The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY December 15, 2008

Outside my window...it is snowing really hard. That means sidewalks to shovel!

I am thinking...I can't believe it is already 3:00pm. Where has the day gone?

I am thankful for...a warm house. It looks so frosty out.

From the kitchen...I smell Cody cooking eggs. He just got home from school.

I am wearing...pajamas, as always.

I am creating...Christmas cards. I'd just like that task gone!

I am going...to the post office and store.

I am reading...absolutely nothing! No time.

I am hoping...Mr. White is able to finish the water lines tonight.

I am hearing...Curious George.

Around the house...so much is going on and it is a big mess!

One of my favorite things...watching movies with my husband.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Finish my sewing!

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

This does not look like this anymore! I got all that cleaned up and the floor mopped last night. The tree is decorated, and now I am off to do some more.

The Simple Woman's Daybook

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FOR TODAY

December 8, 2008

Outside my window...Everything is covered in several inches of new fallen snow. It really is a beautiful winter wonderland, but my thermometer says it is -2 so I'm staying inside! According to the Internet weather the Fairbanks Airport reports -23 and Ft. Wainwright (5 miles away) reports -4. When I call time/temp they tell me it is -10. I'm going with time/temp since I'm usually 10 degrees warmer than town (I'm in the hills).

I am thinking...I have spent my entire morning on the computer and I really have so much to do!

I am thankful for...my children. Even though they give me a run-for-my-money on occasion, I can't imagine how boring my life would be without them.

From the learning rooms...Olivia will practice writing her ABC's and Lucas has learned to say "thank-you" without being prompted!

From the kitchen...absolutely nothing! I should bake some pumpkin bread or brownies for an after school treat.

I am wearing...pajamas. There really isn't anything else, is there?

I am creating...sewing aprons.

I am going...finishing my sewing today so it isn't hanging over my head anymore! Then it's back down to paint the kitchen floor.

I am reading...my favorite blogs to catch up from the weekend.

I am hoping...for warm weather over Christmas vacation so the boys can do a lot of snowboarding and snow machining. Normally, it is one of our coldest times of the year (-30 or more) so I'm hoping this year is different!

I am hearing...the Wee People playing Pet Shop on Elijah's computer.

Around the house...it is not as festive as it should be, but we are so busy with remodelling the decorating has been tossed aside.

One of my favorite things...Mr. White's laughter. When he smiles and laughs it melts my heart.

A few plans for the rest of the week... Send out Christmas cards. If I can accomplish that I will be doing good. Of course, I'd also like to get the new kitchen finished and the ceiling done in the living room, but Mr. White is going out-of-town for work Tuesday so progress will stop until he returns ???

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

I suppose apple trees do not grow naturally in Alaska for a reason! The leaves never fell off and now the snow has bent them over. I will have to bundle up and help them out by plucking leaves. Something tells me I'll be digging up all my new trees and replacing them with a sturdy spruce!

Apparently, I have not been to the wild bird feeder in awhile. Look at all the snow on it!

A little after noon and I can see the sun on the horizon. It doesn't get quite high enough to actually shine on my home.

But you can see it shining on the hills in the distance.

*side note...it may only be -2, but the windchill has got to be -10 or more. It was quite chilly running out to get these photos!

The Simple Woman's Daybook

Each Monday Peggy brings us The Simple Woman's Daybook, a reflection on your thoughts for the coming week. Click on the above photo to join in!

FOR TODAY December 1, 2008

Outside my window...the sun is not quite up (sunrise will be 10:21am) so it is very gray. Everything is covered with a light, fresh snow that fell last night. It is around zero degrees, and looks so cold.

I am thinking...that my feet are freezing and I should turn up the heat (or at least put on a sweater...if I had one!).

I am thankful for...how much progress was made on the living room/kitchen downstairs this past weekend. It will be so wonderful to add that much room to our home.

From the learning rooms...yesterday Olivia amazed me with the letters she can recognize that she learned on her own. It is a reminder that I need to spend more time teaching her and less time cleaning/working on the house!

From the kitchen...there is nothing but a pile of dirty dishes. And I'm hungry. Guess I'll have to wander that way soon.

I am wearing...red-hearted pajama pants, a gray t-shirt and yellow fuzzy socks (that don't seem to be doing the trick!).

