Good morning! I am tired. Rich left yesterday morning for a short business trip. He will be back late tonight. Somehow yesterday seemed very very long…..and then I didn’t sleep very well at all last night. Caleb woke me up at 1, yelling and crying. Then, at 4 Seth woke up hungry. After feeding him I spent about an hour in my bed, worrying about Rich, because I had a bad dream about him. After a while I realized what I was doing so I made myself think about something else. I can’t remember now what it was but it put me to sleep….just in time for Caleb to come in my room at 6. **sigh** I wish that boy would sleep an extra hour in the mornings!
I called Rich right away and he said I was silly and talked to me until I felt better. He said I should have called him at 4:30 when I was worrying. 
So….back to yesterday. It rained all day long. I spent half the day reading, which felt so wonderful. It’s been a long time since I ignored the housework and let the children do whatever they wanted, so I could get lost in a book. I’m a fast reader and my book ended all too soon.
I had a little reading buddy.
Has anyone else read The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio? I’ve read it two times now and enjoyed it so much. It’s on my list of “Favorite Books to read about Large Families”, along with Cheaper by the Dozen, Belles on Their Toes, the Duggar’s new book, Anne of Ingleside & Rainbow Valley, the “All of a Kind Family” books, Spencer’s Mountain, and The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies. All are highly recommended by Yours Truly.
So the afternoon drifted by in a haze of what I will call “Reader’s Brain”…that drowsy feeling I get after reading “too much” for “too long”…
I did find a gift that I was supposed to give to Grace for Christmas but forgot about (to be honest, I actually forgot WHERE I put it!). Jacob found it yesterday in the basement. It was fun to give it to her. It is a little laundry set so that she can wash her doll clothes. She had so much fun and thanked me several times. She has a real washboard, a small wicker laundry basket, a clothesline, and small clothespins.
And because this is a random post, here is a thought for large families. You smart ones probably already do this, and I do not know why I didn’t think of it before.
It’s much less expensive to buy our ice cream in these 4 quart plastic tubs. Now our ice cream should last the whole week, instead of just a days or two. And Jacob can use the empty tubs for his army men.
Today my friend Karen is supposed to come over. We plan on baking together. Doesn’t that sound cozy? I plan on baking a big batch of my Grandma’s wonderful molasses cookies. We are also making homemade bread and soup.
I just looked out the window. My cat is looking in at me, wanting to come in. The sky is filled with rolling clouds, and the grass has gotten so much greener after our day of rain.
Enjoy your day! I look forward to hearing from my friends….yes, that means you! 
Love ~Shanda~
Good to be Home 
I have read Cheaper by the Dozen and Belles on their toes as well as the one where the mother talks about her inventions with the father and how she planned out her kitchen, it was fascinating, but apparently the title did not stick. Anyway I liked how she counted out how many steps you should take from the sink to the stove to the fridge and how to get more done in less time.
I never heard of the Ohio book but it looks really interesting, does it tell you what her 25 words were?
that first picture is beautiful. I do that all the time, have bad dreams and wake up all freaked out.
It has been far too long since I have had a day buried in a book, either. Those days are wonderful! The week after I had Scotty, we were still living up at camp, and I was pretty much confined to my room. I read soo many books with Scotty nestled on my chest. It is one of my best memories from those first few hours with him. I hope you enjoy your day, and that your Hubby returns safely to you. (I soo understand the worrying bit – ug.)
I understand about having a bad dream about someone you love. It’s so scarey and real. Your day sounds wonderful and cozy. My kind of day. Blessings.
The little laundry set is so cute ~ what a treat to get an unexpected gift on a rainy day! I look forward to hearing from you too! 🙂
Wow Grace had so much fun I can tell, I’ll have to show Abs the pictures when she gets hme from school! I am happy nothing is wrong with Rich and that you were able to talk to him today….our minds can sure play funny tricks on us when we are tired! You and Karen are going to have such a wonderful time together today it is a perfect day for baking and soup! Enjoy your day and kiss Sethie pooh for me XOXOX love ya Sissy
A day full of reading sounds fabulous. Have fun baking (and eating)!!
Yes,I have read the first 3 books you have listed.I enjoyed The Prize Winner of Defiance,Ohio too.I also read the All Of A Kind Family books numerous times and you reminded me of them so I need to read them again! (love them!!)Have a fun day baking & cooking!
I’ve read Prize Winner. It was such a great book. I am with you on reading it often. It is so refreshing to see someone who used what she had available to help her family.
I used to have a book on tape of “How I Raised 10 Kids on 25 Words or Less”. It was so good, I loaned it to someone, but they mistakenly returned it to their library and I never got it back!! It was especially interesting to me because I knew the lady with polio in IN that the mom and daughter went to visit (along with her “round robin” friends) in their old delapidated car. It’s quite a story!
