Gladdest Hours

Ouiz's Seventh Baby Is Almost Here!

Please say a few prayers for Ouiz, her family and medical staff in South Carolina.  She is giving birth to her seventh baby tomorrow!   (Thurs., Oct. 11).    It's her seventh C-Section. 

St. Gerard, pray for them!

Busy Little Nuns

You have GOT to see these two posts from Margaret at In The Shade Of The Old Oaks:

• Feeding the Hungry
• Another Busy Day at the Convent

For some reason, there is just something so sweet, hysterical and loveable about 2 little Chinese sisters pretending to be nuns.

And, simply because it's so much fun to see these little girls in action, here is Little House in the Shade of the Oaks. 

Thanks, Margaret!  You only post occasionally, but when you do, they are marvelous!

Clearing the Clutter!

Lorri at the Mac and Cheese Chronicles is hosting the Loveliness of Clearing the Clutter.  When I first typed this, I typed Loveliness of Clutter!!!!  Hardly  LOL! 

I don't have many pictures, mainly because I'm just all pictured-out.  But here are a couple of "hot spots" that have been de-cluttered lately:   

One of the Kitchen Cabinets - Made a trip to the Dollar Store and outfitted this particular cabinet with makeshift pull-out drawers so things would stop getting all jumbled up.

Before:

   

Not really all THAT bad.  But, could be better.  After:

 

Like items go together and they won't ever get mixed up.  Syrups and molasses, Magic Bullet pieces, hand mixer and 2 beaters, coffee items, misc. baking supplies, tall things, cheese graters, etc.  Things were tossed.  I even have a half-space and one whole basket leftover!   

I added a shelf-divider to the plate cabinet and tossed a bunch of misc. plates that bother me. 

Band-Aid Box - While I was de-cluttering the First Aid Box, I re-vamped our Band-Aid System.  This was SO EXCITING to me and the project that worried Pete the most.  All the Band-aids were just jumbled up together, which is annoying.  So, I separated them and threw away all the other stuff that was floating around in Band-aid box.   

I put a "sample" on the outside.  They are all very similar in size, but it's the TYPE that I'm more concerned about.  The stickiness and the stretch.  No character band-aids here.  No siree-bob.  The girls think it's FUN to have character band-aids and all I ever here is "Can I have a band-aid?"  for absolutely NOTHING!  I do keep a secret stash for the times when someone is really hurt and desperately needs cheering up.  But they are hidden away somewhere and because I never use them, I have no idea where they are. LOL!

Purse - inspired by the Bag Tags going around a couple of months ago, I de-cluttered and re-vamped my purse.  I'm no longer the mommy of only wee-ones, and we actually leave the house from time to time, so I needed a purse re-evaluation.

Girls' Dresses - Purge, Sort, Organize.  Made 5 dresses into rags....took off the lace and buttons for some sort of eventual Montessori activity and cut them up.  How satisfying.   Passed about 10 dresses on to neighbors.

My Clothing - Many of my clothes just don't fit anymore, so they are OUTTA HERE!  3 boxes donated.  1 box of favorites will get passed on.   

Kitchen Utensil Drawer - Tossed enough things to make this a nice drawer that actually opens.  Added a second two-section divider; one was not doing the trick.

I unloaded most of our baby toys.  Caroline is not a "baby" anymore (sniff) (even though she weighs less than most 6-month-olds) and she doesn't play with toys anyway.  She just WHIPS them out of the play-yard and they go flying across the room.  Nice. She prefers everything in the kitchen and whatever the older girls are working on. 

Old Art Supplies were sorted and tossed.  It's Year Two of investing in quality art supplies.  Last year it was paints and paper.  This year it's crayons and pencils. 

Tableclothes - This was painful for me as I tend to LOVE tabletop items, just like my mom.  But, if I don't LOVE a tablecloth and look forward to having it on my table, it had to leave.  I have a cupboard of tableclothes and napkins and it was getting too crowded.  4 tableclothes gone!  2 donated as they are in good shape.  2 become picnic blankets for the van.

