The Simple Woman's Daybook - August 22nd Edition

The Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today... Monday, August 22nd

Outside my window... thunder, rain, and then finally a bit of sunshine. 

I am thinking... how badly I need to get back to exercising and eating right.

I am thankful... I have my car back from being repaired.  I had taken it in to get new front tires and one of the workers apparently didn't have it on the jacks properly and it fell, severely damaging the door and frame of the driver's side.  Thankfully the employee wasn't in the way!

I am wearing... denim shorts and a lime green shirt with green and black polka dots.

I am creating... "catio" for a cat that was dumped on our property about a month ago.  I still haven't been able to make it a reality yet.  

I am wondering... how long it will be until the lovely days of Autumn appear.

I am reading... The Creed: Professing the Faith Through the Ages by Scott Hahn.

I am hoping... all this rain stops soon, especially for those in the areas affected by all the flooding.  

I am learning... to try and find the joy in each day.

On our property...

In my kitchen... soft tacos and black refried beans.

In the homeschool room... 16 year old son still working away on his high school subjects.  His favourites are History, Logic, and Religion.  He is attending a Bible Study, one night a week, and an Apologetics class one night a month.  He also goes to Eucharistic Adoration for an hour each week with other students in our Catholic homeschool group.  He is now also trained as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, in addition to being an Altar Server and Usher.  He is also involved with the Columbian Squires at our parish.

A favorite quote for today... Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything that is beautiful, for beauty is God's handwriting - a wayside sacrament.  Welcome it in every fair face, in every fair sky, in every fair flower , and thank God for it as a cup of blessing.  ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

A peek into one of my days... Today was an odd day.  It's my son's first day of his Junior year of high school.  He is feeling quite melancholy.  One of his dearest and closest friends has gone off to university this year.  I knew he was sad about it (though happy for his friend), but I had no idea how much it was affecting him.  Please pray for him.

One of my favorite things... being able to sit here and look out my window and watch the birds and animals, and see all the glory of each season.

Postscript...

Poetictouch
Now Nature hangs her mantle green
On every blooming tree,
And spreads her sheets o' daisies white
Out o'er the grassy lea.

~ Robert Burns

The Simple Woman's Daybook - August 1st Edition

The Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today... Monday, August 1st

Outside my window... the sun beats down with an unmerciful heat 

I am thinking... how little summer is left, but how horrible hot it still is.

I am thankful... that I am being blessed with another grandchild, due March 2017.

I am wearing... denim shorts and a teal, short-sleeved knit shirt.

I am creating... "catio" for a cat that was dumped on our property about a month ago.  

I am wondering... how long it will be for my car to be repaired at the body shop.  It was not placed on the lift or jack correctly, as my front tires were being replaced, causing quite a bit of damage to the bottom of my driver's side door and undercarriage.

I am reading... See You in Heaven: A Short Biography and Writings of Rosie Gil, and Mother Angelica Her Grand Silence: The Last Years and Living Legacy.

I am hoping... Still hoping I can get back on track with my exercising and low carb, low sugar way of eating.  

I am learning... to try and find the joy in each day.

On our property...

In my kitchen... thin sliced all natural chicken breasts, pan fried in coconut oil and seasoned with Penzey's Fajita Seasoning.

In the homeschool room... 16 year old son still working away on his high school subjects.  His favourites are History, Logic, and Religion.  He is attending a Bible Study, one night a week, and an Apologetics class one night a month.  He also goes to Eucharistic Adoration for an hour each week with other students in our Catholic homeschool group.  He is now also trained as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, in addition to being an Altar Server and Usher.  He is also involved with the Columbian Squires at our parish.

A favorite quote for today... Criticism of others is thus an oblique form of self-commendation.  We think we make the picture hang straight on our wall by telling our neighbors that all his pictures are crooked. ~Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, Seven Words of Jesus and Mary: Lessons from Cana and Calvary

A peek into one of my days... this past weekend my son participated in the Archdiocesan Youth Conference (AYC), and came away from it saying it was so amazing and that he felt so blessed to have been able to go.  Since we had to go downtown to pick him up from the conference, we attended Mass at Holy Rosary, which was beautiful as always.  Fr. Chris' Homily was very good.  I enjoy it anytime we can attend Mass there.

