A Simple Woman's Daybook
Do you know it's been 8 months since I've done a "Daybook"? philosophymom posted one yesterday and reminded me.
FOR TODAY Monday, February 3, 2014
Outside my window ... a bright winter sun is illuminating a sparkling world of snow. It snowed again Saturday night and yesterday morning was overcast and just cold enough that that the "snow leaves" didn't fall off the trees. They are still there this morning, along with a just a dusting of new snow to make everything look fresh.
We've had a "real" winter this year: along with the Christmas ice storm, there has been a lot of snow and two "Arctic Vortexes" that have brought extremely cold temperatures to the region - one was cold enough that they closed schools for the day. Part of me is inordinately pleased by all this. I like winter to begin with. I'm also happy that my son is getting to experience the kind of snowbanks-higher-than-your-head winters I remember from my childhood, but which we don't always get in southern Ontario.
I am thinking ... about how parent better. I ready very, very slowly anymore (I think I've mentioned that before), in fits and starts, but I'm trying to read Hold On To Your Kids: Why Parents Need to Matter More than Peers. Alexander isn't really in a position where he's likely to become peer-oriented (yet), but I worry. I also worry about choices I've made and if some of the behavioural issues I'm struggling with aren't in fact my fault.
I am thankful ... the snow, and the sun. Did I mention that? :)
From the kitchen... Tonight's going to be a leftover night. The fridge is FULL, but I'm not sure exactly what's all in there. There's some leftover "Super Bowl" food from last night (even though we didn't watch the Super Bowl) and some leftover Moroccan Chicken from when we had real_jayde and her fiance over on Saturday night. Honestly, that's probably enough for a meal, but I'll clean out fridge after I get offline and see what else there is.
The Moroccan Chicken was the first time trying the recipe, from the new Michael Smith cookbook we got from theagentx's mom for Christmas. This is the fourth Michael Smith cookbook she's given us. His marketing people certainly seem to have the timing down for bringing out a cookbook before Christmas! I like them, but maybe it's time for a change. I've heard that Smith can be a real jerk in person and that kind of bothers me. Does it affect the recipes? No, not really ... Still, maybe I'd like to try some Jamie Oliver recipes.
I am wearing... Nothing really brilliant: my flannel-lined jeans (which are getting a little worn), my turquoise Outer Banks T-shirt hoodie, the lovely warm LL Bean hooded cardigan theagentx gave me for Christmas, my wedding and engagement rings and my apprentice ring, black wool knee socks, a blue scrunchie (to keep my hair from getting tangled in the mass of hoods at the back of my neck) and my silver necklace (from Pennsic) with the new Celtic cross pendant I bought at the Birka event last weekend.
About that pendant: I've wanted a tiny celtic cross necklace since, well, maybe my last year of Ozark. I mentioned it to Jim on one of the two (or was it three?) dates we had and he surprised me with a cast silver reproduction (in minature) of the monument cross at Monasterboice for Christmas, which was, well, far too expensive (in my opinion) and too large for everyday wear. I still wear it sometimes, but I'd never really found the perfect tiny cross to wear at my throat ... and then there it was on a merchant table at Birka. I'm delighted.
I am creating... a crocheted "Viking" hat for my youngest nephew, Gavin. I made crocheted hats for all the nieces and nephews for Christmas: pixie hats for the girls and gnome hats for the boys, but I didn't get hats for Cian & Gavin finished. Cian's got mailed off last week (along with a painting and a letter from Alexander) and I might get Gavin's finished tonight. Or tomorrow. We'll see (sorry if that's a spoiler, fox_sejant!)
I am going... Why the emphasis on going? I don't want to go. I think I am having the opposite of cabin fever - I think I'm craving a little snowed-in time. It's almost impossible to get really snowed in anymore. Our municipal works are pretty efficient. Alexander has a swimming lesson this afternoon and I need to buy cat food, but really, I'm not wanting to go anywhere else. Or more specifically, I really want to spend less time in the car with Alexander. I want to make a conscious decision - and do the organizational work I need to make it happen - to spend most afternoons at home with Lex.
I am reading... as mentioned above, Hold On To Your Kids. I've also cracked the new Thomas Cahill book I bought with the Christmas money from Mom & Dad, and a historical fiction about William Wallace I borrowed from Berend. I may not read much, I'm still ambitious ...
I am hoping... to finish the herald's tabard before Winter War. Seriously.
I am hearing... house sounds: the humidifier in the corner (a new Honeywell that was supposed to be "40% quieter", but is still much louder than the whimsical Cow-shaped one in Alexander's room), the click of the gas fireplace, little boy jeans bouncing in the dryer.
Around the house... I need to clean the kitchen. Then I'm thinking about using the coupon we have for decorating consultation with out realtor's wife (who did the staging of the townhouse when we sold it). I think I could use some design advice. It took us from September until our house warming in December to put up a picture and the barometer in the livingroom and hang the mirror by the hall closet.
One of my favorite things... Caffe Mocha Valencia. Unfortunately, Starbucks hasn't offered them in the better part of a decade. :(
A few plans for the rest of the week: I have "Candlemas Resolutions". So my plan is to try to stick to them! Do some crafts with Alexander. Go skating (there's a tennis court rink in the park 3 blocks away and we bought real skates for Lex). Then "Game of Queens" of Saturday in Caer Draeth.
