Still not sure  how I got so far away from posting every day to hardly posting. Wait, yes, I do know. Life got busy! And it’s not going to slow down much this week either. However, today is a holiday Monday so I have time to post this morning.

Joining in with Sandra over at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom as always.

The Weather

Well, I watered all my flower and the garden this morning and now it looks like it might rain. Pretty sure it wasn’t in the forecast. It’s currently 79 degrees and switching between sun and clouds. (Sprinkled just a bit as I was coming home from the store but by the time I arrived, sun was shining and it felt hot). Looks like there’s around a 50% chance of rain all week starting tomorrow with highs in the mid to upper 80’s.

As I Look Outside My Window

Over the weekend, I chased a catbird around with the camera (very shy, hard to capture on camera!). And this morning, I spotted a bluebird! First time I’ve ever seen one in my own backyard. Too slow with the camera. Not sure if I’ll see one again. Keep checking with no luck.

Right Now

I’ve just returned from the grocery store and sat down to continue writing this post. I did put most the groceries away first.

Thinking And Pondering

Still thinking about the catbirds (there were 2!) as well as the bluebird that I saw this morning. How whenever I feel a little lost or down, I almost always spot a different bird. And how I believe they are signs. On the morning of J’s graduation, I spotted a brown thrasher, only one I’ve seen this year, and it happened to have been my mom’s favorite bird. Hummingbirds were my late mother-in-law’s favorites and very recently, J saw one just hovering right outside our front windows almost like it was looking inside (nowhere near our feeders). 

And I have a feeling my late father might have sent the bluebird since they are a symbol for happiness and hope.

How I Am Feeling

A tiny bit overwhelmed. Who me? Put off all my have-to’s until the very last day of the weekend? Not me! SIGH.

On The Breakfast Plate

J and I had McDonald’s. We’ve been talking about getting it forever and finally both remembered on the same day. I had 2 breakfast burritos and a coffee.

On The Lunch Plate

Not sure yet. Probably some leftover chicken from yesterday.

On The Dinner Plate

Ribs (found some already cooked in freezer), hot dogs, cucumber salad, maybe corn on the cob, fruit

What I’m Wearing Today

Navy blue t shirt, jean shorts, and leopard print slip on shoes

On My Reading Pile

Finished The Outsider by Stephen King over the weekend. Looks like they made a series for it on HBO or Max (whatever they call it now). Pretty good book but a little scary, not sure I’ll watch the series, might though. Now I’ve started The End of the World is Just the Beginning by Peter Zeihan.  Barely into the book but interesting non-fiction so far.

On My TV This Week

Need to finish watching The Dungeons and Dragons movie, it’s on Paramount + and wasn’t bad but I started it too late and fell asleep. Barry, Dr. Who, the last episode of Ted Lasso.  Started watching Locke and Key, binging my way through that one.

On The Menu

Are you even surprised to hear it’s another busy week for me? And a busy week for my husband as well. Putting 2 young adults in charge of a few dinners. And we have a freezer full of frozen pizza for any dinner emergencies.

MONDAY: ribs (from freezer, already cooked) and hot dogs, cucumber salad

TUESDAY: French Toast (G is in charge of this meal) *I work 9:30-6*

WEDNESDAY: Poutine (J wanted to try this….I’m still a little iffy about it) *I work 9:30-6*

THURSDAY: Roast in the slow cooker *I work 9:30-6*

FRIDAY: Husband’s choice (I’m out of town for a girlfriend weekend getaway)

Looking Around The House

The helium balloons from J’s graduation last Saturday are still going strong! And I have a lot of cleaning to do today. Want to get it in some sort of order before this crazy busy week.

On My To Do List

(For the week)

1. Water garden/outdoor flowers *DONE*
2. Grocery store *DONE*
3. Pay Bills due at end of month
4. Laundry
5. Still need to order graduation announcements *DONE*
6. Bake quiches to take on trip (I’m in charge of breakfasts)
7. Pack for trip/decide what I’m wearing to work this week
8. Mow the lawn
9. Clean the entire house
10. Get gas for the car (waiting to see if it goes down a bit after holiday)

From The Camera

Walking around yesterday, I took notice of things in the yard on the verge of blooming…

Quote For The Week

Seems appropriate to share this poem today:

In Flanders fields the poppies blow  
Between the crosses, row on row,  
That mark our place; and in the sky  
The larks, still bravely singing, fly  
Scarce heard amid the guns below.  
–John McCrae (1872–1918) 

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Well, it’s a bit late for planning the week I suppose. Has it really only been since last Tuesday since I posted last? Still wanted to hop on here and at least keep up with my joining in with every Happy Homemaker Monday. It’s a Thursday but I’m determined to keep my streak going on this at least.

