Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY (August 17, 2009)...

Outside my window... I can just barely make out a few scuddy clouds off in the distance. Down in the yard, I see the twinkle of the crackled glass driveway lights.

I am thinking...of how blessed I have been today!

I am thankful for...God's Word that sustains our very being.

From the learning rooms... Always trying something new - this week a clone of Harry and David's red pepper and onion relish!

From the kitchen... oven baked pork chops, long-grain and wild rice, cucumbers and onions in vinegar, fresh corn on the cob, fresh home-grown tomatoes - life is good!

I am wearing...black skirt, gray t-shirt, slippers

I am creating...a menu for the rest of the week

I am going...to be slipping off to bed in a few short minutes

I am reading...Cain, His Brother by Anne Perry, Psalms and Falling in Love with Jesus by Dee Brestin and Kathy Troccoli

I am hoping...that I can get everything caught up tomorrow at work - almost made it today!

I am hearing...various noises - DS music and Honey's video he is watching

Around the house... clean the bathroom, a little vacuuming, sweep and mop the kitchen

One of my favorite things... is creating a daybook!

A few plans for the rest of the week: Canning a few things tomorrow, then we have company coming this weekend, so general cleaning and such

Had a lovely weekend, just wasn't long enough! We had a nice, rainy Saturday and a nice, slow Sunday. Weather has been somewhat humid but cooler here. I love the coolness, but it is not good for my tomatoes. The roses are loving the rain, however. There is a definite hint of fall in the air - YAY!!! I am planning on having a rose tea and then later an autumn leaf teaparty for the ladies in my church. Will be posting about those later.

Now . . . a nice recipe for all of my wonderful readers (thank you all for the comments - much appreciated!)

Skillet Scramble

1 smallish summer squash, chopped
1/2 cup frozen hashbrowns with onions and peppers
3 slices of thick cut bacon, chopped
1 TBSP olive oil
3 eggs
1 slice cheese

In a medium skillet, saute bacon until some of the fat renders. Then toss in the hashbrowns and squash. Cook until bacon is pretty good and done and squash and potatoes are starting to brown. Drizzle in olive oil. Break eggs into a bowl and stir all together with a bit of water. Pour eggs into the skillet and quickly scramble. Remove skillet from heat and top with cheese. Let it sit a bit to melt the cheese. Serve with toast and juice.

This makes a quick breakfast - and a sneaky way to get some veggies in! We love it! You can use a bit of sausage instead of the bacon - or ham.

Hope everyone is enjoying summer as it winds down!


Verse for Today: II Timothy, Chapter 1, Verse 7

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Fear I know can be a crippling thing for many people. I can remember as a teenager waking up in the middle of the night with my heart pounding. My lamp was at bedside, but I was too afraid to reach over far enough to touch it. I would desperately close my eyes and try to regain sleep, while nightmare thoughts raced through my brain. A spirit of oppression, of raw, naked fear was there. Thanks to God, that spirit of fear no longer troubles me. I keep this verse handy in my mind and if that spirit ever tries to trouble me, I quote it. Because God did not give us that spirit of fear. He has given us power, love AND a sound mind! Whoo! So face that fear and tell it how big your God is!

Have a great week, I will try to be back on sooner next time!

FOR TODAY (August 10, 2009)...

Outside my window... Gray skies and clouds, rain gently wending its way down

I am thinking... of how majestic this day is!

I am thankful for... a day to myself to do whatever I want

From the learning rooms... always learning something!

From the kitchen... Hmmmm. . . ribeye steaks, fresh corn on the cob, fresh tomatoes from our own vines, sauteed summer squash - doesn't get much better. I will also be making some cookies and canning some Spicy Plum Sauce.

I am wearing... my leopard print PJs - how lazy am I?

I am creating... a haven of peace and contentment in the midst of a chaotic world

I am going... to take a shower and run to the grocery store in a few minutes

I am reading... Psalms - makes my heart sing; A Sudden and Fearful Death by Anne Perry

I am hoping... that this day will last a good long while

I am hearing... the occasional rumble of thunder - I love the sound of thunder, don't you?

Around the house... just a little, scrub the tub and a teensy bit of laundry, maybe mop the kitchen floor I do need to clean out the trunk of the car, it has gotten rather jumbled

One of my favorite things... is the sky this morning - we have gray, glowering thunderclouds floating over - but over yonder a ways there is a patch of blue sky

A few plans for the rest of the week: Hmmm . . . . working, of course. If I can get enough tomatoes, canning some pepper and onion relish, then Book Sale at work Wednesday and Thursday, then the weekend cleaning out the garage

I hope that someone still reads this, but if not, I will keep on anyway. I have been absent for a good long while, devoting my time instead to my family and to experiencing the joys of summer - melon gobbling, corn feasting, air conditioner loving. We have had a beautiful summer here in Missouri, which is quite rare. Then too, I just have not felt a huge urgency to blog. I am ready now to have this month over, as I will quite likely be working from home again then, at least most of the time, I may still have to work at the office one or two days a week. And now that I have that to look forward to, I feel like blogging again. So, sorry if I have been gone long, I have missed hearing from everyone.

Much love - Raquel