Autumn Daybook

I haven't done a Simple Woman's Daybook post in so long, and it feels right for today...

Outside my window... the sky is grey and the air is cool. It finally feels like Fall!

I am thankful for... the change in the weather.

I am wearing... JEANS! Finally! And a grey-and-white-striped t-shirt. 

I am listening to... the kids play their instruments.

I am pondering... what to do next with science.

I am praying for... healing, peace, and the same for my friends.

I am reading... "The Beekeeper's Apprentice."

We are reading together... "The Last Battle," "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," and "Guardians of Ga'Hoole: The Capture"

The boys... have kung fu tonight.

  

In the kitchen... organic purple grapes, and lentil soup waiting to be reheated.

On my needles... a simple shawl in shades of violet is half-finished.

In the garden... the ground needs to be cleared of weeds.

Around the house... the surfaces are begging to be dusted -- and decorated for fall.

Plans for the rest of the week... just the usual routine so far, maybe a nature walk tomorrow.

From my camera... dirty feet, because it's cool enough to play outside!

The Simple Woman's Daybook: Thanksgiving preparations

FOR TODAY, Monday, November 24...

Outside my window... the sky is grey, the leaves are blowing gently and beginning to cover the ground with orange, yellow and brown. It really feels like fall.

I am thinking... about how to make Advent really meaningful for the boys this year.

I am thankful for... all the help from our friends this weekend. They came for a work co-op day, and helped trim the mulberry, paint the picnic table, and mulch the garden. Plus we just enjoyed their company!

From the learning rooms... we've been watching "Sarah: Plain & Tall" while folding laundry this morning. ("Why can't we have a farm, Mom?" "Because Daddy doesn't want to be a farmer.") The boys have been re-learning to knit this week after a few months away from their needles.

From the kitchen... grilled cheese sandwiches and strawberry/banana smoothies for lunch. Later we'll make apple cobbler for tonight's dessert.

I am wearing... jeans, my dark green Camp San Joaquin Episcopal t-shirt with a long sleeve underneath, raspberry pink socks, and my Uggs with their holey toes.

I am creating... lists of want-to-dos for holiday activities and memory-making, photo gifts on Kodak Gallery, socks on my knitting needles.

I am going... to finish watching "Sarah: Plain & Tall" after I do the lunch dishes.

I am reading... "The Irresistible Revolution" still. Very good, but best to digest it slowly for it to really do its job.

I am hoping... that Scott can forgive his mom for not coming home for Christmas.

I am hearing... the clank of Cootie toys and Legos.

Around the house... I'm excited to get Christmas decorations out this weekend! In the meantime, I have to finish all this laundry.

One of my favorite things... "The Sound of Music"! We watched it again a few days ago while knitting for a few hours.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Getting ready for Thanksgiving! I'm making lentil soup tomorrow to last us until Thursday. Wednesday I'll bake apple pies. My sister is coming from San Francisco, and bringing a pumpkin cream cheese tart from a favorite bakery. I get to do all of the cooking this year, including my favorite stuffing recipe, which I'll post later.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

The first apple pie I ever made! I baked it last week for our homeschooling group Thanksgiving feast at the park. I'll share the recipe later this week. :)

Find more Daybooks at The Simple Woman.

The Simple Woman's Daybook

For today, Monday, September 8...

Outside My Window... the morning sun is already heating up the trampoline, but the chickens are in the shade.

I am thinking... about my friend Kate who just told me she's moving from California to Fort Worth in a couple months. We've been best friends since our sophomore year in high school, and that's just so far away! Looks like we're going to have to buck up and take that road trip to visit all our friends and family across the country soon.

I am thankful for... my husband, Scott, for loving me even when I'm really grouchy.

From the kitchen... comes the smell of the fig muffins I baked this morning for breakfast and to take on our trip to visit friends.

I am wearing... my summery striped jammie pants and blue t-shirt.

I am creating... a healthy little boy from all the nursing he's been doing lately!

I am going... to Orange County with the boys today to visit our friends who just moved there.

I am reading... "The Unprejudiced Palate: Classic Thoughts on Food and the Good Life" by Angelo Pellegrini; "Discover Your Child's Learning Style" by Willis and Hodson; "The Gospel According to Harry Potter: The Spiritual Journey of the World's Greatest Seeker" by Connie Neal

I am hoping... the seedlings I just planted do well while we're gone.

I am hearing... my littlest giggle with muffin stuffed in his mouth.

Around the house... our bags are mostly packed for our trip, the breakfast dishes need loading in the dishwasher, and I need to get in the shower so we can get on the road.

One of my favorite things... having time to sit on the couch to read or knit. I haven't done much of that lately, but I took a little while yesterday afternoon after a very busy few days.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: A long drive down south, then -- friends! And swimming! On Wednesday -- the aquarium!

Here is picture thought I am sharing. It's of my first attempt at making jam! Fig jam, of course. We're still swimming in them...

This was my first daybook entry for The Simple Woman. It was fun!