Daybook for November 26, 2011

Outside my window... today was chilly and windy, after a few days of beautiful weather. I think it will warm back up again this week though. Goose and I took advantage of the nice weather on Wednesday and put up the Christmas lights on the porch. We waited until tonight to turn them on, and she is THRILLED.

I am thinking... that my adrenal glands aren't doing as well as I had hoped. I bumped my supplement levels back up to the full amount, and so far it's helping a little, but I am trying to be patient.

I am praying for... my father-in-law. A week ago yesterday, they estimated he probably only had days to go; a week ago today, they dropped it down to just hours. He has had ups and downs since then, but yesterday he asked to be brought out to the living room to sit for a while. Also praying for patience to wait on God's timing.

I am thankful for... every minute we have with my father-in-law.

From the learning rooms... whoof. Much of our time has been spent at the farm, so this area has been a bit neglected.

From the kitchen... whoof again. We've eaten most of our meals at the farm, too. For thanksgiving, I brought creamy corn and peppers and cheesy mashed potatoes. We had baked oatmeal a few days this week, and I also made this Pumpkin Coffee Cake. It was really good!

I am wearing... purple long sleeved shirt, pinkish purplish cords.

I am creating... umm, a few cell phone cases for the craft shop, and I have some ideas in my head for Christmas gifts that I need to get moving on.

I am pondering... that we rejoice in the hope of the resurrection.

I am reading... Real Learning: Education In the Heart of the Home

I am hoping... for a better night's sleep tonight.

I am hearing... Hubs talking to the video game he's playing. :>)

Around the house... needs some picking up, for sure.

One of my favorite things... Goose learning how to walk carefully up to a skittish cat and gently pet it. Girl after my own heart! :>)

A few plans for the rest of the week... our final Bible study session on Monday, small claims court for our little village on Thursday, and lots of time at the farm, I'm sure.

A picture thought I am sharing... Goosie and Grandpa, taken a few months ago.

Daybook for September 25, 2011

Outside my window... still beautiful weather. Nights are quite chilly, which means mornings are quite chilly. This time of year, I tend to not bother getting Goose dressed until about 10AM or so, and then I feel like it's warming up enough for her to wear summerish clothes for the warm afternoon.

I am thinking... that my to-do list isn't getting any shorter, but I know this blog post won't take long. :>)

I am praying for... Hubs's family, still. His dad continues to decline due to Lou Gehrig's disease. Your prayers are appreciated for them as well.

I am thankful for... my dad. He takes SUCH good care of me. It truly is a foretaste of how my Heavenly Father loves me, and I wish every girl in the world were so lucky (on both counts, earthly and Heavenly fathers!)

From the learning rooms... planning. :>) I bought a planner on clearance and am getting ready to fill it up! Problem is, since preschool doesn't need to be particularly planned out, I'm not quite sure where to start or how to coordinate. But I'll figure it out, I'm sure.

From the kitchen... um. Pretty uninspiring. We're due to get a quarter of beef soon, so I'll be frying up hamburger and refreezing to have on hand, plus probably making a big batch of meatloaf and perhaps some porcupine meatballs as well.

I am wearing... black capri pants and a shirt from today's ALS walk.

I am creating... hmm, not much. But lots of ideas, like usual.

I am pondering... how to turn the Family Memories game into something I can put in the craft shop.

I am reading... Cinderella Ate My Daughter and Hold Onto Your Kids: Why Parents Need to Matter More Than Peers. I also recently picked up Mud Pies and Other Recipes: A Cookbook for Dolls, 401 Ways to Get Your Kids to Work at Home: Techniques, tips, tricks, and strategies on how to get your kids to become self-reliant, responsible adults, Getting Your Preschooler Ready for Math, and Jotham's Journey (in preparation for Advent).

I am hoping... that my adrenal glands continue to heal. I was feeling well enough that I backed off the supplements (as recommended by the pharmacist directing my treatment) and as expected, my energy has taken a dip. But I expect that it'll pick back up soon and I'll be able to continue down the path to health!

I am hearing... two cats purring curled up next to and on me, and a baseball game on TV.

Around the house... it's quiet, as Goosie is visiting her cousins for a week again. I have such wonderful memories of playing with my cousins and I want the same for her, even though hers are much farther away.

One of my favorite things... purring cats. Can't help it - I've always loved kitties.

A few plans for the rest of the week... picking up the house, crafting some stuff for the shop, chopping onions from the garden and freezing them, make a carrying case for my phone, bookwork, probably spending a day working in my MIL's quilt shop, a raw milk run, and my parents will be back on Friday with Goose then they'll spend the weekend here.

A picture thought I am sharing... Goose helping me put together sack lunch suppers for the silage crew. She did a great job!

Daybook for September 7, 2011

I put a button in my sidebar so you can get to my boards on Pinterest and read the whole internet over there. :>) Oh, and I pinned a post called "And That's Why You Should Learn to Pick Your Battles" - language warning, but I laughed until I cried. And I totally know where to get a five foot metal chicken locally...

Outside my window... it is so beautiful! We're in a spell of jacket weather, and though it probably won't last, it sure puts me in a better mood.

I am thinking... that I forgot to answer the comment from my "favorite uncle" Ray a while back. Yes, I know the stinkin' Yankees are beating the soup out of my beloved Minnesota Twins. :>)

I am thankful for... making decisions that are not life and death. So much of life is serious, but so much more of it is not really as bad as we make it out to be. (see below)

From the learning rooms...ah, how interesting it's been. The pendulum has swung so widely, and interestingly the same day she *started* preschool (of which I hated EVERY SINGLE MINUTE she was gone!), I learned there is a Catholic homeschooling group in one of the nearby big towns. I'm a bit frustrated because I looked and asked around, but I guess I didn't look in the right places and ask the right people the right questions. So I'm seriously considering punting on "real" preschool and doing things at home, where I really feel we belong.

