Daybook for Monday, July 14, 2014

outside my window . . . it's incredibly gloomy for the middle of the summer. And it's so nice. The clouds aren't keeping us from enjoying the pool or the green grass or the flitting of hummingbirds here and there.

As far as I'm concerned, the clouds can stay.

 I am listening to . . . Mumford and Sons.

 I am wearing . . . jeans, a sleeveless tee, and no jewelery except for my wedding set. It's a day for work.

 I am so grateful for . . . my mother-in-law watching the kids for a few hours. For seeing my own mom this morning. For having my grandma and cousin in town last week. For a husband who will come home in a few hours with a smile and a kiss for me. For my brother, for my dad, for my sister. For my growing, gorgeous kids. For family, just all around.

 I am reading . . . an old Bujold novel. Perfect.

 I am creating . . . the first chapter of a new story. Always a joy.

 around the house . . . Somehow it seems like the house needs to be eased into summer - along with the people and the schedule. I'm gradually arranging things around here to the way I want them to be this season.

 from the kitchen . . . we're eating lots of cherries and nectarines and watermelons. I'm making baked cheddar chicken chimichangas for dinner tonight.

picture thought . . . Adam in the middle of the King's River, building a cairn:

Daybook for December 16, 2014

outside my window . . . it's warm again. Here's the conversation Adam and I just had about this:

"Well, at long last, that dreadful cold snap's over."
"Yeah, it was bad there for awhile - down in the FIFTIES!"
"Hey, one early morning last week, I saw frost on the grass!"
"Sure . . . but we're spoiled here."
"Oh come on, it got down into the THIRTIES at night. That's ALMOST freezing."
"Well, at least it's back in the eighties now . . ."

(Actually, I kind of wish it were still cold. Shh, don't tell any of my fellow Angelenos!)

 I am listening to . . . my Advent playlist. (When I can tear myself away from my Christmas one - bad church-year lady!)

 I am wearing . . . leggings and long sleeves. Because I'm still trying to pretend it's cold.

 I am so grateful for . . . good teachers for my kids. So, so grateful to the kind and competent ladies at the children's school!

 I am reading . . . almost finished with "Thy Will Be Done", and sneaking in a little "Right Ho, Jeeves!" here and there.

 I am creating . . . aside from the knitting queue - which grows ever longer - I'm outlining several different books. I'll keep doing that till one of them sits up and yells at me that it's sure IT is my next project. :)

 around the house . . . just trying to keep everything ticking over in the midst of holiday prep. If I make it to Christmas week with a healthy amount of clean dishes and clean laundry, I'll be absolutely delighted.

 from the kitchen . . . I think almost all the meals I'm planning this week are slow-cooker meals. Which tells you something about what a nutty week this is.

 real education in our home . . . working on sight words with the twins. In addition to teaching phonics, their kindy recognizes that English is a weird old language were some things just need to be memorized. Dear old English. I do love all its odd crooks and crannies.

planning for the week ahead . . . LA LA LA LA LA I CAN'T HEEEEEEEEEAR YOU.

 the church year in our home . . . you know, this year the Jesse Tree seems to be really working. It must just be the first year where all the kids are really old enough to get into the stories. It's kind of neat! We've been doing it for awhile, and now's the time it's really taken off. It's fun when a habit pays off that way.

picture thought . . . and with that, here's what our Jesse Tree looks like:

Adam made the tree itself, and the kids and I sewed the ornaments out of felt.

noticing God's glory . . . there are so many COLORS outside right now. All bright, but sort of muted at the same time, because there aren't big swathes of one color in the foliage, but little bits of everything, like pointillism. The poor transplanted trees and bushes never can figure out what season it is here. Pinks and greens and oranges, all variegated and swirled together . . . all under a clear blue sky. It's really lovely.

And when I can keep the dog from diving under the bristly branches of all that loveliness, so that I don't have to crawl under the hedges to untangle her leash while she tries to eat the mockingbirds . . . well, then it's all even lovelier!

