The Simple Woman’s Daybook 4.4.11

For Monday, April 4, 2011

 

Outside My Window… Where once there stood an icy wonderland of white (10 hours ago), a tropical breeze now blows – accompanied by a thousand singing frogs. We have such strange weather!

I am thinking… about the question that my Mom asked the other day “If there was an earthquake (or fire or other emergency) and you could only go back into your house for one thing other than your children, what would it be?” In other words, what is most valuable to you? Many people would probably say either “my Bible” or “my computer”, which are 2 very valuable things. However, I would probably grab my box full of journals that I’ve written in since I was 13. I learn so much from them each time I go back through them and I’ve always wanted to be able to pass them along to my own children someday. Old handwritten letters and journals are so fascinating to me!

I am thankful for… Dan doing the horrible farm task of dis-budding the baby goats – thanks, honey!!!

From the learning room… We are starting in on our third (and final) term of the school year today. We are one month behind from all the moving, so we will finish near the end of June this year. In our home school, the beginning of a new term is almost like a mini first day of school. We start new books and activities and it is lots of fun.

From the kitchen… Tonight we will have soft shell tacos, which is Abigail’s absolute favorite food that I make.  I have not made them since probably about last October before we moved, so she’s pretty excited about it. I make Crystal’s whole wheat tortillas and also her beef/lentil/rice filling, which are both REALLY GOOD!!

I am wearing... a grey wool skirt, a turtleneck and a long sweater

I am going… outside to bottle feed the baby goats, and then we are going to take a nature walk to a part of the property we haven’t explored yet to try and find those frogs.

I am reading… Excitotoxins: The Taste That Kills by Dr. Russell L. Blaylock – fascinating so far!

I am hoping… that I’m not the same person that I was this time last year. I hope that I’ve matured and learned how to love people more deeply.

I am hearing… squeals from the children as they ride their bikes outside instead of in the basement

Around the house… Monday is my bread baking day, so it smells reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeally good in the house right now!

One of my favorite things… is being the mom so I can sneak some freshly made peanut butter cookies when the kids aren’t looking without feeling the least bit guilty about it.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: Getting better and staying healthy! (Hey, my pb cookies are very healthy, so there.)

Here is a picture thought I am sharing…

Jonathan comes in and asks sweetly:

“Mommy, are these my nice going-somewhere pants?”

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Simple Woman’s Daybook 2/1/10

 

For Monday, February 1, 2010

Outside My Window… The full moon is starting to set and I can still see the tree shadows

I am thinking… about how hard Dan works at his desk job to support our family when he’d much rather be doing active, outdoor farm-type work. He dreams of doing that someday and in the meantine, I’m thankful for his dedication.

I am thankful for… the smiling faces of the children as soon as they wake up. I wish I could be that cheerful in the morning!

From the learning room…  we are learning new things every day!  I’m going to start a new series this week called Learning Together Tuesdays where I’ll share some of the favorite resources that we’ve been discovering this year.

From the kitchen… chicken stock simmering on the stove. I started it yesterday morning and it will be done by tonight. Homemade stock/broth is so tasty and healthy, too!  

I am wearing... my pj’s and robe  

I am going… to try and make the day great and not just get through it.

I am reading… When Children Love to Learn by Elaine Cooper 

I am hoping…  that a dear, old friend has successful heart surgery today.

I am hearing… Grace starting to squeak in her crib. Time to start my day!

Around the house… Trying to stay productive on cold days in a drafty house. I’d rather just curl up on the couch under a blanket and read all day!

One of my favorite things…  munching on stove-top popped popcorn and talking to Dan after the kids go to bed

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: Visiting with some new friends, getting our barn ready for the sheep we’ll be acquiring soon

Here is a picture thought I am sharing…

Winter is the perfect time for farmers to catch up on their reading

And to enjoy a nice hot cup of coffee!

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The Simple Woman’s Daybook 5.4.09

For Monday, May 4, 2009

Outside My Window… is the most beautiful spring day that I could dream up! I can see little pink buds starting to show on the apple trees.

