Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today...June 29, 2009

Outside my window...it is incredibly hot and sticky.

I am thinking...how thankful I am to home this week. Cleaning, thinking, ironing, sewing, planning are some of the things I am happy to have the time to do.

From the learning rooms...a little math, scrapbooking, portfolio work, continued delight directed studies.

I am thankful for...my Mom, who just celebrated another year last weekend. Happy Birthday Mom!

From the kitchen...making granola, red sauce, and pancake mix. Menu planning today for the next 10 days.

I am wearing...capris and a -shirt I got in the mountains.

I am reading...My Bible.

I am hoping...to get through to a hard headed child. Boot camp has begun; why is it just as hard on the one in charge?

I am creating...a market bag, a sweet baby hat and hoping Hannah's quilt top gets cut this week.

I am praying...for a break through with this hard headed child and for Jr.

Around the house...maintenance and preparations for a beach trip.

One of my favorite things...clean sheets off the clothes line.

A few plans for the rest of the week...knitting, a movie, archery, and something fun that creates a summer memory (I'm not sure what that is yet).

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...last year at the Betsy Ross House. Seems fitting to remember during the week of the 4th.Peggy has taken the Summer off, but visit her here to see what Simple Woman's Daybook is all about. To read more Daybooks, link to Grandmother Wren. Thank you ladies for hosting this simple reminder of the little things, it helps me stop think and reflect.

Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today...June 22, 2009

Outside my window...it is dark, humid and going to be a really hot day.

I am thinking...about all the children that will be coming to VBS this week.

From the learning rooms...school is done even though a couple of subjects will continue. I have given instructions for delight directed activities, such as art, sewing, needlework, baking, music practice, basket making, woodworking, reading for just plain fun, etc. Very little TV and very little video games.

I am thankful for...the amount of beach time I am getting in this summer, our string quartet that placed fourth (out of 25 acts) in our little county talent show. I am happy to say that a gospel mime group placed first.

From the kitchen...pilau (Minorcan rice and sausage dish), VBS snack preparations and cookies baked by the girls.

I am wearing...khaki pants, a favorite summer shirt, an apron and sneakers.

I am reading...my Bible and hormone books.

I am hoping...to get to a little scrapbooking this week.

I am creating...socks, still. I have decided to not start anything new until these are finished. I have worked quite a bit while regularly taking a break to put my feet on the foot massager.

I am praying...for a fabulous week of VBS.

Around the house...things have been busy, lots of stuff is out of place and due to all the beach time things are not where I prefer they be at the start of a busy week. This is OK, an early bed time tonight and some attention tomorrow, I'm hoping to catch up.

One of my favorite things...a summer full of the beach. When all the children were small this was how every summer went. It has been about 6 years since this was the case and I am so happy to be back.

A few plans for the rest of the week...VBS and not much else. Maybe some beach:)

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...3 times a week is what's necessary right now, yep...nothing less will do:)

Thank You Peggy for creating the Simple Woman's Daybook. I enjoy doing this little post and will continue through the summer, when I am able. Peggy is taking a break for the summer, but she'll be back in September.
During the Summer, Grandmother Wren is linking Daybooks so you can continue reading, enjoy!

Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today...Monday, June 15, 2009

Outside my window...the rooster is crowing and I see things that need attention. The pig pen needs finishing, the blueberry bushes need planting and the garden ~ well it needs too many things to list.

I am thinking...about the sermon I heard yesterday. I like it when the Lord challenges me to grow up, and when the word is something I must ponder and wrestle with.

From the learning rooms...the final week of formal school. The rest of summer will consist of many things we call school, math, spelling, fun projects like scrapbooking, art, and a book for enjoyment, they will be delight directed instead of rigid and curriculum based.

I am thankful for...summer and a break. I am also thankful for friends that come along side and help with the work.

From the kitchen...sloppy joes, smoothies, salad, easy food children can prepare and VBS preparations.

I am wearing...pjs now, but for today a denim skirt with a comfy top?