From the kitchen...I'm just finally starting to get inspired there again. Poor Hubs; it seems like I just start to recover from the uncertainty of meals during planting season and then it's irrigating season and he doesn't get home until late again. Then I almost recover from that and get back into the swing of cooking, and it's harvest time. I've recently made chicken spaghetti, chicken and rice, and I have a big hankering for meatloaf.

I am wearing...a shirt in my favorite color of blue and black capris. Since I started taking adrenal supplements almost six weeks ago, I've finally started to feel a bit better! (though I came down with another cold and this one is knocking me for a loop - I didn't realize how good I was feeling until I started feeling lousy!) All this is to say that I've lost a couple of pounds, and I'm hoping as I continue to feel better, that trend will also continue. And since it's cooler (see above!), I know I need to get out and do some walking.

I am creating... fun stuff for the craft shop. I realized I should have been taking pictures of the stuff I've been doing, but I never remember - plus I craft in the basement at night, which doesn't make for the awesomest picture taking. But, here's a short list: Preppy Bibs, Marble Travel Games, Barefoot Baby Bloom Booties, and I tried a Cotton Candy Skirt for Goose, but didn't like it so I put it up for sale. :>) I think my problems were that I tried to make it too wide, so there was too much white space behind the tulle, and I tried to do it in rainbow colors, so it was kinda all over the place. I'm thinking one color would've been better.

Oh, and an update on the rainbow backpack for preschool... another little girl has a PRINCESS backpack, that has a handle that pops out so it becomes a rolling bag. Goose told me she doesn't like rainbows anymore, that she wants one like that. Sigh. I told her I'd put some Care Bears on it or something. Sigh.

I am pondering...SCHOOL! and feeling quite excited about it. :>)

I am reading... Last Child in the Woods, with Cinderella Ate My Daughter on deck, and Choosing to See in the hole.

I am hoping... the adrenal supplements continue to work. I would love for this school year to be a chance for me to get on track with the house and with Goose. Wouldn't that be wonderful!

I am hearing... Bugs buzzing outside - cicadas? I think we've been hearing them for over a month, which means the old wives tale says we'll have a freeze before the end of the month. I hope not, because I haven't done as much picking from my garden as I should have yet.

Around the house... I have actually felt like picking up and doing things! This is HUGE, people! Of course it all came crashing to a halt with this most recent cold, but I feel like there's a light at the end of the tunnel.

One of my favorite things... reading with Goose. I thrifted a fun rhyming book and we've read it a few times today already. I love to see her starting to figure things out!

A few plans for the rest of the week... we're paid up for a month, so there will be preschool tomorrow, then Friday is a big local consignment sale and a small rummage sale. Next week is Husker Harvest Days, a big farm show that we love to attend with Papa, and hopefully more friends coming for a farm tour on Friday.



A picture thought I am sharing...

My best friend from high school visited us again this summer with her two kids, and it was so fun to see them playing with Goose! We did the farm tour again, and just all around had a ball. Next year can't come soon enough!

Daybook - Remember Me? Edition

Wow, not only has it been months since I've blogged, it's been over a year since I've posted a daybook. Zoiks.

Outside my window... It's pretty warm, though better than the triple digits we were having. It's been a weird summer - hardly any breeze. Much of the time we've spent outside has involved the local swimming hole or feeding cats. Otherwise, I stick close to the A/C. We sure could use some rain, too, according to the farmer.

I am thinking... about the interconnected set of miracles that is the human body; how it works, and how it doesn't. I have been working with a pharmacist friend who specializes in adrenal fatigue and it appears that I have been dealing with lousy adrenal function for years. She has me taking a handful of supplements and I'm hopeful that better health is around the corner.

I am thankful for... a good husband. Seriously, Hubs is a heck of a guy. Even when I get frustrated with all the little things, I'm reminded of how blessed I am and how others are not so lucky.

From the learning rooms... never thought I'd say this, but we're looking at sending Goose to "real" preschool this year. I couldn't have been happier with the preschool co-op that we put together last year, but all the other kids are moving on. I have finally started to recognize the physical exhaustion from years of insomnia (hopefully related to the adrenal fatigue & hopefully will be clearing up before long!) and the toll that it takes on my patience.

Goose has been chattering for quite a while about how excited she was to ride on the bus and go to school - until I told her that mama doesn't go with her. She cried and told me over and over "you can be my teacher, mama!" So, we'll see. I would love to get more intentional about doing the things I bookmark to do with her. :>)

From the kitchen... Summer is so hard on my kitchen - I never know when Hubs will be home, if he'll be hungry, etc. I've been just awful about cooking, though I usually try to have some of these freezer-friendly burritos on hand. The carnivore doesn't mind them, and I try to make some Goose-sized ones that aren't spicy. I'm making up a grocery list for a trip to town tomorrow and getting inspired, though!

I am wearing... cornflower blue shirt, black capris, and my standard crocs. I really need new shoes - these are wearing pretty thin.

I am creating... all kinds of crafty stuff! I'll be taking a load tomorrow to the craft consignment shop including a craft supply lazy susan like this one, some super cute button bracelets that I now can't find the link to the post that inspired me, two sets of bean bags, and a couple very simple necklace kits.

I am pondering... switching my link roundups to Pinterest. Are any of you guys on there? Would you like to see me pin things instead of doing link roundups? I was totally dragging my feet about it, but a friend was explaining how nice it was to see the pictures. Often times, a post has a funny name and I have a terrible time remembering it, so it seems like this is a feasible way to do it... and it's super-easy to pin something (unless the post doesn't have an image, that is).

And maybe I'd post more often! If I just wanted to post something crafty I made or do a daybook, I could do that without feeling guilty that I haven't gotten around to link roundups. Any thoughts?

I am reading... Adrenal Fatigue: The 21st Century Stress Syndrome (no surprise there, eh?) and a big pile of old Family Handyman magazines that I picked up at a library sale.

I am hoping... well, I have already realized how many times I've used derivatives of "hope" on here already - hopeful, hoping, etc. so I think this one is pretty obvious already. :>) But let's go with the big one - I am so hoping that treating this adrenal fatigue means there might be more babies in my future.

