Daybook Friday

Outside my window...
It is dark and warm. Cooling off though. Hey! It's the first day of Autumn. It's Fall, the boys say. 

I am thinking…
About self government. Nicholeen Peck spoke about this at the Not Back to School Summit. Draw a circle. Write self in it. Draw a bigger circle around it. Write family in this one. Make an even bigger circle around this. Friends is the label this time. Label two more circles, church and government. Where do you go first to solve your problems? Do you have it within you (with God's help, of course)? Do you need to ask your family for help? Do you have strong family bonds that allow you to do this? Or do you skip this resource? Would you rather work behind their backs? Do you have friends to turn to? Church family? Or do you go straight to the government? This is how many people operate in our society. It's a sad situation. I'm thinking how family bonds need to be strengthened....starting right here with me. 

I am thankful for…
Food on the canning shelves and in the freezer. 

From the learning rooms…
We have been watching the hurricanes move across the Atlantic via Internet. So much power lashing the helpless islands out there. Why do they always start over by Africa? What makes them build up in power or phase out? 

From the kitchen…
What to cook? That's my daily dilemma. Not from lack of ingredients but from lack of inspiration. 

I am wearing…
A dark gray dress I made awhile ago to practice with a new pattern. 

I am creating…
Cheeses. Yogurt. Pies. Zucchini bread. Meals. 

I am going…
Well, I went shopping on Wed. Went to a friend's house today to deliver milk and get tomatoes. Got postcard stamps at the post office. 

I am reading…
Love the Home You Have by Melissa Michaels

I am hoping…
To get some cleaning done tomorrow. 

I am hearing…
The boys making and eating supper -it's breakfast for supper this eve. Stephen and Austin went on a camping trip with the youth group. Thomas is out spraying a deck down to let it soak overnight. 

Around the house…
The books are still being organized by Austin. The messes increase faster than I can keep up with them. (And there aren't even little children here.) Laundry is piled up. The bathrooms smell bad. The floors are dirty. The fridges need to be cleaned out and cleaned. And here I sit, writing. 

One of my favorite things…
Cheese. 

A few plans for the rest of the week…
Only one day left and my plan is to get the house cleaner. 

Here is picture thought I am sharing….

The postcards came!

Aren't they beautiful?

You sure you don't want one?

Have a splendid Autumn!

Daybook Tuesday

Outside my window…
The world is wet. It’s been a gray day and it sounds like we’ll have more gray weather this week.

I am thinking…
...about how it would be to be a widow. Thomas is in Ohio for a job this week. I have to pick up the load here while he’s gone. BUT- I can still talk to him. I know he will probably come back. He’s not gone forever (Lord willing). What would I do without him?

I am thankful for…

...good health. I felt rotten several days. A head cold with sneezing, watery eyes, headaches, weariness, nose blowing. Sound miserable enough?

From the learning rooms…
The boys are practicing their cursive. AND! -Melvin has completed Level 6 of the Barton Reading and Spelling System. There are ten levels. Once he is through all of them he should be able to read and spell at high school level.

From the kitchen…
An elderly gentleman and his family has taken a liking to the zucchini bread I sell at the market. Since the market has stopped carrying the bread for a while he’s buying it directly from me. He says it’s the best zucchini bread he’s ever had. I told Thomas I didn’t know there was a difference in zucchini breads. He ordered ten loaves this week and also 10 loaves of banana bread!

I am wearing…
...a black dress that is like a sack on me.

I am creating…
...scrapbook pages with old pictures from friends and family.

I am going…
...nowhere fast.

I am reading…

...instructions and lesson plans in preparation for Kid’s Club next week. Heidi Eash and I are in charge of a group of lively 12-13 year old girls.

I am hearing…
...the clock ticking and the fridge running. It’s time to be in bed!

Around the house…
The boys are working with Grandma Schwartz to get seeds started. They are also helping Grandpa get the greenhouse ready for raising the plants in.

A flat of cabbage that has just been transplanted

Christopher working on transplanting broccoli

Matthew completing the task

One of my favorite things…
Warm weather. Saturday was a lovely day that gave a person spring fever.

A few plans for the rest of the week…
Saturday evening is our annual Sweetheart Supper for the church couples. The youth group serves that and we youth sponsors help plan and prepare the food. It is a little later than usual this year because we were missing young people who were away at Bible School.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing….

...thrift store finds. Oo-lah-lah.

Large stainless steel pans for $3@

Book rack -$2

12 large white napkins - $7

Two styles of napkin rings - 8 for $1.75

What did you do today?

Are you getting spring fever?

Any recent thrift store finds?

Daybook Once Again

Outside my window…

It's dark and cold. Real cold. Ice cold. Austin is happier about ice than he is about snow. He can hardly wait for ice skating. 

I am thinking…

... of how nice it is to be a part of a church where the men care about and for each other. They are able to work through the difficulties that arise. A tremendous blessing!

I am thankful for…

A warm place to be. Plenty of food. Good health. Javita coffee.

From the learning rooms…

Studying cursive. The Gold Rush. Blizzards. Fruits. Bears. Math. Always math.

From the kitchen…

I'm struggling along without a planned menu this week. I set my menu planner out on Saturday and asked the boys to fill in any ideas they had so I'm bouncing off a few of those ideas.

I am wearing…

A dark maroon colored dress. Pink Crocs clogs. A prayer veiling. 

I am creating…

Blog posts! 

I am going…

To a taffy pull with the youth group tomorrow evening.

I am reading…

Growing Up on the Edge of the World by Phil Callaway

I am hearing…

The boys doing dishes. Austin ordering Melvin to do his job. Christopher humming while cubing.

Around the house…

The quest for decluttering and making order continues. Slow but sure.

One of my favorite things…

A moonlit night.

A few plans for the rest of the week…

Bake zucchini bread for someone who missed it at the roadside stand. Bake some pies to take samples around the neighborhood. 

Here is a picture thought I am sharing….

Looks like we have another artist.

What was your day like?

Is it warm or cold where you are?