Simple Woman's Daybook

For today ... Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Outside my window ... it is a beautiful day! The sun is shining but the temps are only going to be in the low 80's. We have had some rain so the grass is green again (and also needs to be mowed).

I am thinking ... about some of the kids we knew in Oklahoma that graduated from high school last year and how consumed their lives are with getting into the "right" sorority. It is mind-boggling to me how that is the focus of their kids' futures. It seems so pointless. I can't imagine spending that kind of money to send my child to college to be involved in anything other than academics. It is just another way I see such dramatic differences between how I raise my kids and how others do.

I am thankful ... for the contentment of a simple life.

I am wearing ... a Baltimore Maryland t-shirt and gray sweat knee-length shorts.

I am creating ... a care package for my Mother-in-Law who starts another round of chemo tomorrow.

I am going ... to take Kyndal to get her wisdom teeth extracted on Thursday.

I am wondering ... why in my 40-some years of life I have never read To Kill a Mockingbird.

I am reading ... To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.

I am hoping ... that when Dawson and I go to his community college on Friday for him to re-sign two documents he has already signed, that the financial aid step of his enrollment will finally be complete! We thought it was, but it's not, even though we were told that it was. I just don't get it.

I am learning ... about the great resources at History.com for classrooms. I hadn't thought about using the show American Pickers as a history resource, but how much fun would that be? We have "Freedom Fridays" which is, basically, a day where the kids have to do learning all day without me doing any teaching. They are free to learn about what they want, with some guidance. They like to watch some educational shows like Brain Games. Eli loves being a detective and American Pickers has a whole website devoted to Kid Pickers, and there are teacher resources. It even gives guides for kids to do their own hunting and picking and investigating/researching. We have a great secondhand shop in a nearby town and it would be so fun to take them there on a Friday, give them each a limit on how much they can spend, and have them choose something to pick and investigate further.

In my garden ... I will be later today. Since the temps are cooler I am going out to tackle the weed situation. I want to make it pretty again, even if there aren't any vegetables growing. I need to get it ready for our enrichment class we are hosting this next month based on the book The Victory Garden by Lee Kochenderfer.

In my kitchen ... is the rest of Brynne's Dr. Pepper birthday cake that I need for someone to eat before I do.

In the homeschool room ... we are on a very specific break from any school work until August 31st. I see homeschoolers starting back, and our public school starts on Thursday, and I think, "No! We just aren't ready yet!"

A favorite quote for today ...

A peek into one of my days ... 

Laundry, coffee, Project Runway

One of my favorite things ... are quarter zip shirts in the winter. I found this cute monogrammed one through Groopdealz and I am going to order it with the birthday money Rick gave me. I will wear the heck out of that thing! Just trying to decide what color thread to do for my monogram. I'm thinking mint green.

From the board room ... While pinning some science ideas, because I always need science ideas, I came across these cute Jello Sky with Fluffy Clouds. There is nothing scientific to them, but they would be fun to do when studying clouds!

Post Script ... I have found a new blog I like called Marc and Angel Hack Life, a personal development blog. They write three inspiring posts each week with the intention of helping others thrive in their own lives. Everybody needs a little boost of inspiration, huh?