Pete's T-shirts.  Hopeless case.  No headway here.  My husband has 2 drawers that barely open, they are so full.  I will never understand the love affair between a guy and his t-shirts and jeans.   Maybe next year.  (sigh)  That is, "maybe next year, I'll get this done," not "maybe next year I'll understand the love affair."

Shoes.  Went through all the girls' shoes and tossed the bad ones and ones we never really liked.  Why did I ever keep them anyway?  Weak moments.

The stuffed animals that were hidden in the "holding cell" in the basement finally made the 3-month-cut.  No one has noticed that they were gone, so they are GONE!  Can you tell that I'm excited about this one? Shhhh...

Toys.  Ah, yes, the toys.  I decided that in July-August-September we don't need any toys in our living room.  We're outside most of the time anyway and when we're not outside, we're busy getting ready to GO outside.  So, I brought EVERYTHING downstairs and went through it.  If I was going to haul something up those stairs again, it better be a pretty good toy.   I've made lots of good shelf space and room upstairs for some of our new Montessori items .

And, of course, I would be remiss if I did an organizing post and didn't mention my two favorite organizers:

The Organizing Junkie

The Lazy Organizer

Happy De-Cluttering, everyone!

 

Passez un bel été!

I will be taking a blogging break for the next few weeks.

A Bientot!

Suzanne

Simple Gifts Fair of Washing Lines

Visit Nissa as she hosts the  Simple Gifts Fair of Washing Lines at her wonderful blog, Simple Gifts. 

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It's All About The Tables

One of my favorite things to do to get ready for our three months of outdoor living is to BRING OUT THE TABLES.   And, boy do I have tables.   We have a big yard, and so having a table in every section, corner or area of the yard ensures, and just INVITES us to be outside as much as we can for all our meals, as well as for all sorts of craziness that takes place in our little corner among the Cedar trees.   

Right after the summer clothes come out, I move the kitchen table (that we LIVE at during the rest of the year) right up against the wall: 

Not very inviting, is it?  No!  THAT is the point. We do not want to eat here unless it is pouring rain.  Sometimes Pete tries to get away with sitting there for breakfast and the reading of his morning paper (he usually eats early before the girls are up) and if I happen to walk in and it's a beautiful morning, I look at him like he has ten heads, gasp, and say, "You should eat OUTSIDE!  Look how beautiful it is out there!  Isn't this why you moved to the Northwest?  For weather like this?  And that lovely deck that you SLAVED OVER!  Such a shame.  And, here you sit."  (then I sigh).

He doesn't even look up.  I wave my hand and flutter off.  Another unsuccessful communication attempt with my phlegmatic husband. 

So, where, in fact, DO we eat, if not at the pushed back table?

For starters, the big, beautiful, above-mentioned, slaved-over deck, right off the kitchen:

 

Moving on around the deck......

The catch-all-table outside the kitchen door.  This table functions as extra counter space, afternoon project table and an afternoon snack area because it's in the shade:

I can rejoice, because finally THIS crazy table goes back outside where it belongs:

Of course, these are everyone's favorite outdoor chairs at our house.  The Gliders.  Lots of eating and drinking coffee takes place here:

A covered table.  Here is a table on the patio, underneath the deck, where we eat on really hot days and have buffets set up for parties and company who are lounging at the fire pit :

Then, there is this table by the play-area, pool and sand box.  The neighbors have been known to park it right here with a nice little appetizer and an afternoon cocktail, watching the children frolick in the afternoon sun.  In September we have to move it over a bit because otherwise we'd have plums dropping continuously into our snacks and beloved drinks.  Bad.  Bad.   

 

The child-table out front:

So, there is the outdoor-table-tour of our yard and where you will find us Taking Our Meals Out-of-Doors until the end of September.

"Millionaires, presidents -- even kings, Can't get along without everyday things. "

The Ol' Spring Napkin Switch

I was going to post about our trip to The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival for the Loveliness of Spring, but we never made it there.  Maybe next weekend.  So, instead I'll blog about cloth napkins. 

I was so thrilled to see the thread about cloth napkins go to TWO PAGES!  This just proves that I am NOT the only one who thinks about and gets joy out of cloth napkins. 

