The Simple Woman’s Daybook for 9/29/08

Hello, Friends! Last week at this time, I didn’t realize it was the first day of autumn.  I hope you are all enjoying some blissfully cool (or at least cool-ER) weather.

Isn’t it funny how time flies?  Here it is, Monday once again, and time for The Simple Woman’s Daybook.  Be sure to drop over at Peggy’s to read other Daybooks and meet some new blog friends.  And if you’re not participating already, you can get the guidelines and get started.  It’s great fun!

Outside My Window…It’s still dark.  I haven’t been out yet (though I will be leaving soon to walk my oldest out to the bus stop).  I’m hoping it’s as cool out this morning as it has been for the past week.

I am thinking…How much I love fall!  Every little thing about it is wonderful.  It’s not *quite* the same here in Florida as it was/is up north, and I do miss the gorgeous colors of the leaves changing (we only have a bit of that here).  Still, fall is fall, and my soul rejoices in it!

I am thankful for…Good friends, old and new.

From the kitchen…Last night I made hot fudge sauce.  Suppers this week include Chicken & Rice Soup with homemade rolls; Southwest Salad; and Scrambled Eggs, bacon, English muffins with jam, and orange juice.

I am wearing…Gray T-shirt, black jeans, black socks; my hair is in a braid, and my jewelry is a silver and blue crucifix necklace (gift from my mom at my Confirmation) and little dangling silver heart-and-pearl earrings (gift from my sister for my birthday years ago).

I am creating…Chore charts for each of my boys.  We’ve decided to give them each an allowance, but their receiving it is contingent upon the completion of some age-appropriate chores.

I am going…To my Bible study/apologetics class this morning.  Last week’s was phenomenal.  I don’t anticipate going anyplace else this week, though—not until the weekend.

I am reading…September by Rosamunde Pilcher (one of my all-time favorite authors!) and the book of Acts in the Bible.

I am hoping…For a week of simple pleasures and everyday blessings.

I am hearing…The boys’ Max & Ruby video on the TV.  That is just the cutest show!

Around the house…Things are kind of a mess right now.  The kitchen table is cluttered with unread newspapers and the kids’ Play-Doh stuff; I desperately need to vacuum; and the bathrooms are kind of getting scuzzy.  I did have such a lovely weekend, but now it’s time to pay the piper!

One of my favorite things…Not a thing, but a person.  I have seen a million Johnny Depp movies and never thought much about him, but this past Saturday morning, the boys and I watched Charlie and the Chocolate Factory for the first time.  My 7-year-old could not get over the fact that the same actor playing Willy Wonka (Johnny Depp) was the same actor who played Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies.  I thought about it and realized that yes, this is a person who is an absolutely terrific, completely gifted actor.  I have never seen him do a bad job.  And he has really played some wacky characters (think, Edward Scissorhands, Benny & Joon, and so forth).  One of my least favorite things is “celebrity,” in general, and I have no desire to know anything about Johnny Depp’s personal life (most celebrities are so weird and messed up).  But one of my favorite things is watching him act.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week…Clean up my house, wash the mini-van, do lessons with Charlie (he got some new workbooks over the weekend), write some e-mails, read.  The boys are hoping to have friends over for a sleep-over on Friday—my husband set up our tent in the backyard, testing it out to make sure it’s ready for the Boy Scout camp-out we’re going to in a couple of weeks.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing…

We’ve had this big bush next to our back porch ever since we moved here, and every summer/fall it gets covered in these pretty white flowers—each one is about as big around as a nickel.  I have no idea what it’s called, but I do enjoy the flowers.  Now that I see them in photograph, I’m wondering if they might be some kind of jasmine.  I don’t think they have any fragrance, though.  Anyone have any ideas?

Have a wonderful week, everyone!