Daily Bits of Domestic Bliss

Tuesday, October 2nd, 2012

Of Note: Feast of the Guardian Angels

Housekeeping: clean upstairs bathroom, continue laundries

Weather: cloudy, 70s ... steady rain by evening

Dinner:

grilled turkey cheeseburgers

picalilli

vinaigrette-roasted baby golden potatoes

tossed salads

apple bread

Nature:

- Finally caught the Full Harvest Moon - very early this morning.

Notes of the Day:

- Did not have time (nor milk) for tea today, but I did make the treats - Angel Kisses, or meringue cookies.

- Worked on the menu and "to do" list for Bookworm's Confirmation this weekend.

Monday, September 24th, 2012

Of Note: First Monday of Fall

Housekeeping: clean bedrooms, start laundries

Weather: mostly sunny, a bit cool in the 60s ~ lovely!

Dinner:

sloppy joes on toasted rolls

roasted vegetable medley

salads

whoopie pies from a local bakery

Gingerbread, oatmeal and chocolate chip - so delicious and rich, half a pie is enough for one serving!

Nature:

- The orb weaver is still hanging strong - such a beautiful web!

- Watched a red squirrel chasing a pair of (much larger) gray squirrels around a friend's yard. A black walnut tree seemed to be the source of contention.

- Hydrangeas are the most beautiful shade of auburn-rose right now.

Notes of the Day:

- On this first Monday of Fall, I laundered this lovely bedding:

- We turned the family room fireplace on this morning for the very first time since last early spring. It felt so nice! (5 a.m. is dark and chilly these days!)

❤

Friday, September 7, 2012

*

Of Note: National Buy a Book Day

Housekeeping: trash/recycling (boys), clean learning/sitting room, neaten desk, sort/organize school supplies, finalize weekend errand lists

Weather: warm and humid

Dinner:

homemade pizzas w/leftover toppings

farmstand veggies/dip

farmstand fruit, shortbread cookies

Nature:

- Woke exceptionally early and could not get back to sleep. Sat in the dark, quiet family room by an open window and listened to the crickets, felt the cool air, watched the sky slowly brighten. Beautiful start to my day. :)

Notes of the Day:

- Mum came over to supervise the boys this morning while I ran out and did some shopping. Bill has a work function coming up and I need a dress!

- Our first week back to (home)school comes to an end ... so far, so good!

Thursday, September 6th, 2012

Of Note: National Coffee Ice Cream Day, Primary Voting Day

Housekeeping: trash/recycling (boys) (holiday week), clean dining room, clean family room, start new file folder/start planning next week, organize coupons, peruse store flyers, start dinner menu for next week

Weather: Very nice! A mix of sun and clouds, around 80.

Dinner:

sour cream chicken with peppers

corn-on-the-cob

rice pilaf

garlic bread

picalilli

leftover apple crisp

Nature:

- Earlybird and I spent some (rather tense) moments watching a very efficient spider in his web. Down by the mailbox - he has this huge web and all manner of critters stuck therein. Neat!

- Gathered the makings for a "new year" nature journal.

- Looked for changing foliage as we drove around today.

Notes of the Day:

- Was about to iron my pretty flower applique onto the plain canvas messenger bag (remember my new fall bag I showed you?) when I realized I must have tossed out the directions! I have to call JoAnn's tomorrow to ask how to do it. I wonder if all iron-ons are done the same way?

- Got the new King Arthur Flour catalog in the mail today ... so much yumminess inside!

- Verified the American Chop Suey recipe with my friend, Debbie. We simply must have ACS on the Patriots first game day!

Wednesday, August 15th, 2012

Of Note: Assumption Day ❤

Housekeeping: clean the kitchen, clear fridge/freezer/cabinets of old food, scrub and soak sink, write out marketing list, organize trash & recycling

Weather: morning thunderstorms, afternoon clearing ... hot, near 90

Dinner:

{early supper, busy evening}

baked ziti with cheese and leftover sausage

tossed salads

garlic rolls

"light as clouds" blue cool whip pie

mixed berries

Nature:

- Recent backyard sightings: woodchuck, garter snake, bunnies (one big, one medium), a flock of blackbirds, large hawk, mother robin feeding baby robins

Notes of the Day:

- Cooked 1.5 lbs. blss/sklss chicken in the crockpot, making shredded chicken for sandwiches/wraps/pizzas.

- Worked on EB's curriculum.

- Cut several hydrangea blossoms to bring inside.

Blessings to you!

