For Today… June 5, 2012 at 6:59pm

From the Heart:  I had a nice visit with Carolyn today. We didn't get to see Venus make its transit across the sun (very cloudy), but we did have our French-themed celebration of the end of the school year with good food.

Big changes are going on all around me, and I'm unsettled about them. But what can you do? Cope and move on.

On the Homefront: New homemade liquid soap is put away in its container for storage. Herbs have been dried and have been put into jars with pretty labels. A pretty bunch of lavender is drying and is a source of frustration to Missy, who can't reach it in order to eat it.  (She stares at it and starts her hunting purr.)

In the School Room:

School is done for the year! Yay! But, as all homeschoolers know, school is never truly out. Life is school.

In the Literary Scene: 

The girls and I left off in the middle of Two Towers, but there was no help for it (sore throat & a cold, visit from Grandma Judy, and the end of the school year). I am in the middle of Cotillion, which is pretty good. The Regency-era vernacular dialogue is a bit much at times. ( "Dicked in the nob"? ...I will refrain from further comment.)

Outside my Window… it's cloudy and gloomy, but there is a bit of light on the horizon. A baby sparrow is convincing a male cardinal to feed it every time the cardinal comes to the feeder. I guess its wing fluttering and gaping beak are too much for the daddy to resist!

I am thinking… that I need to go water my plants, especially the hydrangea bush that is still looking puny after its transplantation. There is still housework to do, but, then again, when isn't there work to do? I am thinking that I should be counting my blessings instead of feeling kind of down.

I am thankful for…good health and my family.  Pretty labels on jars filled with dried herbs. Birds outside my window. A bunch of lovely lavender drying.

From the kitchen… a mess! But Katie and Hannah made crepes for dessert, and we filled them with jam, chocolate chips, and homemade whipped cream.

I am wearing… clothes. (Why is this question in here anyway?)

I am hoping… that my summer doesn't get too filled up with stuff I don't really want to do.

I am creating… soap, I guess. Dried herbs. An amigurumi monkey for Sarah.

I am hearing... the dishwasher and the girls listening to AFV.

One of my favorite things… good health, beautiful nature, days at home.

I am praying for... good health (always) and for wisdom.  A friend's father-in-law who has encephalitis. A friend who's on a prayer mission.  South Sudan.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week… no band on Wednesday, Lowe's to get house stuff, landscaping on Thursday with Jenn, Growth Group, celebrating Justin's birthday on Friday (maybe a hike on the Buckeye Trail and Young's Dairy), and the Day of Service on Saturday. Oh, and I need to finish studying the current chapter in my Family Herbalist course.

I accomplished since last week… I don't know. I can't think of anything major.  Oh, Jenn and I took out 5 huge evergreen shrubberies (< insert Holy Grail voice here >) around the house. I walked about 5.5 miles last night with two friends. I hiked 4 miles with Craig and Gail on Saturday. We had Cara and Andrew and the girls over on Friday night. (We watched RV. :D) It's been pretty laidback here.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you:

 

Be Still and Know by David Arms

 (Of course, the rest of that quote is "...that I am God."  The hummingbird is a nice picture of my mind, actually, so when I went to look for a picture to post here and came across this one first, I figured God was trying to tell me something.)