The Simple Woman's Daybook

For today... Sunday, February 6, 2011


Outside my window... It is gray and we could be getting some more snow.  It is just below freezing and thankfully we don't have any wind.


I am thinking...  About my daughter coming home tonight from her college tour and how things went for her, the projects I need to complete for Valentine's Day, my husbands birthday party plans, and the other things I need to take care of.


I am thankful for... A peaceful home.


From the learning rooms... More Bio...


From the kitchen... Tonight we are homemade bread, Texas Hot Sausage that hubby and a friend made, tossed salad and maybe some Caramel Squares.


I am wearing...  Black sweat pants, light pink sweatshirt.


I am creating...  Valentines Day Cards.


I am going... To start a list of books I want to read.


I am reading... What Happens When Woman Care by Emilie Barnes.


I am praying for... Safe travels for my daughter as they come back from their college trip.  It's an 8 hour drive and we had snow and temperatures just around freezing last night.


Pondering these words... It's not the years of your life that count, but the life in your years.  (Abraham Lincoln)


I am STILL hoping... That spring will come sooner rather than later.


I am hearing... The computer, hubby flying his toy helicoper.


Around the house... Some tidying up today.  Hopefully we can get started on putting the doors on in the basement.


One of my favorite things... Warm bubble baths.


A few plans for the rest of the week... Tonight small group study and pick up daughter, the rest of the week work on Valentines Day projects, homemaking and schooling.  Saturday I will be taking my daughter to get her hair done and some grad photos taken.


Here is a picture thought I am sharing...

My daughter took this picture while we were camping this summer.

Thank you Peggy for the The Simple Woman's Daybook {follow links to read more}.

Oh Dear, I Think Hubby Lost His Camera

Yup, I am pretty sure his camera is gone for good -

to me that is LOL

My camera has been underperforming so today I decided to grab his camera and give it a whirl.

I was very happy with the pictures it took.

Mind you, after the pictures my camera has been taking anything would be good.

But I really was impressed.

And since he very, rarely uses it...

and I hate to see it just sitting there not being used...

well....

I figured I may as well use it.

Now, just to let him know that he lost his camera ;)

Yummy Pumpkin Raisin Muffins

This fall I used pumpkins for outside decoration but when the fall season ended I didn't have time to do up the pumpkins but I also didn't have the heart to throw them away.  I asked my mom if she would like to have them and she could do them up.  She was thrilled and said she would send me back a few bags of pumpkin.  Well, those few bags turned out to over a dozen bags.  So, it is time to do some cooking with pumpkin.  I pulled out this recipe which I haven't made for quite some time but remembered it was one of hubby's favorites.  It is very yummy and moist.  I got the recipe from "Muffin Mania" by Cathy Prange and Joan Pauli which was given to me as a wedding shower gift oh so many years ago.

Pumpkin Muffins

4 eggs

2 cups white sugar

1 1/2 cups oil

1 3/4 cup pumpkin (small can)

3 cups all purpose flour

1 Tbsp cinnamon

2 tsp. baking powder

2 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

2 cups raisins

Beat eggs slightly.  Add sugar, oil, pumpkin and beat thoroughly. 

Add dry ingredients and mix until smooth.

Stir in raisins.

Fill greased muffin cups 2/3 full and sprinkle tops with brown sugar.

Bake @ 375 for 15-20 minutes.

I used 2 cups of the homemade pumpkin instead of the canned which makes for a very moist muffin.

They go perfectly with some Orange Spiced Tea!

I am joining Lisa at "Sweet as Sugar Cookies" for Sweets for a Saturday

X-Stitch Pillowcases

I finally completed a set of pillowcases I have been working on.

While working on the pillowcases I only see a little bit at a time.

It always amazes me how pretty it looks when I take it out of the hoop.

And once it is washed and the print is removed it is even prettier.

And the colors become so much more vibrant.

They are very cheerful.

And will brighten someones pillow.

I just had to see what they looked like on the pillow.

And they definately brighten up the room.

So onward I go onto my next set of pillowcases with butterflies and flowers.

