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 didn't get too much accomplished that was on my list.  I did get some of the bookwork done but I am not finished, laundry is caught up (at least for now), I didn't get near the bedroom and I still have to make plans for the upcoming holidays although I do have a few ideas beginning.
Here are a few things I would like to focus on this week.

1.  Finish up the bookwork and paperwork.

2.  Tidy up our bedroom.

3.  Finalize details for Valentine's Day, and following birthday and anniversary (it will be our 20th).

4.  Do something silly with hubby.  This may sound funny but I was thinking back to dating, early marriage years and remembered how we had times where we did something silly that just made us laugh.  Oh, we still laugh and have fun now but with kids and responsibilities alot of the silliness factor is gone.  So this week I want to do something silly :)

~Home, the spot of earth supremely blest,

A dearer, sweeter spot than all the rest~

(Maricar Macalincag)

The Simple Woman's Daybook

For today... Monday, January 24, 2011


Outside my window... It is dark outside but the moon and stars are shining.

I am thinking...  That I am glad it is the end of the day and I am looking forward to relaxing the rest of the evening.

I am thankful for... Having enough.

From the learning rooms... English essays.

From the kitchen... Homemade meals this week as we have almost cleaned out the leftovers from the fridge.

I am wearing... (was wearing dark wash denims, purple top with grey jacket) changed into black sweats and pale pink sweat top as I wind down for the evening.

I am creating...  Embroidery work on some pillowcases.

I am going... To watch some TV tonight (I don't do that very often)

I am reading... A Woman Who Reflects the Heart of Jesus by Elizabeth George

I am praying for... Strength for each day.


Pondering these words... "We are what we repeatedly do.  Excellence, therefore, is not an act, but a habit. (Aristotle)

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

I am hearing... The computer, my daughter typing, my husband coughing, the dog stretching, and the wind not blowing for a change.

Around the house... Time to do some Valentines decorating.

One of my favorite things... Soft blankets and fluffy slippers.

A few plans for the rest of the week...  Monday - errands, grocery shopping and working at the church library, Tuesday - housework and baking, Wednesday - school with daughter & housework, Thursday - more school, Friday - more school & bake sale baking.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...

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

My Table Story

This fall while hubby and I were out doing some garage saleing I came across a table set.

It was love at first sight. 

From the moment I laid my eyes on it I knew it would be a perfect fit for our family room

which hubby has been working on completing.

I looked it over and couldn't believe the condition it was in.

No scratches, marks - nothing.

Had it even been used?

It was in mint condition.

And then I looked at the price,

and my heart sank.

Although it wasn't overpriced, especially considering its mint condition

it was still more than we could afford to pay,

especially since it wasn't something we needed.

The lady at the garage sale told us she could take our name and number

and if it didn't sell she would give us a call.

Days turned into weeks and then months with no phone call.

Every time I walked past the space in our basement I could see the table and chairs.

They would be such a perfect fit.

I could see us as a family sitting there playing games on a Sunday afternoon.

I could see the table filled with food for family movie night.

And every time I thought about it I have to admit I felt a little bit sad.

It really had been love at first sight.

Although we did have a table that would go there it just wasn't the same.

A few months later while we were just getting ready to sit down to supper the phone rang.

Although I didn't recognize the number I answered it.

It was the lady from the garage sale offering us the table!

And the price she was offering it to us was within our budget!!!!

I double checked with hubby and by the next day

the table I had been dreaming about was mine.

I didn't need this table.

It's one of those good things that I have blessed with.

Every time I walk by, or we're sitting at it on a Sunday afternoon,

or I'm putting food on it for Family Movie Night

I am reminded to be thankful.

Not only for the table but for all the good things in my life.

 I am joining in with Cindy at My Romatic Home for Show and Tell Friday.

as well as Show and Tell Saturdays at be different act normal

Scheduling Again

With hubby now finished his shift work for awhile and back onto a regular day schedule I once again had to revisit my daily schedule.  Sometimes I think I can get by without it, I mean by now you would think I should have mastered what needs to get done, when and how long it takes.  Well, I have discovered that without my schedule firmly in hand very little seems to get accomplished.  I really do not know what happens to the time but it seems to evaporate with nothing to show for it.  So today I sat back and revisited our daily schedule and once again revised it to loosely fit our ever changing lives.

