The Simple Woman's Daybook - Saturday January 28, 2012

For Today:

Outside my window. . . Since I'm writing this around 8:30 PM is dark outside my window.

I am thinking . . . There are so many opportunities I would love to take advantage of and so little time.

I am thankful . . . for my husband and children.

In the kitchen . . . We had a frozen turkey that was given to us at Thanksgiving that I roasted today. We had some for dinner and the rest I will be using in meals in the upcoming week. I also made triple berry smoothies this afternoon.

I am wearing . . . everyday comfortable work clothes.

I am creating . . . Today I did some knitting. I am making a knitted washcloth and am curious to see if we will like this handmade one better than store bought ones. If we do I'll be making more.

I am going . . . to bed soon.

I am wondering . . . when we will find out when Michael's kidney and heart ultrasounds and brain scans will be?

I am reading . . . a lot of blogs lately.

I am hoping . . . that Michael sleeps well tonight.

I am looking forward to. . . church tomorrow. I love our Sunday School and singing in the choir.

I am learning . . . to wait on God.

Around the house . . . Doug, Austin, Amanda and I are all using our laptops. CJ and Michael are asleep.

I am pondering . . . John 10:10

A favorite quote for today . . . Every thought is a seed. If you plant crab apples, don't count on harvesting Golden Delicious. ~ Bill Meyer

One of my favorite things . . . scented candles. I'm enjoying the scent of a Berry Blossom candle now.

A few plans for the rest of the week . . . This week is almost over and it's been a busy one with lots of learning, playing, working and Michael's physical therapy and hearing test appointments.

A peek into my day . . .

Daily Photo Journal Monday April 25, 2011

I thought I would try something a little different for my daily journal. Each hour I'm going to try to remember to take a picture (or have someone else take one) of something that is going on right then.

I started a little late this morning (9:10) and had Amanda take a picture of the kids and I having circle time. This is actually a smaller group than usual. One child is out on vacation and Michael was with Doug. I am holding a book but the light from the window behind me made it hard to get a good picture. I should have had Amanda pull the blind but didn't think of it then.

10:10AM - Doug took the day off ( I sure wish my job accrued paid time off like his does). Here he was sitting outside drawing plans for something he wants to build.

11:10AM Michael was watching Austin check the oil in the lawnmowers. I had to get this picture of him all comfy, relaxed and happy.

12:15PM Lunch time baby! And, in case anyone ever wondered, those Blueberry Pancakes and Sausages on a stick are yummy. Today was Austin's day to make lunch and he had seen these in the store and put them on the menu. Scrumptious!

1:20PM - The trees on our little acre have not been very well taken care of and Doug is trying to remedy that. This afternoon he cut some of the dead limbs out of two of them. Here he and Michael are pulling the cut limbs away to burn.

2:15PM Oh naptime, how I love you.

3:20PM - Here Doug is behind the garage cutting and burning the branches he trimmed from the trees this afternoon.

4:35PM - Michael keeping me company while I'm watching kids in the back yard.

5:35PM - Amanda made us some very good taco salad for dinner. Here is my plate of salad. Are you hungry now?

6:45 - Today has been an absolutely beautiful day for playing outside and after dinner we were back out again. Here M is enjoying the beans and rice bin at the picnic table in the back yard.

7:05PM - I couldn't resist taking this picture of Michael helping Doug do yard work.

I missed taking a photo in the 8PM hour. But here, at 9PM is Austin eating ice cream and playing a game on his computer while he waits for me to get ready for our read aloud time with him and Amanda.

10:15PM - We've enjoyed our reading time and now I'm going to settle down at the kitchen table with my computer and a cup of coffee.

11:35PM - Since my eyes are starting to close and this is the view from here (it's awfully dark out there) I think it's time for me to go to bed.

Good night all.

Moving a House

Last year at this time we were not even thinking about moving out of the house we were living in then. We had planned to stay there a few more years before we looked into buying a place of our own. But then we began hearing rumors, from pretty reliable sources, that our landlord was planning to sell or lease that land Sheetz to build a gas station there. So we started looking at options and, after some twists and turns, we bought this house and I'm so glad we did.

I was always a little sad though at the idea of the grand old house we were living in being torn to for a gas station. But now I'm glad to see that it's not being torn down. Instead it's being moved. It's amazing to me that a house that size can be moved but that's the plan. I'm not sure yet where it's going.

We went by there this evening and I took some pictures of it resting on steel I-beams in preparation for moving.

Wolfe House and Building Movers are moving it. I hope I can manage to actually see it moved. That would be an awesome sight.



My Daily Journal Thursday March 30, 2011

Some of my favorite things today were - reading with Austin and Amanda this evening (shown is one of the books we are currently reading), and playing games with the little ones.

Some of my least favorite parts of the day were - snow and rain, sneezing all day, and having the hiccups during story time. Seriously, it's really hard to read stories and sing songs with the hiccups! The  kids found it funny though so I guess it was good for something.

What my family is up to -

 Doug taught the 6-11 year old class for the first time tonight. He was told at the last minute (after he got to church) that he was going to be teaching. He said he was nervous but it went okay. He will be the substitute teacher now. He's always stays when he takes Austin and Michael and helps out wherever needed so this will work out well.

One of Austin's friends is on spring break this week so came over yesterday and spent the night. They had a good time and we all enjoyed his visit. They decided to order pizza for an evening "snack" so we pooled our cash and all had some.

Amanda has had a quiet day taking care of her pets, baking cookies and spending time with the little kids.

Michael has been his usual busy self. He spent most of the day excited because he was going to church this evening with Doug and Austin. He loves to go anywhere with Daddy.

Here are a few pictures that I took the last few days.

I went out to the garage Monday evening to see what kind of adventures Doug and Austin were having and this is what I found.

Some of Amanda's pets.

Landon and Michael watching the tractor in field next to our yard.

A Morning at the Park

We took advantage of a fairly quiet day and warm weather to take the kids to the park. It was a treat for all of us. A friend and her little boy went with us which added to the fun.

Why Amanda felt compelled to crawl up here, I have no idea.

I think some of the kids enjoyed the mulch pile waiting to be spread on the playground as much as they did the actual play equipment.

After having so much fun on the playground everyone was hungry.

 With full stomachs and a little down time we were ready to see the fish and the ducks.

And after all that fun. . .

We went home for naps.

Darn, here is where I should have a picture of all the kids asleep.

Oh well.