One of my favorite things... Seeing my daughter blossom as a wife and mother (expecting blessing #2 March 2017).

Postscript...

Poetictouch
To me how sweet the whispering winds,
The woods again how sweet,
To find the peace which freedom finds,
And from the world retreat.
~ John Clare

The Simple Woman's Daybook - April 25th Edition

The Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today... Monday, April 25th

Outside my window... an absolutely gorgeous, sunny day! 

I am thinking... how sad I still am after one of my beloved Basset Hounds died this week, very unexpectedly.

I am thankful... all the horrible thunderstorms and flooding seem to be over.  Our house was not flooded, but so many people I know had their homes or cars flooded or damaged.

I am wearing... denim capri pants and a red short-sleeved knit shirt.

I am creating... a quiet, comfortable place to read.  

I am wondering... if this week is going to be as busy as it looks on the calendar.

I am reading... Praying with Mother Angelica: Meditations on the Rosary, the Way of the Cross, and Other Prayers.  I'm also doing a book study of Walking with Purpose online with some other Catholic ladies on Facebook.

I am hoping... I can get back on track with my exercising and low carb, low sugar way of eating.  

I am learning... to try not to stress about everything.

On our property... 

In my kitchen... The Rueben Enchiladas tasted delicious, but the presentation was horrible.  It seems the recommended 5-7 minutes of boiling the cabbage leaves was a bit too long.  I was left with drastically over-cooked cabbage leaves that were just disintegrating as I tried to roll the meat mixture in them.  It's definitely worth doing again, but I'll just barely boil the leaves next time.

In the homeschool room... 16 year old son still working away on his high school subjects.  His favourites are History, Logic, and Religion.   He is also keeping up with his Boy Scout Merit Badges for his Eagle Scout Bronze Palm.  He is trying to attend another Bible Study, when his Scout meetings don't interfere.  He also goes to Eucharistic Adoration for an hour each week with other students in our Catholic homeschool group.  He is also involved with the Columbian Squires at our parish.

A favorite quote for today... Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.  ~Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta

A peek into one of my days... yesterday my hubby had a training session with his fellow Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion regarding a few changes that were made.  Our son had his last LifeTeen LifeNight for this school year.  It was a bittersweet time for him, as one of his best friends is graduating this year and going away to university.  Thankfully he'll only be 1 1/2 hours away, so he'll be home visiting fairly often. 

One of my favorite things... listening to the birds singing outside of my window.

From the board room...
Mother Angelica quote

Postscript...

Poetictouch

Talk what you please of future spring

And sun-warmed sweet tomorrow:

Stripped bare of hope and everything,

No more to laugh, no more to sing,

I sit alone with sorrow.

~ Christina Rossetti

     

The Simple Woman's Daybook - April 11th Edition

The Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today... Monday, Monday...

Outside my window... the day started out with a light rain, then the sun came out and it was beautiful, then the sky darkened, the light rain came back and it cooled-off quit a bit.  I also heard some beautiful birdsong, which I always love.  

I am thinking... that I hope my recipe for Reuben Enchildas turns out as good as they looked on the recipe page.  It's tough to pull cabbage leaves apart without them tearing.

I am thankful... that the book I ordered, Walking with Purpose, finally arrived.  It seems the post office wanted to hang-on to it for a while.  My husband joked that they were reading it first.

I am wearing... denim shorts and a teal blouse.

I am creating... a more organized computer area and work space.  

I am wondering... if I can make it through my 2-mile aerobic walking DVD this week.  I've been consistently doing the 1-mile DVD, and know I need to do more, but I'm not sure I can do it yet.

I am reading... I just started Praying with Mother Angelica: Meditations on the Rosary, the Way of the Cross, and Other Prayers.  Walking with Purpose just arrived, and I'm looking forward to starting the book study on that.  I'm excited that I finally found the Facebook group that was doing it, thanks to another mom's help.

