Simple Woman's Daybook: January 4

FOR TODAY, January 4, 2011

Outside my window... it is sunny and bright! This is fantastic weather for January in Ohio. Usually I'm droning on and on about the gray skies by now!

I am thinking... about the long to-do list that I have in front of me!

I am thankful for... my wonderful church family. Our Women's Ministry has started reading the One Year Bible together. It's been a great way to hear how God's Word has touched the lives of these wonderful ladies, as well as an opportunity to get to know some that I haven't met before!

From the learning rooms... I'm currently trying to choose a psychology or sociology course for our daughter as well as plan her year (all of her high school actually.) She's been interested in it for a while, and after seeing her research various topics on her own I just can't ignore the interest any longer!

From the kitchen... I haven't planned our our meals for the week (I'm behind!) but I do know that we're having leftover Red Beans and Barley for lunch!

I am wearing...  jeans, a pink cotton long sleeved t-shirt, and my new favorite sweater (a gray knitted hoodie from my dad and stepmom at Christmas.)

I am creating... a shopping list, a coupon list, a list of punishment for my daughter if she doesn't stop arguing. (Ok, so the last one isn't real. Though it could be if she doesn't change her current attitude. lol)

I am going... to the vet. In 15 minutes. With a dog that is scared of the vet. Pray for me! ;)

I am reading...several things: The One Year Bible, The Miracle of Mercy Land, and my text book for the Family Herbalist course through Vintage Remedies.

I am hoping...that I can steal a few quiet moments to get working on my to-do list. It's proving hard today because of all of the conversations and needs in my house! :)

I am hearing... my mother and my daughter talk.

Around the house...Today is the day to remove all of our Christmas items! We were late decorating so we're late taking them down.

One of my favorite things...my clean bedroom. Our room became the catch-all place so it became a bit out of hand. I spent several days organizing and decluttering before we had friends arrive for Christmas. What a great feeling it is to have a simplified version of what was once here. Less clutter, less mess, and more space to relax in.

A few plans for the rest of the week...I'm heading off in just a few minutes to our first meeting for a new Bible study at church. We'll be using Living Your Life as a Beautiful Offering: A Bible Study Based on the Sermon on the Mount. I'm so excited! Grocery shopping and bread baking will follow shortly after.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

Our Sophie girl has had a twizzler on each Christmas of her life. It is one of her greatest pleasures of life (even if the smell of licorice makes me ill!) We decided to buck the system and give it to her. The pleasure she got outweighed the consequences of her illnesses. I think that we had as much fun watching her as she had eating it. (Disclaimer: Yes, I know that it isn't a dog treat. Yes, I know it isn't healthy. But she loves it and it will most likely be her last Christmas so we're so glad that we gave it to her!) Our girl is smiling, even if people say that dogs can't. :)


If you'd like to read more hop over to The Simple Woman's Daybook to read about the days of others. Why not take a minute and write your own?

Simple Woman's Daybook: December 15

FOR TODAY, December 15, 2010


Outside my window... The snow is beautiful! After 11 years of living in a snowy winter state I'm finally coming around to enjoying it. Scary.

I am thinking... about what my holidays were like at my house before the move. It does give me a twinge of sadness because I miss them, but I'm focusing today on the new. Hopefully I'll even photograph some for my failed Holiday Bliss meme participation!

I am thankful for... my family and friends. Some I get to see often, some not as much as I'd like. But I know that they love me just as much as I love them.

From the learning rooms... Winter break is almost here! The kid is finishing her literature unit on The Hobbit today in preparation for starting our new English curriculum in January: Literary Lessons from Lord of the Rings. Can't wait! We're also thoroughly enjoying our new Life of Fred math curriculum. Science experiments that weren't done will be finished this week. Then it's break time! WOO HOO!

From the kitchen... I failed to get my soup on last night to meet my crock pot lunch goal. No worries. It will go on late this morning (or we'll have left overs. Either works!)

I am wearing... my jammies. :)  This seems to be a consistent answer when I blog in the morning!

I am creating... Because I was making gifts for others to give (and loving it!) I haven't spent much time on making items just for fun. I'm prepped with my bag o' yarn and my Interweave Crochet: Accessories Edition magazine for some afternoon crochet with tea. I can't wait! That's truly "me" time. I think that I might be giving myself a new scarf for Christmas. ;)

I am going...clean and organize my bedroom. Scary thought. Scary process. My desk will (hopefully) be moved into my bedroom. I love organizing to a point. This project is a year behind schedule. Did I mention that I'm scared?

I am reading... Seeds of Turmoil: The Biblical Roots of the Inevitable Crisis in the Middle East by Bryant Wright. I love his writing style, and I'm really enjoying the topic. Hopefully I'll be finished for a review on Friday.

I am hoping... that I'll get my tasks done today. I have a list of things that I'd like to accomplish so that our holidays run smoothly and my New Year starts on a good pace. I'd love to have consistent time for the shop, for blogging, and for me. (Now that's either a fantastic goal or a shot in the dark. lol)

I am hearing... the roar of the heater. It's music to my ears on this cold and snowy day.

