Daily Bits of Domestic Bliss

Monday, May 21st, 2012

Of Note: Victoria Day, National Strawberries and Cream Day

Housekeeping: clean bedrooms, change bedding, laundries

Weather: partly cloudy, mild ... rain on the way

Dinner:

homemade pizzas (using up leftover meatballs, veggies, grilled chicken)

salad or veggies/dip

ice cream

Nature:

- Had a nice talk with Earlybird about the seasons. He asked if it was summer yet and that got us talking about how the seasons change and how to tell which one we're in. :) 

Notes of the Day:

- Stopped at a local farm to pick up veggies for soup tomorrow.

Sunday, May 20th, 2012

Of Note: Ascension Sunday

Housekeeping: read papers/mags, clip coupons, lesson/week plan, change up file folders, work on seasonal/project planning, catch up on clippings journal, answer email/comments, organize DVR

Weather: sunny and warm, 80s

Dinner:

Take-out!

(See "Notes of the Day" for why we need this tonight!)

Nature:

- Earlybird spotted a black squirrel at the feeders this afternoon. We haven't had a black squirrel in years!

- Found what appears to be an "almost nest" made by the catbirds in the burning bush by the driveway.

Garden:

- Bill planted a foxglove plant and a butterfly bush plant in the birdhouse garden.

- The irises and rhododendron are in full bloom.

Notes of the Day:

- Late yesterday afternoon, the town DPW came out to our street because a manhole cover was leaking water all over the road. Bill spoke with the workmen and they told him the sewer was clogged (with grease, of all things) and that they had to snake it to clear it out. Well, later that night when Bill went downstairs to lock up, he discovered our basement bathroom had been flooded! With sewer water, no less. YUCK! So while I attended to Crackerjack (who was feeling sick to his stomach) Bill hauled ruined items out to the driveway and ran the shop-vac to clear out the (gross) water. Then, around 1 a.m., Earlybird woke up with a (screaming) nightmare - he couldn't get back to sleep until 3 (hence, neither could I). Suffice it to say, it was a loooong night. This morning, Bill cleaned the affected area with bleach and got a bagster from Lowe's for all the debris.

Saturday, May 19th, 2012

Of Note: Armed Forces Day, National Devil's Food Cake Day

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

(After soccer, the boys went over to do yard work at my folks' house.)

Weather: sunny and warm (mid-70s)

Dinner:

A great night to grill!

turkey burgers with assorted toppings

herby potato salad

fruity spritzers (with wine for grownups)

lemon sorbet with raspberry sauce

Nature:

- Marveled over recent birdhouse activity:

Notes of the Day:

- Bought a foxglove plant this morning ... when I showed Earlybird, he said, "Just like Beatrix Potter!" Lol, as in the Peter Rabbit stories and videos. :) He and Bill planted it for me in the birdhouse garden.

- Made notes for Memorial Day flower arrangements.

- Bought a lovely, summery outfit (for under $40!): a long, tiered royal blue skirt and a white cap-sleeve top with eyelet neckline.

Friday, May 18th, 2012

Of Note: National Ride Your Bike to Work Day

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

Weather: absolutely beautiful!

Dinner:

{practice night - easy and quick!}

chicken sandwiches

baked ziti

parmesan broccoli

fruit & cookies

Nature:

- Pollen counts must be high today because I am completely wiped out! And snuffly

- Hawk circling the neighborhood - we're on alert!

Notes of the Day:

- Because Fridays are generally a quiet, "at-home" days for us, I try to do a major tidy on this day. I also don't like to spend our weekends cleaning so this should clear the path on that front as well.

- Need to find a better system for storing soccer paraphernalia. It's either a mess or pieces (say, one shin guard) are missing.

- Worked in my journal this afternoon - caught up with my ever-growing pile of magazine and newspaper clippings, etc.

Thursday, May 17th, 2012

Of Note: Ascension Day, National Cherry Cobbler Day

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

(Too busy today to get to it all - will catch back up (hopefully!) tomorrow.)

Weather: sunny, breezy, 70

Dinner:

sauteed spring veggies with chicken and pesto pasta

popovers

warm fruit souffle with whipped cream

Nature:

- Ascension flowers (lilacs) are past their bloom time this year. Such a weird season we're having.

- Spotted this beautiful butterfly in our yard today. If you know what it is, please leave a comment!

- We usually cloud-watch on Ascension Day, but the day was so lovely there were not any clouds to see! Just clear blue sky as far as you could see (which made the ponds and lakes look amazing).

Notes of the Day:

- Had to call around to find rhubarb - I guess it's a short season this year!

- Found a source for morning glory plants ... they'll be ready for purchase in a couple of weeks. I am SO happy! These are my favorite flowers!

Wednesday, May 16th, 2012

Of Note: Oddly enough, it's National Sea-Monkey Day. Did you ever raise sea monkees when you were a child? I did, once or twice - and I think we tried them with the boys not too many years ago.

