Daybook ~ Late November

Thinking about:
    Getting serious about Christmas shopping so as not to leave it all for the last minute. What additions I might make to how kid-wise we observe Advent.

Excited For:
   Thanksgiving and getting together with family and watching the kids play with their cousins. An Outer Banks trip my sisters and I are starting to plan for next summer. Haven't been in almost five years!

Wearing: Mostly jeans and clogs or skirts and boots; still in the 60's most days so have not really had to break into the sweaters much but as of this weekend that is about to change.

Planting:
   Bulbs are all planted. Most of the leaves from nearby trees are down so hopefully coming down the homestretch on raking/bagging.  Have already done a bit of pruning but want to do some more once all the leaves are down.
   
My View:

Reading:  All fall Charlie and I have been reading or rereading parts of the Vorkosian saga by Lois McMaster Bujold. A friend started us on the series a few years ago towards the end but enjoying it Charlie has since bought all the books and so having reread everything I have read before I thought I would read one I haven't yet.

Watching: Blindspot, and the North&South mini-series. I read the book earlier this year and recently borrowed the DVDs from my sister. I really enjoyed it; felt like it was well acted, faithful to the book and so fun to see Brendan Coyle in another role.

Cooking: Spinach Quiche and otherwise trying to eat down the freezer ahead of the holiday.

The Kids: Elisabeth is still crazy about dinosaurs! Becoming a stronger reader all the time, is going to find some chapter books featuring her favorite Fancy Nancy under the tree.

Liam continues to enjoy Pre-K and all that he is learning about letters and numbers.  He is by far the smallest in his group at gymnastics but seems content to keep trying despite a weekly bump or bruise.

Caitlin is as much if not more of a talker than Lisbeth was. Favorite show is currently Max and Ruby.
Still enjoys drawing everywhere but is slowly learning to resist the temptation walls provide.

Quick Takes #195 Life these days

1. Really enjoyed participating in the 31day posting challenge last month but clearly needed a break afterwards but now want to play a bit of catch-up.
2. Halloween went well in the end with Elisabeth happy with how her Elanor ( a superhero of her own creation) costume came together and I finally figured out that costumes frightened Caitlin and she wanted to wear her own clothes. So I put on her longest princess dress and added a pink cape for warmth ~ Lisbeth dubbed her 'little pink riding hood' and we were off without a hitch. 
3. November has stayed at the warmer end of the fall weather spectrum which I have appreciated as I raked and bagged ~ and I'm sure the kids appreciated as they pile jumped and we even managed a few more playground playdates with friends.
4. The All Saints Pageant at Lisbeth's school went well and it was nice to be able to follow-up this week by acknowledging the feast days of Saint Margaret of Scotland who her best friend had chosen to research and Saint Elizabeth of Hungary who Lisbeth had chosen.
5. After the attacks last week a few people have asked after my family and so I want allay any fears; nearly all of my family on my mom's side live in Belgium and so were not near the attacks. They are of course (as am I) heartsick about the perpetrators ties to Belgium. I think one of the hardest lessons we are learning as we hear of Americans radicalized and young women disappearing from good neighborhoods in London is that it can happen anywhere.
6. Weekend plans include meeting with a Pre-Cana couple and going to a birthday party for a friend's son. What ever yours includes, have a good one!
7. A Picture from Halloween; better later than never right?
   
   
   
   Please head over to Kelly's for more 7QTs

In remembrance and thanks!

In Flanders Field by John McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

WWRW: November 4th

Recently finished To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee which I read as part of the Modern Mrs Darcy reading challenge. I don't remember what I read instead of this in high school but better late than never, right? Anyway; I'm glad I have read it ~ the childhood recollections and reflections of Scout Finch a young girl growing up in rural Alabama are touching without being saccharine.  With only a couple of exceptions no character is all good or all bad but rather the full spectrum of neighbors are shown at their best and worse.

Currently reading Jesus Feminist which is a nice change of pace after reading 33 days to Morning Glory. Both excellent in their own way but after reading Michael Gaitley's preparation for Marian Consecration with it's deep questions and profound theology which raised as many questions for me as it answered I needed something a bit lighter. According to the introduction Sarah Bessey intend Jesus Feminist to be a 'sitting around the campfire', sharing of experiences and putting aside the hurts and misunderstandings, and for a bit focusing on the fact that we are all fearfully and wonderfully made.  I'm only about a third of the way through but so far really appreciate Bessey's pacing and easy prose.