Monthly Archives: June 2015

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: June 14, 2015

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY June 14, 2015

Outside my window… dark. It was foggy this morning and got up to 84F this afternoon which is not too bad.

I am thinking… that the takeaway messages from my church’s VBS later this month are going to be that God created hippos and penguins drink tea.

I am thankful… for the awesome food at the Practice the Tithe picnic today.

In the kitchen… leftover brisket that was thawed out.

I am wearing… charcoal v-neck from Old Navy and black capri sweats from Target.

I am praying for… many many things.

I am going… to the dentist with Daniel tomorrow. Denti-Cal is refusing to just give me a peds dental consult for Daniel so we have to see a regular dentist first. I’m really not thinking this will end well.

I am wondering… if I have a sinus infection or if this is just allergies.

I am reading… A Chili Death by Jessica Beck. Vanishing Grace by Philip Yancey is still on hold.

I am hoping… to sleep well tonight because I have to get up at 6:40 tomorrow morning to get Daniel off to ESY.

I am looking forward to… my massage and TENS machine time on Tuesday.

I am hearing… stuff from Mission Bible Class that I’m doing for VBS.

Crocheting… all the same stuff as before — Daniel’s big boy blankie and an amugurumi stuffie for a friend’s baby.

Around the house… silence as everyone else is asleep.

A favorite quote for today… “Prayer is not a means of removing the unknown and predictable elements in life, but rather a way of including the unknown and unpredictable in the outworking of the grace of God in our lives.” — Philip Yancey

One of my favorite things… Vacation Bible School. I’ve missed helping with it. (It’s been 8 years since the last time I got to help.)

A few plans for the rest of the week: Daniel’s dentist appointment and ESY on Monday, PT on Tuesday, whatever errands come up the rest of the week, and possibly dinner with my parents on Saturday night.

A peek into my day… Here’s the rainbow that came with the apocalyptic storm that welcomed me back to southern California last week.

The rainbow that welcomed me home.

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

7 Quick Takes: Water-Saving Tips from a Californians Who Is *ACTUALLY* Experiencing the Drought

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7 Quick Takes

Normally, I’d be giving you passive-aggressive Quick Takes about how Spain had to import diptheria anti-toxin emergently from Russia because a 6 year old boys parents fell for the anti-vaccination scheme and how he’s in the ICU as a result. (Seriously people, VACCINATE YOUR FREAKING KIDS!!!!) Instead, you get to see me blog about water-saving efforts in my normal tonge-in-cheek fashion. (I’ll try to make it entertaining, m’kay?)

— 1 —

Give up your lawn. That beautiful green grass that you spent a fortune putting in last year is a waste of water that could be better spent keeping the greens at the local country club in tip-top shape. Not to mention, ye olde city council has sacrificed the running of the beautiful fountain in front of the municipal offices so you’re just going to have to let that nice lawn go brown and spend the money to re-sod it next year. Just remember: it’s a violation of city code to have those weeds making everything look shaggy so make sure you remember to cut the grass every week in the hot sun!

— 2 —

Catch wasted water in your shower by using a bucket. Do you know how much water gets wasted by running it until it reaches a temperature that will not freeze you to death or boil you??? A lot of it! Stick a 5 gallon bucket in that shower and use that water to water your garden which you have redone with all drought-tolerant plants! Well… if you haven’t offered up your dashed gardening hopes on behalf of people in sub-Saharan Africa who have no clean water, that is.

— 3 —

Take “camp showers”. You know how you were only allowed to have the shower on for 30 seconds at camp to wet yourself down, rinse the shampoo out of your hair, and rinse the soap off? Time to implement those at home! You only need like 30 seconds to wet yourself down, 30 seconds to rinse the shampoo out, and 30 seconds to rinse the soap off, right? Think of all the water you’ll save that Nestle can extract and bottle for their corporate profits!

— 4 —

Use the bathroom outside the house. Do you need to make a Target run? Combine it with answering the call of nature and make a stop in the fabulous Target bathrooms! The alcohol gel you’ll want to douse yourself with afterwards (that is, if your Target’s bathrooms are as foul as the ones at my local store) is on aisle F27!

— 5 —

Shower at the gym. What? You don’t have a gym membership? Don’t you care about personal fitness?!?!?!?!?

— 6 —

Replace all your appliances (mainly your dishwasher and washing machine) with more efficient ones. Trust me… you can’t wash dishes by hand more efficently than a dishwasher can wash them. You know you needed new appliances anyway, right? What else are credit cards for?!?!?!? (Seriously, I’m kidding on this one.)

