Lisa's Logbook - March 27

Well, six months of preparation and planning culminated in our whirlwind trip to South Bend, Indiana for the Regency Ball. Our group consisted of a six-vehicle caravan containing 2 men, 7 women, 5 teenage boys, and 13 teenage girls. (if my counting is correct....) I'll post more about it on Cornerstone, but clearly that has been a huge focus for me of late!

We also had a movie day and hairdo party last week; we watched Persuasion, our last of the six Austen novels. The hairstyling was a blast! And the following day, many of us gathered for a professional portrait session. I should have the link to those photos this week.

We started Karate (Tang Soo Do) last week, taking advantage of an introductory special at a studio in Lapeer which included 3 short intro classes and the uniform. All of us are participating except Bob and it seems that we are all going to like it, even those of us who had a bad attitude about their mom signing them up. Our schedule will be twice a week on Monday and Thursday afternoons.

Sister Weekend was a blast as always, although we seemed a little more low-key than some years. That's good, though; sometimes we just need to take things slow. I was thrilled to learn how to crochet and now I need to practice so I don't forget how.

The big snowstorm we had sort of took us by surprise Tuesday night and Wednesday. We must have gotten six inches of very wet heavy snow which was followed by freezing rain (so everything was ice coated). We didn't lose power, though some around here did. Our internet (cable) was down for most of Wednesday morning. From the traveling we did this weekend, it looks as though the snow was limited to our part of the state. By Lansing, there was no snow at all. How about you GR people?

I did sneak out Wednesday night with friends to see Limitless with Bradley Cooper. He's one of my favorite actors lately and I'd been looking forward to seeing this, though I had only the most basic idea of what it was even about. The Adjustment Bureau was a better movie in the same vein, though Limitless was more visually appealing (and not only because of the actor! lol). Lots of stunning CGI shots.

Other than co-op and the End-of-the-year Program, this week is a quiet one for us. Soccer hasn't started yet (we still have snow on the ground!) and the Regency Ball is past. I will try to get my work hours in by Thursday night so I don't have to worry about working on Friday before and after the co-op events.

Bob is busily looking for a car on craigslist. We are hoping to get a larger vehicle for me to drive and then give my van to him, I think. Having 3 children who are as big as adults makes it hard to fit everyone in my van comfortably - not much leg room.

I came back from the ball with a slight head cold - headache and stuffy nose. Of course, I didn't have any vitamin C along with me. But I hope to nip that in the bud.
Sunday - Relax
Monday - WORK 5 hrs, Karate
Tuesday - WORK 5
Wednesday - WORK 5
Thursday - WORK 5, Karate?
Friday - Co-op, End-of-the-year Program
Saturday - NO PLANS!!!
Sunday - Relax!

Can you believe by the end of this week it will be APRIL????

Unpredictable and Predictable

My daybook is up at Cornerstone. Click on over and give it a read.

Went to a meeting tonight and no one else showed up. That's ok - The hostess (Darlene) and I made our OWN fun. So there, all you slackers!

Ok, I'll give you that the weather was a tad unpredictable. I hadn't known about it before leaving my house around 6. But if *I* didn't know it, how did anyone else?

Ah well. I was glad to have gone! Darlene and I always have fun and good conversation.

I hit 50,000 words today! Only 25,000 more to go. Oh my....

Daybook

I posted my daybook over at Cornerstone. Even if you're not a homeschooler, you'd find that interesting, I think. I'd love it if other posted the daybooks too. They're a lot of fun!

Simple Woman Daybook - MOVED

If you've come here looking for the Simple Woman Daybook, I've started posting it at Cornerstone Home Learning blog instead. Link in sidebar or HERE.

Simple Woman Daybook

For Today... July 28, 2008

Outside my Window...grass that needs mowed, sunlight and shade, 3 teen boys racing by on bicycles

I am thinking... about driving over to Sarah's to get a book (New Moon) I am going to want before tomorrow

I am thankful for... the cheap eyeglasses place

From the kitchen... a pile of cucumbers from our garden

I am wearing... khaki skort, brown t-shirt, black flipflops, hair down and curled

I am creating... a to-do list for my week

I am going... to buy a gallon of milk sometime tonight

I am reading... Twilight (again) and Pride & Prejudice (annotated version) and I have a HUGE pile of books to choose from!

