It’s cold this morning! And due to get even colder later tonight. In the 20’s…what?
Somehow, today has turned into a busy Monday. However, before I jump into that, I’m taking time for the weekly Happy Homemaker Monday link up hosted by Sandra over at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom.
Let’s just jump right into the categories.
The Weather 
It was 36 degrees when I woke up to let the cat out this morning. And it’s still pretty chilly out there, just barely 40 degrees. I know I was wishing I’d grabbed a jacket when I did my grocery store run this morning. We have freeze warnings for tonight and tomorrow night with predicted lows in the mid-20’s. Barely upper 50’s by mid-week but then on Friday, a high of 80. Welcome to the Midwest. Dig out your sweaters but don’t put those summer shorts away quite yet.
As I Look Outside My Window
Well, yesterday I glanced out the bedroom windows into the backyard and saw snowbirds (dark-eyed juncos). Those aren’t supposed to be here until early November. And this morning, I looked out the backdoor and saw a white-throated sparrow. Bit concerned what these early arrivals might mean regarding our upcoming winter.
Right Now
Just taking a minute to ignore the to-do list and work on this post.
Thinking and Pondering
So much. An upcoming trip, some small joys, something that happened at my work on Friday (basically a teacher left, I’m unsure if she quit or was let go…thinking it was a choice), the holiday season, if I want to “compete in a friendly way” with the neighbors who upped their Halloween decorating game, what to do with the rest of my flower garden. Too many thoughts. Might need more (or maybe less?) coffee.
How I Am Feeling This Morning
Not bad, husband was gone hunting Friday and Saturday, so I slept better last night once he was home.
On The Breakfast Plate 
vitamins, crappy grocery store donut (it was good though…some kind of blueberry cheesecake thing), and vitamins.
On The Lunch Plate
Either a grilled cheese or PBJ (and Cheetos, maybe a banana, too)
On The Dinner Plate
My plan is for minestrone and homemade crusty bread with apple cake for dessert (we’ll see if the apple cake happens or not)
What I Am Wearing Today
Black tee-shirt, floral pink/purple button down shirt over it as jacket, and jeans. Plus I actually put on socks and tennis shoes today!
On My Reading Pile
Note to self: Do NOT read true crime/ghost story books when husband is out of town. I read my free Amazon Prime choices over the weekend. How weird is it that they were both set in Minnesota? The first was called The Quarry Girls by Jess Lourey, set in Pantown, Minnesota during 70’s about a serial killer. I actually preferred the second book which was a little scarier than the true crime one of the first. The Stroke of Winter by Wendy Webb was a ghost tale set along the north shore of Lake Superior in the town of Wharton. I’ve read other works by Wendy Webb and always enjoyed them. This one had a bit of a cozy mystery feel to it though it was a bit creepy.
On My TV
The Chiefs, SIGH. The Bills played a good game but it was still a disappointing end. I had to listen to that part in the car as J had band practice, pleading the fifth on whether curse words were uttered. Didn’t get to see Masked Singer last week because of baseball, really hope it’s on this week. Finished Kim’s
Convenience on Netflix. Not sure what else I’ll watch this week. Need to get back to The Walking Dead.
On The Menu
Just trying to use up a little of what we have on hand.
MONDAY: Minestrone, crusty bread (planning to use the remnants of a veggie tray for my minestrone) *J has a baritone lesson at 6:30*
TUESDAY: Roast in the crockpot *I have Bunco*
WEDNESDAY: Chicken strips, corn on the cob, maybe French Fries
THURSDAY: On their own
FRIDAY: On their own
Looking Around The House
UGH. Enough said.
On My To Do List 
- Grocery store *done*
- Laundry
- Clean up around the house
- Go get birdseed somewhere (probably Mernard’s)
- Pay bills
- E-mail J’s school with the homeschool letter
- Make crusty bread for tonight’s dinner
- Do Some early Christmas shopping *maybe*
- Dig out sweaters/hoodies for cold weather this week
- Things I didn’t do last week
From The Camera
Quote For The Week 
Last week/the weekend was a little hard with band senior night/the last band competition and J not being a part of it all. I actually ran across this verse at a time I really needed to see it. Trying to keep it in mind moving forward.
Yes: Dig out sweaters/hoodies for cold weather this week 🙂 Normally it is also colder here but today it was really warm. I saw someone walking the dog and she wasn’t wearing a coat. That is strange for the Netherlands in October.
