The Simple Woman's Day Book

THE SIMPLE WOMAN'S DAYBOOK

FOR TODAY

January 4, 2010

Outside my window...it is COLD! Cold and foggy. It was -4* when I took Jake to jazz band at 7:00.

I am thinking...about when I can get back to working on my photos and printing them out on my new printer (Thank you, Santa).

I am thankful for...a warm house and running water and money to pay the gas bill and food in the pantry.

From the learning rooms...oh-ho-ho! It is going to be a shock to both Abbie and I to have to get back to the books after such a lovely holiday! We have some serious catching up to do!

From the kitchen...because of the busy nature of today I think a potato soup is going into the crock pot.

I am wearing...my pajama pants and a sweater and arctic socks. (Just kidding on the arctic socks thing.)

I am creating...wonderful things with paper and photographs! I'm finishing up my December Daily book and I'm finishing up some assignments from Ali's Yesterday/Today class and I'm working on the assignments from Cathy's Design Your Life class. I LOVE being a memory keeper.

I am going...to have to start doing other things, like laundry and grocery shopping and general housekeeping. haha! It has been a great vacation.

I am reading...the Old Testament, Dan Brown's last book (don't remember the name and don't want to go look), Seven Miracles That Saved America, and the manual that came with my printer.

I am hoping...that Sam gets registered for classes, which start on Wednesday...

I am hearing...the water dripping in the downstairs bathroom. It is a crime of the hundredth degree to turn that water off. After the winter of 2007 I live in fear of our pipes freezing. For 2 1/2 months! Never again!

Around the house...everything needs attention. It looks like we just finished a two weeks vacation, and we did!

One of my favorite things...a good night's sleep in my wonderful bed with clean sheets. Ahhhh...

A few plans for the rest of the week: I need to pull this house back together, and get groceries for the next few weeks. I will probably go to my Mom's to take down her Christmas tree and put things away. I need to spend some time planning out the month and making the menu. And if you can't find me I'll be in the art room playing with paper and photographs and my computer!

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

This picture is of our family room Christmas tree where we put our wrapped Christmas books. One of our traditions is to unwrap a book every night in December and read it aloud. They are the same books year after year. Some nights we don't get to a book and other nights we might read two. This picture is from the early part of December.

I am sad to have to put Christmas away this week. It is always a little bit of a sad thing to come to the end of such a fun holiday. Every year as I pack things away I think about what the year ahead might be like and what changes will come to pass before I unpack the Christmas bins for the next Christmas.

Abbie suggested we keep the family room tree up through January because it is more of a snow-tree. We'll have to see!

The Simple Woman's Day Book

FOR TODAY, Monday, June 29, 2009...

Outside My Window...beautiful mountains! Blue sky! Rushing river! It's Snowbird, Utah.

I am thinking...about how much I love to be here, and how I try not to do too much thinking while I'm here because I just want to BE. 

 
From the Learning Room...it is a great learning room here! I hope during this week we learn (re-learn/remember) that there is a God in heaven and this beautiful earth is a manifestation of His love for us. And I hope to learn how to be better at being still, and knowing He is God and He has everything under control. A few years ago when I was dealing with some challenges with a child, and wearing myself down in the process with my fretting and trying to "fix" things and choreograph life, this is what came to my mind one fretful day: "BE STILL" (sort of in a really stern voice). "And know that I am God, not you. I am God and I know what's going on and I have everything under control."

Lesson learned. 

I am thankful for... 25 years *tomorrow* of being married to Doug. Wow. What a journey it has been!

From the kitchen...I'm going to try to stay out of the kitchen as much as possible today. I did way too much cooking over the weekend and we can live on left-overs today! This is my vacation, too. Nick gets credit for the omelet croissants he made for breakfast yesterday.

I am wearing...a simple blue and white cotton dress.

I am creating...actually, while we're up here at Snowbird I'm teaching Abbie how to crochet so she can do some creating. I also have a quilt I'm taking too long to had-piece. For some reason I have it in my mind that I'm not a "real" quilter until I've hand-pieced and hand-quilted at least one quilt. By the time this is finished the fabric is going to be really dated.

I am going...to go on a hike today This is where "my mountain" is and I hike on it every time we come.

I am reading...vacation reading: "The Forest" by Edward Rutherford (who also wrote "Sarum" and "London" which I read years ago).

 

I am hoping...we can get another game of Settlers of Catan going tonight, but that we will do the "figure-it-out-on-your-own" version. We can advance from being beginners now, I think. We are late to get hooked on this game, but we're there now!

I am hearing...the river! I LOVE hearing the sound of moving water. We are on the 9th floor, but the Cliff Lodge is quite close to the river and the water is really rushing this year so it is a powerful sound.  And birds. Sometimes I can hear birds over the water and I love hearing birds, also.

 

Around the house...we have three rooms and it is quite nice to have such a large place to come to. Today the rooms will get cleaned-that's how I know I'm on vacation.

One of my favorite things...laughing with my kids at funny things they say or do.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: Plans??

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

Nick's omelets yesterday:

The finished product:

Doug gets credit for being a father who knows his way around a kitchen and passing that example on to his sons. These sons will have grateful wives someday!

******************

While Peggy is taking a summer vacation from her daybook,

Grandmother Wren will be hosting so you can post your daybook there

until Peggy’s return.

Normally to join in focusing on the simple things and pleasures of your daily life

or to read other people's entries, you would click here.

The Simple Woman's Day Book

thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com

FOR TODAY, Monday, June 1, 2009...

Outside My Window...beautiful blue sky and singing birds. I never get tired of hearing all the bird songs.

I am thinking...it was really wonderful to be with so many of our family this weekend. I love family gatherings.

From the Learning Room...well, the public school is officially over now, Friday was the last day. Now Jake, Abbie and I can spend time together doing some of the things we didn't have time for. And the great outdoors will be our learning room. And the first lessons: golf clinics every morning this week for Jake and Abbie.

I am thankful for...the relaxing day yesterday at my Mom's house. It was a busy and full weekend, but yesterday was relaxing. I love going to my Mom's and being with her.

From the kitchen...I need to unpack the rest of the Costco food from Saturday's Costco run. Then I will remind Abbie that it is now June and her turn to keep the kitchen clean. She's not going to like that too much but Jake will be pleased to move on to the living and dining rooms!

I am wearing...I will soon be wearing my bike clothes and suncreeen.

I am creating...a lovely mess in the art room.

I am going...to dedicate this week to getting the garden all the way done. Wish me luck.

I am reading...Broken Things to Mend by Jeffrey R. Holland. Elder Holland was president of BYU when I went there and I have always taken his words into my heart.  His wife's, also.

I am hoping...my children will always know how wonderful I think they are and that I love them forever. They are great people.

I am hearing...crickets chirping, birds singing, the lawn mower tractors on the golf course. I love living with the windows open.

Around the house...this needs to be an outdoor-work-on-the-yard-week, so I hope the inside of the house can survive on minimal attention. 

One of my favorite things...I sit here trying to narrow this down to ONE and that is always tricky. And then I have to work hard to keep "raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens" out of my head. So today I will say that one of my favorite things is a deep, good night's sleep, especially after a busy, busy weekend.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: What a week this will be. Golf clinics every morning for Jake and Abbie, massive amounts of yard work for the three of us, need to get the rest of the garden planted, and final training rides for The Little Red Riding Hood for Abbie and me. I've done this ride the last two years and Abbie is going to ride it with me this year. We won't do the 100 mile loop, which I've always done, but the 35 miles we will do will probably feel like 100 miles to my 10 year old girl!

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

Abbie and I have been riding the back roads of our community. It has been hard for her at times, but she's doing it.

Last year on the ride I was pretty sick, I'd been coughing my lungs out for a week,  and at the lunch stop, at around 80 miles, I decided I was going to sop. I didn't need to prove anything. I had done 100 miles the year before and I was good with that. And last year the weather was miserable: rain, hail, snow, wind, wind, wind. Doug was again a volunteer, driving his loop and fixing tires or taking riders in who quit, and Abbie was with him this time. So at lunch they met me in Lewiston and when I said I was going to quit Abbie said to me, "Oh Mom, don't quit. You can finish, I know you can do it." And I knew I had to finish, even if I went very slowly (which I did) I had to finish because I was teaching my daughter about not quitting and about  pushing through the hard stuff and how to just keep putting one foot in front of the other and to just keep moving, it doesn't matter how slow you go. Just keep moving.

