Outside My Window:  wait, I'm sitting outside on the deck by the pool.  It is sunny and 75 with a light breeze blowing.  Gone is all of the humidity of the past week.

I'm Thinking:  that I am glad the whole graduation thing is over.  We had a nice weekend with the ceremony and the party was great (it didn't rain until the end).  But I am tired of all the disorder and disharmony of my space.  It's nice to be back to a normal routine.

I'm Thankful for:  a loving son who drove me to a dr's appointment this morning when I had a headache.  For a son and daughter who stayed home and cleaned up the house from the party last night and started the laundry before they went to their swimming lessons.

From The Kitchen:  nothing!!!! and lets keep it that way for awhile.  my kitchen needs a rest.

I'm Creating:  lesson plans for Matthew for the upcoming school year

I'm Going:  nowhere and I like it that way.  I'm enjoying the sunshine and the nice weather

I'm Reading:  Finishing up Elisabeth Eliots  Passion and Purity and am going to start A Passion for Purity by someone who doesn't come to mind at this moment.

I'm Wearing:  white shorts and a black tank top and flip flops

I Am Hoping:  that my husband doesn't have to work late tonight but I doubt it considering the very nice weather. 

I'm Hearing:  the sound of the fountain the kids bought me for mother's day, the birds chirping and my soldier son going into the pool to do some strange type of new exercise.  (you never know with him)

Around the House:  Mary-Kate is writing thank you notes,  Matthew is sitting at the picnic table writing a letter to Jason who is currently at basic training in Kentucky

One of My Favorite Things:  I'm sure I have said this before, my family about me safe and sound.  Ian should be arriving soon from work too.  We are only missing two.

A Few Plans for the Rest of the Week:  take Mary-Kate driving sometime, entertain my sons friend on Wednesday,  prepare for our pizza guests tonight, get these plans done, ship some finished projects out that I really need to stop forgetting

A Picture Thought to Share With You:

My daughter and two of her friends on graduation night.  They look like they can take on the world.  Do any of you parents remember being that young?

She got all beautiful before the ceremony.  Her friend Grace came and did her hair.  What a good friend.  Everyone should have such friends as Grace is.  Then she got all dressed up in her new outfit. 

The Mass was beautiful and then the ceremony.  She got two awards and was smiling and happy throughout.  How can a girl not be with such a bunch of protectors all around her?  Now she is tucked up in her bed with her family safely about her.  She has been showered with love, prayers and good wishes.  God's choicest blessings on you our princess.

The lawns are mowed (thanks to my soldier)  I couldn't have done any of this without him.  Matthew and Mary-Kate and I would be dropping in our shoes right about now.   The trimming is done and the gardens are weeded.  The cakes and brownies are made.  The food is bought and planned.  The house is as cleaned and as tidied as it can be with people living in it.  The wall is built.   Grace should be here to do MK's hair and make-up (reminds me of the dance)  Her outfit is finished (I just got both the overskirt and underskirt hemmed)  Thanks be to God the serger didn't malfunction.  The repairman got the washer fixed and it didn't cost an arm and a leg (only about an elbow). 

So all we need is for the dad to come home from work and get showered and ready.  Mom needs to shower and get herself ready.  Then we leave for the ceremony.  (Matthew didn't even give me an arguement about taking a shower.  There is hope for him.)   Can't forget the gifts for her friends.  We will survive this evening.  Then the next hurdle is the party.  I am thinking about peaceful lakes and kayacking on them.

And it would be around 82 out with about 75% humidity.  Oh well it could be worse.  It could be snowing and blowing.  It is afterall New York State.

I have been contemplating why it seems different when a daughter is graduating than when a son does.  It seems that this difference is not only inside of me.  I have talked with other mothers of graduates and it seems to be the same feeling in them also. 

Certainly it is not that they are more specail than their male counterparts.  I felt a certain amount of sadness and nostalgia when all of the boys graduated and left home.  Could it be that your daughter is an extension of yourself?  That she is, especially in this house, your ally and thus you feel that you will be alone without another female around?  Whatever the reason there is a degree of sadness mixed with the joy of her accomplishments this day of her graduation.

