Happy Homemaker Monday - Hosted by Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

Since I am a housewife, and today I am feeling happy (the weather has a lot to do with that), I have decided to join Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for:

The Weather

Today is a perfect summer day in New England.  It is 84 degrees with 54% humidity, blue skies with white fluffy clouds. 

On my reading pile

Anna Karenina
The New Testament
The Awakening
Prodigal Summer

I am determined to get through the New Testament this summer.  I have to teach it during the school year and although I have studied it before, it is good to have it fresh in my mind.  During the school year while I am teaching it, I will study it in more depth.

I am hoping to get through Anna Karenina.  There is a movie coming out and I really want to have read it before I see it.

The Awakening is on my Nook and was a required book for my daughter's summer reading, but she switched from Honors English to AP Language and her list changed.  Don't know if I will bother, depends on if I get to it.

I have started Prodigal Summer but don't know if I will finish it.  I really liked The Poisonwood Bible and The Bean Trees, but this one isn't capturing my attention.

I sound a little picky, and I guess I am.  I only have the summer to read for pleasure, and I don't want to waste it on a book that doesn't satisfy.  Think I will be going back to the library to look for more.

On my tv

I don't watch much t.v., but two of my children have been watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and if I'm around I usually plop down in the family room and join them.  We have Jane Eyre and National Treasure coming from Netflix.  We usually watch all of the Harry Potter movies (and Lord of the Rings) during the summer.  Time to start that marathon.

On the menu for this week

For now it is easier for me to take one day at a time with dinner planning.  Having teenagers around and a crazy schedule, I sometimes do not know who will be around (including me).  Plus, I have a birthday this week and perhaps will be taken out to dinner?  Tonight, however, we will be having macaroni with meat sauce and shredded mozzarella and a chopped salad.

On my to do list

Sanitize the washing machine (I have a front loader with a mildew problem I am trying to get rid of)
3-4 loads of laundry
clean 3 bathrooms
vacuum main floor

What I am sewing, crocheting, knitting or creating

Ha!  This is NOT me, though I love to see what Sandra is up to.


Homemaking Tips
The best thing to get a spot out of a carpet is seltzer water, a white rag, and just a little elbow grease.  It has not failed me yet and the spot does not show up months later.  I just wish I knew about this for the first 10 years I had carpets.  (Credit goes to my sister for this tip.)

Looking around the house

Everyone is finally up and my 18 year old son is sitting with me at our kitchen table looking at his laptop, my 15 year old daughter is playing the piano, and my 13 year old son is downstairs on the computer watching nature videos on YouTube.

From the camera

My favorite flower, the daylily, growing in my front yard

On my prayer list

Always my kids, my father and father in-law who are both in poor health.  

Bible verse, Devotional

I just read this yesterday:

"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.  In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."

John 16:33