daybook 6/3/2013

 

Outside my window... the corn looks better with some sunshine; the creek is well inside its banks again; the mustard is in full bloom; the rhubarb looks like it might be going to seed {time to harvest some!}  And yes, the columbine are still in bloom too.  :-)

Hearing... the dryer rumbling

Pondering...  carpet samples for the stairs

Praying… for dear Eleanor who broke her ankle on Friday; for young Meg who is newly married while waging a serious battle for her health; for productive days at home as we enter into a summer routine {ha – routine?}

Thankful... for help from many friends who made Friday’s party so much more fun!

Reading...  Bible – Luke 

In the kitchen...  leftovers!

In the learning rooms... almost ‘closed’ for summer – the Cowgirl just has a bit of math and science to finish.

Creating… a ‘new’ living room.  Stay tuned for pictures, but don’t hold your breath for more than 45 seconds please! 

Around the house... Oh dear.  I had the front door wide open for the UPS guy to view inside this morning.  ahem.  So I guess I should continue the process of putting things away ~ bags of tea lights, photo books, and more… all from Friday’s party.

The Mother Load… I’ve made one trip to town this morning – and already have a list going for another  :p  More prep and cleaning for Wednesday’s delivery of new furniture!  End of the month financial reports.  Abby’s transcript.  Plant flowers into our landscape at home – used first at cemetery and graduation party.  Blog posts!

Something to remember for later...  I’ve added several notes to my “graduation” notebook.  Profound thoughts such as Don’t fill the fruit cups so full!

A Bible verse...

Blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.  Luke 11:28

 

A few plans for the rest of the day/week...

Tonight ~ graduation open house for my niece & nephew

Friday-Saturday ~ local celebration “Scandinavian Days” [not that we are doing anything with it, but it’s an option  :-) ]

Saturday ~ local celebration in our church’s town –> which means the kids could walk the short parade to help promote our upcoming VBS.  After Kate & Abby serve the men’s prayer breakfast at church.

{{Tim}}  needs to give the Cowgirl some introductory driving lessons… before Driver’s Ed classes begin next Monday!  Meanwhile he’s headed to the fields in the sprayer today…

next Sunday ~ Sunday School Picnic after church

 

  A peek into my world...

 

 

  We celebrated at home on Thursday night ~ their sisters thought the grads needed hats. :-)

 

~.~.~.~.~

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

syttende mai

 

May 17, 1814, Norway adopted its own constitution and became independent from Sweden.

Our local celebration is called Scandinavian Days {held in early June}, but that’s just because we Iowegians are so tolerant  ;-)

I don’t know any of these pretty girls, but aren’t their bunads nice?

 

My mom made little costumes for my sister and me {long, long ago} that look more like this:

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

No parades here today.  Tim is busy planting soybeans {they finished with corn yesterday – yay!}  Kate & Abby are still recovering from Wednesday’s surgeries.  The younger kids took a swim in the creek this morning ~ so I had the joy of removing a leech from the Cattleman foot.  :p  I’ve lost count of the ticks we’ve flushed this spring.  Life on the farm, eh?

daybook 5/14/2013

 

Outside my window... the sun is already shining brightly.  After near freezing temps for lows this weekend, we are headed for the 90s today.  Praise the Lord for air conditioners.

Hearing... birds.  I *LOVE* having the windows open this time of day.  :) 

Pondering... another long day of gadding about. 

Praying... for a friend Sara and her family as they had an unexpected death in the family.  Long story, but God’s grace is sufficient and evident.

Thankful... our God is good. 

Reading...

Bible – Proverbs, Mark 

The Black Arrow (RLStevenson) ~ history read aloud {yay, me!}

Living Proof (Jim Peterson) ~ Tim is reading aloud for the kids’ missions trip {really glad Tim is reading  it to all of us!}

In the kitchen... Yum, still tasting Sunday’s grilled steaks and turkey tenderloins in my mind.  Tonight ~ taco rice casserole.  Tomorrow ~ broccoli cheese soup for my girls who will have oral surgery first thing in the morning  :p 

Last week a friend came over to help us with frozen fruit cups and cream cheese mints.

        

     

In the learning rooms... enjoying The Black Arrow, preparing for piano recital, and finishing Greek (Abby).  Must update transcripts for our seniors soon –

Creating… Abby decided to make a pair of earrings for a friend who wanted a pair of boots for her birthday  :)  I didn’t stay up to see the finished product, but the birthday girl loves them!

