The Simple Woman’s Daybook ~ December 14

Here is my Daybook entry for today ~

Outside my window. . .sunshine and breezy. The Christmas deer have been placed around the yard, some along a winding stream of blue lights; and the nativity scene is in its place out by the pond.
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I am thinking. . .about and praying for my brother-in-law, Chris, as he is in surgery this morning.
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From the learning room. . .Christmasy reading and life lessons.
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I am thankful for. . .my two birthday children – Michael and Laura!
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From the kitchen. . .French toast for dinner tonight.
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I am wearing. . .navy shirt and sweat pants.
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I am creating. . .shopping lists to maximize my time when I hit the stores after payday this week.
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I am going. . .to try to get a little wrapping done this week, if I can.
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I am reading. . .“A Place of Quiet Rest” by Nancy Leigh DeMoss.
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I am hoping. . .that the stores still have everything on my list.
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I am hearing. . .Muppets singing Christmas carols, feet running up and down the stairs. Waiting to hear my phone ring with an update from my sister on Chris.
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Around the house. . .dishes and laundry to be done, Christmas tins on the kitchen counter filled with fudge, I’m not even going to mention (okay, I did) the rubbermaid tubs that still need to go back into the attic.
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One of my favorite things. . .reading Christmas stories at bedtime with the littles.
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A few plans for the rest of the week. . .shopping, baking cookies and attending a Christmas Cookie Exchange at a friend’s house, ice skating, basketball and cheer practices, more shopping, celebrating Laura and Michael’s birthdays.
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Here is a picture thought I am sharing. . .

Macey’s favorite new hiding spot

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To read more Daybook entries, please visit Peggy at The Simple Woman’s Daybook,
and have a lovely day!

Blessings,
Nancy

The Simple Woman’s Daybook ~ December 7

Well here we are in December already – and only 2 1/2 weeks ’til Christmas! Where does the time go? Much busyness around our house, but I wanted to stop and take a moment to share my Daybook entry for today with you ~

Outside my window. . .cold and gray – the outdoor Christmas decorations have been brought up from the barn, and are waiting to be distributed in the yard.
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I am thinking. . .about the next thing I need to do – we’ve been non-stop busy since Thanksgiving, so I am going from one event to the next, thinking about it when I get to it.
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From the learning room. . .informal learning for the month of December – there is so much going on, that real life lessons abound.
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I am thankful for. . .warm quilts and blankets on cold wintry evenings.
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From the kitchen. . .Spaghetti and Meatballs, homemade bread, and green beans for dinner tonight.
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I am wearing. . .long-sleeved white t-shirt and blue jeans.
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I am creating. . .Christmas cards – should be done by the end of the week.
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I am going. . .to finish the indoor decorating today and send the storage boxes back up into the attic.
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I am reading. . .Christmas books with the children.
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I am hoping. . .for a few warmer days soon, so that Jack (high energy labrador) can get back out in the yard. Poor thing doesn’t enjoy being cooped up inside.
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I am hearing. . .children chatting and laughing, Jack whining to go out, music playing in the living room.
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Around the house. . .the Christmas decorations are almost all up, including the tree, and it looks very festive with many lights all around the house.
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One of my favorite things. . .cozying up at home after a busy day out.
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A few plans for the rest of the week. . .first basketball and cheerleading practices for Michael and Anna, a couple of birthday parties to take Sarah to, ice skating, several church Christmas parties, baking fudge, and a family birthday celebration for four December birthdays!
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Here is a picture thought I am sharing. . .

The beautiful Meyerson Symphony Hall where we attended a Christmas concert by Michael W. Smith and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra last week ~ it was wonderful!

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To read more Daybook entries, please visit Peggy at The Simple Woman’s Daybook, and have a lovely day!

Blessings,
Nancy

The Simple Woman’s Daybook ~ November 23

Here is my Daybook entry for today ~

Outside my window. . .a foggy morning with the promise of sunshine later on today.
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I am thinking. . .about my blessings.
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From the learning room. . .no lessons this week – enjoying a week off!
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I am thankful for. . .my family, faith, and friendships.
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From the kitchen. . .pumpkin harvest bread for breakfast this morning; Smothered Chicken for dinner tonight with tossed salad and watermelon.
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I am wearing. . .navy t-shirt and blue jeans.
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I am creating. . .getting started making our Christmas cards.
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I am going. . .to try to get the birdfeeders filled up this week – a long overdue treat for my feathered friends.
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I am reading. . .“Christmas in the Big Woods” (Laura Ingalls Wilder) with Anna – one of my favorites.
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I am hoping. . .that the nice weather holds out a little while longer for our daily walks.
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I am hearing. . .girls chatting while dressing dolls, “Grinch” (Jim Carrey) dvd on tv, Tommy singing Christmas carols.
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Around the house. . .the Christmas boxes are down from the attic and are sitting around the living room, already sending forth some of their contents (many excited children, as well!). I hope to get a lot of decorating done this week – I am determined to get it done quickly this year, so that the boxes can get back into the attic earlier than the two weeks that they usually sit around!
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One of my favorite things. . .24 hour Christmas music on the radio throughout the season.
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A few plans for the rest of the week. . .decorating, baking, Thanksgiving dinner with my family, the annual Dickens festival with Jeff next weekend (so excited!).
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Here is a picture thought I am sharing. . .

