Daybook for a Sweltering Saturday

Outside my window...
Well, at the beginning of writing this it was hazy and humid and hot.  But towards the end I had to stop, run around like a mad woman outside collecting various toys, flags, cushions, and whatnot because we are about to get a real bona fide thunderstorm in these here parts.  And we need it.

Thankful for...
A return to routine and welcoming the growing motivation to get a little order and rhythm back into our normal.  
Thinking about...
Lots.  Besides the normal politics-current-events-prepare-your-bunker-now thoughts, I've been slowly getting reinvigorated in my schooling plans.

And this article here by Simcha Fischer.  It's good.  You should read it.  It's on the habit of being sarcastic and/or ironic.  I'm formulating some thoughts to write down, I think.

 Learning...
About the Institute for Excellence in Writing and their program, thanks to Sarah.  Never thought streaming some audio through the computer about writing and pedagogy while sitting and knitting would be so relaxing and motivating at the same time.  Am I getting old?  (Yes.  But that's okay.  It means I'm also getting wise.  Right?  Right??)

From the kitchen...
We have had a bumper crop of zucchini this year!  Yay!  Much of that has been blanched and frozen already with a whole lot more summer squash to follow.  I'm going to need some fun zucchini recipes, people!  

Someone also needs to send me some internet audio to help reinvigorate me in the kitchen.  It's been a long long time of just making meals to get the job done.  Ugh.  If I could hire a personal family chef, I think I would totally do it.  Contrary to popular belief, I do not really enjoy cooking.  Baking a little.  But I cook and bake most everything from scratch not because it is super fun but because it's the only way I can figure out how to feed my family real foods while still keeping within our budget.  (Okay, it IS sort of cool to realize that you are able to make things and develop those skills.)  It also means I have to go grocery shopping less, which is probably my least favorite chore ever.  So, yep, I will now begin taking applications for personal family chef.  To be paid in knitting.

Creating...
There's been a lot of that going on lately...homemade programs for my sister's wedding, working on the gift for my cousin's yet to be born little one, did a quick learn of Garageband  so that I could create the ultimate sister dance mix for the wedding,  homeschool plans, meal plans, gardening, summer adventures, wedding gifts, formulating ideas for a baby shower cake...

I am going...
To get our basic outline for this school year done this week.  I am.

And again I plan on not talking about the fact that Luke is now army crawling all over the house.  Not talk about it at all.

Hoping...
To be better at chronicling our schooling?  I don't know.  

For a vacation?  Yes.

Reading...
Kristen Lavransdatter.  Thanks to a wonderful internet friend who sent me a copy because there was no way I was going to finish it before needing to send it back to the library!  How generous is that!  And this translation is SO much more readable than the one I had.  I'm really liking the read and looking forward to chatting about it with some other friends who are also reading it.  

Praying...
For a friend getting ready to welcome their second little boy into the world.  She's having a rough time at the end of pregnancy, hoping to avoid a repeat c-section, and will have a one year old and a newborn very soon.  Pray for Mary, would you please?

For our country.  And that's all I'll say about that.

Hearing...
The baby monitor humming and the birds chirping.  That's IT.  Luke is napping and Brian took the older three for our monthly milk run.  It's QUIET.  We now have enough 1/2 gallon jars so that we can make one trip every four weeks or so.  Which is a very good thing because the cost of gas and the time needed to get to said farm makes it much more sensible to go as little as possible.  Some day I'm going to have to write a little about our raw milk action over here.  It's good stuff. 

Around the house...
We were just discussing whether we need to prioritize projects.  We are on a mission to get our loans PAID OFF.  So the only house projects we will be taking on are ones that are super low cost (which usually means labor intensive, right?).  I'm itching to get this carpet pulled up in the living and dining room and begin the floor refinishing.  But that is a big messy job.  And first we should probably finish the stairwell that was left undone because the weather got nice.  Driveway needs to be sealed and someday we need to tackle the 'school' room (which is much more a utility room) and the mudroom.  

One of my favorite things...
Our turkeys.  I didn't tell you?  We have turkeys now and they're awfully cute.  Six of them! 

A few plans for the rest of the week...
Normal life.

A picture thought to share...




I like him a lot.


4 comments

  1. Hello- I just found your blog this evening and I am also in the WNY area....a Catholic mom of three little girls...our youngest is just five months. Looking forward to checking in on your blog....God Bless Gina

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    1. Awesome! Welcome Gina! Always good to find others who are close by :)

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  2. You are too sweet :) Thanks for the prayers, we need them. My goodness, if only I could do this with grace! With the coffee, I have actually only had 3 or 4 cups in the last few weeks, so I am pretty certain the sleep problem isn't related. You know what I think it all boils down to is anxiety. When I struggle to sleep, i get worked up that I am not sleeping, and that heightens anxiety, etc...vicious cycle. The great news is, after 5 days with close to no sleep, the last two nights I have slept a solid 4-5 hours...which has been amazing for my mood! :)Stay cool friend!

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    1. Ah, yes...can't help with that one since I do the same thing sometimes. I try to tell myself in the middle of the night it's not a big deal that I'm not sleeping and will myself to relax...which works oh so well ;) Crazy what your body gets used to and then 4-5 hours feels like a luxury! Soon and very soon...

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