This week’s goals

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I’ve been spring cleaning the past week and have made a lot of progress. I still have a lot to clean, though! It’s amazing how quickly the house gets messy if I don’t stay on top of it. Eventually we’ll obtain bookcases and that will eliminate a lot of the clutter. But for now, I’m trying to find ways to organize without letting things pile up all over the house.

Last week I cleaned up the wet bar next to the fireplace. We don’t use the sink there but we do use all of the counter space. Previously, the counter was covered with various books and quilting supplies. It wasn’t organized in the slightest. I moved all of the books downstairs into our spare bedroom (future study) and put all of my quilting supplies with the other fabric in our closet. I moved all of the DVDs and the Wii games to the newly emptied shelf instead of letting them stack up on the floor underneath the tv. We don’t have an entertainment center yet so the Blu-ray player, Wii, and internet box are sitting on the floor. The games and movies used to sit next to them but now they are nicely lined up on the counter. It looks a lot better!

Here are my goals for this week, loosely held, of course…

  • De-clutter the top of the fridge
  • Hang the Welcome sign on the stairs just inside the front door
  • Put up a nail in our pantry to hang my apron on (maybe then I would be able to find it when I want to use it!)
  • Reorganize our bedroom clothes closet as the shelves have gotten very messy
  • Catch up on my e-mail
  • Take care of The Pile


The Pile

These goals are in addition to my normal cleaning schedule and should keep me busy! I look forward to making our house ever more homey.

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Lasagna Dinner

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Last week, my husband worked away from home one day. It was weird being home all day by myself! It was so quiet that I didn’t know what to do. The house echoed.

I had fun preparing a homecooked meal for my husband and presenting it to him when he walked in the door. The pictures aren’t exactly appealing, though! It appears lasagna is not very photogenic.

My whole wheat rolls turned out tasty but I didn’t spray the pan well enough. We were only able to eat the top halves. Oops!

The lasagna was spicy! If you want to try a vegan spicy lasanga, it’s a good recipe.

We are having a beautiful spring! I love the blossoms that are exploding around the area.

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What I’m reading this week

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Nisei Soldiers Break Their Silence: Coming Home to Hood River tells the story of second generation Japanese-Americans who volunteered or were drafted into the military during WWII. I’m almost finished with it and it’s heartbreaking to see how much racial tension has existed in the United States throughout its history. Entire families were hauled off to internment camps even as their sons served in the military. A group of soldiers were court-martialed and jailed because of a misunderstanding. People kept asking these Nisei why they didn’t warn America about Pearl Harbor. It’s an eye-opening look at racism in America and how easy it is to get swept up in intolerance.


Memories Before and After the Sound of Music is an autobiography written to inform the public of what the von Trapp family was really like, what really happened before, during, and after The Sound of Music movie. I’ve read the first half thus far and it’s rather dry. It’s interesting, but lacks something.

Up next? Myrna Loy: The Only Good Girl in Hollywood. I can’t wait!

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As patient as Christ…

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I love comparing more modern translations with the KJV.

“And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ” (KJV).

I always took this text to mean that we are seeking to understand the love of God and patiently waiting for Christ to return.

The more modern translations have altered my understanding of the text.

“I pray that the Lord will guide you to be as loving as God and as patient as Christ” (CEV).

The NASB translates this verse similarly to the CEV.

“May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ” (NASB).

Dealing with those stubborn, hotheaded, slow-learning disciples day in and day out for three years shows that Jesus has an awful lot of patience! May I become as patient as He is!

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Feeling better

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I am finally starting to feel a bit more like myself, though I’m especially clumsy today! I dumped a partial cup of coffee all over my “desk” and doused my camera and a few papers scattered about. My camera seems to have survived though the papers did not. At least my desk is tidier now.

Hubby is driving over to Seattle tomorrow to work. I plan to spend the time cleaning, making up the housework that didn’t get done while I was sick. I’m also planning on cleaning off our “desk” (ie folding table) so that I can set the table for dinner. Since hubby is going to be away most of the day, I can have fun making a dinner that will be on the table when he arrives home. It sounds silly, but since he’s always home, I never get to welcome him at the door wearing an apron while our home smells of a fresh cooked meal. Tomorrow I will! Hopefully I’ll have a good report to share…

Until then, blessings!

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Spring Into Reading

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Even though I participated in Fall into Reading, I completely forgot about the Spring event until Carrie posted about it.

I only have two books on my list this session.

First up is Myrna Loy, The Only Good Girl in Hollywood. I am a big fan of Ms. Loy from her role in The Thin Man movies. What a classy actress. I can’t wait to find out what she was like personally.

The second book is My Life by Bill Clinton. Love him or hate him, Bill Clinton is the first president that I was aware of growing up. I have very vague recollections about Bush Sr. but Clinton is the first president I actually followed in the news. I look forward to comparing how my teenage self and my 30 year old self view President Clinton.

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Best husband ever

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I love my husband. I’ve been feeling sick since last night and he just headed to the store to get some things to help me feel better. I told him he doesn’t have to go but he insisted.

Even after working a 60 hour week and being tired himself, he’s putting aside his own comforts to take care of me. I love that man.

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Current reads

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Secret Daughter

Secret Daughter is about adoption and encompasses both Indian and American cultures. I just started reading it last night.


The Blue Parakeet

The Blue Parakeet: Rethinking How You Read the Bible is a short book that tries to do just what the title says: challenge readers to rethink how you read the Bible. I actually finished the book this afternoon but am still trying to gather my thoughts. I can’t yet decide if I liked it or thought it was too shallow.


おむすび弁当

A Japanese book about creative bentos (lunch boxes). It’s a very cute book but a slow read as it’s my first book in full Japanese.

Are you reading anything interesting this week?

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Plans? I scoff at plans…

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Today did not go according to plan! Late last week, my husband received an email from someone at work detailing how a local client is having a major issue and was requesting that someone be sent onsite. Hubby was prepared to spend all day today at the client’s office. An hour after he arrives, hubby calls me to tell me that he’s on his way home! Problem solved in under an hour.

I had all these plans for today. I was going to attempt my hand at a loaf of bread, have an extra special dinner on the table this evening when hubby arrived home, and spend several hours quilting during the afternoon. Well! Thanks to my husband’s brilliance, none of that happened. Instead I spent the day catching up on laundry, cleaning the kitchen, studying Japanese, and reading. I spent my time studying or reading while he was on the phone and squeezed in my noise-creating cleaning while he was not tied up with business calls.

It’s hard to share accurate emotions across the written page. Believe me, I am not upset! Let’s just say I’m amused that my best laid plans came to naught. Maybe another day!

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