My daughter is learning how to climb hills, even really long, slow hills. And she is learning that she is stronger than she thinks.

The Simple Woman's Day Book

FOR TODAY, Monday May 4, 2009...

Outside My Window...the sun is shining and the birds are singing. It is a beautiful spring morning.

From the Learning Room...math-math-math. Miss Abbie isn't going to like this!

I am thankful for...the time I was able to spend at Women's Conference last week.

From the kitchen...I would like to clean out the fridge today and take inventory so I can know what can come from the kitchen!

I am wearing...khaki pants and an olive green shirt. Bare feet.

I am creating...many things in my head. I need to finish a little scrapbook about my family's love of different hair styles. A just-for-fun booklet.

I am going...on a 13 mile bike ride with Abbie soon. We're training for The Little Red Riding Hood ride in a month.

I am reading...The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck.

I am hoping...to get the garden plot prepared this week for planting in a week or so.

I am hearing...all those beautiful birds singing.

Around the house...laundry, ironing, bill-paying, all those fun things that need to be done.

One of my favorite things...sleeping with the bedroom window open and feeling the cool air at night.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: dance lessons and a recital, band trip to Denver for Jake, Sam's birthday, a trip down the mountain to see Gramma. Lots going on this week.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

Miss Abbie after church yesterday.

The Simple Woman's Day Book

thesimplewomansdaybook

FOR TODAY, Monday, April 13...

Outside My Window...Blue, blue sky. I can hear birds (because the window is open). During the night I heard coyotes howling! I haven't heard coyotes since the Ft. Irwin days.

 

I am thinking...Moab has been a lot of fun. I'm glad we came.

From the Learning Room...More geology lessons! The great outdoors is our learning room again today.

I am thankful for...Doug's practice and his hard work and my good money management and God's blessings that allows us to go on fun family adventures.

From the kitchen...Hummm...which restaurant should we eat at today?! So many choices here, unlike where we live...

I am wearing...Still in bed! I am having some sore rock climbing muscles. And there are more rocks to climb today, so I do need to get going.

I am creating...At home I'm working on a Photo Album Scrapbook for my on-line class. It is about the different hair styles in our family through the years. Pretty funny pictures.

I am going...We are going to finish exploring Arches National Park today before we have to head home.

I am reading...Real estate booklets and "what to do in Moab" booklets.

I am hoping...I'll be able to go back to real life tomorrow.

I am hearing...Doug down in the kitchen rustling about making something with eggs for breakfast. What a guy.

Around the house...We are staying in a nice condo on the golf course. It has been a great place to come back to at the end of each day.

One of my favorite things...Going on vacation!

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: I don't much feel like thinking about the rest of the week right now, thank you very much!

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

This is the "Delicate Arch", the unofficial symbol of Utah. There is a little blue speck sitting at the bottom right of the arch, and that's Miss Abbie. We hiked to this arch on Saturday with some friends who live near here. It Was Amazing. Stunning. Magnificent. One of those places that you have to see to fully appreciate.

This is cool.

The Simple Woman's Day Book

Daybook

FOR TODAY, Monday, March 16, 2009

Outside My Window...clear, blue sky, no wind, the week of Spring's arrival!

I am thinking...what would be a fun "Welcome Spring" tradition to introduce to our family. Anyone have any ideas?

From the Learning Room...gosh, we have so much catching up to do. Where should I start???

I am thankful for...our fun and safe trip out to Gramma's and back last night. My brother, Scott, and his family drove 15 hours to Gramma #1's house and are on their way to South Dakota to also visit Gramma #2. So Mom had a family gathering last night at her house. My other brother, Mark, and his family (who live by Mom) were there also. We spent 4 hours driving (out and back) so we could have 2 1/2 hours of visiting, but it was WORTH it!

From the kitchen...I'm going to make home-made (from Masa) tacos for dinner because a: I have avocados that need to become guacamole and b: Sam is coming home today to see the play tonight and c: everyone loves home-made tacos.