As I've mentioned before, I just don't appreciate the concept of paper towels.  Toilet paper?  Of course.  I GET that.  But, hauling those bulky paper towels to the cashier, to the car, out of the car and into the house, into their storage place, then back into the kitchen when needed.  I would much rather wash a few rags or cloth napkins on a regular basis, put them away, and bring them out again. 

At Easter and around the 1st of October, I switch my napkin colors.  Some people plant seasonal flowers.  Some change their front door decoration.  I change my napkin colors.

Dark, winter colors on the left are descending to the the lower chambers.  The spring pastels are now in use!

Everyone has their own napkin ring:

After a meal, everyone is SUPPOSED TO put their own napkin back in the ring.   If they need to be washed, they go into the "Rag Bag."   Those that can be used again are put in a basket which sits next to the table, on the windowsill:

Aren't they cute?   So.....Springy!

I find nice, absorbent, cotton napkins in lots of places.  Clearance tables, garage sales.  And, of course, my mother and friends.      

Here is a silly, little poem that makes us giggle.  It also helps the girls to remember to do the last two things that Timothy does....put your napkin away and thank the chef/mom/slave for the "loveliest" of meals! 

The Meal

Timothy Tompkins had turnips and tea.

The turnips were tiny.

He ate at least three.

And then, for dessert,

He had onions and ice. 

He like that so much

That he ordered it twice.

He had two cups of ketchup,

A prune and a pickle.

“Delicious,” said Timothy.

“Well worth a nickel.”

He folded his napkin

And hastened to add,

“It’s one of the loveliest breakfasts I’ve had.”

~Karla Kuskin

 

Loveliness of John Paul II

Sarah has the Loveliness of John Paul II Fair at her blog, Just Another Day of Catholic Pondering.  Grab a box of tissues and enjoy these wonderful posts about our beloved Pope John Paul II.

Baking With The Best

Cheryl is hosting the Loveliness of Baking today.  Yet another wonderful "Living Lives of Loveliness" Fair for 2007.  There is a multitude of ideas, stories, musings, memories, recipes and pictures....all about BAKING.  Enjoy!

Gladdest Hours' Word Cloud

You learn something new every day.  THIS...

.....is a Word Cloud.    

HT: Dawn at By Sun and Candlelight

Life is Good

• I am actually ready for Lent.  It has not snuck up on me as in years past.
• We are getting a new linoleum floor tomorrow.  At this time tomorrow, THIS....

 

...will be a thing of the past.  Soon forgotten.  Long-gone.  Non-existent.  I have waited with bated breath for FIVE years for this day.  Both of our mothers and my friend, Michelle will be VERY glad to hear this. Maybe this will have to be another post all its own.  How exciting would that be?

In light of the fact that we are only two days away from FORTY days of reflection on the Passion and Death of the Savior of Mankind, perhaps this is really quite inconsequential.  But, I JUST cannot HELP but to get a BIT giddy about this.  What a thing to celebrate on Mardi Gras! 

• To go along with the new kitchen floor, I bought a couple of new kitchen towels.  Oooooooo, Aaaaaaaah!!!  It's the little things that make a gal just oh-so-happy.
• And, last, but certainly not least, Michael D. O'Brien has a blog.  Whoo-hoo!

I mean, REALLY……can it GET any better than this?

 

Housekeeping Meme

Mary at Our Domestic Church , (affectionately referred to in our house as "the-mom-with-lots-of-owl-stuff") tagged me for the Housekeeping Meme.  Which, after this post , I’m sure everyone is just clamoring to know how I keep such a lovely home. 

Aprons – Y/N?
Yes. Probably about 70% of the time. On our annual trip to the mountains in Leavenworth, there is a woman who makes a style I like, and SOMEONE always gets a new apron.  The past two years, it hasn't been me, though! 

Baking – Favorite thing to bake:
Pecan Pie, Tiramisu, and Muffins

Clothesline – Y/N?
YES!  I LOVE to hang clothes out on the line. I don’t do it nearly as much as I used to. 