So this tranquil scene of kayacking on the lake last Sunday is what I will keep in my mind this day as we prepare for the graduation Mass tonight.  All day long my prayers are for her and for her success.  As a mother we pray for each of our children in a special way.  For the correction of their little faults and for them to grow closer to Our Lord.  That they learn the beauty and joy of service of God through service of others.  Today I will pray that, as she commences into the world, that her spirit will retreat to her soul and stay in close contact with He who makes her who she is.  That she will remember the lessons taught in her home and carry them away with her to the world and to all who come into contact with her.

The Lord bless her and keep her.  The Lord lift his countenance upon her and give her peace. 

Matthew's grades are done and I shall file them with the school tomorrow.  On top of that my IHIPs are done and they will be filed with the school tomorrow also.  New York State is a very demanding state when it comes to paperwork and homeschooling.  It is a good thing from the point of view of accountability.  Those who would not otherwise be accountable would be found out or fall by the wayside if they live in a school district like the one that we live in.  If, however, they live in one that is lax then it doesn't mean anything. 

Anyway, I am now free from paperwork until I have to turn in my quarterlies on the 30th of November.   Hooray!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

May I say that he did not do too poorly considering that he dislikes school very much (except for religion and biology) and that he has no one here to compete with (which makes a big difference).  This mother is proud of her son.  This coming school year I have some things planned that will help the competition thing and also will give him some company since his sister will be gone.

Way to go Matthew!

 The Simple Woman's Day Book

For Today June 24 (where did Monday go?)

Outside my window.....  It is partly sunny and it is getting muggy.  The weatherman is calling for more rain.  Look on the bright side, the rain makes the vegetables grow and that will make us have more food in our freezer for next winter.  (it also keeps us indoors to get work done inside)

I need......  To start thinking about what I am going to make and serve at Mary-Kate's graduation party on Sunday.  I have been preoccupied with the clean-up of the house and the yard.

I am thankful for........  My children and husband and how hard they work when I get into one of these cleaning frenzys.   It is unreal what havoc I can wreak on this place.  But I think it is worth it when it is all done.  (isn't it?????)

From the kitchen.......  It is clean and neat and I am thinking thoughts of what to make for supper tonight.  I think that we are finally running out of leftovers.  (I knew they would come to an end eventually)

I am wearing......   Grey capris and a purple Life is Good tee shirt and flip flops

I am creating.......  More aprons and doll clothes for sale on my web page.  Hope to get that up and running soon.

I am going.....   Nowhere today.  (I really hope)  I'd like to stay home all day for a welcome change.

I am reading.......  Passion and Purity  by Elisabeth Eliott

I am hoping......  to sew and sew and sew all day (but it will probably be laundry and meatballs)

I am hearing.....   the clock ticking and the click of my daughters computer as she posts on her blog site.

Around the house.....  all is peaceful and quiet (I wonder what POBrien is doing?)  Matthew has gone to borrow the neighbors bushhog so he can mow the weeds around the barn foundation.

One of my favorite things......  is knowing that all is in order and that we are trying to do the will of God.

A few plans for the rest of the week.....  finish cleaning up for the party, get the food made for the party,  get through the graduation ceremony with my composure still in place

Here is a picture thought that I am sharing with you......

This past Sunday at one of favorite places to be.  My husband and some of my children on the top of Bald Mountain in the Adirondack Mountains.  This is a family traditon.  When we get to the top of the mountain we take a picture by this rock.  Matthew is getting a bit too large to sit underneath the rock anymore.  How I wish that I had had a camera when they were small and had taken pictures of them on other trips.  But those trips are locked in my memories and that is where they will stay.  This trip I share with you all that you may see the happiness and love that they have on their faces. 

