Monday, Monday

FOR TODAY (Monday, February 23)...

Outside my window...the sun is shining; it's still a bit nip in the air, but spring IS coming!

I am thinking...about all the tasks I need to accomplish today; I just brewed my second pot of coffee this morning, and I'm thinking about getting up and grabbing another cup.

I am thankful for...my B&SIL, and my beautiful nieces and handsome nephews!

From the learning rooms...I attended my first Catholic Baptism (well, other than my own, which I don't remember) this weekend for my niece. Very interesting stuff.

From the kitchen...I haven't made up a menu for this week yet, but it will prob'ly include spaghetti & meatballs, and a new recipe I found for spinach & swiss stuffed chicken (yumm!)

I am wearing... jeans, a white ribbed long-sleeve tee and a black & white hoodie.

I am creating...a digital photo album of the snapshots we took over the weekend

I am going....next door, as my neighbor just called and asked to borrow some milk for her coffee

I am reading... "It Wasn't Always Easy but I Sure Had Fun" by Lewis Grizzard

I am hoping...that it warms up throughout the day

I am hearing...the TV in the living room and the BOOM-BOOM of a car stereo going passed my house

Around the house...is where I plan to spend the day

One of my favorite things...laughter

A few plans for the rest of the week: getting some chores done around here, perhaps preparing my veggie bed for spring plantings

Here is picture thought I am sharing...



If you would like to take part in your own weekly daybook, visit The Simple Woman's Daybook for all the details..

Another week ahead

FOR TODAY (Monday, February 16)...

Outside my window...it's still before sunrise, so its rather dark outside my window..

I am thinking...I have a ton of housework to get done today.

I am thankful for...the relationship I have had throughout my life with my mother...so many women seem to have "issues" with theirs (jealousy, competition, anger...whatever), and my mom and I have always been tight and right...for that, I'm grateful.

From the learning rooms...well, I learned this week that Abraham Lincoln, prior to signing the Emancipation Proclamation tried to "buy off" the slaves of the southern states and proposed that they be made to leave the country entirely. (I, personally, had NO IDEA)

From the kitchen...This week's menu includes Italian sausage sandwiches, Mediterranean chicken, smothered pork chops, steak & sloppy joes

I am wearing... my pj's and bathrobe...it's only 6:30 am.

I am creating...a "to-do" list for the week

I am going....to get myself a cup of coffee! (No plans for any outings this week)

I am reading..."Backstabber" by Tim Cockey (the final installment of his Hitchcock Sewell series)and "It Wasn't Always Easy but I Sure Had Fun" by Lewis Grizzard

I am hoping...that this lingering cough will soon go away completely!

I am hearing...the coffee brewing and the computer humming.

Around the house...I have tons of housework to do; dishes need put away, the bed needs made, the bathroom needs cleanin', I have laundry piling up (but, that won't get done until tomorrow)...

One of my favorite things...a good, strong cuppa joe!

A few plans for the rest of the week: can't say that I really have any...laundry will have to be done tomorrow...I told my neighbor I would help her set up her computer...

Here is picture thought I am sharing...



If you would like to take part in your own weekly daybook, visit The Simple Woman's Daybook for all the details..

Mo's Monday report

FOR TODAY (Monday, February 9)...

Outside my window...the sun is shining brightly.

I am thinking...I wish I felt better, because I have a ton of housework to accomplish, and absolutely NO energy to do it!

I am thankful for...over-the-counter cold meds

From the learning rooms...30 mummies found in newly discovered tomb in Egypt

From the kitchen...I haven't thought much about this, yet; the mister made beef stew yesterday, and I feel so crappy this morning that we may just have THAT for dinner again, tonite.

I am wearing... my pj's and bathrobe...I feel like crap.

I am creating...a nest of blankets on my couch, in front of the television

I am going...to spend the entire day on the couch.

I am reading...still reading "The House of Mirth". Don't feel like reading much - that alone tells ya, I feel like crap.

