bluecanopy daybook

outside my window ~ Cool overcast morning which will turn to sunny and warm in a few hours.

daily rhythm ~ Trying to get in the routine of school everyday.  I’m still adjusting things and figuring out the best time to run errands since morning is when we used to.  We’re also creeping back into post-first trimester normality, although the laundry piles still snicker.  Thankfully the kids are so young and my husband is gracious!

I am thankful for ~ The blessing of seeing, venerating and being anointed with holy oil from the myrrh-streaming Hawaiian Iveron icon.  I’ve never experienced anything like this.  It was so moving and faith-building for Thomasian me.

in the kitchen ~ Bare shelves…monday is grocery shopping day.

Breakfast was pretty creative.  Thank goodness for the egg machines in the backyard!

Lunch chicken sandwiches and fruit or leftover pasta.

Dinner meatloaf potatoes and steamed veggies (we’ll see what’s on sale and in season in a bit).

I am wearing ~ a college alumni t-shirt,  cotton pants, hair clip, barefeet.  Definitely not a glamour day.  I need to try more.

I am creating ~ a list of tentative Christmas gift ideas with the goal of having them done by the begining of Nativity or at least Thanksgiving.

Bringing beauty to my home ~ Trying to relfect the changing season with artwork and various squashes.  I’d also like to have a fresh centerpiece of some sort on the table for each week…flowers, etc.  It is refreshing to see a new albeit small change.

I am reading ~ The Gifts of the Child Christ compilation of works by George Macdonald.  It is such beautifully ennobling fantasy.  I acquired it from a “swap” we had at the Women’s group meeting last month…we all brought our used goods to swap and then donate to one of our young missionaries for a garage sale she’s having to raise funds.  It was a successful idea, and I got these great books :)

I am hoping ~ To have a peaceful and gentle day with the kids…being sure to have this quote Mother Theresa wrote to her sisters concerning the children and people in their care nearby:

“Speak tenderly to them.  Let there be kindness in your face, in your eyes, in your smile, in the warmth of your greeting.  Always have a cheerful smile.  Don’t only give your care, but give your heart as well.”

Kind of lofty and I absolutely fall short, but what a  beautiful goal.  They are so much more responsive and cooperative when I’m peaceful and loving.  Lord have Mercy.

around the house ~ lots of veggie tales videos and VHS cases litter the floor, no matter how often I put them away.  The kids are obsessed with them, even just taking them out of the box, stacking them, looking at the, talking about them, etc. since Bonnie at church gave us a cardboard box FULL of what must be the entire set of VT movies!  Thanks Bonnie :)

making plans ~ I’m trying to find a nice place for apple picking…Julian, Oak Glen…any suggestions?

a picture thought ~a picture is a nice thought but I’m out of time!!!

mid-august already?

this summer of sandy feet, popsicles, bathing suits, bbqs, sweaty brows, sheet-sleep nights and spinning fans has seemed to sweep by in a flurry.

with our homeschool adventure beginning just around the corner, i’ve been doing a lot of thinking.

we’re following the classical model with charlotte mason practices in there. so we’ll be doing lots of reading, a bit of phonics, handwriting which he wants to do, art stuff, math from this cool book, family math, nature walks, fun projects, exploration and play.

we’ll see how it goes. trying to keep it fun and LOW pressure. our goals are to foster a love for learning and build the habit of doing school. this is just kindergarten after all, so we’ll take it nice and easy.

needless to say we’re getting excited.

life is so full and wondrous…i thank God i have the chance to be a part of this beautiful swirl.

basil’s blog

…has some new summer posts. Funny little man.

iambasil

small plum makes its presence known

at ten weeks our wee little fruit is now the size of a small plum.

ten weeks usually marks the start of the “morning sickness” symptoms for me, although they linger mildly throughout the day. i usually bid them a gleeful adieu at around week fourteen. you know how it goes…voracious hunger, persistent nausea, depleted momentum. deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeh. did you notice i can’t even bring myself to capitalize properly!! just kidding, i’m nursing and typing one-handed :)

lots of couch reading, slow and steady. i need to remember to hang in there a few more weeks. meanwhile, piles are growing and i swear i can hear them snickering as i pass them by.

any mellow summer activity suggestions for our much larger fruits??? poor things.

however, we do go outside and DO things, thanks to my wonderful husband…see?

oh and we’re butchering robert the frisky rooster tonight!  more to follow to be sure!

bluecanopy daybook

Outside my Window…blue skies and green grass

I am thinking… how should i announce the coming of number four? oops i just did.