Over the past week/weekend it’s been busy with mostly all good things. We went to our son’s high school graduation! And had a birthday celebration! In the middle of all that, I had lots of work days and J asking to go driving.

It seems to me this is the first day in ages where I don’t need to leave the house for any reason unless I choose to do so.

Looks like I can still add a very late link up to Sandra’s Happy Homemaker Monday post over at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom so I’ll do that once I finish up this post. Let’s go ahead and go through the categories.

The Weather

Other than a few chilly mornings, it’s been pretty seasonable. We had a pop up thunderstorm last night which brought us some much needed rain. The weekend is supposed to be beautiful with warm sunny days and highs in the 80’s. I’m looking forward to finally getting the rest of my garden plants in the ground.

As I Look Outside My Window

It was a little cloudy out earlier but now the sun is shining and the birds are happy that I finally filled their feeders again. Oh, and out front, the peonies I moved from the backyard 2 years ago, I think, bloomed!

Right Now

I’m taking a moment to break from cleaning up the house and working on this post instead.

Thinking And Pondering

How relieved and happy I am that J graduated and is moving on to the next stages. Scared to even really write it/think it but life finally seems to be cycling back to the pre-pandemic normal. Starting to be happy that my husband suggested I take a year to just continue subbing before jumping into working full-time. Getting excited about maybe spending time getting the house in order before the next thing.

How I Am Feeling 

Tired and ready for the long weekend to hopefully, relax a bit.

On The Breakfast Plate

Toast on sourdough bread and sausage (husband cooked sausage to have with Eggo chocolate chip waffles but I needed savory). Vitamins and coffee

On The Lunch Plate

Not sure yet. Probably just forage through the fridge for something.

On The Dinner Plate

Probably going to keep it simple and just make tacos

What I Am Wearing Today

Missouri State T-shirt, black skort, and leopard print shoes.

On My Reading Pile

I just finished one of the best memoirs I’ve read in a long time: Beyond the Wand: The Magic and Mayhem of Growing Up a Wizard by Tom Felton. Definitely my favorite of all the memoirs I’ve read recently. Well-written and enjoyable. It’s like sitting at the table with him and just listening to stories of his childhood, acting roles in different movies (the biggest, of course, the Harry Potter franchise), and his struggles later with mental health. I don’t think you need to be a Harry Potter fan to find enjoyment and value within his story.

On My TV This Week

We watched Ted Lasso last night and I noticed next week is the season finale? Already! Sigh. Started watching Summer Baking Championship, we need to catch up with Top Chef, and then, I’ll watch Doctor Who and also, Barry at some point.

On The Menu This Week

Easy to plan the menu when it’s already Thursday! Here’s what we ate this week, let’s see if I can even remember…

MONDAY: Husband cooked ribeye steaks (I had no idea he was doing this and had bought a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store) *I worked 7:30-4* *J had a baritone lesson at 6:30*

TUESDAY: Culvers for G’s birthday followed by homemade chocolate cake with white frosting  (His birthday was actually on Sunday but we postponed his celebration, his idea as he had another party to attend, until Tuesday) *I worked 8:15-3:45*

WEDNESDAY: Clean out the fridge night, J had leftover steak, I ate spinach dip and chips plus some salami from an appetizer tray, husband used the rotisserie chicken to make BBQ sandwiches. G went out with friends. *I worked 7-3:30, 3:45 really*

THURSDAY: tacos

FRIDAY: Homemade pizza using the rest of the pepperoni from the appetizer tray

Looking Around The House

The helium graduation balloons are still going strong. I have some more graduation decorations to take down. I’m slowly putting it back in order.

On My To Do List

Not that much as my list was much crazier last week.

