We had oysters one year and they made me so ill I can't even bear to look at them anymore!
ReplyDeleteFor my generation in Europe VD is still a blow-in from across the pond. Welcome, no less. But it has no significance to most people I know - apart from teenage nieces. I don't think we adults ever exchanged a VD card or did anything special on that day.
ReplyDeleteI give up something every lent in memory of my beloved father-in-law, who challenged me, the heathen foreign hussy, the first year I appeared on his family scene. He was a very serious catholic and for him, it was alcohol, sugar and cigars.
I usually opt for sugar and sweets. This morning we are all slightly nauseous from last night's pancake overdose (Shrove Tuesday is another family tradition) and at least for now, no sugar feels easy peasy.
I gave up things when I was young and told that it was a thing one had to do. As I matured, I thought about it and tried to understand how giving up led to anything productive. It would be better to be positive and do something kind for someone, even if it is just a smile or calling a friend.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of giving something up for a period of time when lots of other people are doing the same. It might help me start a diet. Sugar! That's what I'll give up. Let's see how long that lasts. No plans for Valentine's Day, but if my husband presents me with chocolates I'm afraid the sugar fast will not last beyond today. Life is so complicated.
ReplyDeleteI really like your site and content so much,thanks for sharing the information keep updating, looking forward for more posts.
ReplyDeleteหนังออนไลน์
Working on letting go of people and situations that no longer serve my peace of mind
ReplyDeleteand emotional well being.
** สมัคร D2BET**
https://burningmoonlight-jennifer.blogspot.com/2018/02/sweet-surprise.html?showComment=1525569380951#c3362782166319767453
ReplyDelete