Donuts – Have you ever made them?
No

Dust - Y/N?   Ummmm, well…..sometimes.  I usually give the girls an old sock and spray a bit of water on it, telling them it’s furniture polish and let them go to town.  I actually try NOT to dust, cuz I actually like to do it. 

Every day – One homemaking thing you do every day:
I’m with Mary on this one.  Flushing the toilet.  THAT is probably the only thing that gets done absolutely every day. 

Freezer – Do you have a separate deep freeze
Yes, I love my chest freezer.  I think it’s actually the only place in my home that gives me absolute contentment when I walk past it.  I breathe a deep sigh of relief knowing that it is truly organized and under control.  I have a list on the top of the contents ready to be crossed off when taken out.  It’s a beautiful thing.

Garbage Disposal – Y/N?
Yes.  Just got one last year, the day before Caroline was born.  The poor electrician who worked on it forgot a box of equipment and came to pick it up the next day…WHILE I WAS IN LABOR IN THE LIVING ROOM!  I was completely clothed and not in full, active labor, but he was just a bit confused and embarrassed.

Handbook – What is your favorite homemaking resource?
My mother and my father.  They are brilliant about many things, homemaking would be no exception.  But to minimize my annoying phone calls to them, I do have a copy of Home Comforts . 

Ironing – Love it or hate it?
Love it.  But, yet another thing that doesn’t get done as regularly as it used to.  Sometimes when Pete and I watch a movie, I iron.  How romantic!  I'm thinking maybe that will be something I will do for Lent....keep up with the ironing.

Junk drawer – Y/N? Where is it?
Pete has a junk drawer.  I don’t.

Kitchen: Design & Decorating?
Lots of cupboards.  No counter space.  Horrible lighting. Cream w/light blue walls.  New appliances, but the rest of it is quite an eyesore.  Usually quite crowded with little girls, art projects, dishes, books, paper, notes, etc.   

Love: What is your favorite part of homemaking?
I love to clean sinks, put sheets on beds and fold laundry. 

Hate: What job do you dread? I do NOT like to empty the dishwasher.

Mop - Y/N?
Yes, but not nearly enough.

Nylons - Wash by hand or in the washing machine?
Washing machine in a mesh bag.

Oven - Do you use the window, or open the door to check?
Window.

Pizza - What do you put on yours?
Pepperoni, black olives, sausage, onions.  I like lots of different things on pizzas, but this is what we have most often. 

Quiet - What do you do during the day when you get a quiet moment?
I ‘m sorry, I know not of what you speak. 

Recipe card box - Y/N?
No.  I have a 3-ring-binder for gathered recipes and lots of great cookbooks.

Style of house -
Ranch with daylight basement

Tablecloths and napkins - Y/N?
Yes, cloth napkins. Tablecloth probably 70% of the time. 

Under the kitchen sink - Organized or toxic wasteland?
Organized

Vacuum - How many times per week?
Probably every other day.  Only the rugs, as we have lots of cedar needles that make their way into the house.

X’s - Do you keep a daily list of things to do and cross them off?
I have a list on my fridge of daily routines.  And then use my planner for my list of other to-dos.

Yard - Who does what?
Pete does the yard.  I like to do yard work, but since I have to choose between cooking and yard work, Pete says I better cook. 

Zzz’s - What is your last homemaking task for the day before going to bed? Put a load of laundry in, turn off the computer and set the house alarm. 

Tea at Trianon

This is one of my new favorite places to enjoy my cup of tea these days.

Tea at Trianon

Elena Maria Vidal is the author of Neumann Press'  books, Trianon and Madame Royale.  Both are books surrounding the French Revolution, which was actually one of my favorite subjects before cloth diapering, modesty, NFP, home birthing, home education, home improvement and children's literature and picture books entered the scene. 

This is from her "about me" profile:  Wife, mother, historian, etiquette instructor, and wedding planner. Author of the novels TRIANON and MADAME ROYALE. A member of the Secular Order of Our Lady of Mount Carmel since 1986.

She combines Catholicism, the saints, beautiful art, French history/culture, politics, the liturgical year, fascinating literature, Catholic Films and so much more! 

Do pay her a visit.   

