Daybook: Hot Enough For You?

Outside My Window

The heat index is 115 degrees. 

I am Listening to

A huge crowd of children from 2-16 playing a Wii dance game. Indoor exercise. Lots of giggling. Rather loud, really.

I am Wearing

Shoes. I have received two new pairs of shoes in the last couple of weeks. After Katie was born, my first time up after the c-section and epidural, I felt a shooting electrical pain down my left leg and around my arch. The anesthesioligist swore he had nothing to do with it. It hurt more or less, off and on, for about three years. In that time, I learned to love shoes with excellent arch support.  And I never went shoeless. "Barefoot and pregnant," cute as it sounds, is not a good idea. Lately though, I've gotten a little lazy. Shoeless or flip flops or even a cute pair of dress shoes.--none of them good ideas.

My shin swelled in a weird way. My foot hurt. My knee hurt. I whined a lot. My child with a Nike connection presented me with these one fine morning. In bright pink. He was so dear and so proud of himself for listening carefully to my whining. So sure he'd solve my foot problems. And, oh yes, these shoes are awesome. Really, really good!

But they look a little weird with skirts and such. So, another package arrived with these. Aren't they darling? And they do everything they promise for arches and ouches. Because my husband is awesome, too.

So, there you go. I'm wearing shoes. All. the. time. (I was going to take a picture, but my pedicure looks like it was painted on by a two-year-old. Because it was.)

I am so Grateful for

air conditioning.

I'm Pondering

 "Wait the kids set the table at your house? You mean like in the movies?" 

~spoken by a dinner guest of Katie's at our house one night last week. And she has me thinking, really thinking, about what the kids "get" to do around here.

I am Reading

10 Habits of Happy Mothers. Good stuff here. Really good stuff.   Actually, I am re-reading.  Thursdays, here on this blog, we are digging deep and getting to know this book, these habits, and each other.  We've started talking here .

My current, fun, treat-after-massive-housecleaning book is Signature Styles: Twenty Crafters Stitch their Look. I don't really--ahem--have a style. It's pretty much a look in the closet and wear what fits kind of thing. There's no budget for it and for so many years I've been pregnant or postpartum or nursing that complete utility has dictated what I wear. Furthermore, it's hard for me to spend money on my own clothes for some reason. I always head out to buy myself something and end up at a kids' clothing store. Since what fits right now is often eight years old or older,  I'm guessing I'm dated. But I'm going to work on it and this book is lots of fun!

And I'm carefully reading Stitch by Stitch and hoping that when I figure out a style, I'll actually be able to make the vision come to life. We shall see...

I am Thinking

about whether Sarah meant forever when she told me she was "all done with nunnies" last night. Actually, I'm trying not to think about it. Guess I'll know tonight. Yeah. Trying not to think about it. It's nearly bedtime, though. So we shall see. 

I am Creating

knitting:

just finished a sweater for Karoline (details on Ravelry)

sewing:

a reversible tote bag

or two (Mary Beth)

or three (Katie)

On my iPod

Pinterest.  There's an app for that! I may never read Facebook again. I've got Pinterest on my iPod for filling boring moments during which I otherwise would be mindlessly clicking through Facebook. Instead of random status updates, I go to Pinterest and get a visual fix. Pinterest is highly addictive. Don't say I didn't warn you.

Towards a Real Education

Christian all registered. Patrick all registered. Everyone else all planned and purchased for the fall term. Feeling rather relaxed about the whole thing. Fancy that. 

Towards Rhythm and Beauty

Michael has a new real life job. He's working the overnight desk at USAToday. That means he leaves for work at 6PM and arrives home around 4AM. Moms have trouble getting to sleep until all the chicks are in the nest. Trust me, I'm working hard to overcome instinct in this case. 

To Live the Liturgy...

We'll celebrate St. Anne this week.

I am Hoping and Praying

for Elizabeth deHority. She is constantly on my heart and in my prayers. She needs you now. Please, please pray with me. 

 for all the people who have written me recently to ask for prayers.

 In the Garden

I dearly hope that when this heat breaks we will be able to breathe life into the garden once again. Poor, wilted lovelies.

Around the House

Now that I know who will be home for the fall (everybody), it's time to draw up a new housekeeping list.

From the Kitchen 

Peaches. Peaches. Peaches. Can't get enough of them. Can't keep them stocked in the fridge.

One of My Favorite Things

Homecomings. Oh, I know I've said it before, countless times. And I know I said he wasn't going to travel any more. But travel he does and so homecomings are still one of my favorite things. 

A Few Plans for the Week

St. Anne

various doctor and dentist appointments

knitting, sewing

heavy duty yardwork as soon as the heat breaks

Picture thoughts: