simple woman's daybook

FOR TODAY... Monday, March 30

Outside My Window... snow? are you serious?

I am thinking... that tv is excellent

I am thankful for... donuts. yup.

From the kitchen... broccoli soup that worked out

I am wearing... jeans, socks, slippers, button down

I am creating... far less these days, and for me that is very good

I am going... to watch as much retro as I can stand

I am reading... nothing at the moment because I hated the story of forgetting
I am hoping... to be helpful

I am hearing... kit from knight rider

Around the house... melted snow patches and a spot for a bbq

One of my favorite things... hot tea

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... personal chauffeur

wordless wednesday

tuesday timely table

so there are blogs that you go to almost without thinking, like drinking morning coffee from a favourite mug, or putting on clean underwear, and then there are blogs that you really love but for some reason keep forgetting to read.

this is one of those blogs stuffchristianslike

and I was led to it again by one of those friends. and how timely.

FOR TODAY... Monday, March 23

Outside My Window... sunshine, finally!

I am thinking... that school is back on and we are ready

I am thankful for... my fabulous weekend, especially the chance to get to know janice better on our afternoon away

From the kitchen... just the hum of the fridge

I am wearing... pj bottoms but my hair is done and the top of me is ready to leave the house if necessary. was too lazy to retrieve clean laundry

I am creating... a new self-image

I am going... to stay home today

I am reading... finished a most uncommon degree of popularity by kathleen gilles seidel. starting the story of forgetting by stefan merrill block

I am hoping... for a good number on april 21

I am hearing... pencil on paper and odd musical numbers being hummed

Around the house... yellowish grass, the kind that makes you wonder how it ever survived all the frost and snow and marvel at its tenacity

One of my favorite things... our new, old record player and the corresponding stash of cool vinyl

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... rehearsals, youth groups, helping with essays, eating of herbs, prep for music

my guys have been having a blast so far this March Break, and, frankly, so have I. I don't remember the last time I felt that I so enjoyed a time away from school! It is still an adjustment, being back here. I know you are probably wondering what can possibly be taking me so long ... it just is.

today we drove into town to apply for a S.I.N. number for Jonam so he can officially apply for a job this summer if we find one we think would be a good fit. Wow. Hard to believe it can be already. I started working at 14, though, and haven't really stopped since, though I come and go as far as the paid working scene goes. I had had a paper route for a long time, but I mean a REAL job. The first one, if I remember correctly, was as a Day camp Counsellor the summer I was in grade 9. I babysat a bit before that, (and continued to babysit until I gave birth to my own)
Today, as I saw the look of pride on his face, I began to smile myself, with excitement.
Just who is this wonderful young man going to turn out to be?
And then I felt overwhelming thankfulness at the privilege to be on this ride with him.
Yah, being a parent is pretty darn cool ...

the simple woman's daybook

FOR TODAY... Monday, March 16

Outside My Window... there are robins out there, and I am starting to count!

I am thinking... that I am happy for March Break. I truly need it.

I am thankful for... the opportunity to sing again, and new projects in the works

From the kitchen... fried egg, fruit salad, 12 grain bagel with cream cheese and a steaming hot cup of decaf tea

I am wearing... pjs and my husband's robe. glad to have admitted that.

I am creating... a budget. not as easy as it sounds since we have only had two "real" months in the country

I am going... to take my oldest to the rehearsal hall this afternoon and do some writing today

I am reading... yes, need to pick up a few new books for the break

I am hoping... to figure more than a few things out

I am hearing... teeth being brushed and magazines being flipped.

Around the house... yes, yes we are.

One of my favorite things... this old robe

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... rehearsal hall today, visit with friends tomorrow and youth group for oldest, more driving oldest around on wednesday, band on thursday and family night friday

fairy tale wedding

ok, let me first state that the ONLY thing I was truly hoping to accomplish at my wedding was the 'man and wife' part:

The Impressive Clergyman: So tweasure your wuv.
Prince Humperdinck: Skip to the end.
The Impressive Clergyman: Have you the wing?
[cut to the trio once more]
The Impressive Clergyman: ...and do you,Pwincess Buwwercup...
Prince Humperdinck: Man and wife. Say man and wife.
The Impressive Clergyman: Man an' wife.

the decorations were a partial gift from a cousin's wife (who is, sadly, no longer a part of the family and I loved her a lot) and were fantastic. we got married over Christmas break, because I just love Christmas and thought the huge tree, no matter how tacky, at the front of the church would be the perfect backdrop. In that I was not disappointed.

the music was lovely since my parents thought I needed the string quartet. I remember being left a cassette tape and all the available songs were recorded on it. all we had to do was choose the few my Pastor approved of. see, he had a list too. *sigh* at the time, though, quite honestly, I did not care one lick. I knew Neal and was convinced that he was THE ONE. we really hadn't known each other for long but sometimes there are things that simply resonate with every fibre of your being ... kind of like the girl who set this contest up and her fantabulous guy. you know what I mean.

so I chose pachabel's cannon for my entrance. my dad kept quietly telling me not to run down the isle. I was nervous. wish I was better at being the centre of attention but unless I am on stage, I don't like all eyes on me. then it was the 23rd Psalm for the song to be played while we stood forever at the front of the church. there were 8 verses or something equally ridiculous. I had my legs completely braced under my massive dress in some kind of half squatting stance. they were forever quivering and I needed to be sure I wasn't going down. I think I also had a death lock on Neal's arm. I swear he never moved even one inch during the whole thing, until he was allowed to kiss me. and, no, it was so not the first kiss for us but every bit as sweet as I imagined it would be. everything else was too minimal it seemed. my dad also thought I needed the limousine ride. for that, looking back, I am very thankful. one of my favourite wedding photos is inside that vehicle. I look very excited; Neal looks like he can't wait for the 'honeymoon'. I knew there was a whole cheesecake awaiting us at our new home and ALL THOSE GIFTIES! clearly on different wavelengths.