I liked your blog so much. Halloween is also increasingly being done here. It has come over from the USA but it are mainly non believers who embrace Halloween here. Perhaps Christians will do it later?
I had to google to research what a crockpot was. Now I know. A slow cooker. I don’t have one. And thank you so much for Hebrews 12:1-2
I’m not great about grabbing a coat to go outside myself. Though mid 20’s does require one. Thank you so much for liking my blog! As far as I know, Halloween is more of a fun holiday (not really even a holiday as schools/businesses don’t close for it…falls on a Monday this year). Think crockpot was a term used when I was a kid (in the 70’s/80’s) and then they slowly (ha!) started being called slow cookers. Or maybe the other way around, who knows. Hope your week is off to a great start!
Hello, my friend. Your dinner sounds delicious. Wondering if your apple dessert happened. I’m asking because I thought this morning about making a crumble. It hasn’t happened! It is chilly here too, and windy. The leaves were swirling all over! I wanted to bottle that sight up so I could pull it out again in March. I hope you have a cozy evening!
Thank you. The bread turned out great and the minestrone was good but I forgot to double the pasta so the the rest of the family was not quite as impressed as usual. The apple dessert did not happen. Maybe this afternoon. If not then, probably tomorrow for sure. I love when the leaves swirl around like that. Hope your Tuesday is off to a terrific start!
Good afternoon, Jean, Goodness you have been busy today. Wow, I haven’t even thought about Christmas yet, except my daughter sent me a request for money instead of gifts. She wants to have her colors done! I remember how important that was for me at her age. Anyway we need to get to thinking about gifting yikes! Yep, this is a much cooler fall than usual, I think. Have a great rest of your week! Schotzy
I think the cold weather put me in that frame of mind. That and a sale a site was running. Of course, I loaded up my cart and then couldn’t decide and now the sale is over so I’ve decided no on those items. Is that the Internet equivalent of window shopping? Having colors done sounds fun, that’s where they tell you the best colors to wear, right? Or it it something else? Hope you are having a wonderful week so far!
Amazing how busy a Monday can get! Sorry about the Chiefs, but it was a good game! Laughing at your statement about reading the “heavy” stuff when hubby is out of town. Actually I’m LMBO – someday I’ll tell you about almost shooting the automated cat box one night when hubby was deployed. 😀 Temps dropping fast here too and will drop another 15 or so degrees with the storm moving in on Friday. Oh my, your thinking and pondering section is vast and deep. I hope you found some answers to help. Have a wonderful week my friend.
Oh, that sounds like a good story! Yes, too much on my mind lately. Thank you. Hope you also have a wonderful week!
That donut sounds yummy! And yes send the leftovers my way!! Love this time of year for soups!!! Have a great week!
It was surprisingly good. Sometimes the grocery store donuts can fall a bit short. Hope you enjoy your minestrone tonight. I’d sure send the leftovers your way if you were closer to me 🙂 Hope you have a terrific Tuesday!
Had fun reading your post. Have a great week.
Thank you! Hope you have a great week as well!
Hello sweet Jean ~
I get the crazy weather thing loud and clear! It’s been really chilly here – but they’re saying 60’s on the weekend. So nuts! And I feel your pain with your team. My Pack has been sucking it up. Ugh! We look awful. Not gonna be our year I don’t think.
I relate to having the meandering thoughts and wondering if you need more or less coffee. That cracked me up! It is wonderful to be back to baking season, isn’t it??
I’m nervous now that you’ve mentioned winter birds coming too early….hope that doesn’t mean ANYTHING! Lol
Blessings to you xo
It’s back to warm around here but at least we’re going to get some rain (finally!). My team came back yesterday (again, finally! How much has a team spoiled me when 2 losses starts to get me worried, LOL). Sorry, I saw your team hasn’t quite come out on top yet. Lots of season left though. The Farmer’s Almanac predicted cold and snowy for us but we’ll see. They also predicted hot and rainy for our summer and were only half-right. Hope you had a great weekend, I’ll come visit your blog in a bit and see. Happy Monday!
We are getting down into the 30s here and I thought that was cold. I added both books to my to-read list.
We saw geese leaving here a few weeks ago and they normally don’t leave that early. I’m thinking we’re going tp have a cold, snowy winter. Hope you have a great week.
That is cold! It’s that time of year, I suppose. I decided to try and embrace whatever kind of winter we get this year, going to be tough for my summer loving self but I plan to give it a good effort. Hope you had a great week and a fabulous weekend. Can’t believe it’s already Monday again. Where does the time go?