A brief, quiet moment

~milk giving me the death stare

Milk, chicken of my heart, is now molting and has a big bare spot on her duff.  She just waddles around like everything's fine, which is wonderful.  In strict contrast to Anastasia who appeared to be suffering from a stroke.  She'd have to trace alongside the coop fence to get where she was going, since she couldn't run in a straight line.  Thankfully she's fine now.  Must mess with their nervous systems, all that feather dropping.  (The above-photo is from last week, when Anastasia would get trapped in the corners of the yard, indicated, and when Milk was still gorgeous.)

House is relatively tidy.  The girls have been awesome.  The least one polished our sweet collection of silver (all from my dear friend, Tina, but about three serving pieces and a fork and some knives from my grandparents), a job she loved.  Middle daughter has spent the last two days freshening up the paint in our 'only' bathroom.  Sixty plus years of yuck in that room, which has always been a major eyesore.  We're only the third owners of this house, but the second owners were self-improvement junkies, sadly they were amateurs.  Plastered 12" ceiling tiles indiscriminately, put up paneling (which we immediately painted over) and hung Masonite on the bathroom walls.  Still, I love the house, but like all of us, it has its flaws.  Tall son, the one in California, remarked on the bathroom ceiling last time he was in town, which has the tiles.  They're coming loose around the fan, and he said they looked about to fall.  I reminded him that they've been doing that for years.  And if they fall, they'll fall softly.

Not on my radar.

Resting now.  Scrambled eggs and buttered toast for dinner.  Church service.  The girls will make pies when we get back home.  We're on a roll, and I ain't lettin' nothin' get me down.

Take care all.

Friday noon

Just three of us here at home, just now.  Oldest daughter has broken her work fast (quit her job to rest in late January), and is working part/part-time at a little bookstore across the way from my husband's shop.  So, she's working a couple or three afternoons a week, building up herself again.  Her dry eye syndrome is still a concern, and she still can't wear her contacts, so is taking it slow.  Healing takes time, and we've got plenty of that.

Right now I'm having my own quiet.  In bed, window open, just hung out sheets, can hear one of our numerous wind chimes near my window.  Chickens making soft noises.  A good sheet-drying day with plenty of sunshine and warmth.  Windows up.  Washer spinning.  Thinking about having a restful weekend without drama.

There are things to do, however.  Flower-buying tomorrow for the altar, and setting up the same.  Filling in for someone else.  And after church on Sunday, will eat lunch with our priest's wife who heads up the Altar Guild along with a couple of other women.  One is our church secretary, who is Roman Catholic, so has her own spin on setting up the things and using the linens.  I feel so Mitford-like.  Our church is going to re-vamp the Altar Guild book, which I wasn't even aware of being in existence (but which could've prevented my endless mess-ups).  Thankfully, my altar learning curve is lessening, but still, I set the wine/wafers/silver up and still just stand there, scratching my head, checking my photos on my phone, hoping I've finally got it right.  Actually, I think I do.

* * *

Have a new review cookbook on its way.  The publisher likens her book to Laurie Colwin's Home Cooking, and since I'm partial to her food writing (though not her fiction, for some odd reason), am looking forward to reading it.  This one is called The Homemade Kitchen by Alana Chernila.  Will let you know.  Pulled out my copy of Orangette's Molly Wizenberg's A Homemade Life too.  With our dinner being so stupendous last night, am hoping to do more of the same this weekend.  Good eats, you know.

This is what we had:  My saucy friend, Diane, made a knock-off version of Olive Garden's Zuppo Toscano here.  I just took her recipe, incorporated it with our priest's wife's recipe and with minor changes, we had dinner!

My version:

One pound of Italian Sausage.  I made mini meatballs of the meat, just (pardon the term) squirting the sausage out of the end of the soft casings.  Fried them in a skillet with a little butter in it.

In another skillet I browned until soft a chopped onion, three celery stalks, and three small carrots.

