Tea For Today 3/04/09

Today: Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Outside My Window: sunny, windy
Today's Goal: Exercise and drink more water
Today's Plan: School; install the new side view mirror on the van; take the kids for a play date and dinner at Debbie's house.
Today's Tea: Cinnamon Delight Rooibos. This is so good hot or iced! It's one of my favorites for hot summer days.
Today's Tidbits: The Master bedroom is starting to look nice again - I moved my writing desk against a different wall and Ian hung a fabric wall pocket I made on the wall above it so I can keep clutter off the desk. I can now reach the curtains to open and close them.

Simple Woman's Daybook ~ March 3, 2009

For Today...

Outside my window... clouds and wind

I am thinking... how nice the weather was yesterday! It was about 75 in town!

From the learning rooms...starting week 24! Only 12 weeks left! Andrew needs more help with reading. He forgets what letters sound like from one word to the next.

I am thankful for... sunshine, helpful kids, and a semi-clean house

From the kitchen... made bread this morning! House smells wonderful.

I am wearing... Jeans, navy tank top and berry-colored "big shirt"

I am reading... Bosch owner's manual - what a great machine (Thanks Mom)!!!

I am hoping... to spend some time outside today, maybe dig some holes for the hawthorns we'll plant next weekend.

I am creating... daily routines to keep the house tidy and everyone happy.

I am hearing... kids playing with Peter's new "Moon Sand" toy he got for his birthday.

Around the house... still some things out of place (folded laundry in the living room, dirty dishes in the sink), but getting closer to clean.

One of my favorite things... 8 kids playing harmoniously.

A few plans for the rest of the week... sew some more on the Christmas projects, sew girls' patches on their dance uniforms, and re-lace their dancing shoes with elastic.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

I love my Bosch!!

Please visit Peggy at The Simple Woman

Tea For Today 3/03/09

Today: Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Outside My Window: Partly cloudy, windy
Today's Goal: Exercise and drink more water; pray the Rosary
Today's Plan: School; make bread, sweep front step; MAYBE install the new side view mirror on the van.
Today's Tea: Apple Spice Black tea: this is a Seasonal Special, only available until March 31. I an enjoying it with cream. YUMMY!
Today's Tidbits: I am re-subscribed to Flylady.net, so I have started cleaning my house's "zones" again. This week is the entrance and mud room.

Tea For Today 2/27/09

Today:Friday, February 27, 2009
Outside My Window: Partly cloudy, a little windy, but warmer than yesterday I think.
Today's Goal: Exercise and drink more water; pray the Rosary
Today's Plan: School; Take anything out of the Master bedroom that does not belong there; Stations of the Cross tonight.
Today's Tea: Nut Crunch Rooibos tea: this is one of my favorites. Nutty aroma and taste - hazelnuts! and no caffeine.
Today's Tidbits: First Friday in Lent. I am going to redo my daily schedule so that I can actually follow it. My old one got too cluttered, so I stopped following it.

Tea For Today 2/26/09

Today: Thursday, February 26, 2009
Outside My Window: Sunny
Today's Goal: Exercise and drink more water; pray the Rosary
Today's Plan: School; Clean kitchen
Today's Tea: Peach Apricot Black tea, hot with a little sugar.
Today's Tidbits: Major decluttering needed. I will actually put it on the calendar so I remember to do it little by little. Maybe it's time to start doing Flylady.net again.

Tea for Today

I thought I would do a little daily (or as often as I can) post about the teas I enjoy drinking and selling. I want to share with you what teas I like best and why, along with little interesting tidbits about what is going on here at Windyside (that is what I have named our house, since there is an almost constant wind blowing day and night).

Today: Ash Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Outside My Window: Cold and windy
Today's Goal: Exercise and drink more water, pray the Rosary, start Lent off right
Today's Plan: School week 23; Mass tonight
Today's Tea: Spiced Pear Black tea. I am sipping it hot and plain, but I also like it with a little sugar or cream, and it is really good iced with sugar, too. This is a nice, warming tea since it has ginger in it.
Today's Tidbits: I am wondering how to block the wind so that we can grow a wider variety of vegetables and flowers in our garden this year.

