Simple Woman's Daybook

Outside my window…  Clouds are building and have finally moved in with some much needed shade and promise of rain. The wind is picking up now and the chimes are dingling.

I am thinking…  If it rains I'm going make some more ice tea and sit down with the girls in front of some good old girly black and white movie. (May do that even if it doesn't rain!)

I am thankful for…  small towns, caring friends, big families and Faith.

From the kitchen…  Making iced tea; even as we speak, Cathy is putting the kettle on.  I'm thinking  orange spice pekoe.  Maybe some scones later.  The big boys -- including Gabe this year! -- have left for Knights of the Altar Boys' Camp, and it's just me and the girls -- and William -- who tells us he is the man of the house and will be responsible for any bears that show up...  So, anyway, since William will eat anything with sugar, white flour, or strawberries, I expect we'll be making the most of our almost-boy-free zone and serving very feminine fare this week.  Plus ice cream.  Lots of ice cream.  (Sorry, boys.  You know, we really do have the better end of the deal here...)

I am wearing... a light blue crepe-cotton gypsy skirt and white tee.  Just changed out of black skirt and black gingham blouse that I wore to our friend's funeral this morning.  Barefoot and much more comfy now.

I am creating… school plans for Catherine's year.  Just ordered her books and we're both excited to get a peek at them.  Since she's a very reluctant math student, we're ditching Saxon this year and trying something new -- something a little more "Cathy friendly"...  meaning something that will appeal more to an artistic, no-nonsense tomboy homebody.  We'll let you know what we think.

I am going… nowhere until I have to.

I am reading… Prisoner of Love as my bedtime read plus occasionally relaxing with Doris Kearns Goodwin's Wait Till Next Year, and looking for the next Amelia mystery to dig into (Getting online to search out The Last Camel Died at Noon, number 6 in the series.)

I am hoping… Dan and Kevvy and the rest of the camp counsellors are on the ball about keeping little  Gabey well hydrated, and slathered in sun screen and away from cliffs and deep water and bears. Not to be a fussy worry-wart Mom or anything, but he is only seven... And I'm hoping they get all my pots get back to me.

I am hearing… the wind whistling through the windows, William making little boy noises as he plays with his blocks and his little guys on the floor behind me.

Around the house… It looks like we've been visited by a tornado.  We all hit the ground running this morning on our way to the funeral, loaded down with food and preparations for the reception afterward -- and the Boys' Camp Boys (being just Dan, Kevin, our good friend, Carlos, and Gabey this year) all had their sleeping bags and personal gear pulled out and packed at the last minute -- plus they were the transportation for most of the other camp necessities this year, from the food (which we'd stored since Saturday), pots, pans, utensils, and the canopy tent for Mass on the mountain.  I'm sure you can imagine the mess they left in their wake.  Bless their hearts.

One of my favorite things… Burt's Bees Honey and Orange Wax Thoroughly Therapeutic Body Lotion  Oh my goodness, does it smell good! Plus it's  an A+ moisturizer, nice and light -- and on sale right now at this site!  Plus you can get Burts' Bees coupons here.  (And, no, I'm not a paid representative; I just like the stuff! :)

A few plans for the rest of the week...  As little as I can get away with.  But, our teaching Sisters come  back tomorrow, so we'll wait to see what they need done and plan around that.

Some picture thoughts I 'm sharing...

Beach Feet:



Nicole treated Michelle for her first pedicure in honor of her 16th birthday. Our gal pals,
 Brenda and Emily, and I joined them.  My first pedicure, too!  But not my last!

That empty seat fourth from this end was mine.So much fun spending the afternoon with the girls, but a fruitful pleasure, too.  I didn't realize how much real good a pedicure can do!  My hard-working feet are baby-soft and callous free, my toenailsare properly trimmed, and,boy, did the massage feel good! 

The finished products.  All had hand-painted floral designs.
They were beautiful!

  These ones are mine.  See my flower? It's almost three weekssince I've had them done, and I'm so happy the pedi is still in goodshape.  It's going to feel like the official end of vacation whenthey chip and wear and I have to wipe the toenail slates clean...

No polish on these little tootsies!

Michelle, Emily and Brenda leaving footprints in the sand.

Good Times!