Friday Funday Quick Takes

~Linking up with Kelly at This Ain't the Lyceum. Drop in for more Quick Takes. ~

I seem to be having such a hard time getting back into the blogging groove! I guess because it's Birthday Month around here, and after Christmas we've been celebrating birthdays and doing a lot of planning for American Heritage Girls. It's been fairly busy and I'm hoping to take down the Christmas decorations tomorrow! Today, though, I thought I would give you a little snapshot, or seven, of what my day has been like. :-)

1. 8:00 a.m. Dropped off Pip for school after an extra-long, extra-rainy drive. Seriously yucky weather, and I'm really disappointed in Google for telling me that today was just going to be 'cloudy'!
2. 9:00 a.m. After sitting in the car at Chik Fil A, in the pouring rain, knitting and checking FB for an hour while Meg sleeps, it's time to try to rouse her!
3. 10:00 a.m. I've had coffee and hash browns and she is working on her homework while I check my blogs, email, and work on my sock.
4. 11:00 a.m. We've chatted with the lovely, German hostess for a little bit about knitting and local yarn shops, and Meg is about out of work to do. She still has math, but her old-fashioned, wooden pencils broke and don't come with replacement leads.
5. 12:00 p.m. In lieu of math, we have spent the last hour planning an AHG event that she is in charge of executing. We've researched, come up with an email, a flyer, a schedule of events, and even put together a crossword puzzle for one of the activities. I love online puzzle makers! They have always added a little extra fun to homeschooling. So, now we'll order a little lunch for Pip and myself before heading out to school. (Meg ate at some point in the morning!)
6. 1:00 p.m. We delivered Pip's lunch, and Meg has her 2 Friday classes, art and drama. I wait. Usually, I walk with a friend and then knit the last hour or so. Today was just knitting and chatting with other moms and admins.
7. 4:00 p.m. Finally home and fried from my long, tiring day! It would be better if I had gotten that hourlong walk in, but alas. When I got home my Fitbit read 748 steps!!!! It's going to be really hard to hit 10,000 today! Even yesterday's 12,000+ won't make up for that.

I hope your day was sunnier and filled with much more movement than mine. Tell me what you did today. Have a great 3-day weekend!

A New School Year

::Weekly Rambles::

What’s really on my mind and heart?

It's the first full week of school, and we are trying to get into the new routine. I'm starting a new carpool tomorrow---something we've haven't done in many years!!---I hope it works out for both families. If I don't have to drive in the afternoons and interrupt whatever cleaning or crafting project I have going on, that will be awesome!

What am I thankful for?

I'm thankful for routine. One could argue that I have less time now than I did during the summer, but now I know that I have certain blocks of time at home or out of the house. I have to get my chores done during the home block. Before, I either worked on something until I was completely exhausted, or I did nothing for far too long. Usually the former. Neither option is great, so I'm happy to have a more regular schedule.

What’s going on in school?

Just getting started, learning the ways of our new school building. It's not really "our" building as we are leasing it for one year while we close on our new property and build our own permanent school. That will be something to look forward, too. This temporary location is farther away for us, closer for others, and really far from some families. We are all adjusting to new traffic patterns and times on the road. It takes a while to figure out the nuances---and how to find the right time to leave so you don't get trapped behind a school bus!

What’s on the needles?

Oh, there's a blanket....soft, cozy, alpaca blend.

And this shawl/scarf which I despair of ever finishing. I like the lace, but it takes so much concentration that I don't do more than 20-30 rows in a day of heavy knitting (which doesn't happen often!).

And I'm starting a Catan Afghan because we love Settlers of Catan so much. I'm not sure what I will do with it, or how long it will take me to finish. The project will become a permanent fixture in my car when I finish the other blanket, because little hexes are perfect tagalongs to meetings and carpool lines.

What’s special about this week?

New carpool and getting ready for a neighborhood yardsale! This is almost perfect timing after this summer. Now I have to do some really fast work to go through the house and get everything together that we're getting rid of!

What am I reading?

OMG. So many books on my nightstand! I just started another Philippa Gregory novel last night: Wise Woman, because it's less pressure and requires less brain power at bedtime. ;-)

What am I praying about?

• Our country
• everyone with cancer
• all my children (that sounds like a soap opera!)
• for all our priests and deacons and religious

What projects are happening at home?

