My Heart's at Home Daybook~July 11

I've really enjoyed The Simple Woman's Daybook. It's nice to focus at the beginning of the week and stretch my brain just a wee bit to think about certain things every week. I find myself referring to it in my head as I move throughout the week. So, when I saw that Kara, at everyone's favorite crunchy blog, has a daily daybook, the wheels started turning. What would a daily daybook look like? Too much minutia? Too boring? Too binding? Maybe, but it's my blog and it could be whatever I wanted it to be, because my blog is one of the few things in my life over which I retain an illusion of control. So, I thought I'd take a stab at a daily daybook of my very own. If I could set about at the beginning of every day with some of those intentions in front of me, perhaps I'd get dressed every day rise to the occasion. Or maybe not. But it could be fun to try.

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Outside My Window ...the pansies have truly petered out and do need to be pulled. My children are very attached to them and have protested every time I suggest that we yank 'em.

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Towards a daily rhythm ... I've learned that the  daily schedules I created just last week are going to be rocked to the core. So...I'll ponder the revised version for a while. Can't re-write yet; too many variables still to be decided. But the nice thing is that iCal is like virtual post-it notes. Just keeping dragging and dropping 'til we get it right. And it might look a little differently every week if early movement is any indication.

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I am thankful for ... wise counsel.

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From the kitchen ...
for breakfast:
Blueberry scones using Gluten-Free Pantry mixes
farm fresh poached eggs
Lunch:
Grilled cheese
and for dinner:
 Spiced Pineapple Rice from Vegetable Heaven
Firecracker Beans also from Vegetable Heaven
Mixed Green Salad with Roasted Beets and Goat Cheese (my new obsession)
Fruit Salad of Watermelon, Canteloupe, and Blueberries

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To live the liturgy...On the Feast of St. Benedict
God our Father, you made St. Benedict an outstanding guide to teach men how to live in your service. Grant that by preferring your love to everything else, we may walk in the way of your commandments. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. .
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I am wearing ... a white eyelet skirt, a CAMISOLE (necessary for all maternity shirts these days), a pink shirt and strappy pink sandals.

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I am creating ...a cookbook for Michael to take with him when he lives in an on-campus apartment this year.

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I am going to breathe deeply ...20 minutes on the stationary bike today, while listening to talks from the IHM conference.
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Bringing beauty to my home ...I'm seriously considering painting my kitchen yellow tomorrow. Going to bring home paint swatches today. And (shh...don't tell my husband) I might not stop with kitchen.

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I am reading ... Praying in the Presence of Our Lord with Fulton J. Sheen .

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I am hoping ...for the house to stay as tidy as it did this week. It almost looks as put together as it did when we had company last Sunday. Almost. It's amazing how much more is possible when one feels a bit better. My glucometer is my friend. It's hard to function when your blood sugar is perpetually low.

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Around the house ... I need to touch up spots Michael missed when he painted the basement.

One of my favorite things ...watching ten minutes of Sports Center in the morning with Nicholas so we can see yesterday's top ten plays and the morning's top headlines, all before Daddy, the sports producer, awakens.

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A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Day: I'm going to finish curriculum shopping at the Northern Virginia conference. I've just found out Gracie will be with us again this year, so I need to find a few things for her. And then I have a wee bit of list for the rest of us, too;-).

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Here is a picture thought I am sharing~

These things wear out very, very quickly.

Simple Woman's Daybook~July 5

~ Do stop by Peggy's for all the links entered in this week's Simple Woman's Daybook ~

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Outside My Window ...I see the first green tomatoes on my tomato plants.

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I am thinking ...how complex teenaged boys are and how challenging the "summer of three young men" has been.

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I am thankful for ...Michael, who painted the basement this summer.

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From the kitchen ... lots of leftovers from yesterday's party.
Tortilla rollup  pinwheels from the Susan Branch Summer Book
Fresh Tomato Mozzarella and Basil Salad
Hamburgers and Hot dogs for the kids
Cajun-rubbed steak for the adults
Roasted Corn from the Summer Book
Spiced Pineapple Rice from Vegetable Heaven
Gene's Baked Beans
Mixed Green Salad with Roasted Beets and Goat Cheese
Fruit Salad of Watermelon, Canteloupe, and Blueberries
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

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I am wearing ... Khaki capris, a crisp white blouse, crocs and a ponytail.

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I am creating ...more lesson plans (sneak preview at Serendipity in a couple days).

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I am going ...to finish up my curriculum shopping and hang out with friends at the Northern Virginia conference this weekend. Great speakers lineup only five minutes from home--I'm looking very forward to soaking in some wisdom.

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I am reading ... Praying in the Presence of Our Lord with Fulton J. Sheen .

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I am hoping ...for a second VBAC and I'm a little nervous about a very stretched out uterus and a kind of low placenta(would you say a quick prayer please?).
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I am hearing ... lots of birds who are happy we filled the feeders yesterday.

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Around the house ... we need to rearrange some furniture and adapt to our changing family.

One of my favorite things ...a day that begins bright and sunny after a good night's sleep. This elusive night has become my almost incessant prayer.

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A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: a day with just my girls today (shh...I'm taking them for "real" haircuts!); a visit with my friend Martha; a new, improved exercise routine.

