A Simple Woman's Daybook, Entry #11

OUTSIDE MY WINDOW...
There is bright, happy sunshine after many days of rain, although it is rather chilly today. I have beautiful tulips blooming, and my clematis vines already have buds! The redbud trees are blooming, and dogwood trees are beginning to display their colors of white and pink.

I AM THINKING...
That I like the way the sun shines through the new sheers I've hung in our bedroom and gives the room a golden glow.

I AM THANKFUL...
for a day off from work to do some of the much-needed chores around the house.

FROM THE KITCHEN...
I'm thinking it's a night for takeout!

I AM WEARING...
a black, velour sweat suit. Comfy, comfy, comfy!

I AM CREATING...
an organized pantry in the kitchen. It was so crowded that we could barely tell what was in there! I'm fighting against the overwhelming urge to alphabetize my canned goods. Yes, I'm a type A personality!!

I AM READING...
New books arrived in the mail this week -- signed copies of four of Homer Hickam's novels. I am anxious to begin reading three of them. The fourth one, Rocket Boys, is one of my favorite books that I have read many times. You should, too! Beautifully written, heart-touching autobiography!

I AM HOPING...
that DH has a safe journey to Chattanooga.

I AM HEARING...
Purcell's Musick in the Fairey Queen playing softy in the room as sounds of the outdoors find their way inside through the open screen door...birds, a distant lawn mower, the soft breeze rustling the trees outside.

AROUND THE HOUSE...
I am doing some general "cleaning out" that I like to do every spring. Some things for Goodwill, some things for the annual yard sale we have in April...

ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS...
Our back porch that overlooks our back yard with a view of the beautiful trees, a few of them ancient, the nearby creek, all the critters that wander by, and the general peacefulness of our surroundings.

A FEW PLANS FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK...
A few last minute tasks for Michael's 40th birthday party coming up this weekend, more home organization, and some time in the yard.

PICTURE THOUGHT...
I love my purple tulips!!

The Weekend

Ah, the weekend is almost here. I love weekends, although I often end up doing more physically demanding work at home on the weekends than I do anytime at my job at the University. But there's something about being home that gives me such joy...even if I am toiling over floors or the kitchen sink or our latest home improvement project.

This weekend, I would love to spend the hours ....

Because there's absolutely nothing like a good...

But instead, I know that I will be doing a little...

and a lot of...

and perhaps ...

And if the weather clears up, I might even get in a little...And it's a good thing I have a long weekend, because after all of that, I will probably just want to spend Monday...

Have a happy and prosperous weekend, everyone!

Lost

I promise I am not lost even though I haven't been blogging for a while (and even though the pile of work to be done is so high that it sometimes makes me feel like it's a lost cause!). We have had such a busy couple of weeks, and it sometimes feels as though there just are not enough hours in the day...days in the week! I have missed my regular blogging schedule and chats with dear bloggie friends. But do not give up on me. I think I see a break in the "too much to do" forest!

Painting by Henri Rousseau, Woman Walking in an Exotic Forest. c. 1905. Oil on canvas.

First Day of Spring

Spring is the Period

Express from God.

Among the other seasons

Himself abide,

But during March and April

None stir abroad

Without a cordial interview

With God.

Poem, Spring is the Period by Emily Dickinson

Photograph courtesy of eHow.com

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Even this Scottish girl can get into this celebration! ;-) Have a wonderful St. Patrick's Day, everyone!!!

When Irish eyes are smiling,

Tis like a morn in spring.

With a lilt of Irish laughter

You can hear the angels sing

When Irish hearts are happy

All the world is bright and gay

When Irish eyes are smiling

Sure, they steal your heart away.

A Simple Woman's Day Book #10

OUTSIDE MY WINDOW...

The infamous Sewanee fogging was blinding this morning, but it has cleared out a bit this afternoon. We have overcast skies and the promise of rain is in the air. The ground is still damp from the weekend's heavy rains.

I AM THINKING...

That it is amazing how much the weather can change from one week to the next!

