The Simple Woman's Daybook

Simple Woman's Daybook for February 10, 2013

Outside my window . . . snow is gently falling, and more snow is expected tomorrow.  It's beautiful!

I am thankful . . . for the very special family times we had in January.  First, we celebrated my dad's 90th birthday.  His wife (my mom), all his children (three daughters), ten out of eleven grandchildren, and all two great-grandchildren were able to come from across the United States to honor him and reminisce about family times over the years.  Next, we celebrated my mother's 86th birthday at a fun restaurant with all of her daughters.  Finally, a son and daughter-in-law came for a baby shower for my very first grandchild.  It was a wonderful January!

In the kitchen . . . four loaves of banana nut bread are baking in the oven.  The smell is wonderful!  

I am hearing . . . Season 3 of Downton Abbey on T.V.  I am writing and watching at the same time.  I can also hear a fire crackling in the fireplace!  

I am creating . . . a Redwork Birdie Calendar Quilt designed by Little Miss Shabby.  I enjoy having a small piece of handwork always ready to work on.  I am nearly finished with the February block.   

I am going . . . to head to the living room with my redwork when I finish this post so I can enjoy the fire. 

I am reading . . . Stone Fox by John Reynolds Gardiner with my 4th grade book club, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (Great Illustrated Classics) by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle with the Domination Readers (5th grade boys book club), and The Quilt Walk by Sandra Dallas.  I love being a reading teacher!

I am hoping . . . for more snow.  We need the moisture!

I am looking forward to . . . watching my hyacinths continue to bloom.  It's such a treat to have bulbs in the house during the wintertime as a sign of the spring to come. 

I am learning . . . how to run an online book club for quilters.

Around the house . . . my husband is reading a book in front of the fireplace.  I will be joining him soon!

I am pondering . . . how to organize my blog to accommodate the Quilters' Book Club! 

One of my favorite things . . . is the 5th grade boys' book club, Domination Readers.

A few plans for the rest of the week . . . lunch with longtime friends, my book club meeting, and Valentine parties at school. 

Go to http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/  if you'd like to participate or read other women's daybook entries.

You might enjoy reading my previous blog post:

http://www.starwoodquilter.blogspot.com/2013/02/lady-of-lake-quilt-block.html

Lady of the Lake Quilt Block

This 12" Lady of the Lake block is the 20th block of my Starwood Sampler Quilt, created to tell the story of my home and community.  I made it as a block of the month with my quilting group, the Persian Pickles.  A friend and I chose the blocks, and we found this pattern free on-line at:  http://www.mccallsquilting.com/patterns/details.html?idx=8078.  Alternate blocks in my quilt are set straight and on point.  This block is set straight.

Our community has three lakes.  In years past, this has meant a productive ice harvesting business, boating for tourists, and a water source for the trains so they could refill their water tanks and continue uphill.  Now, our lakes are sources of recreation as well as habitat for wildlife.

Winter Morning

On cold winter mornings

When my breath makes me think

I'm a kettle,

Dad and me wrap up warm

In scarves and balaclavas,

Then we fill a paper bag

With bread and go feed the ducks

In our local park.

The lake is usually quite frozen

So the ducks can't swim,

They skim across the ice instead,

Chasing the bits of bread

That we throw,

But when they try to peck the crumbs

The pieces slip anbd slide away,

Poor ducks!

They sometimes chase that bread

For ages and ages,

It makes me hungry just watching them,

So when Dad isn't looking

I pop some bread in my mouth and have a quick chew.

The ducks don't seem to mind,

At least they've never said anything

To me if they do.

                    Frank Flynn

 

 

You might also enjoy reading my previous blog post:

http://www.starwoodquilter.blogspot.com/2013/02/eating-jumbles-and-wearing-apron-with.html