Update of the Week

The Road to Mordor:

4.5 miles from Bag End. Cross the water over a plank bridge.

 

Out the window:
Up on the rooftop terrace, the pre-autumnal air whispered by, carrying moonlit secrets. 

I love this time of year.

On my smile:
Pinball league is back. 

On my Kindle: 
Absolutely nothing right now, despite having a ton of new titles that interest me. It’s been a long summer getting acclimated to the cognitive load at work.  

On the Roku:
Still more nothing. It is quite peaceful, actually.

On the menu:
The first delicata squash arrived, a sign that the season is turning. There were onions, too. I’ve been eating lighter fare most days, but the shift in the weather has me craving heartier fare. It’s starting to feel a lot like Shepherd’s Pie weather. Or at least a hearty soup.

On my To Do List:
More sound-dampening tiles

In the Crock Pot:
I have a beef roast that’s starting to call my name.

On the needle:
Not so much knitting going on lately.

On the wire
I'm enjoying my mild bout of technology fasting. It's liberating.

No words needed:

Lesson learned the past few days:

Wednesday is Rest Day

On my mind:
Flowers, because flowers.

Off the page:
“True happiness occurs only when you find the problems you enjoy having and enjoy solving. —Mark Manson

Update of the Week

A coward is incapable of exhibiting love; it is the prerogative of the brave. ---Mahatma Ghandi

Out the window:
Nightly thunderstorms have been happening all week, and it's gorgeous and sometimes very dramatic. The days are oppressively hot. I'm so glad to have air conditioning. It looks like the coming week is going to be filled with rain and possibly thunder and lightning. The milk run is next week, and I'm glad I have new wipers and new tires and new brakes. 

Connecting:
Letters and songs

Books and conversation

A visit with Vivian where I got to tell her that I love her just the way she is and she doesn't need to change anything about herself to please others.

Daily morning phone calls with my friends sustain me in this isolation.

Reading:
A Hidden Wholeness, Parker Palmer

"The Moral Equivalent of War," William James

"The Sentimentality of Reason," William James

Watching:
Umbrella Academy, Season 2

Doing:

• Philosophy: Office Hours Monday-Friday
• Writing: Submitted a piece to two more journals. I feel as though my job right now is collecting rejection slips. Writing for the upcoming week is largely focusing on letting the Spirit guide me instead of accomplishing an assignment. It's going to be a wonky month.
• This upcoming month, I think I'm putting Stillness as an activity. 

Cooking:
Once I finally came out of the disability fog this week, I wanted nothing more than the world's most simple fare, and lots of it. I made a pot of rice, a pot of white beans, and a lentil and potato soup. This is soul food.

Knitting:

• The garter blanket is onto skein 5 (Woolstok 150, Highland Fleece). It's large enough that I no longer store it in a basket but in my large backpack. It's ridiculous to try to carry, so it's fortunate that none of us is going anywhere these days.
• the Brownstone jumper is on skein 2 (Woolstok 150, Cast Iron). I like the perspective shift I'm getting with doing the jumper construction in a way that is completely new to me (sleeves first; body worked from the bottom up; I've ever done a V-neck before).

No words needed:


Lesson learned the past few days:

Breathe. 

No, really, that's it; just breathe. 

Daydreaming:
A cabin in the woods, with a little garden patio, and a doghouse between the kiln and the writing studio.

Listening:

An overdue update

The daily routine is falling into its easy autumnal groove.

Sleep has been great so far this week. I am more on track with consistent bedtime, and I think the shortening day is really helping by sending the real-life cue of darkness. Harvey gets up for work before 4 a.m., so we both are benefiting from the old bedtime routine. Just for the record, he's the one more likely to stay up than I am, though how he pulls himself out of bed a 3:45 with only five hours' sleep is beyond me. We have turned the lights out no later than 9 each night. This makes a huge difference.

Sauna on Friday and Saturday last week were amazing, and the hot bath helped on other days.

I wrote a few pages yesterday, and then another few today. I've been better at this recently as a habit, after having fallen out of good practice. I'm looking forward to re-establishing the connection with writing. The submission for November 1st is awaiting edits, and the work for December 1 is in a rough draft stage. All to the good. Also, there is a bit to do yet with the online site for the literary magazine. It's good to have creative work to do.

