Daybook Monday

Outside my Window... it's been over 80 the last few days but it does feel like fall. Still sunny every single day. Desert weather gets monotonous.

I am thinking... where did the month of October go??

From the learning room... it's almost time to start talking about Pilgrims! November is right around the corner.

From the kitchen... it's pizza night! Papa John's Pizza!

I am wearing... floral hoodie and brown comfy pants.

I am reading... Blunt Instrument, by Georgette Heyer. It's a 30s era British mystery.

I am hoping... for alertness and determination today.

I am hearing... the tea kettle

Around the house... it's clean! Now I just have lots of the "I'll sort it later" boxes to sort. And we need to figure out what to do with all the STUFF in the schoolroom.

One of my favorite things... is Handel's Messiah. I suddenly realized I haven't played this for my kids. It was my favorite album in highschool.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... first, a pot of tea. Then, breakfast. Later, a birthday party. And I am going to make time to write. There is a new Bible study in my brain, and I need to let it out.

.The Simple Woman's Daybook is hosted here.

Daybook Monday

Outside my Window... our usual desert temperatures have resumed. Highs in the mid-80s. It's lovely, but it still doesn't seem quite normal to my Pacific Northwest way of thinking.

I am thinking... that I should do another book giveaway!

From the learning room... it's a mess! It's a sort of catch-all room, and it has caught rather a lot of stuff.

I am thankful for... a friend I can call and chatter at while I clean house.

From the kitchen... I'm not sure yet. Definitely cornflakes/applesauce/sunflower seeds for breakfast. I'm (mostly) following the Flat Belly Diet. I think lunch is tuna/cheese/tomatoes, but I'm not sure what dinner is. Fish or Poultry of some sort.

I am wearing... pink pajamas. It's 6 a.m...

I am reading... Cotillion, by Georgette Heyer. It's more than a book, it's a familiar friend.

I am hoping... for stamina and determination today.

I am hearing... nothing! It's 6 a.m.....

Around the house... I am de-cluttering in preparation for HOUSECLEANING HELP on Wednesday. Woo Hoo!

One of my favorite things... clean sheets on the bed in a clean bedroom.

Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... Did I mention my HOUSECLEANING HELP??!! I'll write a separate blog post about it later today.

The Simple Woman's Daybook is hosted here.

Daybook Monday

Outside my Window... it is rather cool for a desert fall morning: 45.
I am thinking... that my coffee smells wonderful!
From the learning rooms... we caught up on second grade work, and now it's time to get back into the preschool routine.
I am thankful for... a husband who often cooks dinner.
From the kitchen... I think we'll have salmon tonight.
I am wearing... black pajamas.
I am reading... How the Irish Saved Civilization.
I am hoping... for energy to really clean up today.
I am creating... another book giveaway: A Mother's Rule of Life.
I am hearing... the cats chasing each other around the house.
Around the house... it's time to light the pumpkin spice candles and make apple cider
One of my favorite things... is a sleepy two year old.
Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... it's 6:22 AM. My next plan is COFFEE. The rest of the week can wait.

The Simple Woman's Daybook is hosted here.

Daybook Monday

Outside my Window... it is finally feeling like fall in the desert. High temps in the 80s are predicted every day this week.

I am thinking... that the children's cold is just about to hit me. I feel blah.

From the learning rooms... we have some catching up to do, as the illness last week kept my dd on the couch, coughin.

I am thankful for... hot chocolate.

From the kitchen... I thawed out some marinated chicken (cilantro lime) and I look forward to my husband cooking it tonight.

I am wearing... brown shorts, lime shirt, brown keds.

I am reading... Thin Places, an Evangelical Journey Into Celtic Christianity, by Tracy Belzer

I am hoping... for a long nap!

I am creating... another book giveaway:a devotional by Elizabeth George.

(Link to the giveaway)

I am hearing... the girls playing dragon and princesses.

Around the house... we have new-to-us couches! A gift!

One of my favorite things... is my afternoon nap. Yes, I am focused on that today.

Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... one day at a time. If the cold hits....not much. If not...some sorting and tossing of STUFF.

The Simple Woman's Daybook is hosted here.

Daybook Monday

Outside my Window... fall is on back-order. It's probably going to be in the mid-nineties all week.

I am thinking... I hope my daughter's cough is vanishing today.

From the learning rooms... we've been making my 2nd grader's schoolwork a priority and I'm not getting all the preschool activities done.

I am thankful for... coffee.

From the kitchen... my husband bought some Shropshire cheese and it was lovely with grapes last night.

I am wearing... brown shorts, flowered shirt.

I am reading... Brian McLaren's book "Finding Our Way Again"

I am creating... kombucha.

I am hearing... quietness.

Around the house... there's a lot to do. Lots of clutter, lots of dust.

One of my favorite things... is Market Spice Tea from Pike Place Market in Seattle.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... taking two kids to swimming, talking with a new friend there.

Daybook Monday is hosted here.

Daybook Monday

Outside my Window... the palm tree is almost motionless. So very little wind today.

I am thinking... how very nice a nap will be this afternoon.

From the learning rooms... school will be late today due to all the errands we had to run this morning. I love the flexibility of homeschool!

I am thankful for... a good friend who met me at the airport last week, gave me a place to stay, drove the 3 hours to my Grandma's funeral, and attended with me.

From the kitchen... I found pizza dough on sale today and bought all we need for a pizza dinner for less than $14. Pepperoni for the kids, roasted eggplant and goat cheese for us.

I am wearing... green shirt, black yoga pants.

I am reading... an old issue of Quiet Spaces titled "The Feast"

I am hoping... for energy and peace.

I am creating... absolutely nothing.

I am hearing... my four year old singing as she runs to wash her hands.

Around the house... there's a bit of catching up to do as I had an unplanned trip to Washington last week.

One of my favorite things... is seeing my husband's face when I return from a solo trip.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... taking one day at a time.

Daybook Monday is hosted here.

Daybook Monday, September 15

Outside my Window... it's cool enough to go for a walk in the middle of the day now. Highs in the 90s are so much more comfortable than highs in the 100s.

I am thinking...I haven't announced a winner for the free book giveaway! Perhaps in an hour or two.

From the learning rooms...my 2nd grader started swimming lessons today--her first ever.

In History this week we'll be learning about the American Flag. We'll start Science this week (need to finish those lesson plans...).

I am thankful for...home and safety.

From the kitchen...I thawed out hamburger, and I purchased red potatoes and mushrooms. I trust my husband to make something lovely out of them for dinner tonight. If only I had bought green beans we could have shepherd's pie.

I am wearing...a turquoise shirt and brown shorts.

I am reading...The Unknown Ajax, Georgette Heyer. A little romance, a lot of history, and a bit of adventure in the Jane Austen era. Written by a British lady in the 1930s or 40s, I believe.

I am hoping...we have a chance to go to the library today. How the Irish Saved Civilization is waiting for me there.

I am creating...ideas for my next Bible study, and handouts for the current one.

I am hearing...a singing girl in the bathtub.

Around the house...so much to do. Vacuum, scrub, fold, nap.

One of my favorite things...is a homemade hazelnut latte.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...teaching Bible study, exercising, sorting outgrown clothing, NOT spending money.

Daybook Monday is hosted here.

Daybook Monday

Outside my Window... it is a little smoggy, as I found out when I went walking at 6:10.

I am thinking... tomorrow I'll put on my pedometer and walk inside, looking out at the smoggy sunrise

From the learning rooms... second week of school, beginning US History.

I am thankful for... the lessening of my back pain.

From the kitchen... a rice and sausage dish tonight, using my husband's amazing garlic soup as the liquid for the rice.

I am wearing... burgundy yoga pants, paisley shirt (I don't like burgundy...all my black yoga pants are in the wash)

I am reading... Stiff Upper Lip, Jeeves, by Wodehouse.

I am hoping... to get back to my walking routine now that my back is improving.