               

Around the house... we potentially need an excavator.  ahem.  Preparing for an open house and welcoming home a college girl make for lots of S.T.U.F.F. under foot…

The Mother Load... and more laundry.  Soon, I will catch up the ironing!  Famous last words. 

Something to remember for later... How our kids enjoy catching up/hanging out with each other especially when one comes home from afar. 

A Bible verse...

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

that thou fulfil it.    Colossians 4:17

A few plans for the rest of the day/week...

Today – running to multiple towns {good news is that will include picking up an Azure order!}

Tomorrow – wisdom teeth extraction for Kate & Abby :(  My plan includes about 24 hours of sleep for them with a happily ever after.

Not attending the state homeschool conference.  Oh well.

Saturday – two graduation open houses and a birthday party.  Fun!

A peek into my world...

I finally took a tour of the newly fenced orchard on Sunday.

             

    

  Yes, that’s the Popper in the driver’s seat!

~.~.~.~.~

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

~.~.~.~.~

when life gives you lemons…

 

…make lemonade.

When it snows in May… go sledding. 

 

The snow continued all day, although it did start to melt.

 

Today the snow continues…

 

So the Cattleman built a snowman  :)

oh the weather outside is frightful…

 

 

…is not what we usually sing in May. 

But there it is.  Snow. Wind.  On the second day of May.

 

Bullwinkle and the Jersey calves look sad {the cows are off in the far trees}.

 

 

The blooming forsythia is probably not happy either.

 

The high temp was ~80F on Tuesday; 50F yesterday; and currently 33F today.

But the weather is sure to warm up – and stay warm – one of these days.

daybook 4/29/2013

 

 

 

Outside my window...

the Cowgirl, Cattleman, and Popper are still working {hanging out} with the Jersey calves – They’ve been fencing them a small spot in the yard to graze each day.

the field looks beautifully smooth and black after being cultivated and planted on Saturday {happy farmgirl sigh}

 

Hearing...

not much  {ahem – better get the washer going… and the vacuum…}

 

Pondering...

the lure of a Shutterfly photo book sale… with additional coupon codes to sweeten the deal.  If I were still active on facebook, perhaps I would just give those codes away to someone else to use.

 

Praying...

Taylor ~ in the hospital this week for antibodies treatment

SarahE ~ 3-hour glucose test on Wednesday  :p

Ruth ~ expecting their seventh child {and living on the other side of the world from us}

Kate ~ last week of classes!

Praise:  Makayla is doing well after surgery on her ear; SarahW is doing well with PT {then their basement flooded last week…}

 

Thankful...

for the unfailing goodness of our God.

 

Reading...

Bible – Proverbs, Matthew

This mystery series by Lorena McCourtney has been so fun to read {in spite of the murders Ivy investigates}  Looking forward to picking up book #3 today at the library!

                    

                

 

I’ll also be looking for The Dwelling Place by Elizabeth Musser since it’s the sequel to The Swan House.  Mrs. Musser is an Atlanta native living in France as a missionary wife – the books I’ve read so far are set in Atlanta.

               

Like I have time for reading novels?!

 

In the kitchen...

last Friday:  made lemon bars, oatmeal tea cake, blonde cave man cookies {Jodi}, first batch of buns for grad party/freezer, bread, and pizza.

and Saturday:  cooked/shredded two more beef roasts for grad party/freezer, mixed up turkey taquito filling for Sunday {JulieG}, cole slaw and grilled burgers.  {chose to leave the oven OFF for the day!}

Not sure what’s on this week’s menu other than Abby’s Cajun Chicken Pasta… ???

 

In the learning rooms...

moving closer to the end of our school year!  While hoping/planning to spend some time this month with fun but profitable read-alouds and movies for history (Renaissance, Reformation, Exploration) ~ The Black Arrow (Stevenson), By Right of Conquest (Henty), A Man for All Seasons, Drake: the Man They Called a Pirate (Latham).  Plus How Should We Then Live?  on dvd,  Story of Liberty (Coffin), and movies about Wycliffe & Tyndale.  Wishing the library had Disney’s The Sword & the Rose…

Why yes, I am a dreamer/idealist – how did you guess?

 

Around the house...

