Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY ~ November 30th, 2010


::Outside my window...it has been spitting snow all day. The kids are hoping we wake up to the ground covered, I dont think we're supposed to though :(




::I am thinking...about faith and the power of healing. Praying for a family member.




::I am thankful for...my husband, who always tries to help me as much as he can on those days that I am frazzled with the kids.



:From the learning rooms...we just started a Little House on the Prairie unit study. We sit on a blanket in front of the fireplace and read Little House in the Big Woods. I need to research and find some more activities to go along with it...maybe a lapbook. Anyone know of any sites?




::From the kitchen...I just brought a pan of super-thick & creamy chocolate fudge in from where it was cooling on the deck. Oh devine!

::I am wearing...layers!



::I am creating...been working on some new and fresh blog ideas. Also working hard on that secret project Ive been talking about...guess I need to reveal that huh? :) Maybe...tomorrow?!



::I am going...to meet TobyMac in a couple of days!! So excited (in a teenager/groupy sorta way. lol)




::I am reading...blog tutorials.

::I am hoping...




::I am hearing...the hum of the computer. I love silence.




::Around the house...snowmen, pinecones, candles, and dark red ball ornaments.




::One of my favorite things...used to be DC Talk. hahaha old school




::A few plans for the rest of the week: meeting some friends of Fred's from Hawaii...fixing them an italian dinner, concert, Christmas on the Square, blog work, and school.




::Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

For more daybooks check out Peggy's blog.

Menu Plan Monday -11-29-10

Monday: Sausage, hashbrowns, and eggs

Tuesday: Venison steak, scalloped potatoes, green beans

Wednesday: Oriental beef & rice

Thursday: Mom's Turkey Soup

Friday: Fred's italian ham & zucchini rigatoni, bread, salad

Saturday: Christmas party at the radio station

Sunday: homemade pizza

Happy Thanksgiving

Forever on Thanksgiving Day
The heart will find the pathway home.
~Wilbur D. Nesbit

Cranberry Orange Relish

Cranberry-Orange Relish


2 ½ cups orange juice

1 tsp cinnamon

¼ tsp ground clove

1 pkg ( 4 serving size) cranberry jello

2 diced delicious apples and ¾ cup dried cranberries

1/2 to 1 cup chopped pecans (or walnuts)

1 Tbsp grated orange or lemon peel (optional)


Mix juice, cinnamon, cloves, in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil on a med-hi heat. Add apples and cranberries. Boil a few minutes or until apples are tender.

Add to dry gelatin in a large bowl. Stir at least 2 minutes until jello is completely dissolved.

Refrigerate about 1 ½ hour or until thickened.

Stir in nuts and orange peel.

Refrigerate 1 hr or until chilled.

Simple Woman's Daybook - Nov 23rd, 2010

FOR TODAY ~ November 23rd, 2010


::Outside my window...today is sunny & chilly. Just yesterday, we were having thunderstorms & tornado warnings.

::I am thinking...of ideas & ways to teach gratitude to children. I heard a great program on Focus on the Family that got me thinking about it.

::I am thankful for...family. A close-knit family.

:From the learning rooms...a lot of "real life" learning recently. Not as much book work as I would like to be doing. I'm trying to not stress over it...soon we will have the schoolroom unpacked and put to rights.

::From the kitchen...tea pot is starting to whistle on the stove.

::I am wearing...jeans & a brown long sleeved t-shirt.

::I am creating...some fingerless gloves, after my Mom gave me a refresher course in knitting!

::I am going...to pick up some clutter, light some pumpkin candles, and make a pot of coffee before some friends get here this afternoon.

::I am reading...Ha! who has the time?!

::I am hoping...we see snow soon :)

::I am hearing...Ashleigh reading a Little House story to her little brother & sister...as well as the toy zhu zhu pet hamsters,though I'm not sure they're listening!

