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Home ยป Blog ยป Ordinary Days

Ordinary Days

by Sarah Turner Clover Lane, Daily Life

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It’s nice to get back on a routine.  I love January-not the cold weather of course, but the quietness and the coziness in our warm home.  Here are some things that are keeping us busy:

-I love this sweet painting so much that I am matting and framing Mr. Happy Reindeer so I can hang it each Christmas. 

-A new bike + snow= what choice did I have?  He goes around and around the circle.

-Sweet napping.

-Lots of puzzles.

-Good books.

I put my 2013 book list on my sidebar.  Katrina Kenison’s new book is first up…I am waiting patiently for it to arrive on my doorstep.

Do you have any good book suggestions for me?  What was your favorite read of 2012?

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January 3, 2013 ยท 24 Comments

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  1. Erin says

    January 3, 2013 at 6:32 am

    LOVE Little House on the Prairie books! The girls and I just finished one together the other night. Kole and I have been doing lots of puzzles together too. He got new Thomas the Train puzzles for Christmas. Wish we could hang out and visit while the kids play Sarah! Fun post. ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  2. Laura says

    January 3, 2013 at 6:56 am

    The Disney version of the movie is awesome too and surprisingly true to the story! I'm using it to teach my homeschoolers a bit of history. ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  3. Marcia (123 blog) says

    January 3, 2013 at 8:31 am

    What Alice Forgot – Liane Moriarty ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  4. S says

    January 3, 2013 at 11:45 am

    I just finished Still Alice by Lisa Genova and although unsettling, it was a great fast read.

    Reply
  5. Sarah says

    January 3, 2013 at 12:17 pm

    I love when I see your boys doing things like riding bikes through the house. Mine are like little animals! I had family over the other day and someone mentioned the kids "energy" in sort of a "calm your kids down" tone. Asking my kids not to be active is like asking them not to breathe!

    Reply
  6. Jenny@ L.O.T.s of Love says

    January 3, 2013 at 12:17 pm

    I did buy my girls the Little House series for Christmas. I just finished Confessions of a Mega-Church Pastor by Allen Hunt. A very interesting read about a Methodist pastor's conversion to Catholicism. It's a quick read that I think you would enjoy.

    Reply
  7. Unknown says

    January 3, 2013 at 12:34 pm

    I have always loved the Little House books but somehow never read Farmer Boy until recently. My 8 and 10 year old boys LOVED it. It's like the boy version of little house. It is about Almanzo as a young boy. I'm not sure if you've read The Midwife, but I know you would love it . It takes place in England in the 1940s. There is a PBS series based on that book also. I read it when my youngest was about Janey's age and found myself feeling so very thankful for what I have.

    Reply
  8. jeana says

    January 3, 2013 at 1:02 pm

    My boys got new bikes and a scooter too…we have a nice little circle through the living room and kitchen ha! I've been reading most of your book suggestions lately. Love them, and can't wait for more! I don't know if you've read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, but it was one of my favorites of the year.

    Reply
  9. You Can Call Me Jane says

    January 3, 2013 at 1:22 pm

    Our circle in the downstairs gets lot of use- in the past it's seen tricycles, roller skates, roller blades, a scooter, strollers, a mini shopping cart and the pitter-patter of many little feet running laps with their daddy- all thanks to a gravel driveway:-).

    Reply
  10. CRICKET says

    January 3, 2013 at 2:00 pm

    I could never pick one book so here are some that were totally differnt but vry enjoyable. The Buddha in the Attic by Otsuka, The Language of Flowers by Diffenbaugh and The Confidant by Helene Gremillon. Happy New Year. Short article you might enjoy:
    http://news.yahoo.com/believe-farewell-optimism-233021286.html

    Reply
  11. Simply LKJ says

    January 3, 2013 at 2:33 pm

    I love the picture of him riding his new bike in the house! Priceless. Looking forward to some new books as well. Both my girls read Out of the Dust for school years ago. Our book club is currently reading Great House by Nicole Krauss. So far, I am enjoying it.

    Reply
  12. Lee Ann says

    January 3, 2013 at 3:41 pm

    Those must be some good books! I'm trying to reserve them at the library and I'm at least 30th in line for most of them ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  13. Miss Jill and Mister John says

    January 3, 2013 at 3:57 pm

    I am in the middle of Unorthodox by Deborah Feldman and so far it's great! It's an autobio about a woman who grew up in a Hasidic home but leaves the orthodox community. She reads lots of books, which is forbidden.. but it enhances the story.