I am thinking… about the sermon I heard this Sabbath – specifically about I Peter 2:1-3

Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

The minister spoke about how babies must be nourished at regular, close intervals to survive. It can’t just nurse once or twice a week and actually grow. Is being in the Bible something that I feel that I absolutely can not leave out of my day? Do I have a strong desire to find myself reading and then digesting what I’ve read or is it last on my to-do list?

I am thankful for… my husband’s confidence in God’s provision for his job in the crazy atmosphere of the auto industry.

From the learning room… it’s so hard to concentrate on seatwork when it’s so beautiful outside! I picked up the A Beka kindergarten science book at our thrift store the other day for about 10 cents. I found it to be so much more simple than the material that I’ve been doing with the girls for science. So I decided to let Abigail read it to Iliana for Iliana’s preschool science.  

From the kitchen… I have lots of eggs to use up, so we’ll be having vegetable quiche, salad and cornbread for dinner tonight.

I am wearing... a blue flower print linen skirt and a blue short-sleeved shirt

I am going… to my ultrasound appointment tomorrow. We still haven’t decided if we want to find out what we are having. It sounds awful that I’m so indifferent about if the baby’s a boy or a girl, but I’m just excited to have another little snuggly baby around the house.

I am reading…  The Secret Garden to the girls for our lunchtime read-aloud.

I am hoping… that I can convince Dan to stop on his way home from work and get me a certain yummy treat that I’ve been craving all week!

I am hearing… lots of loud machinery. I think my neighbor is having a new septic tank and drainfield put in or something. On the positive side, Jonathan is beside himself with excitement at watching all the trucks – Oh happy day!

Around the house… the rhythm of life is moving at a nice, smoothly ticking pace today. I am trying to to notice the positive side of my children’s behavior and when I do, it tends to cancel out frustration and stress.

One of my favorite things…  is watching my children closely while we take walks out in the back property. I love to see what sorts of things they stop and look at and pick up to show to me. They are so observant and lead me to be the same way. 

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: A visit with my mom tomorrow when she will (hopefully) show me how to make soft cheese from our goat milk; getting some outside spring cleaning done before it starts to rain again 

Here is a picture thought I am sharing…

It is very scary how big I am already at 4 months!

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The Simple Woman’s Daybook 4.20.09

For Monday, April 20, 2009

 

Outside My Window… drizzle, drizzle, drip, drip… not my favorite weather. It’s good for the back hayfield that Dan planted last week, though!

I am thinking… about how quiet it used to be in my house when I only had one child and trying to remember if I really liked that quietness or I’m just imagining that I did.

I am thankful for… the first little baby kicks that I’ve been feeling this week.

From the learning room… We’re trying to get back on track after having Dan home for over a week and some sickness in the house. Abigail has been copying some spring poetry into her copybook.  Some of our seeds are starting to grow and we’ve been discussing germination and the way in which different plants sprout their seeds. We’ve been watching these awesome videos that Ann recommended about some of the most extreme places on earth and then finding them on our map. These videos are great for everyone to see, not just for children! They make you stop and wonder at the awesomeness of God’s creation!

From the kitchen… Soup and cornbread on the menu tonight. It’s the perfect dinner for a cold and rainy day.

I am wearing... a red shirt with a long multi-colored flowered skirt….and a sweater. One of these days it’s going to be warm enough to pack the sweaters away!

I am going… to take a nap after I’m done posting this. I never usually take the time to take a nap during the day. However, I’ve had such a hard time time getting up early every morning for my new milking chores that Dan suggested a nap this afternoon to catch up.

I am reading…  The War Against Boys by Christina Hoff Summers. I picked this up at our library book sale a few weeks ago. Although I had never heard of it, it looked interesting, and it is very interesting! I haven’t finished it, though, so I can’t say that I recommend it yet.

I am hoping… that I will get to see my brother this weekend! I haven’t seen him since Thanksgiving (?) – can it really have been that long?

I am hearing… not much! (Quiet Time is one of my favorite times of the day!)