Peace of Christ to you,
Jessica Snell

Daybook: October 1, 2013

outside my window . . . it's a lovely, lovely day. Clear and crisp and about 70 degrees or so. Great day for a walk.

 picture thought . . . speaking of walking . . . we adopted a dog. Here's my lovely Callie-girl, the wonderdog:

She's mostly Border Collie, and even though she looks a bit shy in that picture, she's actually incredibly bouncy, smart, and good with the kids. She was fostered by one of the shelter employees when she was young, and so she comes to us pretty well-trained and very housebroken. And we've found her very easy to teach. I am LOVING having a dog.

Our cat, on the other hand, still hasn't forgiven us.

 I am listening to . . . Grey Havens, some more. And they have a Kickstarter! for a full album! I liked their last, mini-album so much that this has become the first Kickstarter I've ever contributed to.

 I am wearing . . . still in shorts and a tank top. This is the time of year when all of us Angelenos are repaid for suffering through the sweltering summer months. We do have the most lovely autumn weather.

 I am reading . . . just picked up Robin McKinley's new book, Shadows. I've heard good things about it, so I'm excited.

 from the kitchen . . . planning on using the last of the summer tomatoes and basil to make Pasta Margherita. Sniff! I'll miss you, summer food!

 the church year in our home . . . it feels like all my celebration of the church year this year has been wrapped around my new job as head of our church's Altar Guild. It's still the first year of our church plant, and so everything's still new, but it'll be really interesting to see how our celebration of the church year changes next year, as the routines at the church plant become more familiar.

But right now? I'm celebrating the church year by researching prices for seasonal altar hangings. :)

pondering . . . Elena's beautiful sonnet about Rachel mourning her children.

creating . . . a book, a book, a book!  :D Let Us Keep the Feast: Advent and Christmas" is now available for pre-order. It releases a month from today, so if you order it now, you'll have your copy well in time for the start of Advent. Check it out!

Peace of Christ to you,
Jessica Snell

Daybook

outside my window . . . it is hot, but experience tells me it's not nearly so hot as it'll be in, say, September.

I am listening to . . . Dallas Willard's series of lectures on the Divine Conspiracy. I highly, highly recommend this 12-part series, particularly this last bit on prayer.

I am wearing . . . workout clothes, because I just finished letting Jillian kick my butt. Again. Some more.

I am so grateful for . . . health insurance. Seriously.

I am reading . . . Tales of the Resistance, to the kids. Highly, highly recommended. The prose is sometimes a little of-its-era, but the stories are so good.

I am creating . . . hexipuffs!

around the house . . . there are many, many drying towels and swimsuits. The kids all just finished a few weeks of swim lessons. Loved seeing my eldest get stronger in her swimming, and the little ones enthusiastically tackle the scary skills of floating all by themselves and putting their heads completely under the water. :)

from the kitchen . . . so many tomatoes. So. Many.

real education in our home . . . we're reading, we're sewing, we're writing. We're, um, playing many, many video-games . . .

the church year in our home . . . it's Ordinary Time, that good, green, growing season. We're growing. We're putting in time helping out at church, getting better at tasks that are still new to all of us in our eight-month-old congregation. It's good.

picture thought . . . so, up at the lake, we saw these things swimming around, and thought, "Wow, those are really weird fish":

And then we said, "Hey, it looks like they have legs."

And then we said, "I don't think those are fish."

And then we caught one:

Turns out bullfrog tadpoles are really, really big. As tadpoles go.

Peace of Christ to you,
Jessica Snell

Daybook for May 13, 2013

outside my window . . . it is HOT. But so bright and lovely, I almost don't mind.

I am listening to . . . Nothing. But I should put something on, because I have Jonathan Coulton's "I feel fantastic" going round and round my brain and I think it's time for a new track.

I am wearing . . . shorts and a t-shirt. Nothing spectacular for, lo, it is Laundry Day.