~~ Here's the blog it came from:
http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/
Previous entry
FOR TODAY Monday, February 3, 2014
Outside my window ... a bright winter sun is illuminating a sparkling world of snow. It snowed again Saturday night and yesterday morning was overcast and just cold enough that that the "snow leaves" didn't fall off the trees. They are still there this morning, along with a just a dusting of new snow to make everything look fresh.
We've had a "real" winter this year: along with the Christmas ice storm, there has been a lot of snow and two "Arctic Vortexes" that have brought extremely cold temperatures to the region - one was cold enough that they closed schools for the day. Part of me is inordinately pleased by all this. I like winter to begin with. I'm also happy that my son is getting to experience the kind of snowbanks-higher-than-your-head winters I remember from my childhood, but which we don't always get in southern Ontario.
I am thinking ... about how parent better. I ready very, very slowly anymore (I think I've mentioned that before), in fits and starts, but I'm trying to read Hold On To Your Kids: Why Parents Need to Matter More than Peers. Alexander isn't really in a position where he's likely to become peer-oriented (yet), but I worry. I also worry about choices I've made and if some of the behavioural issues I'm struggling with aren't in fact my fault.
I am thankful ... the snow, and the sun. Did I mention that? :)
From the kitchen... Tonight's going to be a leftover night. The fridge is FULL, but I'm not sure exactly what's all in there. There's some leftover "Super Bowl" food from last night (even though we didn't watch the Super Bowl) and some leftover Moroccan Chicken from when we had real_jayde and her fiance over on Saturday night. Honestly, that's probably enough for a meal, but I'll clean out fridge after I get offline and see what else there is.
The Moroccan Chicken was the first time trying the recipe, from the new Michael Smith cookbook we got from theagentx's mom for Christmas. This is the fourth Michael Smith cookbook she's given us. His marketing people certainly seem to have the timing down for bringing out a cookbook before Christmas! I like them, but maybe it's time for a change. I've heard that Smith can be a real jerk in person and that kind of bothers me. Does it affect the recipes? No, not really ... Still, maybe I'd like to try some Jamie Oliver recipes.
I am wearing... Nothing really brilliant: my flannel-lined jeans (which are getting a little worn), my turquoise Outer Banks T-shirt hoodie, the lovely warm LL Bean hooded cardigan theagentx gave me for Christmas, my wedding and engagement rings and my apprentice ring, black wool knee socks, a blue scrunchie (to keep my hair from getting tangled in the mass of hoods at the back of my neck) and my silver necklace (from Pennsic) with the new Celtic cross pendant I bought at the Birka event last weekend.
About that pendant: I've wanted a tiny celtic cross necklace since, well, maybe my last year of Ozark. I mentioned it to Jim on one of the two (or was it three?) dates we had and he surprised me with a cast silver reproduction (in minature) of the monument cross at Monasterboice for Christmas, which was, well, far too expensive (in my opinion) and too large for everyday wear. I still wear it sometimes, but I'd never really found the perfect tiny cross to wear at my throat ... and then there it was on a merchant table at Birka. I'm delighted.
I am creating... a crocheted "Viking" hat for my youngest nephew, Gavin. I made crocheted hats for all the nieces and nephews for Christmas: pixie hats for the girls and gnome hats for the boys, but I didn't get hats for Cian & Gavin finished. Cian's got mailed off last week (along with a painting and a letter from Alexander) and I might get Gavin's finished tonight. Or tomorrow. We'll see (sorry if that's a spoiler, fox_sejant!)
I am going... Why the emphasis on going? I don't want to go. I think I am having the opposite of cabin fever - I think I'm craving a little snowed-in time. It's almost impossible to get really snowed in anymore. Our municipal works are pretty efficient. Alexander has a swimming lesson this afternoon and I need to buy cat food, but really, I'm not wanting to go anywhere else. Or more specifically, I really want to spend less time in the car with Alexander. I want to make a conscious decision - and do the organizational work I need to make it happen - to spend most afternoons at home with Lex.
I am reading... as mentioned above, Hold On To Your Kids. I've also cracked the new Thomas Cahill book I bought with the Christmas money from Mom & Dad, and a historical fiction about William Wallace I borrowed from Berend. I may not read much, I'm still ambitious ...
I am hoping... to finish the herald's tabard before Winter War. Seriously.
I am hearing... house sounds: the humidifier in the corner (a new Honeywell that was supposed to be "40% quieter", but is still much louder than the whimsical Cow-shaped one in Alexander's room), the click of the gas fireplace, little boy jeans bouncing in the dryer.
Around the house... I need to clean the kitchen. Then I'm thinking about using the coupon we have for decorating consultation with out realtor's wife (who did the staging of the townhouse when we sold it). I think I could use some design advice. It took us from September until our house warming in December to put up a picture and the barometer in the livingroom and hang the mirror by the hall closet.
One of my favorite things... Caffe Mocha Valencia. Unfortunately, Starbucks hasn't offered them in the better part of a decade. :(
A few plans for the rest of the week: I have "Candlemas Resolutions". So my plan is to try to stick to them! Do some crafts with Alexander. Go skating (there's a tennis court rink in the park 3 blocks away and we bought real skates for Lex). Then "Game of Queens" of Saturday in Caer Draeth.
~~ Here's the blog it came from:
http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/
Previous entry