Outside my window... It is sunny and breezy this morning.
I am thinking... about the fact that we are badly in need of window screens. There are 8 windows that open on the ground floor, and only three have screens. The others have been shredded over the years. When I moved in exactly ten years and 2 days ago, I discovered that the sellers had done a devious thing and flipped the screens on the four windows that face the back yard so that the screen that was originally on the bottom end of the window was now at the top. Why? Because their two labs had jumped up and poked several holes in the screens with their claws. By flipping them, the damage was concealed (mostly) by the blinds in the windows. You may have been able to notice from the outside, but I never caught it before closing on the house. Our cat has viciously attempted to attack birds through the screens on the front windows and the front screen door. Miraculously, three out of the four window screens remain, with only minor damage. The poor window blinds, however, are a whole different matter... The door, which let in the most air, is now screenless and remains closed, all the time. :( All this is to say that every morning I get thoroughly bugged (pun intended) that I can't throw open the windows to let in a cool breeze and air out the house. The cat would escape and the wasps and mosquitoes would join us for breakfast.
I am thankful... That Dean and Jordan came home from camp yesterday with high spirits and filthy clothes. They had a 'mostly' good week. I am glad to have my husband back. Jordan had four hours with us before he hopped a plane back to OKC. I am also thankful that his flight was delayed, otherwise he would have missed it, because we were running behind. As usual.
And finally, I am thankful that....(sound the trumpets) Rylan is now a full-fledged bicycle rider! Dean took the kids out to the church parking lot behind our house last night, and they rode all over the place. It was the perfect place for her to get in that last little bit of connecting all the dots of starting, pushing, turning, stopping, steering, speeding up and slowing down that she needed to boost her confidence and get her over the final hurdle. She is now a novice, well on her way to mastery. Hallelujah!!
From the Learning Rooms... I am a horrible, horrible task-master. We took an unintended week off. But Rylan did learn to ride a bicycle and got herself across the pool doing freestyle, without touching once. I feel pretty good about that, so I won't continue to beat myself up.
In the kitchen... Blueberry pancakes for the man upstairs. (Dean, silly, who is still in bed) This is make-up Father's Day, since he left for camp last Sunday.
I am wearing... robe and pjs. Better get a move-on!
I am creating... a clean space on the counter. There hasn't been one all week. sigh.
I am going... out to dinner with our family, my brother and his family, and my dad and stepmom. Again - Father's Day re-do.
I am wondering... How to encourage Owen to try bicycling without his training wheels...
I am reading... Simplicity Parenting by Kim John Payne, M.Ed., and 15 Minutes Outside by Rebecca P. Cohen. She also has a great website.
In the garden... Spinach is bolting, lettuce is ready for harvest, and the carrots, turnips and parsnips are doing nicely. I feel so lame for not planting anything else, but since my gardening motivation is waning this summer, I needed to let something go.
I am hoping... for a break in the heat, and it looks like today is the day with a forcasted high of 83F. Yippee!
I am looking forward to... tonight's full-moon. Hope there won't be clouds!
I am learning... hmm. Nothing comes to mind, which is sad.
I am hearing... Hammering and drilling from the neighbors, which has been going on since 7:30 this morning. It is now 10:30am. They were also working late last night. I understand the thought behind working when it is cool, but... I wish they would be more AWARE of how loud their construction 'projects' are. This is the THIRD. SUMMER. IN. A. ROW. of late, late nights and early early mornings of
Around the house... It looks like a camping store exploded in the kitchen, so I think a day of washing, airing, sorting, pitching, and storing is going to make up the bulk of the day. If not, I shall go crazy tripping over all of this stuff all week.
I am pondering... getting another cup of coffee and hiding from my children.
One of my favorite things... is hiding from the children. Which never lasts long, because Colin, as we all know, has a sixth sense about coffee, and how to locate a fresh cup. It is uncanny, really.
A few plans for the rest of the week... Rylan begins an 8 week summer session of tumbling (every Monday) at her dance studio. She is excited, and I am afraid of bumps and bruises. Swim lessons for Rylan and Owen each morning (Colin is currently refusing to participate), two physical therapy appointments for my shoulder, and a bbq on Saturday. This will be, by far, the most relaxed week I have had the pleasure of having in a long, long time. I am looking forward to it!
Here is a picture for thought I am sharing...
To read more entries and visit a variety of other blogs, go here...
