Starry Sky Ranch

round and round she goes

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY February 28, 2011

Outside my window...

The day started with heavy fog but the sun won out and is shining overhead now leaving patches of mist in the valleys. 

I am thinking...

About time passing and children who are no longer children.  And that makes me so very happy, and of course also so sad.  This fills our late night whisperings. 

I am thankful for... 

every breath I take.  Seriously.  

For challenges met. 

Smiling faces. 

Fresh flowers.

From the kitchen...

Apfelschorle and lots of it.  It is essentially carbonated apple juice and was pricey in the States.  Here it can be had for pennies per liter. 

I am wearing...

Clogs - daily.  My feet are getting ever more demanding and few other shoes make the grade these days.  Getting a little concerned.  Can you get along indefinitely in clogs, boots, and sandals depending upon the season?  I am testing the hypothesis.

I am creating... 

Portraits.  I just can't get enough of my children's faces right now, especially as they change with each passing day.  Portraiture is a celebration of  this moment for me. 

There is also a tiny brown corduroy skirt awaiting it's hem. 

From the learning rooms...

Leading by example. Dh and I are both taking classes and our evenings are filled with study side by side in the dining room, he with his leadership course and I with piles of photography texts, both with our German books. 

Abbie Rose has learned to count to ten and entertains us by naming the color of everything she sees.  Apparently she has absorbed an enormous amount of the kinder-cd material while sitting behind her sister. Amazing. 

I am going...

Back and forth : )   To Asher's job and back.  To dance studio and back.  To the library and back.  To the market and back (these daily shoppers truly do not 'get' multiple carts full in their lines) To the gym and back. To the education center and back....  

well, you get the idea ; D

I am reading... 

Chapter upon chapter of Laura Ingalls Wilder.  And loving. every. minute. This is how we end our days around here.  Oodles of read alouds while piled on the boys' beds. 

Tell you what, I am musing greatly over Charles and Caroline this time through.

"For seldom is heard....a discouraging word..."

I have decided that a careful read through of this series would equip most young couples for marriage should they truly endeavor to embody the teamwork, respect, self control, and cheerful optimism in face of great trials that are modeled here. Prudence, discretion, responsibility, faith. These speak to me so loudly and clearly in their example. A perfect example of 'simple, not easy.'

Pondering these words...

"Everyone argues in favor of the virtue he practices easily, and exaggerates the difficulties of the virtues which are contrary to it."

-St Francis de Sales

I am listening to....

The Swell Season, again.  This was one of Asher's favorite duos and he got me hooked.  A few years later I am still drawn to the haunting harmonies. 

This is coupled with the sound of our own piano ringing out once more.  We have secured a new piano instructor and couldn't be more pleased. She is a concert pianist from Albania, if I heard that right, and the girls are astounded at her expertise and effortless playing. Inspiring!

Around the house...

Tucking in new (old) pieces from recent thrifting excursions.  I have resolved that if it is at all possible to serve the same purpose with a vintage item that I will find that versus buying retail. Just lends so much more character and warmth to our surroundings. 

One of my favorite things...

Delft

A few plans for the rest of the week:

Single parenting (read: driving!) while dh is gone.  Taking notes for him in class. Lots of long distance calls.  Feis this weekend for the dancers. 

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

more Daybooks at Peggy's

Market Tulips on the Table

Our local market has had a bucket of tulips available lately.  It is such a treat to have spring blooms on the table while outside it is still harsh and cold.  Makes me think we should all be more like them, rather than wait on ideal circumstances to blossom and grow.

Fence Friday - Basilica

Happy Fence Friday. : )  Taken outside the Basilica of Our Lady in Tongeren, Belgium.  I love, love, loved the gorgeous green lamps alongside.  

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments at Amanda's for all to find and see. 

 

Thrift Thursday

you might be a homeschooler.....

 
You might just be a homeschooler if you overhear one boy calling his brother to see "the coolest thing" and that cool thing is....

the sentence he just diagrammed. ; )  

Odds are even greater if that brother exclaims, "If you think that one is cool, you should see the one I did last week. It had bars and connectors and went up and down! THAT was the coolest!"    (he got to diagram compound subjects and verbs)    

We are easily amused.  And I wouldn't have it any other way. 

The Streets of Tongeren

 

I spent the weekend in Belgium following these people up and down the cobblestone streets of Tongeren, which can boast of being the oldest city in Belgium. 

Founded in 15 AD (seriously) Tongeren was one of the largest cities in the north of Gaul.  Parts of the original Roman city wall are still standing. 

Inside those city walls we found lots of color and flavor despite the gray skies overhead. For the record, the turquoise and pink scarves made the final cut for this shopper. 

As far as European cities go, Tongeren was not beautiful nor especially quaint but made up for this by the air of reserved elegance given off by passersby. Dignified you might say.  

Of course there was chocolate. Phenomenal, intricate handmade creations. In fact, if you look close enough you can see my nose pressed against the glass bewitched by those magnificent folds of chocolate.

The cafe's sported Dutch menu's as a rule. But it has been a very long time since I have spoken Dutch. As in, the only thing I can really remember is how to say I am hungry. Though I guess its a good start when you speak to your waiter. ; ) 

And this is just a shameless plug for the man behind the road trip, who tapped away at the laptop and said, "Pack a bag, woman! We are outta here!"  Or something like that. : )  I think the consensus is that impromptu is a very good thing. 

And there is more Belgian beauty.  But not more time tonight. 

here we go

"Here we go, come with me
There's a world, out there, that we should see."

- Rocketeer

So says the man behind the wheel.  The car is pointed west today, towards the land of lace and chocolate. 

See you then...

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments at Amanda's for all to find and see.