Outside my window....the sun is not up yet but I bet I can guess that it is raining.  The forecasters have been calling for rain today and my hips and back agree whole heartedly.  As a matter of fact the whole week is supposed to be cold and damp.  I am so glad that we spent the weekend enjoying the last of the fine fall weather.

I am thinking....that soon the rainy weather is going to turn into snowy weather.  Ian has been impatient for snow to come because that is when he gets all of his overtime at work.  When the snow comes then the plows go out and we won't get to see very much of Ian.

I am thankful for...not only the blessings that I enjoy but those that have been showered on my friends and family. 

From the schoolroom....MK is beginning her second to last week of her first semester of online learning.  It has been a bit rough for her but I think overall it has been a learning experience beyond just the subjects that she has been taking.  Matthew is halfway through his second quarter also.  That in itself is a miracle since he has been working so many hours at the store and he has been sick twice.

From the kitchen....I believe that there are enough mashed potatoes left from Sunday's supper for shepherd's pie, after that I haven't a clue.

I am wearing....jammies. It is Monday after all and too early to be thinking about changing. 

I am creating....stacks of clean laundry, a house full of clean rooms, and a happy and satisfied husband.

I am going....it is Monday so I will be home all day long.  The rest of the week is another story though. 

I am reading...Venerable Bede's Ecclesiastical History of England.  Sounds dry but it is actually a very good read especially if you are an English major.

I am hoping...to finish several projects this week. Next weekend is a pie sale at our church and I would like to have some time to do a little baking.

I am hearing...the soft shushing of rain on the windows, the sighing of the wind as it blows through the evergreens on the edge of the lawn, and the moans of the house as it wakes for another day.

Around the house....all is as it should be.  The sewing room is a mess since MK, Melissa and I worked in there on Sunday.  The kitchen is ready to face another week thanks to a wonderful man who cleaned up after supper on Sunday, and the livingroom is lived in as it should be in a home as busy as this is.

One of my favorite things...spending time listening to my family.

A few plans for the rest of the week.....holy hour on Tuesday, visit with Grandma Moses on Wednesday, teach my fifth graders on Thursday, holy hour on Friday, and fit in all my other obligations, chores, and desires along the way.

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

Remember all that wood that was cut up and stacked to go into the basement to burn?  Doug and Ian loaded up the last bit of it onto the dump wagon to go into the shop to stay dry until it goes into the basement to be burned.  Otherwise the cellar is full and the house is warm.

Onto the shop on the hill to finish up other little jobs for the day so that we can all go inside and make some pizzas.

Back the gravity wagon full of corn into its place but be sure to leave room for the baler and the corn picker.

Now the baler has to go between the corn picker and the gravity wagon.  Oh and did we mention that it has to be backed in?

No problem, my farmers are very gifted at backing.  Everything is in and there is even a bit of room to spare on both sides.  That way Isabella can get in and do a little hunting if she feels like it.

Specialist Kraeger

Staff Sergeant Kraeger

STG2 Kraeger

Private Kraeger

Major Pelicano

May the blessings of God continue to pour onto you and preserve you today, on Veterans Day, and always.  I am proud of all of you.

a man who can multi-task.

I had to go do my workout and take a shower so I assigned Layn the job of keeping Matthew occupied so he wouldn't get into any trouble.  I would say he did an admirable job of it.

While I was saying my prayers MK brought in the last rose of the season.  This beauty has survived several frosts.  Truly a gift from God this frigid morning.

Sometimes when a day is going to be particularly busy or I know that there is going to be a lot of stress I pick a place to go to in my mind to keep me from melting down.  Not only does it keep the old blood pressure under control but it also helps keep the migraines at bay (most of the time).

Today this is my place.  Doug and I came across this little ravine when we were walking yesterday and I began to imagine all kinds of possibilities in this little place.

To anyone who needs a quiet place to go to get away from it all you are welcome to come there with me.

Outside my window.....it is cold and frosty but clear.  Each evening and night the temperature gets a bit colder and each day the sun is a little less warm.  It seems that everyone who speaks of the sun at this time of year speaks with a little more appreciation and a tiny tinge of regret for the sunshine that was squandered in the summer gone by.

I am thinking.....about traditions and the young people that I have encountered who either don't understand what tradition is about or simply abandon tradition out of hand as something that has no relevance to their lives.

I am thankful for....my husband and family.  I am thankful for the traditions that we observe and the reasons behind those traditions. 

From the schoolroom....Matthew will resume his studies since he has quiet recovered from his illness and MK will continue her studies.  A return to order and routine will be a good thing.

From the kitchen...as is usual leftovers will be the order of the day since it is laundry and cleaning day.  I am sure that all in this household will continue to be well nourished and happily satisfied in the fare that is put forth by the cooks.

I am wearing.....hot pink flannel jammie pants and an over-sized white tee shirt.  There is a fire in the stove and in the furnace in the basement so it is more than cozy in this house.

I am creating.....a pile of finished projects in my workroom.  I only have a few weeks left before my next semester begins so I had better get cracking and grow the finished pile and shrink the to-do pile faster.

I am going....nowhere on Monday, I hope.  I never like to go anywhere when there is so much laundry and housework to do.  Perhaps if I get done at a reasonable hour Layn and I can go spend an hour in front of the Blessed Sacrament.

I am reading....Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the English Language

I am hoping.....to get a lot on my to-do list done this coming week.

I am hearing.....the sounds of the house stirring.  Sounds of the members of the family going about their morning business.  I hear the murmuring of the walls and floors as the house wakes up and stretches and prepares to start a new day.

