Gardening Daybook

Outside my window...
Wildflowers!  I love looking out the window and seeing the hillside dotted with flowers.  June and July are always filled with color!  New and different flowers seem to bloom each week.  In May it was tiny yellow buttercup.  Now Oregon grape and its yellow flower clusters are waning as white yarrow dots the grassy meadow areas.  Purple lupine is next.  Beautiful!

I am thankful for...
The sun!!!  It has been raining lately and today is sunny and absolutely gorgeous!

I am thinking about...
Food.  Well, not exactly food, as in food, but rather food choices in terms of health and budget.  It is a conundrum to say the least.  The more I read about what I should be eating, the less I know about what to eat!  Eat this, but not that, unless this.  What???  Grains are bad.  Grains are good.  Legumes are poisonous.  Legumes are one of the healthiest options. Buy organic.  Only buy these organic foods.  Organic labeling is a scam, buy the cheaper local choice.   Help!!  There are so many ideas out there it is hard to discern the truth. 

Learning all the time...
Did you know you can over-water cucumber plants?  Yep!  You can.

From the kitchen...
Nothing too exciting here.  I am back in the rut.  I am not feeling creative or motivated, now that I think about it.  Summer means BBQ, right?  That means Dan cooks.  That means my dinner helper makes a salad.  That means the honeydew melon or watermelon I cut up yesterday can round out the meal.  That means I don't have to cook.  See?  Rut! 

I am creating...

Summer goals.  I am making a list of all the things I really want to do over the next few months.  High on the list.....make homemade ice cream!

I am working on...
Gardening.  This is no easy feat, by the way.  I am not a gardener.  I would love it if some kind of gardening fairy would take care of it all.  I love the results, but getting there is a different story. 

Lettuce and Herbs.

Zucchini!

Peppers!  Banana, Red, Green Bell, and Jalapeno varieties!

Walla Walla Sweet Onions!

And of course, tomatoes. 

I am going...

To replace my dead cucumbers.  Apparently, there is no gardening fairy. 

I am hoping...
My garden does not end up like the herb garden I tried earlier this year.

Yes, they eventually all died.  I told you I was not a gardener.  Okay.  It is harder than it looks.  You can stop laughing now.  Really.

I am reading...
7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess by Jen Hatmaker.  This book is really making me think.  She is hilarious.  It is a fun read, but has a strong important message.

Organized Simplicity by Tsh Oxenreider.  I am really enjoying this book.  Makes me want to clean. 

The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains by Nicholas Carr.  I know I read some very random things, but this is a great book so far!

I am praying for...

Guidance in new adventures.
Discernment for God's will in the paths we take.

I am hearing...
Absolute quiet in the mornings.  The kids are all working this week at a science camp, so it is just me and my cup of coffee.

Around the house...
I am deep cleaning! Hmmm, could this be the result of my reading choices?  I am going through each room and purging.  How do we accumulate so much stuff? 

One of my favorite things...
Sea Salt and Turbinado Sugar Dark Chocolate Almonds from Trader Joe's.  Divine!  Absolutely Divine.  Another favorite?  Dark Chocolate Almond Cherry Clusters from Costco.  Yes, chocolate is my favorite thing.

A few plans for the rest of the week...
The girls are headed to an International Dance Festival to perform.  I have plans for a top secret project that I can’t wait to start.  I will share more later when it is no longer secret J

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

Baby Robins.  Awesome!

A Cold March Daybook

Outside my window...
Snowflakes.  Yes.  Again.  Where is spring?  Well, it was here last week; a couple of beautiful days followed by snow.  At least with snow this time of year, it is usually here today gone tomorrow.   At least in theory anyway, because although this pile is significantly smaller......it is still here!

I am thankful for...
Driver’s education ending on Thursday!!!!! 

I am thinking about...
All the things I need to get done!  It is making me a bit crazy.  I am certainly feeling slightly overwhelmed.  Allspice graduates this year, so transcripts, notebooks, plans, announcements, and a graduation party all need to be worked on and finished.  And then there is all that goes with just normal life too!

Learning all the time...
Paprika cracked me up at dinner tonight with this comment, “math was okay until they decided to add the alphabet.”  Hmmm.  Could that be why she has chosen to be an English major instead of anything to do with math?

From the kitchen...
P F Changs Spicy Chicken…..homemade!  It was spicy and delicious.  I will post the recipe soon!

I am creating...
a workout schedule.  I admit it has been a bit haphazard, but I am going to work on a written schedule so I can keep better track of my goals.