• trim painting
• yard sale prep
• cleaning out the basement for new flooring
• choosing that flooring (HELP! What would you put in your basement? What do you have and how do you feel about it? We are back to considering carpet again, but I'm not sure. Frankly, I'd like something that doesn't require a complete overhaul if there is ever another sewage backup!)

Tell me about YOUR week! :-)

xo,
Sara

May-Day-book

::Weekly Rambles::

What’s really on my mind and heart?

I am so ready for the month of May to be over! So much drama. So much stress. So very busy. So many bad decisions on the parts of too many people. So. Much. Over. It.

What am I thankful for?

Jesus and His mother Mary, because when I'm so over it, I know that He is all that matters and that they will both help me through it.

What’s going on in school?

Two more days. Then the very first graduation for our little hybrid school which will be both joyful and sad. Sad for reasons other than the usual children growing up stuff. Vague, I know, but not bloggable. 

What’s cooking?

I can't think about anything clearly, especially dinner. I'm sure I'll come up with something at the last minute, but not fast food as I was just telling my kids last night that it's fairly simple to make something healthy and delicious with minimal fuss when you're rushed or stressed. Of course. 

What’s on the needles?

Nothing. Maybe that's part of the problem---no coping mechanism. I finished my Liesl tunic on Friday, blocked it Saturday night (after wearing it unblocked!). Yesterday I spent about an hour fixing it after it snagged on something and pulled out a 20" loop! I will have to be very careful not to brush against snaggy things since it has such an open weave.

But, boy, am I itching to go buy yarn today! 

What’s special about this week?

Last day of school. American Heritage Girls Court of Honor. Graduation ceremony.

What am I reading?

Nothing. Again: No coping mechanisms. I've been a little afraid to pick up a novel that will be compelling and keep me from doing the actual work that needs to be done. I guess that's also why I don't have a knitting project yet.

What am I praying about?

All of it. Especially our AHG troop and leadership.

What’s on my ipod?/

Podcasts.

What projects are happening at home?

Hoping to have new hardwood floors installed and little bit of bathroom work done. Really dreading the amount of labor involved in those endeavors.

Aren't you glad I decided to blog again after 2 weeks? ;-) Sorry for being so cranky! Except for the past 5 days, it has really been okay around here. We've had a Confirmation and a college graduation that I haven't had time to blog about...and drama...good drama, not the bad kind...more to come. Maybe I'll be back next week to update you some more. I actually have a couple/three draft posts waiting to be finished when I find the time and the brain-space (at the same time!).

Not Quite Weekly Rambles!

::Weekly Rambles::

What’s really on my mind and heart?

This past weekend I was on a leadership retreat with our Pioneer and Patriots girls from AHG. I was one of the presenters, and I may have gotten more out of the retreat than they did! It was so fun to be with those beautiful girls and help them to grow in their faith. 

What am I thankful for?

I'm thankful for the unexpected opportunity to participate in that retreat during Lent. I hope it was beneficial for everyone.

What’s going on in school?

It's the last day of school! Meg is already on spring break because she doesn't have standardized testing this year, so she has a full 2 weeks off. Pip's last day is today, and then he has a week and a half. Unfortunately, his online AP World History class doesn't have break, so he will still be working. Our college senior has his "exit show" for his photography major coming up. That's very exciting---he's almost done. Well, there's that and a May-mester class. Then he's done.

What’s cooking?

Nothing? I awoke this morning to the realization that it is time to plan meals for Holy Week and Easter. What do you have planned? I'd love to know!

What’s on the needles?

On the needles is a simple, drapey cowl that is taking longer than it should, I think. I haven't really had much knitting time in the past week, so that's probably the reason.

What’s special about this week?

Holy Week. My favorite week of the year! If you haven't had a very good Lent (meaning you slacked off on your penances), the liturgies on Thursday and Friday are a wonderful opportunity to make up some ground and really enter into the mysteries and suffer with Christ.

What am I reading?

Ida Elisabeth by Sigrid Undset. Its good, as I expected, since I'm a fan of Kristin Lavransdatter, but it's really long and the print is really small, so it's kind of slow-going. I need to renew it for the 2nd time, but I'm not sure. Maybe I want to get another, more readable edition.

What am I praying about?