Around the house... are lights and wreaths! Because we can't have a full Christmas tree out due to Sophie the Blind Pug's much needed landmarks we have decorated in a very different way this year. We've added lights to the tops of the cabinets in the kitchen after reading that a facebook friend did the same thing. We've added two wreaths to doors inside the house... one will even host the much loved ornaments that won't fit on the much smaller table-top tree. Greenery and lights are now along the television "sofa table" stand. Lights and a nativity on the mantle. (I say "a" and not "the" because we usually have three up!) It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

One of my favorite things... The sound of Sophie the Blind (and very sick) Pug eating is music to my ears. Too many days she doesn't want much but the last few days she's been hungry! It's fantastic!

A few plans for the rest of the week... Organizing, cleaning, washing, decorating, shopping for groceries, wrapping presents... typical things along with babysitting and hopefully some Christmas crafts and down time!

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

Unfortunately I'm moving things from old laptop to new laptop and don't have any photos to share yet! Picture this... a cute dog with a cute kid under a Christmas tree. :)


If you'd like to read more hop over to The Simple Woman's Daybook to read about the days of others. Why not take a minute and write your own?

The Simple Woman's Daybook: December 1st!

FOR TODAY, December 1, 2010


Outside my window... We had our first snow today! Well, not really SNOW, but flurries. :)

I am thinking... about the items that I need to start making for Christmas gifts, things on my to do list, and my grand need for a new laptop if I am going to continue to work online! (Restarting for the fourth time in an hour....)

I am thankful for... warm clothes! It's chilly today, and there are so many that have need. I am very thankful for my coat and sweaters this time of year.

From the learning rooms... We've gotten a bit behind with the holiday and my grandfather's passing so we're playing catch up this week! Hopefully we'll still be able to adjust our schedule to allow for a good winter break in December.

From the kitchen... Today is the first night of Hanukkah! I'll be making latkes! Yum!

I am wearing... my jammies. :)

I am creating... I'm almost finished with an angel ornament that I've been working on for a friend. It's my first custom order! I'm really excited about how it's turning out. This afternoon I'll start sewing for family gifts.

I am going... to run errands today and prep for the lighting of Hanukkah candles! We'll also start our advent readings. I dropped the ball so instead of kicking myself for missing Sunday's reading I'm going to run it Dec 1 to 25 and connect it to our Hanukkah celebration this week.

I am reading... I'm still reading Coming Back Stronger: Unleashing the Hidden Power of Adversity by Drew Brees. Still love it! I'm nearly done and hope to review it on Friday.

I am hoping... that I'll be able to make a good schedule and stick to it. I have a lot that I want to accomplish this month, and I'd love to have some down time while still getting my list checked off.

I am hearing... my dogs whining. When there is snow on the ground they want to go out constantly to play! Even a little bit of flurries excites them!

Around the house... is a mess! It's not that bad, but I have projects and school books scattered everywhere. Organization is in dire need.

One of my favorite things... Blueberry pomegranate tea. Yum!

A few plans for the rest of the week... I need to finish and add additional items to the WildCrickets shop. I need to work on organization (but I already mentioned that!) Holiday decorating needs to be tackled as well as gift construction! Books to be reviewed, blog posts to be written, and school planning top the list.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

If you'd like to read more hop over to The Simple Woman's Daybook to read about the days of others. Why not take a minute and write your own?

The Simple Woman's Daybook: November 24th

This is my first Simple Woman's Daybook entry! I've read them many times over the years and always thought that it would be fun. A glimpse into my world... 


FOR TODAY, November 24, 2010

Outside my window... it's gray and looks like snow. I think we'll have to settle for a little bit of rain and hail.

I am thinking... about Thanksgiving plans and what I can cook ahead!

I am thankful for... my family, especially this week.

From the learning rooms... We're taking the entire week off for a fall break. Yippee!

From the kitchen... Today is a leftovers kind of day. We're getting our Thanksgiving meal put together.

I am wearing... jeans and one of my favorite blue cotton shirts. I love the tiny bit of beading that pops up around the neckline. Simple, but enough sparkle that you might not notice it yet it adds a bit of sparkle.

I am creating... my first original designs for my WildCrickets etsy shop! I'm still tweaking them, but hopefully I'll add some crocheted cotton bracelets to the shop this week.

I am going... to take a long hot bath tonight. :)

I am reading... Coming Back Stronger: Unleashing the Hidden Power of Adversity by Drew Brees. I love it! In a society that holds our athletes up as heroes it's nice to have a godly man in the group!

I am hoping... that the ice won't come in tonight like they think it will. We don't have to travel, but so many of our friends do!

I am hearing... my husband watch Romancing the Stone. Flashback movie of the week!

Around the house... you'll smell cinnamon. My mom found the best cinnamon broom at the store. Now the house smells like the holidays!

One of my favorite things... would have to be my snuggly blanket. It's chilly today so I'm that much happier about climbing into bed tonight.

A few plans for the rest of the week... I'm going to finish and photograph a few items for the WildCrickets shop, and then I'm going to start on holiday presents for the family. I'm really hoping to be able to sew tomorrow! We'll have our big Thanksgiving celebration with our immediate family and two ladies from church on Friday. (My mom is a nurse and is working tomorrow so we're being flexible!) I'm determined to stay in as much as I can this weekend and enjoy the calm before the rush of Christmas. Each year it seems to get busier and more hectic.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

This was taken in June, 2009. We were celebrating my grandfather's birthday by going to the zoo. This week I'm missing my uncle and my grandfather. But, I have memories like this to hold dear!

If you would like to read more please hop over to The Simple Woman's Daybook and enjoy.