When the sausage was done, or almost done, I put everything in my cast iron pot.  Added two Knorr Chicken bouillon cubes and water to cover.  Also sprinkled in about 1/2 teaspoon of both Oregano and Thyme.  No salt, which afterward surprised me, since the bouillon was salty enough.  Also put in two cans (rinsed, since middle daughter has an aversion to bean juice....who knows?) of Cannellini beans (white kidneys) and a few small, chopped up red potatoes.

Last thing...I added a bit bunch of chopped fresh Kale toward the end of cooking.  Diane adds cream to hers, which is probably a wonderful last touch, but I didn't do that.  I'm jealous of my half &half in my tea, so tend to parcel it out stingily.

Now to beat that meal, which might be a challenge.  I think I'm waking up from a bad dream.  Haven't taken an interest in fussing over meals in a long time.  My dear friend, Tina, gave us some family silver recently, and we used the glamourous soup spoons with our meal.  

All of this talk makes me want to watch Julie and Julia again. :)  Love the way Julie's husband eats in that movie.  Just nom-nomming his way through all that she cooks.

Must go.  Just-married-son is on his way to wash clothes.  First time of him doing that, but works for me.

A quiet day

Today is a gift I'm giving myself.  I'm figuring the next couple of days will be busy enough with picking up the van/taking it to the mechanic for a once-over, so today is a laying low sort of day.  Necessary to balance out everything.

And it's only 83F outside right now, a bit cloudy and I can definitely do that.  It's been so blistering hot, and this is nice.  Cicadas are making noise, chickens outside my bedroom window are fussy (they want to free-range in the yard, I know), and the window is up.  Still pleasant enough this morning to do that.

Avoiding the news, because if I read it, I'll just get riled up.

Oldest daughter bought ingredients to make something delicious and Chinese for dinner.  Will putter in the house, tidy it up, maybe cut some flowers for the table later on after the sun sets off of them.  Looking forward to some rainy days.  Hope we get some.

That's, pretty much, it.  Rest which is good and more necessary the older and more scattered I get. 

This post reminds me of going to the drugstore and only buying sodas and toilet paper.  Not big stuff, but things that make up an ordinary day.  May yours be as uneventful.

Taking it easy, really.

• Reading William Faulkner's Light in August, and loving it. Magical sentences.  Old beat-up copy from the bookshelves, not sure whose it was, but obviously a school copy.  But, not mine. Well, it is now.  Mine.  Lovely book, all limp and worn out.
• My main squeeze is wiring up some 7' bamboo poles he cut from the bamboo forest at his shop onto the existing wire fence around the chickens' area---at least part of it.  Our chicken run is getting excessive sun in the afternoons, being that our next door neighbors are a bit too much in love with the chainsaw.   
• Back to books.  Went to the library today, got an Anne Lamott I'd had on hold and just got in---Hard Laughter, but know absolutely nothing about it.  We'll see.  Also got every Ann Patchett they had on the shelves, three in all.  Her book Bel Canto I read last week was such a winner, maybe the others are as well.  It never works out like that, though.  Authors aren't that consistent.
• Life is slow now.  Wayward boys keeping, pretty much, to themselves, which is good from time to time.  I get a break from longing for them.  Pray for them every night, but a physical distance is healing.  Once I see them in person my strength flags.
• Tomorrow holds nothing I don't want it to hold.  My prospective chores include (or not) cleaning out the fridge, getting the mildew off the shower curtains (we have two--one against the wall because our old house has a window in the shower), and sweeping the sidewalk from youngest son's mowing today.  I may do none of it!  I may delegate.  
• Realizing that my days, for awhile at least, are without drama is amazing.  I really can breathe. Read, putter, bake if I want to, not feel guilty, youknowwhatImean.  And, my brainstorm, we're not going to church on Sunday.  Middle daughter was an acolyte for May, and the least one is lined up for June.  I figured a Sunday off would be a good thing.  Probably just rejoice in no have to's.
• Take care all.  