The pile of supplies for the graduation party is growing…

 

The Mother Load...

vacuum, laundry, ironing, menu plan… and repeat

finish books for Abby & Daniel {next Sunday is the graduation fellowship at church!}

food prep for the graduation party next month

 

Something to remember for later...

I enlisted the Computer Geek/Daniel, the Cattleman, Cowgirl, and Popper to help me plant a new flower bed in the yard on Saturday.  Daylilies and bearded iris – that have been in the fridge for the past year  :o  Hoping they survive to reward our labors!

Later I took Daniel over to my uncle’s house to help him clean up/haul away a row of small trees from their yard.  He came home with quite the stories of driving a skidsteer for the first time – and entertaining my uncle’s grandson who needed some impromptu babysitting.

 

Something fun to share...

Need some good coconut oil?  FREE shipping TODAY only at Tropical Traditions!  Click HERE.

 

A Bible verse...

Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Romans 13:10

 

A few plans for the rest of the day/week...

--> post office with state tax returns and graduation invitations

--> piano lessons, groceries and other shopping

--> orthodontist for Abby and the Cowgirl

turn the calendar to MAY!  :o

end of the month financial reports

 

A peek into my world...

Abby’s harp recital was Friday night  :)

 

~.~.~.~.~

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 4/17/2013

 

 

Outside my window...

it’s increasingly green!  :D

I’m not quite sure how it can be 41F with a real feel of 49F, but so says AccuWeather.  {edit: they’ve now corrected it to say a real feel of 36F.  Much more like it.}

Rain and thunderstorms today.   It even hailed for a while early this morning.  Tomorrow they predict a little snow with the rain.

 

Hearing...

the Cowgirl was at the piano while Abby finished with lunch dishes; now Mr. McBride is leading memory verse recitation {via DVD}… moving on to review questions and today’s lecture on church history from the early 1900s.

 

Pondering...

a long, but meaningful funeral service we attended this morning.

 

Praying...

for family and friends involved with today’s funeral.

for Makayla, who was to have surgery yesterday to repair a hole in her ear drum.

for a friend beginning physical therapy for her knee – with hopes that will be sufficient treatment.

for a friend planning to spend next week with her brother as he recovers from surgery

for people in Boston

 

Thankful...

for my faithful husband  <3

 

Creating...

photo display boards

                  

    

Abby’s still needs writing on the ‘chalkboard’ pages, but we are getting ready to celebrate graduation!

 

Going... going… going… gone.

Tomorrow will be a good day to stay at home finally.  :)

 

Reading...

Bible – Proverbs; listening again to Acts; topical study on friends

 

Learning...

to resist the siren call of chocolate and cookies  :o  {trying to learn}

 

Looking forward to...

fruits from the garden and new trees planted this month

  

{Interesting light difference?  They were planting in the garden late last Monday; the second photo was mid-day on Saturday}

 

In the kitchen...

tonight’s menu ~ farmhouse bbq biscuits

 

In the learning rooms...

The Cattleman has started into next year’s science ~ Exploring Creation with General Science from Apologia

 

Around the house...

clutter and dust, but the boys’ Legos have been put away again

{Daniel’s cherry-picker}

 

The Mother Load...

usually laundry and always ironing

bills to pay; a desk or three to return to order

more school work to check

haul away the piles remaining in the basement – there’s actually more than this now in our give-away/throw-away piles:

sorting photos and stuff for the memory books

print invitations for the open house – May is almost here!

 

Noticing that...

life just gets busier and time goes faster than ever before.  All. the. time.

{ahem…  it’s taken me two hours to post this daybook?!}

 

Something to remember for later...

Abby & I had a wonderful time in February with some of the older folks in town when we delivered their ‘meals on wheels’ – One lady in particular (Mrs. Loots) was such a delightfully happy soul.  Oh to be like her!

 

Something fun to share...

A daughter read Love You Forever at today’s funeral.

Fun?  Tips on fighting allergies.

 

A favorite quote for today...

Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

Proverbs 17:17

 

One of my favorite things...

Having a plan – and working it.

 

A Bible verse...

Her children arise up, and call her blessed…

Proverbs 31:28a

{very true at today’s funeral}

 

A few plans for the rest of the day/week...

--> church tonight

--> dentist check-ups for the last three of the kids on Friday

 

A peek into my world...

a year ago

{moooooo}

 

~.~.~.~.~

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