The weather in my neck of the woods:

Cold and sunny! Not warm enough however to venture outside to put down the plastic sheeting on the front gardens to kill the weeds that seem to be the only thing that IS cold tolerant!!!!

A simple pleasure:

Still sitting around in my pajamas and drinking a cup of coffee at 11:00 in the morning! I do have to leave at 1:00 however to run errands before teaching in the big city tonight. Had to clarify in case you get the notion into your head that I am a major slug. That’s slug with a capital S.

I am thankful:

• we are able to get our bedroom painted this Friday and new ceiling fan installed
• that S&S Electric is paying us a call next Tuesday to wire our stove hood (two years without an overhead light!!!) and to check two other outlets. Of course we will be paying them $95.00 just to step through our door – that I AM NOT thankful for.
• that our wonderful “computer guy” will be dropping in tomorrow morning to figure out why my computer is moving soooooooo slow….do you think it is my awesome farm on Farmville that may be slowing it down????
• that our dental insurance will cover Sam’s six month dental check-up this week….after we pay the $100 up front that is and THEN file the claim form…but at least we have insurance and of that I am extremely thankful.
• income tax – because without it we would not be able to afford all of the above.

From the kitchen:

Was very creative in the kitchen this weekend. I made Bulgogi and sticky rice for me and John. For Sam I made Beef Curry and sticky rice (the curry was a purchase from the new Asian market we visited last week in Gainesville). Both dishes were received with hearty yums!!!!

I also made the following Breakfast Casserole which was excellent:

Cheese Sausage Strata

1 lb sausage

9 eggs, lightly beaten

3 cups milk

9 slices bread, cubed

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

1 lb bacon, cooked and crumbled

In a large skillet, cook sausage over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Add the eggs, milk, bread, cheese, bacon and mustard.

Transfer to a greased 3 qt. baking dish.

Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 60-70 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. (I uncovered it for the last fifteen minutes of baking time). Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

From the learning rooms:

The new rule (see last week’s Daybook: From the learning rooms) is causing so much stress that extra hours of therapy appointments are having to be scheduled. Sam and I “discussed” her ability to become the responsible almost 15 year old that she is and made the decision together that I will no longer stress her out by stating every hour on the hour “you have a lot of work to do” (to which I have since learned she silently responds with – it’s the same amount as I always have). Instead she will take control and accomplish all her work as written on her weekly pace charts without any stressful nagging from her mom. Let’s give her a cheer!!! Let’s hope Mom can keep her side of the agreement.

I finished reading:

The Help by Kathryn Stockett. It was wonderful and quite different than anything I have read recently. I am looking forward to getting Holly’s recommendation - Butterflies in December which she says has “the same flavor but she would put the Butterflies in December first” as far as enjoyment ratings.

I am currently reading:

A Separate Country by Robert Hicks. I absolutely loved  The Widow of the South and this new book has not been disappointing. He is such a great historical writer!!!

I could not get into reading:

Sometimes Mine by Martha Moody. Just could not get into her style of writing. Too much like Jodi Picoult I think. Okay do not beat me up but I have not been able to get through any of Jodi’s books even though I continue to try.

On My Mind:

Proud of myself for the “git er done” attitude/energy I had this weekend. I pray it continues through the week.

Hearth and Home:

Because everything is dry and dead outside from the Arctic Blast (yes I am still beating that dead horse – it was awful…I tell you AWFUL) there is nothing to serve as a defense against the dust infiltrating through our twenty year old windows. Therefore – there are layers of dust everywhere – which I have been dusting intermittently between blogging and re-filling my coffee cup. I found a great new product (if I can get used to it’s smell) that is making it go more smoothly and quickly.

I laugh:

Because all three of us were on the couch last night watching the Super Bowl.

Inspirational Quote I’m  Sharing:

The resounding evidence of the Holy Spirit in a person’s life is the unmistakable family likeness to Jesus Christ, and the freedom from everything which is not like Him. ~ Oswald Chambers ~