I am hoping...these Nyquil cold & sinus pills will work, and I feel better before the day is through.

I am hearing...myself breathing and sniffling.

Around the house...looks like a bomb went off! And, ya know what?! I don't care....

One of my favorite things...breathing (easily)....I sure do miss that.

A few plans for the rest of the week: getting over this sickness.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...



If you would like to take part in your own weekly daybook, visit The Simple Woman's Daybook for all the details..

A Simple Start to February

FOR TODAY (Monday, February 2, 2009)...Groundhog's Day

Outside my window...all is quiet; the sun is just starting to shine and the streets are deserted.

I am thinking...I have a lot to get done around here today, and since I've yet to even have my first cup of coffee...I don't feel like doin' any of it!

I am thankful for...FastBoys Wings, who provided us with our dinner last night, so that I could watch my beloved Steelers win their 6th Superbowl Championship!!

From the learning rooms...tomorrow is Imbolc; one of the eight Sabbats on the Wheel of the Year. Imbolc means "in the belly" and is the celebration of the "quickening of Spring"; It is a time for renewal, healing, and complete transformations. (time to get that Spring cleaning underway...)

From the kitchen...this week's menu will look like this: (Mon) chicken fingers & onion rings; (Tues) Polynesian pork chops over rice; (Wed) Swiss steak, mashed potatoes and fresh asparagus; (Thur) Pork roast; (Fri)'The Works' Pasta and (Sat)pork quesadillas & refried beans

I am wearing... l.e.i. jeans, a gray, long-sleeved tee & a pink chenille pullover.

I am creating...nothing currently...

I am going...to finish up this post, get myself a cuppa, and give my mom a call so we can talk about how totally AWESOME that game was last nite!!

I am reading...Still working thru "The House of Mirth" by Edith Wharton, and "The Edible Woman" by Margaret Atwood

I am hoping...that it warms up today; I am ready for spring, already!

I am hearing...the coffee pot, telling me it's ready for me to have a big, 'ol cup!

Around the house...it's just a typical Monday - the mister is back to work, I have an entire house that needs restored to normal living condition, the hounds are playin' in the other room, and here I sit, behind this computer screen!

One of my favorite things...NFL football ; I am going to miss it (until August).

A few plans for the rest of the week: Nothing much, really. This week seems to be wide open to possibilities!

Here is picture thought I am sharing...



If you would like to take part in your own weekly daybook, visit The Simple Woman's Daybook for all the details..

Simple start to the week ahead

FOR TODAY (Monday, January 26, 2009)

Outside my window...there's fog so heavy I can't see to the road, but the temperatures are looking *much* better, with high's expected in the mid-60's.

I am thinking...I can't WAIT for the weather to get warm (and stay warm!) every day; I'm a spring kinda gal!

I am thankful for...my two hounds, who give me unconditional love and who make me smile each and every day!

From the learning rooms...Today marks the beginning of Chinese New Year, the Year of the Ox. Chinese New Year starts with the New Moon on the first day of the new year and ends on the full moon 15 days later.

From the kitchen...sooo...no grocery trip yesterday as I had planned, BUT I do have a weekly menu all planned out; meatloaf tonite, swiss chicken and quesadillas later in the week. Now, to see if I stick to it!!

I am wearing...Levi's, a gray Jaguar sweatshirt, and gray slipper-socks.

I am creating...a new photo "gallery" along our hallway - now, I need a few more picture frames, tho, so the 'project' is on hold until I can get my hands on some!

I am going...to stop in at my neighbor's later today, as she had a Dr.'s appt. this morning and she is rather worried about the results of the scans. Prayers that her issue is benign would be appreciated!

I am reading...right now, I have two novels on the go: first, I'm reading Edith Wharton for the first time, and am about 1/3 of the way thru "The House of Mirth", which I must say is more entertaining than I had first imagined it would be! I'm also reading "The Edible Woman" by Margaret Atwood (on of my favorite authors) and I'm finding both reads to be quite similar in their tone and subject matter.