— 7 —

Move. Apartment buildings aren’t subect to the serious water restrictions placed on homeowners by municipalities. (Homeowners are being told to cut 25-35% of their 2013 usage depending on the municipality.) Better yet, move to a state where this weird phenomenon called “rain” exists!

For more Quick Takes, visit Kelly at This Ain’t The Lyceum.

#FiveFaves: Miscellanea (XXXVII)

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#5Faves

One

Air-conditioning. It was 98F at my parents’ house in San Jose yesterday… and they don’t have A/C. Can we say “working off time in Purgatory”? We were getting the remnants of a hurricane from Baja California today so it thankfully cooled down almost 20 degrees.

Two

Physical therapy. I’m missing my TENS machine time, heating pad, and massage this week. Given that I’ve woken up with neck pain for two mornings, I’m seriously looking forward to it next week.

Three

My Bible study ladies. I haven’t been to Bible study since May 20th and I miss my women. I’m always the youngest and most of them are old enough to be my mother or (in some cases) my grandmother; but they are a group of wonderful, wise, and strong women who fuss over me.

Four

The man at Safeway. Mom and I walked with Daniel to Safeway today and while we were walking through the shopping center, Daniel got ahead of us. I called out, “sweetie, stop!” and both Daniel and an older man in front of us froze. I apologized profusely and the man was really nice about it, explaining that he had been well-trained. My mom’s comment: “You definitely obeyed better than the kid did.”

Five

TV. I’m catching up on all my shows while I’m up here. I will probably end up watching a bunch of them online but it has given me something to do while putting Daniel to bed.

Go love up Jenna and the others.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: June 7, 2015

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY June 7, 2015

Outside my window… dark but still warm. They claim it was 82F earlier but I don’t believe them — it felt like closer to 90F and it’s still hot in my parents’ house.

I am thinking… about the heat. It’s supposed to be 95F tomorrow and my parents don’t have A/C.

I am thankful… for a good visit thus far with my parents. I’m here until Friday.

In the kitchen… steak tonight. Leftovers tomorrow.

I am wearing… my Momcat shirt and capri sweats.

I am praying for… a call for Jon, for my father-in-law’s cancer, for a friend who is having marriage issues, and for a few special intentions.

I am going… to Costco and Target with Mom and Daniel tomorrow.

I am wondering… if Mom and Dad will finish the planting in the front yard tomorrow. They got rid of the front lawn, covered the area with bark, and are planting ground cover.

I am reading… Vanishing Grace by Phillip Yancey and The Cat Who Robbed a Bank by Lilian Jackson Braun.

I am hoping… the heat breaks soon.

I am looking forward to… cooler weather.

I am hearing… Game of Thrones — Dad is watching it.

Crocheting… the amigurumi stuffed animal but am working right now on Daniel’s big boy blankie which I brought up to San Jose with me.

Around the house… somewhat quiet other than Dad watching TV.

One of my favorite things… coffee with my friend Rebecca. We got to have coffee today after church.

A few plans for the rest of the week: walks, errands with Mom and Daniel, and whatever else happens before I head back down south on Friday.

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

#FiveFaves: Miscellanea (XXXVI)

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#5Faves

One

Jenna. For those who don’t know Mary Lenaburg, she lost her 22 year old daughter Courtney at the end of December after 22 years of taking care of her through daily seizures and other medical issues. Jenna sent this to her.

Two

Trader Joe’s Greek Yogurt Spinach-Kale Dip. This stuff is freaking awesome! I love it for dinner with carrot sticks on hot days. It also works well on a baked potato when someone in your house has consumed all the regular Greek yogurt you bought. (Not that this happened this past week or anything…)

Three

This graduation video. My class was so bad during graduation that subsequent classes were required to come in their pretty clothes and only allowed to put robes on AFTER they were searched! I wish we had done something like this instead.

Four

My priest. At Bible studies with new people, she introduces me as follows: “This is Jen. She’s a Lutheran pastor’s wife but we claim her.” Adding onto that, Jon was supplying at the Lutheran church across the street from my Episcopal church and I went over after my worship ended to catch part of his. I stayed for about 3 minutes at coffee hour (known as the third sacrament for Lutherans) which led my priest to tease the pastor of the Lutheran church about her indignation that “[HER] Lutheran went to [HIS] coffee hour.” I love her.

Five

Jessica Beck’s writing. I fell hard for her Donut Shop mysteries… and enjoyed a donut for the first time in years while finishing the last one. I was less than enthused about the donut (too sweet) but her books are fabulous. I’m starting her Diner series next.

Go love up Jenna and the others.