Thankful Thursdays

Happy Thanksgiving!  10 Things I am thankful for this week. 

1. I am thankful for sweet and funny Dorothy Jo.  Today (Nov. 23) is her 3rd birthday.
2. I am thankful for the smells of Yankee Candles.  I am a cerophilist. (I learned that from Dawn). 
3. I am thankful for my neighbor, Julee, who loves to bake, and always brings me little treats.  She is very generous in so many ways. 
4. I am thankful for toilet plungers.  Need I say more?
5. I am thankful for my HANDS that are able to care for small children (and plunge toilets) and especially for Hand Lotion.  One of these days I am going to count how many times I wash my hands during the day.  Have any of you actually done this?  Oh yes, and I'm thankful for the running water and soap to WASH my hands a zillion times a day!
6. I am thankful for Pete's 5 days of vacation over Thanksgiving weekend.
7. I'm thankful for big, fat, yummy, baby cheeks that I get to kiss a thousand times a day.
8. I'm thankful for priests who hear confession at OTHER TIMES besides the standard Saturday- afternoon-time. Thank you Father Harris.
9. I am thankful for Suzanne Fowler and for the The Light Weigh.  This spiritual weight loss program is amazing, and NOT just for weigh loss reasons.  St. Therese and St. Ignatius, pray for us. 
10. I am thankful for my friend, Kari, who is headed to the hospital to have a baby tonight!  We can't wait to meet you, Molly Walker!

Thankful Thursdays

Diane at Journey of a Mother's Heart is hosting the 2nd Thankful Thursday all the way from Belgium. Merci beaucoup, Diane.

My Thankful Thursday is focused on my husband, Pete. We are celebrating our 7^th wedding anniversary on November 20.  Seven amazing years of marriage and family life that neither of dreamed was ever possible 7 ½ years ago.  1999 was a banner year.  We had our first date in April, engaged 9 weeks later on July 10, and married 4 months later in November.  He was a 37 year-old bachelor who enjoyed climbing mountains, lifting weights, Abraham Lincoln, Louis L’Amour novels, cowboy poetry, guns, lacrosse and baseball.  He lived in his own house with his college roommate. 

Ahhhhh, but then…..THEN….life changed....and FAST! 

So, this week, I am especially thankful for all things having to do with the Sacrament of Marriage and my loving husband. 

1. I am thankful for our fourth, precious baby girl, Caroline Marie, born on March 1, 2006.  Another baby for Pete to love and adore. And, another daughter to love and adore her daddy.  He is such a fabulous father.

2. I am thankful for a successful year at his job and for less travel.  He works so hard for us.  For me to be able to stay home. Yet, he always puts family first and never tires of giving of himself. For this, I am in complete awe. 

3. I am thankful that we go to bed at the same time every night when he’s in town.  I love our evening “wrap-ups” and laughing that happens as we get ready to bed down for the night.

4. I am thankful that he had fun at the two crazy homeschooling events we participated in this year (Variety Show and All Saints Day Party) as we begin to enter into the home educating world. 

5. I am thankful that he thinks that things like midwifery, homebirth, extended nursing, NFP, cloth diapers and home education are NORMAL. 

6. I am thankful for our “movie nights” in the Cowboy Room at the end of an exhausting day. 

7. I am thankful for his Catholic faith and for his dedication to attending Mass together as a family on Sunday mornings.  

8. I am thankful for the times he comes upstairs during the workday when working from his home office for a “family break”….to tease, converse, laugh, or inquire.  And, for his fun and exuberant disposition between dinner and bedtime; I hardly ever know if he’s had a bad day.

9. I am thankful that when looking for a new truck, he ONLY considers those that will seat six.  (I didn’t even know there WAS such a truck). Imagine!??!! A guy who wants his four little girls to fit in his manly truck.  I told him that's why we have a mini-van; but he insists. 