1. Pay Bills *DONE*
2. Make reservations for family vacation next month
3. laundry *Always in progress*
4. Plant okra/sunflower seeds (over the weekend, a bit late with this)
5. Relax!

(I’ll also probably be taking J driving, hopefully doing a bit of decluttering, and cleaning-inside and outside)

From The Camera

Breaking my no personal pictures rule again (shhh! don’t tell). Here’s my high school graduate and his now 22 year old brother!

Quote For The Week

(Found on Pinterest, source: Inspirationformoms.com )

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I’m still here, either running to work or elsewhere or staring blankly into space.

Mother’s Day was nice, we all went to see the new Guardians of the Galaxy movie, then got take out from Culver’s. And I made cupcakes later in the day, rose cupcakes from the Spring baking championship though I skipped the swiss meringue buttercream and just used a jar of frosting. (My skills aren’t at the swiss meringue level) Almost everyone liked them (G wasn’t a fan).

It’s just a busy time both at home and work right now. J’s graduation is this weekend as is G’s birthday the following day. And then next week, 3 full work days to start it out. In between all that: I’m working on making sure J gets lots of driving practice, meeting friends to plan a weekend trip for next month (honestly, I’d pass on it if I hadn’t already paid my share), and trying to keep the house at a tolerable level of mess.

Hoping to get around today and tomorrow to check on everyone, didn’t quite make it last week. However, I am going to get on with this Happy Homemaker Tuesday post today. Linking it up in a bit with Sandra over at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom.

The Weather

We’ve had 2 days of rain and it’s cool enough out for the windows to be open. Actually, it was pretty chilly earlier today. Back to sun and the upper 70’s/low 80’s for the rest of the week.

As I Look Outside My Window

This was sometime last week but if you look near the dandelion, you can see the blue bird, not a bluebird but an indigo bunting.

Right Now

Laundry, this post, watching the time as I told J I’d take him out driving around 3:30

Thinking and Pondering

Not sure, honestly, I’ve been in a bit of a grumpy mood the past couple of days. Just feeling pulled in too many directions, I think.

How I’m Feeling 

See above. Tired and a bit stressed. Needing some quiet alone time.

On The Breakfast Plate

Cinnamon “toast” croissant (I used a croissant to make cinnamon toast), coffee

On The Lunch Plate

Husband’s been home today so he grilled hot dogs, not my first choice. Also had chips and a sparkling rose cupcake.

On The Dinner Plate

Korean BBQ meatballs/rice

What I’m Wearing Today

Still need to shower but am currently wearing a Star Labs t-shirt (from The Flash), elephant pants, and leopard print slip on shoes. Fashionista over here. Ha! UPDATE: I am now wearing a light blue short-sleeved sweater (yes, in May!) with jeans and tennis shoes.

On My Reading Pile

Finished one called All the Dangerous Things by Stacy Willingham. A long wait for it but personally, I didn’t think it lived up to the hype. I’ve started something lighter now, Summer at the Cornish Beach Cafe by Donna Ashcroft.

On My TV This Week

Cooking shows, Barry, Dr. Who, Ted Lasso, not sure what else.

On My Menu

MONDAY: I made chicken chili but did something wrong, wasn’t very good *I worked 8:30-11:30* *J had a baritone lesson at 6:30* *I had MNO, mainly for trip planning purposes*

TUESDAY: Korean Meatballs/rice *I have Bunco*

WEDNESDAY: Maybe chicken parmesan *might have an activity, not sure yet*

THURSDAY: ????

FRIDAY: ????? *I work 8:30-?2* *J has graduation practice*

SATURDAY: J’s graduation

SUNDAY: G’s birthday

Looking Around The House 

Well, to quote myself from this morning: How can this bathroom be more disgusting than one used by 40 preschool kids? UGH. Maybe let’s not look around the house right now.

On My To Do List

1. Grocery store *DONE*
2. Target
3. Laundry
4. Take J driving
5. Figure out how Saturday is going to work regarding tickets/family/etc
6. Party Store (thought I’d decorate house a bit)
7. CLEAN the house
8. Pay Bills
9. Plant second row of beans/other things in garden
10. ????Things I’m forgetting

From The Camera

Really haven’t picked up camera very much, not even sure when I took the pictures in my post, sometime last week I guess.

Quote For The Week

(Source: Pinterest)