There are many different ways to lay out the daily schedule.  I know some people who have a general list of things that need to get done each day.  I have tried this and it just does not work for me.  I tend to be overly ambitious with my list of things and never even get halfway through before I'm burned out and discouraged. 

So I have found that what works best for me is my day planned out in half hour segments.  It helps me keep my schedule realistic in what I can do.  I still have the tendency to overbook my days and not leave myself enough "down" time but I am learning.  The one consistancy I have found is that every time I revise our schedule I always wish there were more hours in my day.

"Time is free, but it's priceless.

You can't own it, but you can use it.

You can't keep it, but you can spend it.

Once you've lost it you can never get it back."

~Harvey MacKay~

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 hubby and I had our "at-home getaway" which was so nice and refreshing.  Now it's time to get back into the routine of things and catch up on some things that got put aside last week.

Here are a few things I would like to focus on this week.

1.  Bookwork and paperwork for school.  I hate doing this stuff and severely procrastinate on doing it so this week I need to just set aside the time, focus, and get it done.

2.  Catch up on laundry.

3.  Tidy up our bedroom.  It seems to have been collecting stuff again so it needs to be put away.

4.  Start thinking about what I will do for Valentine's Day followed by hubby's birthday and then our anniversary.

~Home, the spot of earth supremely blest,

A dearer, sweeter spot than all the rest~

(Maricar Macalincag)

The Simple Woman's Daybook

For today... Monday, January 17, 2011


Outside my window... It is dark - no moon or stars because it is clouded over and we are expected to get more snow overnight - sigh.


I am thinking...  Of the many things I need to get done tomorrow, the weather forecast for the week which means I may have to drive my daughter to work due to bad roads - again, of the nice time hubby and I had these past few days.


I am thankful for... A warm home and working vehicles.


From the learning rooms... Studying for a Bio exam.


From the kitchen... I have a fridge full of leftovers so I don't think I will be actually doing much cooking this week.


I am wearing... Dark denim jeans and a black/grey sweater


I am creating... I finished my pillowcases and will be starting on another set.


I am going... To start planning my day for tomorrow and the upcoming week.


I am reading... The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien


I am praying for... My daughter as she is narrowing down her college search.


Pondering these words... "God's plan for making us holy is not an event but a process that involves daily choices in every area of life." (Leroy Eims)


I am STILL hoping... That the weather will warm up.


I am hearing... The computer and the furnace.


Around the house... Lots of housework and laundry after spending a few days away.


One of my favorite things... Vanilla Caramel creamer by CoffeeMate


A few plans for the rest of the week...  Monday - errands, grocery shopping and working at the church library, Tuesday - housework and baking, Wednesday - daughters grad dress fitting, schoolwork, housework, Thursday - possibly have to drive daughter to work and if I do I will stay in the city and do some work at the church library, if I'm at home more housework and baking, Friday - schoolwork, housework, family movie night, Saturday - date with hubby, odds and ends, Sunday - church


Here is a picture thought I am sharing...

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

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 fairly successful with my list.  I'm not sure we are completly back into the routine of things but we are getting there.  I did get the cleaning done that I wanted to and it is nice to have it done.  Grad dress shopping with my daughter was a lot of fun and very successful.  We not only found the perfect dress but it fits her beautifully and by the time we had included all accessories we were still at the low-end of our budget.  It's also nice that we now have the dress and don't have to worry about finding one.

This week is a little different here.  Our daughter is leaving for a college tour tonight and will be gone until late Saturday.  Hubby took some time off and we are considering going away for a few days, weather permitting.  If we don't go away we will be spending "away" time at home together.  Either way I am looking forward to just relaxing for a couple of days.

Here are a few things I would like to focus on this week.

1.  Relaxing while we take some time away as a couple instead of thinking about all the things that I need to do or could be doing.

2.  Making sure there are meals ready for our son while we are gone.

3.  Making sure my daughter finishes up her school work that needs doing before she leaves.

4.  Finish up some laundry and tidying up before we leave.

~Home, the spot of earth supremely blest,

A dearer, sweeter spot than all the rest~

(Maricar Macalincag)