Around the house… laundry, laundry and more laundry. Training, training and more training.

One of my favorite things…  is hearing new words out of a baby’s mouth for the first time. Jonathan finally started saying “mama” this week, after having called Dan “Da-deeee” for what seems like a very long time! Other new words this week include “hi”  and “nana” (banana)

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: visiting with one of our favorite families (hopefully), kicking off the garage sale season (yahoo!), trying to make yogurt from our own milk, living every moment of life with a purpose.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing…

Making REAL popcorn over the bonfire Saturday night

Waiting, waiting… the bowl is ready, Daddy!

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The Simple Woman’s Daybook 3.23.09

For Monday, March 23, 2009

Outside My Window… the sun is shining deceptively. It’s still very cold out there, but there are quite a few robins hopping around. That’s a good sign.

I am thinking… that I really should stop eating everything that I feel like eating or I won’t be too happy when this pregnancy is over.

I am thankful for… my Dad building this nice milking stand for us! Thanks, Dad!

From the learning room… Abigail has reading almost everything I’ve ever wanted to know about crabs from her Christian Liberty Nature Reader; Iliana has been asking me how to spell her name and also asking Abigail how to spell hers, so that she can write them out – since when did she get so big?

From the kitchen… I’ve been trying to empty out our freezer by cooking everything in there, so we’re having a big turkey dinner tonight to use the last of our turkeys I had stored away. The downside, of course, is all the cooking that goes into the yummy side dishes, but the upside is that I won’t have to cook for most of the remainder of the week!! (It’s a big turkey.)

I am wearing... stretchy, comfy black yoga pants and a long, tan wrap-around sweater (totally out of style, I know, but the kids don’t care)

I am going… to try and be in a cheerful attitude when Dan gets home instead of greeting him with a moan and list of things to do from the living room couch (thanks to the encouragement from Carrie today)

I am reading…  Raising Maidens of Virtue; Organic Plant Protection; pre-reading The Blue Fairy Book for Ambleside’s Year 1 curriculum next year – some of those original fairy tales aren’t the way I remembered hearing them as a child! Some of them are kind of scary!

I am hoping… that this will the be the last week that I’m sick!

I am hearing… classical music on NPR; the dryer running

Around the house… it’s Monday – isn’t it the same in everyone’s house? Trying to restore the home back to its proper order after the weekend? We usually stay home on Mondays and do all the not-fun but necessary things like (finally) putting away church bags, finding homes for the piles of shoes that magically accumulate near the back door all weekend, taking down elaborate block creations and doll houses/ships/fanciful locales that were allowed to stay up all weekend, and new sheets on everyone’s beds.

One of my favorite things… is tucking one girl under each arm on the couch every evening (usually under a blanket) while Dan reads to us a chapter from our family read-aloud. We are currently reading By the Shores of Silver Lake.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: visiting with my mom tomorrow; getting our seed-starter set back up in the house and maybe starting some seeds; doing some spring cleaning

Here is picture thought I am sharing…

Musical babies…1,2,3

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The Simple Woman’s Daybook 2.23.09

For Monday, February 23, 2009

Outside My Window… the sun is shining and the snow is dripping off my roof. My dog is sleeping out in the snow – he must be warm enough from the heat of the sun on his black coat

I am thinking… about the big order that I need to make today from the goat supply company… and how I’m thinking we have no idea what we’re in for when our doe decides to have her babies.

I am thankful for… being able to be a stay at home mother and wife. I am especially thankful for this during the first trimester of pregnancy because I can lie down on the couch while still reading to or teaching the children.

From the learning room… trying to keep up with the books that Abigail is reading on her own. She has taken off with a bang! Also, we read this book about Wilson Bentley, the man who first photographed snowflakes. We enjoyed learning about this man’s passion as well as looking at some of his original photographs. I never get bored of looking at the fascinating diversity of the crystals! We plan on purchasing a good microscope for school sometime in the near future, so maybe then we can look up close for ourselves!

From the kitchen… I made a big turkey dinner last night for company, so there will be leftovers for a few days – yahoo!

