The Simple Woman's Daybook ~ 12.15.09

As always, if you'd like to play along, credit goes to The Simple Woman's Daybook.

Outside my window...
typical winter dreariness. Yesterday was 60 degrees and sunny, a glorious and unexpected break from last week's cold; today just feels like winter again. Winter is my least favorite season, I'm not gonna lie...but I was reminding myself the other day that if I want the beautiful death of fall, and the hopeful new life of spring, I have to take the winter that comes with it.

I am thinking...
about my sweet friend Kelly, because an email from her just popped up. Haven't seen her in well over a year, but we have plans to meet next week and catch up. I can't wait! I'm also thinking about grain mills and blenders (researching Christmas gifts).

I am thankful for...
this morning's playdate with my friend Jamie, whom I hadn't seen since the end of October; water with lime; This American Life podcasts; afternoon naps.

From the kitchen...
dinner is in the crockpot--Sloppy Lentils from Passionate Homemaking. Last time they tasted yummy, but the lentils weren't quite soft enough and it was a soupy mess. Hoping a longer cook time will solve that problem.

Over the weekend I tried a new recipe: Smitten Kitchen's chocolate toffee cookies, which were a huge hit. I also made several familiar favorites: Paula Deen's pineapple casserole (half the sugar, more cheese); pasta fagioli from A Year of Slow Cooking (half the Tabasco, 2 cans white beans instead of white + kidney...can you tell I can't leave a recipe alone?!); and a family favorite recipe for broccoli salad.

Aaaaand, Steve made breakfast Sunday morning, as is our tradition. This week, as is often the case, was Laurie's fabulous oatmeal pancakes (with all whole wheat flour--half regular whole wheat, half white whole wheat; sucanat instead of brown sugar; and olive oil).

I am wearing...
super-comfy stretchy jeans, a white tank top, a pink v-neck sweater, a brown scarf, and my favorite tan suede sneakers.

I am creating...
tons of stuff--or at least I *plan* to be creating tons of stuff this week. A DIY gift for my little niece; a few stamped cards; that wedding gift I mentioned last month but still haven't made...

I am going...
to be very frustrated if Elijah doesn't go back to sleep. Little stinker just laid down half an hour ago and I hear him talking upstairs already. He didn't take a good nap yesterday, either...and he did NOT get enough sleep over the weekend because we were so busy and out late twice.

I am reading...
Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus by Nancy Guthrie (ed.); Counterfeit Gods by Tim Keller; When Helping Hurts by Corbett & Fikkert. I just finished Andrew Peterson's On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness last week and have borrowed the second book in the series, North! Or Be Eaten, to enjoy over Christmas break.

I am hoping...
to connect with several old friends while we are in Ohio...that friends and family will love the gifts we choose for them...that Steve's birthday gift will arrive in the mail soon...that God will continue to open my eyes and soften my heart to the beauty of His Son and help me keep my eyes fixed on eternal things amidst the busyness of the holiday season.

I am hearing...
the white noise machine coming through the monitor, and Elijah intermittently talking/humming...aaaaand he just reached over and flipped the switch that turns the monitor and noise machine off. Lovely. *off to go try and put him back down* ...well, we'll see how long that lasts.

Around the house...
it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Lame artificial tree, unfortunately, but I love the soft glow of the lights and the memories attached to various ornaments. Not only is my pre-lit garland for the mantel not working, but the 3M hooks are not sticking to keep it hung either.

One of my favorite things...
receiving Christmas cards in the mail from friends and family--especially when they have pictures for me to put on my refrigerator.

A few plans for the rest of the week...
mostly just preparing for Christmas. Our weekly playdate is tomorrow, but I may skip it since we had a playdate today and I've got so much to do this week. Prayer meeting at church tomorrow night, which I always look forward to, and lots of online shopping to finish before shipping deadlines hit.

A picture thought I am sharing...
outtake from our family photos for Christmas cards--messing around trying to get our stubborn, uncooperative toddler to smile :)