Speaking of creative work, knitting continues to soothe me. It's a bonus that Vivian has started knitting with me and we are enjoying planning a blanket for her bed. She's the absolute best, and I am completely blessed to have her in my life. I started a sweater for myself, and am continuing to work on the blanket for her. She picked out some amazingly bright yarn at the yarn shop when we were there; this stuff doesn't just hurt my  eyes; it made my teeth ache. Well, as anyone who has known me for more than five minutes knew, I had one thought when I finished that test square: This is going to need some black.

And sure enough, it was fantastic when the negative space let the beauty of the yarn stand out:

There were two co-mediations last week, and both went really well. One was a two hour drive away, and it wiped me out by the time I was home that evening, but I was able to do the one in town the next day. I was pretty much done out after the morning, though, and that's good to know. I'm looking forward to the train service from Roanoke at the end of this month (as if I needed another thing to love about October!), since that will make a world of difference in my energy level going forward.

I found out that the conflict resolution center in town doesn't do fee splitting with the mediators, and that really got under my skin. I will of course continue to work with the center for co-mediation, but it's not sitting well with me that the only mediation foundation we have is volunteer only. There is much to think on concerning this.

Vivian is a delight. We had a ball at the Fall Festival on Tuesday evening, and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves for the Thursday visit as well. I'm looking forward to a long weekend coming up, since she doesn't have school on Friday.

Update of the Week

Out the window:
It’s a beautiful day, actually, which means it will snow soon. Or sleet. Or something. Likely schools will be delayed in the morning and everything else will be swimmingly on time. These events have mostly happened on Friday this year, so I’m trying to figure out if tomorrow’s event is last week’s belated or this week’s premature.

On my smile:
Hugs from the kids. And from a random Time Lord.

Quote of the week:
“Love doesn’t fit in a box.” -- Panache Desai

On my Kindle:
The Tiger’s Wife has largely been abandoned lately in favor of a couple new Wonder Woman comics. And a random cooking magazine.

On the Roku:
Looking forward to last week’s episode of Arrow tonight.


On the menu:
Probably mac and cheese or some other carb-rich comfort food.


On my To Do List:

• Clean the crock pots
• Put away all the laundry
• Take measurements
• Make a black linen skirt for work
• File petition to break lease

In the Crock Pot:
I’m not certain what all we are making these days. Beyond a mess, that is.


On the needle:
The Skipping Stone Promised Vest is over 11 inches long. Soon I will have to make a decision about how to handle the neckline.


On the wire
A new way to go solar
Lesson learned the past few days:
There is only so much energy available wherever I am.
Apparently this does not allow for Harvey’s and my cars to start at the same time.


On my mind:
A Grandin Road Community Center

On the Air:
Listen to all of it, but don’t miss the last 60 seconds:Harper High School, Part Two

Weekly Update

Out the window:
Crisp and cold, with some snow still lingering about, as well as patches of black ice.

On my smile:
swords and stones

Quote of the week:

Vermin disturb me.

On my Kindle:
Continuing with The Tiger's Wife, by Tea Obrecht.

On the Roku:
Arrow is finally back. I love this show.

On the menu:
No clue, but I think butternut squash is going to factor into it.

On my To Do List:

• Clean Ethan and Graeme's rooms
• One more paperwork demon
• The cards, part two
• 72 hours

In the Crock Pot:
Nothing specific planned for this week, but I bet it gets used anyway.

On the needle:
The Skipping Stones Promised Vest.

On the wire
If it isn't NerdFitness, I'm mostly not reading.

No words needed:


Lesson learned the past few days:
Success is not final, failure is not fatal it is the courage to continue that counts.

On my mind:
Moving, mortgages and more

Off the page:
“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.” ~ Lao Tzu

Rainy Days and Mondays

Out the window:
We are having what a coworker called "Seattle weather." It's rainy, foggy and warm-ish. Very weird for Virginia, though I like it tremendously. Just not in January.

On my smile:
Vivian's insistence that everything is hers. "My bay-bee. My shoes. My phone."
Cute. But no, that's not your phone.

On my Kindle:
Continuing with The Tiger's Wife, by Tea Obrecht.

On the Roku:
Still more nothing. It is quite peaceful, actually.

On the menu:
Tomorrow the crock pot crew is assembling another round of Shepherd's Pie.

