as cozy as spring

Saturday Morning Book Post

But first, I'll regret not writing any thoughts on yesterday's wedding.  My husband left at 8:30 for work and asked if it was worth it to get up at 4:00am.  I gave him a sleepy thumbs up and replied, "It was fabulous."  My little girl watched with me and we enjoyed every bit of it.  Now on to the books!

I'm reading:  Well everyone has been talking about Organized Simplicity and I had an Amazon gift card so I added to cart.  It's mostly common sense, but sometime common sense can be the hardest to implement so I think this could be a very helpful book.  I was reading it in the midst of a two week period of virtually non-stop parties so needless to say, implementation hasn't happened yet.  But I'm a minimalist at heart, so a lot of this appeals to me.

While knitting my daughter's top down raglan, I ordered Wendy Bernard's Custom Knits book.  I love her blog and her designs.  I haven't really had the time to peruse the book fully yet - do you sense a theme? - but the instructions on taking one's measurements alone are invaluable. 

It's done!  It has sleeves and everything! 

My daughter: Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm.  We started of reading this together, but she took over (perhaps because I was busy...).  I want to cram as many little girl classics as I can into these little girl years.

Together we are reading Shakespeare's Storybook.  It comes with a CD, but we've enjoyed it more one on one at bedtime.  I've liked most of the Barefoot Books we've read.  

She's also reading through 'A Guide to Weather' which I picked up several years ago from the discount bin and can't find online anymore.  She's always been rather fascinated by weather and I hope to add this to our lesson plans a little more.  Any suggestions?

My son: See my last book post - Smithsonian Backyard books over and over.  Le sigh!  Such happy hours.  I did add a couple of Draw Write Now. books to our collection and I should really just order the whole set.  He loves these.  I'm beginning to organize all of this into a study of landforms.  We were set to start next year, but I just can't wait.  I hope to do add a few vacations in the name of education to some local-ish caves and seashores, forests, desserts, and mountains.  So much fun!

OK then.  I'm off to spend a little time in the garden this morning.  The blackberries are ripening and the air is honeysuckle-scented.  I must enjoy it before it starts to feel like an oven 'round here.

Frontier House

Oh how I loved this series when it first aired.  We just recently ordered it from Netflix to supplement our continuing American History studies.  While not perfect, it really brought to life some aspects of frontier life and how the Homestead Act and the railroads shaped our nation.

I did have to monitor, skipping over a scene here or there for the sake of my delicate children.  And I do find some of the participants unbearably obnoxious, but the scenery was so beautiful I could have watched it on mute and been happy.  Oooh, PBS even has some lesson plans here.

Bring It.

Last June I was sitting poolside with my sister-in-law.  She was clad in a pretty two piece swimsuit looking fit and tone with her 6 month old daughter in her lap.  Could she be any more obnoxious?  I kid, of course.  I'm quite fond of my sister-in-law.  I asked how she shed the baby weight and she mentioned some gibberish about P something-numbers-letters.  It didn't really register.

Just recently I read Danielle's review of P90X and it all came back to me.  I was able to borrow a set of the DVDs from a friend of my brother's and began working out on the April 1st.  I'm not sure how to organize my thoughts in a post, so forgive me if they come out jumbled.

Firstly, I found Danielle's comparison of Tony Horton to Michael Scott dead on.  I think if I had not read that post first, I would find Tony obnoxious.  Actually, I agree with a lot of what Danielle wrote.  These workouts are very challenging.  I've been a runner for over 20 years and while not super skinny, am in decent cardiovascular shape.  I was very sore for the first two weeks.  But that's what I love - I know I'm not wasting my time with these DVDs.  This is the #1 reason why I'm still at it.

These workouts are also addictive.  I am an unbearable grump if I miss a day.  My family is pretty insistent that I prioritize my workouts because they don't want to be around me otherwise.  Even on scheduled days off, I'm out biking or sneaking in an Ab Ripper. I can manage morning workouts during my daughter's piano practice while my son draws nearby. Warning: I have accidently kicked a child or two during the Kenpo X workout.  Make sure they give you enough space!  

I've never really been able to enjoy working out to a DVD because I'm easily distracted thinking that I should be vacuuming or dusting.  Funnily enough, another attribute of the P90X program are the breaks.  Thirty second breaks here and there are enough for me to dash to the washing machine to switch out loads.  I also keep a cordless vacuum nearby so when I am in plank position, staring at all those crumbs under our hutch I can make a quick sweep while Tony's setting up for the next move. 

Results.  Well, that's a little bit tricky to assess.  I've lost just a pound or so in the last four weeks but I keep finding all these weird lumps in my legs and arms.  I think they are muscles (I can even see ab muscles!) Regardless, I feel so good about what I've accomplished that I fully intend to continue.  I'm not only finishing most of the workouts now, but adding more weight, reps, and some days even a second full workout.