I am so grateful for . . . my family. It's the end of the school year, and pretty much everyone in my family - on both sides - is somehow connected to academia, so everyone's stressed, but . . . we're all okay. And I'm grateful.

I'm pondering . . . the life of Dallas Willard. I'm so grateful for the work he did and am praying for his family, who must miss him very much.

I am reading . . . TOO MANY THINGS. Again, some more.

I am creating . . . I'm doing heavy edits on a novel, and really enjoying seeing the story that's growing stronger in the middle of the mess.

around the house . . . it's about time to switch the girls' clothes out for the next size up. Such a big chore . . . but so satisfying when it's done!

from the kitchen . . . watermelon and strawberries FTW! I love SoCal.

the church year in our home . . . this weekend we went on an Ascension Day hike with some friends from church. It was lovely! We decided that we probably want to make hiking a regular church activity, and I'm excited at the prospect of getting outside regularly with the people I worship with.

recent milestones . . . I turned Celebrating the Church Year at Home in to the publisher. I think it's good, you guys. The authors did such good work, and when it's done, it's going to be a book you can open at any time of the year and find the exact information you need to celebrate whatever season you're in. It's very readable, and very dense with ideas and inspiration. I'm excited. :)

the week ahead . . . editing the novel! trying not to die of heat stroke!

picture thought . . . my dad and me at the top of the Ascension Day hike:

Daybook for Wednesday, November 14, 2012

outside my window . . . a beautiful, 80 degree California day. I know, 80 degrees. It's finally gotten cold out here. ;)

I am listening to . . . "Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day". Yes, it's a Christmas carol, and it's not even Advent yet. But it's so pretty! I can't help myself.

I am wearing . . . pants! Like I said, it's gotten chilly. Bye-bye, shorts. See you next year.

I am so grateful for . . . coffee. And many other things. But right now? Mostly coffee.

I'm pondering . . . How to make my two main character stop flirting and get on with finding out who the killer is.

I am reading . . . The last chapter of The Elements of Style. My favorite quotation from the last chapter: "Prestigious. Often an adjective of last resort. It's in the dictionary, but that doesn't mean you have to use it."

I am creating . . . kilt hose. Very, very slowly. Cables and I are still not the best of friends.

from the kitchen . . . Last night we had roasted butternut squash soup, crusty bread, cheese, and wine for dinner. So simple, so good.

real education in our home . . . My son has figured out that he knows how to read. I mean, he's been able to read for awhile now, but I don't think he was really aware of the fact. But now he lays on the floor next to our library book basket and devours everything in there. It's pretty awesome watching that part of him wake up. :)

the church year in our home . . . This one deserves a blog post all to itself. For one thing, I'm thinking of very little other than the church year, as I edit this book about it. For another thing, we're part of a church plant that's launching in under three weeks (seriously, I so owe you all a blog post about this . . . suffice it to say: it's Anglican, it's in our city, we've been working towards it for years, and God (and our bishop!) seem to have said, "Okay, NOW", and so we're all scrambling to obey. I'm still sort of in shock about all of it - we're going to have a church home near our home. God is so good.).

recent milestones . . . I realized that my hair now reaches my waist. It only took four years! (I feel weird being happy about this - it's a goal reached, sure, but all I had to do to get there was not cut it. Pretty passive - how do you feel properly triumphant  about successfully not doing something?)

the week ahead. . . I don't know, but next week is Thanksgiving! Next week! How'd that happen?

Peace of Christ to you,
Jessica Snell

Daybook for May 29, 2012

outside my window . . . the weather is firmly decided for summer: it's hot and arid, as it likely will remain for several months to come. The kids have been agitating about going to the pool, and I'm beginning to agree with them.

I am listening to . . . more Mumford and Sons that they won't take my money for yet. C'mon, guys, just publish the next album so I can shove my dollar bills into your talented hands!

I am wearing . . . a cotton skirt and cotton tee. Like I said: summer's here.

