7 Quick Takes

1. The nude drum circle currently going on in my living room definitely deserves a "Quick-Takes" shout. Picture my 2- and 4-year-old with a whole cadre of percussion instruments, tapping away in only their birthday suits. Much hopping and hooting between shouted verses of: "Jingle bells, jingle bells, all the way to town!"

2. Are you reading the Pioneer Woman? I think until this week I was the only mommy blogger in cyberspace not reading her artistic posts, but no longer am I a stranger. Ree Drummond is folksy, charming and way down-to-earth, not to mention one heck of a talented photographer and communicator. I don't know if she has one, but I always hear a southern drawl when I read her posts.

3.On the same note, Pioneer Woman now has a recipe component. We tried this salad this week and it was a delicious summer meal on what was probably our hottest day yet.

4. My dear mother-in-law loves books. I think she's inspired by the things she reads and wants her loved ones to share the same experiences. She's always sending me literature. When I was newly dating her youngest son some 11 years ago, she mailed me her only copy of her favorite novel: "The City of Joy" and politely requested I tackle all 500-some pages between my required college readings and then send along a thorough book report. It took about a year, but I got through it and I wrote that report.

Now she sends all manner of parenting, spiritual encouragement and marital advice books my way. Some I read, others I place immediately on the shelf, thinking of how nice it was that she thought of us, but I'll let that one collect some dust for a while. This book is one I'm currently reading and I am so grateful that she sent it my way. I like it because it gets me into applicable scripture every day and it's prompting me to rapidly read through an entire book of the Bible in digestible installments.

5.I referenced a new haircut last week in my notes about how night-time showering has changed me life. Per a request for a photo, here's a look at the new do.

6. A tent in the living room is a good thing. N purchased a $17 "pup" style two-man tent for a recent backpacking expedition and it now stands erect in our main play space. It measures about waist-high on me and my kiddos and their pals are having all sorts of imaginative fun zipping themselves in and out of this perfect little playhouse. It currently houses a stack of library books, a matchbox race car and a toy airplane. I'm sure we'll soon tire of its constant in-the-way presence and will retire it to the loft where it will stay out of sight. And if you're planning a visit to our house soon, we'll let you sleep in it, too.

7. That new baby we're cooking needs a name--a couple actually. We're thinking it's either a boy or a girl who needs a classic, yet functional name. Something with a little personality but not too much edge. We like old-man names and girl names that end in "a" or "y" sounds. Suggestions please.