I am hoping...that the Steelers win the Superbowl

I am hearing...The Morning Show on the television in the living room, and one of the hounds eating breakfast in the kitchen.

Around the house...well, its Monday, and that means back to the daily chore routine...I'm feelin' a bit under the weather this morning, so I think I may just do the "regular" stuff (make the bed, do the dishes, etc.) and call it a day!

One of my favorite things...the quiet of the early morning hours, just as the sun is coming up over the horizon...

A few plans for the rest of the week: nothing really, except the regular routine...and, waitin' around for Sunday afternoon (Go STEELERS!!!)

Here is picture thought I am sharing...


If you would like to take part in your own weekly daybook, visit The Simple Woman's Daybook for all the details...

Ahhh...Simplicity

FOR TODAY (Monday, Jan. 19, 2009)...

Outside my window...It is still dark outside; the sun hasn't yet peeked up over the horizon. It's been colder than usual here at the beach, but there is promise of sunshine and warmer temperatures later today.

I am thinking...that I am going to enjoy participating in this weekly journal-like carnival, "The Simple Woman's Daybook". What a great way to begin one's week, with reflection on your thoughts regarding how to embark upon it...

I am thankful for...our little, humble abode.

Mid pleasures and palaces though we may roam,
Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home. ~ John Howard Payne

From the learning rooms... Jan.18-25 marks the 8th annual Hunt for Happiness Week, sponsored by the Secret Society of Happy People. The idea is simple - to encourage people to actively seek happiness during the week. A stop at their homepage will give you ALLL sorts of ideas for celebrating; from handing out I-Spy coupons, to coordinating "happy" projects for an entire classroom - they even offer a "31 types of happiness project" to garner your participation. [Okay, so this is one of the prompts that can be skipped, and as I have no children, I suppose that would be the easy option - perhaps the preferred one - however, I am a firm believer in the fact that one should learn SOMETHING every day of one's life, regardless of age or child-rearing status! So...I'm going to try to utilize this prompt as well, if at all possible. ]

From the kitchen...I made a batch of brownies last night. As I've said before, I'm not very good with creating weekly menus ahead of time, but it seems it may be time to *get* good at it; with the mister's paycheck coming bi-weekly now instead of weekly (Happy New Year), I venture that it would be more cost effective - not to mention time-saving - to plan a menu instead of making daily runs to the grocery store. We shall see if that plan gains fruition.

I am wearing...As I just climbed out of bed less than 30 minutes ago, my current ensemble consists of red woolly slipper-socks, red plaid flannel PJ bottoms, a grey "Axemen" t-shirt, and a plush, pink housecoat. (did I mention its been cold here?!)

I am creating...a new blogspot for the furry folks here at our cottage.

I am going...to pour myself another cup of coffee and peruse some of the other participants entries for "The Simple Woman's Daybook"

I am reading...one of James Rollins 'SIGMA Force' novels, entitled "Black Order"; typical macho, testosterone-filled, espionage, thriller type story....and, as is usual with his novels, I'm lovin' every minute of it!

I am hoping...that the Steelers win the Superbowl!!

I am hearing...blessed silence, right now. It's nearly 5a.m., the hounds are asleep on the couch and I can hear them breathing....

Around the house...things are pretty quiet. The mister is already off to work; the hounds are sleeping on the couch, and I'm debating rather to make another pot of coffee. Not much that needs to get done today, which leaves plenty of time to finish reading that novel!

One of my favorite things...Febreze Air Effects spray, Spring & Renewal scent. (it smells so-ooo good!!)

A few plans for the rest of the week: Not much on the agenda for this week; I have a bookbox and a bookring book that need to resume their travels, I want to work on "spring cleaning" my living room (in concert with Organized Home's Grand Plan Challenge), and (hopefully) write out a menu-plan for the next two weeks and shop accordingly!

Here is picture thought I am sharing...


The right idea at 5am