::Around the house...things are becoming comfortable as we continue to empty boxes, hang pictures...now that tv and internet are hooked up, things are certainly easier.

::One of my favorite things...down comforters. And feather pillows.

::A few plans for the rest of the week: clean house, cook/host Thanksgiving dinner with some of the family here, try to clip & organize some coupons, downtown Christmas Parade on Saturday. Packing up the fall decor and possibly setting up the tree.

::Here is picture thought I am sharing...

Basic Bread Stuffing

Basic Bread Stuffing

12 cups bread
3 cups chopped onion
3 cups chopped celery
1 1/2 tablespoons dried sage leaves
2 teaspoons dried thyme
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 1/2 cups canned low-salt chicken broth
2 large eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

Preheat oven to 325°F. Spread bread cubes on 2 baking sheets. Bake until bread cubes are dry and crisp, stirring occasionally, about 25 minutes. Transfer bread to large bowl.

Place chopped onion and celery in skillet and sauté until tender and beginning to brown, about 10 minutes.
Add sage, thyme, salt and pepper. Pour mixture over bread cubes.

Mix in 2 cups broth. (Stuffing can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)

Preheat oven to 350°F.
Place in a greased 13 x 9 x 2-inch glass baking dish.

Bake stuffing until cooked through and golden brown on top, about 1 hour.
While baking, moisten stuffing with more broth if stuffing is dry.

Monday's Menu Plan

Thankful..... For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson



Monday: Italian Night - Chicken & Spinach Alfredo, Artisan Bread

Tuesday: Crockpot Night - Italian Beef Stew over garlic mashed potatoes

Wednesday: Chicken & Dumplings

Thursday: Thanksgiving Feast - roasting instead of frying the turkey this year, bread stuffing, mashed potatoes & gravy, yams, cranberry orange sauce, cornmeal rolls, green bean casserole, pumpkin pie




Ah! on Thanksgiving day....
When the care-wearied man seeks his mother once more,
And the worn matron smiles where the girl smiled before.
What moistens the lips and what brightens the eye?
What calls back the past, like the rich pumpkin pie?
~John Greenleaf Whittier



Friday: Family Night - homemade pizza & a movie/games...maybe bbq turkey pizza?

Saturday: Leftover Night

Sunday: Sub sandwiches & chips






May your stuffing be tasty
May your turkey plump,
May your potatoes and gravy
Have nary a lump.
May your yams be delicious
And your pies take the prize,
And may your Thanksgiving dinner
Stay off your thighs!
~Author Unknown

Simple Woman's Daybook Part 2

I am hearing...children arguing over who is the boss. Sigh....

Around the house...rooms are beginning to look more like home.

One of my favorite things...fireplaces.

A few plans for the rest of the week...homeschool co-op classes, Christmas show at Opryhouse, Fred gone on three-day hunting trip.

I am unable to share a picture thought this week :( My blogger text doesn't seem to accept them.

So until next time....

Simple Woman's Daybook - via my iPhone/text

Outside my window...is a new neighborhood. A few quiet houses, but mostly trees.

I am thinking...about how men are such babies when they're sick.

I am thankful....that His mercies are new every morning.

From the learning rooms...we are back to the books this week. As well as unpacking, organizing and setting up our new Study.

From the kitchen...chili and bread bowls.

I am wearing...old sweat shorts & a black jersey. Unseasonably warm here today.

I am creating...our new haven. Our home.

I am going...to get these kids to bed soon. This time change has us all messed up!

I am reading... Getting ready to start Unlocked by Karen Kingsbury.

I am hoping...tomorrow is less windy. Wanting to take kids to explore the park and take some fall pics.

Menu Plan Monday

Monday - enchilada casserole, rice, bunt cake

Tuesday - chicken marsala, salad

Wednesday - crockpot potato soup

Thursday - Applebees

Friday - leftovers

Saturday - pizza

Sunday - Meatloaf, baked potatoes, green bean casserole