The Simple Woman's Daybook

Enjoy the Simple Woman's Daybook in all it's original glory.

FOR TODAY the 9th of february 2008

Outside my window...It's sunny outside and the sky is as blue as a robins egg. The trees look almost pale gold against this backdrop and everything just seems to gleam. A bird just flew by in the yard across the street and made me smile doing so. I can also see some shot up weeds in my fairly brown front yard. It needs some more care now that the weather seems to be turning to sunny and warmer.

I am thinking...that I wish I could have some more sleep. It's shaping up to become a busy day though, and I doubt there will be time for a nap. I have a meeting this evening, food to make for it, a baby to play with and some other things that desperately need doing instead of thinking of it.

I am thankful for... The state of my desk which actually looks not just tidy, but even nice. I should look in the garden later for some flowers.

From the learning rooms...Still dreaming about how to decorate a learning room. We spend some time yesterday with flashcards and discovered that Joseph knows about a third of all the words already. Wow.

From the kitchen...crockpot peasoup for this evening, with smoked sausage. I have a meeting and this is an easy and wintery meal. Looking at the day it might shape up a bit warm for it though.

I am wearing...A red tunic shirt and a dark wash straight legged jeans. I am not that fond of wearing jeans. They can look fabulous, but they so often become the item that you wear because your laundery hasn't been done. (or is that just me?) I prefer wearing a dress or a skirt. Still, at least this monday I am not posting in a fuzzy bathrobe!

I am creating...I am still working on my sock, it will take a long time, since for now it's only a round here and there that gets finished. I am also currently considering working on a recitation around texts from Hildegard of Bingen. But that is just in the concept stages.

I am going...to stay calm, happy and serene today, despite the lack of sleep.

I am reading...'Drunk, Divorced and covered in Cat hair'.

I am hoping... for some new creative possibilities in my life to work out.

I am hearing...The sound of a duckling on a youtube video as my son is watching duck and dog while sitting on my lap.

Around the house...Tonight the house will be clean, clean, clean.

One of my favorite things...musicals. The dramatic music of musicals give me that extra boost to get things done when I have difficulty getting myself into gear, like I am this morning.

A few plans for the rest of the week: meeting tonight, need to finish up the newsletter, want to go to the childrens museum with Joseph, and need to start thinking about a lent menu.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

The Simple Womans Daybook

Enjoy the Simple Woman's Daybook in all it's original glory.

FOR TODAY the 2d of february 2008

Outside my window...I can't see the sun, but there is this silvery light shimmering over the street that holds the promise of a sunny day. I hope it get's warm today so that Joseph and I can spend some time in the garden. I have such plans for the garden for this spring and summer.

I am thinking...that it is almost time to get my little pumpkin baby out of his bed, and I hope he and I will have a wonderful day together. I love the way he sort of 'pops up' like a little Jack-in-the-box when I get him out of bed and then exclaims 'mama' in that wonderful suprised voice of his as if he is happily amazed to see me.

I am thankful for... an email from a friend last evening, and a wonderful compliment that put an immediate end to a grumpy mood.

From the learning rooms...I am actually considering making a 'learning room' in my house. We are not there yet of course, but I am starting to have some lovely plans in my head.

From the kitchen...Spaghetti this evening, with my homemade sauce with beef, tomato, bellpeppers and carrots. I am also going to cook more healthy this week. I have bought a few of the ingredients that I need. One of my problems is that I shop at Aldi's every week and many ingredients that I want or need for healthy cooking are not available there, like wholegrain pasta, lentils, not to mention spiced oils, tofu or 'health food' that is not chemically engineerd. I like their fresh foods and even some of their frozen selection. But I spend a 'big shopping' at our local publix to add some ingredients for the next few weeks.

I am wearing...my morning bathrobe. I wish I could put something else here, and I can tell you that I do not spend my day in this thing. It is my 'waking up' attire, because the house is cold and I just shrug something on when going downstairs and then put 'real clothes' on a few hours later when the rest of the household gets up. I should however get back in the routine of immediately dressing in the morning.

I am creating...I am TRYING to create a sock. There will be some up and downs in the process.

I am going...to buy another package of sock needles so that I have the one missing size three double pointed needle.

I am reading...'Bringing up baby Bilingual' from Janet Merril.

I am hoping... for a nice week with some special surprises for my mom, and some clear answers from the doctor on Joseph's possible food allergies.

I am hearing...The murmur of my husband reading the liturgy of the hours.

Around the house...I will tackle some laundry sorting today. Strange that that's a chore that I keep postponing while I actually don't even dislike it.

One of my favorite things...is the idea that we will soon have warmer weather. I love living in the South.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Going to the doctor with Joseph, finish up a promising roleplay, get started on my sock, go to the museum, find out when storytime starts again, start writing a newsletter and keep the house in order

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

The Simple Woman's Daybook

A day late and a dollar short, but I am participating in the wonderful diary like entry, hosted by The Simple Woman's daybook.