I am hearing... the air conditioning (thank you Jesus for it!), my calico cat, and Hubs's TV through the floor.

Around the house... Goose has spent a week at Grandma's on two separate occasions in the past month and I used the time to do a fair amount of picking up, putting away, and getting rid. The house is looking better for it, but I still need to work on actual cleaning.

One of my favorite things... it's definitely not cleaning! :>) I picked the first tomatoes yesterday, though, and every year I wish I could send some to my tomato-loving city cousin in Chicago whom I miss SO MUCH. (who? whom? If I waffle on that for too long, I'll never get this posted.)

A few plans for the rest of the week... dropping crafty stuff off tomorrow on my way to pick up raw milk; we'd talked about going camping this weekend but it hasn't rained so I don't see that happening. Our church just got air-conditioning, so Mass is even more awesome than it was!

A picture thought I am sharing... Goosey dressing up in one of the dresses that Mama used to dress up in when I was a little goose - and that Grandma made and wore when she was a young goose!

Daybook for June 25, 2010

Outside my window... It's HOT and sticky already, though there's a fair wind to help. I'm thinking Goose and I might head to a nearby swimming hole this afternoon.

I am thinking... more about last time's thought about getting into better shape. I actually threw my back out helping Goose of the potty on Tuesday, but thankfully it is not nearly as bad as it could have been.

I am thankful for... air conditioning. And thinking I'm quite a weenie without it. (Hubs would heartily agree.)

From the learning rooms... so much playing and pretending. I enjoy listening to it so much that I keep putting off anything formal. But as always, I'm collecting ideas.

From the kitchen... I cooked up hamburger and froze to use later (though some of it went to sloppy joes, and I also cooked up some chicken breasts in the crock pot, as well as putting some in to marinate and freeze using Amy's recipe. Hmm, there has been a few other miscellaneous things, but I think that covers it.

I am wearing... a "midwives rock" t-shirt and denim capri pants. The shirt is in honor of a Certified Nurse-Midwife friend who is working this summer at a birth center in Texas and witnessed a beautiful, beautiful birth early this morning.

I am creating... some tool pouches for Hubs out of old jeans and I'm plotting out some pillowcase dresses. See the pillowcases below!

I am pondering... how some people's crosses can be so different from ours, and how important our perspective is towards our own cross.

I am reading... Beyond Gay, which I borrowed from our Catholic doctor's office library. I have a couple of extended family members who are gay, and it has been interesting reading.

I am hoping... that I don't overdo things and can give my back a chance to heal. The lawn really needs to be mowed, and Hubs is spending long hours in the fields. Not sure what will happen there.

I am hearing... Goose playing with Nappy. I don't know why, but Goose has kind of all of a sudden been getting rougher with the cats. There have been some "natural consequences" and some hurt feelings, I think.

Around the house... vacuuming, changing sheets, a small amount of dusting, washing dishes - the usual.

One of my favorite things... shopping garage sales! (see below)

A few plans for the rest of the week... proofreading work today, the parish in the nearby town's "junktique" (rummage sale - yes, I'm addicted), Bible study, and interestingly, we're getting my car fixed next week where Hubs hit a raccoon a couple months ago. Usually my weeks are pretty open, but next week holds three days of work since there is a holiday coming up, one dentist appointment, one chiropractor appointment, and one meeting for our parish's 125th anniversary celebration, none of which are particularly within walking distance and up to 30 miles away. Could be interesting.

A picture thought(s) I am sharing... My garage sale finds!


I'm sure it was Heather who suggested plotting out your garage sale route to make the best use of your time, but I can't find that post right now. Anyway, here is my marked-up page of the sales I wanted to hit and the items I was looking for at each sale highlighted. I also made lists on paper of which sales were Friday and which were Saturday so we could get any Friday ones out of the way. I left the whole pile on my washing machine on Saturday. (You can click the pic to make it bigger and see how much pink highlighting there is!)







Friday's finds - some small enamel pots that will either be used for decoration or something functional besides cooking OR in Goose's kitchen, a mortar and pestle, a baby Twins hat for an expecting friend that is also a fan, two yellow gingham vintage pillowcases that will become dresses for Goose and the big sister of the aforementioned baby, some bracelets for the dress-up trunk, and a doll house. There were a few other miscellaneous things, but these were the exciting ones.









Saturday's haul was a little bigger since we hit more sales - I got a bed rail (at top), VHS movies including Mary Poppins, Lion King, Lady and the Tramp, Cinderella, Dumbo, and Pinocchio, several very CUTE outfits, a pink winter hat with Snow White on it, a large gift bag (that Goose discovered she can nearly fit into) with Snow White on it, a little light up Glo-Worm game, a pair of church shoes, a pair of snow boots, and a pair of "farm boots", a little barn with keys that open the doors to reveal an animal inside each, a shamrock pinwheel, a package of furniture for the dollhouse, and a monitor, since the one we have doesn't work anymore when I'm outside.








Ahh, yes, and one Care Bear pillow for a dime that is already proved to be worth that many times over.

(PS - I have a terrible time getting the pics adjusted so they look OK in a reader, in e-mail AND on the page. So please excuse any wonky formatting in whatever method you use to view me.)

Daybook for June 10, 2010

Outside my window... Cloudy and humid. It rained again this morning - just as Goose and I set out for the post office, a mere two block stroll away.

I am thinking... that I really need to get into better shape. My back has been creaking over all the gardening stuff I've been doing.

I am thankful for... a surprise visit from my cousin and her two girls - the same cousin that my mom and I visited right before the last daybook post. We had a great time!

From the learning rooms... Goose is figuring out that someone can tell her to "go ask Mama" and she'll just say "Mama said yes!" Thankfully her fib is immediately exposed because she doesn't actually GO anywhere or pretend to ask. She'll get in trouble for it before long, but for now it cracks me up.

