Daybook

Outside My Window::

::more rain.

I am Listening to::

::my floors. Boy are they noisy! Late at night, when the house is still, they creak like crazy. I guess they are just settling into our home. But my "mama ear" is conditioned to awaken when the floors creak. Heretofore, that meant someone was up and about. These floors have a life of their own. I haven't slept soundly in two weeks.

I am wearing ::

:: boot cut jeans, boots, a blue turtleneck sweater, lip gloss. I'm happy to report that I've been wearing real clothes since my pre-dawn trip to the airport in a monsoon.

I am Thankful For::

::Signing Time and a baby who is clearly delighted to communicate.

I am Pondering:

::"We all have important other things we want to work on. When you come into the kitchen, the thing to remember is that you're going to be there for a certain time. Drop everything else and concentrate on doing the very best you can."  ~Laurel Robertson on how to find the time to invest in cooking.

I am Reading:

::Three to Get Married

From the Kitchen::

::Mary Beth and I have been cooking from the Pioneer Woman's new cookbook. After about three days, I was crying "Uncle!" and reaching for Laurel's Kitchen. PW is a bit too rich for every day. As we cook and talk about cookbooks, we've been down that ol' nutrition rabbit trail. Just what is the optimal diet? Ah, the eternal question.

I am Thinking:

::That when it comes to mothers and children, husbands and wives, there is no such thing as bittersweet. Bitter women cannot be sweet and families need ample daily servings of sweet women.

I am Creating::

::a home. I'm investing my whole heart in the  endeavor. It's well worth it, I think.

On my iPod::

::iBreviary, though I am increasingly frustrated when it doesn't update reliably. I'm thinking about splurging on Universalis.

Towards a Real Education::

::We're working on finishing up some faith notebooks this week.

Towards Rhythm and Beauty:

::I'm preparing for inevitable shift in rhythm that will come with Mike's absence.

::To Live the Liturgy:

::gathering candles and candlemaking supplies in preparation for Candlemas next week.

::I am Hoping and Praying:

:: for my husband, whose workload has suddenly tripled.

In the Garden:

::it's time to peruse seed catalogs.

Around the House:

::The contractor is currently AWOL, with about 400 square feet of flooring left to nail down. La la la la

On Keeping Home:

::I'm so grateful that homemaking is such a creative endeavor and I'm even more grateful that it's a creative endeavor that requires the work of my hands. It's a blessing to be able to create away from desk and computer.

One of My Favorite Things:

::arriving flights

Sarah Annie this week:

::She's signing like crazy all of sudden, much to our delight. I'm sharing her favorite "sign" below.

A Few Plans for the Rest of the Week:

::Hopefully, the contractor will reappear and we will complete this flooring project. Then, we can move back into our home at last.

A Picture Thought I'm sharing:

Touchdown!

Nicky taught her this particular "sign."

Sarah Annie is now a bona fide Peyton Manning fan.