I am creating...a new kitchen, a new living room, websites and Christmas presents. I need to have more hours in my day!

I am going...to see if I can make this a really productive day.

I am reading...my Sunday paper (if I find the time).

I am hoping...my husband has a safe flight today and returns safely home tonight. I am also hoping our friend Chad recovers fully, quickly and with ease from his recent heart surgery.

I am hearing...the fish tank that desperately needs water, the washer that just finished spinning and the hum of the computer monitor (that never used to make noise?!).

Around the house...I hope to catch up on laundry today and do more painting downstairs.

One of my favorite things...is getting Christmas letters in the mail from people I rarely hear from. It gives me a chance to catch up on their lives.

A few plans for the rest of the week: I need to make another Wrestling Program for the Regional Tournament we are hosting this Saturday. I will finish painting the living room walls with sealer so we can Sheetrock the ceiling. I will help Mr. White finish putting together the kitchen minus a new stove because it has to be ordered. Somewhere in there I'd like to get my Christmas cards out and maybe do a little present shopping!

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

Progress is being made, and soon I will show you all the steps of our big project!

The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY

October 17, 2008

*I started this at 5:30pm*

Outside my window...it is pitch black and 15 above. The sun set at 3:37. Too soon.

I am thinking...how busy I have been and that I've way missed blogging entirely too much this past week. I wonder what Lori and Tink and the Snowbirds and Tootie and Chris & Jon and ....and...and...all of YOU have been up to!!

I am thankful for...the progress we are making downstairs. It actually looks different! I promise to post photos when I'm not so embarrassed!

From the kitchen...I smell sauteed onions and mushroom, grilled steak and fries.

My husband is so wonderful to come home after working all day and cook.

He knows how much I don't like to cook.

I am wearing...pajama pants and t-shirt. Isn't that how it always is?

*now it is 11:30pm*

I am creating...so many things I am overwhelmed! I do this website for my sons' high school, I take photos for this website and this one, too. Well, I also help with the main page and about page of this site, and I helped a friend put a photo on this site the other day. I am working for this very cool Alaskan craft page, but have fallen behind and it weighs heavy on my shoulders. I also want to start another page for wrestling. The website stuff pales in comparison to the scrapbook pages I am and want to create. I am also "creating" a home, but finishing our remodeling seems impossible (it has become a daunting task!). Oh, ya...and I am creating a program for a 13 school, 170 wrestler...wrestling match our school is hosting this weekend. And I need some parents to sign up to work the gate (that I am in charge of!).

Wanna come and help?

I am going...to bed. I started this at 5:30pm and it is now 11:30pm.

Where did I lose six hours?!

I am reading...the newspaper. No time for anything else (and barely time for that!).

I am hoping...we are moved downstairs by Christmas, but that is very unrealistic considering the number of children we have and the things we do and the hours my husband works.

But we will try.

I am hearing...well, when I started this I was hearing the sound of my babies racing through the house and my 9-year old daughter chasing them. Now I am hearing my husband and older son watching Speed Racer (Yes, Nick should be in bed).

Around the house...it is train-wreck and I have a lot to do, but I did do seven loads of laundry today! :) Tomorrow, I am supposed to buy new cellphones...and I should clean...and I should get ready to paint downstairs, but.....

One of my favorite things...is accomplishing a task I set out to do. It is nice to mark something off the list (although four things are added in the process!).

A few plans for the rest of the week... Hopefully, I'll pick up the cellphones and sign new contracts, complete the wrestling program, photograph two hockey games (possibly more -up to five- if I can squeeze them into the wrestling weekend), attempt to watch Elijah play in a basketball tournament Fri-Sun while working at/watching Cody's wrestling meet Fri-Sat, fit Emily and the babies into my life and entertain Nick. Oh...and don't I have a few animals, too! :)

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

I actually stopped all the millions of things I am doing for two minutes this week and stalked the moon just for Tink! I hope things slow down soon and I can do some more moon stalking! :

Have a great week everyone. I'll visit when I can.

The Simple Woman's Daybook

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For today...

Outside my window...the air is calm and crisp, the trees are exceptionally frosty in the cold air. The wind has swept the snow smooth waiting for little footprints.