On my To Do List:

• Sort the disused and too-small clothes for donating
• One paperwork demon down, two more remain
• The cards

In the Crock Pot:
The roast beef with sweet potatoes was so delightful, I think we could stand to have it again.

On the needle:
The Skipping Stones Promised Vest. I think I finally figured out how this is going to work. Go figure, I chucked the patterns altogether.

On the wire
I'm enjoying my mild bout of technology fasting. It's liberating.

No words needed:


Lesson learned the past few days:
the best goal is no goal

On my mind:
A plum tree, next to a hot tub.

Off the page:
“Whatever the present moment contains, accept it as if you had chosen it.” ~Eckhart Tolle

Weekly Update

Out the window:
It's cold and sunny, which is nice for wearing a new sweater to work, but later this week it is going to get into the 60s. That is so wrong.

On my smile:
Lots. And often.

On my Kindle:
I was all set to read Roadside Picnic, by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky. It was loaded up on the kindle and ready to go. But somehow, I ended up opening up The Tiger's Wife, by Tea Obrecht, instead. I'm halfway through and enchanted and curious.

On the Roku:
Still more nothing. It's nice to hear myself think, actually.

On the menu:
On Saturday, I made my first-ever paleo meal. It was an amazing dish of roasted Cornish game hen, sweet potatoes, and a base with onions, garlic and shitake mushrooms. I served the whole thing with steamed asparagus, and it was so good I had it again on Sunday with Lizzy after Pilates.

On my To Do List:
The meditation zone is still in progress, but it languishes in favor of more pressing concerns:

• Apply for a second job
• Gather the paperwork for the DMV, Social Security office, and court.
• Breathe

In the Crock Pot:
Roast beef. We are going to try it with sweet potatoes. You never know.

On the needle:
Starting the Skipping Stones Promised Vest. I have retooled the pattern a number of times.

On the wire
Why New Year's Resolutions Suck (and how to fix them)

No words needed:


Lesson learned the past few days:
Breathe.

On my mind:
The sixes: The coming six months, six weeks, six hours.

Off the page:
"Smile, breathe and go slowly." ~Thich Nhat Hanh

Weekly update

Out the window:
It is cold but not snowy. This is not the way New Year's Eve should look.
On my smile:
Time with Ethan and Graeme.
A random encounter with a friend from forever ago.
On my Kindle:
Roadside Picnic, by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky

On the Roku:
Nothing. I'm making room to think.

On the menu:
Bacon-wrapped cornish game hens served with rice and vegetables

On my To Do List:
The meditation zone is still in progress, but it languishes in favor of more pressing concerns:

• Buy beef, seafood and vegetables for freezing.
• Brown and store 10-20 pounds of ground beef.
• Steam and store 3-5 pounds of rice.
• Cook and store two (or more) pounds each: pinto beans, navy or canelli beans, kidney beans, black beans, red beans
  

In the Crock Pot:
Anything to get rid of the chicken backlog

On the needle:
Finishing up the blue sweater, and looking forward to getting together with Lizzy today for a major knitting session.

On the wire
Zen Habits

No words needed:



Lesson learned the past few days:
Breathe.

On my mind:


Off the page:
"Smile, breathe and go slowly." ~Thich Nhat Hanh

Weekly Update, this time on a Wednesday

Out the window:
Icy slush fell as I took Vivian to school this morning. It isn't snow, but it is more wintry than we have yet seen.

On my smile:
Our fortune cookies from Christmas Eve. Each of them was weirdly relevant, but I didn't quite understand mine at the time. After four days of The Conspiracy, it makes perfect sense.

Mine: Today is a great time to deal with those real estate matters!
Ethan: Routine protects against chaos and whim.
Graeme: Too much comfort is not a good thing.
Vivian: Be content with what you have.

On my Kindle:
Outlander, by Diana Gabaldon. This is all part of the You-need-to-buy-a-castle-in-Scotland Conspiracy.

On the Roku:
I have given television a break. It will be back when Arrow returns, but even then, I'll only be watching that one show, at least until some of the rest of the house gets sorted.

On the menu:
Looking forward to burgers on Friday.
I had my first oyster ever last week, and it was delicious. The smoked Gouda on top and bits of bacon beneath didn't hurt, either.

