Daybook: Post-62 Bags of Mulch

Outside My Window: The yard is almost completely green, flowers are blooming everywhere, and the squirrels have been using our backyard as their personal playground. I have never seen so many squirrels at once...as many as four at a time!


Beautiful, white azalea blossoms from my flower bed.

I Am Listening To: the television. Bruce and I are watching The Bourne Ultimatum while I'm blogging.

I Am Wearing: ...black yoga pants and a lavender tee.

I Am Thankful For: ...friends. Especially those more experienced Mommas that I've meet through the internet and helped me along my journey one way or another.

I Am Pondering: this wonderful article that I found over at Faith & Family.

I Am Reading: ...the same books as the previous weeks, but I've also added a couple others to the mix-- The Discipline Book by the Sears and The Missing by Beverly Lewis.

To Be Fit And Happy: During the past few weeks, we have spent a lot of time out in the yard. In fact, Bruce and I raked and bagged up all the old pine bark mulch that the previous owners had laid in the front flower beds, and then laid 62 (yes, 62!) bags of new, black, shredded mulch. The first few days following, I felt muscles that had apparently gone into hibernation during the cold, winter months.


Lovely, lilac flowers (that I honestly don't remember the name of) in my flower beds.


From The Kitchen: Last weekend, I tried a new recipe that consisted of diced red potatoes and chicken thighs seasoned in a rosemary-garlic marinade and then baked. I'm not big on rosemary, but this recipe was pretty tasty. I definitely would not have wanted the rosemary any stronger, and I told Bruce that I might cut back on it just a bit next time I make it. Along side the chicken and potatoes, we had some fresh green beans that I sautéed in olive oil. Definately not something I would want every week, but probably something I could see myself making once a month or so.

I Am Thinking: ... about the coming week.

I Am Creating: ...more peace and order for my home and our lives in general.

On My iPod: Again, nothing new this week. However, I am still loving my KSBJ app. Brinley and I listen to it at some point everyday.

Towards A Real Education:Brinley has become a pro at counting from 1-20 (and can do 1-30 at times) and Bruce and I were just talking this evening about how quickly she has grasped that. She is also starting to put more words together. Instead of just saying a single word like, "dogs" she might say "five black dogs". I imagine within the next few months she'll be talking in complete sentences, and life as we know it will never be the same...

Towards Rhythm and Beauty: Spring his fully here! Over the past few days, we have been having the 'April showers'. I'm hoping they'll just bring more 'May flowers'.

To Live The Liturgy: A little hard to believe that it is already the fourth Sunday of Easter. Before we know it, Pentecost Sunday will be upon us.

I Am Hoping And Praying: ...for those that I know that have had surgery or babies in the past couple of weeks...which seems to be a LOT at once!

In The Garden: Like I've mentioned, Bruce and I replaced all the mulch in the flower beds and added plants/flowers where it was needed. I've gotta say that all those trips to Lowe's and Home Depot lately have given us more ideas for the yard and house. This could be good...or this could be dangerous. ;-)

Vibrant, pink Azaleas growing in my flower bed. I particularly like these two because it looks as though they are growing in the shape of a heart.

Around The House: Well, after spending a lot of our time working in yard, the house looked like a tornado ran through it. So, we've been putting it back into a reasonable state over the past few days. Last weekend,Bruce also added a shade to the semi-circle window that is in the spare bedroom to help keep the summer sun out and hopefully the temperature down. Although it is only April, that bedroom was beginning to get terribly warm in the afternoons. Also, he added a privacy film to the window above the garden tub in our master bathroom. Even though it would have been nearly impossible for someone to get a view of the inside of our bathroom (or who's in it!) from the outside, I still feel better that it is now completely impossible. Bruce did such a great job on both projects. He's turning into such the handy-man! ;-) This weekend he took the time to mow the lawn, wash both cars and put together new shelving for Brinley toys and books. How did I become so blessed?!?

On Keeping Home: Like I just mentioned, since we were busy outside in the yard last weekend, we've been concentrating on the inside this past week. Laundry is no longer over-flowing from the hampers, the kitchen has been swept and mopped (thanks babe!) and over all the house is looking presentable.

One Of My Favorite Things:...is a good book combined with a few, small pieces of good chocolate. Those two things combined make for a good evening for this Momma.

Brinley Anne This Week: ...has been enjoying this beautiful weather that we've been blessed with over the past several weeks. Between the ball pit, sidewalk chalk, her 'bike', 'playing soccer' with Daddy, and 'gardening' with Mommy I think the child would just about be happy outside 24/7.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: Since working in the flower beds took up a little more time than Bruce or I expected, I hoping to finish cleaning out our closets so I can take some donations to Goodwill and get the clutter out of my house. I also would like to clean off the back patio one day--it's amazing how quickly it needs that. I can't believe I am admitting this to the world, but I also HAVE to remember to clean out the fridge this week. I'm sure there are a couple of leftovers that have been shoved to the back and could now pass as science experiments of some sorts. Other than grocery shopping and possibly a quick trip to Lowe's, I really can't think of anything else for this week. Brinley and I may have to make our way to the park a day or two this week and enjoy the beautiful weather that we are being blessed with.