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To read more Daybook entries, please visit Peggy at The Simple Woman’s Daybook, and have a thankful day!

Blessings,
Nancy

The Simple Woman’s Daybook ~ October 26

Here is my Daybook entry for today ~

Outside my window. . .cold and rainy – a good day to stay inside. Many leaves have fallen and I love the way the yard and drive look covered in their yellow color. A bird was fluttering outside my bathroom window this morning. He kept hitting the window as though he couldn’t fly away – maybe his wing was hurt.
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I am thinking. . .about making some Pumpkin Cobbler sometime this week.
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From the learning room. . .continuing work on our Harvest lapbooks.
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I am thankful for. . .a cozy warm home to snuggle into on cold, rainy days.
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From the kitchen. . .King Ranch Chicken Casserole, with a salad for dinner.
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I am wearing. . .pink shirt and blue jeans.
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I am creating. . .costumes for the children to wear to our annual Reformation celebration at church and to the Fall Festival later this week. I’m not sewing them, just putting things together!
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I am going. . .to be continuing my Fall cleaning this week – last week was rather productive, with a number of jobs being completed.
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I am reading. . .my Bible.
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I am hoping. . .to get a post up this week showing some of our Fall decorations around the house.
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I am hearing. . .children giggling, “Gilligan’s Island” dvd, a board game starting up.
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Around the house. . .a hay bale has been placed on the front porch to hold pumpkins and scarecrows, 2 carpets freshly cleaned (although one of them doesn’t look much better – we think we may have to replace it – so the children can start working on staining a new one!), roses are blooming in the rose garden.
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One of my favorite things. . .the “Eloise at Christmastime” movie. We start watching this one about this time of year, and watch it several times a week – lots of fun!
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A few plans for the rest of the week. . .a busy week – monthly Keepers of the Faith meeting, Reformation Celebration at church, Fall Festival, and preparing for both of these fun events.
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Here is a picture thought I am sharing. . .

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To read more Daybook entries, please visit Peggy at The Simple Woman’s Daybook, and have a lovely day!

Blessings,
Nancy

The Simple Woman’s Daybook ~ October 12

Here is my Daybook entry for today ~

Outside my window. . .more rainy gray skies, but with a beautiful background of lovely golden trees.
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I am thinking. . .how fast the last year has gone by ~ it’s almost time for basketball sign-ups again, and it seems like we just finished the season. And the holiday season is just around the corner, as well.
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From the learning room. . .reading Christopher Columbus poetry today. A new math book for Michael (he’s so excited!), continuing our leaf and tree studies, Pocahontas, ABC’s, and starting a study on the planet Mercury.
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I am thankful for. . .my Dad, who would have celebrated his 78th birthday on Saturday – I’m glad that he was my Dad and I am thankful for all of the years of love he gave me.
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From the kitchen. . .Poppy Seed Chicken for dinner tonight with a green salad, and lemon cake for dessert.
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I am wearing. . .navy t-shirt and blue jeans.
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I am creating. . .working on my Be-Attitudes quilt.
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I am going. . .to try to look for the good in every situation this week, and not focus on the negative.
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I am reading. . .Philippians.
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I am hoping. . .for a couple of days of sunshine tucked into this rainy fall season.
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I am hearing. . .Cat bells, children talking, microwave beeping, “Donna Reed” dvd on the tv (it’s lunchtime!)
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Around the house. . .it’s chilly inside, Monopoly set up on the table, laundry and dishes await, school is almost finished for the day.
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One of my favorite things. . .folding clean laundry ~ really! And I get plenty of chances to do it around here!
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A few plans for the rest of the week. . .monthly shopping, dinner at KFC, and stamp club.
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Here is a picture thought I am sharing. . .

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To read more Daybook entries, please visit Peggy at The Simple Woman’s Daybook,
and have a wonderful day!

