FIRE!?!

Tonight I was sitting in the living room when I heard sirens. It was a fire truck. Well, we lived in an apartment for four years about 1/2 mile away from the fire station so hearing sirens were normal everyday occurrences. I hardly noticed it until John jumped up and ran outside to see what was going on. Then I remembered that we were no longer in our apartment but in a nice quiet neighborhood. So I opened the front door and looked around. Was a neighbor's house on fire? Could I see any smoke? No, but there was the fire truck right in front of our house. It was going slowly with lights and sirens. And then, I saw a person on top that was not wearing a fireman's outfit. It was Santa Clause. What??? Did the Christmas parade get lost? Were the firemen bored? Is this some sort of tradition in this county? I just don't know. I guess I'll have to ask the neighbors. Thankfully none of them needed the firemen!


I mentioned on my last entry that I started an Etsy shop. Holly came up with the name. We both thought of several other ideas but they were all taken. So Crafty Homeschoolers it is! I hope you'll take a look. Perhaps you need some Christmas tags or other scrapbooking items. I've had fun making them. Stop by and take a look! Here are a couple of things I've made. Hoping to add some more this week.

Paper Posies

Upcycled Gift Tags

The Simple Woman's Day Book

FOR TODAY - Monday, January 3, 2011


Outside my window... I see a beautiful blue sky! It is cold now - about 26 degrees. Should be around 46 today which is nice for January.

I am thinking... about all the cleaning that needs to get done. How quickly this small apartment seems to fall apart!

I am thankful for... the warmth in our apartment and the heater isn't even on. A positive aspect of living on the second floor.

From the learning rooms...Today we begin our second semester of homeschooling only one. I'm hoping to add art and science. But right now my little darling is sound asleep. It's hard to get back on track after Christmas break.

From the kitchen... The plan for this evening is making cheeseburger soup. It's a family favorite!

I am wearing... Blue jeans and a blue striped shirt. Bare feet - it's that warm in here!

I am creating... A to do list for the year. I've gotten a good start on it. You can see it here.

I am going... to the grocery store later. Must make a list first!

I am reading... nothing besides the bible. My goal for the year is to read at least five non-fiction books. Haven't gotten started yet.

I am hoping... to take the rest of the ornaments off the tree. It's been a slow process this year.

I am hearing... the sound of my washing machine.

Around the house... John and Gabriel are at work. Hannah and Holly are sound asleep. My living room is a complete wreck with Christmas boxes everywhere. I'm going to finish that right after this blog entry!

One of my favorite things... is my new Jeopardy game that I got for the Wii. I do not play many video games but this one I enjoy!

A few plans for the rest of the week: Initiating our exercise routine - walking and Wii fit, general cleaning up of clutter and perhaps beginning a new book.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing... This is Holly's self-portrait that she took with her new camera - a present from her grandparents.










You too can join the Simple Woman's Day Book here

The People Upstairs

I was looking through a book of poems to find one for Holly to memorize and I came across "The People Upstairs." I thought it was rather prophetic of Mr. Nash concerning our new upstairs neighbors whom I have yet to meet. This is a poem about them.

The People Upstairs
by Ogden Nash

The people upstairs all practice ballet Their living room is a bowling alley Their bedroom is full of conducted tours. Their radio is louder than yours, They celebrate week-ends all the week. When they take a shower, your ceilings leak. They try to get their parties to mix By supplying their guests with Pogo sticks, And when their fun at last abates, They go to the bathroom on roller skates. I might love the people upstairs wondrous If instead of above us, they just lived under us.

Summer Plans

What does this summer hold for us? Well, first of all, let's not mention that it is already July 7th. Before we know it this month will be gone and the summer will soon follow. At the end of May we were in Kentucky and Alabama visiting friends and family. Hannah and I were privileged to meet Josephine, Jordan and Sarah Lirette on that trip. They took us to Tennessee to an Amish area and we actually were able to go inside one of their homes. It was amazing. I tried not to stare and resisted the temptation to take pictures, close up anyway.

June flew by with unpacking, a yard sale, Vacation Bible School and the annual, state-mandated standardized tests. Suddenly it is July and I don't know if I can hold on to this merry-go-round as it spins faster and faster. So far this month we have continued in our effort to declutter this small apartment in hopes of making our meager square footage more livable. Our walk-in closet is once again a walk in. John did most of the work and added some more shelves. Now I can actually find purses and shoes.

Gabriel and Hannah leave for camp in Tennessee next Monday morning. It will be quiet around here without them. Other than that, we will all stay close to home, enjoying the pool, a more relaxed schedule and squeezing in some more declutering when we can. Gabriel will have his wisdom teeth extracted in August. I am not sure who is dreading it more, me or him.