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| From Savannah - June 09 |
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| From Drop Box |
This morning, on one of my typical harried, pre-8am trips to the grocery store I spotted bunches of dried lavendar for $5. I smelled the heady scent as I was propelling my cart through the store at break-neck speed. The smell made me stop a moment and linger in te flower department.
I splurged on the lavendar and put it in a jar near the front door. As soon as you walk in the lovely smell greets and begs you to stop and breathe.
A gentle reminder I often need.
They were less than delighted.
The big kids cleared off and this is what the young ones left. A busy day to be sure. Now I need to get someone to clean that up :).
Happy Valentine's Day!
Sorry I disappeared there. Dave had to go to the hospital last Monday (2/6) for some very dangerous blood clotting that developed in his leg. It was very scary. He came home Thursday and was back in the ER Saturday for a nose bleed that would not stop. The bleed was due to the blood thinners he will now be taking for a few months. :(.
Life is a bit nutty.
But it is calming down. (hoping, hoping....)
Other than that we are good.
I have a lot of pictures to show you all of little projects and school stuff we are managing to do. Lots of fun, it's nice to keep somethings normal when so many things are up in the air. I will get these things up soon.
I have been popping into Dawn's Downton Abbey discussions, such fun. I am going to be so sorry when Season 2 ends next week. I do hope they don't leave too many cliff hangers since we will be waiting A WHOLE YEAR for Season 3. What will we do? :)
Now I must sign off, the dog is barking his fool head off (why did I get a dog, why did I get a dog??)
Have a blessed day and I'll be back soon.
Happy Candlesmas to you!
Isn't that a lovely painting?
I wish I were bringing my candles to Mass this morning but, alas, all of the beeswax candles I ordered have yet to arrive. Maddening. I'll have to pop by the rectory next week and ask for a quick blessing.
The little guys watched this morning as Punxsutawney Phil made his appearance on the news. The handler declared, after listening to Phil, that "many shadows did he see and six more weeks of winter will be."
Really?
I wonder who decides this and if they do it the night before, an hour before or right on the spot.
The little ones enjoyed it though.
Today is a busy one, our first Shakespeare meeting of 2012. This year we are doinf Taming of the Shrew and the junior troupe is doing Midsummer again. Midsummer is the training ground for the older actors.
We are also preparing for the annual homeschool dance which is to take place tomorrow. I've already been out to get Erin party shoes (it's her first formal) and Katie needs a new pair as well.
Today, in addition to being Candlemas and Groundhog Day is, Dave's birthday. Poor guy is still in quite a bit of pain and very much off his feet still. A prayer would be appreciated.
Lastly,the middle kids have choir practice late this afternoon.
Whew! I'm tired just typing it. I had better get hopping. I hope you all have a lovely day!
Bridget wanted me to build her a kite today. Let's leave aside that even had I a great desire to build a kite the results are unlikely to have been good. But at this particular time kite building was not going to happen. There is also the little complication of the fifteen or so trees in our yard.
Bridgie was not to be deterred.
Bridgie is not often deterred
A little while later I looked out the window and saw this...
She poked holes in four corners of a trash bag and threaded twine through. Asking for help with tying, of course. A weird looking kite, undoubtly, but inventive and entertaining. She soon had all the young ones out there with her flying their own "kites".
I need garbage bags.
Sometimes saying no presents the opportunity for creativity.
Sometimes.
Good Sunday morning to you all! It is a clear, cold day here and I'm kind of enjoying a bit of winter. Much as I hate to be cold all of this warm weather has been a little strange. All of our crocus' are starting to push up already and I even saw signs of life in our little daffodil patch. Weird.
So today, I let the kids sleep in a bit which means a later Mass than we are used to. I have some grocery shopping to do, which I try never to do on Sundays but my schedule is all off kilter since we are a "man down" here, so to speak. I may need a quick run to the craft store as well since this is such a big "feast week".
We have two birthdays this week, Katie and Dave, as well as celebrating St. Brigid's Day, Candlemas and Groundhog Day. There is also the excitement of the annual homeschool dance. It will be Erin's first time attending (goodness, I am a very short time away from having two teenagers in the house). A visit with David's surgeon to assess his progress (slow but continuing) and a Sumi painting class for Katie.
Busy, busy, busy.
I hope you all have a lovely Sunday!
Several years ago a bug of mommy bloggers were posting pictures of their purses and how they organized them. I did not participate in this since my purse was usually in a state of, shall we say, disorganization.
