Monday Morning Musings--July 5th, 2010

Right Now:  5:45 a.m.  70 degrees and hazy.  Max is chewing on something out in front of the house.  I'm glad he is back--when we returned home late last night he was nowhere to be seen and didn't respond to our calls.  Like most country dogs, he tends to wander at night and reappear in the morning.  And he is big enough now that he jumps out of his enclosure.  The house is so quiet...

This Past Weekend:  Just wonderful, really.  Saturday's berry-picking was a lot of fun.  Believe it or not, it was the first time we had done it with the kids, and now I think it will become a regular event.  "Many hands make light work" as our local "plain people" like to say.  We stopped at a thrift shop on the way home and found a couple of things, among them a size 4T dress from Strasburg Children.  It is missing a button and the hem has come untacked, but that's nothing.  It will be there for Gemma in another 3 years!  I the afternoon we grilled ham steaks and I made a delightful blackberry cobbler for dessert.

Yesterday we went to an early Mass in Gallatin, TN, and then stopped for a few things at the store.  I was pretty tired.  Gemma had awakened at 11:30 p.m. to nurse (had fallen asleep just after 8--quite early for her), and wouldn't go back to sleep until after 1:30.  Anyway, I put away our purchases, and decided not to nap.  I baked another blackberry cobbler and knit for a while.

At 4:30 we left to go to my sisters and had, what my kids have declared to be "the best Fourth of July ever"!  Really it was a pretty simple affair.  We had burgers and bratwurst, corn on the cob, baked beans, watermelon, peach and blackberry cobblers and some lovely fireworks.  The little boys ran all over the place together, trying on dress-up clothing and chasing one another.
And in spite of all the noise and activity, there were no fights, tantrums or meltdowns, and my sister and I actually were able to converse a bit!  We got home at 10, and I was in bed by 10:30.

Some Plans for the Week:  Along with our second-to-last week of schooling before summer break, I hope to clean up our office and my workroom a bit.  I really need to work on my curriculum list--I'm feeling a bit panicky about that--and that list of summer activities I was supposed to compile this weekend (oops--see what happens when I don't write something on my "To-Do" list?  I am a slave to lists...)

If I Can Find Some Time for Myself, I Want To:  work on the summer top and autumn sweater I am knitting for Gemma, and organize my household binder--which could otherwise be referred to as the Compilation of Lists.  What I really need is a teeny tiny archivist whom I can put in charge of my brain to keep all my thoughts in order...

Special Prayer Intentions:  That I am actually able to get a little planning done this week!  Prayers also for my dad, grandmother and other family who are still trying to get over my grandfather's death; prayers for Bret, that he and Steve make real progress this week on the altar and that another job comes in when this one is done.  I am also praying our friend Dale (my friend Cindy's husband)...he hurt his back a couple of weeks ago, and still isn't fully recovered.  He is the self-employed father of ten kids--nine still at home--so he needs to be in good shape!

Something That Makes Me Smile:  How could one not smile at these guys?

You will note that I have changed the header of this feature to "Monday Musings".  Although early Monday morning is my time to do this post, I want everyone to know that you are welcome to post anytime on Monday.  So join in, if it suits your fancy!  Have a great week.