Le Soleil et L'Ombre

I spent the morning with the balcony door open, listening to the birds make a rumpus out by the birdfeeder and giggling at the reactions of Nyx and Ginger to the birds that are so close, and yet so unattainable. I spent the afternoon on the back patio of Cafe Plaid sitting in the sunshine with my americano and readings for my Byzantine Icons class and slowly crawling through creating a Powerpoint for class over my current research. I always think it is funny when you have to present your research (which you find fascinating) to a group of people who would probably rather be anywhere else (undergrads).

Grant and I have decided to try and "do" Lent this year, both of us in previous years failing completely. I think we are both hoping that a live-in accountability partner will help. Our old pastor had a really neat perspective about Lent, give something up...but also add something. So, Grant and I are giving up red meat and sweets, but we are adding trying a new "fancy" cheese each week. I am severly cutting my Netflix watching, but I am adding an hour of pleasure reading each night. Grant, instead of reading the news every evening, will spend 1 hour each night working on his creative writing projects.

So far, so good. I did manage to get all caught up on Downton Abbey before Lent...so I think I will be stocked up for a while.