Quick Takes #225:Tales of sanding and fruit loop necklaces

1. Crazy spring like weather this week which was in one sense so wonderful as it felt amazing to be able to go on bike rides and walks; and get some yard work done. I am however nervous for when winter comes rushing back and what that will mean for the plants starting to bud.
2. The great weather has made it easier to get a bunch of sanding done on all the wood for the Loft bed.  Not my favorite task but am hopefully improving my skills, and hopefully will start painting soon which I do enjoy though I'm sure by the end of painting all the parts and pieces I'll be happy to be done.
3. Liam and his classmates celebrated being a 100 days smarter!! Various activities included collecting a 100 of different items and necklaces containing 100 Fruit Loops!!
4. With Lent starting next week I really appreciated this post by Peanut Butter and Grace and all the wonderful suggestions for getting kids involved.
5. I've decided to give up reading fiction and so am trying hard to get Winter Garden finished cause it is wonderful!! I also really enjoyed my sister's latest even if it was steamier than my usual.
6. And I as I return now to my sanding duties I wish you a very good weekend!!
7. Photos of the week:

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Quick Takes #224: Crazy weather and growing kids

1. Life is good but the weather is crazy; we began the week with days in the 50-60's and are ending with a snowstorm.  Crazy Weather!!
2. I don't necessarily hate February but I do at times struggle with winter blues; and so am so curious about the concept of Hygge and really appreciated this post on Blessed Is She on how to embrace it this month.
3. We had people over to watch the Super Bowl who provided great distraction and support during the entire first half while the Patriots were remembering how to play primetime football ~ and celebrated with me when in the second half they remembered in a big way!! Not sure how many records were broken but that was one amazing game.
4. Take 4 goes to my newly minted 4 year old who has started asking me how to spell words and write letters.  The very definition of bittersweet is how  both excited and sad I am to watch her grow by leaps and bounds.
5. It is now less than a month till Lisbeth's 9th birthday and so plans are coming together including the fact that she would like me to make her a Pikachu cake.  I'm not sure which is the crazier concept: that she is about to start her LAST single digit year or that she still thinks I can bake!!
6. And in a 'watch this space' moment after months of discussion between Lisbeth and Dr Daddy I believe that the loft bed they decided to build might actually happen; with plans drawn up and perhaps materials being purchased this weekend?!?!
7. Have a good one!!

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Saving my life: Winter 17

Linking up with Modern Mrs Darcy and sharing some of the things saving my life and keeping the 'winter blues' at bay.

• Reading always and forever amen! Reading blogs and feeling connected, reading deep books and feeling informed and strengthen, reading light books and finding a quiet corner amidst the chaos to feed my spirit. 
  
  
  
• Playing an app game with my oldest. This is a tougher school year with more homework and tougher assignments and since winter doesn't always allows us the opportunity to run, laugh and play outside I'm cherishing the moments where we strategize together, celebrate silly successes and 'feed the animals'.
• Laughing; seeking out favorite shows like MASH and As Time Goes By and enjoying an episode or three.
• Lighting a candle or two in the evening.
• Weekly visit to a local coffee shop and making a cup of tea as we start homework.

What is saving your life this winter?

Open Book: February '17

Linking up with Carolyn and sharing what I've been reading

   In January I finally finished The Life You Save by Paul Elie learning more about Dorothy Day, Thomas Merton and Flannery O'Connor and being introduced to Walker Percy.  As I wrote before it is a dense book packed with information both biographical and spiritual and while it was a slog definitely a worthwhile one.

I'm currently reading Troubling a Star the last installment in the Austin Series by Madeline L'Engle which I've been playing catch-up on her books and reading over the last couple of years.  The book is in a sense very familiar visiting again with the Austins and L'Engle's writing.  The series seems to switch between slice of life and mystery intrigue and we are again in the realm of mystery as Vicki travels to Antartica to visit a friend and finds herself caught up in a power play to own a portion of control over the natural resources to be found at the South Pole.  This isn't shaping up to be my favorite book of her's but L'Engle is always good by me even when she isn't great.

What are you reading these days?
Please head over to Carolyn's for more Open Book.