I plan on posting my monthly Tea Newsletter too, so watch for that.

The Simple Woman's Daybook~February 23rd Edition

The Simple Woman's Daybook~February 23rd Edition

For Today...

Outside my window... bright sunshine!

I am thinking... how much I really want to plant some flowering shrubs right now!!

From the learning rooms...starting week 23! Only 13 weeks left!

I am thankful for... the beauty of the changing seasons

From the kitchen... we have frozen meat and dry rice and beans: PLENTY ...thank you Lord!

I am wearing... Jeans and my comfy gray shirt. Not much variety in my "post-pregnancy" wardrobe.

I am reading... the latest issue of Victoria magazine (lots of pretty spring decorating ideas) and the American Heritage Girls handbook.

I am hoping... we get some rain

I am creating... extra shelf space for my record-keeping notebooks for AHG, family budget and garden plans

I am hearing... kids in various activities from commenting on a math problem to setting the table to singing "If I were a Rich Man" from Fiddler on the Roof.

Around the house... a bit of laundry, dinner, and then some handsewing

One of my favorite things... is sunshine streaming through clean windows onto dust-free furniture. Someday it'll be a reality! For now, I am enjoying the sunshine.

A few plans for the rest of the week... Ash Wednesday Mass, maybe a play date and/or Bible study on Friday, and the kids' birthday party on Sunday.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...
Andrew holding his new baby brother Thomas

The Simple Woman's Daybook~February 9th Edition

Monday, February 9, 2009

The Simple Woman's Daybook~February 9th Edition

For Today...

Outside my window...windy and cold

I am thinking... how sad it is that we have yet to have a nice snow...sigh

From the learning rooms... gearing up for a new week of school

I am thankful for... Ian's patience with me as I break one more thing on the van.

From the kitchen... thinking of a special dinner for my Sweetie for St. Valentine's Day.

I am wearing... khaki pants and red turtleneck

I am reading... the calendar of Cub Scouts meetings and events for the rest of the semester.

I am hoping... for good weather on Saturday for Thomas's baptism!

I am creating... Valentines for my loved ones

I am hearing... the kids "cleaning up" before bed.

Around the house... lots of boxes and trash in the mudroom waiting to go out - we've been cleaning out the "back room"

One of my favorite things... my newborn baby boy sleeping in my arms, cooing softly

A few plans for the rest of the week... exercise for 10 minutes every day this week - I need to get serious about this!

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

Visit the Simple Woman's Daybook at http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

DIY: Herbal Insect Repellant

I found this article in a Babyfit's Natural Mother e-newsletter. I haven't tried it, but it looks pretty easy.

Besides driving your cat crazy, catnip has another more practical (but less entertaining) use. It also drives away the mosquitoes. According to a study at Iowa State University Department of Entomology, an essential oil found in catnip is 10 times more effective at repelling mosquitoes than potent chemicals such as DEET. If you grow catnip in your yard, you'll get moderate protection from the pests, but for greater benefit, you can try making your own skin potion from your fall harvest. Here's how to make your own herbal insect repellant:

What you'll need:
2 cups catnip, stemmed
1 cup dried peppermint
1 cup rosemary, cut into 6-inch sprigs
2 cups grape seed oil or almond oil

Directions:
Place herbs on a cutting board or counter, and lightly crush them with a rolling pin. Place them into a clean glass jar with a screw-on lid. Pour in the oil, seal the jar and place in a cool, dark cupboard for two weeks. Lightly shake the jar once a day for two weeks. Strain into a clean jar, seal and refrigerate (it will keep for up to 8 months). To use, rub on exposed skin.

QUICK TIP :
Check your local nursery for catnip plants, or simply order seeds online.

Just a Spoonful of Sugar... home remedies

WEIRD HEALTH TIPS THAT WORK!

These tips were found in a Woman's World Magazine, Dec.
22, 2008. I especially like the one to quiet coughs!