Thursday evening

Wonderful weather.  Cloudy, but so pleasant.  A couple of windows up, but not many because Daisy the Pug has had her cough again.  Giving her echinacea, and she's better.   Raining now, but still, the temperatures are dishy.  Relaxes my spirit.

Bible study last night with the first 12 chapters or so of Isaiah.  Gary's been going, and he's getting to know folks, albeit that they're Anglicans (insert laughter), and he's seeing that they're not too scary.  Just folks.  My dear Presbyterian husband.  He's learning.  He knows I'm not budging, not in rebellion, but in belonging-ness.  

At the end of the study last night, our priest was talking about the Eucharist and why he has his back to the congregation when he prepares it, and I was mesmerized.  I just love listening to him---he's been blessed with a teaching gift.  He faces the cross which is at the top of the altar, breaks the bread and holds it up--and does the same with the wine.  He was talking about facing the heavenlies in worshiping the Father.  Liturgical East.  It's all so beautiful when it's explained.  So worshipful. 

~ ~ ~ 

And got to spend some time with the chickens before dinner.  Cleaned out their house a bit, gathered up the eggs, and sat while they ate some bread and seed I'd brought out.  As usual, Milk hopped up in my lap.  Adore.  The.  Chickens.  But you knew that.

Now drinking Vanilla tea and thinking about Spring Break, which I'm just beside myself about.  It begins NOW, not Monday.  We're going to bake chocolate chip cookies for some new neighbors---both rentals, one has a mess of young men in it, very friendly it seems, and another is a single mother with two little girls.  Just making folks welcome in our pleasantly ragged little neighborhood. :)

Music update:  Loving me some Spotify again (free is always a good thing), this time a Mumford & Sons song called Ghosts That We Knew.  Right about 3:20 is my favorite part.  The instrumental section.  Oh my, it makes me feel so good inside to listen to it. 

Sunday night

Another week off from school.  Yes.  Beef Burgundy ala Julia Child for dinner tonight.  Yum.  Life and deep thinking sort of on hold for a few days.  Absolutely.  Bills paid.  Thankful.

Daughter worn out from heavy schedule at work because of Christmas.  She's really considering an extended leave of absence from work for a bit.  She's so exhausted.  Her break-up from her boyfriend a few months ago is still hurting, and she's buried herself in work.  Time to just take time.  Needs some mothering.  And she's not missing him, but smarting from his treatment of her.  Wounded.

Thinking that after we get Mom all settled tomorrow with groceries and all, I'll focus on some early spring cleaning.  We have this roach problem in the kitchen---some new breed that the boys seem to have brought home from the restaurant.  Not a huge issue, but in this old house, an issue nonetheless.  Having a crawlspace underneath the house contributes to the situation.   

Looking forward to some breathing space.  Not sure exactly what that means, but I'm willing to make an attempt.  Two kids off work this week (and around which is nice for a change), and the ability to play, read and sleep in without feeling guilty.  I'm in.

Saturday evening

“There always comes, I think, a sort of peak in suffering at which either you win over your pain or your pain wins over you, according as to whether you can, or cannot, call up that extra ounce of endurance that helps you to break through the circle of yourself and do the hitherto impossible. That extra ounce carries you through 'le dernier quart d' heure.' Psychologists have a name for it, I believe. Christians call it the Grace of God.”~from Elizabeth Goudge's The Castle on the Hill 

 Hot as the dickens today, so put the a/c back in the bedroom window.  Much heavier putting it in than taking it out!  Something about bending over, versus just reaching over.  Well, it's done.  Blasting away now.  If we can stomach tomorrow, then Monday should be pleasant again.

Went to hippie store and got 2 ounces of Chasteberry, which is supposed to be excellent for peri-menopause.  Going to make a tincture on Monday. Also got some Black Currant loose tea, which I'm drinking now.  Also, planning on coloring my hair tonight when the bathroom is empty.  Vidal Sassoon has a new color (not sure I've ever used this brand), and it was on sale and it's called Deep Velvet Violet.  Trying to live a little.  My grey is freshly covered in dark brown, so this might just be a sweet freshener.  Change can be good.

