week in review…

…but it’s not even over yet!  ;-)

In lieu of a Daybook, I will take ten minutes to try to recap.  (ha ha – ten minutes?)

 

Mother’s Day – seems like half a lifetime ago already.  Tim grilled steaks and Kate baked a chocolate cake which Miss Artist decorated.  Tim gave me real steps (by hiring Dan the carpenter to replace the construction treads) – woot woot!

   

 

Monday – Chocolates for Kate’s open house.  PB fudge, PB bonbons, almond-coconut bonbons (I need want a good name other than Almond Joy for these, but maybe I should get over it.), and mocha truffles.

Tuesday – Dan came to install the new treads.  I did something really constructive myself, like watching Bleak House …and dipping the chocolate goodies.  8-)

                

 

Wednesday – Tim was in the field spraying, so the rest of us headed for church in the evening, listening to the radio…  heard the severe storm warning…  turned around and came home again.

The cows have been enjoying grazing in the hayfield ~ can you see where they’ve been?  The alfalfa is always greener on the other side of the fence.

       

 

Thursday – A high mileage day.  Polk City, Ankeny, Clive, and Dallas Center (and a gas stop in Huxley on the way home for some $4.029/gal gas!)  Um, yeah, then I filled the rest of the tank in Story City, where they wanted $4.059!  so I bought E-85 instead.  Yikes, I thought oil prices were down after they found/killed bin Laden?   I visited a couple banks on church business, ordered books from A Beka at a motel meeting, and picked up 200# of wheat berries.  I was surprised by the number of (young) moms at the A Beka meeting – but I suppose others were as motivated as I was with the 10% discount available this month  :-)  That was my morning.  I came home to a wet floor in the kitchen – we had a minor flood under the kitchen sink – thankfully the kids AND Tim were home to take care of it before we had major damage. 

In the afternoon, I made several phone calls to make appointments for the kids to see the dentist, eye doctor, and get haircuts.  Then [cue scary music]… I called the IRS.  :o  Horrors.  And they didn’t even give me the answer I wanted.  :-\  Boo hoo hoo.  Sooo, can I blame the IRS?  I went to the library and found a couple Woodsmall novels to distract me from my reality  ;-)

     

 

Today – Piano lessons were postponed due to illness at Mrs. D’s house.  I have books on hold at the library and the stores are having some “Friday the 13th” sales so I should still go buy groceries tonight – we’ll see.  I’ve been baking today.  A batch of bread, 70-some buns, Cookie Mama Cookies, and pizza.  So supper is almost ready!  {A notable thing at this hour at my house}  and my freezers and fridge are overflowing with food for Kate’s open house.  (The DONE List:  150 frozen fruit cups and ~190 buns.  The Almost Done List:  roast beef and chocolates.  HAPPY DAY!)  It was incredibly summery (as in late-July temps) earlier this week, so I’ve been avoiding my oven.  For comparison, right now at 6pm, it is 54F or 12C!  And Tuesday at 5pm it was 93F/34C here.  I am thankful we haven’t had destructive weather – and we did get rain finally!  A tornado destroyed most of a town in southern Iowa on Wednesday.  And many towns on the larger US rivers are flooded.  Much to be thankful for!  And, since the fields are so wet today, Tim stayed home to work on staining more doors.

 

Supper’s over – I’m off to buy groceries!

daybook 5/2/2011

 

FOR TODAY  

Monday, May 2, 2011

 

Outside my window...

another tractor a tank truck (hauling water or fertilizer?) just went by again ~ I went to sleep last night hearing a tractor and planter in a nearby field.  According to my toolbar, it’s not even 50F today (currently 47F or 8C), but it’s MAY and time to have the corn planted!

Surprise ~ I’m guessing this is my cousin Nick running the Soil Warrior to prepare the field just south of us…

The cattle are were grazing peacefully in the sunshine ~ I don’t see any of the young calves romping this morning, but the one-year-olds came quickly when they saw me outside…

  

I filled their water tank, but I think their bellering is a request for more corn.  Sorta like children begging for candy.

And look who else I found outside enjoying the sunshine…

  

The Popper gained a new pet this weekend!

 

I am thinking...

about our schedule for Basic Skills testing this week among other things

 

I am thankful …

the kids who have to take achievement tests this week are not sick!

for the good time the Popper and the Cattleman had with Tim yesterday at the Science Center for the Kids 4 Truth end-of-the-year celebration.

(photo from last Wednesday’s program at church ~ her class explained the patches earned)

 

I am praying for...

... the Rettigs and the church in Prague ~ Ivana, Eva, Masha & Dimitri ~ they are having a baptism soon and furlough time this summer  :-)

… the sale of my mother-in-law’s home

… Amber’s dad

… Grant S.

