Oops, once again I seem to have disappeared. I just can’t seem to get back into my blogging rhythm over here. And also, I feel as though I’ve typed that sentence in a previous post. Recently.
So much for a slow September, here we are at almost the end of it. I worked a lot more than I expected during the “slow” time. Guess I’m going to have to make an effort to create my own slower paced schedule for a bit.
Anyway, I do have a plan to get back into blogging regularly in this space and spending some time checking in on all my favorite blogging buddies (I apologize as I’ve not kept up well with that at all either).
October is the unofficial 31 days of blogging time. Used to be official with a site to link up to and all that. However, I just like to do it on my own now. And I’ve decided it’s exactly what I need.
One month, 31 straight days of blogging, one topic (sort of).
I’ve decided to get back to the roots of this blog and keep my 31 days in a chit chat style. So, starting in October, I’m going to do 31 days of questions!
Topics that might come up if you and I were sitting have a cup of coffee (or tea or whatever your favorite beverage of the moment might be….maybe we can pretend were out having margaritas if that’s more your style).
So as just a preview (and because I’m not quite ready to go back to cleaning the house/laundry), here’s one for you.
31 Days of Questions Preview
I don’t have any fancy graphics made yet and I may change the title. Or I might leave it as it’s pretty straightforward. Anyway, here’s an idea of what I’m thinking of doing every day in October.
Spotted this huge rain cloud at dusk one evening and was fascinated by it. I could see the lightning within the cloud striking at different points.
Have you ever watched a storm cloud where you could see the lightning in it before? Are you a fan of a good thunderstorm?
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So be ready to grab your coffee/tea/margarita/water and join me in October for some fun questions and (hopefully) a few answers!
My answers: I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a cloud like that before though my husband thought it was much less fascinating so maybe I have and simply forgot. And yes, I do love a good thunderstorm as long as we’re all safe at home. Driving in one, not so much of a fan.
Bit late today for no good reason. I probably would’ve waited until tomorrow but now I’m working on Tuesday. Maybe I’ll get a full week vacation next week. It’s my new plan.
HOT. I knew we weren’t done with summer quite yet. Heat advisory today, storms tomorrow, not sure about the rest of the week.
Right Now
Had to pause to let the cat back outside. Heat advisory weather is her favorite, we can hardly get her in here. Ice cubes in her water dish and she’s happy out there.
Thinking and Pondering
Need to send an email out to my work that I won’t be working Friday or all of next week. As much as I love the kids, I *need* some time off…
How I am Feeling
Would you believe I’m still trying to shake whatever I had 2 weeks ago. I feel better but the sinus stuff just wants to linger. UGH. I do feel 110 times better than last week, hoping taking an extra day to just rest (sort of) today helped.
On the Breakfast Plate
Yogurt and a sausage patty, vitamins, black elderberry syrup, coffee, and water
On the Lunch Plate
Junk, didn’t really eat lunch
On The Dinner Plate
Hamburgers on the grill, French Fries, watermelon
On The Menu
There’s a great question!
MONDAY: grilled hamburgers, French fries, watermelon
TUESDAY: Shrimp in air fryer (heat n eat), corn on the cob, mini cucumbers (Might make it into cucumber salad if I feel ambitious later)
WEDNESDAY: Spicy Korean Chicken
THURSDAY: It’s our wedding anniversary! Nothing exciting for 26 years but I am hoping I don’t have to cook dinner. Of course, my husband said he thinks he’s getting my cold stuff so yay. SIGH.
FRIDAY: Maybe waffles? I don’t know….
What I Am Wearing Today
Flowered tee-shirt, olive green shorts, and currently my leopard print shoes
On My Reading Pile
I’ve been reading The Night Agent by Matthew Quirk. I watched the Netflix series some time last year, maybe, but didn’t know it was a book. Book is pretty good, series really followed it.
On My TV This Week
Over the weekend, I discovered Ginny and Georgia on Netflix. And…I’ve already finished it. Think a gritty and very dark spin on Gilmore Girls. I loved it! Um, probably wouldn’t want to watch it with younger friends, I’d say older teenagers and above…definitely some mature scenes and topics.
Looking Around the House
Well, I did clean the main bathroom today but it’s still not ready for a photo shoot. Here is a picture of our new living room rug instead.
We had to replace the old one because the edges kept curling, tripping hazard.
On My To Do List
What’s that saying about so much to do so I’ll just take a nap instead. That’s how I feel.
Grocery store *DONE*
Target run *DONE*
Laundry *Uh Oh*
So much cleaning…funny thing is I was out of cleaning supplies. If you run out of cleaning supplies, wouldn’t you think it would mean your house is super clean? Turns out it doesn’t.
