The Simple Woman's Daybook 05/04/2009

For today: May 4, 2009

Outside my window: the day is overcast, gray and probably going to be drizzly. I am so over the gray days... even though I realize the desperate need for rain. I just wish we wouldn't get it all at once... sigh

I am thinking: that if I don't get the ginger in the ground soon I will have to buy some more...so the plan is to do that first thing this morning.

From the learning room: comes the realization that even tho I have done a couple of things using card weaving, I sure have a lot to learn.

I am thankful for: the time period I grew up in. I realize that I have no clue what it is like for todays youngsters... Even tho we were very poor as I grew up, there was never the need to be fearful when walking home from school or to the movie on Saturday afternoon. The worst thing that kids did then was drink beer at the lake and pull Halloween pranks. Families were close. Even dysfunctional families...

From the kitchen: will soon come the smell of sausage. We found store made sausage at the Piggly Wiggly store near us and bought a lot of it. It's a good thing... Both Piggly Wiggly stores are closing this week...

I am wearing...a rather horrible loose fitting dress that I bought a couple of years ago at Dillard's. And the thing is.... they (I messed up and bought 2 while they were on sale) will never wear out...sigh

I am reading... Angels and Demons by Dan Brown for the second time. It really is time to go to the book store...sigh

I am hoping... that nothing else breaks around here. It seems to have been something every month since December... and the bright side of that coin is that once it is all done it will be another five years before it all comes up again...lol

I am creating... a list in my mind of what kind of Block of the Month I can do for my Fabric Follies Two site. This has been circling my mind for a few months now and I am finally ready to do it...

I am hearing... the whir of my computer fan... I really need to update my pc, but have to wait a bit...

Around the house... I need to pay more attention to my house plants. For some reason every now and then I go through a period where they are the very last thing on my mind... then when they are almost dead I seem to realize that I really do care about them and have to bring them all back to life... What's up with that?

One of my favorite things... is music. I don't listen to it very much any more because it bothers DH a bit. But every now and then something comes along like the You Tube treasures of Engelbert Humperdinck that I found last night that just make the old skin tingle the way it did back in the day...lol (I tripped on over to some old Tom Jones thinking it would do the same... somehow the gyrations that go along with "She's a Lady" just didn't do it for me anymore!)...lol

A few plans for the rest of the week: include the weekly trip to McKinney to the allergist. I am really getting a bit tired of those shots... the irritation and itchiness last for days... almost up to the time of the next shot... Anyway... also planning to do a bit card weaving, maybe some bookmarks...

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you:

"The way things are when a person is born is considered the norm for his life. There is no concept of things being any other way....." Anonymous

This is my great-grandfather's muzzle loader being held by my Uncle Bobby. What treasures we have from the past...

The Simple Woman's Daybook 02/02/2009

For today: February 2, 2009

Outside my window: the sun is shining and it is 50 degrees. This is Texas weather and by tonight it could be either 70F or 20F. Changeable...that's us. But the squirrels that I watch through the window each day don't mind either way. They just love to play on the 8 foot tall tree stump that we planted the trumpet vine around.

I am thankful for: the ease of internet shopping. A week or two ago I did my first shopping through Amazon.com and ordered a spinning book and a rigid heddle loom book. Today it was Elizabeth Zimmermann... didn't have to go out, rain or shine to the book stores that don't carry them here in our little city anyway. Love that.

From the kitchen: has come the sound of my wonderful DH cooking for me after the latest cardiac cath last week. Yummm Good!

I am wearing: Stretch green/khaki pants with a Donkenny ... can we say washes and dries like a dream... red/black/green khaki print blouse.

I am reading: Hands On Rigid Heddle Weaving by Betty Davenport and The Alpine Quilt by Mary Daheim

I am hoping: that this black, horrible feeling of dispair about the state of our country will pass soon....

I am creating: a knitted scarf with the tan homespun Romney/Merino X. I am trying to figure out how to come up with a better wrist abacus than the one I made yesterday. This one works, but I know I can do better if I just sit down and think about it..lol

Around the house: DH and I rearranged the kitchen cabinets a bit this morning. Makes for a much easier "get up" and "make coffee"... ;o)

One of my favorite things: is coming across an idea and then making it myself...love that.

I am hearing: the sound of the letter opener as DH opens the latest mail...the sound of the squeak as he leans back in his chair and the shuffle of the paper as he reads it. Life is good.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you:

The Simple Woman's Daybook 12/29/2008

For today: December 29, 2008

Outside my window: the sun has not come up...all is quiet and even the sound of traffic on the highway is muted. I am waiting for the first sounds of the wren to stir and let me know that sunlight is coming.

I am thinking: that it's just not fair to have the flu over Christmas.

I am thankful for: fingers...achy or not, they still type and crochet, spin and weave...whatever they are called upon to do. And for flu shots...when you get the flu anyway at least it's not so bad.

From the kitchen: has come very little for the past week or so. Perhaps today some time can be spent cooking.

I am wearing: my favorite green "house coat" ...as my grandmother would say. When did house coat become "robe"...???