I am hoping... that David's glasses come in by Friday

I am hearing... Take a Chance on Me (ABBA)

Around the house... piles to go through

One of my favorite things... not going to work when everyone else is!

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... going through all our curriculum and ordering whatever else I need, finishing the edits on Forget-Me-Not and writing the synopsis and query letter, sending out the queries, getting a mammogram, getting my hair cut, watching Pride and Prejudice with friends, going to Lake Michigan, a family reunion, and NOT WORKING

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

The kids in their library t-shirts!

Simple Woman Daybook

Simple Woman Daybook
For Today, July 21, 2008...

Outside my Window... A woman and a little boy riding by on bicycles. Makes me want to go bike riding. The sky is overcast and there is a slight breeze. It's cooler today.

I am thinking... about which cell phone I want. It's still so confusing! I think I have what I want and then I realize it doesn't have this or that and so I go looking for something else and then there's something about that one that doesn't sit just right and so on. I need to just Pick One.

I am thankful for... a good relationship with my teenage son.

From the kitchen... Absolutely nothing. I should probably get in there and cook something.

I am creating... a new novel, set in the 1940's

I am going... to see Mamma Mia on Sunday with some fun ladies!

I am wearing... khaki green shorts and a green and white print shirt, no shoes, my hair is freshly washed and just hanging here, no makeup - yet

I am reading... The Broken Window by Jeffery Deaver and the latest Good Housekeeping magazine. Wishing I would magically be able to understand The Silmarillion as I have been halfway through it for MONTHS.

I am hoping... my son has a wonderful time at camp and comes back on fire for the Lord (and not girl-crazy!)

I am hearing... Manic Monday by Relient K (yes, it's the same song from the Bangles, with a couple lyric changes). Evidently David downloaded it.

Around the house... David's camp stuff, piles of curriculum waiting for a chance to sort, piles of books waiting for the same thing, my freelance writing and website design books, and bags of school supplies I bought at Walmart yesterday

One of my favorite things... shopping for school supplies! There's just something about new notebooks and fresh folders that I love!

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... taking the 3 youngest kids to a cheap matinee, Beach Day, library visit, probably taking Wednesday night off because Bob is going to be gone

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...
David's luggage for camp.

Simple Woman Daybook

For Today, July 14, 2008...

Outside my Window... Sunshine and a breeze ruffling the leaves on the trees. A freshly mowed lawn. The neighbor's daylilies. Some chalk drawings on the sidewalk.

I am thinking... about when my last day of work will be.

I am thankful for... good friends and good books!

From the kitchen... leftover chicken, leftover mashed potatoes, and leftover broccoli salad

I am creating... a mess? a monster?

I am going... to the church and the post office on my way to work.

I am wearing... denim capris, a yellow t-shirt with a flag on it, black sparkly beaded flip-flops, my hair in a clip

I am reading... Ordering Your Private World by Gordon MacDonald and a couple magazines from the library - Smithsonian, U.S. News and World Report

I am hoping... my nail polish will last through my work hours tonight. (I almost never do my fingernails, but I got motivated last night.)

I am hearing... a lawn mower somewhere in the neighborhood, my daughter Emily humming, my son James making wiggly noises

Around the house... we are getting ready to paint the exterior of the house. I vote yellow. Bob wants a darker grey.

One of my favorite things... The Renaissance Festival! I just got the details for the school day this September and am organizing the homeschool field trip.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... working Mon-Thurs, taking James to field school, pool day at my friend's house, homeschool park day on Friday, homeschool BBQ on Saturday

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


Learning to play Scattergories on our backyard campout

Visit The Simple Woman's Blog

Simple Woman Daybook

Note: I answered some of these questions this afternoon, but didn't have time to finish. Therefore some of my answers may seem contradictory. lol

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Peggy's Simple Woman Daybook

FOR TODAY, 30 June 2008

Outside My Window... Suzy riding her bike, wearing a leotard, a fleece jacket, and brown leather shoes. She's stylin'! lol (Yes, this was earlier on Monday.)