Mow the lawn
Measure flower pots for plants that need replanted/make list of plants that need to come inside
Figure out message the blog hosting people sent me, something to do with memory, hoping I fixed things
Pick up my camera!
From The Camera
(phone camera still). Pictures of paintings. A teacher I used to work with does paint nights close to us and I usually try and go. I really liked the ocean pour painting one.
The one last Friday was a sunset, not as fond of it but I’ll share it here as well.
Still struggling to pick up my camera over here (it’s on my list of goals for next week!) but here’s a quick phone pick of my zinnias to go with this post. The brown-eyed Susans are ever present in the background as well.
For today’s post, I thought I’d just share a few happy moments from my week.
Monday
I ended up working on Monday, the first day of school. It was a pretty good start to the new school year.
A coffee for me! One of the parents brought the teachers coffee so I ended up with the drink that would’ve gone to the teacher out sick (coffee doesn’t really keep overnight). A golden eagle from Dutch Bros. Yum
Things kids said that melted my heart and made me smile that day:
“Ms Jean, you look so pretty today!”
“I miss you, when are you going to be in My class again?!”
“I’m just going to hang out with you” (from a brand new student)
Tuesday
Things I said: Bunco!! Six times!! Had the most wins as well. (Bunco is a dice game I go play with friends one a month)
Lavender lemonade
Phone call with my brother
Wednesday
A day off work!
Haircut
Cleaning off the table
Time to relax!
Thursday
Back to work this time in the pre-primary classroom.
Pleasantly surprised by how peaceful the classroom felt (there’d been a few teacher changes, one I knew about but one I did not). I’d been braced from chaos but had a nice calm day instead.
Comment from one of the primary kids passing by: Can you be in our class next?
Husband ordered pizza for dinner so I didn’t have to worry about cooking when I arrived home
Friday
It’s still a bit early today but my day has started fairly well. Quiet morning at home, time to water all my flowers. Looking forward to going in and working just for the afternoon in the class where I spent my summer. And then a paint night out tonight.
I stole this post idea from a radio program I heard on the way home from work yesterday. They were talking about their favorite nonfood smells. The idea was that most of us love the smell of fresh baked cookies or bread but what about our favorite smells that aren’t food related.
Some of the ones mentioned on the program:
fresh-cut grass
the smell of gasoline
a crisp fall morning
your significant other
sunscreen
brand-new books
a grandparent’s basement
air conditioning right as it starts in the car.
A wide range. Some seemed weird to me until they explained. For example, gasoline reminded them of trips to the lake and filling up the boat for boat rides.
Here are a few of my favorites in no particular order.
Hot asphalt
Laundry fresh out of the dryer
Summer rain after a hot day (just summer, fall rain smell different)
Plants and flowers right after they’ve been watered (especially herbs)
Lavender, mint, and sage…
I think my answers have a theme: outside or clean. Hot asphalt is my odd one, I guess. It reminds me of working a few summers at a local amusement park, happy memories.
What are some of your favorite nonfood smells? And all this talk of smells made me think of another one of my favorite childhood books. Did anyone else ever have this wonderful story?
PS: Am I the only person left who actually listens to the regular car radio? Just wondering…
Just a quick one this morning as I was called in to work. On the first day of school, yes. I was feeling sad about not working it, then kind of glad to be home. One thing about covering vacations all summer is that you end up a bit burned out at the start of the school year. It’s like upside down world.
However, I do usually help for a few hours on the first day of school but wasn’t asked this year. Figured they had enough help. Then, just as I was settling my mind about how I’d spend today, late last night, the text came. SIGH. Not a great shift either as it’s 9 to 5:30. I pondered saying no for quite a while but of course, I ended up saying yes.
So I’m attempting to put together a quick Happy Homemaker Monday before I head out today. Joining in with Sandra over at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom.
*UPDATE: I typed all this up before work but then, the pictures did not cooperate so I’m just now hitting publish at 6:30PM*
The Weather
Nice, feels *almost* fall like but I’m sure it’s going to be a bit warmer this afternoon.
As I Look Outside My Window
All those outdoor chores I didn’t do last week/over the weekend are still waiting.
Right Now
I’m mostly ready for work (still need to do my hair and make my lunch) while I work on this post.
Thinking and Pondering
Debating taking 2 weeks off officially for the week before Labor Day and the week after it.
How I am Feeling
Tired. I feel so much better than last week when I was sick but my energy isn’t quite at 100% yet.
On the Breakfast Plate
Undecided. Probably a bagel. Already had LOTS of coffee and my vitamins
On the Lunch Plate
No idea, need a work lunch calendar but can’t find one.