Blessings,
Nancy

The Simple Woman’s Daybook ~ October 5

Here is my Daybook entry for today ~

Outside my window. . .a gray, cloudy day (and week), leaves turning yellow and falling, a beautiful new pumpkin-colored Chrysanthemum on my front porch.
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I am thinking. . .about ways to balance our schooling with the rest of our life.
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From the learning room. . .we are beginning a two week study of leaves and trees for the youngers. In History we will all be in Jamestown with Pocahontas. Other topics for the week are the Sun (older kids this time), Bach, Monet, Nature stories, Little House, and our missionary study of Ida Scudder. And of course there’s always the basics of reading, writing and math, too!
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I am thankful for. . .a new week of lessons, life, and love.
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From the kitchen. . .well . . . dinner was going to be Smothered Chicken in the crockpot – I went to the store on Saturday and forgot to buy the chicken . . . went back on Sunday, and forgot that I didn’t have enough onions . . . so, I will be heading to the store again today for onions, but it will be too late to start the crockpot. Smothered Chicken has officially been moved to tomorrow night. Tonight we will have Stouffer’s Macaroni and Cheese, green beans and fried apples.
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I am wearing. . .white shirt and navy capris.
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I am creating. . .I’ve started back to work on my Be-attitudes quilt. I’m almost done with the September block ~ “Be Smart” ~ an adorable hoot owl perched on a branch with three leaves.
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I am going. . .to start a Thanksgiving journal, in which I can record something I am thankful for each day.
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I am reading. . .Philippians.
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I am hoping. . .to get an earlier start on our school days from now on, so that we can be finished with formal studies by lunchtime.
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I am hearing. . .Laura calling Edward (kitty), children talking, a few too many tantrums already this morning, kitty collar bell.
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Around the house. . .games and crayons, laundry (always), school books, and the ceiling fans are getting a long awaited break now that the weather is cooler – they usually run all summer without stopping.
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One of my favorite things. . .baking on a rainy Fall day.
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A few plans for the rest of the week. . .many leaf projects with the kids, Ladies Bible Study, working on a Cookie Baking badge with Sarah for Keepers, quilting.
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Here is a picture thought I am sharing. . .

Warm pumpkin bread fresh from the oven.

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To read more Daybook entries, please visit Peggy at The Simple Woman’s Daybook,
and have a lovely day!

Blessings,
Nancy

The Simple Woman’s Daybook ~ September 28

Good Morning! Here is my Daybook entry for today ~

Outside my window. . .a beautiful day on hand today ~ sunny and a high of 82. We’ll be spending some time out of doors today, for sure.
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I am thinking. . .I guess nothing in particular! I’ve sat and stared at this category for too long and can’t “think” of anything to write!
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From the learning room. . .just the basics this week ~ reading, writing, math, and spelling. We will be spending the extra time on cleaning out and organizing all around the house, and enjoying the beautiful weather outside.
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I am thankful for. . .God’s work in the lives of my children ~ this past week I have had the privilege of hearing four of their testimonies about their relationship with the Lord and it has blessed my heart so much!
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From the kitchen. . .Nachos and Spanish Rice for dinner tonight.
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I am wearing. . .Navy t-shirt and denim shorts.
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I am creating. . .nothing this week, but my quilt is starting to call me again ~ I’ve neglected it all summer long and I’m thinking of picking it up again.
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I am going. . .to be looking out for new books in the mail this week that I ordered from Amazon ~ always fun to look forward to!
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I am reading. . .books for school with the children.
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I am hoping. . .someone can get the printer working . . . again.
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I am hearing. . .the waterfall in the pool running, bugs chirping outside, Tommy tapping his pencil (he’s waiting for me to help him with Math).
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Around the house. . .many sunburned people after a church outing all afternoon at a friend’s farm yesterday, many unfinished projects that I hope to tackle this week.
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One of my favorite things. . .decorating my house with pumpkins ~ from the wee, tiny ones to the medium sized “pie” pumpkins, to the large ones on my front porch.
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A few plans for the rest of the week. . .library, monthly Keepers club (Laura is teaching about taxidermy), cleaning and organizing.
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Here is a picture thought I am sharing. . .

A pretty new Fall basket.

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To read more Daybook entries, please visit Peggy at The Simple Woman’s Daybook,
and have a lovely day!

Blessings,
Nancy

The Simple Woman’s Daybook ~ September 21

Here is my Daybook entry for today ~

Outside my window. . .a freshly mown lawn, squirrels scampering about starting their fall business, Jack enjoying the nice weather.
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I am thinking. . .about this busy week!
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From the learning room. . .Studies about the Moon, Christopher Columbus, Autumn poetry, beginning a music study of Bach, lots of reading, and working on our Book of the Centuries to name a few morsels of our week ahead.
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I am thankful for. . .the comforts of home.
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From the kitchen. . .dinner will be Baked Spaghetti (I hope to post the recipe this week), Salad, and Sourdough Rolls.
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I am wearing. . .navy shirt and denim shorts.
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I am creating. . .an ABC book with Anna, and a Color book with David. We work on them every Friday – cutting out pictures from magazines and glueing them on the letter or color page of the week.
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I am going. . .to be neck deep in laundry today, like Caroline Ingalls always said ~ “Wash on Monday.”
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I am reading. . .too many to record – all with the children – no time for anything else!
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I am hoping. . .to make an Apple Crisp for dinner tomorrow night for the first official day of Autumn.
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I am hearing. . .Anna singing, David brushing his teeth, Missy (kitty) licking the chair – don’t ask me why!
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Around the house. . .lots of dishes, lots of laundry, a messy house left over from a busy weekend.
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One of my favorite things. . .evenings at home ~ just family time.
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A few plans for the rest of the week. . .putting things in order, orthodontist, ice skating, preparing for and attending a wedding, and celebrating the beginning of Fall!
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Here is a picture thought I am sharing. . .

