The Simple Woman's Daybook

For today... Monday, December 6th, 2010

Outside my window... The sun is shining brightly, the sky is clear and blue and it is hovering right around the freezing mark - which is a nice relief after temperatures around 20 degrees below freezing.


I am thinking...  Of how I need to tidy up the house and get some things put away.  It always amazes me how cluttered things get over the weekend.  How I'm looking forward to having hubby home for the next few days.  How much I'm enjoying the sun shining through my window.  Of the people who are struggling this Christmas season.


I am thankful for... The warmer weather and better roads for driving.


From the learning rooms... Study, study, study as there will be final exams in Biology and English in the next few weeks.


From the kitchen... Tonight will be Sweet & Sour Meatballs, Rice, Green Beans, Salad and probably Chocolate Pie for dessert.

I am wearing... My comfy tan cargo pants and a pink layered shirt.


I am creating... Some new recipes.

I am going... To pay some bills, make some lunch and tidy up the house


I am reading... A Woman After God's Own Heart by Elizabeth George.  This is an excellent book that I borrowed from the church library but I will want to add to my own collection of books.  A definate must have.


I am praying for... My sister-in-law who is going through a break-up and needs to find a place of her own.


Pondering these words... From yesterday's sermon, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.  Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others."  (Philippians 2:3-4 NIV)

I am STILL hoping... A trip to the mountains????

I am hearing... The computers running.


Around the house... Christmas baking on the agenda for this week.  Yumm...


One of my favorite things... Seeing all the Christmas lights.


A few plans for the rest of the week...  This week is a quieter week for me and I am so looking forward to it.  Today we have a full day of school, then Tuesday & Wednesday will be housework, baking and date night with hubby :)), Thursday some school and probably more baking, and Friday & Saturday will be school and just relaxing.  Sunday is the children's program at church and I am looking foward to seeing that.


Here is a picture thought I am sharing...

My daughter took this picture last year.

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

Christmas Flower Pots

In the fall I made a little plant holder that I thought was so cute.

This week it received a Christmas make-over.  Just a quick change of the bow

and a Christmas poinsettia makes it ready for the holidays.

My hubby came up with the idea that we should make a winter version.

So, I  put together the pots and he painted it white for me.

We shopped together for the accessories and he insisted it have a carrot nose

which I think adds some personality.

So we now have a "Frosty" planter :)

I am joining in at

"The Shabby Chic Cottage" for Transformation Thursday

and at

 "My Romantic Home" for Show and Tell Friday 

Tablescape Thursday

I thought I would try something a little on the fun side this week.

I always like to have a picture of my starting place.  I have had this tablecloth for a few years and don't quite remember where I got it from.

The santa and train set was given to us as a gift a few years ago and I had it sitting on a back shelf.

This was the year to actually pull it out and use it.

I thought it was kind of cute.

These are views of either side of the train.

The snowman is part of my salt and pepper set and I added some tealights and a few wooden ornaments. 

The little candle tress were in a box of goodies I picked up at a garage sale.

Finally comes the dishes - simple white and green with a dash of gold.

The napkin rings were also in that box of goodies from the garage sale.

Each place setting had their own wooden ornament (I had a basket of them kicking around) and the little pinecones I picked up at Pier 1 Imports.

The table is set and ready to go!

Unfortunately my batteries died before I could get pictures of the food

but the tablescape and the food was enjoyed by all :)

I hope you enjoyed my tablescape as well.  I'm participating in Tablescape Thursdays at Between Naps on the Porch.  Go check it out to see some amazing and beautiful tablescapes.

Simple Christmas Tabletop

This week I have a very simple Christmas tabletop.

This vase I found at the Dollar Store a few years ago.

These little poinsettia napkin rings I got at a garage sale in a box full of odds 'n ends.

The glass tealight holders were actually used on the tables at our wedding, many years ago.

And this is one of my favorite Christmas pieces, a small runner I got from Laurie-Annes Lace & Linen.

And all put together gives me a simple Christmas tabletop for the week.

I am linking this to Tabletop Tuesday at a "Stroll Through Life".

 

Hearts for Home

Today I am joining in with Gae from Cherished 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 was quite successful with the items on my list.  School work with my daughter got completed, soup got made and I did have a talk with my son.  As well I continued to work on turning my thoughts towards God first and last in the day and worked on doing something special for hubby each day.  These are two habits that I want to develop so I will be keeping them at the top of my list for this week once again.

1.  I definately want to keep working on turning my thoughts toward God first thing in the morning and every evening at the end of the day.

2.  I also want to keep doing something special for hubby each day this week.  I am looking forward to seeing what surprise each day will bring (for me as well as him).  I thought this would benefit hubby and I am sure it has but it has had a profound effect on me as well. 

3.  Finish up a few projects before the Christmas Craft Sale on Saturday.

4.  Get a start on some Christmas baking.

5.  Finish decorating for Christmas.


                                      ~Home, the spot of earth supremely blest, A dearer,

sweeter spot than all the rest~

                                                                                    (Maricar Macalincag)

Christmas Place Cards

 

I thought I would try my hand at making some Christmas Place Cards out of some bunches I found at Dollarama.

I took some cinnamon sticks and glued them around the base.

Then I added some ribbon.

And the name cards.

I am quite happy with how my little experiment turned out.

I am joining in at "Between Naps on the Porch" for Metamorphosis Monday

The Simple Woman's Daybook

For today... Saturday, November 27, 2010


Outside my window... It is cloudy and grey but the wind isn't blowing today :)

I am thinking...  I need to run to the store and stop by my parents and I need to find time so I can finish up some of my projects for the craft show next Saturday.

I am thankful for... Schedules and Tea.  I don't think I could get through a week without both of those things.

From the learning rooms... English:  Career Portfolio and for Biology:  Respiratory System

From the kitchen... Leftovers today.


I am wearing... Jeans and a brown hoodie.

I am creating... Some Christmas flower arrangements.


I am going... To head outside and get some of those errands done.

I am reading... A Woman After God's Own Heart by Elizabeth George.


I am praying for... my daughter's upcoming job interview.

Pondering these words... The feeling of being hurried is not usually the result of living a full life and having no time. It is on the contrary born of a vague fear that we are wasting our life. When we do not do the one thing we ought to do, we have no time for anything else- we are the busiest people in the world. - Eric Hoffer


I am STILL hoping... The weather holds until we can get the outside decorations done on Tuesday.


I am hearing... The furnace running, my daughter turning the pages of a new book she started reading.

Around the house... Some basic housework and school work.


One of my favorite things... An afternoon cup of tea.

A few plans for the rest of the week...  Sunday - put up inside Christmas decorations, Monday - daughter's job interview, Tuesday - put up outside Christmas decorations, Wednesday - Home stuff, Thursday - help mom with a show and errands in the city, Friday - finish up what needs doing for craft show, Saturday - craft show

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...

Our house at Christmas a few years ago.

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

Weekday Tabletop

Just like the hub is the necessary center to a wheel so our table is the hub of our home.

It is more simplified during the week but I want to keep it warm and inviting

to everyone who comes.

I especially love the candles.  It just adds that special touch on a chilly morning

or snowy evening.

I am linking this to Tabletop Tuesday at a "Stroll Through Life".

as well as to

Centerpiece Wednesday at "Style Sisters"