This and That!

This week has been very busy! Between work, school and normal household duties, my time is stretched very thin. Funny thing is, I’m happy! I have found myself to be very joyful. There has been less arguing between the kids, less fussing by ME, less (much less) television. There has been more reading, more talking and more time just being together. Even Daddy has been less grumpy. I don’t know what’s going on here, but I like it!


Here are just a few things that have been going on:

1. Last week I was watching the Barefoot Contessa on the Food Network and she made Sausage and Shrimp Jambalaya. It looked so good, I had to try it! It was great! I spent almost an entire hour doing the chopping and preparing, but it was well worth the effort.

2. I’m currently listening to a book on CD, Laura Bush – Spoken from the Heart. I’m really enjoying the fact that Mrs. Bush did the recording herself. She has a very soft and reassuring voice. I miss her quiet and reserved demeanor. There is something to be said for professionalism, patriotism and sincerity – none of which you’ll find in the White House these days.

3. Next weekend, here in North Florida, we will celebrate the 445th birthday of the city of St. Augustine’s founding! On Saturday, September 4th, there will be a reenactment of the landing of St. Augustine’s founder, Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles, at the Mission of Nombre De Dios. This is the exact landing point where Spanish colonists came ashore and were greeted by the Timucua Indians in 1565. Following the reenactment, the director of Mission San Luis (Dr. Bonnie McEwan) will talk about the development of the first mission, Nombre de Dios. Then, Bishop Victor Galeone (Diocese of St. Augustine) will celebrate Mass at the Mission’s outdoor altar. Following the mass, there will be a procession led by authentic Spanish reenactors where the actual casket of Pedro Menendez de Aviles will be taken from the Mission’s Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche Chapel to it’s new home in the Mission Nombre de Dios Museum. I’m pretty sure that there will be some kind of blessing or ceremony. Sometime later that afternoon, there will be a “real” Thanksgiving cooking contest at the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park. Entries into the contest will use ONLY ingredients that either the native Timucuans had here or what the Spanish settlers brought with them! To me, this sounds like a load of fun! Right now the kids and I are reading a book about this area called, The Voices of St. Augustine and I think it will be really cool to see some of what we’ve been reading about.

4. Lastly, we have been planning for our “big trip” to Tennessee in September. Dan and I have been secretly planning a family vacation to the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge area. A friend of ours owns a rental home up there and they have graciously allowed us to rent it for a week! The kids don’t know about it yet so shhhhhhhh! More details to come.

Well, that’s it for now. Have a wonderful weekend!