10. I am thankful for our evening out to celebrate our anniversary.  Dinner AND a play.  The first time we will have been out of the house together, ALONE, for longer than 2 hours in several years.  And, for Moira, who offered to baby-sit without even batting an eye.  While I’m at it, I’m thankful for ALL of our friends who have watched the girls for us over the years.
11. I am thankful that he tells me, on the rare occasion when I was wearing pants, that they are really WAY TOO BIG….that they actually look like parachute pants from the 80’s.  What a guy. I was ecstatic!  You know....it's that prideful-weight-loss-thing.   

I like Thankful Thursdays.  Thank you, Kristina, for starting this. And, thank you, Lisbet at Joyful Chaos , for hosting it last week.   

Left foot, left foot, right foot, right....

....feet in the morning, feet at night! 

Rebecca has a special blog, Babylove dedicated to "celebrating the tiniest people and largest blessings in our lives."  She is collecting pictures of BABY FEET! They are simply beautiful. If you have any little toes to share, send them her way.  These are Erika's little footsies from just the other day.

See?????  I am not the ONLY ONE with a Foot Fettish around here!

Shameless Plug

Enjoy a few chuckles as Michelle at Life of the Party encourages the Republican Party "not to shy away from PRO-LIFE issues..."

Please be generous and leave a comment at the Life of the Party blog, to show the party leadership that LIFE issues must come first!

Simply Blogging

This blogging thing just sort of takes on a life of it’s own!   

Even the hubbies get involved…which, from my end, is simply hilarious!  Pete spent a couple of minutes this morning before work posting a comment on Bridget’s Our Magnum Opus in response to this post written by HER HUSBAND, Kevin, who wrote about his potential plans for a firepit!  Perhaps no one else except me finds this the least bit amusing or incredible.  But, now, husbands who don’t even know each other and who are 2000 miles away from each other are posting and commenting!   Ha!  And, I don’t even really KNOW  Bridget…..I just very much appreciate her incredibly beautiful, insightful and funny posts about:

the wrapper test 

A Plan of Action

Why Are We Doing This?

The Fifth First Time

A Merry Heart

and my two all-time favorites...

Keeping Up

In The Still of the Night

10 Random Facts MeMe

Dawn at By Sun and Candlelight tagged me for the 10 Random Facts Meme. So here it goes....

1. I don’t buy paper towels. I loathe them.  I would rather toss a load of rags and cloth napkins in the washing machine than cart around huge packages of paper towels….from the shelf to the cart…to the register…to the car…to the house…to the basement…and back up again. 
2. I am the last person I know who DOES NOT have a cell phone.  Why?  I am ALWAYS home and if I’m not, I’ll probably be back within the hour! 
3. For the past few years, I can’t watch heavy drama/action movies anymore.  I think about them for WEEKS.  I wake up in the middle of the night with scenes running through my head. I feel like I am IN the movie and can’t get out.  So, it’s all about comedy and light drama these days.
4. I hardly ever floss my teeth.  I don’t know why this task of personal hygiene cannot become a habit.  My father was a dentist…tsk, tsk!  I continually get scolded at the dentist every 6 months because apparently they can TELL that I don’t floss.  It’s annoying.  I feel like I’m four years old whenever they ask me how often I floss, which, truth be told, is only about twice a month. 
5. My husband says he knew on our first date that he wanted to marry me; I ordered a Guinness beer with him, and I had deer hunted before.  What more could a guy want?
6. At the age of 36, I can still do the splits.  I don’t even exercise anymore, but I can still do them. 
7. I have never been to Disney World or Disneyland. Hopefully, this will never change.
8. My favorite breakfast is hot coffee with cream, fresh whole wheat bread with butter and orange marmalade. 
9. My favorite bedtime reading if I’m not nursing a baby to sleep is the Joy of Cooking. It’s like a million years of the newspaper Food section all bound up in one thick, white, beautiful book. 
10. I own only 4 pair of the same earrings.  Tear drop pearl earrings…in slightly different shades.  They remind me of the best day of my life…..my wedding day. 

Now, to tag a few others:

Kristin

Painted Rainbows and Chamomile Tea

Blair

Tracy

Life of the Party

My favorite pro-life, Republican, activist has a new blog called Life of the Party.  Check it out!

Where does "Gladdest Hours" come from?

The Deserted Garden by Elizabeth Barrett Browning