Simple Woman's Daybook

For Monday, September 8, 2008
Outside My Window... backyard, fence, backyard, fence, backyard, fence... welcome to Kansas.

I am thinking...that i should hurry this up so i can do History.

I am thankful for...Rainy days!

From the kitchen...i had a nice cup of chocolate peppermint tea this morning!

I am wearing... cargo jeans, and a black t-shirt daddy got me! :) and blue socks.

I am creating... the thought of cutting out a skirt today.

I am going... to post this once i finish it.

I am reading... Financial Peace Revisited by Dave Ramsey

I am hoping... to do well in school this year and to work hard.

I am hearing... a song by one of my favorite artists

Around the house... my room is almost clean! (wow... walking space--thanks mom!)

One of my favorite things... reading-- it's the best!

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... school, and some hard practice on violin (seating auditions this weekend!) aaaannnddd.... we'll see what else comes up.

Here is picture I am sharing... my wonderful friend and I!

Thanks to the Simple Woman for hosting the Monday daybook!

Apple Butter Recipe

Making apple butter is a fall tradition at my house. It's delicious on bread, waffles, pancakes or even plain. I get hungry just writing about it! Ironic that this year I didn't lift a finger to help fill the shelves....just so happened I was away when the apple windfall came, courtesy of some generous neighbours. Here's our recipe:

Apple Butter

18 cups apple sauce (we make our own--just cook apples down, cored and quartered, in some water and put through the food mill)

3 T. cinnamon
3/4 t. cloves
3/4 t. ginger
1 T. blackstrap molasses
3-4 c. sugar (depends on sweetness of apples)

Cook in large pot over low heat until desired thickness is reached. (I like to let it simmer for several hours, to get a nice brown colour) Ladle into jelly jars and process in boiling water bath for 10 minutes.

This is a great recipe to try if you're new to canning: there's no fiddling with candy thermometers and worrying whether it will gel!

The Work of a week

While I was away from home for a much-anticipated visit to friends, my family (and especially my mother) was busy doing this:



Final count: 100+ jars of apple butter, several batches of pie filling, dried apple rings, apple jam, and more apples in the freezer.

Reminds me of an old favorite:

Recipes to follow!

Simple Woman's Daybook

For Monday, September 1, 2008

Outside My Window... actually, mostly I notice the window itself: it's clean. (nothing like a good scrub!)

I am thinking...about all the things I should do this week. And pondering whether I have the courage for new things.

I am thankful for...my friends, especially Rachel, whom I was able to visit last week.

From the kitchen...Christina has some potatoes boiling for potato salad: we'll be grilling tonight.

I am wearing...never mind that. It's covered with a blue flowered apron, anyway!

I am creating...a plan of attack for school, the house, studying Latin...

I am going...actually I've already been. ;)

I am reading... The Gift of Friendship: Tolkien and C.S. Lewis by Colin Duriez

I am hoping...to continue to see answers to prayer.

I am hearing...the sound of silence.

Around the house... We moved most of the bookshelves into one area today. Soon, we will have our own "library"!

One of my favorite things... drinking Chocolate Caramel Enchantment Chai from Celestial Seasonings tea co.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: Practice piano, plan some menus.

Here is picture I am sharing...

Rachel's Twins: aren't they adorable?

Thanks to the Simple Woman for hosting the Monday daybook!

Simple Woman's Daybook

For Monday, August 18, 2008
Outside My Window... a part of the back yard: green grass, two of the three pine trees, the neighbors back yard, the hedge trees behind the house

I am thinking...that I should get back to practicing violin soon.

I am thankful for... the nice cool weather--my favorite!

From the kitchen...some bread dough in a big shiny bowl. Probably rising now.

I am wearing... jeans, and a grey scoop neck t-shirt with little black hearts, and a blue hat that I crocheted.

I am creating... a novel. (I’m at 25,000+ words! :D :D :D)

I am going...to stay home today. :)

I am reading... Llama’s on the Loose by Jeri Massi (just reading it for fun), I’m also reading Anne’s house of Dreams by L.M. Montgomery

I am hoping... to get several thousand words in today.

I am hearing...Other than the air conditioner? Silence.

Around the house... pretty quiet right now. There will probably be some cleaning happening after a bit.

One of my favorite things... sleeeeeep. *yawn*

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: writing-- serious writing-- maybe I should call a friend of mine sometime, work at the farmers market, violin lesson…

Here is picture I am sharing... well… I was going to have one, but it’ll have to wait until another post.

Thanks to the Simple Woman for hosting the Monday daybook!

Simple Woman's Daybook

For Monday, August 11, 2008

Outside My Window... The wind ruffling the leaves of the Father's Day maple tree.

I am thinking...that I hope the alterations I've made to my dress pattern will work this time!

I am thankful for...health. I was sick in bed for 4 days last week.

From the kitchen...my mom has another pot of salsa simmering on the stove. Yum!

I am wearing...red floral capris and t-shirt, sunflower apron.

I am creating...a pink summer dress.

I am going...to be leading a girls Bible study tonight.

I am reading...The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien. I'm determined to finish it this time around!

I am hoping...in the power of God to answer prayer.

I am hearing...My little brother and sister singing a Rar Rar birthday song. (Rar Rars are imaginary creatures invented between them)

Around the house...are a few messes I need to straighten. I let things slide for a while...

One of my favorite things...talking with my friend Tif on the phone. :)

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: Sew the dress. Work at Farmer's Market. Organize my coupon box.

Here is picture I am sharing...

A Kansas Waterfall...there were heavy rains last week...

Thanks to the Simple Woman for hosting the Monday daybook!

A Goal Worth Having

"I want to take such good care of my husband that whatever he is doing, he can do it better, because he has me."

Jacqueline Kennedy, as quoted in A Thousand Days of Magic by Oleg Cassini

This quote encapsulates for me what being a "help meet" is all about. This is what I, Lord willing, aspire to be.