I am creating... a short speech to introduce my new Bible study tomorrow.

I am hearing... Joy playing with her dolls. Her daddy voice is funny.

Around the house... trying to catch up from last week's back-pain-enforced chore vacation.

One of my favorite things... is sunrise with a cup of coffee.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... Bible study begins tomorrow, a shopping trip is needed, a library movie is missing....

The Simple Woman's Daybook is hosted here.

Check out the book I'm giving away this week.

Daybook Monday

For Today, September 1, 2008

...Outside my Window...it's 74 degrees, a little breeze, blue sky.

I am thinking...how wonderful it is to turn the calendar page to September. The desert weather is cooling (yesterday's high was only 91), and Bible study will be resuming at church.

I am thankful for...the beginning of September. Yes, I am repeating myself. It is a great relief to have the excruciating heat of summer on its way out.

From the kitchen...scrambled eggs on olive garlic toast, with a Welsh rarebit sauce.

I am wearing...my pajamas. Don't judge me. It's Labor Day.

I am reading...Quiet Spaces devotional magazine from the United Kingdom

I am hoping...to do some lesson-planning

I am creating...a few notes for the next Bible study I'll write

I am hearing...my two littlest taking a very long time washing their hands. Hmmm.

Around the house...I really need to tackle my closet.

One of my favorite things...is tea.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... school begins tomorrow!

The Simple Woman's Daybook is hosted here.

Daybook Monday

Outside my Window... 94 degrees and a tiny hint of fall in the air

I am thinking... we haven't invited anyone over to dinner for awhile

From the learning rooms... my oldest is still working on her first grade math book. I think we'll start preschool for the two littlest next week.

I am thankful for... my husband's job and his commitment to provide for us.

From the kitchen... I started making kombucha last week and we had our first taste yesterday. Not bad at all!

I am wearing... purple t-shirt, black yoga pants

I am reading... Vittoria Cottage, by D E Stevenson. Her books are set in the World War II era, and most of them are set in small towns of Scotland.

I am hoping... to organize a file box for the notes I'm taking for my next Bible study.

I am creating... a simple scrapbook with Celtic prayers and inspirational quotes.

I am hearing... Sesame Street "Dancing with Triangles"

Around the house... much organization needs to happen

One of my favorite things... is coffee with milk and honey

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... a little shopping and a library trip. And getting the children back in Chore Routine.

The Simple Woman's Daybook is hosted here.

Daybook Monday

FOR TODAY, August 18, 2008
Outside My Window... 87 degrees, with a few clouds
I am thinking... I need to enjoy my husband's last two days of vacation
I am thankful for... coffee
From the kitchen... biscotti
I am wearing... my pj's. Don't judge me. It's still vacation.
I am creating... a clean desk so I can scrapbook.
I am going... absolutely nowhere.
I am reading... The Elusive Mrs. Pollifax
I am hoping... to clean the school room.
I am hearing... Elmo. One of the more annoying voices in children's television.
Around the house... there is a bongo drum in our living room.
One of my favorite things... a cuddly four year old who at the moment prefers my company to her sisters.
A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: I'm still thinking about Today. The rest of the week will care for itself.

Simple Woman's Daybook is hosted here.

The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY, Monday August 11, 2008...
Outside My Window... straggly herb plants under a palm tree

I am thinking... I wonder if this is our last August in the desert

I am thankful for... my husband's fabulous cooking
From the kitchen... bacon-carmelized onion-scrambled eggs-gnocchi
I am wearing... my robe. Yes, at 10:20 a.m.
I am creating... long-overdue blog posts
I am going... to the library
I am reading... Thin Places, by Tracy Balzer
I am hoping... my sore neck is finally better
I am hearing... the Olympics on tv
Around the house... my husband is on vacation for a few more days
One of my favorite things... coffee
A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: a breakfast at a French bakery, a dinner at a Morroccan restaurant

The Simple Woman's Daybook suggests sharing a picture thought right here, but I haven't figured out how to get blogger to put a picture at the end of a post.