October Daybook-Canadian Thanksgiving Ed.

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving, everyone! And, Happy Columbus Day to my American friends. I hope everyone's enjoying themselves, either by the shopping discounts or with family and friends, having wonderful turkey dinners and all the fixings.

Let's ignore my blogging hiatus jump into the Daybook shall we?

Outside My Window

Today is a 14 degrees Celsius kinda day...with the sun playing peek-a-boo in the clouds. It's a bit chilly, but the sun is warm. A perfect early October day.

I am Listening To

The sounds of DD and DS painting in the dining room...talking about mixing colours, and painting their creations. The muted hums of the washer and dryer, tending to the never-ending stream of laundry.

I am Wearing

Charcoal capri-length leggings and a dark brown long-sleeved jersey tunic...what I call "socially acceptable pyjamas."

I am Thankful For

Oh so very much. Eucharisteo has been on my heart this weekend, with it being Thanksgiving here. Eucharisteo for: my salvation, my husband, my children, our extended families, living in the best country in the world, our home, food, clothing, shelter, my husband's job, our car, our health, our church family, our friends, medications that enable me and DD to function in the world, c-sections that meant my husband wasn't left a widower and childless at a young age, healthcare, glasses for my husband and both my children...oh so very, very much for which to be grateful to Our Lord.

I am Pondering

Eucharisteo...the easy and the hard. Pondering the mystery of joy, grace, and thanksgiving all rolled into that one word...and how it needs to shape my life even more than it has already. Am I ready for this? Hmm...

I am Reading

The Virgin's Lover by Philippa Gregory. I have gotten hooked on Ms. Gregory's writing. Finally, a 21st century author who can actually write something well. I've read The Other Boleyn Girl, The Queen's Fool and The Red Queen. I've enjoyed all of those novels. Although they are historical fiction, they are well-written, and draw you into the sounds, smells, textures, pomp, poverty, and showiness of the Tudor and pre-Tudor courts. Having been to London one year ago, and seen just a smattering of the places where these things took place...oh, my imagination soars, and for those hours moments when I'm reading, I am there, and seeing it all happen. That is a true test of a good writer: can he/she take you RIGHT THERE, where you can see it all happening? Ahhh...bliss.

The Imam's Daughter by Hannah Shah. So far, I've read the first 2-3 chapters, and all I can say is...WOW. A serious, eye-opening insight into a whole other culture and religion, written by a brave woman who lives to tell of it...and serve as hope for others.

Catching up on: Canada's History magazine. My lovely Mom gets me a subscription to this, and has done so for almost all my married life, for my birthday. It used to be called The Beaver, but due to sordid implications, Internet search engines bringing up all manner of crudity when looking for it, they had to change the name. Boo, I say...but, I totally understand why they did it. They also publish Kayak, which is a graphic-novel style magazine of Canadian History for children ages 9 and up. I'm thinking of that for my children for Christmas, possibly.

I am Thinking

Of how quiet it will be here when DH is away for work for about 3 weeks, for work.

I am Creating

Not a whole heck of a lot. I need to do more of that. Next on the list: creating the magnets for my November magnet-calendar. I also need to knit a few dishcloths for a small gift for our next-door neighbours who will be moving next month (we will miss them a lot...our children play nicely together).

On my Ipod

Same ol'-same ol'. I need to overhaul what's on there though...and see if I can get a couple playlists going, one of which will be high-energy stuff for when I'm walking/running/working out (ahem).

Toward Rhythm & Beauty

Rhythm: Still establishing a routine that will work. A huge part of this is simply getting up before the kids do in the morning. Almost 85% of my battle is that. So, I will start there. After that, I will work on the other things...but I'm betting dollars to doughnuts that if I can get the wake-up routine happening again, the rest will follow.

Beauty: I got my autumn mantle-scape and pennant banner done for our fireplace. I really like how it looks. This weekend, DH and I put up a new light fixture in our bedroom. The old builder's basic ugly square glass thing didn't shed a lot of light, and besides, it was u-to-the-g-l-y. I really like the one we have, which is this one. I've also been organizing, arranging, and re-arranging and purging throughout the house...my ultimate goal being to deep-clean each room in our house, starting with the Powder Room. It hasn't been done in the 12 years we've been in our home, so it's kinda due. Right now, before I do that, I'm catching up on the housework that has been neglected of late.

To Live the Liturgy

Yes, well. What is there to say, except that I desperately need to overhaul this area, too? Part of the waking up ritual...

I am Hoping & Praying

That DH's work trip goes well and he comes back safely and without lost luggage, etc.

That I will survive DH's work trip, and that I and the children will be in one piece when he gets back.

That the children and I won't get sick while he is gone.

In the Garden

Well: the cucumbers were a bust. I think I got 3-4 cukes out of my 3 plants. The tomatoes however, have done well. I have put most of them up, diced and frozen, or in canned salsa. I have a few more on the vines for picking, and some green ones I hope to give to JD to use in her green tomato preserving. I'm already thinking ahead to next summer's garden and will add another 4x6 foot area to it. I hope to add some beans next year, try cukes again, and maybe 1 squash plant. I also want to plant dill and try my hand at garlic and onions...but we will see.

Around the House

Apart from the cleaning/purging/organizing/deep-cleaning...I need to re-do the pantry and freezer inventory lists, and get the pile of "stuff" from the purging off to a donation place...it's gotten large, so perhaps one of my friends with a minivan will get roped into helping me. We'll see...I may be able to manage it with an empty car, after the kids are in school, someday.