I am so grateful for . . . money to buy fresh produce. I went grocery shopping today, and it just struck me what a gift is to have so much good food available and to also have the means to purchase it for my family.

I'm pondering . . . Pentecost. Our church's celebration of the feast was so beautiful, and I think I'm going to be thinking about the gift of the Holy Spirit all week. (Lord willing, all my life!)

I am reading . . . Ovid's Metamorphoses. More research for the novel I'm plotting.

I am creating . . . a novel! Again. Some more. :) Actually, now that I have a real synopsis (I'm starting actual composition next week), I'm realizing that the story I want to tell is incredibly ambitious. I feel like someone who's just barely started being a regular attendee at her gym deciding that what she really needs to do now is learn to bench-press 200 lbs.

around the house . . . we adopted a cat! So, now the house is full of children, books, AND randomly-strewn-about cat toys.

from the kitchen . . . there is much chopping of veggies. Broccoli, mushrooms, peppers, potatoes, parsley . . .
the church year in our home . . . our patio planters are overflowing with red geranium blossoms, just in time for Pentecost!


What's going on in your home?

Peace of Christ to you,
Jessica Snell

daybook for 4/16/12: back from Bright Week

outside my window . . . it's dark. I'm back to blogging late in the day.

I am listening to . . . an old ballad. I don't know the name - it's from my husband's playlist, not mine - but it's mournful and beautiful both.

I am wearing . . . workout clothes. I went straight from the "30 Day Shred" to making dinner, to reading to my daughter, to putting the kids to bed, to doing the dishes. Now I'm sitting, and boy won't that shower be nice when I get to it at my bedtime.

I am so grateful for . . . my kids.

I'm pondering . . . how the Trinity is the gospel. (Thank you, Dr. Sanders!)

I am reading . . . The Deep Things of God, as noted above. I read the chapter on salvation today, as I sat in the shade and minded my kids while they played at the park. It started slowly, but it grew to a glorious crescendo. I think the last half of that chapter was worth the price of the whole book.

Also, I'm careening towards the end of Essie Summers' autobiography. It's a long and chatty book, but it's also like a time capsule back to the time just after the second world war - and the world she takes you to is all about domestic life and the writing life. I'm fascinated by it. So many differences from my days in the particulars, but such similarities in overarching themes.

I am creating . . . my contemporary romance. Today I wrote my heroine halfway through a very uncomfortable conversation. Because you should always make your heroes uncomfortable by showing their embarrassments instead of making your readers uncomfortable by skipping over something you've made them anticipate.

around the house . . . almost time to switch out the kids' clothes for the next-bigger sizes. I can just feel it.

from the kitchen . . . made fried rice today. Made it extra eggy because yesterday we were treated to real Thai cooking and I felt I ought to at least try to live up to our hosts' good examples.

real education in our home . . . reading good books to the kids. Still. Always. Read a chapter of "The Tower of Geburah" with Bess and the younger ones got a good dose of Henry and Mudge.

the church year in our home . . . finishing up the Easter candy. :D

recent milestones . . . for the kids? Our twins were baptized at the Easter vigil service. For me? I rewrote/edited my last novel, and am sneaking up to "The End" on the current one.

the week ahead. . . oh, if I have my way, just a good, ordinary week.  That never seems to happen, though.

picture thought . . . um, I have no idea if I've posted this before, but if I haven't, shame on me. (My friends are nerdier than your friends.)

Peace of Christ to you,
Jessica Snell

Daybook for January 23, 2012

outside my window . . . the sun's just come out after what was a truly satisfying morning rain storm.

I am listening to . . . "A Hymn to God the Father", sung by my alma mater's acapella group. " Wilt Thou forgive that sin which I did shun a year or two, but wallowed in a score? When Thou hast done, Thou hast not done, for I have more."  Golly. It gets me every time.

I am wearing . . . my hand-crocheted wool vest. It's just barely cold enough for it. (We treasure our cold days here in SoCal, scarcity equaling value and all that.)