A Picture I'm Sharing:


Brinley getting buckled-up by Daddy so that she can ride her 'bike'.

Easter Sunday Pictures

After editing photos every evening for the past few day, I finally have them finished. Here are a few of my favorites:

Off to find some Easter eggs...

Filling up her Easter basket.

Daddy held the basket so that she could use both hands to hunt.

She did very well at finding the eggs.

Daddy stuffing eggs into his pockets because the basket was overflowing!

Daddy helping Brinley by holding her basket.

After hunting, Daddy and Brinley went through the eggs.

Brinley had a blast with the egg-shaped sidewalk chalk that was in some of her eggs. We now have the prettiest sidewalk in the neighborhood. ;-)

~Daddy and Brinley~

Opening more eggs. Brinley also enjoyed the baby farm animals that were in some of the eggs. She has such an imagination. On more than one occasion she has been caught putting her sheep-dog in A'Pexi's food bowl. I guess she thinks its hungry.

Our festive, chocolate cake to celebrate the beginning of Spring, and most importantly, our Lord's resurrection.

Daybook: Easter Sunday Edition

Outside My Window: Well, if you look out one of my back windows you will see a freshly manicured backyard thanks to my wonderful hubby.

I Am Listening To: the television. Bruce left it on after he went to bed. Other than that, the house is quiet.

I Am Wearing: Blue and white toile-printed pajama pants and a white top. No socks but pretty, painted toes.

I Am Thankful For: ...friends. Especially those that understand my crazy life right now.

I Am Pondering: ...these beautiful, beautiful words that Elizabeth recently shared:

Child of God, what have you done up to now to help the souls around you?

You cannot be content with that passiveness, with that idleness of yours. He wants to reach others through your example, through your words, through your friendship, through your service.
-- St. Josemaria Escriva -- The Furrow #880

I Am Reading: ...the same books as last week...and the week before...and the week before that, etc.: Don't Make Me Count To Three: A Mom's Look At Heart-Oriented Discipline by Ginger Plowman and Martha To The Max: Balanced Living For Perfectionists. I'll be honest...I don't think I've gotten any reading in the past couple of weeks. Maybe I will before the end of this week. Truthfully, I am ready to finish these up so that I can get started on a few more books that I've recently ordered.

To Be Fit And Happy: This week is supposed to have nothing but beautiful weather. I think Brinley will be spending lots of time outside this week--working in the yard, taking walks, etc.

From The Kitchen: Easter Sunday dinner consisted of a Honeybaked ham (yum!), au gratin potatoes, green bean casserole, baked cinnamon apples and rolls. For dessert we had very festive chocolate cake.

I Am Thinking: ...that infomercials should be outlawed.

I Am Creating: Nothing yet...but I am getting an itch to take up sewing. I've started pricing machines and looking at a few places in the area that offer lessons. However, I really don't know when I would find the time for it because I struggle to find time for the little bit of photography and blogging I do.

On My iPod: Again, nothing new this week. However, I am still loving my KSBJ app.

Towards A Real Education: This past week we focused on the importance of Easter. Although I'm sure Brinley didn't understand everything and what it means, I hope she takes some away...the true meaning of this season.

Towards Rhythm and Beauty: There are signs of spring everywhere. The birds have been out and chirping, the squirrels use our backyard as a playground, and the flowers are beginning to bloom.

To Live The Liturgy: Christ, our Lord and Savior, has risen from the dead. So thankful for Jesus' death and resurrection so that I can have eternal life. God is so good!

I Am Hoping And Praying: ..for a peaceful Easter season.

In The Garden: Bruce and I have been making regular trips to Lowe's and Home Depot. We're planning to spend time in the flower beds this weekend replacing mulch and add new plants to a few places that didn't survive the harsh winter.

Around The House: Aside from working in the yard this weekend--not Good Friday or Easter Sunday of course!-- Bruce also added a dimmer to the lighting in our dining area AND has been washing the windows little by little. Everything looks great sweetheart. Have I told you lately how amazing you are?

On Keeping Home: Mt. Laundry has been conquered once again. Unfortunately, while Bruce was outside, I spent most of this weekend taming the piles and piles of laundry that seemed to have breed overnight. It was one of those weekends that I almost wished that clothes were one-time-use and then biodegradable/compostable.

One Of My Favorite Things: "I Wov Ew." Even if she doesn't quite know what she saying yet, it is still the sweet words to my ears...and my heart.

Brinley Anne This Week: ...is continuing to change every. single. day. She is beginning to count numbers 11-20 on a regular basis as well as say words to our night time prayers with Bruce and I. She is very good at saying the names of animals and colors. One day this past weekend, she even spelled 'fox'. We were all sitting down to dinner and she kept saying 'gork' instead of 'fork'. So I said, "Fork starts with the letter F like 'fox', and she said, "Fox. F-O-X." Bruce and I just stared at each other in disbelief for a few seconds. In all honesty, we're still not sure where or how she picked that up from.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: Nothing major. There are a few errands that I'd like to get done in town--donations to goodwill, the grocery store and probably the hardware store.

A Picture I'm Sharing:

Easter egg hunting on Easter Sunday.