Saturday June 30th, 2012

Of Note: National Meteor Day 

Housekeeping: newspaper payment, clean playroom (boys), food shopping, bills & budget, prepare outfits for church, fingernail check (boys)

Weather: sunny and hot (90+)

Dinner:

homemade pizzas

salads

fruit & cookies

Nature:

 - I've noticed a few different butterflies in the yard this year, but have not gotten close enough to identify or photograph. Must be all our bright flowers!

- The daylilies are in full bloom! Their fiery color and open shape remind me of fireworks ... I think of them as "4th of July Flowers." :)

Notes of the Day:

- Made up a new (and hopefully improved) master grocery shopping list.

- Bought all my newsletter printing/mailing supplies!

Friday, June 29th, 2012

Of Note: National Waffle Iron Day (Do you own one? Ours is like this.)

Housekeeping: clean learning/sitting room, neaten desk, sort/organize school supplies, finalize weekend errand lists

Weather: thundery morning, sunny afternoon, around 90

Dinner:

turkey burgers & hot dogs

herby roasted potatoes (olive oil + herbes de provence)

tossed salad

lemon & raspberry sorbet with raspberry sauce

Nature:

- Had a call from my folks today - their neighbor found evidence (scat, prints) of a BLACK BEAR under their birdfeeders! Bear in mind, we live a mere mile from my parents, so I'm a wee bit freaked out concerned.

Notes of the Day:

- Am at wit's end over the steady parade of bugs of all kinds in the house this summer. Ants, earwigs, spiders, beetles, silverfish, flies, mosquitos ETC. As much as I love nature, I LOATHE bugs in my house. I can appreciate them outside ... inside I can kill them (without remorse). "Nice" bugs, however - like crickets, caterpillars, bumblebees, butterflies, ladybugs and moths - get a free pass.

- I have a post about sewing "advice" and a knitting book giveaway going on over at my main blog. Take a peek if you're interested! :)

Thursday, June 21st, 2012

Of Note:

Housekeeping: trash/recycling (boys), clean dining room, clean family room, start new file folder/start planning next week, organize coupons, peruse store flyers, start dinner menu for next week

Weather: crazy-hot again!

Dinner:

Bill has a work thing tonight, so it's just the boys and me ...

baked ziti with sausages

tossed salads

Italian bread

fruit & cookies

Nature:

- The *tiniest* bunny has been in our yard today! He loves our (very natural) grass ... and if startled, dashes into the lavender bed. I almost wonder if there's a den nearby ...

Noes of the Day:

- We NEED new trash bins. The ones we have now belonged to the original owners (we moved here 12 years ago!). They have holes on the bottom where the raccoons have chewed through ... and it's just a mess. The 'coons pull the trash bags through the holes and it's disgusting. And let's just say hot weather + stinky party trash = a not at ALL pleasant situation.

- Bookworm got his second set of SAT scores back today - and they were even better than the first! Very excited for (and proud of) Bookworm - whose 17th birthday is tomorrow.

Wednesday, June 20th, 2012

Of Note: Summer Solstice (7:09 p.m.)

Housekeeping: clean the kitchen, clear fridge/freezer/cabinets of old food, scrub and soak sink, write out marketing list, organize trash & recycling

Weather: triple H weather - not unusual for a New England summer *but* usually not until later in the season (July/August)

Dinner:

turkey burgers on wheat rolls with assorted toppings

roasted herby potatoes & veggies

sun cake and sorbet

Nature:

- Well, I pretty much turned a blind eye to nature today since we didn't venture out into the (100 degree!) heat and I kept the blinds down for most of the day. I did watch the hummingbird at the kitchen window several times ... and the boys noticed a "cool" spider trapped inside a window screen. CJ thought it was a scrorpion at first!

Notes of the Day:

- Bill installed a brand new AC for EB's room. (Thank you, Nana and Papa!)

- Hung citrus slices to dry in the kitchen ... will use them to make holiday potpourri.

Tuesday, June 19th, 2012

Of Note:

Housekeeping: clean upstairs bathroom, continue laundries

Weather: partly cloudy, 70s

Dinner:

We're still eating cookout leftovers!

(Actually, the older boys are out with friends, so I'm just feeding EB and Bill tonight!)

Nature:

- That odd crow is still cawing so loudly! He does it off and on throughout the day ... from the woods or the telephone wires. I've never heard a crow caw this loudly and insistently!

Notes of the Day:

- Spent a lot of time working on Summer plans for home, family and fun. :)