I AM THANKFUL...

that my health, although not perfect, is as good as it is.

FROM THE KITCHEN...

How about left over pot roast with potatoes and carrots? I can't cook when there are so many left overs in the refrigerator!

I AM WEARING...

Black pants and a light pink sweater

I AM CREATING...

I have been gathering items for the baby's room this week. The bedding arrived, and I've been working on gathering a few pieces of artwork for the walls. Sometime in the next few weeks, I'll consider the paint color and begin the transformation from a pink B&B guest room to a nursery! How exciting!!

I AM READING...

Little Dorritt by Charles Dickens for the online book club I've joined. I've been TERRIBLE about reading it so far, as I was trying to finish up another book I had started. I'm terribly behind, so I need to work on catching up with the group so that I may participate in the discussions!

I AM HOPING...

that I get Michael's 40th birthday party invitations out in the mail tomorrow!

I AM HEARING...

As usual, I am listening to classical music at work. Right now, I am hearing Concerto for violin, cello, trumpet, strings & continuo in D major by Georg Philipp Telemann. Lovely.

AROUND THE HOUSE...

We have a soggy yard that the puppies love to play in (the muddier, the better is their motto), and then they track up my porches! Arrrgh. And are there many worse smells than wet dog? Ick.

ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS...

The antique 1870s bedroom suite in one of our guest rooms. It looks much like the bed in the Lincoln Bedroom in The White House! It's gorgeous!

A FEW PLANS FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK...

Mail Michael's birthday party invitations and plan the menu, finish our "Dear Birthmother" book.

PICTURE THOUGHT...

This is a side of one of the buildings on our town square. I love this old sign. The city's Arts Council has tried to get the building owner to allow them to restore the old painted signs on the side of the building (there's also one for Mark's Foods). Apparently, the man has said that Coca Cola would have to pay him for the advertisement! (hmph!). Well, I think it's pretty special just the way it is. What do you think?

To A Mouse

As a small child, I remember very well my mother setting mouse traps to catch unwanted visitors to our little house in Kentucky. I did not understand why someone would want to do such horrible harm to such little creatures portrayed in my story books as cute, fuzzy, smart little critters who I would love to have as pets! So, when my mother wasn't looking, I'd set off the traps, leaving the cheese or whatever little piece of temptation she had left for them there. Not until years later did I confess to my mother what I had done.

All my life, I have loved the little pictures and stories of mice like Dora Mouse, Despereaux, Cinderella's mice, and others. I remember one story book where the mice who lived in a big country house foraged for things when the humans were away, and they had such a fine little mouse house that I wouldn't have minded to live in the cozy accommodations. I remember a spool for a table and a stamp for a picture on the wall. How cute is that?!? My brother and I once had pet hamsters, and I even had a pet white mouse at one time. I've never been afraid of mice, and I never understood some people who will, literally, climb up on a chair or table to get away from one of them.

Some of the cutest "mouse art" I've ever seen are by a husband and wife team, Russell W. & Cynthia Gordon. I love the whimsical, ADORABLE paintings they've done. My favorite is listed above, "The Spirit of Adventure," 2005. Below are other pieces that they have done. They even have a special section on the website titled "The Mice." I bet at one time they were the kind of children who would have "unset" a mouse trap, too. Please check out their beautiful work at http://www.gordonartstudio.com/.

Modern Mouse, 2007 - c Russell W. & Cynthia Gordon

The Abstract Painter, 2007 - c Russell W. & Cynthia Gordon

Ten Minutes to Herself, 2005 - c Russell W. & Cynthia Gordon

All of this being said, I have had a mouse encounter in my office at Thompson Union. Remember...I said I had never been afraid of mice, so imagine how shocked I was at my reaction to a little gray mouse that scurried across one of the counters in my office yesterday. I literally jumped from my chair, screamed, and ran into the hallway. When I had calmed down, I thought..."WHAT am I doing?!?!" I couldn't believe I ran from a little critter not the size of the heel of my shoe! I called the guys in PPS, who I'm sure had a good laugh at my request for a "humane" mouse trap. They brought over a critter cage and armed it with peanut butter. I am to "dispose" of the mouse, once caught in the cage, the way I see fit. The way I see fit is to let him (or her) go, unharmed, in an area where there are no houses or buildings around. Maybe a good barn would make a good home?!

