Monday ponderings of a busy mom

Oh, how this room looks inviting to me. I want to curl up in that chair with a great book, a pot of tea and Christmas music in the background.

The alarm rang earlier than usual this morning and we arrived at the junior college just as the sun was peeking above the horizon. Now that is early. It's all about being finals week at the college.

I dropped Christopher off at the door and headed directly for the nearest McDonald's for coffee and to read a few chapters in an Elizabeth George book until the library at the college opened.

I could not resist checking out more books with a Christmas theme; Victoria's The Heart of Christmas, Country Living Country Christmas, Miss Read's Village Christmas, The Willows at Christmas by William Horwood...only Village Christmas is a reread. I was quite amazed to find the sequel to Inklings and Expectations in the New Fiction section (called Evasions). My husband will read while I go through the other books in the evenings.

I took a chance and checked out Tea with Mussolini on DVD, having seen it recommended on another Christian woman's blog. I already have Ladies in Lavender sitting on my TV, waiting to be watched and returned to the library. There has been a pattern in the last few months of finding good DVDs and returning them to the library unwatched. I'm determined to watch these two, though. Both have my favorite British actress, Judi Dench in them.

In spite of the books and movies that await, I must next turn my attention to all the unfinished gotta do's of the day. I don't think my house has ever looked more chaotic. When one adds the flu bug from last week to being gone a lot (and the fatigue that comes by evening from the usual suspect), well...let's just say I got a wee bit behind. At least the kitchen is all tidy, with the exception of a few breakfast dishes.

I was able to talk to my daughter yesterday evening. She had a chance to call at the same time I was assembling a casserole for dinner. I tucked the phone between my ear and shoulder and chatted while continuing to cook. She has been doing what I call "decorating by tweaking", in her case it involved moving furniture to various places in the house to make life easier as they add new person due in April (and making it easier for the three year old and nearly-five year old to help do their kitchen gotta do's). It all sounded lovely and much more efficient for children's chores, homeschooling and "mothers of four children". I could mentally picture the changes made in her pretty home. She decorates as I do with many vintage items, only I love the more uh...cluttered...no, let's call it homey...English Country look and she is very much Cottage Style vintage.

I have been doing my own decorating by tweaking, changing the vintage sewing machine from the antique "dresser" it has been on to another place (not yet decided). I had moved the "dresser" into the dining area so it now looks more appropriate with a silver tea service and other "tea service" items on it, along with a small Christmas tree with tiny Christmas ornaments. I have always had the vintage Singer sewing machine on this piece of furniture, since I inherited it from my mother-in-law, so it's taking awhile to get used to the change.

Now I must get to the house, trying to decide the priorities which will make the most immediate impact into decluttering the rooms. Unfortunately, heading to the sofa with a book is not one of them. :)