This Week At Home, 2012, Week 9

Little notes I write each day so that I do not forget these precious, fleeting moments! 

Trying to decide if I want lace in the kitchen, this is clipped in place until I decide. 

Monday...
I decided, last night, that I must get up early (5:30AM) today and exercise with my darling, so I did!  It made a huge difference, too.  I had a buddy to keep me committed!  

No school today, instead we had a wonderful visit with Grandma and Mom.  Grandma is doing pretty well.  She is less and less mentally "present."  I think she remembers us.  She sure loves the chocolate milkshake Mom brings her.  Anyway, it is good to go see her.  It's good for us all.

Grace has dance class tonight.  She'll be tired.  Ryan made a little money fixing another computer issue for a friend.  I need to find him a part time job in a computer shop.  He's ready.

From the kitchen today, I am making salmon tuna patties, broccoli slaw, and fruit salad.  (I discovered that canned salmon is gross!  Skin and bones are not for me! ) 

Grandma, Mom, and Kitty

Tuesday is here.  I'm grateful for the sunshine again today.  Rain is coming tonight and tomorrow, but there will be a warm up tomorrow afternoon.  It may reach 60 degrees!  Unbelievable!

Our morning went well. I am on top of the laundry or will be by the time you read this.  We started a new book, I, Juan  de Pareja  by Elizabeth Borton de Trevino.  Right from the start I can tell that we are going to love it.  We touched on all our subjects today, which is a great way to make progress, if you know what I mean!  ;-)

Ryan and I took a brisk walk after lunch.  Our little friend is here now.  I will fold clothes and make garlic lime chicken for dinner.  Grace will be off to art class.  I may get to see her latest creation.  It was not brought home last week.  I am also registering her for the art show coming in April.

A cake I made Saturday. 

Wednesday...
Trevor's fever came back last evening.  *sigh*  It's been since Feb. 12th that he's been sick, so I think a doctor's call is in order.  Grace is still fighting her cough and runny nose, too.

So,I take Trevor to the doctor and get his antibiotic for bronchitis.  Grace tells me that she woke up with ear pain, after I get back home. (Ugh, why not before?)  It's been a week for her sickness, so back to the doctor we go. Turns out that she has an ear infection!  So she is on an antibiotic. 

Ryan started getting sick on Tuesday, too. I am feeling a bit stuffy today.  Looks like I will not go back to AWANA tonight afterall.

Thursday...
I wake in the middle of the night with a sore throat, headache, and stuffy nose.  I can't sleep go back to sleep, so I am very tired this day.  I manage to get our reading aloud done.  Grace and Trevor do reading, writing, and math.  The school day is not a loss, at least.  I spend most of the day on the couch, however.  We've already canceled small group tomorrow.  I do need to find energy to get groceries,maybe in a couple days I can go.  Right now I just want to rest. 

Friday...
Woke up feeling a bit better after having slept for 5 hours straight last night.  The kids seem a bit better, too, though still congested and dragging.  I made a batch of bread first thing this morning so that we'd have some to eat today.  We were out.  I think I can get a little laundry done too.  We will do a lot of resting today after we finish our lessons.  The weather is a concern today.  The experts are saying that the conditions are ripe for tornadoes, hail, and damaging wind this afternoon and evening.  After all the poor people hit this week, I sure pray that the weather remains calm today.  Tornado weather in March is normal, so it's time to get the storm shelter back in order.  (Just a closet under the stairs, but better than nothing!) 

Wordless Wednesday: My Darlings

The French Press

My sweet friend, Sharity, asked about making coffee in a French press. 

This is all you need! 

I love coffee, good coffee that is.  I've used an automatic drip coffee maker for the last couple of years.  Before that I used my lovely press.  Why I got out of the habit, I don't remember.  It just happened that one day that I wanted to use the automatic feature of the automatic coffee maker.  I was in love with the idea of waking up to the sound of coffee brewing and then that faint whiff of coffee floating up the stairs to my bedroom!  (Yes, I do really love coffee that much.) 

Anyway, I recently rediscovered my French press.  (So glad I did not give it away.) Oh, what joy!  I really did miss it's rich, deep, almost chocolate-like flavor.  However, let me say, if you are not a coffee snob, you're probably better off just using your old drip coffee maker because there is a huge difference in taste that you might not appreciate.  :-) 

To make about two 8-12 oz. cups of coffee in the French press, I first heat the water in the kettle, and coarse grind my espresso beans in the grinder.  I put the ground coffee in the brew pot, about 1/2 cup of coffee.  Pour the hot water over the grounds.  Put the lid on the press and set my timer for 4 minutes.  When the timer goes off, I press down on the plunger and serve the coffee.

One thing I noticed is that when I have regular brewed coffee, I need a lot of cream.  When I drink pressed coffee, I use a lot less.  It just tastes so good that I don't need as much sugar or cream. 

Do you press or drip?  Or *gasp* not at all? 
~Jenn

Finally, It's His

He's been working, saving, dreaming, planning, and more.  Today his dream came true,his first new computer, an early birthday present.  Sometimes it's just fun being a parent and helping your child's dream come true. 

Today, I Am...

Happy... that Jeff is home for one more Saturday.  He knows for certain that next week they will start working Saturdays until April 14th. 

Excited...to perhaps order a new hard drive for my laptop.  It's been a couple long weeks without it.  At first, I thought I really did not need it, but I can see how it really comes in handy!  Absence really does make the heart grow fonder. 

Pleased...that Grace is no longer coughing.  She slept well, too.  She bounces back quickly from most illnesses.  Probably due to all the fruit that girl eats! 

Going to...bake a chocolate cake today for a special lunch tomorrow after church.

Annoyed...that my kids talk to me while I am on the phone, still at their ages!  This really annoys me!!! 

Starting to think... spring is here! 

Enjoying... my French Press coffee each morning! 

How about you?  What are you doing? 
~Jenn 

Saw this format at The Non-Consumer Advocate Bog and thought it might be nice to do as well. 

This Week At Home, 2012, Week 8

A daily little note written in order to remember each precious day.  

Monday...
Gym class, bakery, lessons and lots of laundry as usual.  Some how I felt behind all day, though.  And I was starting to get frustrated by the house mess.

The bestest kitty I know! 

Tuesday...
No little friend this week :-(.  Her grandparents are visiting, so she is having a great time with them instead.  We did get to our lessons, took Grace to art class, and got the house tidy, but not clean.  (There is a big difference!)  I made a favorite dinner of cod, Quinoa, and steamed green beans.  We also had whole wheat brownies for dessert.  *yum*  

Girl up-side-down?

Wednesday...
Helped a friend clean her home, which was just put on the market.  Cleaning her house inspired me to come home and get busy dusting and vacuuming my own home!  I also baked pumpkin muffins and two loaves of bread.  Lessons got back on track, too.  I made a big pot of broccoli cheese soup to go with the bread.  Oh, so lovely!  The kids had friends over who took care of eating most of the muffins.  I need to make a triple batch next time. 

Food never lasts long here.

Thursday...
Today was the day to really hit the books to pull this week off with a big gold star, because we are HOME ALL DAY and evening, unfortunately, Grace came down with Trevor's bug today.  (Ugh!)  I made sure that she took it easy this afternoon.  So,I had plenty of time to make a nice dinner of chicken with spices in the crock pot, steamed cauliflower, and brown rice. 

from the lens of Trevor Cam

Friday...
Must go get groceries, but not terribly motivated.   Need to finish lessons because of our unproductive Monday.  Ryan has a big function at church tonight and most of tomorrow.  This is his "big water park, sleepover" with the Jr. High.  Our small group is canceled due to the measles outbreak.

Weekending... 
Jeff will probably work Saturday.  Grace will need to rest.  At some point, I will go to the library to return DVDs and get more books.  Sunday we are having family over for lunch after church and then we will need to rest up for the coming week, because it will be back to AWANA, dance class, and karate at church!  Oh boy! 

Talkative Tuesday

Since we all know that Wordless Wednesday and I do not exactly work, I decided to post a Talkative Tuesday.   ;-)  *wink*

See those beautiful flowers?  Wow, how can I begin to thank my dear husband for these?  I have to say that this bouquet represents all of my favorite colors, too.  I've always loved pink roses, hydrangeas, and palms. Reminds me of springtime every time I see them.  Won't be long now! 

Sometimes you just need some flowers to brighten your day.

Thank you, Honey!
~Jenn