a good day :-)

 

I love it when a plan comes together.

Remember this project?  And my affection for the painter’s tape that has held these photos to the wall the past many weeks?

  

 

Last week I bought frames.  Hurrah.  And was given some wunderbar advice from a distant friend… Thank you, Marianne!  So, today I decided to get the paint out of it’s hidey-hole in the basement.  And white-wash the frames into something better than before. 

Yes-sir-ree-Bob!

Trial run with first frame:  Yes!  I like it!

{frames after and before}

 

And TA-DA!!!

As Amber would say, muy bueno!

---

And, as my facebook friends already know…

• the Wisconsin Badgers beat the Iowa Hawkeyes
• the ISU Cyclones beat TCU
• and we had grilled homegrown beef for supper!

---

Oh yes, it was a very good day in Iowa.  At least in my trivial little world.

daybook 2/21/2014

 

{Aug 2012 ~ Life isn’t the same here with the oldest three off to college}

 

For today, Friday, February 21, 2014

Outside my window...

This was the view to the southeast on Monday morning: privacy glass.

The public schools delayed, but then it was snowing and blowing so they cancelled.  By afternoon it was all sunshine and pleasant.

Thursday morning we were supposed to begin with rain before transitioning to snow… and wind.  So the blizzard warning changed my mind about our usual schedule as well as the extra appointments.  The roads did get quite messy, most schools were cancelled or let our early.  But the wind didn’t really kick up until last night.  The snow was wet enough that it didn’t look much like a blizzard after all.  I was still quite happy to be home.  Inside.

Today it is sunny and bright.  Tim says the roads are clear, but we are staying home anyway.  Tomorrow I will buy groc and see the chiropractor, and piano lessons will wait until next week.

Hearing... the Cowgirl at the piano working on a hymn arrangement. 

Pondering... Are my weeks less productive or more productive when my daybook post gets delayed until Friday?  or should I just blame it all on facebook?

Praying...  Denise is feeling somewhat better, but faces round 4 of chemo on Monday.  She also learned that the doctor’s plan includes a 5th round [surprise! she misunderstood his plan]

… another friend Jill has been having gall bladder attacks (or so the docs think), but today learned she has a kidney infection.  So maybe clearing that up will solve what’s really wrong?

… Tim’s niece Kim did get to go home last weekend – yay!  And showed more progress with appetite and weight gain.  But her lingering effects from the brain injury include a changed personality that is often a challenge to those who love her best. 

…Abby was feeling sick yet again mid-week.  A good night’s sleep had her feeling much better, but it sounds as though she undermines her own health with lack of sleep, water, and protein.  Silly girl.  It’s a big Sunday at church there this weekend, followed by a busy week with preaching conference… so she needs to take care of herself to be able to participate in all that!  (oh yes, and do her school work…)

 

Thankful... for our pastor and his wife.  It’s not always easy to keep the peace with unity.  {sigh}  Also thankful that Daniel’s care package did arrive!  just 7 days after I left it at the local post office (in a priority 2-day shipping box).  I’m glad most of it had a pretty good shelf-life, and that it didn’t get lost for ever.

Creating... recipe binders for bridal shower gifts {last Saturday’s and next Saturday’s}  Red seems to be a common theme in most newlyweds’ kitchens.

  

Going... to check the current pile of school papers – as soon as I hit ‘publish’!

Reading... Psalms, Genesis, To the Golden Shore, and Amos Fortune: Free Man by Elizabeth Yates (read-aloud)

  

 

Looking forward to... my first professional massage next week!

In the kitchen...  pizza (tonight), maid-rites, Madison County chicken

The Cowgirl’s heart-shaped cinnamon rolls are long gone.

 

In the learning rooms... the Cowgirl is progressing with her research paper on author Lew Wallace; the Cattleman is studying some systems of the human body in science; the Popper is enjoying her unit on geometry. 

Tim had us listen to Jan Mickelson’s podcast on Monday with guest author Thomas Fleming ~ Did you know President Jefferson gave Napoleon permission to invade Haiti?  {from which that country has never recovered}  If yellow fever had not destroyed the French army, Napoleon would have moved on to surround our own young republic – instead of later selling us the Louisiana Purchase.  Ironic.  Fleming’s current book, A Disease in the Public Mind, addresses the US Civil War, so they talked about the hatred underlying that as well.  Plenty of interesting discussion.