I am reading...a theology book with my husband and hoping to start a summer fun read soon.

I am hoping...summer slows down a bit. It is going too fast already and I need it to last a little longer.

I am creating...socks-(no, it's not a new pair), and another baby hat.

I am praying...for my husband. I am just starting this, you may want to join too.

Around the house...things are straight, mostly clean, and this makes for a good start to the week.

One of my favorite things...homemade peach ice cream.

A few plans for the rest of the week...quartet rehearsal, the orthodontist, VBS set up, the beach...yes definitely the beach and a final book club meeting.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...thank you to the sweet little model and her big brother for helping me get a picture of this hat I knitted. According to the pattern it should have fit a child her age and as you can see it is too small. I will adjust my pattern accordingly. She would need a lovely shade of pink, not boy blue, don't you think?

Please visit Peggy to read more Daybooks.

10 honest things about me

Tara at Home is the Heart of a Family sent me the Honest Scrap award almost a week ago. I just do not have time to sit at my thinking spot and post a reply. 10 things to tell you about me, seems like quite a lot, for this very plain and simple person that I think I am.

So, without further ado:

1. Knowing I was born for such a time as this, I try not to focus on the fact that I would like to have been born a century before I was.

2. Sometimes I think I would have been happy as a flower child. I do not really believe in all the free spirit, mother earth, peace and love, but I am very happy in a creative "state". This "state" is easier in a place that feels less judgemental.

3. I embrace Mary Engelbreit's quote: Don't do whatever you like, like whatever you do.

4. I am a child of the King of Kings.

5. I have always had a desire to adopt a child.

6. My hair really is blonde. When I was a baby it was red and that is where my children get it from. Daily they are asked, "Where did you get that red hair?". Both their mother and father were redheads as children. Literally though...it came from God!

7. I complain about trivial things. This is a poor example of gratitude, I am so much better off than I deserve.

8. I do not lie.

9. I kill almost anything I try to grow.

10. I am a lifelong learner and when I reach the age that college is free I will probably go back just for fun.

There you have it. Now I am supposed to pass this on to 7 more people.

1. One Shabby Chick

2. Anna Maria Horner ( I know this is a long shot, she is busy with that new chunk of burnin love, but she is down to earth and I would like to know 10 honest things about her.)

3. Quilt'n Mama

4. Joanna Choate (this may take her a while~she is a missionary in a village in the solomon islands)

5. Jerri

6. The Beautiful Sojourn

7. Mommycoddle

I hope to be in this space a little more often. I enjoy my time here, but this is not high on my priority list. Therefore, I must frequently tell myself not today. I hope you have had a lovely weekend.

Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today...June 8, 2009

Outside my window...a golden sun is showing off through the pine trees; the colors are vivid after much rain, it is beautiful.

I am thinking...that 1 year ago today we left on an unbelievable trip.

From the learning rooms...only two weeks left of "school". As a homeschool family we educate our children every day of the year. This makes the ending of school seem strange.

I am thankful for...catching up with a dear friend.

From the kitchen...pilau (Minorcan rice and sausage dish), meatloaf, lasagna (by request, we have a birthday), birthday dessert of some kind, and I'm not sure what else.

I am wearing...capris with a pink shirt and pink flip-flops.

I am reading...my Bible and hormone books.

I am hoping...we do not kill the new piglet that moved onto our farm over the weekend. (well , we are going to kill it, but I mean now)

I am creating...a market bag (it's almost finished), a knitted baby hat and...socks, still.

I am praying...for Aaron and Joanna.

Around the house...things are picked up, but need scrubbing. When school is priority, scrubbing must wait.

One of my favorite things...tying up loose ends. Checking off a list of errands, that has 5 stops full of things that I have been collecting for months, is SO nice.

A few plans for the rest of the week...school, school, school, beach, VBS preparation, a birthday celebration...