Since that time I"ve gotten better, and recently I've become positively neat in my purse due in large part to my mom. You see my mom was a very feminine lady and she enjoyed having nice purses and keeping them organized. When she passed away my dad gave me a bunch of little pouches and zip things that were perfect for keeping my sutff nicely organized in the depths of the purse.
So here is a peek:
My current everyday bag is very new, a birthday gift from Dave, a new Coach bag. I also use a variety of Vera Bradleys that I have collected over many years. For church I usually carry a black Chanel bag (from my mom).
This is one of the pouches. Cute isn't it?
It contains some essentials. Folding toothbrush and mini toothpaste as well as floss (there is nothing worse than being out and having something stuck in your teeth), two lip balms (I have thing for lip balm) a teeny, tiny tin of altoids, hand sanitizer, hand cream and bio freeze which I find handy when out at sports.
This is a nifty little Vera case for the phone. It has a little place for ear buds (which previous lived in a tangled mess at the bottom of my bag) . The case also has a slot for my license which makes it handy to take with me to the gym or for a run. Notice the bobby pins attached to the tie. I use them at the gym.
This case is ancient. I have always kept "ladies essentials" in it.
I use this as a wallet. Money, cards and id reside here. The other side is clear plastic which is where I keep my license (if you think I am showing that picture you are nuts).
This is the prayer book I carry everywhere. It is available from the Confraternity of Christian Mothers of which I am a member. I use the prayer book daily and highly recommend it. The red case (mom's) contains my walking around rosary, a gift from Alice.
See the green stick at the top of the picture. I keep a few of these Starbucks sticks for the hole in your coffee top. I hate spilling coffee and they come in handy when I use my own cups and lids.
My Nana, long ago, instilled in me that ladies use hankies not tissues. I have a fairly large collection. I usually carry two and a package of tissues for anyone around me who needs a wipe.
Keys. Which I keep on a long lanyard in order that I can easily find them. I still misplace them.
I find the makeup removers handy if I need a touch up while out during the day or if I'm out on a date with my honey and I want to freshen up.
Always have rosary beads to give away. Another lesson from Nana.
I got this idea from Pinterest. Punch a whole in all of those store cards and use a book ring to keep them together. It's easier than keeping them stuffed in your wallet and less bulk on the key chain. I just keep it tucked into a pocket of my bag.
Here it all is. Can I tell you how much I love that the lining of my bag is purple. Love that.
How much ridiculous detail was that?
What are you carrying around these days? Lets here all about it in the comments and if you post about it please share the link.
Have a blessed evening.
A teen performance
A younger kid performance
Kindergarten
Baking. Lots of baking
Music, lots of music
Learning to love the green smoothie.
A wonderful and informative field trip
A goal achieved
A gaggle of gigglers spent the night
Kinder-math, with a big sister's help
A peaceful moment
Prepped for winter
Secret packages have all arrived.
Fun mail from far away friends.
I hope you are all being blessed in this holy season.
I'll be back soon.
~Mary Ellen~
Not everyone has put out their shoes yet but the sleepy fellow guarding him is the really big news here. You see everyone knows that Santa cannot deliver a dog on Christmas Eve due to that sleigh being so full. So he gave Dave and I a call and we picked up this new member of our family on Saturday afternoon.
His name is Axel and he is a fifteen month old black lab who is truly a rescue dog. He has lived almost his whole life at the shelter and his clock was ticking, if you know what I mean.
They had had some trouble placing Axel because he is very active and needs a big yard (check) lots of attention (lots of people here for that) preferably a home with children (a bunch of them here) and a firm hand (I'm told Dave and I qualify).
The trainer literally told us he had been dreaming of a family like ours for Axel. It was one of the rare times, when out in the world, that homeschooling is considered a bonus. "You mean the kids will be home with him - all day?" The guy was thrilled.
So home we brought him and he fit right in. I think that we are wearing him out truth be told. They thought he was energetic but these people had not met my twins or the three year old who are currently running circles around this guy. They are just so delighted to have him.
People who know me are shocked. I am so not a dog person. Really. But this guy, the look on his face in that pen, well, it was necessary that he be here with us. He had been a misfit for awhile not quite fitting in anywhere and misfit we do pretty well. We are Catholic homeschoolers after all.
So in this season of love we took a chance on a misfit and like so many risks taken in the name of love, it is working out nicely. A few bumpy moments here and there (the mailman was pretty shocked by the sudden barrage of barking much to some evil children's delight here - the hilarity in watching the poor guy jump his own height, honestly) but all in all we are all adjusting well. Even me.
Have a happy St. Nicholas Day.
If you need some inspiration for the day, check these posts at O Night Divine.