My favorite workouts are the Cardio X and Legs and Back.  My least favorite is Yoga X. I've never been able to get excited about yoga.  I have some wrist issues, so spending a good chunk of time in Downward Dog is a real problem for me.  I am so not getting into the debates over Catholics practicing Yoga.  It's enough for me that my wrist prevents me from doing it.  The end.

So that's my two cents.  It's definitely the best at home workout I've ever tried and the only one I've ever consistently done.  

The Very Best Thing

(about blogging)

I'm not feeling my best.  I feel like I'm working very hard and not getting anywhere.  You understand, friends, like when the washing machine is running all day and there is still a giant pile of dirty clothes in the evening. That feeling.  I would fret about this but I can look back in my archives and see that I felt the exact same way last April.  And that is the very best thing about blogging.  I take that back.  The very best thing about blogging is having friends who know what I'm talking about.

It will pass.  But I'm getting up even earlier this week for some quiet work (and think) time.

My boys.

In God's Hands

Perfect Easter eggs in a Northern Cardinal nest.  Happy Easter friends!  (I miss you!)

Posting may be light for the next couple of weeks because we (my siblings) are gathering back together for the first time in a long time.  With two brothers in the Navy and two sisters on the east coast, these gatherings have been rare and I plan to enjoy every moment.  

A Clean Kitchen

A couple of people asked about my clean kitchen notecard.  It's really pretty basic.  I have five four (I miscounted) tasks I run through four times a day.  This keeps it, more or less, presentable and peaceful.

1. Put away food
2. Collect, wash, put away dishes so that the sink is empty and clean. We don't have a dishwasher, so this step is easy to do after every meal.
3. Wipe counters and cabinet fronts
4. Sweep the floor

That's really it.  I go through my card at 8:00am, 12:00pm, 3:00pm, and 8:00pm (or just after breakfast, lunch, snack, and dinner).

I've been able to manage a more thorough cleaning the night I take out the garbage.  Those evenings, I check the fridge and pantry for leftovers, expired foods or empty containers that my children refuse to throw away.  I wipe down the fridge and mop the floors.

And that's all!  I'd share the other rooms, but they aren't as streamlined yet. We have regular days for certain rooms - the children's rooms are always cleaned on Fridays ("always" meaning if I both remember and have time). Sheets are washed Friday.  I iron Saturday morning.  I'm still tinkering a bit with everything else to see where it fits best in our new weekly layout.

So happy just to be alive...

..underneath the sky of blue.

Saturday Morning Book Post

I went on a little Amazon binge last week!  

For me: After reading Grace's post about housekeeping, I ordered the book she recommended, Sidetracked Home Executives.  I was a little wary because this is something I remember my mom attempting in the 80s and I try to avoid anything from that decade.  I've pulled a few gems from the book but overall, I don't think it's a system that suits me.  It seems too complicated.  I will say, I did make notecards of what has to be done in a particular room for it to be considered clean and that has really made a difference.  My clean kitchen card has just five simple steps and I go through those 4 times a day.  My kitchen has been "spotless" all week long (I say spotless in the homeschooling-mom-my-children-are-home-all-day sense of the word, you know, which allows for a little wiggle room).  I'm still mulling it over.  Do you want to hear a funny story?  I didn't finish the book yet because I lost it.  And then I found it. On a bookshelf.  Ironic, isn't it?  

 

For my daughter: We're seeing the ballet Don Quixote this summer.  I like for her to do a little background reading first, so I ordered this cheapo abridged version from Amazon.  She loved it. She found it hilarious.  "He is like 50 years old and he's acting like a child!".  So I think we'll delve a little closer, stepping up to an audio version next and have ourselves a little unit study!

For my son:  Alligator at Saw Grass Road and Canada Goose at Cattail Lane.  Oh, how we love these books.  We have most, but not all of the Smithsonian Backyard series.  We read them until they fall apart.  I would recommend buying the hardcover if you can afford it.  I can't afford it without making other cuts in the book budget and who wants to make cuts in the book budget?  

I have another order on the way as we are starting to gather our materials for next year (whimper).  I'm thinking lapbooks friends!  I'm thinking one for every animal phylum.  I'm thinking one for landforms, continents, wildflowers!  I'm thinking I need stickers. Please (if you made it to the end of this post), inspire me!

I met Anne Hanson!

I really have no time to write anything right now, but I stalked Anne Hanson outside her classroom this morning and introduced myself.  She's my #1 favorite knitting superstar and I seriously think my hands were shaking.  She's so beautiful and sweet and gracious and fabulous.  She wrote the pattern for my very first lace project and I'm in awe of all her designs.  

Thanks Charlotte for meeting up with us for a super fun "field trip"!