Seasons of the Past Giveaway!

Everyone loves free things, and these are so cute... check it out!
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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY (January 26, 2009)...
Outside my window... it's still dark, and I can see stars. After having another few nights of below zero weather, I'm starting to think that the 30's sound really good right about now! :)
I am thinking... that I hope the realtor calls today wanting to show our house to just the right people... I know that I shouldn't expect that we'll only have to show it once, but I can hope, right???
I am thankful for... the internet. I have been able to keep in contact with so many friends from childhood and college through e-mail and now Facebook... I really am thankful for that!
From the learning rooms... we're switching from the Renaissance to the Reformation this week for history, so I need to get to the library today for more books. We have been enjoying this time period so much- the girls are just devouring the books!
From the kitchen... blueberry smoothies and pumpkin bread, bread kneading now for sandwiches for lunch (with clementines... mmm!), and a roast for dinner in the crockpot with sweet potatoes and veggies. I'm also making a batch of homemade yogurt and some tortilla soup today or tomorrow.
I am wearing... jeans and a long sleeved t-shirt with my running shoes- it's going to be a busy day!!!
I am creating... a de-personalized, de-cluttered home. It's hard to take down pictures and drawings and still live in your house! At least, it is for me- I love for things to feel "homey."
I am going... crazy trying to keep things clean constantly! :) Not really, but the realtor warned us that even though we request 24 hour notice, there may be times when someone will request to see a house at the last minute- and I want to make a good impression! It's hard though when you're homeschooling and you have 4 little ones and it's so cold you can't send anyone out to play!!!
I am reading... The first book in the Calvin & Hobbes collection with Katy- I loved it as a little girl, and she is getting a big kick out of it. I've found a few things that I needed to skip, though- as a warning to anyone else who may try to read it with their kids...
I am hoping... to get back to life as usual soon- it would be such a relief just to know that we are going to move and need to prepare instead of being in limbo.
I am hearing... the furnace running. And running... how cold is it???
Around the house... it's work day on the bathroom- Nate is finishing the floor and the tiles that need replacing, and the toilet. I'm organizing the garage some more and packing some things in the extra bedroom.
One of my favorite things... going to bed with a strong sense of accomplishment- accompanied usually by a complete sense of exhaustion! :)
A few plans for the rest of the week: We're going to Lansing for Liam's 5th birthday on Saturday!!! It will be fun to hang out. I cannot believe that little Liam is 5 already- he is such a sweet, kind, caring little guy- I'm so glad Stevie will have him to emulate as he gets older!
Here is picture thought I am sharing... My favorite picture of Liam!

See more Daybooks at Peggy's site... http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Houston, we have a realtor!

After much prayer and consideration, Nate and I decided to go with the realtor who sent us a letter saying she would sell our house for 4% (or 3% if she finds a buyer!). She doesn't have a lot of overhead, etc... so she can sell for a lot cheaper than most around here (who are charging 5-7%). So, we set up an appointment- and of course, she is a Christian also! God is so good! She attends the same church as some good friends of ours (Hi Elliots!), and she is so great! Not a high-pressure person by her own account, she left a large and popular real estate company here in town because she didn't agree with their practices morally. We love that she is not a "salesperson," because there is something in both Nate and I that get disgusted by salesmanship (is that a word?). So, please pray for us as we meet with her again and we put our house up... we appreciate it!

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY (January 19, 2009)...
Outside my window... Snow and more snow! I love it!!! We keep getting little sprinkles, which keeps it from getting brown and gray and slushy everywhere- and we have over a foot on the ground, so it's beautiful.
I am thinking... about how much I love our church family. Yesterday's fellowship meal flew by so fast, I wish it could've gone on all day!
I am thankful for... God's provision. I am always amazed when He provides for each need so specifically... yet, I shouldn't be surprised by that, right? :)
From the learning rooms... Nate is teaching the kids today! I think this is the first time he's ever done it... I know he'll be fine! I am working to organize and pack the rest of the garage and workshop area so it will look neat and tidy for pictures (and be ready for a move, Lord willing!).
From the kitchen... Oatmeal with dried apples, cream, and raw honey for breakfast, sandwiches for lunch with carrots and ranch dip, and taco salad for dinner.
I am wearing... my turtleneck sweater with 2 shirts under it and jeans with thick socks and my winter boots... and I'll put on my gloves and hat after this! It's cold in the garage!
I am creating... ideas in my head of how I want to decorate the farmhouse should we get it (ie. what to do for curtains, etc...). If we end up staying here, I'd like to put my ideas into action anyway! :)
I am going... to Wal-mart to get some boxes right now. If you show up at 5 am, everyone is done unloading and they're free for the taking.
I am reading... the Bible! What could be better?
I am hoping... that the weather holds up for small group on Thursday. It will be at the Mergy's, and we're all looking forward to it!
I am hearing... nothing. Everyone is still asleep!
Around the house... I have to do a thorough clean and straighten of each room before our meeting with the realtor so she can take pics. At least I just did that Friday, so it won't take very long... as long as the kids don't undo all of it! :)
One of my favorite things... hot tea with honey and a bit of cream on a cold morning.
A few plans for the rest of the week: Try to focus on a few things at a time- it's easier not to get frazzled that way. I'm reminding myself, by the way... not telling you what to do! :)
Here is picture thought I am sharing...
Katy's sewing machine, complete with pillow she is making for Miss Rachel (she did the other seams by hand and attached the picture by hand without me knowing!) I'm so proud of her!