Lots of things, my uncle's declining health, AHG, Fr. Joseph who is expected to die within the year, all of my family, but especially Elizabeth DeHority. I've had her socks on my sidebar for years, almost since I started blogging in '07. She's had breast cancer all that time, and now it has metastasized everywhere. Most of her blog posts over the years have been about knitting and helping others, not about complaining about her cancer. Even as her condition has steadily worsened and treatments have gotten more difficult, she has been working to help others. I don't know her personally, but she's one of the most inspiring people I've ever encountered, and I know that her friends and strangers from all over the blogosphere will be praying her into heaven in the coming months.

What’s on my ipod?/

The best Way of the Cross ever. Produced by the Archdiocese of Denver and read by Greg Willits, it's beautiful. I haven't been able to use it as much as I would like, but I'm going to keep it on my phone to use this week and throughout the year. 

What projects are happening at home?

So many things. Cleaning, decluttering for spring cleaning and Easter. AHG projects. School projects. Looking into getting hardwood floors and maybe a little bathroom remodeling.

And I have furniture on the deck that needs a coat of spray paint. That I bought last year. And didn't use. Do you do that? I can't believe it has been a full year and I never found the time or the energy to do it! Praying that I will find both the time AND the energy to do it this spring----after the massive amounts of yellow pine tree pollen have been washed away.

Tuesday in the Life

Up at 6:15-ish to visit with the hubby while he shaves, then downstairs by 6:30 to make sure Meg is up, Pip is still sick, and check the mail. You know, I really hate writing down for the world that, other than my morning offering immediately on waking, I'm not starting my day curled up in prayer and spiritual reading. See what changed on FB and email before a quick shower and taking Meg to school.

At school, I go in to drink my coffee and chat with other moms until traffic dies down. It's dangerous and stressful to try to make a left turn out of the school in the morning, so a little coffee-klatch is awesome. Get home around 9:00 to check on Pip who is alive and talking! Yay! He's feeling well enough to be downstairs and watch all three two episodes of The Lord of the Rings today. lol.

I make myself a decent breakfast and some toast for him, then settle in at the computer to write yesterday's blog post (and start today's), catch up on email, read a few blogs, and do some necessary Sacrament of Confirmation paperwork for Pip.

Hot chocolate/mocha, and sit down to knit for a few minutes before I feel compelled to clean up the house!

Hmmm, not sure I ever really felt compelled to clean up the house yesterday! I knitted (watched a video on YouTube and learned how to double-knit so both sides look like knit) and watched LOTR for about an hour until it was time to pick up Meg from school.

I've been listening to Year of Wonders on CD in the car. I've been enjoying it, and I'm near the end, so I sat in the car for a few minutes after I got home, to see if I could finish it. But no. Would you believe the only CD player in the house these days is in Meg's room?

On the schedule after school was more LOTR, ;-), and tagging and boxing my first Etsy sale. That involved rubber stamps, inks, trial and error, etc. Then a little more knitting before starting dinner which was spatchcocked chicken, roasted butternut squash, and salad. That was about an hour of prep!

More playing with yarn....I've decided I need to keep a notebook where I write down the yarns used and the design for the things I make and sell, like the book blankies (because I might want to repeat it sometime). 

Dinner was late because DH was late, and then I helped with the kitchen, started the crockpot going for chicken broth, and sat down with hot chocolate to knit and read GWTW until prayers.

I'm really, really going to try to take pictures for you today! :-)

A Day in the Life

Do you want to know what a week in my life is like these days? It's not filled with quite as much mayhem as in the past, but it's still pretty busy. I rarely sit and do nothing, although I do spend a little too much time engaged with my phone when I do sit. I'm trying to curb that habit. I'd really rather read or knit, or both, and the iphone is a black hole!

Monday is a home day for our 2 hybrid home-schoolers. Katie was home Sunday, stayed over- night and had to leave at 10 a.m., so after checking email, FB, and blogs, I woke Meg and Pip around 7 or 7:30. Pip's response was, "I have a sore throat." He rolled over and stayed in bed. Meg got up. I gathered their laundry, sorted it, and started a load before I went down to the basement to alter Katie's chorus dress and re-hem and repair a thrift store skirt she got. I listened to "The Catholics Next Door" podcast and talked to a couple of people who called me early in the morning while I sewed.

