The first fruits of labor are pictured above – a small batch of pickled white beets and the always reliable (and huge) red beets. And so it has begun, and so my postings will be sporadic as usual! We have been extremely busy with some home projects this summer as well as all the usual summer fare. While the outcome has been rewarding, the grueling schedule has really gotten to us. We are saved by the few visits we have been able to make to our camper up north, as well as some beautiful days working in the garden. It is so good to be eating out of the garden again – carrots, onions, peas, green beans, herbs aplenty, potatoes, beets…soon to come will be cucumbers and sweet corn. Yum! According to Joe, we will be starting our diet again Wednesday for 50 days. I’m completely unprepared for the strict menu again. Looks like tomorrow will be a day to clean the refrigerator and visit the natural foods store…more on the outcome of Diet II to follow, I’m sure.

You’re just soooo cute! (a favorite line around here – followed by a big smooch, of course )

a wonderful website. Go check it out!

but we’re still alive and well! We’ve pretty much finished up our schooling for the year but will continue with math and instruments over the summer. I’m in planning for school mode, gardening mode, organize my house mode, get outside and go camping mode, tackle some home projects mode, and….well, just too many modes! Once again, I’ve probably planted too much in the garden, and you will all be hearing about it come August/September. The summer calendar is looking quite full already, as usual, no matter how hard we try to keep it free and open. Hopefully, I will be able to post about all the fun we’re having every now and then. Stay tuned…

Lent has officially begun. I’ve got my little black book and my daily devotions calendar atop the computer. I’m going to update the Reading Basket for Lent in the next few days. Joe and I are back on the diet for Lent (since it’s fairly strict – it’s perfect for this time!), and we’ve given up eating out and ice cream as a family. Our priest is focusing on getting “back to the basics” for our parish family and that sounds good to me at home too. I want to keep plugging away at school and housework, keep up my daily Mass attendance, and try to improve my prayer life. I’d also really like us all to get healthy. Not that we’re terribly sick, but we’ve had a virus hanging on here since early February. With cabin fever and colds – well, we’ll be ready for a celebration (Easter) and spring!

LENT.

“Fasting is the food of virtue. It inspires good thoughts and holy desires. It renovates the spiritual man. “ -St. Leo

Lent is a fast of apostolical tradition, which in all ages has been observed throughout the Church of God. It was instituted – (1) To honour and imitate our Saviour’s fast in the desert. (2) That the faithful might prepare themselves by prayer, penance, and fasting for duly celebrating the adorable mysteries of His Passion and Resurrection. (3) To consecrate to God by a penance of forty days the tenth of our lives, as an acknowledgment that our whole lives ought to be so spent.

(Excerpted from Catholic Life, p. 25)

Outside The Window…
After a slew of warmer weather, we got a few inches overnight and more flurries and blowing today. Everyone agreed the snowfall sure was pretty this morning though!

From the learning rooms…
It’s been quite uneventful in this area – music, instruments, math, reading,… Admittedly, I’m kind of in a slump, and I’m also a bit preoccupied looking ahead to next year and budgeting out a plan. However, I’m confident all will work out fine….most days anyway

From the kitchen…
Menu
I’ve been eating “terrible” lately since we officially ended our diet. I put that in quotes because really it’s still fairly healthy – it’s just that I’ve added more treats than I intended and eaten bigger portions than I needed on occasion. I’m looking forward to Ash Wednesday when I’m going to go back on program for Lent.

B – Cereal and Toast; me – artichocke parmesan dip with corn chips and LOTS of water (I’m fighting off a cold)
L – Turkey and cheese sandwiches; cheese pizza
D – Beef Roast and veggies (and I’m sure ice cream!)

Today’s “To Do” List…
Do a blog entry
Make a few phone calls
Do some laundry
Do some schoolwork
Take it easy, drink lots of water – do not get sick!

Thinking ahead…
Looks like some thoughts for our family Lent are going to once again include giving up eating out and ice cream for Lent. It’s the week to finalize those Lenten plans!

Random thoughts…
Don’t you love to be inspired? I know I do! Here’s some of my inspiration lately:

The Prizewinner of Defiance, Ohio

Grace and patience

Living out the reality of God in your home

Guidelines for eating wonderfully

During my last bible study session, we discussed the virtues. I pulled out two of my books to review when I got home – I hope to add some thoughts here as I go through them.

Here is picture thought I am sharing…

Hurry Spring!

Thank you God for…
Kids who enjoy playing with their brothers and sisters!

Outside The Window…Cloudy, cold – same old, same old. The forecast does predict some welcome sunshine and average temps closer to the weekend. I hope the weatherman is right! The birds continue to eat voraciously.

From the learning rooms…
We’re focusing on 4-H things today.

From the kitchen…

Menu

B – cereal / french toast – Joe & I
L – Leftovers
D – McDonalds on way to 4-H

Today’s “To Do” List…
The usual daily household chores, 4-H stuff, work on cleaning up some of the clutter piles.

Thinking ahead…
Tomorrow there are no outside commitments – we just need to be home. I really like these days – everything we do seems so much more relaxed and enjoyable.

Random thoughts…
Looks like those before and after pictures aren’t going to happen – at least not right now. However, the results of our 12 week weight loss are (drum roll please…) 31.2# for me and 31.4# (I think) for Joe!

Here is picture thought I am sharing…

Thank you God for…
all the Saints that we can look to for inspiration, example, and intercessory prayer.

Outside The Window…
bbbbrrrrrrr…..still COLD here – zero or below! Cloudy and uneventful today. I ventured out only to go to daily Mass and to shovel up and carry down the road a ways a dead mouse the dog scrounged up and was rolling in – yuck!

From the learning rooms…
What you don’t see on the to-do list below is what I wanted to accomplish for “school” today. It ended up being piano, preschool music, math for all, reading, and hobbies/4-H stuff (that needs to be done for the meeting tomorrow night). One of the things the girls put together for the 4-H meeting tomorrow is a demonstration on cardmaking. They practiced on Alex and I today and did a great job! I hope it goes as well for them tomorrow night.

From the kitchen…

Menu

B – cereal/ eggs n’ toast
L – grilled cheese toastwiches, bananas and clementines
Snacks: toast n’ jelly, choc. chip bars
D – sirloin tip roast and potatoes in crock pot, garden beans and lettuce salad on the side. Ice cream for dessert.

Today’s “To Do” List…

A typical To-Do list for me

Thinking ahead…
No time to do that today…!

Random thoughts…
Isn’t it fun to look back and watch all those old home videos? Was everyone really that little? that young?

Here is picture thought I am sharing…

Thank you God for…
the gift of faith and the sacraments…and for holy priests.

Outside The Window…
VERY cold again! I don’t think we made it above zero today, and the wind chills: -20/-25. Some sunshine was nice though.

From the learning rooms…
Saturday – day off, no formal learning.

From the kitchen…

Menu

Breakfast – Cereal (kids)
Brunch – (Joe & I) Eggs, toast, beets & green beans (just me )
Lunch – Leftovers (for kids)
Snacks: Blueberry muffins, nuts, apples and bananas
Dinner: Tacos/taco salads for some, burger patties for others w/ mandarin oranges

Today’s “To Do” List…
nothing written out – but finish out laundry, stay on top of dishes and being picked up, run into town, hem pants, confession – all possibilities swimming around in my head

Thinking ahead…
Tomorrow will be a break from laundry and housework as much as possible – I’ve got to think about the upcoming week’s schedule and menus not to mention any schooling.

Here is picture thought I am sharing…

Thank you God for…
for good friends and other big families! We had a great time playing cards and visiting with our good friends, the Rosses, tonight at their house.