*Quiet coughs with chocolate. The main ingredient in chocolate –
theobromine – is more effective at stopping a cough than prescription
medicine. Dark chocolate is especially effective. Dissolve a piece of
Dove dark chocolate or 2 dark Hershey kisses in your mouth and
coughing will stop for up to 4 hours. This is 33% more effective than
cough medicine containing codeine. It works by suppressing the vagus
nerve, which is responsible for causing you to cough. So the next time
you or someone you love gets a persistent cough, offer them a
chocolate bar instead of cough syrup. (consider carrying Dove dark chocolate
squares in my purse all the time, just in case, for medicinal purposes.)

*Cure hiccups with sugar. Next time you can't get rid of hiccups, put
a teaspoon of white granulated sugar on your tongue and let it
dissolve. "The granules irritate the phrenic nerve, which is
responsible for the hiccupping reflex, and cause the diaphragm to
immediately stop spasming," says Joe Graeden, M.S.

*Ease a sore throat with pineapple. Instead of reaching for a sore
throat drop, have a piece of FRESH pineapple instead. It's loaded with
bromelain, which has powerful anti-inflammatory properties that reduce
pain and swelling. It also has lots of Vitamin C, which speeds
healing. Bromelain is deactivated by heat, so use only fresh
pineapple. Keep nibbling until you feel better.

*Burn yourself in the kitchen or on a hot glue gun? Cover the burn
with honey. Honey is more effective at healing burns than gauzes,
dressings and other treatments doctors use. It has antibiotic
properties that kill germs, and enzymes that help remove dead tissue,
making it easier for healthy tissues to grow. Of course, having an
aloe vera plant close by also works. Just remove a piece and squeeze
the juice on your burn.

Disclaimer: People have tried these and they work. However, as with all
medical advice, consult your doctor and follow his recommendations for
serious illnesses.

Simple Woman's Daybook - Feb. 2, 2009

FOR TODAY Monday, February 2, 2009...

Outside my window... Cold, bright sunshine. We put a bag of ice outside the front door to make room in the freezer a few days ago, and it has not melted!

I am thinking... that generosity is truly from God.

I am thankful for... all of our friends who have gone out of their way to make meals and give us gifts for our new little one!

From the learning rooms... medical school 101: how to run a home amidst childbirth, other children with fevers and coughs, and aches and pains.

From the kitchen... Wonderful meals from friends! Baked Potato Soup from Jennifer, Beef Stroganoff from Juli, REAL Black Forest Cake from Susi, Breakfast casserole from Karen,salads, pastas and pot roasts from everyone else, and all kinds of breads and desserts. We are truly blessed!

I am wearing... jeans and a red sweater, my hair pushed back with a head band, white socks and slippers, and my baby boy in a Snugglewrap.

I am creating... Thank you notes for all the great meals and gifts.

I am going... nowhere today - hopefully it won't be too cold to take the baby to church on Sunday.

I am reading... Semi-Homemade Magazine's premier issue. It looks like it will be a fun magazine!

I am hoping... the temps rise a little so we can go out!!

I am hearing... kids playing in the boys' room, the dryer humming.

Around the house... Eldest daughter in bed with a fever, next daughter with a possible ear infection, the rest having fun with Lego and little cars.

One of my favorite things... The feel of soft, newborn baby skin.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Midwife appointment, redo budget AGAIN to accommodate rising gas and electric costs.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...
The kids made paper dolls of themselves and posed them on the couch. This was a day or two before Thomas was born.

Visit the Simple Woman's Daybook blog here to join in the fun: http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Simple Woman's Daybook, New Baby Edition (Jan 27, 2009)

FOR TODAY, Tuesday, January 27, 2009...

Outside my window... snow-covered prairie grasses and brilliant sunshine

I am thinking... That I have the most adorable baby boy lying next to me right now.

I am thankful for... Thomas Edmund Paul's birth Sunday night.

From the learning rooms... no school today. Just witnessing God's miracle with all the kids.

From the kitchen... Daddy & the kids made waffles and oatmeal this morning, and quesadillas for lunch. Mom made delicious chicken vegetable soup yesterday for lunch. It really hit the spot.

I am wearing... comfy pajama bottoms and a tomato-soup-colored v-neck top. Hair in a pony tail, socks & slippers.

I am creating... memories holding my little Thomas while he is little enough to be held.