Meg was up doing school when I came back up; Pip was on the sofa with a fever. I changed out the laundry and started another load; Katie left, and I sent Pip to bed so he could get better rest and we would get less exposure to the plague. My frantic fingers were itchy, so I brought up a bin of yarn to see what I could make with it (as if I didn't already have at least 4 projects going!). I sat at the table and knitted up this cowl while Meg worked.

I checked mail and FB while walking the dog, and I declared it a gorgeous day when I got back! Look at the vivid blue sky behind her! Meg modeled the cowl for me for Rosy Knits.

Afterwards, Meg decided we needed burgers for dinner and that required buns from the store. So, I checked on Pip and gave him whatever he needed, and Meg and I walked the mile to the store and back again. (She hates exercise, but she likes little adventures!) Not one to let grass grow under my feet, I added the cowl to the Etsy shop while we walked! After that, I promise I put the phone away and we enjoyed our walk!

More laundry after the walk, and a little rest. Pip was still sleeping. I can't even remember what I was wrapped up in after the walk---probably trying to figure out what to knit next---and doing some work on the computer, like editing the school newsletter. Meg was a sweetheart and folded the 3 loads of laundry. I think I knitted the rest of the afternoon until it was time to cook dinner because I was feeling kind of blah myself.

After dinner there were some newsletter fires to put out, and emails to return, FB to check, knitting to do, until bedtime. I should have taken pictures, but I hadn't planned on doing this. The family room and kitchen looked a disaster with yarn, laundry, and books everywhere!

Stay tuned for tomorrow, a school day! Aren't you excited? :-)

{PHFR} School Edition

                          {pretty}

It was a beautiful day when we delivered our son to college. It was a sad day too. I'm sure most moms can identify with the dueling emotions of pride and sorrow. We can be proud of them and at the same time we miss them. We never stop missing them.

                        {happy}

These two were happy to go back to part-time school so they could see their friends. I think we're already in the third week of classes----I've lost track already. Even with just two children at home I still have plenty of things to do and not enough time to do everything. Hence, the lack of  blogging. In fact, I started this post last week!

                        {funny}

A little bowling trip for my 50th birthday Katie is the cutest bowler! It was fun, but we obviously need to go bowling more often because we're  terrible!

                           {real}

All the stuff ready to go to college! Boys are so much easier than girls---they need so much less stuff in their rooms.

Linking up with Like Mother, Like Daughter.

Summer Daybook

::Weekly Rambles::

What’s really on my mind and heart?

First and foremost, the biggest thing going on is a crowdfunding campaign to get the necessary dollars to buy a new building for our hybrid school. The link is here on Causevox. 

We lease space at a small Christian school, but between our growth and their growth there isn't room for all of us. When we started there, they had 40 students and we had 54---it was a win-win situation! Now, they have a new headmaster who has done a great job of growing their enrollment, while ours has also increased to 240 students. They don't need us anymore; they certainly don't want us taking up valuable space for their students, and we can't blame them for that!

After years of searching and fundraising, knowing this day would come, we've found an awesome site that is a bargain and everything we need. We just don't quite have the downpayment yet. Our school operates well in the black, so that with our current enrollment, we have plenty of money to make the mortgage payments once we get the building. Not only that, but once we have it, we will be able to fill a Monday-Wednesday session of classes and double our enrollment. (Since we're a hybrid, lower school students meet only Tuesdays and Thursdays.) We have a great curriculum and excellent teachers for 1/3 of the cost of most private schools in the area!

If you're still reading ;-) will you please, please, please, click the link and watch our video? If you can make a donation of any size, we will be eternally grateful. If you can't, you can still help us out by sharing the link on FB, twitter, and G+. We are committed to using all the money we earn towards the build-out on the bare essentials our students need. Beyond that, we're committed to building strong families, educating children who can think for themselves and have a willingness to serve others.

Would you like to help jumpstart an education revolution!?

Thank you for clicking and helping!

What am I thankful for?

I am really thankful for our school, St. John Bosco Academy. My good friend, one of the founders, asked me repeatedly to join them years ago, but I didn't feel I needed the assistance in the early years, and my older ones were already in private, Catholic high school. Now that SJBA has grown sufficiently to have a high school of its own, I'm extremely grateful for the opportunity to send Pip there. I hate to think that they might have to close the high school, at least, if we don't acquire this new property. We love this school.

What’s going on in school?

Pip is working on his AP World History homework every day, and I'm working on fundraising. :-)

What’s cooking?

