Birthday Bonanza

Mary and Manny


A. Mill and Ella


Is the cake good, Noah?


Peter and Dyl

The birthday boys


Age of Empires is a birthday party must.....


as is *Guitar Hero* !


That is what we have in September, September 12 & 13 to be specific! Tim and Noah celebrate birthday's on the 13th and Jax on the 12th.

The boys invited the Thomas's and A. Miller over for a little celebration ( only a week late!)

There is always hope.......................

"If a true artist were born in a pigpen and raised in a sty, he would still find inspiration for this work. Everywhere is a storehouse of literary material. The only need is the eye to see."

Thus said by my very favorite author Willa Cather, who I just learned yesterday was homeschooled by her grandmother. Interesting.

*O Pioneers!* * The Song of the Lark* *My Antonia* *Death Comes for the Archbishop* *Shadows on the Rock*. I can't really decide which was my favorite, but I lean towards "Shadows on the Rock".

quotes, quotes from a book it was gratifying to read AND finish :)

Resignation, patience and no complaints are the way to shut the door against one's worst enemy, one's own passions.

Louisa Connoly

To be worthy of his love gave animation to my existence. From his precepts and example I was taught to bear adversity, to make any sacrifice to duty with cheerfulness, not to value life too much and never cease to be grateful for the many blessings which it has pleased God to bestow on us.

Sarah Napier

( my thoughts on this, I don't think she was de-valuing life in the sense that we know it today by her statement but as a prescription against being too much of this world, as someone else has put it :)

Daybook for September 22

Don’t forget to stop by Peggy’s for all the links entered in this week’s Simple Woman’s Daybook.

For Today....I have nowhere to go......yay!

Outside my Window… still dark

I am thinking…..about camping plans

I am thankful for…my finger didn't get cut worse.....you forget how the smallest injuries can alter your life. a reason to be thankful for good health:)

From the kitchen…made these: http://sunshineisfree.blogspot.com/2008/02/yummy-chocolate-chip-bars.html yesterday and boy, were they good!

I am creating…..not much this week.

I am going….camping again, yay!

I am wearing ....still in my pj's :) :( and not a clue what to wear today. i've been doing pretty well at getting an outfit together the night before but slacked yesterday.

I am reading....The Stuart Dynasty. Finished Aristocrats. Next on the docket...."Imperial Lady" by Pearl Buck

I am hoping…I can get the laundry room straightened up today, but I am not helping matters by doing this right now :)

I am hearing....S-I-L-E-N-C-E

Around the house…the sewing room is finished all but covering a chair! and we "think" we found a solution to the kitchen floor :)

One of my favorite things…...Manny and Jed's quirky sayings :: Manny, especially, is coming up with some funny expressions lately! so cute.

A few plans for the rest of the week….going camping for one night up at Lakeport with Neana and Gwen and Jay. Trying to squeeze a bit more summer out of early fall :)

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you…

at 5:46 AM

Simple Woman's Daybook for September 15

Don’t forget to stop by Peggy’s for all the links entered in this week’s Simple Woman’s Daybook.

For Today....I have a bunch of shopping to do.

Outside my Window… dark, and dare I say it? COLD :)

I am thinking…..it is getting dark waaayyy to early all of a sudden.

I am thankful for…fall.

From the kitchen…who-hoo! my oven got fixed. watch out world.

last night we had bbq chicken wraps ; bbq chicken, spinach ( for those who will eat it) sauteed onions and cheese in a wrap ( we use greek pitas grilled to soften them). they are very good and easy....got them from the "Next Food Network Star" show.

I am creating…..almost done sewing, on to painting ( mostly just touch ups and fix ups)

I am going…..to the store, soccer games galore....hey, that rhymes!

I am wearing .....greenish capri's, grey, green and turquoise hooded pullover, hoop earrings and turquoise croc-slides :)

I am reading....The Stuart Dynasty

I am hoping…I can figure out WHAT to do with my kitchen floor.

I am hearing....S-I-L-E-N-C-E

Around the house…Hmmm. A year ago I decided I would rather have cheap, faux wood linoleum covering my cracked tile, yesterday I decided on the latter....so we pulled it all up and tossed it out. Really, I would rather have neither...but I can't figure out a workable solution in there that won't take loads of time and money. Ha HA ha :)

One of my favorite things…fresh fall apples

A few plans for the rest of the week….getting ready for the boys birthday party on Saturday.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you…

and finally, it wouldn't be a camping trip without a stop at *G's* Pizza :)

George is thirsty!


AHHHHHHH






Manny giving it his all :)


Hullo, Cissy!


Good stuff!

Camping = fun times :)

It wouldn't be a vrazo camping trip without at least one rain storm :)


cool- Naomi!




I'm on the go!



Tim catching some rays.....er, um, with his winter cap hat on?


Naomi


Noah and Ella snuggling


The three littles :)




Ella communing with the sand :)










George skipping stones

Swimming at Tawas Pointe

Jed and Jax


A nice day but the clouds were rollllllinnggg in...........



cool sand!


ghostly jed :)

jax

Camping, camping and more camping...........

the cabin on the bay







the bay at night




our own private beach in front of the cabin

Why am I so fascinated by the English Monarchy right now?

Don't know. Trying to figure out the whole *royal family* thing.
I think it started a few years back when I was charmed by the BBC production of "Lorna Doone".
Interestingly, this was set in the very time period I am studying right now ( reign of Charles II)...and involved the conflict at the time which involved the King, his brother, who was next in line for the throne ( a Catholic the protestants in England did not want as a King) and his illegitimate son, the Duke of Monmouth, who ( being protestant) tried to assert his claim to the throne once his father died. I suppose the whole Catholic/protestant conflict in England is quite interesting to me, as well. Because the protestants did not want a Catholic King SO badly they overthrew James II and put a German King (Hanoverian line) on the throne. So much to digest there. :) George III of the American Revolution fame was in that family, as well as Queen Victoria.
To further make my head spin, Charles II's own father, Charles I, was executed by his own government. Of course, that is a simplistic explanation, but it is rather mind-blowing ( for that time period, anyway....when I assumed the monarchy was the ultimate ruling entity.) It took 20 years for Charles II to regain the throne and during that period, England was without a King or Queen and was ruled by parliament!

Maybe someday I will figure it all out. :)

Simple Woman’s Daybook for September 8, 2008

Don’t forget to stop by Peggy’s for all the links entered in this week’s Simple Woman’s Daybook.

For Today....I had to go to the oral surgeon and I have a headache which is knocking the life out of me :) Trying to just get the basics done.

Outside my Window… sunny and pleasantly cool.

I am thinking…..PHEW!

I am thankful for…a good result.

From the kitchen…just trying to figure out what to have for dinner tonight.

I am creating…..still have a few sewing projects to finish. Copied some of Naomi's flower pictures to make notecards with ( or at least see how they look).

I am going…..soccer games and a fundraiser.

I am wearing .....beige linen capri's, brown half sleeve knit top with orange, purple and cream flowers, orange earrings, grey flip flops, did have my brown polka dot ballet shoes on earlier. ":)

I am reading....Aristocrats.....camping afforded me the time to almost get it finished.........yee-haw!

I am hoping…I can get L-I-F-E back on track sometime soon!

I am hearing....a cranky, too short of a nap Gabriella whining on my lap.

Around the house…LAUNDRY, laundry and more laundry.... camping, and being without access to laundry facilities for a few days does that to us, ;)

One of my favorite things…camping at Tawas Point

A few plans for the rest of the week…already stated, add in an art class for the kids....soccer practice as well as games,

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you… my beautiful daughter and personal photographer, Naomi aka *Cissy*