On my To Do List:
Yes, I know. This still hasn't changed. Likely it won't for a couple weeks or so as we reclaim the house from the Winter Break.

• Step One for creating the meditation zone: Clear out the boxes. [You know the ones. They are freaking everywhere and dragging me down.]
• Plan meals for the next six weeks and buy supplies
• Plan for the Soup Crew for next year
  

In the Crock Pot:
Black-Eyed pea soup for New Year's Eve

On the needle:
The Blue Sweater persists.I started the second sleeve, and then there was the holiday. I plan on moving my work-in-progress basket to the living room.

On the wire
Even the phone is sending me random, unsolicited links of castles for sale in Scotland.

No words needed:


Lesson learned the past few days:
The You-need-to-buy-a-castle-in-Scotland Conspiracy is real.

On my mind:
A castle, in Scotland. With a Highland Games Festival, lambs in the field and cattle grazing. Fields of barley and standing stones. Peat from the inlet nearby for the distillery. Private label single malt and a comfy chair by the fire.

Off the page:
Dare to be honest and fear no labor. --Robert Burns

Monday update

Out the window:
It continues to be warmer than it ought to be at this time of year. We have had fog in abundance, especially in the mornings. This weekend saw two days of near-constant rain, and it should have been snow.

On my smile:
Cuddles, giggles and many-colored projects
There were many, many hugs this weekend and this morning.

On my Kindle:
How is it that I'm still reading Geekomancy? I started it weeks ago, but I have been pretty exhausted with the new workout routine, so reading has taken the hit. Please understand that my lack of progress in this book is not a reflection of lack of interest, unlike the last three books I picked up.

On the Roku:
I am so not a fan of this "Winter Finale" weirdness.
While we are waiting for our favorite shows to come back in the new year (What do you mean there won't be any more Grimm until March? March?!?!!?) the BBC is saving us:
Sherlock
Being Human
Merlin, Season 4

On the menu:
White Bean Chicken Chile for Friday.

On my To Do List:

• Step One for creating the meditation zone: Clear out the boxes. [You know the ones. They are freaking everywhere and dragging me down.]
• Plan meals for the next six weeks and buy supplies
• Plan for the Soup Crew for next year
  

In the Crock Pot:
Mushroom Gravy Slow Cooked Rump Roast I can't wait to make this.

On the needle:
The Blue Sweater persists. I just finished skein 4 last night, and I think I'll end up using most of a sixth before I finish it all, but I'm really liking how it is coming along.

On the wire
paleOMG

No words needed:


Lesson learned the past few days:
There is a gym, and a studio, and a meditation zone inside you.
Find it.

On my mind:
Absent Wizard Tea, Bree, and the bike

Off the page:
A coward is incapable of exhibiting love; it is the prerogative of the brave. ---Mahatma Ghandi

Thursday

this particular Leo New Moon is special because it also gives us the patience and strong will to make all our bright ideas happen. Sometimes your average Leo New Moon can inspire great ideas that lack follow-through, but not this time. Mars and Saturn are making aspects to the New Moon that will get results

Ordinarily the little tidbits of astrology that end up in my inbox don't have a meaningful effect on my moment-to-moment reality. But today's promise of creativity, patience and most of all results was so well-timed that I almost burst into tears in relief.
It has been a stressful month. I'll keep you posted as things fall into place, whatever that place might happen to be. The chaos of it all is eroding me, so I tend to turn to the structures I have put in place to give me a sense of stability.

In that spirit, I give you an update:

Out my window: After the blistering heat, the last few days have been relatively cool. I’m enjoying the end of summer, and looking forward to a few preautumnal rainy days.

On my mind: Boxes, boxes and more boxes. Oh, and back to school.

On my To Do list

1. See a house and sign a lease
   
2. Secure a storage unit
   
3. Move everything to the storage unit on Sunday
   
4. Finish boxing everything up
   

On my needles: For now I'm working on the large cable for the Réallon sweater. Vivian's coat and the accompanying yarn is all packed up, and I'm not too distressed. I will be working on it again once we move, and it will be finished in time for any cooler weather we might have, though such seems far removed these days.

On my kindle: I just finished The Snowman and have opened up Gone Girl, a book Jennifer says I need to have read yesterday (high praise, indeed). Two chapters in, I’m already hooked on the characters and can’t wait to find out their story.