I am going... to recover as quickly as I can!

I am reading... Nothing right now except the sweet expressions on Thomas's face.

I am hoping... We all get a little more sleep tonight.

I am hearing... coos from Thomas, computer typing from Ian (working from home today), a few sounds of quiet play from the older kids during the little kids' nap time.

Around the house... Everything is serene during nap time. The house is picked up, the dishes are mostly done, the laundry is pretty much caught up. Fr. Jeremy came Sunday night to bless the house and it does feel blessed.

One of my favorite things... cuddling with a brand new baby. The smell of a newborn - so sweet!

A few plans for the rest of the week: Sigh... no plans (bliss).

Here is picture thought I am sharing...


Go to The Simple Woman's Daybook blog to join in the fun and see other daybook entries. http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

That's my choir!

When Ian and I were in college at the University of Dallas, we sang with this awesome choir! This past Christmas the choir celebrated its 15th anniversary. In Italy. Without me.

Here is a video taken by one of the original choir members on the trip.

Collegium Cantorum live at Palestrina Duomo

Collegium Cantorum live at Santa Croce

I hope we can sing with them again soon!

Please read! CPSIA and how it might affect our lives

The Product Manager at our store has asked Aquinas and More affiliate bloggers to please post this letter and I urge you to put it on your blog as well, or at least link to mine so that as many people see it as possible. This could be devastating to many small businesses, including individuals who make and sell craft items for children in order to make a living.

Pass it on! ~Kitty

=============================================================================

Aquinas and More Sets Up CPSIA Central to Help Other Retailers

Colorado Springs, CO (January 20, 2009) – Aquinas and More Catholic Goods is announcing a new section of its blog, CPSIA Central, to help educate others about the CPSIA. This new law will affect Aquinas and More and many other retailers in the country, and the company is very concerned about the livelihood of other retailers who may not yet be well-informed about the law.

On February 10, 2009 the new law will go into effect and threaten many independent and small businesses. This law, the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), mandates that every children's product – toys, books, apparel, CDs, and much more – marketed to and used by children aged 12 and younger be tested at an approved lab for a variety of toxins, including lead. This law is devastating to many small businesses who deal with or make children's items, because it requires testing to be done and documentation available by February 10 for retailers, or the products will have to be destroyed at that time. Testing isn't cheap – it can range from a couple hundred dollars to $4000 per item. Failure to comply with this law can result in a minimum fine of $100,000, and possibly even five years in prison. Retailers, suppliers, and manufacturers are all affected and responsible.

Somehow, this law is going largely unnoticed by the media and by many who will be directly affected once the law goes into effect. Aquinas and More Catholic Goods has set up a special section on its blog, Musings From a Catholic Bookstore, to help others educate themselves about this far-reaching law. CPSIA Central can be found at this address: http://catholicinformation.aquinasandmore.com/cpsia-central/. This page was set up because, while calling vendors to see what they were doing about CPSIA, Aquinas and More discovered that the majority had never even heard of this law and so are obviously unprepared. In the interest of helping as many as possible understand and prepare for this law, CPSIA Central includes important information and polls to gauge how this will affect people.

Aquinas and More has also included a list of vendors who are certified and those who have been contacted but are not yet certified. As most people have been blindsided by this law only recently, very few are compliant. Of the 27 vendors we have contacted at the time of writing this release, only two are prepared with products being tested and documentation forthcoming. 16 of those 27 are currently researching the law, and were largely unaware of it prior to our call. Aquinas and More has yet to hear back from nine of those who have been contacted. Because there has been so little information about this law in the media or anywhere else, most vendors will most likely not be prepared with the necessary testing and documentation in time for the deadline, which is now only three weeks away.

For more information about the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, check CPSIA Central frequently, as it will continue to be updated with the latest information. If you are a Christian vendor or retailer, please send Aquinas and More any updated information you might have so they can keep the information current on CPSIA Central.

About Aquinas and More

Aquinas and More Catholic Goods is the largest online Catholic retailer in the United States. We are committed to rebuilding Catholic culture through hundreds of articles and thousands of products in our online store (www.aquinasandmore.com). Good Faith. Guaranteed.