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Here is a picture thought I am sharing~

 
Karoline tells her "baby" about the birds at the feeder

Simple Woman's Daybook~June 29

~ Do stop by Peggy's for all the links entered in this week's Simple Woman's Daybook ~

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Outside My Window ... the day is bright and summery and my little man tells me that it's not nearly as humid.

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I am thinking ...almost incessantly about next term's lessons and plans.

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I am thankful for ...online friends who become in real life friends in every sense of the words.

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From the kitchen ... a summer vegetable and bean soup is planned for dinner, with homemade oatmeal batter bread to accompany it.

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I am wearing ... a nightgown.

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I am creating ...Fourth of July weekend menus.

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I am going ...to take it easy the first few days this week because we have way too much planned for the weekend.

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I am reading ...Archbishop Fulton sheen's St. Therese--a Treasured Love Story. this is a beautiful book and I highly recommend it! HT: Jessica .

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I am hoping ...for a good visit with the midwife this week.
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I am hearing ...
Stephen and Nicky singing Signing Time songs with Karoline.

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Around the house ... things are a bit better but I am very aware that it's a 24/7 job if I want it to be at all livable around here.

One of my favorite things ...a fresh blueberry pie after a day of picking and playing with friends in the country.

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A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: a visit to the midwife, Patrick to the orthopedist,a friends' birthday on the third, a celebration for Independence Day, a cookout for company on Saturday!

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Here is a picture thought I am sharing~

 

Simple Woman's Daybook ~June 22

~ Do stop by Peggy's for all the links entered in this week's Simple Woman's Daybook ~

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Outside My Window ... that tiny Bradford pear tree we planted for Katie's birth has easily reached my second story window.

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I am thinking ...almost incessantly about next term's lessons and plans.

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I am thankful for ...homecomings after long business trips .

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From the kitchen ...For breakfast: bagels in the van on the way out to the country; for lunch: tomato and mozzarella salad with fresh garden basil (I live for this:-); for dinner: Teriyaki stir-fried beef and broccoli followed by fresh blueberry pie and lots of homemade whipped cream...

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I am wearing ... A white t-shirt, khaki capris, crocs and a bandana.

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I am creating ...lesson plans and booklists--lots of them! Still.

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I am going ...to meet some friends bright and early to go blueberry picking.

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I am reading ...Regina Doman's new fairytale, The Midnight Dancers.

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I am hoping ...my husband returns homely safely tonight. Out-of-the -country trips are always disconcerting.

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I am hearing ... Gracie by Ben Folds. Karoline is dancing.

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Around the house ... I'm learning to celebrate little victories and accept with cheerful resignation the inevitable messes.

One of my favorite things ...long Sunday afternoon naps with Karoline.

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A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: I'm sure there will be a big, huge breakfast in bed with bunches of children tomorrow when they see Daddy arrived home in the middle of the night;  for the rest of the week: mornings outside in the garden and afternoons with our noses in good books.

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Here is a picture thought I am sharing~

 

A Simple Woman's Daybook~June 15

~ Do stop by Peggy's for all the links entered in this week's Simple Woman's Daybook ~

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Outside My Window ... five goldfinches enjoy a breakfast feast.

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I am thinking ...about how much fun I had with Maryan's boys on Friday .

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I am thankful for ... a chance to begin anew every day.  

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From the kitchen ... pumpkin pudding for breakfast. Stephen will be so pleased.

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I am wearing ... I white eyelet skirt and a floral top. The skirt was absolutely the only skirt in the maternity store that wasn't ridiculous. Everything was too short (do you really want to see that much leg of a 42-year-old mother of eight-becoming-nine?) or too narrow (c'mon a pencil skirt?). Of course, white eyelet is sort of ridiculous in my world, too. I bought a new box of Oxy Clean on my way home from the store.

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I am creating ...lesson plans and booklists--lots of them!.

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I am going ...to begin to institute the summer routine again today: gardening in the very early morning, some studies after breakfast, lunch, quiet time and then the pool. Last week didn't go so well--it's time to get back on track.

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I am reading ...  Great Yarns. I don't knit, so it's rather interesting that I'm reading a knitting book, but this was my one impulse buy at last week's conference and Mary Beth keeps bringing me pages to read. She's determined to undertake these projects. She'd be even more determined if she'd seen the darling Pinocchio and scrumptious mittens I saw at the Hillside table when I bought the book. Go ahead, click. Mary will make knitters of us all yet.

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I am hoping ...to get my laundry caught up and return to the peace of laundry well-done . Still. I know this was the hope for last week. You should see my house. No, actually, you shouldn't.

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I am hearing ... Nicholas watching highlights of last night's game on SportsCenter. I really think it's better that the Celtics are going to win the whole thing at home, anyway.

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Around the house ... we are going to focus on routines and habits. Really we are. This week I mean it. Please, God, let me feel well enough to get back on track.

One of my favorite things ...falling asleep at night physically tired and mentally at peace after a day well lived.

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A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: to pull the pansies and plant petunias; to work on some writing projects when the children are sleeping or outside; to meet friends at Bull Run; to nap every single day.

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Here is a picture thought I am sharing~
Miss Karoline Sunshine greets the day!