I am wearing...my work-out clothes. I'm going for a walk in just a minute.

I am creating...order out of chaos, with the help of an on-line class (Library of Memories.)

I am going...to choose Joy. Everyday.

I am reading...Team of Rivals. Still pluggin away at this. It is really interesting, I just haven't had a lot of reading time lately.

I am hoping...to get caught up wth my weekly assignments for my class (see above). I haven't finished last week's and then need to do this week's.

I am hearing...computer hum. Furnace hum. I like quiet. I do hear a song in my head. There is always a song going on in my head.

Around the house...I NEED TO GET THE LAUNDRY ROOM CLEANED!!!

One of my favorite things...hearing the birds singing again. I love it!

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: My birthday! Abbie's birthday! Tonight is the last night of the play and we can reclaim our lives again. Doug and I are going to a photography workshop in the city this weekend (my b-day present).

Here is a picture-thought I am sharing:
My sweet daughter. She will be 10 years old this week! How has that happened? I LOVE having a daughter, and I LOVE having Miss Abbie for my daughter.

(November, 2008)

The Simple Woman's Day Book

http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

FOR TODAY, Monday, February 16...

Outside My Window...I can't tell if those are dark storm clouds or just regular clouds and it is still too dark. The days are getting longer and warmer, and when it does snow the new snow is melted by the afternoon.

I am thinking...there is much I would like to accomplish today and I should get going, but there is no school today and I haven't had a morning to lolly-gag in bed for a L-O-N-G time and I want to do that this morning!

From the Learning Room...because it is President's Day there is no official school, but learning will still happen. The kids checked out a stack of books from the library last week, and I am taking an on-line "class" that I need to work on. 

I am thankful for...dependable garbage pick up. Why do I say this? Because even when it is a holiday, that truck still rumbles up the street to collect the garbage. It comes earlier on holidays, and now we need to scramble to get the cans out to the road (because we forgot to last night). Luckily he goes UP the street and I hear him and then have time to get our cans out if we need to before he comes back down.

From the kitchen...we need to finish frosting our Valentine's Day cookies (if there are any left-they are good plain, too.) And if the cookies are gone then we need to make more because I have a bowl of pink buttercream frosting that needs to go on something.

I am wearing...my jammies because I am lolly-gagging!

I am creating...a costume for Abbie who is in a community play. 

 

I am going...to a doc's appointment tomorrow for my annual (except I'm almost a year late!) physical. *sigh*

I am reading...my scriptures and Team of Rivals.

I am hoping...everything checks out fine at my physical tomorrow!

I am hearing...not a whole lot. Once in awhile a car goes past. You know what I am really excited to hear? The birds singing in our trees in the morning. One of my favorite moments, which I really look forward to, is the first night of sleeping with the windows open after the winter and waking up to the cool morning air and the birds going crazy with bird-singing. It is worth going through the cold winter for that morning.

Around the house...a friend was over Saturday afternoon picking up her daughter who had come to play with Abbie, and she told me that my house is so warm and inviting. I liked that. Our house is old and needs a lot of work done on it (and in our parallel lives we are working on the to-do list...), but I'm glad that in it's rickety state it can still seem warm and inviting. Maybe that's why it does seem warm and inviting, because it is so not perfect and that is comfortable to be in. You know the house in the movie Dan In Real Life? That is the kind of house and feeling of a house that I want.

One of my favorite things...making my bed in the morning because then it will be soooooo comfortable to get into that night. And I love our bed. It was some of the best money we ever spent.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: Doug and I are going to The City for a few days of meetings and Nick is going to come here to be with the kids and manage things. Then the plan is for ALL of us to meet on Saturday and go x-country skiing for Doug's birthday celebration. That will be fun!

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

Here he is, my faithful garbage man friend. Except I don't think that's the term they use anymore. Remember the days of metal garbage cans? And remember when the garbage man would come around to the back of your house and collect the cans, empty them into the truck, and then return the cans to the back of your house? That sure doesn't happen anymore. Now they don't even have to get out of the truck. In fact, it is only one man driving the truck and pushing the buttons. It is so impersonal now. I do try to wave at our garbage man if I'm outside. I like to try to keep things personal with the person who collects our garbage, for goodness sake.