With my Staycation mindset, I'm succeeding in slowing down my thoughts and actions.  Even my tendency on the blog here has switched from madness to a bit of contentment.  And what I can't change (a lengthy list, let me tell you), will have to be dealt with by the Lord.  I think that's the way it should be after all.

Take care.  Find time to rest, and let it go.  Seems to be good advice.

Rest

It's chilly today.  The windows are cracked open here and there, but not wide open.  The weather site online says it feels 70 degrees outside (did they really check?), but it doesn't feel like it in the house.  Sweater weather. I have on my old shabby-looking part cashmere sweater.  Lovely.  Honestly, I would've enjoyed having the heat on while I was having my tea, but was too cheap to turn it on.

Will heat up some leftover tuna casserole instead.  Leave the oven door open afterward.  We're still microwave-less and while heating something up again in the oven is time-consuming, I'm not missing the microwave.  More shelf space.

A mild day.  Will sit out with the chickens after hanging out some clothes.  Putter around.  Tidy up a bit.  Make a meat and potato pie for dinner.  Rest.  Sew.  Read.  Listen to some music perhaps and make attempts at restoring my soul a bit.  All good, and necessary.

Frazzled, but trying

Our dryer quit working yesterday---light on inside of it comes on, door switch works, but I think I've figured out what part needs replacing from researching online.  Not a big deal, especially considering the big deals I'm experiencing as the norm, here lately.

Anyway, had done 3 loads of wash, so took 2 boys to the grocery store, then to dry them (the clothes, not the boys, but reading that makes you wonder) at my mom's. It was late afternoon when the dryer gave up the ghost, otherwise I'd not have gone ahead and washed so much. Anyway.  While I was there at my mom's I threw out some of her old magazines and papers, old mail, that sort of thing.  And after I got finished going through her stuff, had sort of a panic attack.  And the last few days, have woken up with a mild headache, though I don't go to sleep with one.

I'm major stressed.

Moving on.

Went with Gary to the church this afternoon---he had to work on the cabinets he made awhile back, and I went ahead and did the flowers for the altar and re-organized the Sunday School room for the children.  Just puttering, but even that seems to be too much for me.  I went back downstairs to make a cup of tea and he asked how I was.  Honestly said I was a bit overdone and he looked right at me and asked if there was something he needed to know about.

Isn't that odd?  Typical for him, and I don't say that harshly.  He figures if nothing is being said, all is well, and he's got my mother's situation all figured out in his head, not realizing (I guess) that my head is in a tail-spin.   Right now the slightest change from my ordinary day is too much to handle.

I read something yesterday, and I can't place where I read it---but it was about how comforting daily sounds can be, especially when sometimes we're hit with unnecessary noise.  That makes such perfect sense.

Right now I'm making beef stew for dinner.  Will read something soothing tonight, and let the Lord handle all the details.  I. just. can't.  And since I know it's not God's will for me to keel over with a stroke myself, I must tend to my own needs.  That calm, cool place inside of me is hard to anchor myself to at times, but now, is so needed.  So desperately needed.  You take care.

Late Monday afternoon

• Great Horned Owl was seen in next door's Oak tree this morning.  The least one was paying attention. Have kept tight watch on the chickens today. I didn't see it, but she said it was REALLY big
• More organic vinegar in apple juice---boing, boing, boing
• Cold outside, again, what else is new?
• Pork roast done in oven, baked most of the day
• Got schoolwork done early this afternoon
• Best decision to have made, making the balance of the day free and clear
• Girls watching 'Despicable Me 2'
• Avoiding stress today, as much as possible
• No thoughts of my mom, sick uncle, or the very ill friends at church
• After we came home from church yesterday, had no recollection of our priest even giving a sermon
• Asked the kids if he did---he did
• Figure if my memory is that shaky, then I need to chill out
• The service was distracting, though, with a couple of noisy little ones
• I'm all for kids in the church service, as long as they're quiet
• If we could do it with ours when they were small, others can do it as well
• The key is having a husband who is 'the hammer'
• ....and Cheerios
• Lots of parents appear afraid to discipline their children
• Big mistake
• Going to take it easy the rest of the day
• My body and brain need a break----apparently