    Reply
  14. Carrie says

    January 3, 2013 at 5:32 pm

    Last year I enjoyed Happier at Home by Gretchen Rubin. She has a lot of great ideas for living more purposefully. Otherwise, I am looking forward to Katrina Kenison's newest book. Right now, I am reading Rediscovering Catholicism upon your recommendation in another post. It's wonderful!!

    Reply
  15. Maggie says

    January 3, 2013 at 5:49 pm

    Oooh! Gone Girl is such a great book. Not at all what I expected when I started it. I'll be curious to hear your thoughts on it!

    Reply
  16. janellemc says

    January 3, 2013 at 9:06 pm

    My favorite reads this year were Little Britches By Ralph Moody (a male version of Little House), Scarlet Pimpernel, and Mrs. Mike. Thanks for the recommendations. Happy New Year!

    Reply
  17. Five Bees in the Triangle says

    January 4, 2013 at 12:51 am

    Another vote for Lisa Genova's books. Still Alice is excellent but gut-wrenching if dementia is something you are dealing with in real life. I liked her second book, Left Neglect even more. I read a little bit of WWI and WWII historical fiction and this year I enjoyed The Bungalow and Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet. Happy reading!

    Reply
  18. Becky says

    January 4, 2013 at 12:52 am

    We got our boys the Razor Rip Riders for Christmas – discovered them on your list of fave toys and just HAD to have them! Honestly, I'm not sure who loves them more – me or them!

    Just finished "The Midwife of Hope River" and loved it. I think you would, too. Now I'm reading "The Painted Bridge," another one that seems up your alley based on other books you recommend. Both are historical novels.

    Did you read "Wild" by Cheryl Strayed yet?

    Reply
  19. Nicole says

    January 4, 2013 at 4:09 pm

    I HIGHLY recommend "The Bungalow" and "The Violets of March," both by Sarah Jio. They are EXCELLENT.

    I also have to thank you for sharing your paint colors on your blog. Over the holiday break, I needed (like n-e-e-d-e-d) to paint our kitchen & had been looking for a warm neutral color for months. I used Believable Buff and I am so in love with it!

    Reply
  20. Courtney says

    January 4, 2013 at 5:14 pm

    sweet photos. I am in the middle of 'Simplicity Parenting' and really like it.

    Reply
  21. The Nem's!! says

    January 5, 2013 at 12:50 am

    Sarah's Key is a book I will never forget and recommend to everyone!!
    http://www.amazon.com/Sarahs-Special-Gift-Tatiana-Rosnay/dp/1250004217/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1357346181&sr=1-1&keywords=Sarah%27s+key

    Reply
  22. maggiebrown says

    January 6, 2013 at 1:43 am

    Ive been reading your blog for a few years and love seeing your family pictures–especially watching little Janie grow. Is there a reason you removed them? I hope nobody did something evil with your pictures.

    Reply
  23. Magnolia Verandah says

    January 7, 2013 at 1:39 am

    Do so love your book lists.

    Reply
  24. Your Southern Peach says

    January 16, 2013 at 5:22 am

    We love the BOB books too! Another favorite of ours are the "Danny and the Dinosaur" books by Syd Hoff. My boys also LOVE "Truck Driver Tom." Great book for boys ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply

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Sarah Turner

When our first baby was placed in my arms I knew there was no place I wanted to be other than home with him every day. Twenty five years, and five more babies later, (six children, now ages 26-8), I still feel the same. I blog here about motherhood, how to make a house a home, easy recipes, and simple living. You can read more about me here.