The Simple Woman's Day Book

FOR TODAY, Monday, January 26...

Outside My Window...snow and ice and c-c-c-o-l-d.

I am thinking...about the fine line between being a parent to your children and being a friend to your children.

From the Learning Room...math, much to Abbie's chagrin, and more chapters from "Little House on the Prairie", and some writing, amongst other things.

I am thankful for...the snow tires on the van.

From the kitchen...busy Monday means chicken in the crockpot for dinner tonight.

I am wearing...levis and a tee shirt under a fleece jacket.

I am creating...a scrapbook of our wonderful family reunion last summer.

I am going...to get some bills paid today!!!

I am reading...Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin. I started this quite awhile ago and something in life distracted me. I'm going to get back to that book. I was inspired by hearing that Barack Obama said if he could take one other book besides the Bible into the White House, this would be the one. When it came out I heard an interview with Doris K. G. and it was fascinating and really got my curiosity going. This is a book I want to finish.

I am hoping...to take a short power nap at lunch time. I only had about 4 good hours of sleep last night.

I am hearing...Abbie practicing the piano.

Around the house...I'm going to tackle some of the stacks of books beside my bed. They need to have a new place to call their own.

One of my favorite things...Abbie's hugs. She read in one of her magazines that:

4 hugs a day are needed for survival

8 hugs a day are needed for maintenance

and

12 hugs a day are needed for growth.

This is according to the Hugs for Health Foundation.

(who knew there was such a foundation??!)

Abbie has this written up and hanging on her wall, lest she forget, and she is making sure that she gets 12 (or more) hugs a day, for growth. The up side is that we are all getting lots of hugs around here!

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: A few plans? Quite frankly, I don't want to think about everything going on this week! (good thing I use a calendar so I don't have to think about it!) This week I'm going to plan to keep one step ahead and I'll be fine with that. Not going to try for much extra. Some weeks are like that.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

Miss Abbie practicing her lessons. I am so blessed to have children who love music and enjoy playing their instruments. Rarely do I have to remind Jake or Abbie to practice the piano. They love to play.

The Simple Woman's Day Book

FOR TODAY, Monday, January 19...

Outside My Window...Winter has returned after our false move toward Spring. Very foggy outside, and last night Jack Frost came and painted everything with frost. The bushes. The trees. The chain link fences. Everything is covered with thick hoar frost.

I am thinking...I am actually trying to not do so much thinking right now and spend more time feeling. And I'm feeling pretty content and peaceful. Right now.

From the Learning Room...It is a holiday! Nothing formal today.

I am thankful for...my laptop, my warm, cozy bed, our warm house (with clean carpets!), the kids are still sleeping (a holiday!), a good Sabbath yesterday.

From the kitchen...hummm, I need to think about that one.

I am wearing...my p.j.'s because I'm still in bed! (see above).

I am creating...an organized house (I do enjoy organizing things).

I am going...to start working out again this week. It has been about three weeks since my "whale-fall" and I think I'm okay enough to slowly add that back in to my days.

I am reading..."Little House on the Prairie" with Abbie, "Broken Things to Mend", by Jeffery R. Holland, for me.

I am hearing...a quiet house. Doug has already gone to work and the kids are still sleeping and it is very peaceful and quiet. For now.

Around the house...I would LOVE to get the laundry room cleaned today. That would be great.

One of my favorite things...my bed. I REALLY love my bed. And having a morning to be lazy-ish and sleep in (although I'm not sleeping). There is something so delicious about still being in bed when normally you are up and about.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: It is all on my calendar (I love calendars). Play practice. Dance lessons. Piano lessons. Scouts. Pay bills. Enrichment night. Keep learning how to use my MacBook. Stay warm. Enjoy the hoar frost. Start a 1000 piece puzzle by the fire place (since we weren't here at Christmas to do one). Now that's a good idea!

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

This is what we were enjoying three weeks ago. It was a wonderful Christmas trip with the whole family (except for my fall as mentioned above). I love our mountains. I do. But I miss the sea.