November Daybook

Outside my window... Overcast and blustery. Definitely November.

I am thinking... about Advent and Christmas preparations. For once, I'm simply looking forward to the holidays without feeling at all overwhelmed. And for the first time since I moved to the midwest in 1995, I am actually looking forward to winter!

I am thankful for... having Bill at home most days. Unemployment is kind of fun, if I don't think about it too hard.

From the kitchen... we're doing a brisket tomorrow. This is such a Texas thing, that we hardly ever do. Yum!

I am wearing... my new jeans that I wear almost every single day lately, a wheat-colored sweater, my shearling flip-flop slippers.

I am creating... a Thanksgiving menu in my head. Every year, I want to try new recipes. Every year, I am overruled in this by my family who unanimously votes for the same old favorites. I am not too sad about this, because I love the favorites too.

I am going... to pick everyone up from school in about 20 minutes. Let the wild rumpus begin!

I am reading... the Wall Street Journal every day now that Bill's getting it at home. I love it. I've never loved newspapers, but this one is really good. Does this mean I'm finally a grownup? (Yes, I know...a conservative grownup.)

I am hearing... the sound of MPD driving his Diego car around on the coffee table. He's supposed to be taking his nap, but now that he's figured out how to climb out of his crib, it's a free-for-all around here I tell you! We still have something resembling "quiet time" during this part of the day, and I know that if he doesn't nap, bedtime will be earlier and easier.

I am hoping... to figure out a way to watch WWD's basketball scrimmage tonight. It's a long shot.

Around the house... I am planning to finish putting all the Halloween stuff away this afternoon. I'm in the mood to de-clutter and clean, clean, clean this month. Yesterday we (mostly) finished a big fall clean-up for our yard--everything cut back, raked out, ready for the first snow. I feel like this is a metaphor for life right now--in a good way.

One of my favorite things... coffee. Of course.

A few plans for the rest of the week... a big visit with Jamie and the boys tomorrow night! Hooray!

A picture for sharing...A bit of our fall clean-up: