Today

Today, March 24…

Outside my window…Sunshine.  And it’s cold. 

I am thinking…about food.  What I’m going to eat next.  I mean after I finish off the cadbury mini eggs.   

I am thankful that…Henry’s audiology appointment went well…no change in his audiogram.    

From the kitchen…Quiche and cantaloupe.  This is the best quiche–ham, bacon, spinach, mushrooms, and cheeses…YUM!  It takes some effort though, but the good thing is that the recipe makes 3 or 4 quiche. 

I am wearing…Jeans and a beige hoodie thing.  And my big honkin’ suede slip-ons because it is cold out again. 

I am creating…I actually started the book.  I did, I wrote.  And I don’t like what I wrote.  It’s not right.  But at least I got started, right?  Even if I have to restart.

I am going…to my office today…just for a pop-in.  Ella is not a fan.  Except she likes Mrs. O, who stuffs her with candy when we go.   

I am reading…Nothing. I have ”A Pirate Looks at Fifty” by Jimmy Buffett all ready to go, but I just really am not interested in it.  The Man says it’s an easy read, but it doesn’t interest me.      

I am hoping…that the economy shapes up, and I mean now. 

I am hearing…The monitor.  Ella is waking up.  And it’s 9:00, woohoo!  I really should be getting started on the quiche while I have the time…   

Around the house...Well, the mulching was finished this weekend.  Sunday morning, The Man comes home from Mass feeling achey, and spent the next several hours lying there semi-lifeless.  I assumed the day would be pretty much like that.  Then around 11:00, he said, “I feel better, I’m going to go finish the mulch.”  So he did that, then he spread grass seed.  Then he put up the zip wire for the kids.  Then he came in and drank a glass of wine.  Then when I asked him to help me with Ella, because I was trying to cook supper, he said “I’m sick…”  Whaaa? 

One of my favorite things…The Man.

A few plans for the rest of the week:  Meeting Kelly for coffee.  And all the rest of the normal stuff.  You know, cleaning and such.   Was hoping to have a happy hour on Friday, but guess what?  Both of the boys have baseball Friday evening at 5:30.  Hello?  Schedule-makers, it’s the weekend.  Why oh why… 

Here is picture thought I am sharing…Oh, right, still can’t do that… 

Today

Today, March 20…

Outside my window…Sun and clouds.  A breezy, chilly farewell to winter.    

I am thinking…I wonder what happened to you, Marcy.

I am thankful that…it is Friday.  It’s been a long, long week.    

From the kitchen…Spinach and Mozzarella Ravioli.  No meat tonight.

I am wearing…Jeans and a white t.  And some cute red patent leather mocs.  Really cute.

I am creating…Not much.  I’m really trying to get organized and then maybe I’ll be able to create.  I file 30 or 40 things every single day.  And yet, the pile never seems to get smaller… 

I am going…to relax with a glass of wine tonight.  Does that count as “going?” 

I am reading…Well, I finished The Secret Life of Bees really quickly.  In about a week.  So I think I’ve read 6 books so far this year.  Go me!    

I am hoping…that Ella feels better.  She’s sick again.  And that we finish mulching this weekend.   

I am hearing…The kids, all four of them, play in the basement.  And the hum of the pasta, boiling on the stove.  And the garage door opening-YAY!  Daddy is home!    

Around the house...The daffodils are nearly about to pop.  Remember them?  I sure hope they look pretty.  Things are pretty good ’round here.  The bathrooms could use a cleaning, though.  Maybe this weekend…

One of my favorite things…That redbud I mentioned.  The buds will open soon and it will be beautiful.

A few plans for the rest of the week:  Mulch.  Baseball starts up again…this time with two boys.  And dance, and groceries, and mass and work and bathroom cleaning (see above).  Yep, a nice, relaxing weekend. 

Here is picture thought I am sharing…Oh, sorry.  Haven’t figured out how to post pictures yet.  Add that to my relaxing weekend list.

Today

Today, March 10…

Outside my window…The tips of our redbud.  We bought it in memory of our Coco when he passed away almost four years ago.  The kids call it (and every other redbud they see) “the Coco tree.”  It has finally reached a height that I can see it outside our kitchen window when I’m seated at the island.  The branches are fat with buds.  It’s going to be beautiful this year.  Coco would have loved sleeping in it’s shade.  

I am thinking…oh, lots of random thoughts…I noticed how much I like the sound of the washer and dryer and the dishwasher running…it sounds like home, it sounds comfortable and productive and clean.  I am thinking about what we’re going to do with our tax refund.  We’re being practical this year.  Which is not fun, but I think it’s the smart thing to do right now.  

I am thankful that…I am able to work from home.  And that The Man’s job affords him the flexibility to stay home with the kiddos while I get some work done.    

