In hobby-related news, now that we’re not working so hard to remodel our house, I’ve started wondering if perhaps I could fit my scrapbooking hobby back into my life. It sure is a tempting thought, and I think that I could probably find some friends to join me.

In toad news, I’ve given Isaac the deadline of letting his toad go back into the wild by this weekend. The little critter needs a chance to prepare for hibernation, so she needs to get busy before it gets too cold around here.

In house-keeping news, our house has really been suffering from lack of attention. This afternoon I told my sister that soon I would decide enough was enough, and things would finally get cleaned up. This evening when Michael and I left the house to run some errands, I asked Laura to see what she could do to the kitchen, even though it isn’t her job. When we got back home again, I was completely astounded to find the entire kitchen had been cleaned up. Every surface was clean. The floor was swept. The rugs had been shaken. Some extra-dirty spots on the floor had been washed with a cloth. The dishwasher was full and ready to run. All in all, I was quite speechless. Laura was very pleased with herself and her work, and we quickly forgave her for forgetting to put her little brothers to bed several hours earlier. I am so encouraged now about the kitchen, and I’m full of new resolve to keep it clean and tidy.

It is a calm, quiet evening, and I hate to end my thoughtful time here on the front porch, but Isaac is wishing for help with his English homework, and this is as good a time as any, I suppose, so off I go to play teacher again.