I am so grateful for . . . bananas. I stopped eating them for awhile, but I'm now renewing my appreciation of what a perfect, filling snack they are.

I'm pondering . . . Lent. See above song choice.

I am reading . . . The Elizabethan World Picture. It's all about order. (And John Donne!)

I am creating . . . many, many things. A few weeks ago my writing life sort of exploded (I'll blog about that at some point, but I'm still trying to wrap my head around these new projects). I think all this mental activity (frenzy?) explains why I'm headed back in my reading and listening to old favorites like Donne. Donne (like Sayers) always helps put my head back on straight.

I am thankful for . . . writing projects. I'm doing what I love.

around the house . . . there is much making of soup, the better to treasure our precious cold and wet weather.

from the kitchen . . . 12 bean soup tonight and split pea in the crockpot for tomorrow.

real education in our home . . . working on making evening devotions with the kids more regular. All four children are currently a bit obsessed with Moses, and we're capitalizing on that.

the church year in our home . . . thinking about Lent, mostly. Enjoying how light and airy the house feels now that all the Christmas decorations are put away.

recent milestones . . . just hit 30,000 words on the current novel!

the week ahead. . . more writing, more loving on the kids, and a visit from a relative who's coming into town from Scotland.

picture thought . . . enjoying some GORP on top of the ridge we hiked with my dad last weekend:

Daybook for November 7, 2011

outside my window . . . it's dark. It's after four'o'clock: of course it's dark.

I am listening to . . . This. You're welcome. (the line that totally makes that song is, "I'm not jokin' any more, girl . . .")

I am wearing . . . My Birch Vest! It's finally cold enough that walking around all day in wool is appropriate. Or at least not wildly uncomfortable.

I am so grateful for . . . not being sick. We were sick here for two weeks straight, and it just wasn't any fun.

I'm pondering . . . I just finished The Curse of Chalion (again) and I'm pondering what it had to say about saints. In that book, the saints are those who open themselves completely to the will of the gods, and the gods pour through the open portal of the saint's person in order to accomplish their works. And the saint sits back and watches in astonishment at what his own hands accomplish when hands other than his are guiding them. He is in the company of his god, and it is enough.

            That is it, that is the theme - and I think it's a true (as far as it goes) reflection of Christian life: that God is enough. He, Himself, is our peace.

            The Christian life is, over and over again, surrendering ourselves to God and finding ourselves again in that place of profound peace (“His will is our peace," as Dante said). And I wonder if that’s not what I’m meant to write about, in the end. But I can only write it if I live it.

I am reading . . . Not Chalion, sadly, having just finished it. I'm in the middle of several nonfiction books, but I'm dithering about a bit for a novel. I might start West Oversea or The Hawk and the Dove, which comes highly recommended from a friend.

I am creating . . . my novel! Which is going swimmingly, just as it's supposed to (my hero and heroine touched for the first time today and I cackled like an old matchmaker at how giddy it made them both), and that unexpected trilogy is getting plotted too, just as it wasn't supposed to (I'm the one getting a bit giddy in that case - it's turning into just the sort of story I love most: "Fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love, miracles...")

("Doesn't sound too bad. I'll try to stay awake.")

I am thankful for . . . Adam.

around the house . . . getting everything shaken back to rights after two weeks of being sick.

from the kitchen . . . my grandma's persimmon cookies!

real education in our home . . . Bess and I are reading Mandy together. It's just about the perfect story for any girl of any age. In making her home, her home finds her. It's very good.

the church year in our home . . . still collecting gifts for the kids for the Twelve Days of Christmas. Pondering what I'm going to do for the Advent fast. (See, that's the fun of being Anglican. If I was Eastern Orthodox, I'd just know.)

recent milestones . . . got the novel to 15,000 words today!

the week ahead. . . I'm having my tooth pulled tomorrow. No, it doesn't sound fun to me either. But I'll be very glad to have it out. It's not where it's supposed to be (and never has been) and it's been a minor irritation for over a decade now.

