Simple Woman's Monday, October 27th

Outside My Window ... a narrow band of peach and pink light traces the eastern horizon, fading into dove grey, then soft, deep grey-blue as it rises up . The black silhouette of the little elm behind the playhouse looks so pretty in relief against the colors.

I am hearing... William coughing, Gabriel complaining of a stuffy nose. Our first cold of the season.


I am wearing... shell pink sweatpants and matching tee


I am thankful for... My husband's dearness and patience, my sibling's closeness, my parent's neverending love and concern, my children's beautiful smiles, Our Lord's kind Providence in our lives.


I am reading... Ahghghgh! I'm actually not reading anything and there's a reason for that... Look out ~ Tale of Woe here! (You're not going to believe this! 'Scuse the digression, but it's pertinent, really!)


Here's the story: I was just getting into my Maisie Dobbs mystery and intent upon finally finishing it when I drove the boys back to Omaha last weekend. It was midnight when we got to the school, we were all tired, and I needed to turn right around and head back to Colorado after I dropped them off, but, good boys that they are, even in their sleepy state, they made sure to be thorough about unloading the car. Thorough, very thorough. Indeed, they quickly and efficiently cleaned out every scrap of their belongings...... plus my overnight bag, with my pjs and change of clothes, all my vitamins, and ~ you guessed it! My BOOK! I didn't realize what had happened until I stopped at the hotel in Kearney, Nebraska. Aghghgh!


They promise to send it all back to me with the next traveling priest... We'll see what happens.

Towards a daily rhythm ... We have finally gotten back into our night-time reading ritual again. We just started The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, after having read through the first three before we moved last year, and it's good to be back in Narnia! Having read through the Chronicles several times myself over the years ( & to our eldest five a few years ago), I enjoy the familiar landscape but am totally RELISHING the younger children's hearing it for the first time. It's all so new and exciting for them!


I am hoping... For a little more good weather so I can get a bin full of bulbs planted before the ground freezes.


From the kitchen ... I've been thinking about beef stew. Rich and beefy, with carrots and potatoes. Yum! Definitely gotta be on the menu this week! But, I've recently found out that I have a sensitivity to wheat so have to figure out a way to survive soup and stew season without bread or crackers. Any suggestions?

I am creating... I'll be oiling up the old sewing machine this week. We have a little work to do on All Saint's Day costumes, some homemade Christmas projects to start, and insulated curtains to make for a big, leaky window in the girls' room.

Around the house... it's feeling like autumn. All our traditional decorations are in place, but we've had to hang our wreaths on the inside of the doors because Bella, our big goofy puppy, thinks they make great frisbees to throw around the yard.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... We're spending the week learning about the election process in our country. Gonna carve some pumpkins. And we'll be finishing up the gown and stolla of a certain 4th century saint and making crowns for two other noble patricians that will appear Saturday morning at our parish All Saint's Day party.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing:

The pumpkin Anna picked!

(Here are the rest of the gang's pumpkins)

* For a peek in the windows of some lovely kindred spirits, stroll over to Peggy's at the Simple Woman!