An attitude of gratitude

We have been reading Ann Voscamp's book 1000 Gifts in ladies' class this semester.  Listing the gifts of each day helps bring to one an attitude of gratitude for all that God has done.  That is the premise of the book.
I like the premise; however, the writing is verbose and repetitive.  She really needed a good editor.  But every now and then, she comes up with some beautiful description.  I would recommend this book for the premise and her occasional good words.

I am on 275 on my list and I thought I would add today's weather to it.  The wind that blew in today has the bite of winter in it.  And I am a fall-winter person who likes to huddle round the fireplace with an afghan around my lap and a book in my hand.  So # 275 is the bite of winter in the air today.

Granny Tucker's House

My grandmother (Lizzie Belle Herndon Tucker) lived in a big old house in Anson, Texas when I was growing up. It was so big that she had a boarder in half of it during WWII. It had very high ceilings, drafty windows and doors and wooden floors.

I was remembering it this morning when I woke up and saw that the temp in my house was 58 degrees even though the pad was set on 68. The electricity ran all night. Of course, it was 15 degrees with 5 degree wind chill outside--cold winter! At Granny's we slept under many quilts which were so heavy, we could hardly turn over.
Heat was from a space heater (not run during the night) and the kitchen oven. Those wooden floors were icy until we got our shoes on.(Thanks for carpet now!) And we ran for the kitchen as soon as we got up for heat and to partake of the biscuits, bacon and eggs that my grandmother had already cooked. Her habit of getting up at 5:00 in the morning never deviated even though she lived in town and not on the farm.

Those were good innocent days and as a kid, I didn't notice the cold as much as I do now. Oh, how I wish I could have some of those biscuits and bacon today.

Winter is Here

Even though we are barely into fall, winter is visiting Nashville this week. I am definitely a fall and winter person.

I love: sitting cozily under a quilt before the fireplace reading a good long book.
the stillness and quietness of a crisp winter night.
rosy-cheeked children rushing in from the cold air peeling coats and mittens.
snow and the beauty and hush it brings to the world.
it when winter's extremes bring a slower pace to life.
the comfort food of winter--hot chocolate, soup, cornbread, etc.
the holidays of winter.

I don't love: being cold.
too many gray days in a row.
nights in which darkness begins at 4:30 p. m.

Thank you God for the diversity and beauty you have given us in your creation.