Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Phil 4:6-7



Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Busy weekend, busy week journal






In the great outdoors...
...it is overcast today and we are expecting storms. My headache says we will definitely have them, though the weather channel gives it a 60% chance. When I wake up with a headache, it usually precipitates in one form or another. I think I have a better average than the weather men people.


I am thinking about...
...the end of the school year, and wondering whether or not the end is nigh. Will Noah have summer school; when will Faith finish? People keep asking her when her last day of school is, and I always reply, "On the day the last page of the last book is finished." I often get a look that says to me "well aren't you a meany," but I don't think I am. What do you think? If you homeschool, do you expect your students to finish the books?


I am wearing...
...a yellow floral skirt, white knit shirt and terra cotta colored sandals. I need to buy some sandals which have buckles across the top so I can loosen the left one -- the foot that is really swollen because two of the veins were ablated.  I think I am going to have to start wearing compression hose again. That thought makes me want to cry.


I am reading...
... Something Other than God and I am listening to The Brave on audiobook. I have only read one of Nicholas Evans' books -- The Horse Whisperer, so I'm not sure what to expect.


I am creating...
...a Confirmation rosary, a baby quilt, and some blouses for Faith. I made Doug's niece a dress and matching purse last week, for her birthday, as well as a new nightgown for Faith and for myself -- my favorite pattern and favorite summer nightgown fabric (pictured below). It was a busy sewing week. I wish there were more hours in a day, so I could create more.





















a little wrinkled from being folded under the pillow sham -- is that where you keep your nightgown, too?




This is a cute, easy and versatile pattern. I use the two top pieces of the dress to make a long top. I made this same dress for Doug's niece, all in one fabric with a complimentary ruffle at the bottom. I can really wear a pattern out because once you make it a few times, you could sew it in your sleep.




I am going to attempt this quilt pattern. I am normally a random square girl, I like the "homey" look of it. But this one has that same sort of randomness with a little jazz. I am hoping it works out with all the triangle cutting to do.




At the school table...
...we are whittling down the subjects as we finish the books. I think this is the last week for spelling, and we finished maps last week. We can spend more time on the subjects which have more pages left to cover (because I am a meany).


On the table...
...I think tonight the menu will be eggs, whey pancakes (because I have a huge container of whey left from straining a batch of yogurt), and fruit salad. I am trying to create more meatless meals as the price of meat skyrockets.


I am going to...
...pick up some prescriptions and make a quick run to the grocery store today.


A few of my favorite things...
...family dinners for celebrating -- especially celebrating my son's college graduation! (Now prayers for a job.)



This envelope has been at my house for over a week. I was dying to steam it open, but I did not.



Geoffrey teased me, suggesting the envelope actually held a letter of consolation.



It was the real deal. A diploma...at long last.



It does have his last name on it, I just blurred it out for privacy. Anyone need an environmental policy specialist? I have just the guy.



We combined the graduation with my mom's 72nd birthday.



We sang "Happy Graduation" to Geoffrey. And "For he's a jolly good fellow."




...holidays, which I used for catching up on laundry and ironing after a too-busy weekend

...cute birthday cakes -- I saw this cake at Christine's blog and decided to copy it. Doug's niece, Olivia, found it cute, though what was most important was that inside the whipped cream frosting was a chocolate cake. We won't talk about the disaster that occurred when, on the way to the party, a squirrel ran in front of my car, couldn't decide which way he wanted to go and I had to slam on the brakes. Let's just say it was a good thing the cake was covered in plastic and the umbrellas were safely tucked aside. And we weren't too far from home so I could go back and fix it. After I fixed it, Faith held it in her lap for the 30-minute trip.




Before "the accident." Afterwards it wasn't too bad, though I had to use new bears and "floats."






Plans for the week...a lot of dance. We have dress rehearsals on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evenings, one recital on Saturday and two on Sunday. Whew! I think we'll be all danced out by 9 o'clock on Sunday.


Prayers sent heavenward for...
...my husband, as he transitions from job to job, and my children
...my youngest son, for whatever God's plan is for him and for Him to know what his part is, and especially now that he is driving...God help us
...our priests and religious, especially our parish priests, and Fr. Howe
...all the babies whose mothers are contemplating abortion this week, for a change of heart


Thought Quote for the day...

...this may be the most "blond" thing my daughter has ever said:

"Is the maple tree the one with the leaves that look like maple leaves?"






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13 comments:

  1. Congrats to your son and your cake turned out cute cute cute...same with the little girl who looks like she loved it!!

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  2. Have you ever seen a dress made from a pillow case? since you were a sewer I thought Id ask.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Christine (for your comment above). She IS a cutie.

      I HAVE made a pillowcase dress, but never used an actual pillowcase (I don't have any pretty enough to be a dress). I more recently made pillowcase nightgowns because Faith is too tall for one made to be a dress. It really only requires about a yard of fabric. This is the most recent: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I418598WvZs/UiTQhSur1dI/AAAAAAAAOuk/OkHxE3qWF8k/s1600/DSC03844.JPG

      Wanna send me some pillowcases? I'll stitch them up for Ava!

      Delete
  3. Hooray! A College graduate! I'm sure it was hard not to open that envelope.

    As for homeschooling, I always divvied up the assignments so that we would finish by the last day of school....of course, there's Life, and there are Attitudes, and there is Laziness. Usually, we finished most books, but sometimes it didn't happen, and unless we were waaaaay behind, all bets are off once morning swim practice starts, so I learned to just let it go.

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    Replies
    1. Sara, I guess I'm too lazy to do a year's worth of lesson plans, though I still wouldn't have had her do more than one math lesson a day, and that's one of the books that needs to be finished.

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  4. You are not a mean mama, at least not as mean as I am ;-) We're doing Math and Greek all Summer. We finished the Math book but we need mastery so we are playing at Khan Academy (which the kids love). As for the Greek, well, it was their idea so I shouldn't be taking any grief for that.

    Congratulations to Geoffrey!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, but I knew we had to be friends for a reason -- you're a kindred mean spirit! ;-)

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  5. Loved that blond quote!! Lol

    I make mine finish each book, too.

    The nightgown will be neat and no! I never put mine under the pillow sham! Good idea though ;)

    Have a good week!

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    Replies
    1. Ha, Patty, I hope I didn't offend any blonds!

      Glad to learn you finish the books, too. I remember many years when my older boys (who went to school) brought workbooks home in the summer with many unfinished pages attached.

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  6. I typically make everyone finish up, but this move has set up back tremendously. If we do not finish all subjects, at the very least we will finish our math and reading and grammar.

    How I wish I could come over for a sewing lesson! I can sew, but would like to become more proficient.

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  7. How can school be over if we didn't finish the books? Not my fault you dilly dallied in February. :-) Actually, I think I might be meaner than you, because I make them go to summer school, too. Free choice on what you want to learn, but I find they are really obnoxious if they don't have something to do every day, so summer school it is. Tell Faith to count her lucky starts she lives with you and not me. ;-)

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  8. 1. Congratulations to your boy-man on his graduation!!!
    2. Yes, the price of meat makes me want to cut back on eating it...Joey says he won't retire until we stop eating. :/
    3. No, I hang my gown and robe in the closet.
    Hugs for you and prayers for your intentions, Barbara :)

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  9. Congratulations to your graduate and prayers all around! I was surprised that they mail the diplomas. My graduate got a rolled-up paper telling him which classrooms held diplomas for which departments, and he had to pick it up after the ceremony.
    Love the cake and I hear you on those indecisive squirrels!
    I'll be watching to see what you think of SOTG.

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I appreciate your comments -- sometimes I feel like I'm talking to myself!