Daybook

Outside my Window… It is a grey day. The trees are now bare. I’m ready for snow now.

I am thinking… about my mother-in-law, Mary Jo, and wishing her a very

I am also thinking . . . that

and loved sharing and reading all the recipes shared, but I’m happy to be back to normal this week!

I am wearing . . . a deep purple, three-quarter length sweater with a shawl collar, big pearl studs, camel slacks and camel suede penny loafers. We went to the mall today to buy me a new winter coat and I wanted to look nice!

From the school room… We’ve been moving toys, books, puzzles, etc. around on various bookshelves upstairs and down. Too many toys in the living room was driving Mama crazy. Moving a few games and puzzles we had received last Christmas and for his birthday that he wasn’t quite ready for then down to accessible reach for Lloyd and he is loving the “new” games. We are sewing and matching patterns all day long and loving some new library books, including one on Johnny Appleseed (really cute how he asks for it, asking for “Seed Apple” for days until he just now got the term, “Appleseed.”) and Harry the Dirty Dog. And we just got a box delivered from my mom with something new to try, so I’ll let you know how that goes.

I am thankful… for our warm home and popcorn for dinner on a relaxing Sunday night.

From the kitchen… Menu plan for this week includes:

Sunday – Leftovers and popcorn
Monday – Vegetable Beef Stew
Tuesday – Trying my hand at crockpot cassoulet again. Still developing the recipe. Great ideas for cooking dry beans in the crockpot from this book from the library.
Wednesday – Frittata with green salad
Thursday - Leftovers
Friday - Spicy spaghetti squash puttanesca
Saturday – T. may or may not be smoking a turkey today. While they’re on sale I’ve bought a few to make “lunch meat.” I know we’re a week early, but why not? Something easy and tasty and good for leftovers for Monday lunch.
Sunday - Dinner at Grandma and Poppa’s

We are going gluten/grain and sugar-free (I know, as I just shared that amazing sourdough recipe) again here at home for the most part (minus those beans in the cassoulet). We’re just not making progress losing the baby weight without it. We will be enjoying a few holiday treats here and there (and will be sharing recipes) but those days between now and said holiday‘s? On a diet.

I am (still) creating…homemade Christmas gifts. Working on Lloyd’s quilt, and an elephant for Luke. Also thinking about some blocks for Luke and a “stocking stuffer” or two for my sister’s.

I am reading… cookbooks. Big surprise, right?

I am hearing. . . quiet. But I think this week we may be starting up the Christmas music. I just love it, I can’t wait anymore.

Around the house… potty chairs. We are successfully potty training! FINALLY! After a few weeks of trying and getting nowhere I decided to take some time off so Lloyd didn’t develop negative feelings toward pottying. Then, on Friday he woke up with a dry diaper, and was quite proud of it. I asked him if he’d like to go try to go pee-pee on the potty and he confirmed. And then HE WENT!

I am so proud. He even went (on the potty chair in the truck) in the mall parking lot today.

Now, I just have to figure out how to make him confident about pooping in the potty chair. Any suggestions?

One of my favorite things… is a full freezer. No, unfortunately T. did not get an elk while we were in Colorado, but we did come home with an ice-chest full of meat from my parents (elk, venison, and grass-fed beef. YUM!) so we are doing well. Now I just have to decide how to cook it!

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week …

• Pray for guidance, patience and grace as a mama of two. And for some conclusion and ease of heart and mind for some specific prayer intentions for our family.
• Crafts, sewing and more crafts. Working on making ornaments for a Jesse Tree for Advent this year. Along with all of those other things I noted above. Pray for me, my sanity, and my paint-stained and needle-poked fingers.
• Maybe story time at the library?

A Picture Thought to share (above) -

Thank you to Peggy for hosting! Please go visit other daybooks here!