There's lots and lots of green stuff in the fridge that needs to be cooked!

What’s on the needles?

Just the Sock Yarn Blanket. I'm thinking about starting another scarf if I can drag myself downstairs to look at the stash. 

What’s special about this week?

Not much this week. I'm sick, sick, sick. I think it's from the water park on Sunday and having a hefty dose of chlorinated, germy water forced into my sinuses. Yuck. Conveniently, I had an appointment for a physical today and the strep test was negative. So, when I finish this, I'm going to curl up with my knitting.

What am I reading?

Or my reading. I'm on Vol. II of Kristin Lavransdatter. I loved this trilogy 20-odd years ago when I was a new Catholic, but it seems very different this time. Poor memory may be part of it, but it's very likely that my understanding of the Catholic faith has changed and matured over the years. Reading about Kristin's pilgrimmage to confess and do penance for her sins was very moving.

What am I praying about?

Lots of prayers and novenas for the success of our building campaign! 

What’s on my ipod?/

Not listening to many podcasts these days. 

What projects are happening at home?

Don't speak to me of projects.  :-) They're not happening, either because I don't have the energy, or because I'm busy working on the SJBA building campaign, or learning how to be the AHG treasurer!

***

This post contains Amazon affiliate links.

7 Quick Takes - Catching up!

---1---

It has been 2 weeks since I was here! I have a lot of other stuff on my mind. Summer is crazy, in general, and the least little bit of activity throws me off. I'm not a very self-disciplined person, so I do much better during the school year when there are more regular schedules.  Do you?

Anyway, I'm glad to be back---I missed you guys!

---2---

First and foremost, the biggest thing going on is a crowdfunding campaign to get the necessary dollars to buy a new building for our hybrid school. The link is here on Causevox. 

We lease space at a small Christian school, but between our growth and their growth there isn't room for all of us. When we started there, they had 40 students and we had 54---it was a win-win situation! Now, they have a new headmaster who has done a great job of growing their enrollment, while ours has increased to 240. They don't need us anymore, and they certainly don't want us taking up valuable space for their students. And we can't blame them for that!

After years of searching and fundraising, knowing this day would come, we've found an awesome site that is a bargain and everything we need. We just don't quite have the downpayment yet. Our school operates well in the black, so that with our current enrollment, we have plenty of money to make the mortgage payments once we get the building. Not only that, but once we have it, we will be able to fill a Monday-Wednesday session of classes and double our enrollment. (Since we're a hybrid, lower school students meet only Tuesdays and Thursdays.) We have a great curriculum and excellent teachers for 1/3 of the cost of most private schools in the area!

If you're still reading ;-) will you please, please, please, click the link and watch our video? If you can make a donation of any size, we will be eternally grateful. If you can't, you can still help us out by sharing the link on FB, twitter, and G+. We are committed to using all the money we earn towards the build-out on the bare essentials our students need. Beyond that, we're committed to building strong families, educating children who can think for themselves and have a willingness to serve others.

Would you like to help jumpstart an education revolution!?

Thank you for clicking and helping!

---3---

For a little vacation, and since some of our kids needed to keep working, we decided to head to Athens to visit them and do some of the things they've always wanted us to, but we never had time. Meg and Pip got to have the cool sleepover at their sibs' apartment, and the hubs and I got quiet time at a hotel. Ahhhhhh! 

The beer-lovers in the family wanted to go to the Terrapin Brewery where we took the tour and tasted a lot of beer. Some tasted way more than others, IYKWIM. It was fun and the weather cooled off nicely in the evening so that we could play a little catch. I think it was one of those memorable evenings that we will think of fondly.

              

---4---

This guy didn't go with us. He went to the beach with her (and her family) and had fun deep sea fishing, instead.

---5---

Since Brendan didn't have much time off---holiday weekends and movie-theater managers don't equal family time. :-( So we saw him the only way we could: we went to a movie every day where we saw him for 5 minutes before and after! Quality time, people, quality time. 

I know you're dying to know what we saw: How to Train Your Dragon 2 (entertaining, but not as good as the first), Transformers (way, way too long, and still pretty stupid, but definitely better than the last one), and The Edge of Tomorrow (The best of all 3. We enjoyed this one a lot---Groundhog Day meets Source Code).

