Simple Woman’s Daybook ~

FOR TODAY ~ August 4, 2010

Outside my window...

Very, very, very hot temperatures.  It is so hot that our little pool feels like a bathtub.  We went for a swim yesterday and felt like we were in a hot tub and not a pool.  :)

I am thinking... 

 My thoughts today have been about a tragedy that our city has experienced.  On Monday, six teenagers drowned in a local river.  Three were brothers and the other three were a sister and two brothers.  My heart is so heavy for those two mothers.  Today as I read the paper, I realized that one of the boys was a former student of mine.  He was such a sweet boy in second grade.  I have been thinking and praying for these families all day today.

I am thankful ... 

that we will be beginning school soon and finding our routines again soon.  The hot temperatures are keeping us inside for the most part and my children are ready for some structured learning to help pass these too hot days. 

From the learning rooms... 

We  have totally rearranged our family room/school room.  Right now I am in the middle of organizing all of our school things and books.  Next week we will take a trip to the store for our school supply shopping trip and we plan to start school on August 16. 

From the kitchen...

 Not much going in the kitchen, to be honest.  It is too hot to fire up the oven for too long.  I’ve been trying to make meals that require minimal heating up of appliances. 

I am creating...

Most of my creating has been in my head lately.  I haven’t had much time for my creative outlets.  I do plan to make some banners for our school area and our new reading nook.  I’d like to include some pillows for our new reading area too.

In the garden…  

Oh, my poor, poor, neglected garden.  Most things are finishing up for the summer except for a few late tomato plants, peppers, and melons.  The sunflowers and wildflowers are still holding their own.  I’m planning to plant a few things for the fall and work on creating new raised beds for next year’s garden.  I’m going back to raised beds because they really are easier to maintain.

I am reading... 

I am rereading A Charlotte Mason Companion  by Karen Andreola.  I have some birthday money and am planning to order Real Learning by Elizabeth Foss  and A Family Guide to the Biblical Holidays by Robin Sampson.

I am praying...

for the families affected by this tragedy in our city,

for the young man who was the only survivor of the teens who drowned on Monday,

and for friends who are carrying burdens right now. 

I am hearing...

Some of my children beginning to get a bit restless as we sit in the house trying to stay cool.  I am ready for this heat to give us a break so we can enjoy the outside again.  I’m thinking tomorrow may be a good day to visit the cool library and get out of the house for a while.

Around the house...

There has been a lot of decluttering going on.  Little houses require constant decluttering or it will overtake you!

One of my favorite things...

the air conditioner.  I am so very thankful for cool air especially right now!

A few plans for the rest of the week:

My birthday is Saturday and we will be spending some family time together.  Until then I am trying to get things ready for the weekend and the start of school.

Here is a picture for thought I am sharing…

The pictures in this post are from our trip this past weekend to our parents’ houses.  Living in the city, I can not get enough of the unobstructed sky when we go south to visit.  I always take my camera and snap a lot of pictures!  I love wide open spaces!  (And you might notice some smudges and spots here & there.  It seems the windshield needs to be cleaned.  ;)

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