I am thinking...when we bought our home we made the livingroom a bedroom, the dining room the livingroom and I haven't had a kitchen table since. After so many years I find it increasing difficult to be patient, and our make-shift camping style of living has become beyond annoying. I am frustrated. I have so much to be thankful for. I'm thinking I sound like a spoiled child. I don't like the way I sound. But I can't help it.

From the learning rooms...Olivia is playing Clifford on the computer.

I am thankful for...the time Emily and I had together at the fabric store yesterday.

From the kitchen...soup and fruit for lunch. Baking pumpkin bread for after school snack.

I am wearing...my new pajamas. I'm a wear-pajamas-all-day kind of gal.

I am reading...old scrapbook magazines for ideas.

I am hoping...the boiler downstairs is running soon and we can have some real progress on the house.

I am creating...a Halloween costume for Emily. I couldn't think of a better way to send myself into panic mode than starting a costume this morning for Wednesday's party. What am I thinking?!

I am hearing...the Wee People in my bedroom closet where they most definitely should not be.

Around the house...there is a constant state of chaos. Without enough bedrooms or storage or a kitchen table it just never seems to be clean.

One of my favorite things...is my morning hugs from Lucas. I wish I had one of those right now to make me feel better about cutting out fabric on my hands and knees on the livingroom floor as he threatens to dump his soup on it. I'd like to scream "time out" and have that hug, but he likes to save them for mornings. I've had mine for the day.

A few plans for the rest of the week...wrestling meets Tuesday, Friday and Saturday. School conferences Friday. Avoiding the outdoors as much as possible....I'm not fond of the cold.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

I am so proud of Elijah and the rest of his Randy Smith 7th Grade basketball team this season. They went undefeated and won the Conference Championship. It's been on my mind because I didn't blog about it, and felt like I was cheating him of his glory! :) That's two championships in the month of October...football then basketball. Woohoo!

The Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today...

Outside my window...the snow is softly falling. It started sometime Saturday night and hasn't stopped. I can see I'll need to shovel the walk several times today. I also see that the bird feeder is collecting snow, and I'll need to clean that out.

I am thinking...of what projects I need to tackle next in my quest to clear the clutter from our home. I took two boxes of garbage, one box of clothes and two boxes of "stuff" out of the garage last night. Today, I think that I will finish emptying out the second bathroom that turned into storage when the remodeling project didn't get finished. Maybe if I empty it Mr. White will install the new toilet and tub. Two bathrooms for eight people would be a relief!

From the learning rooms...I am going to work with Olivia on learning to write her letters. She is a more-than-willing learner, I just need to take the time.

I am thankful for...the good health we've been having. I've heard of so many with the flu and nasty colds. We've been lucky so far!

From the kitchen...there is a mound of dishes that need washed.

I am wearing...black sweats, a t-shirt and Mr. White's wool socks.

I am reading...my Burpee Gardening catalog dreaming of next summer's gardens.

I am hoping...we are moved downstairs before Elijah's birthday (Dec. 28). He would be able to invite a lot more of his friends if we had the room.

I am creating...some scrapbook pages and Christmas presents.

I am hearing...Olivia watching Super Y. She's learning and saying her letter sounds. I'm also hearing Lucas complaining because he wants to watch Cars instead.

Around the house...things are more picked up than they ususally are. Yesterday's two hour power outage gave the children time to pick up their things!

One of my favorite things...is to read the comments on my blog. It's interesting to see where the visitors come from.

A few plans for the rest of the week...more sports as usual. Cody leaves for a wrestling match in Anchorage, Elijah has his last two basketball games and Nick will have another soccer game. I also hope to put together Halloween costumes before they are all gone. (Buying them this year...I just have too many other projects to work on. I don't need to take on another sewing project).

Here's a picture thought I am sharing with you...

The Wee People bring so much joy into my life each day. The smiles and hugs melt any troubles away. They are great medicine for the heart.

The Simple Woman's Daybook

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For Today...

Outside my window...the sun is shining, but the temperature is only in the 20's. There is scattered snow patches in my yard although our first snow melted in town. I do not get enough winter sun.

I am thinking...I should drag the garden hose in and thaw it, but it's so long and so much work and so cold out. It's so toasty in the house. I am also thinking I hope the pumping and thawing guy gets here soon. The sewer is backing up and we can't use it.

I am thankful for...a wonderful husband who accepts me with all my quirks and sudden mood changes. I'm not easy to live with, but he does it with a lot of love.