Around the house.....there is really not a lot of cleaning or straightening to do since MK and Melissa did a lot of it over the weekend.  Doug spent a lot of Saturday cleaning the ductwork and the furnace and getting it ready to be lit. 

One of my favorite things....taking walks with my husband in the woods on a crisp fall day.  Hearing the crunch of the leaves under our feet and smelling the smoke of wood fires that warm the houses. 

A few plans for the rest of the week....the usual with a couple of trips added in to check on Buehner to see how she is doing and on Grandma Moses to see how she is as well.  Perhaps a couple of meals to the Collins family to help them out is on the list for us this week also.  Buehner fell and broke her arm, prayers are appreciated.  Grandma Moses is having trouble with a pinched nerve in her neck so she would appreciate prayers as well.  The Collins family has had a handful of strife, a sick mama and grandpa, we could use prayers for all of them too.

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

Doug and I went for a walk on the weekend.  My goofy husband had to be silly and pose in this poor dead tree.

Last summer we had a couple of steers and a milk cow in the pasture with Oreo.  The two steers left to become dinner and the milk cow is at a neighbor's farm earning her feed (and then some I hope).  Poor Oreo has been alone in the pasture for close to two months now.  I hate to say it but he isn't taking it like a man either.  There are days that he bellers and stamps and acts like he has lost his love and his best friend today rather than several weeks ago.

Over the weekend Ian and Melissa finally brought down the animals that Ian had earned making hay for others this summer.  Now Oreo has company and he can be quiet and stop raising such a ruckus about being so lonely.  For goodness sake Oreo, suck it up and soldier on will you!!!!!

There is this long horn.  A very handosme animal but rather intimidating looking.  The motley looking mutt in the top pic is another one that Ian earned. 

These two white face are totally clueless.  Everytime I take my walk they run when I walk past the fence.  The steers will end up in freezers and the heifers will be put to work producing more beef animals.  Their secondary job will be to keep the weeds down in the pastures this coming spring and summer. 

Layn and I spent the afternoon sorting through boxes of clothes that our dear friend Diane gave to us.  Now he won't be without fashionable attire for a long time.

Thank you Diane, they make me look really cool!

Outside my window....it is cold and dark.  The forecasters called for snow overnight.  I am quite hesitant to look and see if they were right in their predictions.  There was snow in the air yesterday and some places got a dusting.  I guess that the time has come to be cold and stiff and anxious about the driving conditions.

I am thinking....there are those who can be trained and those who cannot.  It must have something to do with the wiring in their brains.  'Nuff on that topic any more reflection and I might get myself into trouble.

I am thankful for....photographs!  My son once made a comment about taking so many pictures and at the time I couldn't give him an adequate answer. Yesterday it came to me all in a rush while scrapbooking.  There were some pictures of my family getting the Christmas tree the year that I had my back surgery.  Those photos brought back such a rush of warmth it was incredible.  I could feel the cold in the car as I sat and took the pictures of them finding the tree and hauling it back (thank God for zoom).  The smell of the snow and the pine came back to me as if I was sitting there in the woods again.  That is why I take so many pictures.  When I am in my dotage I will look through those scrapbooks and smell those smells and feel the warmth all over again.

From the schoolroom...Matthew has the day off because it is a feast day.  Happy All Saints Day to all of you.  Remember to stop and say a prayer to all the blessed holy ones who reside in heaven.  MK however has much schoolwork to do today.  She is halfway through her semester and on the downslide now.

From the kitchen....there are enough leftovers to make it until tomorrow!!!!!! We had pizza on Saturday and we made six of them.  Yesterday I made lemon-pepper chicken and grilled steaks along with mashed potatoes and vegetables.  There are even enough potatoes left to do shepherds pie tomorrow.

I am wearing...a navy sweat suit.  The fire has yet to warm this place up yet.

I am creating...memories.  Yesterday Melissa and I scrapbooked and I think once the laundry is started and the house is cleaned up we will spend some time at that today.

I am going....to Mass tonight and to visit the cemetary today.

I am reading....Fulton Sheen's The Priest is Not His Own

I am hoping....that Matthew gets over his sinus infection soon.  It distresses me very much to hear my youngest coughing in the night.  A call to Dr. Jim today should do the trick.  Things always come in batches. He was just there to see Jim on Thursday to have his thumb lanced and drained but his symptoms weren't that bad then.  Wonder what will be next.

I am hearing...the pitter patter of dog feet on the floor overhead.  The sound of Melissa trying to get the dogs to come downstairs so they can go outside.  Otherwise the house is quiet. MK isn't up yet and I gave Matthew the day off.  He worked seven days last week along with school and mowing lawns for friends.  A lot of work for a guy with a sore thumb and a bad sinus infection.

Around the house....it's not too bad.  The place got thoroughly cleaned on Saturday and except for a few areas of untidiness is not too bad today.  Just a quick going around and a run through with the swiffer and it should be ship shape.

One of my favorite things....a day like yesterday.  Everyone home doing his own thing.  Mugs of hot tea, fire in the grate and supper cooking.  Did I mention that there was a chocolate cake involved too.

A few plans for the rest of the week....a little bit of the usual and a dash of the unusual.  Mass tonight for All Saints, tomorrow for All Souls, and the usual round of holy hours and classes.  Daily visits to the cemetary will be added into the mix to pray for the faithful departed as is our custom on the first 8 days of November.  Just another day in paradise!

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

I took over the diningroom for scrapbooking.  Thanks be to God that my husband is so tolerant of this kind of thing.  He likes to sit in here with me and read his paper and take his naps too so all is good.

Guess who cut his first tooth this weekend.  There won't be any stopping this boy now.