From the kitchen... chicken salad in pita pockets, LOTS of baked (soaked) oatmeal with blueberries and strawberries, chicken and rice (scroll down), baked spaghetti, banana boats, veggies and dip and HEALTHY fruit pizza. Also I turned some leftover chocolate pudding that Goose and my mom made into frozen pudding pops. Yup, they're as good as the store bought ones, and yup, I thought of Bill Cosby as I was eating one. I think that's it...

I am wearing... a Huskers t-shirt and denim capri pants.

I am creating... a DIY sand and water table on the cheap with some help from my dad. I'm already writing the post in my head, and can't wait to share it! (Well, I have to finish the darn thing first, but I'm almost as excited to post about it as I am for Goose to play with it!)

I am pondering... how God gives us what we need, not what we want. And what a blessing that is. Also, I have had a couple of days where I didn't turn my computer on for several hours and/or didn't spend much time on it, and it was nice. I obviously survived.

I am reading... The Maker's Diet. A lot of food for thought there. I also read Practical Homesteading by John Vivian. As I've mentioned before, we farm conventionally, not organically. But I am interested in becoming more self-sufficient and I found a LOT of great information in that book.

I am hoping... that we might get to go camping this weekend. It rained some this morning, but not sure if it was enough for Hubs to not have to work so much.

I am hearing... the dehumidifier. We have a leak in our basement, but it is strangely not clear where the water is actually getting in.

Around the house... something I'm pondering - I couldn't believe how little time it took me to get the house picked up for my cousin's visit. OK, it was like an hour and a half to two hours, but it looked pretty good, I thought. Why don't I do that more often?

One of my favorite things... Goose's insistence that her papa give her a kiss and a hug whenever he leaves.

A few plans for the rest of the week... proofreading work tomorrow, possibly camping, possibly going to a garage sale otherwise, Bible "study" (we're reading a book this summer, actually), my brother's and sister-in-law's birthdays.

A picture thought I am sharing... Me, Goose, my beautiful cousin, and her sweet girls.

Daybook for May 19, 2010

Outside my window... rain. I love how green everything is getting, but I'd like to finish planting my garden and I know Hubs is anxious to finish his planting, too. I need to check and see if the iris are blooming (irises? irisi?) as they were really, really close.

I am thinking... that since my Reader is cleared out right now, I ought to be able to get to bed early tonight. I really have high hopes!

I am thankful for... Hubs's occupation. Although farming means a LOT of long hours through much of the year, he spent much of the day at home today and Goose and I both really enjoyed having him here. And my mom and I DID go visit my cousin - it was a delightful trip.

From the learning rooms... PE, as Goose is honing her climbing skills - this is the first they've surfaced! Luckily she isn't destructive or anything, just curious. We also learned that deodorant + Care Bears + the cat brush don't mix well. Thankfully everything, including the carpet, seems to have cleaned up.

From the kitchen... Salisbury steak and mashed potatoes; I tried turning Amy's pizza braid into a pizza, and let's say that it really should have been two pizzas. (Kind of like this except in pizza form.) Did I mention that I made tortillas? I filled them with a variation of the chicken chimichangas but realized my tortillas weren't big enough to fold up so I could fry them. They were still really good! We also had refried beans (find my recipe here) and I made nacho cheese sauce with extra for the freezer. Oh, and Chex mix, though it was cool enough that I used the oven, and I forgot to buy pretzels and bagel chips (doh!) so I used cheerios and kix for those. Yup, it's kind of weird, but not terrible.

I am wearing... pink shirt, purple pants. Glasses.

I am creating... another Care Bears crib sheet and I like this tutorial and version much better. I had been eyeing a CB print at Wal-Mart but didn't want to pay $4.44 per yard, and I ended up finding two pieces in the reminant bin that when stitched together, were big enough. I finished the baby gift and sent it off to my friend Patty today.

I am pondering... how close my life is to what I always dreamed it would be, even though it hasn't turned out quite like I expected. God is so good!

I am (re)reading... Say Good Night to Insomnia by Gregg Jacobs. I know, I read it before, but it doesn't have a "sum it up" chapter and I could really have used one. The good news is that it has been four or five nights since I've taken a sleeping pill and I've mostly slept every night! I still wake up too early but am able to doze a bit better than I had been.

I am hoping... for a break in the rain! This bout kind of snuck in, but it looks like it's going to be warming up soon.

I am hearing... silence over the monitor. One of my favorite sounds. :>)

Around the house... I finally got around to replacing a clock battery that needed it, and tried replacing two light bulbs, but when I touched them to unscrew them, they both lit up. Then later, I realized they were out again. Ugh.

One of my favorite things... the smell of rain. It's so clean!

A few plans for the rest of the week... cleaning the old church rectory in preparation for a handful of nuns that come teach the vacation Bible school, Hubs said we're going to a museum on Sunday, last Bible study session on Monday.

A picture thought I am sharing... Goose loves to pick flowers! We picked these at Hubs's grandma's and I picked the phlox on the side of the road. I have since picked a bigger bunch of phlox - I love them. (And I'm not too ashamed to admit that up until a year or two ago, I was certain that they were called "flocks". Isn't that more logical???)

Daybook for May 9, 2010

Outside my window... dark, cool, and windy. It was like 80 degrees for an entire week, so I washed Goose's winter coat and hat and mittens intending to put them away. Looks like that was a mistake.

I am thinking... that I ought to go to bed early tonight for once. [Edit - I didn't make it, but I had a lovely visit with my sister-in-law :>))

I am thankful for... my cousin, who is spending mother's day as a mother of two. She birthed her second baby on Friday (ahem) out the "normal" exit after her first daughter was born via c-section. She really showed us how it's done, and I can't WAIT to go see them!

From the learning rooms... Goose has been really exploding with her imagination. I love hearing her play, and she does quite well playing by herself!

From the kitchen... my MIL made steak for dinner, and we got pizza for supper plus fixings to make "blizzards". I managed to fill up on pizza, so I'll have my blizzard tomorrow, I think. And I just realized I have zero plans for meals the rest of the week. Yikes.