On my roku:
Grimm, Season 2 premiere
West Wing, Season 2
Closer, Season 7 finale

On my iPod: Eastmountainsouth, eponymous

On my Wish List

• A raise
  
• A job, any job, for a certain ex-husband
  
• A house

Week 18

Neil has a post about a politician is telling people that charging a market wage for their services is stealing." Overall, I love this entry. Way to go, Neil. I really do like his journal, which I unfortunately didn't read lately, and so missed the opportunity to donate to RAINN in April, and missed the chance to get an autographed copy of the Neverwhere poster. All this is to say that Neil is a pretty cool guy, doing pretty cool things even when he isn't writing pretty cool books. I confess that I was worried, back when I first got a crush on his intellect in the early 90's, that he would turn out to be a self-centered, sub-adult prat. Glad to know my fears were unfounded.

In case you missed it, as I did, Neil has a lovely poem from 2000 up.

The weather is decidedly springish: cool, at times rainy, but sunshiny and welcoming enough that we all want to go outside, and frequently make up excuses to do so, even if it's just to hop out on the porch for a few minutes to check the mailbox.

The sewing machine arrived.And the cart to put it on, and the dress form, too. When the UPS guy delivered it all, he asked, "Who's the seamstress?" Well, calling myself a seamstress is a bit of a stretch, but we all have to have goals, right? We are heading to Floyd this weekend to visit the fabric store. I have a skirt in mind; Graeme wants a custom ghi, and Ethan is designing "an awesome dice bag." (Frankly, I have no idea what this last bit entails, but I'm completely intrigued and hope I'm up to the challenge it might present.)

Vivian is back on a schedule once again. The boys are as well, and we have set about establishing some house rules. This sounds a lot less exciting than it is, and has actually turned out to be a fantastic conversation. The results are pretty stellar, too. Kat has been a huge part of both the schedule and the conversation, and I am more convinced than ever that she is actually Mary Poppins in steampunk disguise.

In really big news, I can zip my pre-pregnancy pants and skirts again at long last. Ten weeks later, I have clothes once again. All this brings me to my quote of the week: “Cultivate your curves—they may be dangerous but they won’t be avoided.” ― Mae West

Week 17b

Weather: The tornado outbreak this week has spared us thus far, but has brought some wild nights and storms.

Post: 5 Villains who were right all along.

Blog hopping: Sew Mama Sew

Stop Staring and Start Sewing
Looking forward to: Fabric shopping with Kat on Saturday

In my craft basket: The sleeves for Graeme's sweater are complete and only the construction of the whole from the pieces remains, and will have to wait until I have his body available for custom fitting. Until then, I'm thinking of making a skirt.

No words needed:


Thought:
“If one is out of touch with oneself, then one cannot touch others.”
― Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Week 17

Word of the week:
op·ti·mism noun \ˈäp-tə-ˌmi-zəm\
1: a doctrine that this world is the best possible world

The weather in my neck of the woods:
Summer-ish weather here, with highs in the upper 80s while the dogwood blooms. Very weird.

Things that make me happy:
Smiling
Chore lists

On my Kindle:
I loaned my kindle to a coworker for the long holiday weekend, so I'm reading a paper copy of Winter's Bone.

On TV:
Canterbury's Law

On the menu:
Tacos

On my To Do List:
Storage Unit -- it's so full I don't know where to begin. Does anyone want a front-loading washer and dryer set? Honest. I can't afford to house them anymore.

In the craft basket:
I finished Vivian's scarf and am working on the second sleeve for Graeme's sweater.

Looking forward to:
House cleaning. I know, how nutso is that? But truly, it is on my list.

Tips and Tricks:
How to do Laughter Yoga

No words needed:

Lesson learned the past few days:

• Listening to my children teaches me worlds, and teaches them they are worth listening to.
• Organization frees our minds for less mundane activities than wondering what to cook, what to wear, or where things are.

Thought of the week:

Did you know that when you laugh and smile, your face sends signals to your brain that you are happy? Your brain literally responds to the nerves and muscles in your face to determine your emotional state. So what does this mean for self-management? When you're stuck on a frustrating or distressing thought, forcing yourself to smile counteracts the negative emotional state. If you work in customer service, or any time you need to look upbeat when you're really not up for it, making yourself throw on a large, legitimate smile (when your cheeks push upwards) will trick your mind into feeling the mood you need for the moment.