Hopefully I will complete them a lot quicker than I completed these :)

I am joining Cindy at "My Romantic Home" for Show & Tell Friday

And Krista at "While He Was Napping" for While He Was Napping

And Lori at "be different...act normal" for Show & Tell Saturday

Saving Cents on Scents Just Makes Sense! (at least to me :)

Wow!  February is already here.  It feels like just yesterday we were turning the page onto the new year.

This is my calendar picture for February.  I thought it was cute and it suits the theme I have picked out for hubby's birthday quite well.

Today was "bleach day" at my house.  Every week or so I like to give the bathroom, kitchen and floors a good bleach down.  I even have my special "bleach day" clothes since I can get quite into it and am a bit messy at times :)  I like to do my "bleach day" on a day when my daughter is working.  The less people in the house the better.

Today my house is smelling very clean and it got me thinking about scents.  My daughter has allergies and just walking down the air freshner/detergent aisle in the laundry store causes her nose and eyes to run.  I figured if they caused that kind of reaction in her just by walking past I definately don't want it in the air in my house every day for us to breath. 

But that doesn't mean our house can't smell good.  In fact, I think my favorite scents are the "homemaking scents" and there are so many.

The scent of simply clean.

The scent of fresh laundry.

The scent of fresh bread.

The scent of pie or cinnamon rolls, or anything yummy.

The scent of fresh flowers from the garden.

And I am sure the list can go on and on.  And have you noticed.  The artifical scents you buy in the store try to imitate the scents of homemaking?  Just look at some of the names such as Apples & Cinnamon, Apple Pie, Pumpkin Pie, Linen, Garden Fresh, Fresh Scent, etc.

So why spend your cents on scents?  Take that money and bake something yummy and not only will you have the wonderful aroma to fill your home but you will have something wonderful to share. 

Now that makes sense :)

Sweet and Sour Meatballs

This is one of my favorite Sweet & Sour Meatball recipes.

Not only is it super tasty and colorful I also love the smell of it cooking.

Meatballs

1 lb. lean ground beef

1 egg, slightly beaten

1/2 cup oatmeal

2 Tbsp. minced, dried onion

1 Tbsp. parsley flakes

1/2 tsp garlic salt

1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

1/4 tsp/ pepper

Mix together and shape into meatballs.  Place in roasting pan.

Sweet 'n Sour Sauce

2 cups brown sugar, packed

2 tsp. flour

1/2 cup vinegar

1/3 cup water

2 Tbsp. soy sauce

2 Tbsp. ketchup

1 can crushed pineapple (including juice)

sliced pepper strips, red and green

Mix sauce together and pour over meatballs.

Cook in 350F oven for 1 hour or until thoroughly cooked.

I like to serve this with rice, steamed broccoli and a tossed salad.

I am joining "The Kings Court IV" for What's Cooking Wednesday



And Alison at "Prairie Story" for Recipe Swap Thursday

Weekly Planning

Weekly planning is essential for me.  Without it nothing gets done.  And even though I lay out a detailed plan for the week the actuality of it working out that way is pretty slim.  However, it does give me that solid base I need to get the things I need and want to do accomplished. 



Last summer I set up my Home Management Binder.  I had versions of this in many different books and binders around the house and I finally consolidated it all into one.  Although it took a little getting used to it is so much nicer having everything in one place.  I also like customizing my day planner pages for the month. 



I normally like to plan for the week sometime over the weekend.  However this weekend was busy from start to finish and I didn't get time to plan.  So, this morning after my quiet time I grabbed my Home Management Binder, a cup of coffee and headed to my office.  I updated my planning sheets for February and got busy planning my week.


Once I got my week fairly organized I decided to keep going.  I made a new section in my Home Management Binder called "Holiday Planning".  With Valentines Day coming up and then hubby's birthday and then our anniversary I wanted somewhere to put down all the plans I have in my head.  I started with Valentines Day and on one side I put down each person I was doing things for and what I was planning.  On the other side I had a running shopping list that I added to as I went through my plans and supplies.

Although I ended up spending a good portion of my day in the office it felt good to have a solid plan in writing.  Now that I have all my ideas out of my head onto paper I can start thinking and planning my next project.

"Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up."
(A.A. Milne)