… people who live and work in Japan

… Cinnamon ~ her Army hubby is in Afghanistan, her Marine son is in Japan

… Amy W., a young wife/mom with cancer

… Angela & Jared and their newborn twins~ both boys have had RSV, but are home again!

… Sarita & Jeff need visas for their return to Israel

… my dad, recovering from shoulder surgery

… our group going to Brazil – visas should be processed this week (ha ha – maybe this week they will actually make it all the way through – I am weary of jumping through their hoops!) – and lots of requirements to fulfill yet!

… my cousin’s little guy, 9mo Callan ~ trying to figure out his health issues and preparing to move across the country in a few months

… my friend J. who had a successful ‘simple’ surgery last Wednesday ~ recovery has been a bit more than she imagined, but all will be well eventually ~ just wishing she had more than a half-day left of sick leave.

… Michelle B.

… my family ~ When will we be done with the flu?  I think it’s Miss Artist’s turn today.

 

From the learning rooms...

Iowa Test of Basic Skills for the younger three.

More catch-up for the olders (and regaining health) ~ Devotionals for speech are scheduled for Friday (?)

 

From the kitchen...

Tim started in the field today, so I get a bit lazy…  Thankfully we have leftovers for those who have appetites today.  And I will need to get moving on my list for the open house!

 

I am creating...

We put this photo display together yesterday for last night’s graduation fellowship at church.  Unfortunately, Kate was sick with the flu and missed the party!  I was thankful for our ‘adopted’ daughter Lora’s help  :-)

 

I am going...

to finish printing the invitations today,

and I suppose I will even deal with some laundry

 

I am reading...

I am not done with this one yet…

The Johnstown Flood by David G. McCullough

but I got sidetracked with a couple other books…

                                                     

While I’m obviously not giving up my beef, here’s a good quote from a review at Amazon:

"Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." By which Pollan means: Eat natural food, the kind your grandmother served (and not because she was so wise, but because the food industry had not yet learned that the big money was in processing, not harvesting). Use meat sparingly. Eat your greens, the leafier and more varied the better.

 

I am hoping...

the pictures we ordered from Walgreens will be in today’s mail

 

I am hearing...

“My Father Planned It All” as sung by the Wilds men

Mr. Birx in Bible Doctrines talking very fast (ie, on “fast forward”)

(Uh oh… not hearing the laundry working… Doesn’t it know how to start itself?)

 

Around the house...

books, boxes and piles of photos, dirty laundry, newest flu victim is sleeping

 

One of my favorite things...

I know I’ve said it before, but the word and status of “DONE”

 

Pondering these words...

“It is finished”

(see my ‘favorite thing’ above ~ It fits!  Click it for a link to the entire verse.)

 

A few plans for the rest of the week:

not as much daily running as last week – ha ha ha ha ha (maybe?)

ITBS, mail invitations, order more pics and the photo books from Shutterfly, order Azure and UNFI!

Next weekend is another crazy one – local city-wide garage sales (What do I/we possibly need?); Kate will be baking a cake for her Aunt Cathy; the Brazil travelers have a training session Saturday night.  Sunday is Mother’s Day…

 

Here is a picture  for thought... 

 

  ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

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

that thou fulfil it.

Colossians 4:17

  ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

 

~ Find more Daybooks at Peggy's ~

daybook 4/25/2011

 

FOR TODAY  

Monday, April 25, 2011

 

Outside my window...

the Cattleman is planting his potatoes before it starts raining

 

I am thinking...

What a mess can be made in a moment.  You would have to see a video to believe it perhaps, but yesterday I demonstrated what a Messy Marvin I can be.  (Calamity Jane seems more appropriate, but I just looked her up on wikipedia – and I haven’t been fighting Injuns.)   Since I stayed home from church with the sick Cowgirl, I was able to start lunch before the others came home.  We were having gyros, so I needed to fry the meat.  I thought I should empty the grease catcher between batches.  It’s not a very easy thing to handle, let alone pour the hot grease into an empty can.  So I dropped it.  Knocking the can of grease over and onto the floor.  So I jumped back to keep from getting it on me.  Good idea except that I put my left hand on the counter at the same time to support myself  (Why?  I would need instant replay to answer that.  I guess I was trying to remove only my lower half from the range of the oil –?)  My brain was busy worrying about the oil flying to the floor, so it didn’t register very quickly the fact or why my left hand was feeling pain.  I was touching the edge of the very hot griddle with the back of my hand.  I promise no pictures ~ it’s not pretty.  Good thing I have no aspirations of ever being a hand model.  ;-)

Any good ideas for removing the oil slick from my plywood subfloor?  I tried mopping yesterday, but I will probably need to mop daily for a while…

I must add an aloe vera plant to my shopping list.