---6---

Independence Day fun was courtesy of a Barnes and Noble parking lot. It wasn't the best view of fireworks, but there was a lot less traffic, and we had a good time anyway. This is what made it all worthwhile for Meg:

---7---

One of the favorite activities here is walking along, or on, the railroad tracks to the tree swing. It had been cut down when the kids stayed there last, but a city official had a new and improved one put up. It's a lot of fun!

Other than that, we spent a lot of time eating at great, local restaurants. Yum!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Join the fun at Jen's for more 7 Quick Takes!

7 Quick Takes

---1---

Quick Takes this morning because I have TIME today! They don't actually have to be quick though, but I'll try to stay in the spirit of the thing. I have time today because the kids are all still asleep. Yesterday was the last day of school (in case you weren't here yesterday and missed that glorious announcement!), and Pip doesn't have to be at drama rehearsal until noon. Noon. Happy day!

---2---

Last night was the AHG Court of Honor for the end of the year. Meg received her Lewis & Clark level award (the highest award for Explorers) and moved up to the Pioneer level. She was so excited to be joining her best friends who are all at least a year ahead of her. She's been asking all year when it would be. When she realized on Wednesday that Thursday was the Big Day, she started jumping up and down screaming. 

She finally gets a sash instead of a vest!

---3---

Faith. Service. Fun. (AHG's tagline)

A cake decorating contest is a great way to provide refreshments to your large group without overtaxing a refreshment committee. We had so. many. cakes. Little girls love to make cakes and decorate them! Meg's cake was appreciated by a few gluten-free moms---because that is what was in my pantry.

---4---

Meg, onstage, in her Oliver! production. She's a flower seller and got a lot of time singing front and center in this scene.

---5---

This is the little birdie that I ended up commissioning a very talented friend to make for our piano teacher. Tom took lessons for 10 years, and Brendan took lessons from her for several years before that, so it was weird to be saying goodbye. Don't you just love those iridescent (I'm so happy my computer helps me with spelling sometimes!) piano keys on the wings?! 

---6---

Tom and his girlfriend before the recital last week. Just because they're so cute together. Every picture of them is this perfect! She was with us practically every night last week for all the events.

And the other cute couple, Katie and boyfriend. It's nice to start adding significant others to the family events.

---7---

I keep hearing rumors of a 3-day weekend because it's Memorial Day, but I just don't see it. We still have dress rehearsal all day today, 2 shows tomorrow, another AHG event tomorrow evening, another AHG event at Mass on Sunday (not at our parish), and then, I think, we have Memorial Day off to remember our fallen soldiers and grill and go to the pool. Weather permitting.

There's a very nice event nearby that we've gone to for several years. What do you do on Memorial Day to mark the occasion?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Join the fun at Jen's for more 7 Quick Takes!

PHFR - Last Day of School

{pretty}

I was walking the dog, and it was hot, so I stopped in the shade of a tree to enjoy the sun glinting off the water of the pool and the breeze blowing through the leaves.
{happy}

The Pioneer Woman's cinnamon rolls are a great way to celebrate any occasion! They were yummy on graduation morning, and they're very welcome on the Last Day of School.
Another version of {happy} is that I made that huge batch of cinnamon rolls (which are seriously the best I have ever had in my life!) and I didn't eat a single one. I didn't lick my fingers once while making them, and I didn't taste the frosting. And I was fine with that. Two miracles, you guys, TWO: not tasting and not caring!
{funny}

Meg's face after getting hit with a water balloon at the park with her school.

And high schoolers on the very sturdy swings going as high as they possibly can.

{real}

Gus got as close to a summer haircut as he's going to get. I got him a Furminator which removed way, way more hair than his regular brush. He hated it---more than the regular hairbrush (and that's saying something!)---and growled at me constantly, but he should feel a lot cooler now.

Also {real}---we are so close to the end of the May Mayhem that I can almost taste it! The past weeks have been absolutely crazy with so many events, but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Just 3 more days of Too Many Activities and then we'll be done. Maybe. I just thought of a couple more on Monday and Tuesday, but they're just "summer activities" and not part of the regular school year; they just happen to occur immediately after it ends. Sigh.

It will be okay. God has it all under control. Everything that needs to happen happens, and everything that doesn't gets cancelled or we say No. It's all good. But I can't wait for a day of not going anywhere. I started to say "doing nothing" but that never happens, if you know what I mean. ;-)

Are you putting your feet up yet? Or have you yet to begin your End of Year mayhem?