French university researchers measured the power of a smile by having two groups of subjects read the same comics page from the newspaper. One group of subjects was instructed to hold a pencil in their teeth while reading (which activates the muscles used in smiling), while the other group held the pencil with their lips (which does not activate the muscles used in smiling). Those who were unknowingly "smiling" found the cartoons far more humorous and had a better time while reading them than people in the group that weren't smiling.

You can also use smiling and laughter to lift your mood by watching a show or reading a book that you know you find funny. This can feel like an odd choice when you're feeling down, but it's a great way to override the negative emotions and clear your head, especially if your down mood is paralyzing your judgment. Smiling and laughter won't eliminate feeling down, and they shouldn't - every mood has its purpose - but it's nice to know you have an out when you need to put on a happy face. From Emotional Intelligence 2.0

Week 16

Word of the week:
disseise: To put out of possession or occupancy (dih-SEEZ)

The weather in my neck of the woods:
The air here is still and heavy, pendulous. We aren’t scheduled to experience any of the storms or tornadoes, but we can definitely feel them looming nearby. The night was hot enough yesterday that I turned on the air conditioning.

Things that make me happy:
Nighttime routines
Get togethers
Completed taxes for another full year

On my kindle:
I haven’t touched it this week, partly because of time, but probably more likely because I’m so disinterested in Ascend. It’s time to move on.

On my TV:
Jack & Bobby

On the menu:
Chile con carne (and The Big Bang Theory)

On my To Do List:
Dishes
Laundry
Buy a sewing machine
Find simple patterns for dresses and skirts
Find a new place to live (one that welcomes pets for real this time)

New recipe I tried or want to try soon:
Calo Verde

In the craft basket:
(Still) Vivian’s scarf.

On my mind:
Gas prices. I’m hoping folks in California have decent public transit available, since gas there is over $4.20 a gallon. [Hawaii is over $4.50, but everything there is outrageously expensive. That’s what happens when you live on an island. Or is it a volcano? Anyway, when you live in the middle of the ocean.]

Tips and Tricks:
Bedtime rituals work, not only for Vivian, but for those of us participating as well. We got 6 hours of sleep last night, all in a row.

My favorite blog post this week:
15 minutes or less in the kitchen

Blog Hopping:
Cooking During Stolen Moments

No words needed:

Lesson learned the past few days:
Neighbors’ opinions matter more than the truth. This has been true since the 1600’s, but is an unfortunately present day concern.

Thought of the week:
It was the labor movement that helped secure so much of what we take for granted today. The 40-hour work week, the minimum wage, family leave, health insurance, Social Security, Medicare, retirement plans. The cornerstones of the middle-class security all bear the union label. -- Barack Obama

Update of the Week - 15

Word of the week:
Definition of PERSPICACIOUS
: of acute mental vision or discernment : keen
— per·spi·ca·cious·ly adverb
— per·spi·ca·cious·ness noun
— per·spi·cac·i·ty noun

Origin of PERSPICACIOUS
Latin perspicac-, perspicax, from perspicere
First Known Use: 1640

The weather in my neck of the woods:
Weirdly warm and even a bit muggy. This morning's rain feels as though we are going to get a storm or tornado or something.

Things that make me happy:
Hot tea
Fresh Flowers
Fresh fruit
The company of like-minded folk

On my kindle:
Ascend, the third book in Amanda Hocking's Trylle trilogy. Overall, I like the idea of her books (which aren't really long enough or complicated enough to be split up into three installments), but her writing (dare I say) style is really horrible. I'm actually considering not bothering to finish this and moving on to something else.


On my TV:
The Big Bang Theory, Season Two
The boys and I are loving this, and have decided to make a weekly night of the viewing with our geek friends. If you want in, come over on Wednesday nights. We will have chili or some other crockpot wonder.

On the menu:
White Bean Chicken Chili (yes, we have finally expanded our cuisine offerings beyond pizza and bologna sandwiches).

On my To Do List:
Replace battery in Bella's quarantine collar
Post newly-created chore list

New recipe I tried or want to try soon:
Crock pot marble cake

In the craft basket:
Vivian's scarf

On my mind:
Cards with Coworkers

Tips and Tricks:
Have a party on the weekend and go all out on the food offerings. Use Ziploc bags to store leftovers in lunch-sized servings.