I am thinking... about the fact that we are badly in need of window screens. There are 8 windows that open on the ground floor, and only three have screens. The others have been shredded over the years. When I moved in exactly ten years and 2 days ago, I discovered that the sellers had done a devious thing and flipped the screens on the four windows that face the back yard so that the screen that was originally on the bottom end of the window was now at the top. Why? Because their two labs had jumped up and poked several holes in the screens with their claws. By flipping them, the damage was concealed (mostly) by the blinds in the windows. You may have been able to notice from the outside, but I never caught it before closing on the house. Our cat has viciously attempted to attack birds through the screens on the front windows and the front screen door. Miraculously, three out of the four window screens remain, with only minor damage. The poor window blinds, however, are a whole different matter... The door, which let in the most air, is now screenless and remains closed, all the time. :( All this is to say that every morning I get thoroughly bugged (pun intended) that I can't throw open the windows to let in a cool breeze and air out the house. The cat would escape and the wasps and mosquitoes would join us for breakfast.
I am thankful... That Dean and Jordan came home from camp yesterday with high spirits and filthy clothes. They had a 'mostly' good week. I am glad to have my husband back. Jordan had four hours with us before he hopped a plane back to OKC. I am also thankful that his flight was delayed, otherwise he would have missed it, because we were running behind. As usual.
And finally, I am thankful that....(sound the trumpets) Rylan is now a full-fledged bicycle rider! Dean took the kids out to the church parking lot behind our house last night, and they rode all over the place. It was the perfect place for her to get in that last little bit of connecting all the dots of starting, pushing, turning, stopping, steering, speeding up and slowing down that she needed to boost her confidence and get her over the final hurdle. She is now a novice, well on her way to mastery. Hallelujah!!
From the Learning Rooms... I am a horrible, horrible task-master. We took an unintended week off. But Rylan did learn to ride a bicycle and got herself across the pool doing freestyle, without touching once. I feel pretty good about that, so I won't continue to beat myself up.
In the kitchen... Blueberry pancakes for the man upstairs. (Dean, silly, who is still in bed) This is make-up Father's Day, since he left for camp last Sunday.
I am wearing... robe and pjs. Better get a move-on!
I am creating... a clean space on the counter. There hasn't been one all week. sigh.
I am going... out to dinner with our family, my brother and his family, and my dad and stepmom. Again - Father's Day re-do.
I am wondering... How to encourage Owen to try bicycling without his training wheels...
I am reading... Simplicity Parenting by Kim John Payne, M.Ed., and 15 Minutes Outside by Rebecca P. Cohen. She also has a great website.
In the garden... Spinach is bolting, lettuce is ready for harvest, and the carrots, turnips and parsnips are doing nicely. I feel so lame for not planting anything else, but since my gardening motivation is waning this summer, I needed to let something go.
I am hoping... for a break in the heat, and it looks like today is the day with a forcasted high of 83F. Yippee!
I am looking forward to... tonight's full-moon. Hope there won't be clouds!
I am learning... hmm. Nothing comes to mind, which is sad.
I am hearing... Hammering and drilling from the neighbors, which has been going on since 7:30 this morning. It is now 10:30am. They were also working late last night. I understand the thought behind working when it is cool, but... I wish they would be more AWARE of how loud their construction 'projects' are. This is the THIRD. SUMMER. IN. A. ROW. of late, late nights and early early mornings of
noise, noise, noise, noise, NOISE
and I am an open the windows at night to get a breeze kind of person.
This is not compatible.
Around the house... It looks like a camping store exploded in the kitchen, so I think a day of washing, airing, sorting, pitching, and storing is going to make up the bulk of the day. If not, I shall go crazy tripping over all of this stuff all week.
I am pondering... getting another cup of coffee and hiding from my children.
One of my favorite things... is hiding from the children. Which never lasts long, because Colin, as we all know, has a sixth sense about coffee, and how to locate a fresh cup. It is uncanny, really.
A few plans for the rest of the week... Rylan begins an 8 week summer session of tumbling (every Monday) at her dance studio. She is excited, and I am afraid of bumps and bruises. Swim lessons for Rylan and Owen each morning (Colin is currently refusing to participate), two physical therapy appointments for my shoulder, and a bbq on Saturday. This will be, by far, the most relaxed week I have had the pleasure of having in a long, long time. I am looking forward to it!
Here is a picture for thought I am sharing...
 |
| Rylan before her performance at her dance studio's spring recital last Saturday. |
To read more entries and visit a variety of other blogs, go here...