I am thankful for…good books to read aloud

From the kitchen…lunch ~ english muffin pizzas with basil and garlic

I am creating…a general outline for kindergarten in the fall

I am going…to fold more laundry

I am wearing…denim shorts with a stripped 3/4 sleeved shirt, hair twisted in a clip & barefeet

I am reading…”The Hidden Art of Homemaking” Edith Schaeffer

I am hoping…Simeon takes a long nap

I am hearing…nursing baby and neighbor kids playing outside

Around the house…chairs, bench and other odds in random places left over from this morning’s living room “building extravaganza”

One of my favorite things…shady afternoons in the backyard on the blanket

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Day…toasting marshmallows on the beach after dinner at my dad’s

Here are some pictures I am sharing with you…

wisdom…couldn’t resist

“By His Resurrection, the Lord has brought us from death to life, and that Resurrection the “Angels in Heaven cry,” [for they have] seen the light of deified human nature in fore-ordained glory in the person of our Lord and Redeemer, in Whose Image and through the power of Whose Resurrection, all true believers in Him, all who have united with Him with all their souls, are transformed. Glory, O Lord, to Thy Most-glorious Resurrection! The Angels sing, rejoicing together with us and foreseeing the swelling of their ranks. O Lord, make us worthy, to hymn Thee, the Resurrected One, with pure hearts, seeing in Thy Resurrection the cessation of our corruption, the seeds of a new resplendent life and the dawn of coming eternal glory whose forerunner Thou becamest, being resurrected for our sake. The tongues of neither men nor angels are capable of expressing Thy ineffable mercy toward us, O most-gloriously Resurrected Lord!”

Bishop Theophanes the Recluse

Christ is risen!

mustard hills

chicks and crossroads

I’m experiencing somewhat of a blogging paradigm shift. I’ve been questioning this whole blog-a-licious adventure. What purposes does blogging serve in my life? What is it fulfilling, enabling, developing, cultivating, replacing, and encouraging — both good and bad? It’s an interesting question really. One I’ve asked myself many times…because blogging is so many things for so many people. But what is it for me?

One sweet Mrs. Tubbs offered me the wise advice that a blog could and should change with the author. Oh yeah, duh. Well then, (for now) here at the bluecanopy we will strive to keep it fun and simple. Those are the posts I like best. Not that my blog was ever some deep exploration of profound esoteric complexities, but I think I need to keep my opinions to myself and focus more on appreciating and sharing the life we’re carving out.

I suspect I don’t need to state these things, just act upon them; but for some reasons, no doubt inspired by the quiet house and my reflective mood, I felt compelled to, so there :)

Well then, without further ado….in all fun and simplicity, let me introduce our chicks! With a bit of work I was able to acquire a poultry permit from the city. I was surprised that we could have up to 20 hens…yikes! Six Rhode Island Reds have made their home in a blue rubbermaid in our dining room. In a few weeks they will cluck out into the coop we’re building from a converted rabbit hutch. Their feathers have budded a ton since these photos were taken. I can’t believe how quickly they are maturing. I’ll post updates as I can. Fresh eggs here we come!

a slow machine & lent

I haven’t posted for ages mainly because our computer has been running so slowly, coupled with the fact that the space bar was popped off by wee fingers and we don’t know how to replace it. All is well though…the weather is warm and illness has fled the premises. Speaking of illness, have you ever used one of these? Ahhhhhh. Breathing is nice.

And now, as lent is upon us I’ll probably be posting less.  I’m not officially “giving it up” but just trying to be more productive and thoughtful with my time.  Plus, it just gets plain busy!

Do check in on I am Basil though….that kid is full of ideas.

To those whom it may concern have a blessed Lent…and to all, I ask your forgiveness for the sins I’ve committed against you.

Take care all.