My favorite blog post this week:
The past 24 hours have been dedicated to laundry

Blog Hopping:
Life As Lou

No words needed:


Lesson learned the past few days:
It's important to take lids as well as collection containers with the breast pump.

Thought of the week:
“It’s not the tragedies that kill us, it’s the messes.”
― Dorothy Parker

The Monday Report #3 20110307

Word of the week:
knackered

The weather in my neck of the woods:
The recent rains seem to have brought Spring to the valley and the bulbs have put up their shoots. I'm not putting the coats away just yet, though.

Things that make me happy:
Little girl smiles
Big Brother hugs

On my Kindle:
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Streaming:
Prison Break

On the menu:
Spaghetti, chili, pizza -- anything quick and easy and yummy

On my To Do List:
License for Bella
Paperwork, paperwork and more paperwork
Storage unit and movers
Legal matters

New recipe I tried or want to try soon:
Something involving a crock pot

In the craft basket:
Vivian's blanket
Sleeves for Graeme's sweater

Looking forward to this week:
Catching some rest
Acupuncture
Yarn, jewelry and cardigans

Tips and Tricks:
Cut up a bunch of crock pot-ready vegetables and store in the fridge for use later in the week.


My favorite blog post this week:
brought to my attention by kn0w1:
Download the entire archive of Nasa astronomy Picture of the Day (with one command!)

Blog Hopping:
Jaime Anderson

No words needed:


Lesson learned the past few days:
A bottle of formula isn't failure, especially if we both get some rest because of it.

On my mind:
Moving and storage
Legal matters

Thought of the week:
Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. -- Helen Keller

Monday, #2

The weather in my neck of the woods:
Still warmer than it should be. Not that I'm complaining, mind you.

Things that make me happy:
Hot tea and the company of friends.

Book I'm reading:
I just started The Red Pyramid this morning. Rick Riordan is proving he still has it.

What's on my TV today:
Roswell

On the menu for dinner:
Pizza (so sue me)

On my To Do List:
Clean out jeep
Find a comfy chair for the den
Move recliner to nursery

New recipe I tried or want to try soon:
Nope, not cooking.

In the craft basket:
Nearly done with the border on the baby blanket.

Looking forward to this week:
ob appointment, napping

Tips and Tricks:
The huge batch of baked spaghetti in the refrigerator has been a lifesaver.

My favorite blog post this week:
MIT Fight songs

Blog Hopping:
I haven't had time. What a week, and it's only Monday.

No words needed:


Lesson learned the past few days:
Naps.

On my mind:
I need two drivers. And a secretary.

Thought of the week:
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear ---- 1 John 4:18

Happy Monday

The weather in my neck of the woods:
Mild and in the mid-50s. Ethan calls it June-uary.

Things that make me happy:
Knitting, playing cards or hanging out with the boys, lunchtime with coworkers.

Book I'm reading:
I have been (*gasp!*) too tired to read lately. I have The Red Pyramid and The Hunger Games in the queue. It doesn't help that The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is a seriously tough act to follow.

What's on my TV today:
Veronica Mars

On the menu for dinner:
Leftover Chinese. I'm just not up for cooking.

On my To Do List:
Find freezer recipes, buy ingredients for cooking for the coming month, clean out the jeep and install baby seat.

New recipe I tried or want to try soon:
Cinnamon Rolls
Pizza Crazy Bread
Tangy Beef Stroganoff

In the craft basket:
The baby blanket (border still isn't finished)
The boys' sweaters (I'm running out of yarn and they still don't have sleeves)

Looking forward to this week:
Ob appointment, Chinese New Year

Tips and Tricks:
Buy as many pages of the current Forever Stamp as possible.
Keep forever stamps and a few envelopes in your wallet or everyday bag.

My favorite blog post this week:
A co-worker's status: "Some people are like slinkies. They aren't worth much, but they do make you smile when you push them down the stairs."

Blog Hopping:
Full Bellies, Happy Kids

No words needed:


Lesson learned the past few days:
Do not play Magic the Gathering with Ethan. He is really, really good at it.

On my mind:
How to afford a lawyer
Missing my farm

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:
A perennial favorite:
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.-- 1 Chronicles 16:34