Monday DayLook – September 27, 2010

For Today:  Monday, September 27, 2010

Looking out from my back porch... cloudy & slightly cool, but a great Fall day.

I am thinking about… how fast Louis is growing and changing as he toddles around the schoolroom.

I am thankful for... NO RAIN!

I am reading…magazines and newspapers… I’m still reading books, but haven’t had time to read a page in them the last couple weeks, so figured the book-reading really doesn’t count!

I am hoping... that Dash and his grandpa will be able to start soybean harvest this week. 

I am hearing... sounds of chairs and a small table being pushed around.  That’s Louis’ latest activity … seeing what he can push around the room.

I am wearing... jean capris and a black long-sleeved t-shirt. 

From the sewing/craft room (aka. laundry room!)…just laundry; sewing creativity will occur soon because those cloaks MUST get done by the Parade of Lights in mid-November.

From the school room... starting our fourth week.  We aren’t behind and the kids have been working hard to get done with their lessons in a timely fashion.

From the kitchen... canned the last of the cukes and 14 quarts peach sauce.  Pear crisp was enjoyed by all, and I’m still searching for ‘good’ ways to use up the eggplant!

From the garden…three watermelon and the tomatoes remain to be harvested.  The yellow summer squash and eggplant still have a few fruit/veggies left to harvest, too.  Angelina picked the remaining peppers and pulled out the plants.  Hopefully the warmer weather this week will help the last of the tomatoes ripen.

A successful moment… I’d say canning 14 quarts of peaches with a toddler in the house is accomplishment enough!

A few plans for the rest of the week…
Monday:  Dash has a FB game this evening.

Tuesday-Thursday:   Pear & Peach canning, garden harvesting & winterizing, soybean harvest (hopefully!), prepping the chicken coop for combining the flocks.

Friday/Saturday/Sunday:   NDSU Homecoming/80’s-90’s Greek Reunion/Marian Eucharistic Congress/G&G Golden Acres come for a visit.

A picture memory...

The kids were given a basketball hoop (well, it was actually Dash’s birthday present … but it’s for all) a couple years ago.  Eric and the kids finally started setting it up a couple weeks ago.  The kids each put their hand print and name in the cement.

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Thankful thoughts

Just to join in with Jamie…I have a hard time linking up all the time, but it’s good to give thanks!

I’m thankful for the bountiful garden harvest…

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and creative little boys …

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and happy smiles…

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The Pullets are Laying!!

The pullets just started laying this week – on Tuesday, September 21, Angelina found the first pullet egg.  It’s tiny, but so perfectly formed!  She found a second this morning.

 

Monday DayLook: September 20, 2010

For Today:  September 20, 2010

Looking out from my back porch... it’s cloudy & has been lightly raining throughout the day.  Weeds are still green, but growth has definitely slowed.  The garden needs to be cleared … still!

I am thinking about… supper, getting the kids to bed at a decent time tonight, how long it’s been since I’ve entered a post, sewing on the cloaks I brought home from my weekend circle meeting, Dash’s football game (that I’m not watching because of cold weather).

I am thankful for... health, technology, sweet babies and willing teens.

I am reading… just magazines & newspapers today.

I am hoping... that I can arrange tomorrow such that I’ll be able to stay home.

I am hearing... beeps from my phone, clicking of my laptop keyboard, sounds of the TV (kids are watching a show), the fan over my cooktop.

I am wearing… jeans & a pink BISON sweater

From the sewing/craft room (aka. laundry room!)… couple loads of laundry & I did bring home three cloaks that will need to be finished up in the next couple weeks.  The cloaks are costumes for the Parade of Lights; my circle is coordinating the float/walkers/kids/etc.

From the school room... we are doing ok.  For the most part, the days are going well.  We are continuing to pray the rosary before the start of school, but we have NOT been timely.  We really need to get the prayer done by 8am so schoolwork can start promptly. 

From the kitchen... creamed cauliflower soup for supper tonight. 

From the garden… the watermelons are wonderfully sweet.  I’m tired of cukes and am waiting on more tomatoes.  BTW, thanks for the tomato ripening tips.  My in-laws have been sharing their raspberries!

State of the house… it’s passable. 

A successful moment…

A few plans for the rest of the week…
Monday: More laundry & juice the tomatoes.

Tuesday: If I’m able to stay home, the plan is to can spaghetti sauce.  Angelina has an orthodontist appt.

Wednesday: Haircuts for the boys and a 4-H Leader meeting in the evening.

Thursday:   Garden work … if it’s dry.

Friday/Saturday/Sunday:   Friday night free time & Bison home game!!

A picture memory...

 

 

Our 4-H Club at the Rocket Launch.

 

Eric setting up a rocket for launch (above & below).

 

 

The kids were very excited!

 

 

I actually caught one in flight!

Little Boy Blue…

While the rest of us were busy with school work, this little boy was ‘getting blue’.

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Thank goodness he didn’t get any on his clothes … and it washed off easily … and it was non-toxic Crayola.  Louis was sucking on a craft window cling the kids had made a couple years ago.  Funny how these objects are hidden and found at the oddest times!

Tuesday DayLook – September 14, 2010

For Today:  September 14, 2010

Looking out from my back porch... it’s sunny, but breezy.  A perfect Fall day!

I am thinking about… a bunch of things … needing to reply to emails, a few phone calls to return, correcting schoolwork, ripe tomatoes to puree and can, peach jam, a trip to Big Iron in Fargo, the first Bison home game this weekend, laundry to catch up on, and we need something sweet to snack on in the kitchen.  I’m also thinking about the difference between my Need To Do list and my Want To Do list!

I am thankful for... a smooth start to our school year.

I am reading… school books!  Well, I’m still reading Sense & Sensibility, too, but that hasn’t been for a few days.

I am hoping... to find time to get in the garden again today.

I am hearing... Graham and Zeke just came back in from outside, so the noise level has gone from quiet to not so much!

I am wearing… beige capris and a red sweater – love sweater season.

From the sewing/craft room (aka. laundry room!)… still trying to catch up on the laundry.  I think I’m down to three loads at the moment … but the little boys were just outside … it’s probably five, now.

From the school room... we’ve started and are going along well.

From the kitchen... peaches – crisp, torte, with cream.  Just need to make jam and my favorite cream pie to be completely peach-filled.

From the garden… the watermelon are ripe.  I picked one on Saturday; it was yellow underneath (the ground side) which is an indication of ripeness.  The kids asked if I could plant ‘seedless’ next year.  I replied that we should be thankful to even harvest watermelon as large as a basketball in ND!  AND, there are 8 still in the garden.

State of the house… it’s clean because we had a 4-H meeting on Sunday.

A successful moment… we finished our first week of school and are onto the second.  Eric and I finally met with the rep we’ve been working with to figure out landscaping.  I was thrilled with her design … and there is still time to get a bit of the dirt work done this FALL!  Can you see my elated smile??

A few plans for the rest of the week…
Tuesday: Peach jam, cukes/pickles or spaghetti sauce – canning.  Eric is at Big Iron all week – we’ll plan a day to visit him.  Dash has FB practice all week, but injured his foot last week (prayers for recovery appreciated).

Wednesday: I should pull out the cucumber plants & eggplants for compost.

Thursday:  The Silver-laced Wyandottes are 20 weeks today!  That means they could start laying eggs this week … yikes.  I have an evening meeting.

Friday/Saturday/Sunday: NDSU Bison home game on Saturday.

A picture memory...

Our family at a 2004 Bison home game. 

Dash is holding up Flat Stanley – see even Stanley is wearing green & gold! 

GO BISON!!