More Wind!

It was windy all through the night, but not enough to scare me and keep me up. I have surveyed the damage and here is what needs to be done:

• Pick up aluminum cans that are strewn around in the backyard. Don't ask what they are doing there. The story goes way back.


• Tie up some rose trees back to their stakes. They have broken the ties that were holding them on and now they are swaying so bad I'm afraid they might snap.


• Monitor the trash can sitting at the curb. Today is trash day and our can is loaded. If the top flips off with the wind, some of the trash bags could fall out. That would not be nice.

I also need to do plenty of work inside the house, too.

• I was working on laundry when the power went out last night. So I need to finish that and put them away. Clothes are in all places.


• Clean the kitchen. It's a mess. Dirty floor and dirty dishes.


• Clean up the clutter everywhere.


• Start with getting the disaster preparedness kit going.

So I'll be busy today!

Winds!

The San*ta Ana winds have arrived. Every year around this time, we get these strong dry winds along with high temperatures. They are really strong, blowing shingles off the roof, tree branches strewn along the street, and this year, a power outage. I was right in the middle of washing clothes when it happened. I had to take out the wet, sopping clothes, throw them in a garbage bag and head out to my mother's house to finish the wash. If it wasn't that I had the kids uniforms in this load, I would have just left them in the washing machine until the power came on. And I had no idea when that would be. Thankfully, when I came back home, the power had been restored! It's also a good thing Steve and I both had pulled our cars out of the garage before losing power. It's very difficult to get that electric garage door to open manually!

These winds have also brought lots of fires in the hills and canyons. Coming home on the freeway tonight, I could see the fire going on in the hills about 10 miles from here.

With all these fires going on, the winds, and the power outages that threaten us, it has reminded me to put together an emergency preparedness kit. I'm going to put that at the top of my to-do list!

Fun Time

I know a new weekend is fast approaching but I wanted to share a few photos of the past weekend. The weather was a little rainy so Kathryn's soccer game got cancelled. We decided it would be the perfect day to go to Disney*land, since we still had our tickets from when we went on vacation last month. (We didn't go then because the weather was over 100 degrees.) I thought since it was a rainy weekend not many people would be there. Well, I was wrong. Tons of people were there. Maybe because they have a Halloween theme going on right now?

Here are the kids in front of the masked Mick* ey Mouse at the front entrance. He is made up of small pumpkins and some purple flowers I don't know the name of.

Ryan got to ring the bell of the fire engine!

I had to show these. These are little chili plants. The man sitting next to me while I was resting started to eat some of these. He said they weren't that hot. I don't know about that.

And finally, some cute candy corn decorations.

It ended up being a fun day. The rain stopped and the temperature was just right. We got to go on a few rides. Many times Emily was a little scared to go on some so either me or Steve stayed with her while the others went on. We survived bickering and Emily made it without a meltdown. A few times I thought one was coming on but I was able to somehow bribe distract her enough to avert it. Whew!

Daily Decalogue of Pope John XXIII

I found this in Magnificat (again)! I'll tell you, that publication has great food for thought, including the daily readings from the Church.



1. Only for today, I will seek to live the livelong day positively without wishing to solve the problems of my life all at once.

2. Only for today, I will take the greatest care of my appearance: I will dress modestly; I will not raise my voice; I will be courteous in my behavior; I will not criticize anyone; I will not claim to improve or to discipline anyone except myself.

3. Only for today, I will be happy in the certainty that I was created to be happy, not only in the other world but also in this one.

4. Only for today, I will adapt to circumstances, without requiring all circumstances to be adapted to my own wishes.

5. Only for today, I will devote ten minutes of my time to some good reading, remembering that just as food is necessary to the life of the body, so good reading is necessary to the life of the soul.

6. Only for today, I will do one good deed and not tell anyone about it.

7. Only for today, I will do at least one thing I do not like doing; and it my feelings are hurt, I will make sure no one notices.

8. Only for today, I will make a plan for myself: I may not follow it to the letter, but I will make it. And I will be on guard against two evils: hastiness and indecision.

9. Only for today, I will firmly believe, despite appearances, that the good Providence of God cares for me as no one else who exists in this world.

10. Only for today, I will have no fears. In particular, I will not be afraid to enjoy what is beautiful and to believe in goodness. Indeed, for twelve hours I can certainly do what might cause me consternation were I to believe I had to do it all my life.

What's Happening!

Here is what's been happening:

I finally finished Emily's second mitten. I won't bother to show it as it looks exactly like the other one I made, except this one looks a little more sloppy. I couldn't quite get the thumb to attach to the rest of the glove quite well. There's a little hole. Well, it shouldn't bother Emily too much. I'm working on her scarf now. This is a little swatch of the stitch pattern I will be using. The yarn looks a little bright here, but it's an off white.

When I am finished with that, I will work on a matching set for Kathryn and Ryan. Here is the yarn I will be using for that.

Ryan actually wanted a lighter blue. He said this one was too dark. He said he wants a sky blue color. I wanted it to be a little more conservative and adaptable with other clothes, but he wants the other color. I think I'll browse the Internet and show him what the light blue would look like. But I'll knit in whatever color he wants.

Kathryn has been busy learning to play the recorder for school. She loves it. We hear it all evening long! I think by now, I'm an expert at Hot Cross Buns. I hum it in my sleep! But I won't complain. I'm happy she's enjoying learning about music. And it beats (no pun intended) listening to the drums! LOL!

Emily is enjoying the My Little Pony DVD. She just loves those characters. She plays with the ponies a lot. Playing house with them and having the cutest conversations. Very cute!

Right now, this is what I'm reading. It's on my Fall Reading list.

It's a parallel story about the architect in charge of designing and building the World's Fair in Chicago in 1893. At the same time some murders were taking place the same area at the same time preparations were going on. It's pretty interesting but a little long.

Today I decided to do some cleaning under my bed. Oh my goodness! I found a treasure chest under there. This is a whole box of what I found. I don't know how these things end up here but here they are. Some things get accidentally get kicked under there when the kids are playing with all their silly cute toys that have a gazillion pieces. Other things, I don't know. I think it's time to tell the kids, "No more playing in Mom and Dad's room"!!

And, that's what I've been doing!

Happy Birthday, Dear Daughter!

Today is the day you've been waiting for! You are now in the double digits!

You've forever changed my perspective on life. I had no clue what I was in for when you came.

You are my sunshine!

Have a great celebration day!

Prayers for Ashley

Please go here for Ashley's story. She is a 2 year old triple organ transplant who is fighting for her life. She is a sweet little girl who needs prayers. She is in the hospital right now and faces serious surgery. Prayers are appreciated for her. Thanks!