I am thinking... that I need to cook more from scratch.

I am thankful for... so many blessings! House, family, friends, food, provision, and more...

From the kitchen... Chicken in the slow cooker & oatmeal orange muffins cooling on the stove

I am wearing... jeans, purple tee that says "Get Smart" and black beaded flip-flops

I am creating... new stations on Pandora! Fun!

I am going... to take the kids to see a movie in the park Thursday night since I don't have to work. Hopefully the weather will cooperate.

I am reading... Journey by Angela Elwell Hunt (3rd in a series about Joseph) and hoping to re-read Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich before I return it to the library. Also listening to Persuasion by Jane Austen on audio cassette. Next up? Cockatiels for Dummies.

I am hoping... that we can buy a pop-up camper that actually POPS!

I am hearing... faint snoring and 80's rock music from Pandora

Around the house... I'm in an organizing mood. So, things are getting in order!

One of my favorite things... A new book from a favorite author and several hours in which to read it!

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: Working only 3 days, going to Fireworks! somewhere Friday night, working on my business plans, cleaning up the house, taking the kids to the park movie and maybe to the cheap matinee too?

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...


All that packaging for that small FlipVideo camera and cord!

Simple Woman Daybook

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Peggy's Simple Woman Daybook

FOR TODAY, 23 June 2008

Outside My Window... a truck from the village department of public works backing up to our fire hydrant to flush it out. And a few minutes later, as I am finishing my post, my yard is filled with rusty orange water.

I am thinking... it's a good thing that Bob just washed a load of whites (literally JUST finished)

I am thankful for... sunshine, blue skies, and warm weather

From the kitchen... Chocolate chip cookies with walnuts and dried cranberries (Yes, I baked them!)

I am wearing... a baggy white t-shirt and navy workout pants (my PJ's - maybe I should get dressed?)

I am creating... a name for my new business and running into dead ends trying to buy a website domain name. All the good names are taken!

I am going... to work later on and hopefully doing a couple errands on the way (If I can leave early enough)

I am reading... a book on visiting Hawaii, trying to finish Finding God in Lord of the Rings and wondering when I am going to get Fearless Fourteen (Janet Evanovich) from the library.

I am hoping... that I get more time off at 4th of July than just the actual holiday.

I am hearing... the Math-U-See intro music and water running out of the fire hydrant

Around the house... Clean carpet, clean linoleum, piles of stuff to sort through

One of my favorite things... Papermate Flexgrip pens



A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: Suzy and James have a VBS Tues-Thurs, we will go to the beach on Thursday, I am having a root canal on Wednesday (fun fun), and pick up my Angel Food order on Saturday. Hopefully we can take the kids to the waterpark at least once.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...



















A REAL dad doesn't mind his girls decorating him with their Pretty Pretty Princess jewelry. heh heh

Simple Woman Daybook

I saw this first on Michele's blog.

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Peggy's Simple Woman Daybook

FOR TODAY, 19 June 2008

Outside My Window... Overcast skies and a freshly mowed yard

I am thinking... that it's so nice to have a teenage son who is good at mowing yards.

I am thankful for... recorded music. (I just read a book that took place in the 18th century - there was no way to capture music at that time! Can you imagine?)

From the kitchen... Angel food cake with strawberries and whipped cream

I am wearing... oversized grey sweatshirt, jeans, white tennies - all dressed for work.

I am creating... a website to promote my book on starting homeschool c0-ops. Hope to have that done this weekend.

I am going... to the nature center to pick up my daughter and then to some garage sales.

I am reading... a book on commercial freelance writing and Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich (on audiobook)

I am hoping... to quit my job before September.

I am hearing... Classical music (Bach) from Pandora online radio

Around the house... There are books stacked everywhere, since we have 50+ library books out, 2 piles of curriculum for sale, 3 piles of curriculum I've purchased and myriad other books all over the place.

One of my favorite things... Avon Moisture Therapy hand cream - it's awesome!

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: Well, the week is nearly over now. One more day of nature field school for Suzy, some garage sales to attend, 2 more days to go to work, trying to sell some curriculum, taking the kids to the waterpark if the weather cooperates, church on Sunday.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...