Can I add that I'm also grateful for dental insurance?

picture thought . . . Here is my terribly blurry proof that I've figured out how to knit cables:

It's a hat for a friend, just before the ends were woven in. Adam obligingly tried it on for me so that I could make sure it'd fit the friend, and now it's in the laundry, waiting to be washed and blocked. But - cables! I'm so chuffed. I love learning new things.

Peace of Christ to you,
Jessica Snell

Daybook for October 18, 2011

outside my window . . . slowly dwindling light, all golden, the western sky still too bright to look at.

I am listening to . . . the WEBS podcast.

I am wearing . . . a sleeveless cotton shirt, and a floaty cotton skirt, both in blues. Very calming, pretty, and comfy.

I am so grateful for . . . feeling the freedom to pursue my writing career. After speed-writing Adam's birthday present, I feel a new energy and, to be frank, ability, to really tackle my current work-in-progress, and even my current work-in-editing. I think in those crazy two weeks, where I pushed myself harder than I've ever pushed myself before, I finally really learned the work of writing.

And as Miles Vorkosigan points out, the reward for a job well done is . . . another job. Work is good.

I'm pondering . . . writing, and what I want to do. Contemporary romance? Historical romance? Sci fi? I thought the question was, "which?" but I think I was wrong about the question, because the answer seems to be simply, "More."

I am reading . . . still finishing up False Colours and In Memorium.

I am creating . . . a scarf out of recycled cashmere. I'm at the boring, "repeat stitch pattern till it measures X inches" part. But then it all explodes into lace, so that'll be fun.

I am thankful for . . . an amazing afternoon spent with my mom and Cynthia Ruchti this past Sunday. Still pondering all we talked about.

around the house . . . I recently cleaned out the pantry, the deep freeze, and the fridge. But I'm getting itchy to do some more decluttering upstairs, and get this place really, truly organized.

I can't help but think that simplified housekeeping will only help with all my writing goals. I'm not adverse to working hard when it comes to the house, but I'm increasingly desirous of also working smart.

from the kitchen . . . my friend Emily's carne asada recipe. It's on the stove right now. Folks, I am so hungry right now. Just waiting for the twins to wake up and we will EAT.

real education in our home . . . lots of books. I'm reading Redwall with the eldest, and going through The Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading with Gamgee (who's picking it up so fast) and lots of picture books with all four. Also working on having more regular family devotions after dinner.

the church year in our home . . . I have Michaelmas coloring pages printed out that I haven't yet remembered to give to the kids to color. How sad is that? But the kids are getting excited about All Saint's Day, and I am too.

the week ahead. . . the weekend is jam-packed with extra church stuff. Hoping to live the week in a calm and measured manner so that we end up at the weekend with energy for aforementioned extra church stuff.

picture thought . . . My sister and I at her son's first birthday this past weekend:
Peace of Christ to you,
Jessica Snell

Daybook for 9/13/11

outside my window . . . a nice, cool, end-of-summer day. The clouds this morning were glorious, covering half the sky, but in little cotton-ball puffs, the edges of each all a-shining.

I am listening to . . . Mumford and Sons' "Home" and Brooke Fraser's "Something in the Water". One is mournful and longing, the other is upbeat and triumphant, and I like them both so very, very much.

I am wearing . . . shorts, a grey t-shirt, Celtic knot earrings from a dear friend, and my hair up and off my neck (of course!).

I am so grateful for . . . a good school experience, so far, for the two oldest.

I'm pondering . . . how I want my writing life to look, now that Adam's gift is finished and I'm back to ordinary times. I think that I always want to be editing/querying a book (so one finished), be writing a book (in process), and be plotting/researching a book (prospective). That way I can move smoothly from one project to another. Ideally, when I finish writing one book, I want another one waited for me: plot outlined and research complete.

We'll see how that goes.

I am reading . . . Ghost Ship, by Lee and Miller. And I'm sadly almost done. Write faster, guys!