{PHFR}

{pretty}

~selfie~

 The Green Thing got a paint job.  If you read that link, you'll see that I've probably come to terms with my dear mother's death a little more in the past 5 years since I painted it white.  But I'm still calling it the Green Thing.  I think I chose white because I'm yearning for simplicity in my home these days.  And Mom painted everything white that wasn't nailed down, so there's that.

{happy}
This pillow desperately needed a new cover.  It didn't hold up well at all after purchase and was full of pulled threads (I took the pic after cutting off all the threads.  Natch.).  That was made worse by the fact that Gus has a rather unhealthy relationship with it. 

I whipped up a new cover for it out of this yellow toile that I purchased ages ago at Goodwill.  I was looking through my stash and suddenly realized that it would be great with the new color-scheme developing (slowly) in the family room.

It takes about 5 minutes to fold over the fabric, overlapping it in the back, and sew 2 straight seems.  Turn it right side out and stuff it with a pillow.  I covered 2 other ratty pillows and was thrilled with my accomplishment for the day!

Maybe the dog won't recognize his friend in her new clothes, but I don't have much hope of that! {funny}
This is for my sweet friend Beverley who texted to see if I was well-supplied with bonbons on my day off (while the kids are at school), and admitted to being jealous that my house is cleaner than hers.  So, I thought I'd show her (and you) what kind of a mess I can make without the help of children! {real} Distracted by the phone because we are tired of studying grammar for a test.   (Sigh.  Sorry, I forgot to rotate that before downloading.  I'm going to leave it as is since I can scarcely find the time for blogging these days, despite 14 child-free hours during the week. )  So....school.  We're baking brownies to celebrate Louisiana Purchase Day.  Thankfully, Meg did 99% of it herself!

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Go visit the other fine ladies at LMLD for more Pretty Funny Happy Real posts!

--- 1 ---

Yesterday was almost another Mental Health Day because Meg got sick and I didn't do any schoolwork with Pippo.  I had things on my busy Thursday schedule that couldn't be changed, so I wasn't home with her for half the day, though she was fine without me.  She was just on the sofa sleeping or watching movies with a sore throat and low-grade fever.  Several other little girls from AHG (who were all at the same birthday party on Sunday!) were sick, too, and I decided that I needed to be home with her instead of going to the meeting.  The troop managed to survive without its 2 main leaders last night!

--- 2 ---

DH went to pick up our college boys last night so they could be home for Fall Break.  We still don't have everyone together because Katie is going to Athens to see her friends.   It will be an interesting weekend with that college freshmen who is feeling his independence a little too keenly, and finds being at home stifling!

--- 3 ---

Our family routine for, lo, these many years is to pray a single decade of the rosary before bed.  We pray that, and then we renew our consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  We follow that up by asking for the intercession of our patron saints, but the twist is that we choose new patrons every year (though we obviously keep our namesakes as patrons!) on the first Sunday of Advent, the Church's New Year.  The other night, a couple of us simultaneously realized that it's time to choose again!  I'm pretty sure I'm going to go back to St. Monica.  Seems like I choose her every time one of my children goes off to college.....sigh.

--- 4 ---

You know what, though?  Telling you about our prayer habit and the fact that our home is enthroned to the Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Heart reminds me that I can't control everything my children do.  I've done my very best to raise them....just ask my husband!...and consecrating them to the Lord and His Mother is probably the single most important thing I've done in their whole lives.

--- 5 ---

Brendan, brilliant college-man that he is, made an astute comment last night:  People just don't realize how hard Catholics have it at Halloween/All Saints because we have to come up with TWO costumes!

I think Tom has the day off school Monday for teacher workdays, so the only schooling we'll get done is studying the origins of Halloween and All Saints Day.  Meg was begging for weeks to talk about it again, and I was hedging, but then when she asked me when All Saints Day is (!!!!), I realized we need a bit of a refresher....'Cuz if you don't know that Halloween is simply the vigil of All Saints, then you need another lesson.

--- 6 ---

Anxious to go see The Way before it leaves theaters.  Have you seen it yet?

--- 7 ---

Looks like 6 takes is about all we're going to get today.  Time to make some plans for the day---besides the plans which are already made for me.  Do some schoolwork.  :-(

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!