My mother always said, "Paula, they're such dirty little things that carry disease!" Well, I realize that. But I still can't stick one to a glue board or kill it in a trap! So...just to update you...he DID set off the trap last night and ate part of the peanut butter...but he somehow managed to escape getting caught in the cage. I've reset it, and now I'm waiting. I realize this may not work, and I'll actually have to get close to the mouse in order to let him go, but I think I'll survive. He's tricky, though....and appears to be rather clever. I'll keep you posted.

Meanwhile, enjoy the micey art and a great old poem by Robert Burns:

To A Mouse
Small, sleek, cowering, timorous beast,
O, what a panic is in your breast!
You need not start away so hasty
With hurrying scamper!
I would be loath to run and chase you,
With murdering plough-staff.
I'm truly sorry man's dominion
Has broken Nature's social union,
And justifies that ill opinion
Which makes thee startle
At me, thy poor, earth born companion
And fellow mortal!
I doubt not, sometimes, but you may steal;
What then? Poor beast, you must live!
An odd ear in twenty-four sheaves
Is a small request;
I will get a blessing with what is left,
And never miss it.

A Simple Woman's Day Book - March 9, 2009

OUTSIDE MY WINDOW...
Sunshine and daffodils! The weekend's warmer weather and sunny skies have brought the world outside my window alive! I saw red buds and pear trees blooming on my way to work this morning. It's lovely!

I AM THINKING...
That I wish I was home working in the garden!

I AM THANKFUL...
that our floor refinishing project is FINISHED! I'm thrilled with the way the floors turned out, and I am so thankful that soon our house will be back to normal. No more bedroom furniture in the dining room!!

FROM THE KITCHEN...
Kitchen?!?! I didn't even THINK about the kitchen this morning. After a weekend of painting, caulking, nailing and finishing, I think I'm due a dinner out tonight. And...actually, we didn't get to the market over the weekend, as we were so busy with the floors. Tonight will be grocery shopping night for us!

I AM WEARING...
Black pin-striped pants, black silk top, and black mules with a cute heel. Wow, I love shoes.

I AM CREATING...
I am actually REcreating our bedroom this week. We'll start moving everything back into the room, and I can't wait to see how it looks!

I AM READING...
Traditional Home magazine and Little Dorritt by Charles Dickens.

I AM HOPING...
that the weather stays beautiful all week and I can get some work done in our yard and gardens.
I AM HEARING...
Vivaldi's Spring from the Four Seasons Concerto for Violin. How appropriate this morning!!

AROUND THE HOUSE...
The grounds are waking up from a long, winter's rest.

ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS...
My new old hardwood floors, of course!!!

A FEW PLANS FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK...
A couple of doctors appointments, gardening if possible, and our room back in order.

PICTURE THOUGHT...

Welcome Spring!

Our 140 Year Old Floors

The floors are finished! Oh, my....it's been a long journey, but they are finished with their makeover, and I think they look pretty good for their 140 years!

I was in a panic a few weeks ago when we pulled up the old carpet off our bedroom floor in order to refinish the hardwood underneath. We had no idea what we were going to find, and I wasn't prepared for just how bad they looked once the layer of carpet and padding was lifted off (click here for evidence and understanding of just WHY I was panicked...but prepare yourself. It's not pretty)!!! Paint spots and stains...a couple of holes and loose boards. I never thought they would look nice. And they were pine. I didn't want them to be pine!

But (are you ready?) here they are (drum roll please!)....

TA DA!

They are, by no means, perfect...but we wouldn't expect them to be! We love the little imperfections that only 140 year old floors can have...

Can you believe the difference?! Would you ever have thought by looking at the previous photographs that they would ever look this good?!?!