Last night the Cowgirl gave us a quiz on minerals.  How about you – Do you know which of the following are minerals?

quartz, granite, gold, amber, charcoal, hematite, plastic, iceberg

 

Around the house... I’ve hung my Valentines flowers up to dry.  I vacuumed the floor just the other day, but go figure, it needs it again.

The Mother Load... maybe three items to iron after I check those school papers today; various piles need eliminating, such as Christmas greeting cards to arrange in a book; I still need to sort the TO GO piles to pull out what specific friends might use (yes, those particular piles have been here for months!  ugh – but now I am waiting for some sign of spring that lasts longer than a couple hours before I load the Suburban up and commit to taking it anywhere)

STUFF.  Why do we collect so much stuff?

Noticing that... it will soon be time to start on supper – so much for a quick post!

Something fun to share... my bag of Hershey kisses?  :-)  or how about this cute Valentine?

A favorite quote for today...

So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

Psalm 90:12

One of my favorite things... studying history

A few plans for the rest of the week... tomorrow ~ grocery shopping, chiropractor appt

A peek into my world... I found a little something to replace the snowflake.

~.~.~.~.~

Giving credit where credit is due:

While I am not linking up with anyone, you could read more weekly news posts at other blogs by following any of these links:

• Peggy at the Simple Woman’s Daybook

• Julie for adapting this daybook version as her own ‘Grasshopper Days’ ~ Perhaps I could call it the GHV Daybook. :)

• You can also find a similar weekly meme in Happy Homemaker Monday at Sandra’s

~.~.~.~.~

Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord,

that thou fulfil it. Colossians 4:17

daybook 02/14/2014 <3

 

Castle Garden in Keswick, U.K. (Photo by Tiffanny Miller) – with thanks to AccuWeather <3

 

For today, Friday, February 14, 2014

Outside my window... quite a bit of new snow!  And cold.  But what’s new?  We did have a brief warm-up yesterday… and spring will come eventually.  Because God said so. :-)

Hearing... the Cowgirl at the piano.  Playing some of the classics my older girls used to play.  Love this!

Pondering... how to deactivate my Facebook account.  Maybe a blogger friend will remind me since my ‘friends’ on fb refuse??

Praying... much for Denise.  It’s been a very difficult week for her with round 3 of chemo.  Transfusion several days after she really needed it (imo) – now an infection or two that prompted antibiotics via IV and promise of a hospital stay if her body can’t overcome it soon. 

And for Eleanor, a sweet lady who is dreading her driver’s license renewal because last year they required her to drive for them.  She will be 92yo this spring.  Praying for God’s will – as well as His peace to rule in her life.

For Kim – She was doing so well, then caught a flu bug.  Thankfully a short 24-hour type, but I wonder if she will be allowed her weekend at home?

For our college kiddos – Daniel had more snow in N.C. this week, but he doesn’t have to drive in it.  And it should melt quickly when their normal weather returns.  His two professors who had a heart attack/mild stroke are both recovering well – the second was back in the class room the same week!   Abby was sick last Sunday, but must be recovered with just the usual level of fatigue.  She had some awesome English and speech class grades to report this week – Yay!  And Kate has made her decision on summer ministry – We are very excited for her to enjoy and grow through her time working in the office at Camp Joy.

Thankful... for my own sweet hubby, for our kiddos at home and away who chose to make my birthday such a nice celebration.

  

  

  

Creating... determination to finish this wall… so I finally bought cheap lightweight woodsy frames yesterday.  But I might tweak them a bit with some paint?  The second photo is how the wall has looked for the past four weeks:  photos held up by painter’s tape.  (Have I told you all how much I love painter’s tape??)   A friend suggested I remove or reduce the hanging wire on the ‘Farmhouse’ sign and move it below the photos.  I like that idea; it will just be tricky since the wire comes out holes in the front of the sign into curly cues – maybe if you click and enlarge, you can see?  It’s also authentically rusty re-purposed wire…  Maybe I just have to find some strong needle-nose pliers (and wrists) and pull the wire through the front farther, cut the wire shorter, and add the twist?  hmmm.

    

And, because you undoubtedly want to know,

the frames I bought look like these with the hay bales and steer… 

My friend suggested I add some of our wall paint to white wash them a bit.  (aha!)  I had also looked at rusty orange and turquoise frames with longing (but they were beyond my –zero- budget and too heavy for this hollow wall) –  So I looked at spray paint, but ‘pumpkin orange’ is not where I’m hoping to go with this… someday.  Soon.

Going... to a  bridal shower tomorrow at church.  {Must remember! I’m becoming quite content and habitual with my Saturdays at home…}

Reading... To the Golden Shore.  Slowly but surely (it’s over 500 pages). 

