Daybook

A friend of mine does this periodically on her blog, and I thought I'd give it a whirl today. I promise there is a card at the bottom. Here's a sneak peak just to reassure you.

Outside my window…

Today was a lovely fall day--a hint of chill in the air, fall colors on the trees, bright sunshine and the crisp smell of coming rain. At the moment, however, it is dark and quiet.

I am thankful…

for our wonderful babysitter, Cheryl, who is unflappable in the face of toddler whims, potty accidents, baby spit up, and everything else.

I am hoping and praying…

that cooler weather is finally here to stay (and eager for winter weather!)

that I have enough time to get all my work done and get dinner on the table

that my children grow up to be polite, productive adults who are active in the life of the Church.

From the kitchen…

I'm still keeping on with Weight Watchers and am trying to stay motivated. My mantra these days is that nothing tastes as good as skinny feels. Some days I even believe it.

Towards rhythm and beauty…

I've got a better rhythm of meal planning (although I know it could still use some work) but will be glad when the day comes that my overall housekeeping has a better rhythm. I was doing well in the second trimester with Max--I was on a laundry and cleaning schedule, in addition to regular weekly meal plans. Since his birth, however, I'm just keeping up with the meals and doing laundry as needed rather than on a particular day. Cleaning, well, I have some help. :)

I am reading…

Blindman's Bluff, by Faye Kellerman, the latest in the Decker/Lazarus mysteries
The Unwanted Sound of Everything We Want: A Book about Noise, by Garret Keizer
One Day by David Nichols (actually, I just finished it, just in time for my book club on Wednesday!)

I am pondering…

C.S. Lewis' thoughts on prayer
My own failures as a parent

I’m creating…

Wedding invitations and birth announcements! Plus a few cards here and there. And gearing up for Christmas cards. Stay tuned for an announcement on how to order yours from me.

I am listening to…

At the moment, nothing. But on my ipod, I'm listening to a mix I've dubbed "coffee shop", which includes Kate Rusby, Sia, Bat for Lashes, Bon Iver and St Vincent, Allison Krauss, Sting, Anya Marina, Iron and Wine, Joshua Radin, Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart and Elton John, just to name a few.

On keeping home…

See on keeping rhythm. I'm working on it. My house is clean, my dishes are washed, my family is fed, and my laundry is done, but I can't take credit for the clean house. At least I keep it neat and swept myself. Oh, and my bed is made every day.

Around the house…

I've done a lot of canning in the last two years, and this year, I decided I just couldn't do it. We were traveling almost nonstop during the first half of August, and then the last half, when I would normally be canning tomato products, Stephanos had a big deadline with the Supreme Court clinic he runs and I just didn't have enough time with him working 16 hours a day and Max nursing almost non stop. I feel guilty about it, but I have enough left from last summer to get us through part of the winter anyway. I did make freezer jam at least. I had hoped to make applesauce again this year, but that is going on the list of Things I Could Not Manage With a Nursing Newborn and Needy Toddler.

In the garden…

Um, well, we don't have a garden. We had aspirations at one time of using the community garden, but frankly, I don't have a desire to dig in the dirt when it is 100 degrees outside and I have two little children clinging to my skirts.

This week in the Church…

Nothing special this week, but next week (31st) Stephanos is being tonsured a reader by Bishop George.

A few plans for the rest of the week…

I'm working on a custom order for a baby brag book and going to the gym. I didn't go today because I had to run errands while I had a babysitter and the errands took me all morning. I feel terribly guilty about it. But I have more energy than I have had in the last 3 weeks, so there's something to be said about missing a day at the gym.

Harry this week…

Yes, we've resorted to bribery on the potty training front. Given the inducement of M&Ms, he went twice on the potty this morning for Cheryl. (Yay for that!) We won't talk about the #2 accident he had at the playground in between.

Harry is such a character--he loves all things related to church and is obsessed with prayer books. He likes to carry them around and chant at the top of his lungs. He likes books of all kinds and is especially into coffee table books at the moment. I have a big album of postcards from my and Stephanos' various travels and he loves flipping through it and looking at all the churches. The running commentary is hilarious ("blue church! people open the gates! people close the gates! gospel book! icon of Christ! icon of tokos!").

Max this week…

Max is one long string bean. He is 5 1/2 months old and wearing clothes that Harry wore at 10 months! He is extremely social and loves to be around people. He is a smiley happy baby, and as long as he can see someone, fairly content. He has started to grab at toys and likes to exercise his vocal cords by "talking" fairly loudly for a stretch every afternoon. He is a good night time sleeper, but a lousy day sleeper. He prefers to sleep on his belly and has been known to flip over in the car seat for sleep if not properly strapped in!

A picture to share…

Okay, I have to toot my own horn on this card. I made it by request for my dear friend Elena, who wants to send it to her mother. She just asked for a "flower pot card" after seeing something my mom had sent me. I have been eying the butterfly punch pansies for some time and wanted to give them a try. I saw this set of note cards at the post office that featured pansies flowing out of a wicker wheelbarrow and decided to try and recreate it. I'm so pleased with the result!

This is how the card opens--you pull out the top layer of pansies to reveal the card inside.

I'm considering making a tutorial out of this one, but only if there is enough interest. So let me know, okay?

Supplies:

Sahara Sand, Whisper White cs
Elegant Eggplant, Rich Razzleberry, Pale Plum, Almost Amythest, Daffodil Delight, Sahara Sand inks
Sponges
5/8" Old Olive grosgrain ribbon
Gold brads
Paper piercing tool
Butterfly punch
Basic black marker
dimensionals
Circles #2 die
jumbo brad (white)
glue