A Week in Pictures

Wow, it has been a busy week.  Here's a few pictures of some of the things I've been up to during the week.

 

I am continuing to put some finishing touches in our basement family room.  I am shopping tomorrow and hope to find the last few things I need.

 

I also made a table centerpiece from an old wooden candle holder that was kicking around the house.  I will be able to take it apart and redo for Christmas if I want

  

I found some antique lamps at an awesome price and then got them for 1/2 of that :)

 

These pictures don't do it justice but while I was working outside in our garden I saw our neighbors tree.  It was absolutely beautiful with the bright yellow leaves and contrasting brilliant red apples.

A few flowers from our garden that have finally begun to bloom.

I also made some soup.  It is definately turning into soup weather here and hubby likes soup for his lunch while working nights.

I'm still working on those big breakfasts for my family.  This is one of the family favorites and one of my favorites because it's fairly quick to make with only a few dirty dishes.

And of course, cooking meals.

I also did some front porch decorating but I will post those tomorrow.

Hubby is home from work so I am off to make some tea. 

"What we hope ever to do with ease, we must learn first to do with diligence.

(Samuel Johnson)



Hearts for Home

Today I am joining in with Gae from Cherised Hearts at Home . She has a weekly post called Hearts for Home which is open for others to link up with and share some thoughts on home-centred ways. She encourages us to think of 4-6 things to commit to each week to make homelife special and to bless us as keepers at home.

Last week I did do big breakfasts every morning.  Hubby appreciated it as did the rest of the family.  It is something I need to continue to work on doing.  I completed the basement room which took me way less time than I thought it would and we are so enjoying having it.  I didn't get to planning our next semester so that will definately go back on my list this week.

This week I commit to:-

1. Plan our upcoming semester.  I need to get this done because my daughter writes her Social exam on Friday and we will be starting our new semester on Monday.  So, now I have a deadline.

2. Garden.  I need to finish bringing everything in and cleaning it up.  We are supposed to have nice weather this week but it looks like rain is coming by the weekend so I need to be outside most of this week.

3. Help my daughter review for her Social exam.

4. I have a decorating idea for our verandah using some things from the garden so I hope to get that decorated for fall.

5. Breakfast, lunch and supper.  I need to make sure that with the busyness of bringing in the garden I don't forget to get good meals on the table for my family.


~I think that if ever a mortal heard the voice of God it would be in the garden at the cool of the day (F. Frankfort Moore)~

The Simple Woman's Daybook

For today... Saturday, September 25, 2010


Outside my window... partly cloudy and the wind is blowing but we're not supposed to get rain - yea!!


I am thinking... of all the little things I want to do when we go to the city today.


I am thankful for... my hubby who takes good care of us.


From the learning rooms... Social exam this week and then starting of English and Biology.


From the kitchen... Garden Chicken Saute with fresh bread and ceasar salad for supper - a family favorite.


I am wearing... pajamas - it's Saturday afterall :)


I am creating...a candle centerpiece for fall, hope to pick up the final things I need to complete this project.


I am going...to finish gathering things for goodwill, some basic housework and put the office back together after hubby had to rearrange a few things to do some connections.


I am reading... Messy Christianity by Michael Yaconelli. 


I am praying for... my family.

Pondering these words..."Whatever your hand finds to do, do with all your might."  Ecclesiastes 9:10a


I am STILL hoping... to get the basement family room finished before  Christmas.


I am hearing... quiet.  Daughter is away at a retreat, hubby is sleeping after working a night shift and son is still sleeping.


Around the house... cleaning the kitchen, laundry, cleaning the floors, this seems to be never ending.


One of my favorite things... flowers.


A few plans for the rest of the week...  the garden.  We are supposed to have sun the rest of the week and it is time to bring in the rest of the garden and get it cleaned up before the weather turns yucky once again.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...

                                          I think this is my favorite picture that I took this week. 

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

Show and Tell Friday

I rediscovered this lamp while cleaning out a room in our basement that had been used for storage.  I absolutely love it and will definately be adding it back into my home decor.

 

I  love how you can have just the top light on, or just the bottom light.

Or, both top and bottom at the same time.

I hope you enjoyed my rediscovered lamp.  I am joining in with Cindy at My Romatic Home for Show and Tell Friday.

Basement Room - Part 2

Wow, it's been a busy day.  My daughter is going to a youth retreat this weekend and she is a leader for a group of girls and they will be using our trailer to sleep in.  So, today we took care of getting the beds set up and stocking it with a few things they might need over the weekend.  As well, I had to run some errands and pick up some groceries.  I wasn't sure how much I would get done in the basement room today but I am thrilled with how much I got done.