From the kitchen…Sheesh, I haven’t even thought about it yet.  Better get on that, I guess.  I think maybe some soup and bread for suppy-sups.     

I am wearing…Jeans and a black izod polo over a white long sleeve t.

I am creating…working on some ideas for a book.  Yes, I am, Rebecca. 

I am going…Nowhere today.  Ella is still sick.  She’s not really a shopper when she’s well, let alone when she’s sick, so I’m not even going to try.  Besides, Tuesday is my stay-at-home-and-be-productive day. 

I am reading…Nothing.  I finished the Virginia Tech book.  I have to say that it brought back really good memories.  The end of the book was great…it talked about that incredible undefeated season.  Well, undefeated until we lost in the National Championship.  The Man and I went to all those home games that year and to the National Championship…we tailgated all day long with my parents.  Good times.  Really.    

I am hoping…that Ella feels better when she wakes up. 

I am hearing…The dryer, and the hum of the humidifier in Ella’s room on the monitor.  And above all that, I can even hear the birds sing now and then. 

Around the house...The daffodils are popping up.  Remember them?  Now comes the payoff.  We need to order mulch.  Pronto.  (What the heck does pronto really mean anyway?)  And I’ll be doing some dusting upstairs and vacuuming and all that good stuff.  And some ironing.  Must iron the napkins and placemats.  I mean really, who wants to wipe their mouth with a wrinkley napkin?  Yes, I know it’s a sickness. 

One of my favorite things…MY NEW CAMERA!  The Man bought me a new one for my birthday!  YAY!  Now, if I can just figure out how to use it…

A few plans for the rest of the week:  Meeting with Henry’s teacher to go over testing results–she said he did really well.  And that same little fella has a checkup this week.  He’ll need that for kindergarten–I can’t believe he’s going to kindergarten in 6 months…

Here is picture thought I am sharing…

Edited this photo for my Daddy for his birthday a couple weeks ago.  I always really liked this picture of us.

Today

February 24…

Outside my window…Bright beautiful sunshine.  

I am thinking…wow.  nothing is coming to mind.  How’s that for dull?

I am thankful that…I am small enough to fit into my sister’s hand-me-downs.  Because she buys some nice stuff.  And then never wears it.  And then gives it to me.  I heart her.   

From the kitchen…Buffalo chicken chili.  Thanks Jenny!  (And Rachel Ray.)    

I am wearing…Jeans and a handknit sweater.   

I am creating…pretty much nothing right now.

I am going…crazy, want to come?

I am reading…Oh, you’re going to love this…I am reading “Turn up the Wick.”  It’s a book about the Hokies head football coach Frank Beamer.  I picked this book up to fill the gaps between my “real reads.”   

I am hoping…that I am prepared for this dumb audit coming up next week.

I am hearing…The dryer, and Henry ask me every five minutes if quiet time is over.  And the answer to that is no.

Around the house...need to finish painting the basement.  Actually The Man needs to finish that. 

One of my favorite things…the sun coming through the shutters.  It falls on one of my orchids which is about to bloom. 

A few plans for the rest of the week:  I am actually going to try to take Ella to mass tomorrow.  I wonder how long I’ll be in there.  Thursday is coffee with Marcy! 

Here is picture thought I am sharing…

It’s Fat Tuesday people…what are you eating???

For Today

A glimpse into my day, just an ordinary day…

FOR TODAY February 17…

Outside my window…Bright beautiful sunshine.  And robins.

I am thinking…about how happy I am.  And how the troubles of yesterday seem like a distant memory.

I am thankful that…sadness fades quickly around here. 

From the kitchen…roast chicken, brussels sprouts in tarragon mustard sauce, couscous.    

I am wearing…Aha!  Not fleece! 

I am creating…something for my Dad.  I’ll show you when I’m finished… 

I am going…Nowhere at all.  I love days spent in this house, with my baby girl. 

I am reading…To Kill a Mockingbird.  Nearly finished.  Every day I have a list of things to do, and every day, reading is on that list, and it is what I look forward to the most.  But every day it also seems to be the thing I find the least time for.

I am hoping…that the chicken hurries up and thaws out.

I am hearing…The dryer, and the washer, and Ella say “MMMmmm.”  She’s sitting next to me eating cheerios.  I am also hearing the sound of cheerios hitting the floor.   I think she’s actually doing a less eating and a little more scattering of the cheerios.

Around the house…Laundry, ironing, cleaning.

One of my favorite things…herb pots.  I can’t wait to get them started next month.  I can’t have a full-blown herb garden because of the deer and other wild creatures…so I keep herbs on the deck.  I use them all spring, summer and fall.  LOVE fresh herbs.

A few plans for the rest of the week:  Just the day to day. 