Mom stuff

I realize to most of you, the documenting here of setting up my mom's Medicaid, etc. is boring reading. Also the stroke.  Maybe not interesting, but there's a lot of information that's new to me.  Territory I've/we've not been through before.  But....I figure that sometime it'll be helpful to somebody.

Awhile back, I read a blog from a woman whose husband had suddenly died.  She was faced with heaps of paperwork and details she'd not anticipated.  She was bitter and overwhelmed. And while reading her trials depressed me, part of what she went through, and continues to go through, is educational to those of us who haven't had to deal with tragedy like that.

Thankfully my parents (and now my mom) are and were organized.  Within an hour fourth son and I were able to get hold of the necessary papers to have her Medicaid set up.  (I still have yet to talk to an official person, though.  That's coming in January.)  Those consisted of 3 months of bank statements, life insurance papers, driver's license, Medicare card, SS card, death certificate for my dad, proof of her Social Security deposits, and what I forgot was proof of whose name her house is in.  I can get hold of her deed, so that's not an issue. Plus, she can't have over $2,000.00 in the bank.  That's the way it is. For her to get coverage these are the parameters, least from what I've been told from the Rehab's business office. For a total of 100 days in Rehab, which she's used 25 of, Medicare and Medicaid will pay 100%.

With that taken care of, and her with drawers full of clean clothes, I'm taking the next two days off.  It was a wash this weekend, trying to rest and still feel wired up. Hoping I can get my head in the right place and chill.  Least, that's the plan.

Chickens and such

Having a bit of a laugh here.  After dinner, Gary hooked up the desktop computer we have---one I'd totally forgotten about since he usually has the screen set to the television.  So used to the laptops that to see the tower is a bit odd to say the least.  Dusty too.

The funniest part is that it's running Windows XP.  A Zen experience for sure.  I could do crafts in the time it takes the computer to load up stuff, not to mention the inability to run videos in a timely fashion.  But am I in a hurry?  Well, like never!

Anyway, I was thinking about my day, how it started early with chickens and the contrast to my former days without the birds.  I was up before 7am letting them out of the coop.  Within an hour or so, my Nora had laid her second egg of the week.  She's an every-other-day layer, and is so quiet about it.  She calmly goes in the hen house, settles in, waits a bit and out it comes.  One perfect light green egg (which is the normal color for Easter Eggers).  Over the next few hours Piglet, Anastasia and Madelyn had laid theirs as well.  Milk continues to keep her eggs to herself.

The Black Star layers are a bit more enthusiastic than either Nora or Madelyn (both Easter Eggers), screaming out their accomplishments after the fact. Youngest son is a bit quietly high-strung (as is his mother) and when he repeatedly heard their loudness this afternoon, went out there with a shoe to throw at them. We had to head him off, trying to convince him that they really sound like geese after all, don't they?  Maybe the neighbors think it's geese.  Can't have him throwing things at the chickens, though..  It's hard enough lately settling arguments between Daisy the Pug and Milk the head chicken.  Daisy gets pecked on the backside, turns around, high-tails it after Milk, who in turn squawks and runs for all she's worth.  Fat Daisy can't catch up and Milk isn't that fast, so actually, they're pretty evenly matched. They tire out pretty fast.

Anyway, more of the same tomorrow.  Early rising, maybe my tea out back, which is what I did today.  Sort of nice to watch chickens do their business with the sun warming my hair.  If I time it right, I get outside before the least one, who's quite the farmgirl.  I thinks she's truly found her niche.  Glad to supply it for her. Barefoot and toting chickens around.  That's what she's loving the most these days.  Wouldn't take anything for that.