I would so do the whole thing over again if it seemed appropriate. smaller, quieter, better food (a whole other post), real drinks, real music but still live and a more confident, less nervous bride.

tuesday timetable

... this afternoon, shortly after 1 pm, my husband surprised me by knocking on the door. just to clarify, this never happens.
I was not having the best of days and instead of going to see who was bothering me in my hour of self-pity, one of the boys answered. I happened to glance out the window, conveniently covered with curtains, only to catch a glimpse of the back of my husband's truck. I was quite surprised.

I stood up and tried to make my face look as little like "cried too much" as possible only to be given a kiss and handed a small, yellow, string bag. I saw the chocolate right away, but wasn't sure what else the pouch contained.
I went to sit on my bed, feeling pretty overwhelmed with all that had transpired that morning (not good by any stretch of the imagination, but, thankfully, not all my fault either). My husband was attentive, offering words of encouragement and affirmation (not easy for him as it is not his love language). Just what I needed.

then I opened up the yellow gift ... ... it happened to be the exact necklace I desired. a generous gift on a day without sun. I certainly didn't do anything to earn it and what a difference it made in this little housewife's day that her husband heard that still small voice prompting him.

a happy ending, indeed.

thursday throw-out (to you)

so, yesterday, some "older" ladies from the United Church came to our house to discuss Friday's World Day of Prayer (Papua New Guinea) with me. at least I thought it was "with me"

as it turns out, oldest sat through the whole meeting, incredibly eager to share all he knew and personally experienced in the rain forest. ok, cool, but I kept giving him the "mama big eyes" when I was in the middle of a perfectly great sentence/story and he insisted on jumping in.
I know it is partly excitement on his part because, well, he was there in the heat and humidity, but, you know ...

so, the afternoon progresses with the United ladies asking us for much advice, like "here is a recipe we would like to make and serve to the people who attend the service. it is for banana sour cream cake."

... do I tell them that in order to have sour cream in papua, you would have to be willing to make your own, from scratch?

yes.

"how about this recipe for sparkling ginger ale pineapple, orange, lemonade?"

ummmm. sure. that would taste really good. (it's ok. they have never lived in the rain forest. they don't have to) I ask son "did we have ginger ale while we were there?"

ladies continue. they bring out two library books, from our wee town library, all about papua new guinea. some of the pictures look familiar, but the majority were taken in the highlands ... the place most visitors go because it is cool there, and you can get fresh vegetables and there isn't any malaria. we enjoyed looking at them together and drawing some comparisons/contrasts.
son decides now would be the perfect time to show that he can read tok pisin.

I dutifully sit back and listen as son speaks this "second" language of ours.

son: "this sentence here is saying what hours the bar is open, and when they serve beer."

huh? what is he reading? I find myself clasping my hands together in my lap and sitting up a little straighter.

one of the church ladies mentions to the other that "these boys are homeschooled".

more: "you can drink beer here, outside on the patio part, but they will only sell you this many. oh, and it tells you how much it will cost to drink the beer."

United church ladies smile, nod and express their thrill at his ability to read and translate to them.

I am simply sitting and smiling, my head cocked to the side. "mama big eyes" kind of goin' on, blinking a little quickly, and praying this meeting is over.

another proud moment in the homeschool annals.

wouldn't this have been something to see

Whale washed up in WNB
A WHALE carcass measuring between 25m and 30m long and five to 10m wide was washed onto a reef near two islands in West New Britain recently.
The carcass started to rot a few days after it got trapped on the reef but its removal proved difficult.
Fearing the carcass would cause environmental damages and bring diseases that would affect the islanders, the WNB provincial disaster officer and other relevant authorities burnt half of its body, using old tyres.
The rest of the whale’s body was washed away by strong current.
Provincial disaster office director Lieutenant Colonel Peter Baki said the whale carcass got stuck on a reef area between Vulai and Kimbe Islands in the Kimbe Bay area.
He said they were alerted about the whale by the islanders.
Mr Baki said they came up with a plan to reduce the weight of the whale so they could tow it out to deep sea.
The carcass was burnt and after a while the high tide came in and moved it out to sea.
Mr Baki said he had never seen anything as big as the whale.
It was the first time a whale was found dead in the Kimbe bay area.

~ funny, as my husband noted, that they were worried about the environmental damages yet burned the whale using old tires. yep. I LOVE Papua!

FOR TODAY... Monday, March 2

Outside My Window... well, the curtains are still shut, so I actually don't know

I am thinking... that last night was great; good food, nice wine and an engagement announcement

I am thankful for... new, non-smelling warm slippers

From the kitchen... another loaf o pulla, courtesy of my mom and dad, who love to bake it AND give it away

I am wearing... jeans and a sweatshirt. It just felt like that kind of day

I am creating... well, for today I am just trying to stay awake

I am going... to pick up the plates for a car that would make Dave Ramsay proud

I am reading... going to start the Jane Austin Book Club

I am hoping... that Neal feels like the flu is really and truly gone (please)

I am hearing... Canada A.M. on the tv

Around the house... let's see ... some new used pieces of furniture collected on Saturday and the pile of laundry that marks Monday

One of my favorite things... completed projects

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... Sonic on Tuesday, rehearsals Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, catching up on reading the rest of the time. A quiet week, juxtaposed with a busy last few days


Here is picture thought I am sharing...