Here is picture thought I am sharing…

Edited this the other day.  I love how it turned out.

For Today

A glimpse into my day, just an ordinary day…

FOR TODAY February 10…

Outside my window…a chilly morning, but we will be blessed with another relatively warm winter day today.

I am thinking…about everything I seem to be doing wrong.

I am thankful for…the fact that The Man’s furlough is allowing me to work on accounting.  It is the silver lining.  We’ve decided to call it a “funlough.”  Although so far, it hasn’t been very much fun.  I mean accounting.  That’s just not fun people.

From the kitchen…beef with barley soup, and ciabatta.    

I am wearing…Take a wild guess.

I am creating…valentine’s with the kids.  Two of them love it.  One of them, who shall remain nameless, finds the activity to be rather dull and annoying. 

I am going…insane with all these numbers.  And to the party store for plates for the kids’ school Valentine’s Day parties.

I am reading…To Kill a Mockingbird.  Still good.  Really, really good.

I am hoping…to get a lot done today.  Yesterday I worked for 8 hours.  Got very little else done. 

I am hearing…Ella and her Daddy.  The Man is singing Wiggles songs.  This is moderately disturbing.

Around the house…Lots to clean.  What else is new.   

One of my favorite things…a picture of Coco that sits on my desk.  I was missing him yesterday.  I miss him right now. 

A few plans for the rest of the week:  accounting.  Oh, and I’ll probably do some accounting. 

Here is picture thought I am sharing…

The Man said he saw Roxanne and her male around the birdhouse the other day.  Spring must be near.

For Today

A glimpse into my day, just an ordinary day…

FOR TODAY February 3…

Outside my window…gray and cold.  I love how the trees look in the winter.  Gray, bare, and covered with lichen.  I love how you can see the landscape so clearly through the forest when there are no leaves on the trees. 

I am thinking…I try not to think too much. 

I am thankful for…leftover chicken potpie for breakfast.  I made the crust from scratch–a nice change.  And I put vermouth and marjoram in the broth.  It was really good.

From the kitchen…think I may make some pumpkin chocolate bread today. 

I am wearing…black fleece pullover.  This is getting embarassing.

I am creating…valentines with the kids for their classmates and friends. 

I am going…to Michael’s for some pretty paper for the valentines.

I am reading…To Kill a Mockingbird.  I’ve read it several times before, but don’t remember enjoying it as much as I am this time.  I love the writing.  And that Boo Radley?  He’s freaking me out just a bit. 

I am hoping…we get a big tax refund.  Last year we increased our withholdings…

I am hearing…Ella on the monitor.  She’s waking up.  One of my very favorite sounds in the world. 

Around the house…A kitchen full of dishes.  From last night.  Because some people were sick and didn’t feel like cleaning the kitchen last night.  And also 24 was on.  And an episode of The Office that was yet unwatched.  Priorities people.  Priorities.

One of my favorite things…The Valentine’s Day wreath I made for our front door.

A few plans for the rest of the week:  staying afloat.  This is a busy time of year.  It’s all I can do to stay afloat.

Here is picture thought I am sharing…

I’m ready for spring…

For Today

A glimpse into my day, just an ordinary day…

FOR TODAY January 29…

Outside my window…pitch black.  The sun has not risen yet. 

I am thinking…This post is boring without the kids awake.  And you never know what the day will bring.  They all start the same.

I am thankful for…the hot coffee The Man prepared for me this morning.

From the kitchen…I think maybe chicken and dumplings.  I have to go  to the store for some chicken. 

I am wearing…Jammies.  Hey–it’s 5:00am.

I am creating…lots of spreadsheets, rollforwards and schedules of expenses.  Because I’m a barrel of fun like that.

I am going…to deliver cupcakes to the school for William’s birthday.

I am reading…Helen Over the Wall.  Yes, still.  I only have like 30 pages left.  But you know, that may as well be 30,000. 

I am hoping…I get over this cold with relative ease.

I am hearing…Nothing but the sound of heat.  Wow.  And every now and then, the alarm goes off.  It is the sound of birds tweeting.  And I wonder why The Man doesn’t reset it so he can sleep for another hour, rather than hit the snooze for the next hour.  I’m thinking tonight I may set it to “rooster.”  Because the rooster crowing in the morning is LOUD and it makes me laugh to think of a rooster sitting right next to our bed at 5:00am scaring the heck out of us. 

Around the house…Sleep. 

One of my favorite things…This little potholder Kate made.  I put my coffee cup on it in the morning.  Makes me smile.

A few plans for the rest of the week:  A lot of cleaning.  And a lot more spreadsheets, rollforwards and schedules of expenses.  It’s going to be a really fun week. 

Here is picture thought I am sharing…

 

I love this girl…