Small Successes #1

We seem to be measuring our days with the yardstick of 'what isn't getting done.' I've been quite frustrated and discouraged with this, so I thought I'd borrow a page from Danielle Bean's 'Small Successes'. We have so much that is in an unfinished state, that I thought I'd try to write down what did get accomplished.

Our successes for today include:

1. Taking down the rest of the Christmas decorations.

2. Boys making calzones in the kitchen.

3. Catching up the laundry downstairs. Folding all the clean, and shipping it off to its respective rooms.

4. Getting stuff picked up a bit in the hall, and on the landing/mudroom area. (If we had a mudroom...)

5. Priming some of the green, green walls in the kitchen, to try to calm the color down. It's taking at least 2 coats of high-hiding primer, and we're hoping that the new color will cover a multitude of ills.

6. Sorting paperwork/knitting patterns, to try to tame the paper tiger.

So we have accomplished a bit. I have these days where I feel I do nothing but spin my wheels. All hail the small successes.

We've Run Away

To the beach again. It's that time of the year. One of the beauties of homeschooling is that we can go on vacation during the off season, when it's still warm and beautiful. We have an awesome house, with the surf right out the back door, and space and time to play.

The kids are involved in a raucous game of Apples to Apples. What a blessing that Smallest Cubkid is reading now, and can join in rather enthusiastically. They're definitely raising the roof and having a good time.

Time. How I need a good dose of relaxing time. It has been a tough year.

There's Been a Mutiny

Apparently my children don't like squash. Summer squash to be specific. It was most impressive tonight, when I served the offending vegetable. Every single one of them lined up on the opposite side of the table, and flat-out refused to eat any. Even the enticement of ice cream afterward was barely enough to make them take a bite. Interesting. I think I see a new potential threat.

What's This? A Blog?

Methinks I need to update a little more often than every 5 months. But what busy months they've been.

We're in the thick of 4H and home re-organization. Why? Since you need to add to your normal stress by reorganizing things at home. We've been to the State Fair twice this week, and go back twice more. And construct the fairbooth for our county fair in the midst. I think I need a nap.

The Simple Woman's Daybook, March 2, 2009

FOR TODAY March 2, 2009...

Outside my window...
Bitterly cold, and light snow blowing

I am thinking...
that I'm tired. It's been a long day filled with 4H stuff.

I am thankful for...
Opportunities my kids have to learn important skills.

From the learning rooms...
Not much today. That frustrates me.

From the kitchen...
Dinner the 15yo made tonight, including a veg, without parental assistance. I'm finally reaping the fruits of all those long, tedious years of allowing the kids to help in the kitchen!

I am wearing...
Jeans, my favorite turtleneck, and my favorite flannel shirt. Probably the same thing as last Monday!

I am creating...
socks. Knitted socks in wonderful, fun colors.

I am going...
Crazy? Does that count? To bed? Or to town tomorrow, with the Oldest CubKid for her reenacting.

I am reading...
Lots of 4H paperwork, Language Logic still, and blogs on organization.

I am hoping...
I can figure out why I'm not sleeping well lately.

I am hearing...
The dishwasher being loaded grudgingly, and the sewing machine running frantically, as Oldest Cubkid prepares for tomorrow.

Around the house...
Just trying to keep it together.

One of my favorite things...
My minivan. Never thought I'd say that. But it gets us to and fro in a practical way, with all the kids and their gear.

A few plans for the rest of the week...
Reenacting tomorrow, schoolwork, looking for a piano.

Here is picture thought I am sharing... Outside the winter window, my favorite bird.

Please visit Peggy's website for all the Daybook links: www.thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com!

The Simple Woman's Daybook, February 23, 2009

FOR TODAY...

Outside my window...
Bright sun, and a dusting of snow, and cold!

I am thinking...
that I need to redirect a few kids toward schoolwork.

I am thankful for...
firewood, hot tea, and nothing scheduled outside the house today.

From the learning rooms...
Journey North class, Math, and trying to figure out what
needs to be finished up in the next 10 weeks

From the kitchen...
Not sure today. We've had a run of soups lately.
Might be time for something more solid.

I am wearing...
Jeans, a favorite turtleneck, and my softest,
most favorite flannel shirt.

I am creating...
A more peaceful place to learn and live.

I am going...
to run a few errands later.

I am reading...
The Gentle Art of Domesticity by Jane Brocket.
Love the colors!

I am hoping...
that we make forward progress today.
It's been a frazzled weekend.

I am hearing...
the fire popping, George Winston playing in the background,
and sick kids still coughing.

Around the house...
It's cleaner! More open spaces.

Two of my favorite things...
my tea mugs from Salmon Falls Pottery,
and my flannel shirt.

A few plans for the rest of the week:
Wrap up some paperwork that needs to be tended,
grocery shopping at some point, and
school, always school.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...
Can't get it to behave! ARGH! I will conquer this thing.....

Be sure to visit Peggy at thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com for more daybooks!

Because I probably should...

Update the blog occasionally. It's been a long week. It's been a long month. It's been a long year so far! We are getting good school done, except for the latest blip on the radar of 3 sick kids. We have a lot of activities going right now, including lots of good musical stuff for the Oldest CubKid. But I'm tired of snow and cold. I'm ready to move into Spring.

I've been crocheting a brightly colored bag lately, to hold my sock yarn, etc. I needed the color fix, I think. I should finish it tomorrow, then need to decide if I'm going to line it or not. I got the idea from a blog I found, Attic24. Love Lucy's pics, and I'm jealous of her view from her attic in the Yorkshire Dales. Wish I was there....

Anyway. I'm going to try to figure out how to play with some of the other blogs out there. I like the Simple Woman's Daybook idea, and also the uncluttering one. Boy do we need that about now. If I could just figure out how to clone myself, one of me could school the kids, while the other one cleans the house. Oh, wait. That would be the fundamental problem with my life, wouldn't it? There's only 1 of me.