The Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today...

Outside my window... everything is turning green and the sun is shining. I am so happy that it's spring!

Here is picture thought I am sharing...I am thinking... of all that I still need to do this week.

I am thankful for... health! After a rough couple of weeks with a bad spring cold, and a wisdom tooth extraction, I am grateful to be feeling much better!

From the learning rooms... my daughters will need to work as independently as possible this week. I'd like to just take the whole week off of school, but we have too much still to do before we break for the summer, so we probably better not.

From the kitchen... I made the most delicious custard yesterday!

I am creating... display items for my Sonlight booth.

I am going... to Seattle this weekend for the Christian Heritage Homeschool Conference.

I am reading... Homeschooling at the Speed of Life by Marilyn Rockett, The Moment Between by Nicole Baart, Laylie's Daring Quest by Kersten Hamilton

I am hoping... that my jaw will no longer be bothering me by this weekend.

Around the house... I am up to my neck (literally!) in boxes... and books... and boxes of books!

One of my favorite things... really great books!

A few plans for the rest of the week: The main focus this week is to get ready for the trip to Seattle for the homeschool conference. We will be taking our travel trailer for the first outing of the season, so I need to make sure that's ready to go, as well as booth supplies for the conference.

The Simple Woman's Daybook

Comfort Food

On Thursday I had a wisdom tooth extracted. Not a fun experience by any stretch of the imagination. In the interest of avoiding a dry socket by any means possible, I have been restricting myself to a soft diet until my mouth heals. (I had a dry socket the last time, and it's definitely not an experience I care to repeat!)

After 3 days of cream soup, applesauce, and instant pudding I wanted something "different." A friend of mine mentioned that one old lady at their church always made a delicious homemade custard whenever anyone was sick. That sounded good to me... even though I've never made custard before... so I decided to try it!
I got out my Fanny Farmer cookbook and decided on the recipe for Baked Custard. "This kindly old dessert still nourishes and comforts. Traditionally served in familiar brown custard cups, it can also be made in one large baking dish."

Not being familiar with the "familiar brown custard cups" (also called "ramekins" in the recipe) I opted for the one large baking dish. It turned out beautifully, I thought! I was surprised at what an easy recipe it was. The option for "Caramel Custard" calls for caramelizing sugar to swirl in the bottom of the custard dish. That sounds really good, and it's something else I've never done, so I may try that next time.

Anyone have suggestions for other soft foods? What's your favorite "comfort food"?

An ImPRESSive Upgrade

My husband literally grew up in a print shop, and he's been a printer all of his adult life. He works in a "commercial" print shop, meaning they mostly print business materials -- business cards, letterheads, envelopes, flyers, that kind of thing. They do most of their work on one- and two-color presses or digital copiers. For years Lyle has wanted the opportunity to learn to run a full-color press, and finally his dream is coming true!

After months and weeks of preparation (remember installing the beam?) to make room for such a major piece of equipment, the semi-truck backed up to the print shop last week.

Yes. The press is that big.
See all the pieces? That's all one printing press!
Off the truck it was spread all over the driveway.
The moving crew maneuvered it into the building one section at a time.
It took them 2 days to get it put into place and connected together.
I'm glad they knew what they were doing!
Then another whole day to get all the wires and tubes and gears connected and greased.
Here's what it looks like now that's up and running with the covers on.
Can you count the 5 sections? One for each color of ink... cyan, magenta, yellow, black, and a 5th color. (I'm still a little confused on what the 5th color is for. I get the 3 primary colors and black... but the 5th color? I dunno. *shrug*)
Here was their first test run! It prints beautifully on 18x25" paper.
I'm impressed! Are you?

Not Complainin'

I had a miserable Easter weekend.... thanks for asking! With a rip-roaring spring cold plus an abscessed wisdom tooth I wasn't up for much in the way of celebration. I mostly sat in my recliner, going through tissues by the boxful, reading books, napping, and trying very hard not to complain about how miserable I was! I'm pretty sure I didn't succeed very well... but I really did try!

See, a few months ago, my friend Judy shared about a book she was reading, Calm My Anxious Heart, that issued the challenge to never complain about anything. I haven't had a chance to read the book yet, but I have taken the challenge to heart. After all, I don't like to be around complaining people, do you?

So... with that in mind here are some things that I am thankful for with regards to misery of the past weekend:

• tissues with lotion
  
• cold medicine which offered at least a little temporary relief
  
• antibiotics so I won't die of an abscessed tooth
• a thoughtful husband
  
• daughters who can run the house when Mom is out of commission
• time to read several books, as that was all I felt like doing (Lyle laughed at me on Saturday evening when I referred to "one of the books I read today." I do read fast!)
• hot herbal tea with honey
• cold 7-Up
• a cushy recliner
• a warm blanket
• a soft feather pillow
• fuzzy socks
• a caring family

Easy Menu Planning

Busy days and economic challenges call for menu planning! I know this, yet it's hard for me to take the time to do it each week. So what I've come up with is a list of our favorite everyday meals and stocked up the pantry to have on hand what we need to make these meals. Then I'm going to post the list of menu options on the fridge. When it's time to figure out "what to have for supper" either my daughter (who does most of the cooking) or I can choose one of the meals from the list... and of course, we can mix and match if we like.

I'm in the process of developing this system, but my plan is to then make up a master grocery list to also post on the fridge and we can check off items that we need to restock. And, of course, any time we want to try new recipes, we can plan for that as well. Hopefully this will help us save both time and money.

Here is my menu list:

Breakfast Ideas

• yogurt, granola, juice
• pop tart, banana, milk
• oatmeal, hot chocolate
• scrambled egg, toast, milk
• dry cereal, banana, milk
• pb&j, milk

Lunch Ideas

• chicken salad, chips, applesauce
• mac'n'cheese, chicken nuggets, apple slices
• grilled cheese sandwiches, tomato soup, celery with peanut butter
• turkey sandwich, cottage cheese, pineapple slices
• frozen pizza, carrots and ranch dip
• chili, corn muffins
• chicken quesadillas, canned peaches
• burritos, orange wedges
• baked potato with cheese, bacon bits, sour cream, broccoli
• ham sandwich, pasta salad

Supper Ideas

• grilled hamburgers, baked beans, french fries
• spaghetti, green beans, garlic bread
• grilled chicken breast, steamed veggies with cheese sauce
• biscuits and gravy
• taco soup, tortilla chips, cheese
• pizza, salad
• sloppy joes, raw veggies, tater tots
• beef stew, crackers and cheese
• tacos, Spanish rice, chili beans
• lasagna, green salad
• chicken supreme, broccoli
• sausage and rice casserole, corn
• chicken and veggie stir fry, rice
• chili, cornbread
• chef salad
• pot roast, potatoes, carrots
• baked pork chops with gravy, rice, roasted cauliflower

What are some of your everyday menus? Maybe I can add to my list!