All I want is a simple life

(I just wanted to say this is not me hanging clothes, but I'd swear that chick was hanging her clothes on my clothesline! I just want to know how they got on my roof to take that picture without my knowledge?)

Well, things are finally starting to settle down a bit around here. Everyone has returned to their own beds, bedding has been washed and hung to dry. Ryan returned back to his house and is trying to resume his life...of course, with one little glitch. (the fact that he can't drive) He's still pretty crabby about that and the fact that his entire summer will be spent on crutches, but I keep pointing out the fact that it could have been worse.

I'm still waiting for the pictures that Jen took at the studio the other day so I can post them. I forgot to take a "before" picture of the end table I picked up at a garage sale. It looks pretty awesome now that I painted it. I will post pictures when she sends them to my inbox. She's a pretty busy gal these days, ya know.

Speaking of my "inbox"...I got an email from one of Jacob's teachers saying that he was caught cheating on his homework assignment in study hall. Yep, the only one of my kids that wasn't in "crisis" somehow forgot to do his homework on the book, Great Expectations, and didn't realize it until the hour before class. It's not typical behavior of Jake, but I guess we all have lapses in judgement every now and then. Well all I can say is that he's darn lucky the teacher only failed him on the 30 point assignment and didn't turn him in on academic dishonesty. Needless to say, I emailed the teacher back and thanked her for calling it to my attention. Jacob was given an extra assignment (by me) entitled "Great Expectations", outlining the expectations that are placed on him by God, parents, teachers, and himself and the importance of honesty and integrity. He will turn it in to the teacher on Tuesday. We told him he was not allowed to play video games until the end of the school year and was not allowed to work out unless all of his homework is completely done first. *sigh. I just never expected something like this from him. I had a long talk with him and I am confident he won't be pulling something like this again.

Today Pat and Josh went and hauled a few loads of compost for my garden. I'm so excited to get it planted. I'll probably do it one day this week since the weather just hasn't been all that warm yet. The nights still seem so cold.

I spent a semi-lazy day on the deck, folding laundry, cutting up apples and rhubarb for an apple/rhubarb crisp, catching some rays and chatting with Pat over coffee...I made us lunch and we ate on the deck just the two of us.

I've been hanging all my clothes (except for socks) on the line in an attempt to keep down the power bill. It's actually quite cathartic. I love the smell of clothes hung on the line...I love to contemplate life while I mindlessly pin each piece on the line ...I love how the breeze blows them back in my face and how the dog patiently waits at my feet while I finish the task. Oh, the simple things in life that excite me. It just seems like such a long time since I've taken a moment to enjoy something so simple.

I'd like to end on a random quote I found:

A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces that she never did care for pie ~ Tenneva Jordan

Geesh, I guess my secret's out.