See more Daybooks at Peggy's site... http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Silkies!

I have been eyeing these colored pieces of silk in the Magic Cabin catalog for some time. But, I'd have to spend a small fortune to get 2 for each girl, so I didn't get them. Then my friend Whitney bought some plain white silk scarves and dyed them... with Kool aid! I was all over that!!! She had some extras (6!) that I bought from her and we had so much fun making them yesterday. I got the scarves for $27 and paid less than $3 for all of the Kool aid (and I had some left over)... So I paid less than $30 for them- saving us $45 + shipping!!! So here's how you achieve the "Awesome Mom" status...
First, you soak the scarves in plain water.

Pick out your color combinations (you can use just a tiny bit of a darker color to accent the lighter colors, or use all 3 entire packages)...


Then, place 3 packages (or less for less vibrant color) of Kool aid in a separate bowl of water that is microwave safe. Stir to dissolve...
Then, add scarf and stir to make sure it's completely in the water... (don't eat some of the Kool aid powder or it will dye your lips blue- which is why Katy won't smile completely!)... :)

Microwave for 2-3 minutes, stir, then another 2-3 minutes. Take out and stir and stir...


And stir until almost all of the color is gone from the water and is now on your scarf!
Next, take it out of the water and put it into an empty bowl to cool, then rinse in cool water and wash with mild soap, then rinse again and hang to dry.
Post wash, pre dry:
Then, Go Crazy!
Okay, not really! But, have lots of fun!!!
They make great hats, skirts, dresses, capes, belts, tents, hoods...
This is the girls setting up tents on the arms of the couch using the scarves... I'm afraid the sunshine was so bright it's not showing up really well. But, you get the gist!

Brrrrrr!

It got down to 34 below windchill here last week, and so we had mandatory indoor time. The children stayed busy building blanket forts. Erin made one just for her that she called her "house" and invited Nate to come over after work... so he had a little visit and everyone else had to join in, too!

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY (January 12, 2009)...
Outside my window... The sky is clear, but we are supposed to get another blizzard tonight and tomorrow... we're ready, so we don't mind. Plus, all of this snow is beautiful!
I am thinking... that the girls are going to have so much fun sledding today after they do their schoolwork! I love to see them have fun (and join in, too!)
I am thankful for... Nate's day off today. The weekend was full of church needs, and the kids (and I!) are looking forward to having a few hours with him today. I don't want to sound ungrateful for our church... we are grateful that he is able to serve at Trinity, and that the needs are being addressed- it's just nice to send time with him occasionally! :)
From the learning rooms... We have math, copywork (thank you cards for Katy, phonics and letters for Hannah), Heidi, Pilgrim's Progress, a few books about the Renaissance focusing on the arts for History, learning about beach words for Spanish, Bible memorization, Scripture study, and studying more marine life for Science. I think that's all- of course, I'll get upstairs and realize I left out something completely obvious, but oh, well!
From the kitchen... orange and dried cherry bread for breakfast, ham and cheese stromboli for lunch with applesauce, and spaghetti with garlic bread and salad for dinner. Maybe freezer cookies for a movie later (we have been planning on having an extra movie night to make up for the weekend- so the blizzard will provide us with the right opportunity!).
I am wearing... khaki's with a red shirt and super soft fuzzy socks with my slippers (of course!).
I am creating... my garden grid for the spring. I am thinking about incorporating some of the Square Foot Gardening techniques...
I am going... to be stuck in the house all week due to the snowstorms predicted (one Monday-Tuesday, and one Thursday-Friday)... I'd be amazed if my mom's group wasn't cancelled (again!) due to weather. I already have my shopping done, and we don't have small group this week, so we're set.
I am reading... Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew. Okay, so he looks a little Amish, but that's not necessarily a bad thing! The Amish have amazing gardens!
I am hoping... that I can get more boxes to pack with at Wal-mart some time soon- I was too tired this morning, and now who knows when I'll be able to? :)
I am hearing... the girls playing horses, the dishwasher running, and my bread machine whirring.
Around the house... the bathroom still needs to be finished, so I'm thinking maybe I should surprise Nate and do it- he's just so busy he hasn't had a chance.
One of my favorite things... the view from our big picture window of all the birds at the birdfeeder and Maple (our big tree out front).
A few plans for the rest of the week: Keep packing, cleaning and organizing, play in the snow, sledding, and dying the silkies that Whitney was kind enough to let me buy off of her. I can't wait to do that today with the girls and then to see them play with them!
Here is picture thought I am sharing...
Breakfast!!! The african violet in the back is from Nate's great-grandmother's plant... it's doing so well, I need to re-pot it again.

See more Daybooks at Peggy's site... http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/