A New View

I'm typing at you from a new corner of the Little Yellow House on the Hill.

One of my goals this year was to get the kids transitioned from doing school in my formal dining room to desks in their room.

I really wanted to move the computer out of that room too.

So this weekend I did it.

And the dining room looks like this.

That table has two more leaves, which makes me happy. There is nothing I like more than a crowded table of happy faces.

Speaking of the table...this one was given to us by our amazing neighbor and friend, Helen. It is handmade out of exceedingly hard and heavy wood (I think she said it was Walnut). The craftsmanship is amazing. I need to find some dining room chairs, but I can hodge-podge seating if (and when) I have friend over to break some bread.

As I was reorganizing I realized how much I take for granted in our home.

Although I call our house "the little yellow house on the hill", it is actually good sized (especially for a small family of four). There is more than enough space for our family. And yet, I found myself thinking that I didn't have a "place for this" or  "I need new shelving for that", when the truth is we have PLENTY of space here... I could get rid of some stuff and move other stuff around...making room for the things that needed to be put away.

So that is what I did.

I emptied out both of the linen closets up stairs and got rid of three bags worth of things we didn't use: receiving blankets and cloth diapers, just to name a few. I also gave away those sweet board games my children aren't using anymore. So long CandyLand.

I was able to empty three shelves in the linen closet, making room for school supplies and curriculum.

It felt good to have less and use more.

And it makes me feel every so grateful for this house...A home we have had the privilege to call "home" not once, but twice.

So very thankful.

What are you thankful for today?

School Marm

This is the scene this morning.

I've got my schoolmarm hat on and I am currently trying to get all the agenda's, maps, and weekly assignments into folders for the first nine weeks of school. Plus, I need to get my "brain" (aka, the binder that keeps me organized on a semester to semester basis) put together.

I was planning on doing some of this work this week and a lot more of it next week, but I made a slight miscalculation in my schedule.

Turns out that The Mister has the ENTIRE week off next week (LOVE that!) Which means I will not even want to think about homeschooling. Hanging out with him is one of my favorite things.

So, I'm cramming.

Its just as well.

I injured my (other) knee while running yesterday and I'm paying today for not listening to my PT's advice. Since I'm sitting here, icing bilateral (doesn't that make me sound smart) knees, I might as well work.

Since I'm short on time I gonna leave you with some links of other posts I enjoyed reading this week...but first, I have to mention the fun dinner I had last night.

I'll won't tell you about the margarita special or how I accidently walked into the men's bathroom....I'll just tell you that the company was wonderful and the food was fantastic. Oh and the entertainment was awesome!

Moving on....

The following Link is from a in-real-life friend of mine who recently moved to Belgium. I thought this post about the convenient packaging of beverages was interestingly humorous. It smacks of what could be a modern-day Anne of Green Gables Raspberry Cordial mistake in the making...one that I might make!

On a different note, I am gonna find a reason to make some of these cookies. I think they are so pretty.

I'm also planning on making one, or a dozen, of these (with added monogram) for some new girl-babies. Pictures to come.

Happy Friday!

Confessions of a Career Relocater

Is that a word: Relocater?

Oh well, you know what I mean.

In anticipation of The Movers coming and packing up all our stuff I have been systematically cleaning out and organizing.  

And for someone who doesn't have a lot stuff, we sure have a lot of stuff!

I decided to tackle my bedroom closet this week.  You won't believe what I found.

There were six boxes I never unpacked after our move 17 months ago!

Out of those six boxes, three had had never been opened from the TX to NC move over three years ago. I actually had to get a box cutter to open the packaging tape!

Yesterday, and this morning, I have opened, unpacked, and thrown away many things from those boxes. Obviously, when you can go three (+) years without opening boxes, chances are you don't need what's inside. Do you think?

My closet was so unorganized that it bordered on criminal. 

The nice thing is that it feels good to get rid of things that I didn't even know I had!

;)

What's next on the list?  My Desk. The Boy's room and The Car. After that it's the refrigerators and the pantry. The Girls Room was done this weekend.

After that I am going to sit down and gaze upon the organization that moving produces, because I seriously hope this will be the last time I see it.

La Vida Dulce!