I am wearing... PJs. A Minnesota Twins shirt and fleece pants with kitties on them.

I am creating... a few baby gifts - I love stitching for new little ones! I also made a Care Bears sheet for Goose, and she still won't sleep in her toddler bed. I used the scraps from that to make two simple Care Bears bags for Goose and my cousin's first daughter. And hair clippies - I re-did the shamrock I mangled for Goose's birthday, and I made a heart one for my cousin's little girl.

I am pondering... what a blessing it is to be forgiven.

I am reading... still the same things, also I will be adding to the list Kimberly Hahn's 'Graced and Gifted: Biblical Wisdom for the Homemaker's Heart' or so I'm told by Paperback Swap.

I am hoping... hmm, I guess things are pretty settled down, so I'm back to just my basic intercessions. God has given so many blessings lately to me and the ones I love!

I am hearing... Hubs, his parents, and sister are watching Avatar. I was tending to Goose for a big chunk of the beginning, so opted not to try and figure out what I'd missed.

Around the house... I actually cleaned it up pretty well this week! And last week, I gave Bar Keepers Friend a try on my awful shower floor and I'm thrilled to say it worked like a charm. Now to keep the house looking nice, well, that's a different story.

One of my favorite things... feeding the barn cats with my sister-in-law. Which was punctuated by a surprise visit from Hubs and our miniature donkey, who doesn't really like cats.

A few plans for the rest of the week... Bible study (only a few sessions left!), chiropractor appointment, hopefully a trip to see my cousin and her new baby, Mass on Wednesday or Thursday.

A picture thought I am sharing... While Goose was eating breakfast one morning, I put her Easter bucket full of empty plastic Easter eggs in the spare bedroom. She heard me do it, but didn't see it. After she was out of her highchair, I went downstairs to get dressed. Usually she follows me down, but that day, she didn't.

When I came back upstairs, she was sitting in the dining room (outside of the spare bedroom) playing with her eggs and bucket. The door to the spare room was open, and she'd pushed one of the kitchen chairs (the all wood one in the pic) into the spare bedroom, climbed up, got the bucket, climbed down (thankfully she didn't fall) and got down to business.

I'll admit, I don't know why she didn't pull over the chair that was already in the room, but I'm still marveling at the level of ingenuity displayed. :>)

Daybook for April 22, 2010

Outside my window... cool and rainy. Hubs got a start on planting corn, but this gives him a break to celebrate my birthday.

I am thinking... about the post I'm working on for my portion of the spring cleaning carnival. Food additives cover a whole lot of topics.

I am thankful for... a negative result on the rabies test performed on the bat that Goose found last week. Whew.

From the learning rooms... we had a ball collecting and playing with little pine cones this week. We reconstructed our whole farm, with the addition of some Care Bears that aren't on our real farm, of course. They all live in Care-a-lot.

From the kitchen... hamburger, carrot, and potato packets tonight, it's looking like slow cooker peanut butter cup cake for my birthday, dinner out tomorrow night, and roast chicken with homemade noodles and mashed potatoes, courtesy of my mother.

I am wearing... sweats. In my defense, it's laundry day, and while we were visiting Hubs's cousin's 10(!) new puppies, the mama bonked the heck out of my leg wanting attention, so they went in the wash.

I am creating... the above carnival blog post. And another round of soft blocks to list in my Etsy shop.

I am pondering... what a different perspective there is from the other side. Of everything. And whether Hubs's going out for lunch without me today shall result in forfeiture of the last piece of ice cream cake that's in the freezer. I'm thinking yes.

I am reading... the same things as last week. I can read blog posts like nobody's business, but when it comes to flipping pages, I don't do as well as I used to.

I am hoping... to pick up a little freelance work from a former employer. I sent an e-mail, just waiting for a reply now.

I am hearing... Goose enjoying her "quiet time" over the monitor.

Around the house... the laundry room is finally dried out (though not cleaned up, yikes) and back together.

One of my favorite things... Goose and her Papa in a tractor. She's shaping up to be quite a farm kid already.

A few plans for the rest of the week... last week's dinner out for my birthday shifted to this week, hanging out with my parents, and I'm hoping to go visit a cousin who just had a baby. (And I finally got my driver's license renewed.)

A picture thought I am sharing...

Daybook - April 16, 2010

Seriously, did anybody get the license number of the speeding truck that was the past two weeks blowing me by? It's been a little crazy around here. You may remember that last week, the washing machine drained on our (carpeted) laundry room floor, which was previously soaked in a Tide jug leak. The dehumidifier is still running, by the way. I stepped between the washer and dryer yesterday and when I stepped back, I saw I'd left a soapy footprint. After I posted, just as I finished hanging two loads of Hubs's work clothes on the line, the clothesline fell down. Could've been a lot worse, it was work clothes and on the concrete patio, anyway.

Things took an exciting turn on last Tuesday, though, when GOOSE FOUND A BAT ON THE GROUND. I'm still pretty freaked out about it. I had stepped inside for just a minute to get my gardening gloves, and when I came out, she said "wook, Mama!" and pointed at it. It was crawling around, and I told her "don't touch don't touch don't touch don't touch" as I grabbed a coffee can from the garage and scooped it up. (I fought down the urge to whack the ever lovin' crap out of it because I knew the head had to be intact for testing. Thanks be to God that it didn't start flying around as I was scooping it!)

I called our regional health department (I used to serve on the board of directors) and they in turn called the state to obtain permission to get it tested. We delivered the bat (in the coffee can that I put in a zip top bag and in the TRUNK of my car) to the local vet along with the required registration number, and then the little guy was sent to Kansas for testing. I'm praying for a negative... I don't think that it had a chance to bite Goose, but I can't be sure and as far as I know there has only been one person to survive getting rabies that didn't get vaccinated, and bat bites can be too small to detect.

Outside my window... It was actually chilly today, but not too windy. The past few days have been quite warm and very windy, and we've had some rain, which makes my farmer a bit cranky to get going on fieldwork.