I am creating . . . I just finished a tiny vest for a new little boy due soon at our church, and I'm about to cast on a cardigan for Adam's cousin's new baby, also due soon. Oh! And I'm starting my next novel - my first contemporary romance! The research on that one is finally done. Exciting times.

around the house . . . everything's actually pretty clean and calm, now that the rowdy summer days are gone. I'm enjoying the peace.

from the kitchen . . . I have chicken baked; I'm going to shred it and put it on bagels tonight with some marinara sauce and cheese to make mini-pizzas. Strawberries are waiting to be washed for our side dish.

real education in our home . . . spending time each day listening to the kids talk about school, reading books, helping with homework. Doing some popcorn reading of the Psalms with my eldest.

the church year in our home . . . today is the feast day of Cornelius the Centurion and of St. John Chrysostom. I find myself wanting to pray, "May God give us both faithfulness and golden words."

recent milestones . . . the two eldest started school! They both like it, and I'm very grateful. For my part, I'm enjoying having more one-on-one time with the youngest two in the mornings, and with the oldest two in the afternoons, while their little sisters are napping.

the week ahead. . . hoping to get a handle on the new rhythm of our days, now that we've got two in school.

picture thought . . . We had the pleasure of spending a long Labor Day weekend with some dear friends who live a bit north of us, and one of the things we got to do was to help with the bee harvest. It was so cool!

Peace of Christ to you,
Jessica Snell

Daybook for August 17

outside my window . . . eighty-degree weather in August. So weirdly wonderful.

I am listening to . . . knitting and crocheting podcasts. Thinking it's about time to switch to some music.

I am wearing . . . A light, full cotton skirt and a tank top. I feel comfy and pretty, and that's a valuable combination.

I am so grateful for . . . kids who love to play together. Seriously.

I'm pondering . . . appearance and what we communicate by how we look, whether we want to or not.

I am reading . . . Tennyson's In Memorium. Also, just finished Deadline, and am bummed that the next one in the series isn't out yet.

I am creating . . . a couple of scarves, one out of laceweight alpaca, and one out of my Kool-Aid-dyed yarn.

around the house . . . The upstairs is clean and picked up. The downstairs is clean and NOT picked up. My goal is to have both floors clean AND picked up by the weekend.

from the kitchen . . . there is much fresh produce and very little actual cooking. That's okay: it's summertime.

real education in our home . . . Bess and I are popcorn-writing a story together, i.e., she writes a sentence and then I write a sentence. It's about fairies, but the best part is the names of their evil goblin enemies, things like "Snot Rag" and "Rotten Mustache" and "Poop Paper". Gamgee is learning to read.

the church year in our home . . . I thought a lot about the Dormition of Mary on Monday, but didn't do anything to celebrate it. Still enjoying the long, green, post-Pentecostal season. Making Christmas presents. Grateful for mass every Sunday.

recent milestones . . . Gamgee read his first book!

the week ahead . . . getting the house in order. Finishing the bulk of the research for the next novel. Reading to the kids, a lot, I hope.

picture thought . . . perfect morning from camping: in the Sierras, next to the fire, drinking coffee, reading Tennyson.

Peace of Christ to you,
Jessica Snell

Daybook

outside my window . . . a lovely day. Cool and sunny and the air still smells fresh from the rain earlier in the week.

I am listening to . . . More Mumford and Sons. How can I not love a song that starts "Serve God, love me, and mend"? That quotation from Much Ado is one of my life's mottos . . .

I am wearing . . . a long-sleeved, forest green shirt with a cowl neck. I'm enjoying my long-sleeved shirts while I can, because pretty soon the weather will take its summer turn downhill into the 90s and stay there for months, and all I'll be able to stand wearing will be sundresses and tank tops with shorts.

I am so grateful for . . . Lapsang Souchong tea. Smoky goodness. Also something that needs to be enjoyed before the summer weather begins in earnest.