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

Weather: showery, muggy ... but sunny breaks as I wrap up this post

Dinner:

leftovers night!

salads

Nature:

- Well, I saved a squirrel from certain death today! We heared this big bang and noisy commotion outside the learning room windows, and when I looked out there was this big gray cat with a squirrel in its MOUTH. Like, just hanging there all limp. So I started yelling at the cat and clapping my hands, and it took off through the trees. But at the last minute it dropped the squirrel, which sprung to its feet and scampered off into the rhododendron bushes. The boys were cheering me on, lol

 - Speaking of rhododendrons, the ones that get sun are in full bloom. (See my main blog for a picture.) The ones in the shade are still in bud.

- The hummingbird is at the feeders all day now. She's getting used to my noise and movement at the kitchen window. I love that I'm feeling familiar to her. :)

Notes of the Day:

- Cooked several b/s chicken breasts in the slowcooker today - with broth, white wine, garlic, onion and celery. Will make shredded chicken for various meals.

- Must remember to tell Bill about the pink foxglove plants for sale down the street at our grocery store. They are beautiful! And so very Beatrix Potter. :)

Tuesday, May 15th, 2012

Of Note: National Chocolate Chip Day (How did I miss this?)

Housekeeping: clean bathroom, laundries

Weather: Mild and cloudy early on, rain by evening

Dinner:

(Just home from an afternoon matinee!)

grilled cheese panini 

chicken noodle soup

salads

oatmeal-apricot jam bars

Nature:

- We now have two paper wasp nests sitting on our nature shelf. The wasps seem to have given up. (Could be the rain, though.)

- Purple finches feeding their (frantic) young at the feeders.

Notes of the Day:

- Baked a batch of oatmeal-apricot jam bars.

- Lengthy appointment at the orthodontist for Crackerjack - new elastic to wear at night.

Monday, May 14th, 2012

Of Note: National Apron Day, 250th anniversary of the sandwich (first made by the 4th Earl of Sandwich)

Housekeeping: clean bedrooms, change bedding, laundries

Weather: a cool, cloudy day - peeks of sun, sporadic sprinkles

Dinner:

beef pie (from a local farm)

baked potatoes w/sour cream and fresh chives

roasted asparagus

garlicky toast

leftover berry handpies from brunch (warmed, and served with a little ice cream)

Nature:

- The wasp has built a new wasp - in the exact same spot!

- I just walked out on the deck (amidst sprinkles, mind you) and was attacked by a wasp! One was inside the nest, the other was obviously on guard duty. Yikes!

- Nearly ran over a chipmunk today - gah, that would have been terrible! I was taking CJ to art class, so he would have been witness to what would have been a very disturbing event.

- Picked a tiny johnny jump-up by the right yard gate ... its petals had been chewed a little, so I "saved" it and brought it inside to the nature table where it now rests in a little candle cup of water.

Notes of the Day:

- Had some very nice and informative conversations with mama friends today. Lots of ideas (and recipes) exchanged.

- Stopped at a farm "up country" from here where we buy meat pies on occasion. Bookworm's been hankering for a beef pie, so I'm indulging this week.

- Our rhododendron hedge is blooming!

- Wearing Gram's apron today in honor of National Apron Day - and Gram. ❤

Sunday, May 13th, 2012

Of Note: Mother's Day

Housekeeping: Nothing to report for today! (See above.)

Weather: Absolutely perfect - sunny, warm, near 80.

Dinner:

~ Bill's "Daddy's in Charge" Menu ~

crockpot buffalo chicken served (shredded) in lettuce wraps

homemade pizzas for those with a more timid palate

who-knows-what for dessert ... it's a surprise!

Nature:

- Watched a paper wasp build a nest just outside the French doors (leading to the deck, which get a lot of use at this time of year). Knocked down the nest when the wasp was off, and placed it on our nature shelf. He kept coming back as if he was looking for it.

- In fact, six hours later, he's back to building again ... in the very same spot.

- It's just a super beautiful day ... nature is bright, loud, and bursting at the seams. It's hard to ignore nature at this time of year. :) 

Notes of the Day:

- Had a lovely brunch with Mum, Dad and Matt after church. Blueberry breakfast cake (a new recipe) was a BIG hit. Reminded me of Gram's blueberry cake.

- Bill cleaned out my van, filled it with gas.

- Got some great (and much needed) kitchen tools from Mum and Dad: an extra utensil jar, a new silpat sheet and an offset spatula. :)

- Matt gave me a rhododendron bush; Bill and I are debating discussing where to plant it. 

- Spent a lot of time catching up with my magazines - clipping things for my journal. Very relaxing!

- Took a late afternoon lavender bath ... just because. ❤

Saturday, May 12th, 2012

Of Note: National Train Day, Stamp Out Hunger Day, Spring Soccer

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

Weather: Gorgeous! Sunny, near 80!

Dinner:

(We're getting take-out because it's Mother's Day Weekend!)

Nature:

- Saw lots of pretty butterflies at the soccer field this morning.

- Also spotted a pair of hawks hunting over the woods.

- Family of sparrows feeding its young at the feeders. So endearing. Love the way the babies frantically chirp, flap their wings and fluff themselves out.

Notes of the Day:

- Ran errands after soccer.

- Sorted spring and summer shoes.

- Forgot to pick up library holds.

- Forgot to leave out food donation.

- Prepared dining room for Mother's Day Brunch.