FOR TODAY the 13th of January 2008

Outside my window...the street is calm and grey. After days of nice, warm weather, we are turning towards cold. The greyness lays over the stret like a thick blanket. A squirrel hops along across the street, making me smile. I know people call them rats with good PR, but I have a fondness for them. I wonder if it will last once I start my garden.

I am thinking...that I should start the day and get some work done. It's late and Joseph will no doubt wake up soon. If the weather remains so bad we won't be able to go play outside in the garden.

I am thankful for... the cleaning ladies that came yesterday and put my house back on track. Everything is nice and gleaming and I am full of plans to keep it that way. At the same time I wonder if I will be able to. So many fresh starts, and so many relapses. Then again, I am a fan of good intentions. Maybe I should post the article I wrote yesterday on my blog.

From the learning rooms...life is learning. I am trying this year to learn how to make a sock. Tiffany from Tiffybug knits has been a wonderful encouragement on this road of learning how to knit.

From the kitchen...My kitchen is clean, clean, clean! And I'm going to keep it that way. Today I will be making a nice, big batch of chili in the crockpot. It was on the menuplan anyhow, but with the icky weather, it seems extra fitting.

I am wearing...a fuzzy pink bathrobe. I know that as soon as I go upstairs to get dressed, Joseph will wake up, so I am postponing it a little bit. I should have just dressed before I came downstairs.

I am creating...A baby bootie. My last one of a pair. I'm not sure how much time I will have for it today, as there is some correspondence I should catch up on.

I am going...to keep my house clean. *LOL* If I repeat it often enough it will happen, right? And I am going to write at least two Thank you notes today!!!

I am reading...actually... nothing. *ghasp* With all the whirlwinds of the last days, I have not started a new book yet. There is one waiting on my nightstand, with a correspondance from the civil war era.

I am hoping...to keep my house clean. Let's see how many times we can repeat it still before this post is over. I am also hoping for a good day today, with a happy baby. Yesterday I missed the fact that there were strawberries in the frozen fruit mix that I used for my homemade fruit yoghurt and Joseph had an allergic reaction.

I am hearing...nothing but the tapping of my keys on the keyboard and the hum of the computer. My ears are tuned to any sounds from upstairs. If he does not wake in the next ten minutes, I will have to go and wake him up anyhow.

Around the house...everything will stay clean today or be cleaned again before nightfall. I so enjoy the gleaming floors. I really must keep that up.

One of my favorite things...is the fact that we are having a routine again. Normal days in which you are not hurriedly running from here to there, filled with appointments. January is shaping up busy enough for me. I am starting to realise I am a homebody at heart.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Keeping the house clean, getting caught up with laundry, catching up with my correspondence, boardmeeting of the womensgroup on friday, and the Stand up for Life Rally on Saturday. Oh dear, I hope the weather becomes a bit warmer for that one!

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

THe simple womans day book: boxing day edition

I've long admired the principle of "The simple woman's day book" to just allow a quick glimps into your house and mind. Inspired by Shannon from "after the fire" I decided to enter in today, even though it isn't a monday.

FOR TODAY december 26th, 2008

Outside my window...the dawn is slowly clearing through the grey of the sky
I am thinking how indulgent it is to have a little bit of computer time in the morning, tucked away in this little alcove in my old bed, while my husband and baby are sleeping. There are certain advantages to jet lag after all.

I am thankful for a wonderful Christmas yesterday. Last years christmas, the first one with a baby, was mired in a fog of over exhaustion and adjustments. This year things went so much better.

From the learning rooms: Life is learning. I am making good intentions for next year to learn to knit socks.

From the kitchen: being at my mothers house in Belgium for thanksgiving means I do not have to cook much. Instead I am enjoying delicious food. Today will be a left over day. We will have chicoree soup, left over chicken Agnes Sorrel, made by my aunt Mieke for yesterdays celebration, left over homemade eggrolls from my aunt Ligaya, left over guacamole from my mother and left over rice pudding from my mother. My tummy is growling already and I am considering which of these would be most apropriete for breakfast. Who wants to eat a sandwich with such delicacies awaiting?

I am wearing: my cuddleduds!

I am creating: a red, knitted scarf for my grandmother

I am going to Ikea either today or tomorrow

I am reading scores of Belgian magazines to catch up with what happened here in the non important news.

I am hoping that I will not get my husbands cold and that next year will see the positive trend of the last 4 months continue.

I am hearing my son who has woken up and been taken out of bed by his 'oma' which means I will need to quite playing around after this post. *W*

Around the house: the sound of Joseph's running footsteps and his voice are calling me. We cleaned up most things yesterday evening, so there is not much to do today, except enjoy.

One of my favorite things: getting kisses.

A few plans for the rest of the week: only a few? Go to adoration, plan a retreat, go to Ikea, go to my father, see my previous colleges from the catechesis, celebrate new years and go back home to the USA.. how is that for a busy week?

Here is picture thought I am sharing:
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g54/faerieeva/stitchingthestandard.jpg

((I'm sorry, blogspot seems to be unwilling to publish pictures today. I will see if I can rectify this later))