I am reading: the news online and trying to follow the new law they have passed in an effort to keep children's toys safe...while inadvertently making it illegal to sell any hand made baby things without an enormous amount of money spent on individual testing...putting many small businesses and cottage industries out of business...sigh The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008

I am hoping: that the Congress will come up with a compromise to their plan ....

I am creating: only make-work projects at the moment. Nothing that is really planned is in the works ... mostly I need to organize and categorize... finish dyeing some of the threads needed to work on one of the projects.

Around the house: we are loving the new tile floors. Spilling drops of coffee on the sleepy early morning run from kitchen to office is not nearly such a big thing.

One of my favorite things: is sitting here next my DH each morning with our coffee and our computers...quietly checking out the news and starting another new day.

I am hearing: the beep, beep as my DH heats his cup of coffee in the microwave.

Around the house: rearrange and organize after having tile laid on the living room, office and hall floors. But must stop with the cough and yuks first...flu is not good...

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

The Simple Woman's Daybook

I know this is not Monday... but since I missed it yesterday...

Today: November 25, 2008

Outside my window: the sun is low in the west and too bright to leave the shades open. It will be dark in an hour and a half... too soon for this day to be over.

I am thinking: how tired my legs feel after spending all afternoon out and about. I wish DH's coffee drinking buddy were not moving. It is a sad day. On the other hand...it is wonderful that we live in the age of computers and they can stay in touch even from one country to another.

I am thankful: that my clothes that I am planning to wear Thanksgiving still fit! I am also thankful that it will be a year (in about a week) since I have had one cigarette. I am not thankful that I have gained 40 pounds! But I would not exchange the 40 pounds to go back to smoking...it is completely worth it.

From the kitchen: the cranberries and orange are calling! I love fresh cranberry sauce and always make it ...

I am wearing: stretch denim pants with a cotton blue/white shirt...but not for long...lol It's almost time to get comfortable...

I am creating: very little today. Perhaps after supper....

I am going: to start preparing for Thanksgiving with our daughter. This is a real treat since we seldom get to do this!

I am reading: every pattern on Ravelry I can find. And it seems there are so many I will never run out!

I am hoping: to put our tree up the day after Thanksgiving. It should not be too hard this year since it is all stored at ground level...instead of in the attic!

I am hearing: my DH yawn as he settles in his chair..it has been a long day.

Around the house: everything is quiet. I can hear the pulse ringing in my ears. It's very easy to just sink into my chair and relax.

One of my favorite things:

is this picture. It always makes my legs feel that warm swish from standing on the floor furnace. It was so fascinating to watch my dress mysteriously fluff out and just stay there! I did this all the time as a child and can still hear the words... "You're going to burn a hole in your shoes!"

A few plans for the rest of the week: include Thanksgiving...such fun. Then the Christmas tree... also fun.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing:

The Simple Woman's Daybook

Peggy, of The Simple Woman, has set up this Monday morning meme that is being participated in by many in blogdom. I found it over at Apron Strings and Other Ties That Bind and fell in love it.

TODAY ... November 3, 2008

Outside my window... the sunshine breaking through the trees is casting a lovely highlight on the three large trunks of the pin oak tree in the meadow. I am reminded that we have not been across the bridge in a long while and am wondering if the pear tree on the other side has any pears.

I am thinking ... that yesterday's Sunday dinner with DSIL, his mom, and the grandsons made for a very good day. There is nothing so sweet as the smell of loved ones when the hello hugs happening... the shampoo, soap, cologne smells... memories in themselves.

I am thankful ...that I am no longer in home economics... all that looking over my shoulder while I am trying to learn to knit would drive me nuts... ;o)

From the kitchen ...the coffee pot is empty. yuk.

I am wearing... my very loose fitting blue housedress. Ugly...but one of my favorites. I am definitely old enough now that comfort can come before style and I cannot be bothered with it..lol

I am creating... only a small headache as I try to finish the knitted socks for DH. Finished one .. it, like many others I have made, is too short even though I thought I had followed the directions to the letter. This time I will rely on my own observations and forget the directions...

I am going...to be cooking breakfast in a little bit. I would tell you what, but the fact is there is no bacon..sigh.. so have no clue what it will be until I am standing in front of the cabinet.

I am reading... for the 3rd or 4th time.. Hour Game.. by David Baldacci.

I am hoping...to have enough time today to work on some instructions for a spindling class I will be teaching at the museum next year.

I am hearing... the click of the mouse and pages coming up on my DH's pc that sits next to mine.

Around the house...I am wanting to de-stash around my chair. It seems that before I can whistle Dixie I have loaded pounds of wool, yarn, cloth, projects, needles, etc...around my chair until I cannot sit there without feeling guilty that at least some of it is not finished. Which is intrinsically unfair... There are many finished and moved...and something else is stashed there in it's place..phew

One of my favorite things...

This is a tiny creamer that is used for my coffee each morning. It was a gift from DS and DDIL a few years ago. Perfect for one person's coffee.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: include working on the spindling presentation and lessons, finishing the socks and scarf that are now on the knitting needles.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...