I am thinking... that I need to work on my time management. I say that a lot, but I'm realizing that I don't accomplish very much on a lot of days.

I am thankful for... not getting rid of my dehumidifier when I was decluttering. (Did I mention that we've had water leak under our basement stairs twice? Yeah, I'm glad we still have that thing to dry us out!)

From the learning rooms... I went crazy trying to find the link to this post at No Time For Flash Cards on a magnetic weather station. As you can guess, I have a LOOOOOT of items in my favorites folders, and though I try to keep them organized, there's just a lot of them. This post got starred in my Google Reader, so it wasn't even where I thought it was!

From the kitchen... tator tot casserole, for one. I have several packages of hamburger to brown and freeze, and I plan to make a half batch (two loaves instead of four) of Sarah's Whole Wheat Oatmeal Sourdough bread. Other than that, I'm feeling pretty uninspired.

I am wearing... a grey shirt and purple pants. I actually have two pair of purple pants, I wonder why that is? It's not exactly one of my favorite colors.

I am creating... a spin on this pom-pom lamp for one of my nieces, and a hybrid of these two fishing games for another niece.

I am pondering... how some people really carry their crosses in silence. Sometimes that's a good thing, sometimes not so good.

I am reading... the same things as last week. Say Goodnight to Insomnia, upon the recommendation of a handful of fellow insomniacs. I really like it so far! Added to my "To Be Read" pile - All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, Making Peace with the Things in Your Life, and Is There Life After Housework? I also picked up a stack of old Nebraska Life magazines in the local library's discarded section, and I can't wait to leaf through those.

I am hoping... to get Goose caught up on sleep. It's always a struggle.

I am hearing... Hubs's computer, not much else. I put Goose to bed super early tonight and Hubs is watching TV.

Around the house... lots of things are waiting for the laundry room to get put back together!

One of my favorite things... blooming tulips and daffodils that survived the wind. Goose and I have picked a few of them.

A few plans for the rest of the week... we'll hopefully go out to dinner for my upcoming birthday (and I pointed out to Hubs that there's an indoor mini golf course not too far from here), Bible study next week (which has been an amazing blessing to me!), and I really have to get my drivers' license renewed. Really. :>)

A picture thought I am sharing... I haven't shared a Treasure Hunting success in a while! (yes, Mom, those are Nappy's feet in the picture. It's better than her laying on the stuff, right?)

I scored some handmade felt Care Bears (Goose hasn't seen them yet, but she's going to be pretty excited! And I'll admit, I didn't know there was a Husker Bear :>)) for about a quarter. I think the Disney Sing Along Songs video was another quarter. The dehydrating cookbook and cake decorating book were both a dime each. Do you see the thick red rick rack? Another quarter, I think, for 6+yards! The metal tray has feet on the bottom that swing out so it'll go over a lap, and I plan to make the above magnetic weather station using it (another quarter).

Finally, I need some suggestions for the fabric! It is kind of a canvas or duck cloth, with a tan/khaki background and orange-ish flowers. I'm almost positive it's vintage! I have just under two yards, and I think it's 44" wide. What should I make? I want to make something that I'll actually use, and the only things I came up with were a jacket (probably too difficult for my skill level) or a bag, and since I just bought my enormous mom purse that I love, I don't really need one of those. Although maybe I could make a couple of reusable shopping bags and replace and/or augment the mishmash ones I currently have. Any suggestions are welcome, though!

Hopefully I'll get a Reading The Whole Internet post up this weekend. I have a lot to share!

Daybook for March 31, 2010

[Edit - while writing this, I heard a big thump from Goose's room where she was having "quiet time" and, well, she has gotten her first skinned knee and her first goose egg on her head in the same week! Ouch!]

Outside my window... Breezy again, but the sun is shining and it's in the 70s! I think it would be hot if not for the wind...

I am thinking... that I don't know where March went.

I am thankful for... forgiveness, and the ability to start anew.

From the learning rooms... Goose is working on a lesson in physics, that helium balloons don't stay up forever. I was able to cut off a bunch of heavy ribbon and "dead" balloons so that some are still floating, but the inevitable isn't going to be pretty, I don't think.

From the kitchen... I'm planning to make this Mushroom Soup from The Pioneer Woman's Tasty Kitchen site. My mom and I made it once and it was yummy. I also plan to make Katie's Hearty Lentil Stew for Good Friday. Other than that, lots of leftovers as I try to keep from wasting food - lasagna and meatloaf to name two.

I am wearing... a blue striped long-sleeved shirt and denim capri pants. And Crocs. I was probably about the last person to jump on the Crocs bandwagon but they are SO comfortable and I love being able to slip them off and on easily.

I am creating... a new "church bag" for Goose, similar to her Halloween treat sack that she's been using for her church bag. (I pack a handful of things in her church bag to help keep her quiet during church and moreso during Bible study.) This one has Care Bear appliques that I scavenged from a bargin bin piece that was the top for a jumper.

I am pondering... a chapter in Matthew Kelly's book "Rediscovering Catholicism" on fasting. Willpower has never been my strongest virtue, but this book puts things in a way unlike anything I've ever come across before.

I am reading... the same things as last week. And added to the pile: Midwives by Chris Bohjalian, The Revolution Will Not Be Microwaved by Sandor Ellix Katz (that might go for a giveaway here!), and Household Ecology by Julia Percivall and Pixie Burger, which is from 1971 but I'm looking forward to flipping through. (It might also go as a giveaway.)

I am hoping... for another early bedtime for Goose tonight. She's tired.

I am hearing... windchimes from the front porch. I love how they sound.

Around the house... it's amazing what 20 minutes can do. Too bad I have about six rounds of 20 minutes that I need to do!

One of my favorite things... spring flowers. They will be blooming before we know it.

A few plans for the rest of the week... Holy Thursday and Good Friday services. I have little else besides that planned. Easter dinner will be at my in-laws.

A picture thought I am sharing... Goose enjoying her new paints.