It gives me pause when I want to murmur or complain.  Amazing what they willingly endured.  While I am such a selfish, whining wimp!

Looking forward to... watching an ISU Cyclone basketball game, live and in person, for the first time in 25 years or so?!    The name Terry Woods comes to mind as my favorite point guard in those days – but I could be wrong about the name.  Long long time ago. {oh, isn’t google fun?  I found him on the 1986-87  roster!}

In the kitchen... menu options this month since I haven’t posted a daybook in several weeks—turkey ‘roast’, spaghetti, broccoli cheese soup, chimichangas, calzones, pepper steak, potato-ham casserole, tacos, pancakes, beef roast, turkey packets, chili, maid rites, Madison Co. chicken, turkey taquitos, and pizza-pizza-pizza!

In honor of my birthday, the kids volunteered to (pre)cook Sunday dinner (on Saturday night)… calzones and French silk pie {Better than Perkins}.  Yes, it was delish!   And we had enough leftovers that I didn’t have to cook on Monday either!  :-)

 

 

   

   

In the learning rooms... the Cattleman just handed me his DVDs and said he is finished watching everything for this (school)year! 

 

Around the house... someone sure needs to clean! 

But on the bright side, look at the lovely flowers from my sweetheart <3

 

The Mother Load... the laundry is in process; a newly revised recipe book is ready to assemble before tomorrow’s shower (!); school papers are waiting for my red pen; and then there’s tax return prep… “$5 off thru 2/14/14” … sounds like that will be ‘next’ on my list for TODAY.

Noticing that... the sunshiney days are longer

A favorite quote for today... 

Eliya: "Mommy"
Me: "Yes, Eliya."
Eliya: "I really, really love you!"
Me: "I really, really love you, too!"
Eliya: "Caleb"
Caleb: "Yes, Eliya."
Eliya: "I really, really, really love you!"
Caleb: "I will kill all your bad guys and keep you safe!"

 

One of my favorite things... chocolate.  {surprise!}

Okay, how about a juicy rib-eye with a Caesar salad and baked sweet potato on the side?

It was mighty fine.

 

A few plans for the rest of the week... Bridal shower tomorrow.  Bridal shower tomorrow.  Bridal shower tomorrow.  Bridal shower tomorrow. 


A peek into my world... through the camera on Kate’s phone.  As my mom might say, The girls were ‘pleased as punch’ with their Valentine’s Day care package <3

Their ‘conversation’ heart cookies remained wordless, but I did decorate the inside of the shipping box with pretty scrapbook papers <3  It’s the little things, ya know?

~.~.~

Still hoping and praying Daniel’s box arrives in North Carolina… soon.  It departed Des Moines on Wednesday morning.  And remains “in transit” according to USPS tracking.  

btw, I did not use cute scrapbook paper to decorate his box.  I’m smarter/kinder than that.

~.~.~.~.~

Giving credit where credit is due:

While I am not linking up with anyone, you could read more weekly news posts at other blogs by following any of these links:

• Peggy at the Simple Woman’s Daybook

• Julie for adapting this daybook version as her own ‘Grasshopper Days’ ~ Perhaps I could call it the GHV Daybook. :)

• You can also find a similar weekly meme in Happy Homemaker Monday at Sandra’s

~.~.~.~.~

Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord,

that thou fulfil it. Colossians 4:17

pinterest inspiration <3

 

“Conversation Hearts” for our college kids

 

Now to DO something about it…

Washington’s birthday party February 6, 2014

 

Unplanned by us two-legged folks.  But apparently something happened last spring when the flooded creek washed out fencing between the bull and the rest of the herd, including young Hallelujah, the Popper’s Jersey heifer.

So in the last week or two Tim and the kids noticed Hallelujah wasn’t just a barrel belly, she also showed signs of impending motherhood.  Oh dear.

Yesterday was the day.  With a high of 8F.  But at least the sun was shining.

You would have to zoom in to see Hallelujah laying on this side of the hay bales in the middle of the above photo.  Binoculars worked well for observing from the house…

The Popper stayed home from piano lessons to mind her new little man while he dried off inside the garage.  Good pictures of black cattle are not my forte.

Later Tim decided he would have to feed Washington via a bottle.  Perhaps brown cows really do give chocolate milk?  Look how dark this colostrum is!

Today they are getting along just fine without a bottle… If you enlarge this you can see the little guy in his blue calf blanket.

 

Welcome to the world, Washington!