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...I drive this wonderful little road a couple of times a week and it brings me so much joy. It really doesn't take much to make me happy. The road is where I took the picture from, I know we have had a lot of rain, but this is a picture of the creek next to the road:)

Thank You Peggy for creating the Simple Woman's Daybook. I enjoy doing this little post and will continue through the summer, when I am able. Peggy is taking a break for the summer, but she'll be back in September.

come sit a spell...

It does a mother's heart good when her children make things like this.

I was at my mom's to help her make soap and could not find the "Back to Basics" book that I had just carried in. When I could not find Caleb either, I realized he and the book were both gone. I knew then that he was in the wood shop next door.

Crafted by my thirteen year old "mountain of energy".

Thank you to a neighbor, of my parents, that invested the time to help Caleb do this.

This young man is pleading with his Dad to build a barn and set up a shop.

I know that God has a special call on Caleb's life and that he will do something with his hands. Yep, no desk job in this future.

I must leave this computer and go sit a spell on a bench, I hope you find some quiet down time too.

make it yourself

Recently I was making peanut butter fudge for a few special people in our life. Due to the very soggy weather we were experiencing; I did not want to have to venture down our muddy country road for the one ingredient I was lacking. What to do? Make it myself. But can you really make marshmallow fluff and have it resemble anything close to what you buy in the store? What would I do if I wasted the ingredients by choosing not to use it in the fudge? Never the less, I went to the computer, searched marshmallow fluff, and came up with a couple of options. Thinking I would use the miniature marshmallows in my pantry ~ you can imagine how surprised I was to find out no. Having all ingredients on hand I mixed the following items in my mixer:

Homemade Marshmallow Fluff/Cream
3 egg whites

2 cups light corn syrup

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 cups sifted powdered sugar

1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
In large bowl of an electric mixer, add egg whites, corn syrup, and salt. Using your electric mixer on high speed, mix for approximately 5 minutes or until the mixture is thick and volume has almost doubled.
On low speed, add powdered sugar and mix until well blended. Add vanilla extract just until well blended.
Your homemade marshmallow fluff/cream is now ready to use in your recipes. Use immediately, or refrigerate in a covered container for up to 2 weeks. (mine did not last this long)
Makes a large quantity.

I do not know why I was so surprised that this worked. I did get a good laugh when my children came in and were so shocked marshmallow fluff could be homemade, "it really looks like marshmallow fluff". Now the true test would come in the making of the fudge. I have used this recipe since I was 8 years old. Don't sweat the small stuff it was just fine. It is an amazing thing that one can search for the instructions, on how to do just about anything, and someone has posted it somewhere. This recipe came from whatscookingamerica.net

Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today...June 1, 2009

Outside my window...the sun is shining, the ground is still wet and the birds are singing.

I am thinking... how nice it is that extra curricular activities are finished and we will have three very productive weeks of education ahead. Who says home educated children have no social life...mine do!

From the learning rooms...a committed three week finish to our year.

I am thankful for...our Dentist, who told me to bring my youngest to him at his house with a very bad tooth ache. We survived the weekend with salt water and ibuprofen for an abscessed tooth.

I suppose this is on my plans for the rest of the week.

From the kitchen...meatloaf, ribs, melons, and fresh green beans.

I am wearing...black yoga pants, a blue t-shirt and bare feet.

I am reading...my Bible and Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day.

I am hoping...to catch up the laundry and ironing this week.

I am creating...a bulletin board for VBS, Hannah's quilt and a market bag.

I am praying...for Jessica Hulcy, KONOS co-creator. She was in a very bad car accident a couple of weeks ago and is still in the hospital. And for the Holy Spirit to guide and direct a couple of ministry opportunities I am considering.

Around the house...things are messy, the grass needs mowing, kids are working on school and projects that delight them.

One of my favorite things...hanging laundry on the line (today:).

A few plans for the rest of the week...some beach time? the dentist, football camp Saturday, a fiddle workshop Saturday?

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

Thank you for visiting my Daybook, I hope you have a great week. You can visit Peggy at Simple Woman to view more Daybooks!