The Simple Woman's Daybook - January 4, 2011

The Simple Woman's Daybook - January 4, 2011

Outside my window... cool and rainy.  We started out with sunshine, then it became overcast, but still had sun peeking through.  We have now been having thunder, lightning and rain, though the rain has pretty much slowed to a light drizzle now.

I am thinking...about how much we can get done around the house.  There are so many projects needing to be done, but so little time to do them, once school is done for the day.  Hubby works so many hours, it's hard (and we feel bad asking him when he's off) getting some of the harder things done around here.  My daughter and son are really good about getting in there and trying to get as many jobs as they can done, even if we think they can't do them.  It's a real help.

I am thankful for...my family and home.

From the learning rooms...shad a great day "back to school".  There was a bit of fussing at the start of their day, but then they got right to it..

From the kitchen...wonderfully tender cutlets, spanish rice, butter beans, and crescent rolls, all cooked by my daughter.  She does such a wonderful job.  I know we really needed greens in there, but we just finished a big ol' pot of greens, so I let that slide tonight.

I am wearing... denim stretch capri pants, purple short-sleeved knit shirt, and barefoot.

I am reading.. just magazines at the moment: mater et magistra, Faith and Family, and St. Mary's Messenger.  I promised my daughter I'd read Down the Rabbit Hole by Peter Abrahams.

I am hoping... to spend more time with my hubby and children, away from the computer, TV, Wii, etc.

I am hearing... my daughter's music and my son playing Star Wars on the Wii.  They worked really hard on their schoolwork today, so I'm giving them some time to unwind.

Around the house... LOTS of decluttering and organizing going on.  We are all just so tired of all the "stuff".  I think that has been the biggest blessing of my husband losing his job almost 3 years ago.  We have had very, very lean Christmases, as far as gifts go, and we've been so much better for it.  Our Christmas decorations will probably all come down on Friday, my husband's next day off.  I don't like to tackle all of that without him, if we don't have to, as he is a much better organizer of all that than I am.

One of my favorite things... having some more of Mrs. Meyer's Lavender All Purpose Cleaner in the house.  I had run out a while back, and just kept buying the cheap junk to replace it.  I really like how nice it smells, and that it isn't "too chemical".  I have the window cleaner and ironing spray (don't look for that, as they quit carrying it quite a while back).  I've found linen spray (can be used as ironing spray) by Caldrea, in a lavender scent, but it is much pricier, and their shipping is outrageous.  I have not tried to locate it here, but might do so when my bottle is getting low.

A few plans for the rest of the week...nothing exciting.  We'll just keep doing school, laundry, decluttering and organizing.  We'll be going to Mass on Sunday, of course.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

Yes, our children received BBs in their stockings.  LOL!  Our son got a Red Rider 75th Anniversary BB Gun for Christmas.  Our daughter got hers when she was 9, so we thought it was about time our son got his.  The sweatshirt my daughter is wearing was a gift from her brother. :)

Happy Second Day of Christmas

Many people think Christmas is over, once the morning of December 26th dawns, but there is oh, so much more!  Please visit the link below, reading the information there, then click on each of the numbers on the tree to the right, going in order from 1-12, and it will tell you all about each of the 12 days of Christmas.  It is a wonderful resource, and even gives activities at the bottom of each page, for each day of Christmas.  I sure hope you enjoy it! :)

Twelve Days of Christmas

Urgent Info for those Using Catholic Mothers Online

If you have a Catholic Moms Online button on your blog, especially if it's an older one with the blogroll you could scroll through, click on the link below and read the entire post regarding this.  It is very important!

Catholic Moms Online Important Button Information

Thanks so much for going and reading the post.  I had already altered my Java script to take out the scrolling blogroll, and it had corrected the problem; but after reading her blog post, I just decided to remove the old script altogether, and put one of the newly scripted buttons on my blog.  I'll be glad when everyone else does this, because there are a lot of blogs I haven't been able to read, due to Google giving me the Malware warning when I try to visit them.

Rock On, Mom - Small Successes, Vol. 85

Rock On, Mom

Small Successes vol. 85

1. We are having the start, finally, of wonderful fall-ish weather here.  It is definitely giving us all a boost of energy, which was needed quite badly.

2. School is going great.  The kids seem to really be enthusiastic, and are really getting into all the details of their subjects.  I am loving Seton so much for this, as I feel it is due to their wonderful curriculum that we have had this change for the better.  They weren't doing badly before, but there was no real enthusiasm.

3. Lots getting done around the house these days, with the cooler weather.  It's slow going, since we have so much school to do, and hubby works such long hours, but it is progress, none-the-less.  The kids did a fantastic job tackling some big messes today, and I was working on taming the great laundry monster.  

Michaelmas, The Archangels Feast Day

Michaelmas

The Archangels Feast Day, September 29th

Saint Michael, Saint Gabriel, and Saint Raphael

Michaelmas

Chance to win $5200 in free groceries...

Click on the link below, and fill out the form, to win a chance at free groceries. 

It Pays to Eat Pasta

Went to visit my dad (and mom)...

and we're back.  Dad is recovering well, but has a long way to go.  He is still having lots of pain, and tires very easily.  

I am so glad we were finally able to get over there and see them.  I know it seemed to sure make dad's day to see us, and visit with us.  

Please keep dad, and mom, in your prayers.  As I said, the recovery is a long one.  Thanks so much!

~Kathy

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"GIVEAWAY ($115 Value!): Do you want to teach YOUR kids the TRUTH about Real Food? Spread the word about this new e-course from Food Renegade!"

Update #2 on my dad (Friday, 7:14pm CST)

I just heard from my sister. His BP was LOW, not high, and his temp was LOW, not high. He was losing a LOT of blood, but they went in and got that stopped. They are keeping him on the ventilator until they are sure that they won't have to go back in, which will hopefully be early tomorrow. My sister said he was trying to talk, but couldn't, obviously, due to the ventilator, but was squeezing hands and looking all around at them. He wants to talk so bad! That's my dad for sure! Please keep the prayers going. They are definitely being felt, and appreciated. Please pray for my sweet Mary too. She is taking this very hard. She loves her grandpa a lot, as he's her only living grandpa. Mike's dad died back when Mike and I first started dating, so my dad's been her only grandpa her whole life. Thanks again.

Update on my dad (Friday, 4:46pm CST)

My dad is not doing well. They went in, and had to do a quadruple bypass (as I feared), and they can't get him off the ventilator, he's losing blood, his blood pressure is spiked, and he's spiking a high fever. My mother seems to be holding up, per my sister, but she's probably falling apart inside. Please pray.