Daybook for March 23, 2010

Outside my window... Breezy today, and kind of cloudy. We didn't get outside, but Sunday was such a delightful day, and I think there's more in store for the rest of the week.

I am thinking... about our parish's 125th anniversary celebration this fall. The committee met this morning, and things are coming together reasonably well.

I am thankful for... Easter. I don't think I've ever looked forward to it as much as I have this year.

From the learning rooms... a bit of gardening. Goose sort of helped me with starting seeds on Sunday. Then she quickly lost interest. :>)

From the kitchen... Everybody else cleared out their freezer in January and February, I'm just now getting around to thinking about it. There's lots of stuff in there that I don't even realize is there, and I hate wasting food!

I am wearing... tan lightweight sweater and red pants. I had forgotten I even had this sweater until this weekend. Should've been wearing them all winter long!

I am creating... Bibs. And I'm really pleased at how they are turning out!

I am pondering... How I try so hard to control things. Especially Goose's sleep. And it just isn't really in my control at all. Plus, God's in charge, who am I to try and buck that?

I am reading... the same things as last week. And added to the pile: The Makers Diet.

I am hoping... for an early bedtime for Goose tonight.

I am hearing... a fit. The third of the afternoon. See above. (Update: She's doing the head bob in her high chair, which is a rare occurrence. Here's hoping.)

Around the house... I need to get busy. Stuff has snuck up on me.

One of my favorite things... footie PJs.

A few plans for the rest of the week... One of these Wendesdays, I need to renew my drivers' licence, Stations of the Cross on Thursday (I think the last one?), and this weekend is the first of kids' consignment sales in the area. Not sure if I'll make this one or wait for the next one. Hubs might be gone, and taking Goose is not my idea of a good time - it's pretty crowded. Our parish's penance service is on Sunday.

A picture thought I am sharing... I hope to put together a whole post on Goose's birthday, but here's one to start.

Daybook for March 16, 2010

Outside my window... It's SPRING! The grass is greening up, most of the snow is melted. It wasn't all that warm today, but it'll get there and at least the sun was shining.

I am thinking... that we are officially in "nap purgatory." Goose has taken 3 naps in the last 5 days, but last night, it was about 10:15 when she finally gave up and went to sleep. But if she doesn't get a nap, she's cranky. This too shall pass...

I am thankful for... my Goose, who turns three tomorrow! My parents and hubs's parents are coming for supper.

From the learning rooms... nothing new. :>)

From the kitchen... more cheeseburger meatloaf, and this chocolate cake though I'm leaving the cocoa powder out of the frosting so it will look like clouds. There will be Care Bears involved, and a rainbow made out of skittles. Oh, and probably some homemade donuts.

I am wearing... among other things, my Miraculous Medal. I got it last year for my birthday, I think, and I love it. Though I think I need a new chain for it.

I am creating... see above Care Bear cake.

I am pondering... all the blessings in my life.

I am reading... the same things as last week. And added to the pile: He Leadeth Me.

I am hoping... that a college acquaintance missing from Omaha is found soon. And reminded to ponder my blessings again - she is one of those people who seemed to have everything. Please say a quick prayer for Jennifer and her family.

I am hearing... splashing. Goose is in the tub and just about to get PJs on.

Around the house... it's cleaner and neater than it has been for a while! The decluttering is helping, and I look forward to getting some more stuff out this week. Hurricane Goose went through earlier, but we picked up before her bath and it's better.

One of my favorite things... a kitty sleeping in a sunbeam.

A few plans for the rest of the week... chiropractor appointment tomorrow morning, make the cake, Goose's party, Stations of the Cross on Thursday and Altar Society afterwards, and I think that's it.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing... well, not yet. I'll try to get a good one tomorrow of the birthday girl to post.

You can read LOTS more Daybook posts here.

Daybook for March 7, 2010

Outside my window... It's dark, but we've had warmer weather recently, including some rain and a thunderstorm! The snow is melting!

I am thinking... that I don't know how to help Goose get enough sleep. Even with an early bedtime, it doesn't seem to be enough.

I am thankful for... my new craft area. I still have a ways to go to finish it, but it's come together nicely. And also a special blog friend that sent something for Goose. I will come up with a way to repay you! I was very moved by your thoughtfulness and Goose is going to love it. But that was a given. :>)

From the learning rooms... I've been thinking it's time to dig out my 1968 copy of Teaching Montessori in the Home: Pre-School Years and start implementing.

From the kitchen... I made this cheesburger meatloaf recipe from Money Saving Mom and it was probably the best meatloaf I've ever made, and close to the best meatloaf I've ever eaten! (and that's saying a lot!) Even Goose liked it! Instead of chili or BBQ sauce, I made my own. For two pans (I doubled the recipe), I used about a cup and a half of ketchup, around 2 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce, a teaspoon of liquid smoke, and a teaspoon of garlic powder. Approximately - I didn't measure. I also baked potatoes, which I haven't done in a really long time.

I am wearing... stretchy pants again (I really need to go pants shopping, in my defense!) and I improved upon last week's haircut by coloring my grey spot. My mom and her older sister both started going grey in the same place, so I should have known my destiny. Theirs didn't show up until 40+, though, and mine started when I turned 30. I blame Hubs. :>)

I am creating... an enlarged plat map of half of our county. It sounds really dull, I know, but it'll be really helpful. We love to go visit Papa in the tractor and this will help us find him more easily. He can tell me that he's at the Hawe place, and I can find it on my new map (since he doesn't know which roads it's on, he just knows the way there. And can't articulate it.)

I am pondering... how quickly little ones grow. I've read that motherhood is short years made up of very long days and am discovering how true that is. Goose loves to point out her bumbo seat in the storage room and declare that it's for "a little tiny goose!" And my heart constricts a little every time.

I am reading... the same things as last week. I need to make more time for reading paper books, less on the screen.

I am hoping... for a special intention. And blessed with the grace to know that God is in charge.