Contact:

Mike Davis, Product Manager

mikedavis@aquinasandmore.com

1-866-428-2820

Simple Woman's Daybook Monday, January 19, 2009

FOR TODAY MONDAY, JANUARY 19, 2009...

Outside my window... Wind! Lots of sun, mud where the snow has melted.

I am thinking... that I am going to be pregnant forever. This baby has made himself comfortable and plans on staying where it's cozy for as long as he can.

I am thankful for... a husband who takes all the kids shopping while I am immobile.

From the learning rooms... we are starting week 18 tomorrow. The older girls are learning about Italy and several of the United States of America. Annie is weeks ahead in her Math book.

From the kitchen... Oops! I better get the pork roast into the slow cooker pronto!

I am wearing... MATERNITY JEANS and a pink MATERNITY T-SHIRT. Baby is getting big, so these jeans don't really fit any more.

I am creating... a new budget.

I am going... to have a baby...I am going to have a baby...I am going to have a baby....

I am reading... Jesus of Nazareth, How to Tell Stories to Children, and St. Paul: A Bible Study Guide for Catholics for my monthly book discussion on Wednesday.

I am hoping... to have a baby soon...I am hoping to have a baby soon...I am hoping to have a baby soon....

I am hearing... Margaret practicing her Irish Dancing and Annie singing Christmas songs.

Around the house... Pretty quiet, since Ian took all the kids except Margaret & Annie (who have colds).

One of my favorite things... Having everything done that I needed to do (not that that is a reality at the moment).

A few plans for the rest of the week: Have a baby, book discussion on Wednesday, have a baby, Midwife's home visit on Friday, Get the girls ready for their Irish Dance competition on Saturday morning and go to my own baby shower in the afternoon, Mass on Sunday and have Fr. Jeremy over for dinner and our Epiphany blessing (finally). Oh. And have a baby.

Here is picture thought I am sharing... This is Ian and me at a restaurant celebrating our 12th anniversary and my birthday.

Visit the Simple Woman's Daybook here and join in the fun! Add your own daybook entry and read others' entries: http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Nesting?

I have been "in labor" for almost a week now. I have had no energy, no stamina, no desire to get up for anything. Just intense contractions followed by fatigue, heartburn and weepyness.

Today I still have no desire, but somehow I have a little bit of energy. I managed to make a simple breakfast for myself and the kids, reheat leftovers for lunch without burning anything, put dinner in a crockpot (hopefully early enough), post two recipes, do laundry with the kids, help them with school work, rinse a few dishes and put them into the dish washer, supervise mopping, and balance my budget once again....

I know it doesn't sound like much, but it is a lot more than I have been able to do in several days. Sigh.

I also wanted to make some sourdough bread, but the smell of flour still bothers me (every pregnancy is different), so the sourdough will have to wait.

Chess Pie Recipe

This is a Southern classic. I have no idea why it is called "Chess" pie. If you know, please post a comment! This recipe comes from The America's Test Kitchen Family Cookbook. If you don't have one on your shelf, I HIGHLY recommend it! I have used many of the recipes in it and have yet to find a bad one. EXCELLENT!

Buttermilk Chess Pie

3/4 C. buttermilk
1/2 C granulated sugar
1/2 C. packed light brown sugar
6 Tbsp. (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
2 large eggs
2 large egg yolks
1 Tbsp. fine-ground cornmeal
1 Tbsp. cornstarch
1 Tbsp. vanilla extract
1/4 tsp. salt
1 recipe for single-crust pie dough, fit into pie plate and chilled, but not baked.

Adjust oven rack to lowest position, place a rimmed baking sheet o the rack, and heat to 375 degrees. Whisk all of the filling ingredients together until just combined, then pour into the unbaked chilled pie crust. Bake on the heated baking sheet until the center is set and the top is golden brown, 40 - 45 minutes. Transfer pie to a wire rack to cool until warm or room temperature before serving. Serve as is, or with freshly whipped, unsweetened cream and fresh berries!

NOTE: This pie can be made 2 days ahead of time, wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerated.