I am working on...
eating healthier.  I have been researching and reading about nutrition.  Interesting stuff I assure you.  No, really!  Besides you can then impress your friends with big words.

I am going...
to the Saint Patrick’s Day parade.  I am hoping it won’t rain or snow!

I am hoping...
to plant flowers this year that the deer won’t eat.  I will need to research that a bit.  Paprika loves flowers and wants to have her hand at the fenced in flower beds.  I am also hoping to plant and have a successful garden this year.  Well, there is always hope.

I am reading...
The Paleo Solution by Robb Wolf and looking through several paleo cookbooks.  I am also reading The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom for fun. 

I am praying for...
My mom who is having a “big” birthday in a couple of weeks!
My special goddaughter and her awesome family!

I am hearing...
The sound of baby chicks!  We just purchased our new chicks for the year.  They are so cute and fuzzy.  We will get our pigs in a few more weeks.  I can’t wait.

Around the house...

some mean games of Settlers of Catan are being played.  I love that game!  We got it for Christmas and we all love playing it.  It has been a blast.

One of my favorite things...
thrift store shopping while I wait for the girls to get out of driver’s ed. class.  One of the best thrift stores in town just happens to be right across the street!  Okay.  I admit that on occasion, the waiting was tolerable and the deals were great!

A few plans for the rest of the week...
Thursday is the last day of driver’s education!  I am so glad to get back to a more normal routine.  Cinnamon and Paprika will be performing with the Haran Irish Dancers during the St. Patrick’s Day parade on Saturday.  They are excited and have been practicing hard.  Taekwon do, dance classes, the library, school, a microeconomics test and church will fill out the rest of the week. 

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

A February Daybook

Outside my window...
Jack, my big yellow lab.  He sits at the window, always watching.  When it is dinner time, he knocks on the window. Seriously.  If you ignore him, he knocks louder.  If you still ignore him, he will knock twice.  Heaven forbid you continue ignoring him at that point because he will sit back on his haunches and pound with both paws continuously.

I am thankful for...

Companies that are making my life easier by making GOOD gluten-free foods.  I just discovered that Glutino makes Apple and Blueberry breakfast bars.  Dan used to take a Nutrigrain Bar with him to work if he was in a hurry and the kids loved them for snacks, but that was before the gluten-free days.  I am so glad my friend happened to have ordered the Glutino bars and had them sitting on her counter when I visited!  My order just arrived.  I think everyone here is thankful!

I am thinking about...
Lent starting next week!  This is actually one of my favorite times of year.  I try each year to think of the things that take me away from spending time with Jesus and then I try to give some of those things up.  I also try to find ways to spend more time in prayer and try to simplify my life concentrating on the most important things, the things that really matter.  It is a real time of reflection.  I want to end the Lenten season becoming a new and improved version of myself; one that truly reflects my love and belief in Christ.

Learning all the time...
Well, we entered into the frightening realm of driver’s education for Paprika and Cinnamon.  We have actually put this off for a year, but figured it was probably the time to do it now!  Plus, the driving school is offering a class during the day for homeschoolers, which is perfect because it doesn’t conflict with anything else.  I hear from Dan that his practice time with Cinnamon and Paprika is going well.  I have yet to get into the car with them.  Perhaps one too many memories of a certain someone steering a shopping cart for me has me a bit petrified.  Give me time, it is only the first week!

From the kitchen...
Paprika decided to make a gluten free pineapple upside-down cake.  She has been eyeing the recipe in The Cake Mix Doctor Bakes Gluten Free cookbook for quite some time.  I must say, it was delicious.  Yes, it tasted as good as it looks!

I am creating...
New Menu Night recipes!  I am really trying to come up with some new recipes.  The old menu has become a bit boring.  I am trying to spice things up a bit.

I am working on...
learning more about nutrition while being gluten-free.  I am studying The Gluten-Free Nutrition Guide by Tricia Thompson and the Complete Gluten-Free Diet & Nutrition Guide written by Alexandra Anca.  I have already learned I should be hyphenating gluten-free.

I am going...
To a musical production of Snow White.  It is being put on by the Knights of Columbus at our parish in order to raise money to build a green house for the local food bank.  Dan and Allspice are stage hands for the all male cast.  Hmmm.  Should be fun!

I am hoping...
For sunnier days.  We had snow again yesterday and I really am in the mood for some sunshine!  I am just ready.  I am hoping the snow has seen better days and is making way for sun and warmer days.

