A Simple Womans Daybook

Outside my window: A dreary fall sky with a faintly setting sun.

I am thinking: About needing to detox (safely) from all the sugary Halloween chocolates I've been eating.  I have gone a bit overboard the last two days.  Eep!

I am thankful: For a helpful hubby and a log a'blaze in the fireplace.

In the kitchen:  There's an aweful lot of calories and energy running through my body right now so likely just a bowl of soup for dinner (probably just pea soup, my fave).  For Numbers Man, fried rice with orange chicken.

I am wearing: Black maternity leggings and pink, long sleeved sweater henley.

I am creating: The last minute to-do list before baby girl arrives.  And let's not hide our short-comings and vices...a post-pregnancy wardrobe (because a girl always likes to look purdy).

I am going: For walks around the neighborhood, taking in the colors of fall.

I am wondering: How much sugar a 38 week old fetus can take without going into distress.

 

I am reading:  Re-reading Emma.

I am hoping: Baby Girl waits until after the Halloween meeting/party at work before she decides to arrive.

I am looking forward to: Labor.  Seriously... 

I am pondering: How much pain brings clarity and how much, distress.

A favorite quote for the day: "She would keep the peace if possible; and there was something honourable and valuable in the strong domestic habits, the all-sufficiency of home to himself, whence resulted her brother's disposition to look down on the common rate of social intercourse, and those to whom it was important.--It had a high claim to forebearance."

A few plans for the rest of the week: Food plans: roasted chicken & root vegetables.  And buy some good cheese to keep on hand for when the snacking monster strikes.  And watch some natural birth videos.  And drink plenty of red raspberry leaf tea.

A peek into my day:

 

A Nursery Near Complete

With the baby due to arrive in just a few weeks, the nursery is pretty much put together.  There are a few lose ends needing to be "tied up"...

 

*I'm waiting on delivery of an area rug I ordered that is being shipped from Georgia.

 

*We realized we need to mount another wall shelf (we have one on the wall right behind where I'm standing taking the picture above).  The second shelf will be for the baby monitor (which has a camera), and the bear on the glider in the picture above.  The bear is made out of a mink stole that my grandma wore when she was livin' it up here on earth. :)

 

*One more light as the room is still just a tad too dark.  I'm thinking of buying a hanging lantern, but we'll see if that's realistic.

 

Also, you will notice a beautiful, pink, yellow, and white blanket on the glider in the photo; that is a gift/giveaway I won on Lisa's Blog: Searching for Balance.  It is so cute and a perfect addition to the nursery!  I have a pink and white rag basket (think rag rug style) between the dresser and the glider for all the blankets so I can grab them easily as needed.

 

The two framed art prints on the wall are from Breezy Tulip's Etsy shop and I absolutely love them!  I have had one of them for 3 years (I fell in love with it when I first saw it even though I was no where near mommy-hood).  And I purchased the second to go with it when we found out we were pregnant.  I'm so happy with both pieces and wish I could buy all of her beautiful artwork.

 

Just getting ready for the little girl to arrive already!

 

Blessings!

A Last Hurrah (Girly Style)

Today marked the last day of me charging around in the car by myself until after the baby is born.  For the remainder of the pregnancy I will be working from home and only going out with another person (read husband or parents) in tow...or rather towing me! :)

 

So I drove down south to visit with my parents and go out to tea with my mom at a beautiful tea house.  The tea house is located in a historic home, built in 1890, full of period details.  I really meant to take so many more photos of those very details, but it was raining and I have full-blown pregnancy brain so I missed my opportunity.  Luckily, we will be going back later this month for a mini family reunion (provided I don't go into early labor), so I will bring my camera again at that time.  The handle on the front door was stunning.

The front garden is ruled over by an enormous Chestnut tree that was dropping chestnuts all over the ground.  I was tempted to scoop some up for roasting at home, but thought that might look awkard (picture an eight months pregnant woman in a dress crouching around in the rain picking over the ground).  If the weather had permitted, we would have loved to sit on one of the benches to enjoy the scenery.  There were even still some roses in bloom!

We ordered the Larkspur Luncheon Tea which consisted of:

Pot of Tea

Scones with Devonshire Cream,

Jam & Lemon Curd

Sorbet

Tiered rack with Tea Sandwiches,

Savories, Fresh Fruit

Seasonal Tea Pastries & Sweets

Hot Towel Service 

 

It was all very tasty, and I was especially fond of this little crostini with bacon and quince jelly...words cannot describe!  A close second was the pear and gorgonzola tartine.

 

The tea blend I chose was: Afternoon Garden Party, a traditional black tea with hints of floral notes.

 



 

I wish I had the luxury of experiencing tea with friends and family each and every day; the ritual of afternoon just makes conversation feel *that* much more special and helps one to relax.

 

I hope you are all having a wonderful fall so far!