Rum Ball Recipe

I have been promising to post this (and other) recipe(s) for a while, so here it is. Mimi, the Chess Pie recipe is next I PROMISE!


RUM BALLS

2 boxes vanilla wafers (12 oz each), finely chopped in food processor
4 C. pecans (16 oz bag), finely chopped
4 C. powdered sugar
8 tsp. cocoa powder
6 tsp. light corn syrup
1 1/2 C. dark rum (or bourbon or brandy. I didn't have enough of any one thing, so I mixed rum and brandy. Hence, Rumdy Balls)

Mix all ingredients in a BIG bowl. Roll into balls by hand, and then roll the balls in regular sugar or cocoa powder or additional chopped nuts. Store in airtight container. Put in airtight tins or bags to give away as gifts.

Simple Woman's Daybook Monday, January 12, 2009

FOR TODAY Monday, January 12, 2009...

Outside my window... sun right before sunset, after a day of blizzard winds and snow!

I am thinking... that my baby will be born within a week of today.

I am thankful for... a warm bed, a loving husband who is willing to brave the snow to buy the week's groceries, and enough food in the pantry to last us a bit since the road conditions proved too much for him.

From the learning rooms... no formal school today, but the kids have been making things out of tissue paper, toothpicks, glue & Play Doh, and reading a lot of books.

From the kitchen... we made basic cookie dough last night and used cookie cutters to make the 3 Wise Men and teapot shapes. Then we "painted" them with egg yolk-and food coloring paints and baked them. They came out pretty nice!

I am wearing... maternity pajamas and socks, headband and glasses. No makeup today.

I am creating... Susan's Christmas stocking. I worked on it a little today. It is starting to look like something.

I am going... ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I ain't movin' until this baby is born, unless I suddenly get a great burst of energy and my bones don't hurt when I walk.

I am reading... Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover, Benedict XVI's Jesus of Nazareth, Joseph Pearce's The Quest for Shakespeare, and Your Pregnancy Companion.

I am hoping... the roads aren't bad this evening when Ian goes out for our weekly milk.

I am hearing... Susan (4) playing the piano and singing "Christ will die, Christ is Risen..."

Around the house... spare ribs baking in the oven with a yummy BBQ dry rub I made, kids finishing their chores (hopefully), and Ian taking a break from working on the computer.

One of my favorite things... Having Ian home when the weather is bad.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Birthing a baby.... Um, that's all. I have invited a couple over for dinner on Friday, which will ensure that I go into labor that day.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...
Visit the Simple Woman's Daybook home page and join the fun! http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Waiting for Baby

Tomorrow (Jan 9, 2009) is the 36-week mark of my pregnancy. I have trouble sleeping, I have heartburn, my joints hurt, and I am tired and weepy. And I am happy. I have a brand-new human being growing and kicking inside me, and soon, God willing, I will get to hold him in my arms. We will name this child and present him to the Lord on his baptism day.

The waiting, especially this close to my due date, is hard. I have so many things I want to accomplish before the blessed event, but not enough time, talent or treasure to do it all. I wish I could strip and polish the kitchen and bathroom floors (or better yet, replace them with something sturdier and easier to clean); replace the little bath tub that has no place to rest your head with something a little more comfortable and patch a hole in the big tub so water doesn't leak down beneath the house (or wherever the water goes); organize the garage with sturdy shelving and put everything away so that there's room for both cars and all the bikes, with easy access to everything; sew hems on the curtains throughout the house so they don't drag on the floor; prepare meals (breakfast, lunch & dinner) in advance so that I don't have to cook anything for a while after the baby's born ....

The list could be eternal, but none of it is really important after all. Somehow I will survive if I can't relax in the small tub. Having boxes of Christmas decorations piled in the guest room for a little while longer will (probably) not kill me. Right now the important things are the children sitting around the table working on Math, the little ones playing with the toy kitchen pots under the same table, the hard-working husband making his business work, and the Mama thanking God for all these blessings and trials, because this is my path to heaven.

So I wait. Not always very patiently, not always the picture of serenity. But inside my soul is at peace. I sigh heavily under the weight of my growing belly, but I know God is with me every step of the way. I know He will be with me when this tiny miracle comes out to meet the world.