I bought this dish years ago to display in my home. It is reminiscent of the one that Laura Ingalls Wilder had in her home. I have always loved it!
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To read more Daybook entries, please visit Peggy at The Simple Woman’s Daybook,
and have a lovely day!

Blessings,
Nancy

The Simple Woman’s Daybook ~ September 14

Thank you for being patient with me! I kind of got swamped under the past few weeks with school starting, and since things are starting to fall into place a little easier now, I’m hoping to be able to get some blogging in again. So, to begin with . . .here is my Daybook entry for today ~

Outside my window. . .wonderful “Fall-ish” rain and cooler temperatures. The big garden is about spent out, but the kitchen garden is still going strong with okra, peppers and tomatoes. The tomatoes are coming back after the hot weather and are blooming and growing fruit again.
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I am thinking. . .about my shopping list for the week.
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From the learning room. . .where to begin? I will post soon about our school plans for the year, but the highlights of this week will be Christopher Columbus, Astronomy (especially the Sun, for the little ones), Continents, “The Carnival of Animals” (music), and Monet art.
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I am thankful for. . .payday on Tuesday!
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From the kitchen. . .French Toast for dinner tonight.
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I am wearing. . .white t-shirt and capris.
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I am creating. . .a list of clothing needs for the winter for my family.
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I am going. . .to try to balance my blogging with life better.
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I am reading. . .Philippians, and lots of school books!
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I am hoping. . .for a smooth school week (well, I can hope can’t I?)
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I am hearing. . .David talking to me with crackers in his mouth, “Gilligan’s Island” dvd (school hasn’t started yet today), Edward kitty’s collar bell, Sarah talking (again) about which doll to buy at the American Girl store this week (she has earned enough money by herself to buy a new doll and she changes her mind daily about which one she is going to bring home!)
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Around the house. . .it’s starting to look like Fall inside the house, too, with the decorations down from the attic and going up around the house; puzzles and card games out on the tables; bounty from the garden filling up one of my kitchen counters.
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One of my favorite things. . .the coming of Fall each year ~ I think I enjoy it more and more the older I get.
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A few plans for the rest of the week. . .shopping, Bible Study, library, deliver a meal to a friend on bedrest, a visit to the American Girl store with Sarah and Anna, and, possibly, a library sale.
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Here is a picture thought I am sharing. . .

Pumpkins on the porch rail

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Peggy is back from her summer break, so she will once again be posting links to everyone’s Daybooks. If you’d like to read more Daybook entries, please visit Peggy at The Simple Woman’s Daybook,
and have a lovely day!

Blessings,
Nancy

The Simple Woman’s Daybook ~ August 24

Here is my Daybook entry for today ~

Outside my window. . .lots of bright pink flowers on the bush outside my window, sunshine and breezy.
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I am thinking. . .about final plans for the new school year.
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From the learning room. . .last week of summer break before we start back to school next week – schedules are just about all in place and school books are lining up on the shelf ready for the new year.
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I am thankful for. . .the blessing of being home with my children, guiding their education, and spending our days together as a family.
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From the kitchen. . .Manwich Casserole, corn on the cob, and fried okra.
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I am wearing. . .pink sweater and denim capris.
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I am creating. . .my final schedule for school next week.
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I am going. . .to need to start planning this week for our annual Labor Day Cup competition.
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I am reading. . .school books and planning sheets.
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I am hoping. . .(and planning) to spend less time on the computer this week, and more time working around the house.
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I am hearing. . .lots of children talking and giggling (one is grumping!), and the air conditioner running.
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Around the house. . .much to straighten up (including a few attitudes), piles of books around that I will get put away this week, an huge bowl of okra to slice today (get ready for slimy hands!)
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One of my favorite things. . .classic children’s books and snuggling up with my littles to read them together.
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A few plans for the rest of the week. . .final preparations for school, cleaning up the house, monthly Keepers Club meeting, driver’s license for Matthew, baby shower for a friend with the girls, and possibly a field trip and library book sale later in the week.
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Here is a picture thought I am sharing. . .

Pumpkins growing in the garden.

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Thanks to Peggy at The Simple Woman’s Daybook for this wonderful meme.

Have a lovely day!

Blessings,
Nancy