Well, it’s been a week! Again. It’s good to sit back at the end of it and look back at the good things that transpired—and they are always there, even if we have to look a bit harder to find them. I’m pleased to join Susanne at Living to Tell the Story, and others, with a Friday’s Fave Five post.
Meal prep. I spent one morning in the kitchen this week making meals to tuck in the freezer for those days I don’t feel like cooking (and, trust me, there are many of them.) Felt good to see the fruit of my labour lined up on the freezer shelves.
The Olympics. I don’t watch them, but Gerry is enjoying watching the Canadian curling and hockey and, for that reason, it’s a favourite of mine this week.
A redesigned website/blog. I don’t know why I tackle these things, but tackle them I do. I’m a techie at heart (having spent a good chunk of my working life as a computer programmer), and still get the urge to dabble with technology. This week I decided to redesign my website and bring My Own Velvet Room into it. (I’m also reevaluating my presence on Substack. If you’re getting this and you subscribe to my Substack, stay tuned.) It was fun and all-absorbing work, still tweaks to make, but I’m happy with the end result. Whatcha think?
Snow. After a couple of weeks of almost spring-like weather (or faux spring, as we like to refer to it), we’re back in winter again with a storm that blew in earlier this week. It was -26C when I got up this morning. There’s a decent amount of snow out there now and, with the blue sky and sunshine, it makes for a pretty picture.
Coffee with a friend. I’m heading out for coffee with a friend at our favourite shop this afternoon. Coffee dates with friends are always among my favourite things. How about you?
I love the look of this blog! Is that you in the header on the right? lovely….
YAY for coffee dates. I have them often although lately it’s been me my self and I at the fave coffee shop with a book or my Bible study workbook I’m leading.
I LOVE watching the figure skating (all of it, even the ice dancing although a lot of that I had to miss due to other commitments). I also like watching the women’s bobsled. I hike in the area (one of the areas I hike in I mean…the high peaks of the ADK) where the bobsleds for the Olympics are made (Lake Placid NY).
You had a great list of blessings……and yay for meal prep!
Thank you, Faith! The image in the header is a likeness of me (I asked ChatGPT to create it based on some parameters I provided.) I’ll take coffee shop time with a book or my journal any time, too. 😊
Your re-designed website/blog is lovely. I’m creating an author website and am debating moving my blogger blog over there, too. I began blogging in 2007, I think, so there is a lot of history over there. I’m also becoming more ambivalent about SubStack, although I’ll continue posting book excerpts there until it’s published. I do appreciate the newsletter aspect of it. So many decisions and I’m not very techie, but I have a son-in-law who is, and he’s a great help!
Meal prep is a wonderful thing – cook once, eat multiple times! No snow here this year and I miss it. There’s still time and we’ve had some cooler temperatures, but nothing like yours.
Thank you, Lorrie. Your blog is beautiful and it’s a big decision to make. Yay for a s-I-l with technical skills! Looking forward to seeing your website when it’s ready.
I like your new look! Especially the Yorkie front and center there 🙂 I wish I had your talent for blog design. Blogger used to be friendlier in that regard, but it seems there are not as many options now. Love doing meal prep! I enjoy the process, as much as the results.
Thank you, Karen! It’s fun to tweak and switch things up, and I see you’ve been doing some tweaking of your own this week. 😊
Love doing meal prep. I have been doing the same thing and will continue next week.
God bless.
You’ve been inspiring me, Jackie.
I love the look of your blog. Congrats on designing it! I enjoyed your post and looking around your space a bit!!
Thanks for coming by, Jennifer!
Linda, Your re-design is lovely! I’ve missed seeing you! All good wishes for your thoughts turning into what resonates in your kind heart. xo
Thank you, Mary Jo. So good to,hear from you. ❤️
Great idea to make freezer meals.
Sorry you got yet more snow. It seems like February often does just that ( hopefully it will melt away quickly).
Yes, February is a fickle fellow!
Good job on the freezer meals!
Thanks, Christine! Always looking for ways to ease the daily of “what should I make for dinner?”!
Your site looks great. Love the colour scheme. Yes to making things for the freezer. We don’t often cook specifically to store in the freezer but we often make enough for us to eat one/freeze one so there is usually something we can pull out of the freezer when we need to. Yes I’m sure the snow looks pretty but I’m glad we rarely get any. Hope you’re having a good weekend.
Thanks, Wendy! Sunny and bright this weekend. Hope you’re having a good one too.
We do freezer meals too. I love a no cooking day!
Yes! Here’s to more no cooking days!
Linda, you know I admire your tech skills! What a beautiful site. I hope we’ll keep in touch. I value your insight and perspective.
I do like your new look on the website. I’m not techie, so I am impressed that you can do so much.
Our weather? It was warm all week, but now it’s snowing again.
Thank you, Willow. Sigh. More snow.
Wow, you designed the blog yourself? Kudos to you, it is lovely. Tech stuff stress me right out. Well, you know we got that storm probably the day before you. It was crazy. I’ve never seen such blowing, swirling snow. Good for you for doing meal prep. I really need to get into that habit. Stay warm!
I did – thanks for your kind words, Susanne! I think you may have gotten it worse than we did too. MJ seems to be in a bit of a bubble weather-wise sometimes. Enjoy this blast of winter. Spring is right around the corner!
I keep telling myself I ought to do advanced meal prep. But I haven’t yet. 🙂 My son and daughter-in-law like to brown several pounds of ground beef at a time and then divide it up into freezer bags for separate meals–another son bakes chicken and does the same thing. I may try that, as getting the meat thawed and prepared is often the biggest part of meal prep.
I’m not techie, so I admire people with those skills.
I’ve only experienced -20 degree temperatures once. When my husband and I were dating, we helped his church with a weekend winter retreat for teens. It was at an old camp with no central heating or indoor bathrooms. I’ve never been so cold in my life! The sunshine can make a big difference between whether the snow feels cheery or drab.
Oh my! No central heat or indoor bathrooms at that temperature — no thank you!