I am hoping... my son-in-love's dental appointment goes well tomorrow.  Please pray for him.  He is having four fillings done, and has so much more work to be done at future appointments.  

I am learning... how to find ways to eat low carb/low sugar and not be hungry all the time.

In my garden... no true garden, but I'm enjoying seeing flowers blooming around our property.  

In my kitchen... I have corned beef cooking in the crockpot, and once that's done it'll be turned into Rueben Enchiladas.

In the homeschool room... 16 year old son still working away on his high school subjects.  His favourites are History, Logic, and Religion.   He is also keeping up with his Boy Scout Merit Badges for his Eagle Scout Bronze Palm.

A favorite quote for today... The loveliest masterpiece of the heart of God is the heart of a Mother.  ~St. Therese of Lisieux

A peek into one of my days... yesterday was a fairly quiet day.  We had a nice breakfast, went to Mass, then just relaxed. 

One of my favorite things... is listening to music.  I have very eclectic musical tastes.  You never know what you'll walk in and find me listening to.

From the board room...

Bates and Anna, Downton Abbey

Post Script

Poetictouch
O my lovely Mary Green
The richest flower o' May
On thy bonny face is seen
Which love winna take away.
~ John Clare

     

The Simple Woman's Daybook - April 4th Edition

The Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today... a slow day today, as my hubby had the day off.

Outside my window... an absolutely gorgeous, warm sunny day.

I am thinking... how glad I am that the sun is shining and the pollen seems to be easing up, after the gloomy wet and cool weather.

I am thankful... my family, my home, and my slow and steady success in becoming more healthy and fit.

I am wearing... denim shorts, a green polka-dot short-sleeved shirt, and barefoot.

I am creating... trying to create a nice place to read.  I lost my recliner a few years ago, and I've never been able to find a comfortable spot to read ever since.  

I am wondering... if I'll ever be able to get a good night's sleep again.  I am up and down many times during the night, when I finally can go to bed (try not to keep hubby up, so I wait until I'm really tired feeling).  Seems 50 was a huge hit to my sleep habits.

I am reading... looking forward to reading two books I've ordered:  Praying with Mother Angelica and Walking with Purpose.  I order Walking with Purpose for a Catholic book study, but now I can't which Facebook page was doing the study, so if any of you know, please let me know.

I am hoping... my hubby's root canal goes well Wednesday.  Please pray that it does.  We've had some problems with the dental work he's had over the last year holding-up.  

I am learning... how important healthy eating and staying fit can affect how you feel and how your health is.  I especially found out how quickly sodas can affect the body.  I still slip-up occasionally, but I'm light years ahead of where I was.

In my garden... haven't had a garden in several years, but would love to start one.

In my kitchen... I have two recipes, with all the ingredients, that I need to do this week:  Reuben Enchiladas and Zucchini Tots (not in the same meal).

In the homeschool room... 16 year old son working away on his high school subjects.  His favourites are History, Logic, and Religion.   He is also keeping up with his Boy Scout Merit Badges for his Eagle Scout Bronze Palm.

A favorite quote for today... Show me your hands. Do they have scars from giving?  Show me your feet.  Are they wounded in service?  Show me your heart.  Have you left a place for Divine Love?  ~Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen

A peek into one of my days... yesterday, it was the Feast of Divine Mercy.  I slept-in late, ate breakfast that hubby had prepared, then off to the Feast of Divine Mercy celebration at 3:00pm.  We went to LifeTeen Mass afterwards.  We needed a couple of things from the store that couldn't wait, so we drove out to a new HEB (Texas grocery store) and took our time going through it.  We finally returned home around 11pm. 

One of my favorite things... sitting at my desk with the window open, listening to all the sounds of Spring.  There are so many birds chirping, and you can occasionally hear our neighbors cows or donkey.

From the board room..

.

Post Script

Poetictouch
Deep in their roots, all flowers keep the light.
~ Theodore Roethke