 

(Cupboard before)



(Cupboard after)

There was a lot of time consuming work today.  Sorting and organizing cupboards.  It always amazes me how much more room you suddenly have when you're done though.




This bookshelf gave me the most problems today.  As you can see it was precariously loaded with books and was right above the couch.  I didn't want anybody to hit their head on it so I knew it would have to come down.  Once I got the books down I attempted to take the bookshelf down.  Obviously when hubby put it up he meant it to stay up.  I worked on it for a good half hour and then left it.  I was going to ask hubby to take it down for me on his days off.  However, when he got up and came to see the progress he saw the bookshelf in a state of half removal and he quickly removed it all for me.  It only took him a few minutes.  I guess it helps when you know what you're doing :)



I ended putting all the books in the drawers that I cleaned out.  I wasn't sure if they would all fit but I ended up with room to spare.  I also found a pile of books that I want to re-read.



(Before)



(After)

This is my favorite part of the room.  I took an old tablecloth and used it to cover the boxes and table leaning against the wall and then used them as shelves.  I thought it was a cute way to hide the storage items.

Now, when you come into the room this is what you see.  What a difference!  I don't know if you noticed I covered the one couch.  I had the couch cover in storage and had original plans to use it in the living room but then we got new furniture and I ended up not using it.  It works perfectly in this room.

This is where the TV will go but there is no way I can lug it down so it will have to wait until the weekend when dear hubby is off work.  There are still a few odds and ends to finish up.  I want to get a small carpet to put down on the floor but I think we're basically done for now!  Once we get the TV in I will put up the final before and after pics.

I really thought this project would take me a lot longer than it actually did.  There is still some stuff to finish packing up to take to charity but other than that there is not much left other than a few odds and ends.  I am so glad to have it done and it gives me a sense of satisfaction knowing that dear hubby will have a comfortable place to relax.

Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do...but how much love we put in that action.

(Mother Teresa)

Basement Room - Part 1

Well, the craziness has begun.  My dear hubby has started his first set of night shifts and starts off with five in a row.  Normally he would work 3 days, 3 off, 3 nights, 3 off, etc. but start up always requires a few extra. 

With this change to our schedule, it has sent my thoughts back to the reason of being a "keeper of the home" which is to respect and honor your husband.  Honestly, sometimes keeping the house is much, much easier.  I have been noticing however, that when I change my focus from "my home" to "honor and respect" that is changes some of my priorities throughout the day.

On that thought, my goal over this week and next is to make a spot where hubby can go when he is transitioning onto night shifts.  That way he won't have to worry about disturbing the rest of the family who are trying to sleep and it will be more comfortable for him.  It will also serve as a temporary family room for us until we complete the main family room.  So, not only will it benefit dear hubby, it will benefit the whole family as well.

I got a really good start on the room today.  I was very surprised how much I was able to accomplish in such a short time.  The room was being used as a storage room so I had to shift some things around.  Thankfully dear hubby and I got the garage cleaned out this summer so some of the storage items can now go out there. So, here's what the room looked like before I began.

 

After about a half hour of work you can definately see some progress.

I definately made progress as I continued to work although it's not as noticeable in the pictures.

 

 

I also got part of the closet cleaned out and hope to finish the rest of the closet area tomorrow.  Once that is done alot of the books, etc will be put into the drawers.  There is really not a lot left to get put away.

 

Along the way I have also been decluttering.  I have two big bags full of give away items.  One of those bags is mostly winter items and it's a perfect time a year to donate those items to charity.  I did run into a bit of a problem along the way though.  I came across 3 old, very old, gaming systems that I figured we could just give away.  However, I thought I had better check with hubby and son first.  Well, they think that we definately need to keep them.  Out of the box I packed up with the hopes of giving it all away, they only figured two items out of the box could be given away.  Why we can't give it all away since we have two brand new gaming systems is beyond me but I agreed to put the box in the closet and we would discuss it again at a later date.  I really was hoping I could have eliminated one more box of items.



(What I was hoping to give away)

(What I actually get to give away)

After working in the basement I headed outside to cover my tomato and pepper plants because of a risk of frost tonight and I couldn't resist taking a few evening pictures of our vine growing along the garage.

It is getting late so I will be heading down to do a bit of x-stitching and have a cup of tea before I call it a night.

"No matter what you've done for yourself or humanity, if you can't look back on having given love and attention to your own family, what have you really accomplished?"

(Elbert Hubbard)