 

I am thankful …

for an almost quiet Easter Sunday at home.

that Sarah was able to finish editing Kate’s pictures.  Does 73 sound like enough to choose from??

 

          

      

  

              

           

 

I am praying for...

... the Rettigs and the church in Prague ~ Ivana, Eva, Masha & Dimitri ~ they are having a baptism soon and furlough time this summer  :-)

… the sale of my mother-in-law’s home

… Amber’s dad

… Grant S.

… people who live and work in Japan

… Cinnamon ~ her Army hubby is in Afghanistan, her Marine son is in Japan

… Amy W., a young wife/mom with cancer

… Angela & Jared and their newborn twins~ both boys have RSV!

… Sarita & Jeff need visas for their return to Israel

… my dad, recovering from shoulder surgery

… our group going to Brazil – visas should be processed this week – and lots of requirements to fulfill yet!

… my cousin’s little guy, 9mo Callan ~ trying to figure out his health issues and preparing to move across the country in a few months

… my friend J. who’s having a ‘simple’ surgery on Wednesday

 

From the learning rooms...

simplifying fractions, perimeter, exponents, similar triangles, and …

 

From the kitchen...

Tonight:  turkey packets

Tomorrow:  beef roast(s) ~ extra will go into the freezer 

I won’t attempt to bake more buns this week.  Hopefully next week I will have better use of both hands.

 

I am creating...

invitations for Kate’s open house

 

I am going...

to deliver Meals on Wheels ~ soon

 

I am reading...

Miss Artist’s book ~ Evidence Not Seen: A Woman's Miraculous Faith in the Jungles of World War II by Darlene Deibler Rose ~ Well, I started it, but Miss A needs it back to write her report  =) 

The Johnstown Flood by David G. McCullough

Once I “got into” this book… and he started detailing the events in the actual flood, it was so hard to put down!  I am in the final chapters.  Wow.  What a story.

 

I am hoping...

the guys will be able to plant corn one of these days/weeks

 

I am hearing...

the Popper’s math class

 

Around the house...

the kids have lots of laundry to put away ~ four loads yesterday!

the floor needs a mom-effort ~ maybe tomorrow?

 

One of my favorite things...

flowers ~ for next month’s party, from Tim, from our friends the Henrys

  

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pondering these words...

“Never wish your children older than they are.” 

 

A few plans for the rest of the week:

Meals on Wheels, take Miss MB to the orthodontist, get some sr. pics printed, K4T Final Night, mail state tax returns, attend a “Farm Cruise”  :-)

 

Here is a picture  for thought...

sisters  :-)

 

and the Artist at work with my camera…

 

  ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

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

that thou fulfil it.

Colossians 4:17

  ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

 

~ Find more Daybooks at Peggy's ~

celebrate the resurrection!

 

 

Mark 16

And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.

²And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.

³And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?

⁴And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.

 

 

⁵And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.

⁶And he saith unto them,

Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.

⁷But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.

 

~ *** ~ *** ~ *** ~ *** ~ *** ~

 

For further thought, I have pasted in the third part of Handel’s Messiah ~ such glorious truth and intended for this season as we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ and look forward to his any-moment return!

 

Hallelujah: for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth. The kingdom of this world has become the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever. King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. Hallelujah!

*Part III*
AIR (Soprano)
I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth; and though worms destroy this body yet, in my flesh shall I see God. For now is Christ risen from the dead, the first-fruits of them that sleep.
CHORUS
Since by man came death,
CHORUS
By man came also the resurrection of the dead.
CHORUS
For as in Adam all die,
CHORUS
Even so in Christ shall all be made alive
RECITATIVE.
Behold, I tell you a mystery; We shall not all sleep; but we shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.
AIR. (Bass)
The trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
RECITATIVE (Alto)
Then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written; Death is swallowed up in victory!
DUET (Alto and Tenor)
O death, where is thy sting? O grave! where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.
CHORUS
But thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
AIR (Soprano)
If God be for us, who can be against us? who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth, who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea, rather that is risen again, who is at the right hand of God, who makes intercession for us.
CHORUS
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, and hath redeemed us to God by His blood, to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory and blessing. Blessing and honour, glory and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb, for ever and ever. __ Amen.

our week

 

This week’s batch of buns for the freezer ~ more next week…

 

A double batch of laundry soap, this time with Dr. Bronner’s…

     

  

 

And just this morning, I have seen and heard…

The Popper washing the breakfast dishes…

  

 

The Computer Geek working on his FDR research paper (English), and the Cattleman reading Outcast (history ~ Ancient Rome)…

  

 

Miss Music Box getting ready for today’s  piano lesson…

  

 

The youngers would rather be herding their Schleich animals…

 

 

 

 

 

 

And I should be sewing this pile of blankets! 

 

Just because this is a random post ~ here’s something from Miss Artist  :-)