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*

Home-making meme )pictures are of raspberry picking...somewhat Martha Stewart-esque :)

Aprons- Y/N? If yes, what does your favorite look like?

Yes. I like aprons a lot. My favorite one is greenish with pink cabbage roses on it :)

Baking - Favorite thing to bake?

I'd like to bake anything right now since I haven't been able to much because of broken oven :(

Clothes line - Y/N?
Tried one last year, but.....kept falling down.



Donuts - Have you ever made them?

uh, just the cut- out biscuit kind.

Everyday - One homemaking thing you do everyday.

Clean up the dining room and do laundry.

Freezer - Do you use a deep freeze?

We'd be lost without it.

Garbage Disposer - Y/N?

Yes.

Handbook - What's your favorite homemaking resource?

Busted my chops on "Good Housekeeping Cookbook", now I use ALLRECIPES exclusively. Other than that I haven't found much to help me in homemaking endeavors, only things that make me feel guilty I'm such a slacker ;)

Ironing - Love It or Hate it?

LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!
Junk Drawer - Y/N? If yes, where is it?

We have too many junk drawers. :)

Kitchen - Color and decorating scheme.

Sage walls over white .....escapes me what you call it, not paneling, but not dry wall, exactly :)
Plates, platters and some pictures on the wall. Black appliances. I don't want to talk about my kitchen floor which is my nemesis right now.
Love - What is your favorite part of homemaking?

I like just about all of it but cleaning out the refrigerator. :)

Mop - Y/N?

Swiffer, usually.
Nylons, machine or hand wash?

Machine wash but line dry.

Oven - Do you use the window or open the oven to check?

Open the door.

Pizza - What do you put on yours?

mushrooms and olives are the favorites

Quiet - What do you do during the day when you get a quiet moment?

read.

Recipe Card Box - Y/N?

no. I've really got to organize my recipes, I get most of them off of the internet....since my printer isn't working I usually hand copy them and then have them tucked into drawers or my file....disasterous!
Style of house - What style is your house?

All brick outside. Half was built in the 40's, with lots of wood and plaster and the other half was built in the 80's, with lots of carpet and cardboard :) walls. You might guess which half I like better :) Upstairs, downstairs and basement. Two staircases.
Tablecloths and napkins?

Well, I have quite a collection of them, but we use them rarely...especially the napkins :)

Under the kitchen sink - Organized or toxic wasteland?

A little of both.

Vacuum - How many times per week?

Try to do it everyday. Ugh!

Wash - How many loads of laundry do you do per week?

5 loads per day, except Sunday, on average. No, I don't do it all. The older kids do their own.

X's - Do you keep a daily list of things to do that you cross off?

Sometimes.

Yard - Y/N? Who does what?

Older boys mow and weedwhack. I do whatever landscaping/flower planting. You'll notice a certain someone who's name I will not reveal is missing from involvement here ;)

ZZZ's - What is your last homemaking task for the day before going to bed?

Usually make sure whatever laundry is in the washer gets in the dryer.

WIggle worms and photo shoots don't mix......

Even if you're wearing a pretty dress....."I'm outta here!"

For Today....tidying up after a busy weekend.

Outside my Window… sunny and warm.

I am thinking…..I'm actually doing this before Friday.

I am thankful for…a new bike

From the kitchen…the only thing new I tried this week was *blue cheese butter* for some steaks we grilled. I have since discovered it is pretty tasty on toasted pita....although I'm ignoring what the possible calorie count is.

I am creating…..well, I went on a sewing binge over the weekend. I guess because doing school for the past couple weeks has made me realize how few and far between time for sewing will be.

4 pillows

a curtain, table skirt and curtain/cover for an ugly shelf in my sewing room

fabric liner for my wicker clothes hamper

arm rest covers for a chair

cushions for the child's rocker in living room

I am going…..WE are going camping this weekend. Yahoo! First trip all summer, even though summer is almost over :)

I am wearing .....Indian skirt with orangey rust/black/beige/green in it, orangey-rust t-shirt, ball cap ( what else?) and flip flops.....orange earrings :)

I am reading....Aristocrats.....

I am hoping…I can get a camping trip together without too much stress ;) The sheer amount of work/organization/planning/preparation is starting to hit me. But it's all worth it, right? ;)

I am hearing....the three littles chittering and chatting

Around the house…finally cleaned out our horrible refridgerators. HAZ-MAT comes to mind.

One of my favorite things…packages with fun items coming in the mail ;)

A few plans for the rest of the week…CAMPING.....enough said. ;)

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you… Labor day festivities.....

Just so Naomi won't say I only put pictures of Gabriella on this blog :)

The ever elusive Dyl....... I think....or eat Burger King, therefore I am.


Al and.....um.......Gabriella...OOPS! This was supposed to be an Ella- free post!


Jed and Naomi




That's our Manny! :)


Schmack!


George getting buff!


We ALL love you Noah!


George and Jackson pondering life's mysteries on the front porch.
Jackson doesn't look quite sure that what he has discovered is good.

I think that covers ALL 10 of my beautiful children ;)

In keeping with a theme.......

Gabriella even gets a PINK potty from IKEA. I SO know all this pink is going to backfire on me someday. ;)