I am reading...
The Bungalow by Lisa Jio.  I am only about 100 pages in, but I am not enjoying it all that much.  I had such high hopes based on her first novel.  We’ll see.

I just picked up The Wilder Life by Wendy McClure and Left Neglected by Lisa Genova the author of Still Alice.  I plan on spending some time reading while I am waiting for the girls.  Right now, I am spending nine hours a week waiting in the car or the local coffee shop while they dance and learn to drive.  Seems like a good time to read!

I am praying for...
Sarah.  That labor goes smoothly and that she has a quick and easy delivery.  I am also praying for her sweet baby girl!!!!!

I am hearing...
Nothing.  Right now it is absolutely silent.  Everyone is off doing their thing and I am here just relishing the bit of quiet and peace.  It seems like I am always running, so this is welcomed. 

Around the house...
It smells like coffee.  I just received my package of assorted coffees from The Mystic Monks.  These are Carmelite monks who make and sell coffee to help sustain their monastery in Wyoming.  Their coffee is delicious and it goes to a good cause!  I can drink to that!

One of my favorite things...
The theme song from Charlie Brown.  I didn’t realize how much I loved it until Valentine’s Day when Dan gave me a stuffed Woodstock that plays the tune.  I absolutely love it.  It makes me want to dance.  It makes my heart smile. I even asked Allspice if he could help me use it for my ring tone on my phone.  He half smiled and shook his head.  I’m not sure what that means exactly.


A few plans for the rest of the week...
More running around!  The next several weeks are crazy busy!  Most of all, I am hoping to meet a certain bundle of joy!

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

Can you hear the music cuz I pressed the button....again!

My First Ever Daybook

Outside my window...
Snow!  I still see piles of snow!  The weather has reached forty the past few days and it was just enough to give me a bit of spring fever.  Yes, I realize it is only the beginning of February, but one can hope can't they!

I am thankful for...
Dan who knows just what I need and when I need it most!  Like chocolate!

I am thinking about...
A presentation I am giving tomorrow night.  I am sharing my journey to a gluten free life.  It has truly been an amazing journey and as I look back I feel so blessed to have reached this point.  I feel so incredibly thankful that Paprika has been pain free for the last year!  Sometimes it can be very eye-opening to revisit the path just to see how far you have really come.

Learning all the time...
Paprika just finished her study of Art History of the Western World.  It is fun to listen to her identify this artist or that painting.  She discovered a true appreciation for the impressionists through her studies.  Allspice is finishing up his in-depth study of macroeconomics and Cinnamon is working through Western Civilization II.  They are earning both college and high school credits through a dual credit program. 

From the kitchen...
Tonight I am making Pizza Baked Potatoes.   Cheap and yummy!

 

I am creating...
Some Valentine's Day surprises!  I can't wait!

I am working on...
plans for Allspice's graduation from high school! I know it isn't until May, but he is our first to graduate and I need the time to figure it all out!

I am going...
to get a massage tomorrow!  I can't wait!  This was a thoughtful gift from my mom at Christmas and I am finally taking advantage of it!

I am hoping...
to change up some things on my blog.  I realized that being gluten free is only part of who I am and I really want to share some other things with you all.  I am hoping to post blogs about homeschooling soon.

I am reading...
Starbucked by Taylor Clark.  Definitely an interesting read.

I just finished Still Alice by Lisa Genova last night.  I found the book incredibly sad and somehow beautiful at the same time.  It is a story of a Harvard professor who discovers at fifty years old she has early onset Alzheimer's.

I am excited to start something new, light, and fun.  I am picking up The Bungalow by Sarah Jio at the library today.  I read her novel The Violets of March and really enjoyed it, so I thought I would give her new one a try. 

I am praying for...
My beautiful friend who could have her baby any day now!  I am praying for an easy delivery and health for mama and baby.

I am hearing...
our mechanic giving us more bad news!  We took our car in because is was leaking only to discover that it was going to cost seven hundred dollars to fix!  That was until today when they got in there and discovered another valve that was bad.  Three hundred dollars more.
 
Around the house...
I need to do some organizing.  I really must be in that spring fever mode!  I feel like deep cleaning and airing out the house.  Probably not a good idea when it is only 38 degrees outside. 

One of my favorite things...
post-it notes that Dan leaves me on my coffee cup before he goes to work. 

A few plans for the rest of the week...
Irish dance for Cinnamon and Paprika.  Taekwon do for Allspice.  Maybe a relaxing weekend?  I would love that!

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

Cooking and reading!  A perfect use of time!  As long as you remember you are cooking!