Saturday afternoon

What a restful day.  I decided this morning (while I was having my tea in bed---wonderful decision) that I'd take today off.  What that means is yet to be discovered, but I think it means I'll not take on any frets, and will relax and pamper myself.  Sounds like a plan.

As of this very minute, have a jar of walnut hulls steeping in a jar of boiled water (with nettle and rosemary in it as well) to pour over my head to get rid of the grey that's peeking in at the part in my hair.  Trying to get away from store-bought hair color (which I usually just used in tiny batches at the top of my head), and if I can avoid getting this stuff all over myself, it should be a winner.  The walnuts are supposed to stain so well, it'll be interesting to see what I end up with (fingers crossed).

And going to make a peach cobbler.  While we had awfully hot heat indexes this week, with Thursday being the worst of all---thinking the index was about 114F. while I was making dinner, or thereabouts.  Terrible.  We had some rain sweep through that night and since then it's been wonderful.  In the upper 80's now, but it's not too humid and everything looks so clean and clear outside.  Perfect.

So.  That's my deal.  Gary's at the shop making a vapor and repairing chairs in order to get some bills paid this week.  Overdue bills are a huge nuisance, but you've got to keep your perspective.  Doesn't pay to let things like that run your life (must make note of that, not that I excel in mastering this skill by any means).

Going to make French toast for dinner too, on the heels of that cobbler baking.  I really HATE French toast, but am doing it for Gary.  He has a craving.  Will make some bread to up the appeal, like the hair dye, we'll see how this flies.

Take care, all.

Friday afternoon

• it appears bills will get paid before month's end, or soon thereafter
• ::sigh::
• those of you with regular salaries coming in---be thankful, and don't ever take it for granted (as i've told you before)
• not knowing how to juggle can be exhausting
• probably partly to blame for my health issues
• constant draws on adrenal glands/thyroid not beneficial
• turning off brain this weekend
• feels like saturday today with the neighborhood kids out and about
• lots of traffic when i was running errands, but now i'm
• simmering spaghetti sauce and bread's rising
• might watch a movie later on
• gary's working in the shop on a vapor for a woman online
• she's sorta flirty with him via email
• huh to that!
• windows open and lovely breezes flowing in
• chickens happy
• but daisy the pug tried to chase down chicken anastasia when said bird got loose in the backyard
• daisy tried to do the front paw slap on her
• chicken oblivious, but that's their way
• chickens aren't too bright
• guess they qualify as walking food items
• and man, can they eat
• that's really all they do
• i lie, they poop all the time too
• very swift digestion systems
• eat, eat, eat
• poop, poop, poop
• they've acquired a healthy appetite for chopped green pepper
• cooked white rice is another favorite
• thankfully they seem to be satisfied with very little food variation, and are amazingly affectionate
• chickens....can you believe we have 5 chickens?  i'm still shaking my head
• 2 youngest girls have their eyes on some chicks we saw at the feed store called 'silkies'
• gary's also smitten
• they look like they have on yellow top hats
• good grief
• i personally think they look like french poodles in bird form
• i think we're limited to 6-7 chickens in town
• can't have roosters, though
• not a problem with me....a feathered alarm clock i don't require
• gary has a friend online (not flirty chick) who sits in a lawn chair outside, and her chickens will hop up in her lap...even try to drink her coffee out of a mug
• like i said, they'll eat anything
• madelyn the chicken is friendly like that with  me...not the coffee part, but the lap-sitting part
• but we don't have any lawn chairs
• an overturned plastic bucket will have to do for now
• must go and stir the sauce
• take care everybody

Easter Eve

All the kids are home just now, and it's nice (yet very distracting) to have them milling about.  Am waiting for the dust to settle so I can tidy up in the living room.  Way too many tall boys walking to and fro (yet I'm not complaining). Two of the boys have to work later on at the restaurant, but thankfully (and joyfully) everyone's off from work tomorrow.  We'll have sweet Indian boyfriend over tomorrow night as well.  Easy company.