I'm pondering . . . prayer and obedience.

I am reading . . . The Way of Kings, Hearing God, the Purgatorio, Acedia & Me.

I am creating . . . My eldest daughter's Easter dress. I'm on the yoke, which is the last bit to do, save pressing and lining it.

around the house . . . I have an amaryllis blooming above my kitchen sink. I picked up several flower kits (pot, dirt and bulbs) on sale for $1 after Christmas, and am planting them one at a time, spacing them out so that I always have flowers.

from the kitchen . . . I made black bean pizza last night. It's definitely our favorite new vegetarian recipe discovered this Lent.

real education in our home . . . We're getting ready for my daughter's first science fair. I'm so proud of her, because instead of just a project, she's decided to do a real experiment. She's making three different varieties of paper airplanes and testing them to see which will fly the farthest.

the church year in our home . . . Lenten cooking. Crocheting the kids' special Easter outfits. Having some serious theological conversations with our son, who is getting baptized at Easter vigil. I'm so excited for him.

recent milestones . . . I've got both of the main characters of my novel back to England (most of the novel takes place in France, but the dénouement takes place in England). Getting them back onto their native shores feels like an accomplishment to me!

the week ahead. . . We've got the science fair coming up and I've got a doctor's appointment, but other than that, it's a refreshingly normal week. I hope. :)

Peace of Christ to you,

Jessica Snell

Daybook - March 7

I love it when Kerry posts these, so I thought I'd try one of my own:

outside my window . . . It's sunny and there's a bright blue sky with puffy white clouds.

I am listening to . . . Michael Card's Joy in the Journey. Resonating in my mind is the line, "to look into your judge's face/and see a savior there." Perfect listening for right before Lent.

I am wearing . . . the tie-dye dress I wore when I went to tell my now-husband that yes, actually, I did like him, and was he still interested, even though it was almost five months ago that he asked? (He was.) And leggings. It's still March, after all, and the time for sundresses alone is not yet.

I am so grateful for . . . the sunshine. And green leaves to see it through.

I'm pondering . . . Lent, mostly. Hammering down exactly what my intentions are. It's a good thing.

I am reading . . . Dallas Willard's Hearing God. And the epilogue of Joshua Choonmin Kang's Scripture by Heart.

I am creating . . . the first of three crocheted Easter dresses (one for each girl). The crochet-work is done, but I still need to sew it a lining, and then piece it together. (The boy isn't left out, btw, he's getting a vest in his beloved orange.)

around the house . . . the bathrooms are getting scrubbed down today. Boring, but so very lovely and necessary to have done.

from the kitchen . . . turnips tonight! The exclamation point is because they're beautiful, tiny, sweet spring turnips. I'm going to boil the greens and steam the turnips and toss them with butter, salt and pepper. Mmm, my mouth is watering already. Seriously, these are so good.

real education in our home . . . Just plugging away. But in the good, solid, reading-writing-arithmetic kind of a way. Beginning to think about curricula for next year. Solidly into thinking about activities for next year. Realizing that I really am the type of homeschooling mom who likes being home. (Versus running around to a million activities.)

the church year in our home . . . getting ready for Lent!

recent milestones . . . I finished frogging my first thrift-store sweater for the yarn. Frogged the sweater, wound the yarn into hanks, measured what I had, and washed the hanks. I know have ten and a half hanks of a wool/mohair/acrylic blend drying from hangers. I got 1200+ yards out of a $7 sweater dress. Now that's a bargain!

Here's a close-up that shows the real color of the yarn:

There's a couple of shawls in there - or an afghan - or . . . something. I don't know. But I had such fun processing the yarn!

the week ahead. . . This week we have the Ash Wednesday service coming up, and we've also got Gamgee's birthday on the way. Present is ordered, now I just need to negotiate with him on the cake. He wants carrot cake. I think carrot cake is an abomination. But he's the birthday boy, so he'll probably win.

Peace of Christ to you,

Jessica Snell