I am wearing... my most stretchy, comfortable skirt and a sweater.

I am going… outside in a few minutes to collect some eggs before they freeze

I am reading…  The Borrowers with the girls. They seem to love it as much as I did when I was a girl.

I am hoping… that this sickness will not last forever

I am hearing… nothing. It’s Quiet Time – the girls are each off in their own cozy corners looking at books and Jonathan is sleeping.

Around the house… the children are trying to help me out as much as possible while I am sick

One of my favorite things… Dan making me special things that I crave, even if it’s late night. My current crave food is Dutch babies. YUM!

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: I don’t have much planned for this week, aside from the usual weekly chores. I realize that this is an incredibly boring Daybook today, but I’m kind of in survival mode right now. Have any of you been there during early pregnancy?

Here is picture thought I am sharing…

Dreaming of springtime…

Look at how tiny Iliana is – don’t they grow so fast?!?!?

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The Simple Woman’s Daybook 2.9.09

For Monday, February 9, 2009

Outside My Window… it’s grey and brown – typical February weather for us. However, it’s unseasonally warm today and so I can’t complain.

I am thinking… about how fun it will be to play outside with Jonathan this spring. He wasn’t old enough to run around last year and I know how much he’ll enjoy all the animals and all the dirt.

I am thankful for… encouraging words from my children right when I need them

From the learning room… laying down the basics of the three R’s; Iliana reading her first 3-letter word; learning about Antarctica with this beautifully photographed book.

From the kitchen… Crystal’s Hamburger Potato Soup , cornbread in the skillet and salad for dinner tonight

I am wearing... grey skirt, green and gray fuzzy sweater

I am going… outside to enjoy the 40 degree weather

I am reading…  The Well-Trained Mind by Jessie Bauer and Susan Wise Bauer

I am hoping… that I will be able to provide my children with an education that enables them to be thinkers when they are all through.

I am hearing… Just finished hearing one of my favorite music pieces on NPR. The girls and I identified the time signature and different instruments as we enjoyed the beautiful music.

Around the house… it’s laundry day yet again. We’ll also go outside to do some “Let’s-pretend-it’s-really-spring” clean-up this afternoon.

One of my favorite things… is getting to sit down and talk with Dan for a few minutes in the quiet of the morning before he heads out to work.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: I have a goal this week to intentionally extend extra patience with Iliana and her hyperness

Here is picture thought I am sharing…

Guess who?

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The Simple Woman’s Daybook 1.26.09

For Monday, January 26, 2009

Outside My Window… the sun is shining on piles of snow. I’m actually thankful that we have snow to look at. Usually at this point in the year, the snow has melted during a mid-winter thaw and we just get to look at a cloudy, dull brown landscape.

I am thinking… about my sister who isn’t feeling well today.

I am thankful for… the protection of our house on this freezing cold day.

From the learning room… starting a new lunchtime read-aloud, learning letter “N” (Iliana), new weekly memory verse

From the kitchen… I’ll be cooking up some of our chickens in the crockpot today to use in recipes later this week. Tonight we’ll have more of the elk steak that Dan grilled up last night along with baked potatoes and chard. One of Dan’s co-workers gave us some elk from his last hunting trip. It’s actually pretty good.

I am wearing… A dark grey lined wool skirt, a tan angora sweater, and tights.

I am going… to pick up a 50# pail of raw honey from our honey man.

I am reading… Up From Slavery by Booker T. Washington

I am hoping… that spring will come early this year.

I am hearing… the girls singing and dancing along with Sandra Boynton’s Blue Moo album.

Around the house… it’s laundry day, so I’ll be calling my “Laundry Ladies” to help me fold at intervals throughout the day.

One of my favorite things… is watching Jonathan wake the girls up in the morning with enthusiastic hugs.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: We hope to visit friends in our old hometown one day this week. I’m guessing that we may find ourselves popping in to our favorite little used bookstore, too.

Here is picture thought I am sharing…

Sisters are different flowers from the same garden
- Author unknown

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