OWOH Thank Yous!!

I have received two lovely gifts in the past week from One World - One Heart participants, and I want to thank them so much!!

Lisa at Vintage Sweet Peas (you must check out this beautiful blog!) sent me the best book on knitting, Last Minute Knitted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson, filled with many wonderful projects and a sweet inscription from Lisa. The photographs by Anna Williams are gorgeous! Please click over to Lisa's beautiful site and visit her for a while...you'll thoroughly enjoy your time there, I promise!! THANK YOU SO MUCH, LISA!!

And....oh....to be as talented as Sharon over at Five Shadows!!! I won the most BEAUTIFUL pillow made by her gifted hands, and I am THRILLED with how sweet and lovely it is. Photographs can't do it justice! It's perfect in every way. Her blog is full of her gorgeous work. I could admire it for hours. Her blog, too, is a must see!!! SHARON, I love it...THANK YOU SO MUCH!!

Lisa and Sharon are perfect examples of all the wonderful and gifted participants of the One World - One Heart event. I had a blast!! THANKS AGAIN, LISA AND SHARON! The two of you made the OWOH so special, and I am so LUCKY!!!!

Hope

Hope is a thing with feathers

That perches in the soul,

And sings the tune without words

And never stops at all.

~Emily Dickinson

Baby Bedding Option Two

Oh, selecting the perfect nursery bedding and decor is so DIFFICULT! Here is my second choice. I can't believe I have it narrowed down to two! This is a lovely toile pattern that I believe would work well for a girl or a boy. The fabric is "Over the Moon" in yellow by Covington. It's much lighter than my other option. It's also double the cost. Okay...I need help. Which one do YOU like (see Option One posted yesterday). Does EVERYONE have so much trouble making decisions?! Or is it just me? *sigh*

Bedding for Baby

I have stayed awake at night worrying about the bedding we will select for the baby's nursery. I know that may sound silly to some, but I just want it to be beautiful for him or her. We have an older, historic home, so I wanted to remain rather true to the rest of the house and not go too outlandish or contemporary with the nursery. It seems that nearly all the bedding sets these days are contemporary! I had a difficult time finding something that would coordinate with the rest of the house and not seem "out of place."

I wandered upon this bedding set tonight, and I rather like it. We need to stay neutral since we don't know if we will be adopting a boy or a girl. I am wondering if this will work - is it too girly? The fabrics seem a little "grown up," but I think paired with the right artwork (I have samples of that, too, that I found online) and accessories, it may work. The color of our furniture in that room will be a dark oak, so the colors may blend nicely. What do you think?

Photographs courtesy of Babies R Us - Glenna Jean "Dynasty" collection. Artwork from AllPosters.Com.

Happy Birthday, Mother

A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts. ~Washington Irving

The Simple Woman's Day Book - March 2, 2009

OUTSIDE MY WINDOW...
All the snow has gone away, and we're left with sunshine and blue skies!

I AM THINKING...
that today is my mother's birthday, and I wish I could spend the day with her!

I AM THANKFUL FOR...
for the wonderful childhood my mom and dad gave me and a million special memories I'll carry with me forever.

FROM THE KITCHEN...
Chicken in an Italian marinate cooked in the slow cooker

I AM WEARING...
My shabby work clothes, because I'll be painting today!

I AM CREATING...
Order out of chaos.

I AM READING...
Victoria magazine and the newest issue of English Home

I AM HOPING...
that my mom has a wonderful birthday!

I AM HEARING...
Bird chirps outside the window and the cat purring next to me

AROUND THE HOUSE...
The house is still in disorder from the work we've been doing...but today...TODAY...I want order! I have even taken off a day from work in order to help make that happen!

ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS...
the new spring sun dress I bought my niece. I can't wait to send it to her!

A FEW PLANS FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK...
put down the quarter round in the bedroom, finish painting the baseboards, add a coat of polyurethane to the hardwood floors we just refinished.

PICTURE THOUGHT...

Thank you, mom, for being my truest friend. Happy birthday...