Autumn and Laundry

New blog look - because it's autumn and because orange is my favorite color! I need to dig out the Autumn wreath for the front door...

Today is supposed to be the last day of hot weather around here, high of 96 degrees. Tomorrow is supposed to be 88, and we begin the Autumn Slide from there! Ahhh, I can't wait. I am sooo tired of being hot and sticky all the time. There's actually a rumor that it may rain on Tuesday!!!!

And so, about laundry. Sigh. We do a load of laundry every day around here. Sometimes two. My grandmother prefered to have a laundry day, but she was chained to her machines and piles of laundry for a whole day!!! So I do a load each day. I try to have it folded and ready for the children to put away by about 8:30am or so, but it's a lofty goal.

I do have an ironing day, usually Tuesday. I leave the board set up all day, and iron in 2-3 item increments. It seems to work for us.

Uh oh. Fighting downstairs, gotta go.

P. S. My girls are getting sick...

Autumn

Well, it's officially Autumn. The air is cooler, colors are changing, the light has a different quality. We've broken out the warm clothing, the teapot and teacups, and the hot chocolate. I should bring in a bit of firewood so there's dry wood for that first rainy day.

I'm beginning to mentally organize my 2nd Annual Ornament Exchange. Leave a comment, or email me if you are interested. Same rules as last year - have to be willing to give out your mailing address, ornaments must be $5.00 or less, you pay for shipping. I'm thinking I'll do it the week of Thanksgiving, with ornaments to be mailed no later than Dec 3rd. I'll send out an email to my usual peeps the first week of November to begin the info exchange.

I have also begun this week to have mandatory outside time each day. The children must spent at least a half an hour outdoors. With this lovely weather, who can resist? Plus, it gives me some time without them underfoot. So I can vaccuum, you know?

Well, I'd better get Sissy's school stuff finished for the day. We're meeting Brenda and her boys at the park at 2:30. Have a great day, everyone, and I'm sorry that yesterday's post was so incredibly whiney...I'm better today.

The Weekend

We had a wildly exciting event happen at our house yesterday. Now remember, we live in suburbia - row upon row of houses painted in various shades of beige. When what to our wondering eyes should appear but a deer prancing down our street!!! Yes, a deer. And it was pretty big, so I'm thinkin' it was a male. What are those called again? Something about money...oh, yes, a buck! Hannah and Nathan were so excited, they tried to run after it and had to be corralled by a very quick Daddy Man. Sigh...how perfect of an Autumn Event is that?

We also went to lunch at the Stricklins home. Now, Sissy had Mrs. S for her Cubbies teacher last year and knows her well, but the rest of us knew the Stricklins from saying hi at church. This lunch was perfect. Very casual and relaxed. Mrs. S served homemade chicken noodle soup and fresh made bread (YUM!). And Mr. S has a train set up in the backyard around the gazebo! Heaven for a 2yr old boy!!

I've not thought of any interesting topics for a poll for this week. Any ideas? But as I was reading through some of my favorite blogs, I see that Pleasant View Schoolhouse (PVS) has posted directions for making a fabric grocery bag. Delightful! See her link to the left if you want to check it out. Unfortunately, PVS is as likely to read my blog, as would say, Michael Jordan.

Hmm..what else happened this weekend? Ahh - ants invaded the pantry. I HATE that! Clearing out, spraying, wiping down, putting back. Grrrrrr...but at least the top shelf in my pantry looks neat and tidy now.

I woke this morning with the 'urge to purge'. I am cleaning stuff out! And, thank you Lord, there is a goodwill pickup tomorrow! How convienent is that?! I've thinned out my falling-out-of-the-cupboard plastic container collection, secretly threw in a few old junky toys that haven't been played with in months, added a handful of old music CD's that I've outgrown and voila - feeling better already! Now to figure out how to get rid of all those Windows 2000 tech manual thingies in the office closet...who uses Windows 2000 anymore? If I can clear that space, I can put a couple really big, rarely played with, but too sentimental to toss toys up there.

Well, that's it for now. Vikki dear, if you're reading this, I need your Tackle It Tuesday info!!

Random Thoughts

It is officially Autumn here in NorCAl. I love Autumn. Yes, I meant to capitalize that. And I love the word Autumn. So much better than Fall. Autumn just seems to encompass all the wonder, color and scents of the season. Red and gold leaves, cinnamon, brisk outdoor air. The hot, sticky days of summer have given way to long sleeve shirts and wondering if you need that windbreaker. I'm inspired to light candles in the evening.

My sweet Nathan (aka Mighty Man or Bubba) is 2 1/2. Yesterday he asked me to vacuum out his carseat. ?!?! His fathers genes are showing thru...

Today I hope to make some progress on a beanbag project I'm working on. I have to cut out 46 more, then start sewing. I hope to have the sewing completed tomorrow. Next week will be filling and finishing.

I got my ultrasound appt - Nov 28. Yes, we are finding out the sex. For the record, I'm guessing a girl. My friend Pam also says she 'has a feeling' that it's a girl. Pam used to be a labor/delivery nurse before becomming a mommy, so I'll take her guesses any day! Speaking of Pam, I miss her. I should call her today. I should also call Erin, Karyn, Tanya, Becky, a couple ladies from church, and a bunch of other entities for stuff I need to get done.

I am beginning my Christmas preparations. I've made a list of all the people we want to give gifts to. I've completed (including wrapping) about 7 of them. But it makes me think about what I'd like to have for Christmas. I don't have any pressing needs this year, so I just have a want list. Both of my watches died, so I should replace one even though I don't wear one normally - you never know when you're gonna need one. I'd love to have the book Dangerous Wonder. Christmas ornaments are always a hit.

Check out the poll I posted last week. 100% of people prefered to be loved over respected. Interesting. Why is that? I suspect because they're all women. All the men I surveyed (my Hubby) prefered respect. This will have to percolate in my brain awhile. I'd like to comment further, but need to think it through. Your thoughts would be appreciated here!

Well, better get started on my day. Have a great one!