From the kitchen...not a clean dish to be seen. I can't run the water until the sewer is fixed. Saltine crackers and salsa for lunch for me!

I am wearing...the pajama bottoms I wore all day yesterday while working in the yard (I can't shower yet so no sense in putting on clean clothes), a too small t-shirt that is not flattering and my husband's wool socks.

I am reading...my Sunday paper. Again, it seems to be the only reading I get to these days.

I am hoping for...warmer weather so we can finish our outside chores before the real cold and snow settle in to our corner of the world.

I am creating...a dvd for Elijah's football team of all the photos I took this season. I have some really great shots and want to share them with all the parents.

I am hearing...Lucas playing with his cars, Olivia on the computer playing Magic School Bus: Bugs and the phone...oh, my dear Mr. White is bringing me lunch. Yea! No more crackers and salsa. :)

Around the house...there are a multitude of chores to be done, and I am taking the day off.

One of my favorite things...is when Olivia says "Mommy, I love you" for no apparent reason. (Like she just did).

A few plans for the rest of the week...finish the dvd for football, wash football gear to return, clean out the van I was supposed to clean out last week and start working on Christmas presents.

Here's a picture thought I'm sharing with you...

I am so proud of this boy! My quarterback/defensive lineman put in the extra effort and worked so hard to make several touchdowns, defensive tackles and help lead his team to a 39-33 victory in the championship!

The Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today....

Outside my window...the sun is trying to peek through the clouds, most of leaves have fallen, it is 29 degrees and the ducks are playing in the pool

I am thinking...I should be cleaning out garden beds instead of blogging.

I am thankful for...another snow-free day. I have so much more to do before winter. It's like the grasshopper and ant story, and let's just say...I'm not the ant all cozy and warm!

From the kitchen...one soggy bowl of cereal left uneaten because the bus arrived.

I am wearing...blue sweats and a Seahawks sweatshirt I have had for nine years (it really needs to go away!)

I am reading...my Sunday paper which is about all the reading I can muster these days (besides blogs!).

I am hoping...I snap out of this funk I am in. Not sure what the cause is, but I am struggling to see the joy in my life even though I know it is all around me.

I am creating...less clutter in my home. I am a pack rat by nature, and I think clearing out years worth of "stuff" will help clear up my funk.

I am hearing...the clickety-clack of the keyboard in my blissful silence.

Around the house...the puppies are still snuggled in warm, but should wake soon to go outside.

One of my favorite things...those few moments of silence after the last bus leaves and before the babies wake up.

A few plans for the rest of the week...build new garden beds and move a pile of dirt before it freezes. I also need to empty the pool and clean it, empty the garden beds and rototill, and pick up various things around the yard.

Here is a picture thought(s) I am sharing with you...

I loved sitting by the fire with some of the kids last night. (Yes, it was cold and yes the babies went in after the photo).

I could stare into the fire for hours.

I am wondering how I could take 60 photos of the fire!

I saved you a chair!

The Simple Woman's Daybook

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FOR TODAY August 25, 2008

(written this morning...posted this afternoon)

Outside My Window...the chickadees are quickly getting seeds

from the feeder in anticipation of colder times.

I am thinking...about the flowers I am going to pick today to press.

I'm waiting for the sun to dry the petals.

I am thankful for...the warmer weather. The rain was becoming so depressing.

From the kitchen...I need to bake some snacks for after school.

I am wearing...blue sweatpants and an Old Navy t-shirt with a burn hole.

Both desperately need retired to the rag box.

I am creating...a Prayer Shawl for a friend battling cancer.

I knit slower than I had hoped I did.

I am going...take the Wee People outside for some fresh air.

I am reading...Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility.

Actually, I haven't started it yet, but I did buy it.

It's a really nice leather book with seven of her novels.

I am hoping...the sun shines brightly all day.

It's been so many weeks of rain. I desperately need some clear skies

before we go into the long, dark winter.

I am hearing...silence. The older children are off to school and the little ones are sleeping.

Around the house...I have many chores such as laundry and dishes,

but I don't want to do any of them.

One of my favorite things...is sitting by the fire pit in the evenings

watching the kids play in the yard.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: I need to finish cleaning the bottom of the pool. Lots of sand has blown in. I also hope to finish some scrapbook pages.

With every football game I fall that much more behind.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...