February 22, 2008

• This, That, & the Other

  To those of you who prayed for Tangi's husband, Thank You!  She sent a text message today (around 1:30pm) saying all went well.   I haven't had a chance to talk to her or get the details.  I'm sure she is very busy at the hospital making him as comfortable as possible.  I think abdominal surgery is one of the most painful.

  I tied up a few loose ends around here today (chore-wise) and Jesse mailed a package of fabric to my friend, Tina.  It looks like the girls and I will have new clothes soon!   Between washing the big pans that are too large for the dishwasher and getting that box of fabric off of my table - I have SPACE again!

  Stormy continues to be lost without Jesse-boy.  Poor thing.  She still looks for him and spends a lot of time nuzzling up against me on the sofa or sleeping with us in bed.  I figured she'd be better by now.  It's been a week, today.  I'm adjusting, but admit that today I could have used one of his cat kisses!  He nuzzled and bumped his nose into my lips if I made "kissing sounds" and that was something unique about him.  He always made me feel loved!  I keep expecting to see him sleeping on my closet floor (Jesse said he keeps checking his closet, too) and I think I hear him meowing several times a day.  I guess that's common whenever someone dies - you expect to see them in the old spots, etc.

  Had homeschool with Rissy today - unsuccessfully, I think.  She's just plain stuck on a few math things.  I figured taking a break for a while would help, but it hasn't.  She gets so frustrated because almost everything she does comes SUPER easily to her.  This almost has moved her to tears - finding the missing addend.  2 + ? = 7,  etc.  She keeps wanting to add the two known numbers.  We also reviewed telling time from a clock with hands and counting money.  I'm still pounding my head after trying and trying to get through to her.  Jesse took over teaching for a while (a REAL rarity for him) and I had to distance myself.  We decided every time we see a clock with hands we'll ask her to read it and we will start making her count change at every opportunity.  Anyway, it was just one of "those" school days.

  I'm making a double recipe of chicken, broccoli, and rice casserole for dinner, tonight.  Figure we can eat the leftovers on Monday.  I have a small leftover Amish casserole for Monday night, too (ground beef, potato slices, vegetables, with cheese and sauce).

  I started reading a new book a few days ago and read a little more this afternoon.  "American Home Life, 1880 - 1930, A Social History of Spaces and Services" by Jessica H. Foy & Thomas J. Schlereth. 

  The first chapter has been about the exterior architecture and the interior structure and decor.  It takes the reader through WHY houses used to be made the way they were.  For example, the layout of furniture in the living area was comfortable chairs around a table because everyone needed the one light on the table to see.  As electricity and gas lamps became more popular, the furniture layout was changed to include corners of a room.  Something I had never considered.  Also, the massive heavy drapes were used as insulation and the doors dividing rooms were to contain heat in a room.  The radiator made "pretty" curtains (healthier ones without dust and germs) an option and the divider doors were no longer needed.  Also, the Industrial Age made "owning things" more popular; whereas before, the Puritan idea of being humble and self-denial was an honorable trait and made people proud of being frugal.   Hummmmmm?  Interesting to me, anyway!  LOL

  So much for that unsolicited book review!

  Need to march forward so I can accomplish more before relaxing this evening.  Happy weekend to all!

  • 6:19 pm
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