My daughter and I just took a walk.  A very long walk.  I think it was about 4.5 miles.  We went around the big block. That entails going up a very long hill and then coming down again.  Now, I'm not complaining.  It is not that hard to do and I am hardly tired at all.  What I am getting at here is that now I deserve to eat, right?  This is how the mind of a woman who is over-weight and is constantly struggling with her weight works.  I exercised and I worked hard so I deserve to eat, Right?  But the reality is that eating right now will cancel out the walk I just took.  I really and not all that hungry and I don't need to eat.  So I have to find something else to do to distract myself from this desire to eat.  But the food is all here convenient to my hunger.

I recently read an article by St. Augustine about fasting.  I'll have to post it at an other time (when I am feeling righteous and not weak).  He made a lot of sense and it is something that an over weight person should do periodically.  It helps strengthen the soul as well as having the added benefit of fewer calories taken in, Right?

I'm rambling.  Time to find something distracting to do.

  Tonight we are having pizza.  This is a family tradition started by my parents.  The men (a term I use loosely here) make the pizza while the women sit back and relax (again I use the term relax loosely).  Tonight, since my son is home on leave, and since he fancies himself a cook, I have surrendered my kitchen to his capable? hands.

He has been chopping and mixing and raiding my pantry and refrigerator for the last two hours.  But that's okay.  His doughs don't look like mine, but that's okay too.  They will taste great since I don't have to cook.  Everything tastes better when you don't have to cook it.

Tonight he has even gotten Matthew's friend Brett involved.  Of course what boy is going to stay out of things when food is involved?  The air of concentration is fun to watch.  I don't think that Brett gets to cook at home very often.  Stick with my soldier he will get quite the education.

Some of the help is a little reluctant.  Matthew has been making pizza all his life so it's no novelty.  Besides he isn't enjoying pushing out these very cobwebby doughs.  (I can't say that I blame him)

So the master takes over.  Look at the skill with which he does the job and gets it done.  Of course being 7 years more experienced could be a help.  Can't wait 'till things come out of the oven.  The nachos aren't going to cut it for me.  It's sure good to have this guy home.

The guy is home.  After much waiting and his older brother calling me three times yesterday to ask if he was home.  Then driving through a thunderstorm and heavy downpour.  Then drinking the worst coffee that was ever made.  Here he is.  He's home in my garage entering into the cleaning frenzy. 

There are three pies in the oven and two more on the counter waiting to be baked.  There are pork chops thawing and salt potatoes waiting to be cooked.  The kitchen is in full swing.

Here is my family sitting in my clean, uncluttered livingroom.  My husband consented to letting us have our supper there while they watched a movie.  This is a rare treat.  He probably said yes because it is so nice  in there.  Even Ian came over to enjoy.  We worked hard all day to sort and organize and move furniture and sweep and mop and dust until everything was bright and shining.  Even through the thunderstorm and the hail we worked.

This is the other side of the livingroom.  This has the kids computer and the little room off the side has Mary-Kate's organ and the place where we have our family devotions.  There is, unfortunately no good place to put Ian's gun safe so there it sits.

This is the neat and tidy diningroom.  Mary-Kate got down all of the cobwebs and dusted.  We sorted out all the table linens and put them all away neatly in one place for  a change.  The cookbooks are sorted and organized.  We still have to put new lights on my year-round Christmas tree but that room is all done.  The fish are happy to have a nice room to look at while they are swimming. 

Here is Mary-Kate's piano.  She organized all her music.  We tidied up the cupboards up above the piano and dusted the top of the piano.

The table has fresh linens on it and we put fresh napkins in the holders.  The every-day display has a letter from Jason in it and a certificate saying that Mary-Kate has been accepted at Morrisville State College for the fall semester.

This is the best of all.  Mary-Kate and I finally have our sewingroom back.  We cleaned and sorted in the spare room until there was enough room to have all of the sewing machines together in one place.  We put the daybed in the boys room and left the sofabed in the spare room so that if there is company they can use that room. 

There is enough room for us to sew or for her to her beads or to spread out our scrapbooking stuff.  It is great to be able to spread out and not have to pick up to fix supper or when company comes.  It has been six years since we lost our sewing room. 

Thanks be to God we got it back.  And thank you to Doug for letting us do all this cleaning so that we can have our room.  (and for putting up with this up roar)