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Nothing pretty, flashy, or spectacular. Just an o Nothing pretty, flashy, or spectacular.  Just an ordinary Monday morning breakfast counter after the kids leave for school.  Because ordinary gets the short hand in our culture but really it's extra special. 
It's a symbol of unselfishness, contentment, prudence and gratitude.  There is a certain peace about the ordinary.  It's the opposite of temporary-it holds the joy of contentment and gratitude and prudence all in one hand.  It's lends itself toward peace, and a settling in, not a constant search for more or less or anything.  Ordinary is authentic and good enough- in short it's a gem in disguise. ๐Ÿƒ
I love my home and I hope you do also. With all t I love my home and I hope you do also.  With all the imperfections and maintenance it requires, when I pull up and walk in I want to stay, to relax, to feel safe, for daily life to be easy, and to care for "home". I want simplicity, ease, convenience.  To me when my home is simple, without being filled to the brim of things that just take up space I love it best.  I hope if you've participated fully or even partially as time allowed in 40 Bags in 40 Days you've found that joy and pride in your home.  I plan to share more little challenges and tips as the year proceeds to trouble shoot areas and keep maintenance effortless and the house love flowing.  Daily life in our homes should bring us joy and ease while we care for our families, we should be thoughtful stewards of our money and of our time and simple living is the answer to that. 
Thank you for participating! ๐Ÿก
I think this is one of the best things about the 4 I think this is one of the best things about the 40 Bag decluttering process.  When I know what I have and have removed all that I don't, it cultivates more discretion and caution about what I bring back in.  I think there is also some realization of how much money is wasted on fads, or thoughtless purchases.  It's quite eye-opening.  I've become so much more careful, and find we all take better care of things, as do my children.
The final week of 40 Bags in 40 Days! I've tackle The final week of 40 Bags in 40 Days!  I've tackled all the areas of my home with exception of my oldest daughter's room (not the photo)- which she is excited to work on this week.
The simpler the room, the easier it is to clean an The simpler the room, the easier it is to clean and straighten up.  And then the more enjoyable it is to actually sit in that room.  It's not a hard equation, all it takes is ruthless purging-and not just little things but larger items also.  Functional furniture is the key and very few decorative pieces especially when children are in the home, makes life so much easier. 
๐Ÿƒ
As we head into the last week of the 40 Bags in 40 As we head into the last week of the 40 Bags in 40 Days Challenge I'm hearing from so many of you what a difference it has made in your appreciation of your homes, a certain contentment, and at the same time a thrill of looking in on the organized kitchen, closet and living space.  I agree!  I love purging, cleaning and organizing a space and then going back later that day just to get that wonderful sense of accomplishment.  It makes such a difference! 
๐Ÿƒ
A lighter, fresher, calmer home is the result of de-cluttering.  I even had a participant who had been planning on listing her home, start 40 Days just to get her house ready to sell, and then was so ruthless in the process and also thrilled by the results that they decided to stay put in what seemed like a new home to them.  What a savings of time, money and energy. 
๐Ÿƒ
Next week I will be talking maintenance and answer all questions! โ˜€๏ธ
Tips For Shared Kids Rooms- This bedroom has seen Tips For Shared Kids Rooms-
This bedroom has seen every configuration possible.  With kids spread out 18 years apart, I've had to be creative over the years-which I think is the key to sharing rooms.  It is all possible-I consider it a rare luxury and privilege to not have to share a room although I know that is not the norm today. 
๐Ÿƒ
I like to create a simple look with white furniture (this ends up making room transitions easier also when moving someone out and someone else in.) I also like to match bedspreads for a cohesive look. 
๐Ÿƒ
Clip on bed lights save space. 
๐Ÿƒ
A simple shared book shelf can hold a child's special books and knick knacks and if necessary can be assigned per shelf.
๐Ÿƒ
When my kids were younger I had my dad build me a large wooden roll out box for under each bed.  This held each child's toys. 
๐Ÿƒ
All clothes are kept in a closet instead of dressers to save space.
I feel like I bailed on everyone following 40 Bags I feel like I bailed on everyone following 40 Bags progress and tips.  My excuse is the stomach flu ravaging us all here in the last week with me being the last to fall and the slowest to recover.  On top of that the weekend before I tried to roller blade (don't even ask how many steps I made it) and majorly bit it.  Thankfully I think I just sprained my arm. So I've been using one arm for nursing sick children back to health, and doing whatever cleaning and cooking and straightening I can do.  Alas, last week was a wash.  We have two weeks to go.  I'd like to continue and end on a high note.  How about you?  Even a little de-cluttering counts! Spring is in the air and I can't wait to throw open my windows and let fresh clean air circulate through my fresh clean orderly home. โ˜€๏ธ๐ŸŒท๐ŸŒฑ
Especially where kids are concerned- we tend to th Especially where kids are concerned- we tend to think that the more things they have the happier and more occupied and loved they will feel.  Nothing can replace human interaction and I've found that too many toys has the reverse affect.  They cause overwhelm-just like us - we'd rather sit in an orderly space than one filled with too many things to do and too much stuff.
โ˜€๏ธ
When it comes to kids closets here are some tips-
1. Hand me downs don't all have to be received.  Or received at all.  Be choosy and keep just what they will use and need.
2. When children are presented with too many choices, tension and acrimony can exist.  Being able to open a closet with a reasonable amount of outfits can create more peace.
3. Cultivating independence in care of clothes is easier when there is less and the space is simplified and organized. 
โ˜€๏ธ
More tips coming on the blog this week.  I am moving my blog platform so I can't make any promises - it's under construction and that's exciting!
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