As you can see, the little girls have been up to egg decorating.  Middle daughter was trying to be careful not get too much dye on her fingers since she's serving as an acolyte tomorrow.  Might be amusing, though, to see her carrying a torch with colorful hands.  Would match the hot pink on the tips of her hair.  She's so silly.

Now as of this very minute, a carrot cake is baking for youngest son's birthday dinner, and the dryer and washer are going to town.  Just plain living.  No drama, and that's perfect.

Wishing you a quiet day.  Enjoy your families.

Saturday afternoon

A lovely day.  High in the 80s and will be the last warm one for awhile.  We'll get a bit of a chill starting tomorrow, so for now, the windows are up and the clothes are blowing on the lines.  Love weather like this.

Minestrone for dinner, and afterwards, Gary and I will go out for oldest daughter's birthday shopping.  She turns 25 tomorrow.  How'd that happen? I seem to be caught in a time warp!

Anyway, now is good.  The company is sweet and they're going to church with us tomorrow.  I think this will be their first Anglican experience, and with it being All Saints' Day, hopefully they'll use incense in the service.  With a goodly number of eye-rollers in the church regarding incense, I'm one of the few enthusiastic ones, it seems.  Well, if you've not been brought up on it, it IS pretty amazing.   Besides, I'm very into the layers of events and situations---scents, colors, flavors.

Going to go read awhile.  Oldest daughter took our company to the India Festival here in town, and am assuming they'll meet up with SIB's family there as well.  I've already chased around the vacuum, washed clothes and dusted, so am ready for activity again.  But a break and quiet is welcome.

(inside living room/dining room today)

Looking for a quiet afternoon

Having a difficult time figuring out where to put the laptop so I can type on it.  After eating lunch in the 'thinking chair'---as we call it, both pugs jumped up in my lap, which is where their hot little bodies are even now.  It's crowded in here.  The dogs are so used to people being at home at all times, that when they're all by their lonesome for even a brief time, they get anxious for cuddles.  The pugs especially are sweet.  Thankfully the big dogs are content on the floor, right?

Me?  I love the quiet, which is what I'm getting right this very minute. Just me and the animals, which is wonderful.  But I need to get my head into it.  Takes more time that I'd like to admit to get to that chillin' mode. Might require more time than I actually have, which is a tad frustrating. And with lots of stops and starts this morning, getting to a place where my insides will settle might be unattainable goal.

Got a book in the mail that I ordered after watching The Monastery  on YouTube.  Excellent.  The book goes into more detail than the film (a BBC production), and being that the title is Finding Sanctuary, might be just what I need to read.  Silence, sanctuary, rest, meditation, darkened rooms...all of that sounds choice to me.

Must go now.  Have a load of laundry to hang out, and maybe they'll get dry before the rain.  It's all to the west of us, but looks like it's heading this way.  And might bake later on.  I crave the ordinariness of mixing, stirring and seeing the end result.

Take care all.

Saturday before dinner

Got out for a bit with oldest daughter today. Lunch and a trip to a local Indie bookstore to pick out something for fourth son who graduated high school back in May. He wanted to postpone his celebratory dinner until everyone could be here, which is why it'll be on Monday night. And yes, it does seem as if we've delayed it long enough, my goodness.  The restaurant will be closed, and hopefully oldest son who's been vacationing in Chicago will have gotten back home by then as well. Everyone needs the time off...just to quit DOING SO MUCH.

Now onto other things.

I wish you could see this dumb dog we've got, and I mean it kindly. He's the stray oldest daughter brought home from work before Thanksgiving last fall. We think he's at least part Catahoula, which accounts for his coat and part of his personality. The maddening thing is that he's just like the dog, Dug, in the kids' movie, UP. Not smart, but sorta sweet.

Now, must go.  We're having breakfast for dinner.  Need to help the least one measure out for biscuits.

(clickable photo from pinterest)