How I love a good mystery!  And especially a British one!  I happened upon some Poirot DVDs in boxed sets at Sam’s Club today and I just had to get set 1.  In general, I am not a TV person at all.   I cannot bear to think of the time I would waste if we had TV.  We do not have cable or regular TV, but we do utilize DVDs and videos for school and for occasional family time to watch something educational. 

Poirot may be on the border of what defines educational, but it passes my litmus test of what might be a good occasional downtime activity for the children.  Poirot matching wits with the other detectives keeps my children thinking, to try and figure out what Poirot is thinking. 

Anyway, we had a grand hour together watching Poirot and laughing at how he continually stumped everyone around him!  If only I could be like Poirot!  My children would not doubt that they need to do what I say!

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Baby Climbing Tree Buy From Art.com

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Generally, today has been a marvelous day.  I was able to log in and transcribe without any problems today, so my job is going well, even if I’m not on my regular schedule yet.  I have worked some more today on my journaling efforts and trying to somehow notebook my thoughts, lesson plans, to-do lists, schedules and menus, and make it pretty.  (Where are you, Poirot?  Help me figure this out!)  I’ve been trying to plan how to best utilize my free time so that I can enjoy my work time. 

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Baby Shoes Hanging from Tree Branch Buy From Art.com

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Yes, I am actually planning on enjoying my work time.  It’s good to just sit.  (Meditation, anyone?)  Transcribing requires that you think about what you are doing, but there’s also enough room for the brain to entertain thoughts about what to cook, what to teach the children, and what’s most important in life.  If I can just keep my increasingly creaky bones comfortable enough to sit for 8 hours, I think my brain will benefit from the endeavor.

Baby’s Birthday Buy From Art.com

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I’ll be working on Fridays, Saturdays, and Mondays.  I’m thinking that my grocery shopping will be done on Tuesdays or Thursdays.  This will depend on what days the local homeschool group will have their fieldtrips.  I’ll use Sunday afternoons for lesson planning.  Clear thoughts about my cleaning schedule are surfacing.  I’ll post more about that later.  What my actual work hours will be on each work day are largely up to me, which is very nice indeed.  It gives me some flexibility to think ahead regarding field trips, etc.

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Buy From Art.com

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I want to put together for next year a local group for homeschooling girls.  I am envisioning a once-weekly or biweekly meeting.  I definitely want nature involved.  And sketching.  We have several local talented artists.  Could I get them to give a group lesson to the girls?  I want something Charlotte Mason would approve of.  I’m trying to think ahead to things like that as I plan my days.  I think if I want to be able to enjoy life, go on field trips, garden, or do anything at all, I’m going to have to be sure and stick to some procedures for keeping the home neat and yet not losing my mind about things.  I’m already pretty good about keeping things clutter-free, even though I’m a thrift store addict.  I want to really have routines, though, that the entire family are tuned in to.  Ahhh, I won’t be able to stop thinking on it until I have it figured out!  (Please don’t let everything have changed by then.)

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Mother and Baby Buy From Art.com

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With that, I’ll close.  I’ve had a nice hot cup of Organic Nighty Night tea, I’m happy as a lark, I know things will all work out, I’m thankful for today and hopeful for tomorrow.  After all, we all only have today.  No matter what.  I did my best today.  I want to do the same tomorrow.

Lynn