New Year Daybook

 Outside my window...

It looks clear and sunny, today.  I have no idea how warm it will be; yesterday it was sunny and would have been balmy except for the arctic wind blowing!

I am thinking...

about all the schoolwork I have to do today.  And about cleaning and decluttering.  Love my Christmas decorations, but after having them out for a while I do start to long for clear spaces again.  Slowly, though.  

I am thankful for...

the little graces that come unexpectedly.  Praying for more, similar graces to appear.

From the  learning rooms  kitchen table...

School starts tomorrow; today is Teacher Inservice.  Lots of computer work to do, putting in old grades and looking over the upcoming weeks.

From the kitchen...

I wanted to try a new recipe for Hogmanay (New Year's Eve in Scotland), but I really needed a dutch oven which I've been longing for for ages.  We I decided to use our Christmas Money to buy one.  It took a little longer to find than we expected, so the dish was put off until yesterday.  We had Steak and Sausage Pie from this AJC Article.  It cracks me up since it seems to be quintessentially Scottish:  meat, bread, beer, and not a single vegetable in it.  I served it with green beans since we do believe in veggies, here.  We ate the shortbread the night before, and we'll probably have the Cock-a-leekie soup tonight.  Folks here will probably rebel because there's no meat in that one!

I am wearing...

my tablecloth nightgown, which, oddly enough, I dreamt about last night.  Weird, but don't ask, because I don't really remember what it was about!

I am creating...

My gray sweater is still going, but the end is in sight, because no matter how far it is to the end of that 5" ruffle, I'm on the last skein of yarn!

Woohoo!  Done with that, and it's gawhjuss!  Stay tuned for pics---maybe tomorrow!

Working on Yarn Harlot's Pretty Thing.  I think I've got it down now, I'll show it to you Wednesday at the Yarn Along.  Maybe it will even be finished!

I am going...

To start driving again tomorrow.  Picture a sad face.  However, we still have The Two Towers on CD waiting for us. I'm looking forward to finishing that this week and moving on to The Return of the King.  Love those books, even if it's the dozenth time.  At least.  We watched the trilogy over Christmas and it's just not the same.

I am hoping and praying...

...For a friend who has been out of work for about a year now and is about to lose her home

...for healing for lots of people with cancer, especially this little boy. 

I am hearing...

SQPN's Catholic Weekend podcast.

Around the house...

Some projects to wrap up before KT goes back to school.  Planning for a 12th birthday party on Friday.  Pip wants to have a Hobo theme for his party.  The planning is cracking me up.  Goody bags will be "bindles" as suggested by TMax.  He is elected to go find the sticks.

One of my favorite things...

Sugar.  It's one of those love/hate things.  If I had a New Year's Resolution, it would be to give it up forever.

A few plans for the rest of the week...

Back to school, planning birthday parties (because there's more than one birthday, but only one theme party, planning AHG meetings and events.  In other words: everything is back to normal starting tomorrow!  Busy, busy.

A Picture Thought...

My cousin sent me a bunch of old family photos in December for my late mother's birthday, and I've spent part of the morning naming people in iphoto.  That's very handy for those old, old pics!

My Sweet Mama as a teen outside her childhood home.