I am hearing... not much. Goose went to bed early, and wasn't very happy about it but seems to have settled down. Hubs is downstairs. Cats are sleeping, saving up energy for later, I'm sure.

Around the house... I need to pick up. I've been trying to make it part of Goose's bedtime routine so she helps, but nights like tonight I'd rather she get to bed.

One of my favorite things... eating a bowl of popcorn and watching Dog the Bounty Hunter. Hubs got me hooked several months ago and now I actually look forward to it!

A few plans for the rest of the week... perhaps a trip to the "city" to try and get a bucket to store my wheat. One of Hubs's friends brought me a BUNCH, though it's not as clean as I'd like. I'd really like to start using the grain mill I got for Christmas already! Bible study tomorrow, though it'll be cutting it close to Goose's bedtime if she doesn't nap (sigh), and Stations of the Cross on Thursday. Goose's birthday is next week (St. Patrick's Day) and I need to get to planning for it.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing... Goose is gearing up for her birthday! I bought these shamrock dealie-boppers at a garage sale this summer. If you look closely (you can click on it to make it bigger, Mom), Goose has an "ouchie" on her cheek - she tripped at Mass this morning and as I tried to catch her, I scratched her! My nails aren't even that long! Bless her heart, she didn't cry but I held her very tightly for quite a while. Thankfully we'd brought her nappies to church and they make everything better.

You can read LOTS more Daybook posts here.

Daybook for Feb 28, 2010

I've been admiring other bloggers' Daybook posts, and have wanted to write my own for a while. I think there's no time like the present! So, without further ado...

FOR TODAY
Outside my window... The sun is shining. MELT, MELT, MELT! We don't have as much snow as our neighbors up north, but there's still plenty around. And this is the first year that the reality of MUD season on the farm is starting to sink in. Yikes. [edit: by the time I finished this post, the sun was gone. Sigh.]

I am thinking... That I really need to step up my housekeeping, and I'm struggling to find a balance between finding a routine and being flexible enough to do the things I need to do.

I am thankful for... A little one that loves going to church. She could make Sunday mornings pretty miserable, but as it is, they are a joy. I owe a lot of it to "church shoes" (not to mention God's grace) and that's a post I'd like to get written one of these days.

From the learning rooms... More thinking, not enough doing. I need to start pulling together the things I want to do and DO THEM (referencing my resolutions to DO IT, though I think it may interfere with my resolution to go to bed on time. Must! plan! time! better!)

From the kitchen... We had eggs for brunch today, I need to introduce you to our chickens sometime! Perhaps once the snow melts and the mud dries up. I have fallen out of the habit of at least planning a handful of upcoming meals, and it's starting to pinch me! Regular meal planning hasn't worked very smoothly for me, because I never know just how long the leftovers will last, and I usually estimate on the side of having too much food. Which leads to waste, which frustrates me, and then I respond by not planning meals for a while. Vicious cycle. I have at least been meaning to soak beans and make a big batch in the crockpot - I use the method from A Year of Slow Cooking.

I am wearing... Stretchy pants, unfortunately. I need to do a lot of work in this area. I'm also sporting the shortest haircut I've had in 20 years! My mom cuts my hair, and last weekend, she lopped off enough that it's just below shoulder length right now. I like it pretty well, most of the time. I haven't tried to put it in a bun yet, but I haven't really needed to since a pony tail keeps it pretty well out of the way.

I am creating... Baby gifts for a cousin's shower next weekend. I'll try to put together a post of them later - I am so pleased with how the crinkly taggie toy turned out. I also made a little something for our nephew's upcoming first birthday and need to get it in the mail since it has a long journey. I may need to wait to post a pic because his mama reads this, and I want her to be surprised... enough that I didn't even request measurements, so I hope it fits!

I am pondering... The St. Ephrem prayer Elizabeth Foss posted on her daybook. This is one to tape to the mirror...

O Lord and Master of my life! Take from me the spirit of sloth, faint-heartedness, lust of power, and idle talk. But give rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience, and love to Thy servant. Yea, O Lord and King! Grant me to see my own errors and not to judge my brother; For Thou art blessed unto ages of ages. Amen.

I am reading... Too many things to pay enough attention to any one of them. The pile includes Guiding Your Catholic Preschooler by Kathy Pierce and Rediscovering Catholicism: Journeying Toward Our Spiritual North Star by Matthew Kelly. Waiting in the wings are Bless Me, Father, For I Have Kids and Please Don't Drink the Holy Water!, both by Susie Lloyd. (Why yes, I did get a pile of books off eBay just for Lent!) (And those are affiliate links, but I don't really expect anybody to buy them. I keep a wish list on Amazon mostly to remind me of what I want to read someday.)

I am hoping... To see more glimpses of spring soon. We had a very foggy winter which folklore says is a predecessor to a wet spring. I just need some sunshine!

I am thankful for... A surprise of two small books for Goose in the books I got off eBay. They didn't cost the sender much *at all* (they're only 15 cents or so each) but they meant a LOT to us.

I am hearing... Hubs watching a movie, Goose chattering instead of taking a nap.

Around the house... Decluttering! I have plenty more to clean out, though.

One of my favorite things... Goose and her papa. Hubs has been working long days building an airplane at a shop that is over an hour from here, and he even stayed overnight for a few days' stretch. Even when he comes home at night, Goose still wants to "go see-see him" - she's daddy's girl for sure.

A few plans for the rest of the week... proofreading tomorrow at the newspaper, Bible study tomorrow night, and whether or not I go to our Village board meeting is directly related to whether or not Goose takes a nap tomorrow. Stations of the Cross on Thursday.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing... It's stuff like this that gets me through the day. It's a stuffed grey kitty, that herself is stuffed on the back of Goose's bike. Also along for the ride is a small crucifix we got as a freebie in the mail, and a keychain of Snoopy flying a plane. (Just like Papa, according to Goose.) You can't see in the pic, but there are more things stuffed into the basket on her handlebars. She was busy!

You can read LOTS more Daybook posts here.