FUN!!!
Yum! molasses cookies!
I loved Cheaper by the Dozen! It’s been quite awhile since I read it. I’ve hid things before as well and then not been able to find them, how fun for her to have a late present 🙂 Have fun baking!
“reader’s brain” It really exists, I am proof. It’s been far too long since I’ve had it. I may have to remedy that. I pray you are having a good day with your friend.
Love getting lost in a good book, love molasses cookies (and soup and bread)! Ryan is always teasing me about my dreams. They seem so real, and some of them really upset me. He assures me that everything is fine. Grace’s laundry set is adorable! I know she will have hours of fun with it. Enjoy your day of friendship and baking!
Sounds like a wonderful day. I like your little reading buddy:)
What a nice post, Shanda. 🙂 I’m sorry that you had a bad dream, I know how tormenting those can be. 😦 As a friend, let me tell you what a nice, loving hubby you have to tell you to call him at 4:30 in the AM!! That would have NEVER been an option for me…you are so blessed.
The day with your friend sounds very nice….my girls would LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE the washboard you gave Grace! 🙂 I think Iwould toO! 🙂
Love the daffodil with the raindrops!! Our daffodils are quickly fading. Glad you had a day to read!! I allow myself those days too. I’ll have to try some of those titles.
Our Library has “The prizewinner…” on tape, (didn’t realize it was made into a movie until I looked it up a min ago on google…I’m going to have to check if I can get it) and on one of our trips there we ran across it….I’ve listened to it at least 2 times and love books like that. We usually try to get books on tape to take on long trips, to make the time go faster. I’ve read Cheaper by the Dozen, Belles on Their Toes, the “All of a Kind Family”, and Anne of Ingleside, but am going to have to check out the other ones your mentioned.
Can I come over? I’d love a lazy, rainy day. You bake and I’ll hang out with the kids…and take a few pictures too
I borrowed that book from you Shan and I enjoyed it! How inspiring that was! Talk about committment too! little Seth is getting so big! I can’t wait to come and visit!!!! Love you, Elisha
I’m looking forward to start reading some of the books you rec. I read the Duggar’s new book and really enjoyed it. I’ve seen the movie, Spencer’s Mountain, I’ll have to read the book.
Praying for you that you will have a peaceful sleep tonight!
The Duggar’s book is one of my newest favorites. AND, my girls have some of the same clothes as Grace for their dolls! Darling wash set! Thought of you this morning while I tried to relax on top of my bed to “Quiet Beauty”!!! I saw lots of lime green and children outdoors around ponds and trees (YOUR CHILDREN!!!) in my thoughts! What a comfort you are to me! HUGS!
All you need on a rainy day is a good book and a cute little cuddle partner! Hope you had a wonderful day baking and making memories with your friend.
Sounds like you had a lovely day.
What a warm, wonderful post. I wish I could come and visit!
Funny that you should mention Spencer’s Mountain since, as a UK reader of your blog, you always, inevitably, remind me of the Waltons which was shown on British TV in the 1970s when I was a child and which we all loved. Where the blogosphere is wonderful is that via your blog, and others, I get a glimpse of lives lived very differently from the one I live here in the capital city with my partner and three children. While I wouldn’t swap my life, it is always good to be aware that there are other ways of living and with different sets of beliefs (I’m an agnostic, my children, like many London children, are at a school at which 40 different languages are spoken and every world faith is represented). Wishing you and your family every best wish. Joan
oh, to read the day away! Sounds blissful! I love the little clothesline full of doll clothes! What a great thing for your little princess! Molasses cookies, bread and soup? Does it get any cozier on a rainy day?! 🙂 have a blessed day, xanga friend! 🙂
It’s much less expensive to buy our ice cream in these 4 quart plastic tubs. Now our ice cream should last the whole week, instead of just a days or two. And Jacob can use the empty tubs for his army men.
Are you sure they are 4-quarts–I believe that down here in Delaware –Yes I just walked over the freezer and looked at a tub that I bought yesterday out at WalMart and it said on the bottom 1 Gal. and 1 quart Down in Florida a tub like that is 5-Quarts also–Sure hope you have the same good find.–Me
Have you ever read Ten P’s in a Pod?
@criaelizabeth – Oh yes! I have read that one, I’ll have to read it again….thanks!
hello from sunny Florida (for just a few more days!) Love your reading buddy picture (is your camera attached to you at all times??)and now I have a few more books to look for at my local library! (not that 4 kids makes a large family, but I am sure I could learn something!)
Thank you for stopping by and leaving such kind words.