On The Dinner Plate
Something easy. Probably fake Chik-Fil-A nuggets out of a bag from the frozen section in Sam’s Club
On The Menu
TBD….I know I work until 5:30 today, have Bunco tomorrow (I’m hosting so in charge of snacks) plus I work in the afternoon. Also, I have plans Friday evening. So this week’s menu will hopefully be easy things.
What I Am Wearing Today
White button down shirt, purple skirt, tennis shoes. However, I may change into a dark purple tee-shirt as I’m not sure what’s on the work lunch menu. Don’t want to ruin my white shirt!
On My Reading Pile
I’ve been working my way through Charlie Donlea novels and enjoying them. I just finished up Some Choose Darkness last night.
On My TV This Week
No idea. Last week I watched all TEN of the Fast and Furious movies plus Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (watched that one with G) so probably not going to watch quite as much tv this week.
Looking Around the House
Slightly better than last week but I’d still prefer we don’t look. Maybe next week?
On My To Do List
Find my mind, I think I’ve lost it!
Finish this post
Work
Pay bills
Laundry
Grocery store
no idea…
From The Camera
I did pick up the real camera this week…2 not so exciting pictures to share. Must do better again.
Quote for the Week
Saw this on Pinterest, and I could really use this advice and reminder often as I struggle with this sometimes.
Observe, don’t absorb. (Kate Eckman)
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*Please forgive any spelling/grammar errors in my 20 minute post*
While technically, it’s still summer until September 21, the schools around here start back up next Monday. And so it feels as if summer is ending. It’s gone by in the blink of an eye over here.
I spent a lot of it working. In between, I did do a few fun summer things. Here’s a quick glimpse.
MAY
May? What happened in May? Doesn’t that feel like last year?
This is aptly named the Northland Fountain
J and I went to visit a local fountain in the “northland” part of Kansas City. I was telling him how this fountain runs all year. It really is fun to see frozen in the winter. Still also pretty in the summer.
Also, I found a feather from a barred owl in the backyard one weekend while mowing. I had fun sharing it with my preschool kids.
Other things that happened in May: Preschool graduation (I always help out), Mother’s Day (Thai food, yum!), and G’s birthday! Oh, and he started working (maybe before May?) at one of the local community colleges in the advising offices. He even has his own office.
JUNE
June was actually a fun month despite some minor (though at the time they seemed quite major) work frustrations. Suffice it to say I spent some time checking out my options for other employment for a bit. Ultimately, I decided to ride out the summer. Anyway, back to the fun stuff.
The second weekend in June, I went on a girlfriend weekend trip to Hermann, MO. So much fun. It’s a community rich with German heritage pretty much right on the Missouri River. And also known for all the local wineries.
And I discovered something called a wine slushie (though full disclosure I preferred the ones at a winery different from the one pictured above). We also had fun touring the historic homes in Hermann. And seeing their kitchen gardens. If only….
On the way home, we stopped for brunch at a cute outdoor cafe along the Katy Trail in Rocheport, MO. It’s mostly a biking trail though you can walk it. It runs for 239 miles along our state. Near Rocheport, it runs along the bluffs of the Missouri River.
Also in June, lots of random garage sales with friends (it was our Saturday thing for a while), Father’s Day (we took my husband to a local Mexican restaurant he likes), and the start of a fair amount of working for the summer for me.
JULY
I worked a lot in July! Somewhere in there I did get my hair permed though it’s mostly grown out. It worked well for our excessively hot days. We had a quiet family Fourth of July (J and I bought a lot of fireworks and our neighbors put on quite a show as well).
Always exciting to see what the kids find on the playground. This actually came from a little girl’s backyard. Google lens told us it was a woodpecker feather! I can’t remember the exact species anymore.
Later in July was the visit to the Rabbit HOle Museum. They’ve re-created the whole scene of Goodnight Moon. Smaller children can go inside the little toy house as well as climb up in the bed, not pictured below. Also, again not in my photo, you can pick up the red phone beside the bed to hear the story. It’s so fun!
My photo came out too blurry to share but the museum even had a section for my favorite children book series by Russell Hoban. I still have my Bread and Jam for Frances and Bedtime for Frances books.
I didn’t get to spend as much time in June or July or this month yet tending to my front porch flowers. One thing about brown-eyed Susans is they don’t demand much. Oh, and mine are apparently plotting to take over the world.
At least the pink petunias are behaved despite being a bit neglected.
I did spend some time during the weekend mornings/afternoons hawk watching. Have you ever seen a hawk laying down? A first for me!
(Excuse the terrible photo quality, zoom on a real camera beats zoom on the phone but my camera battery was dead. Paid the price for not touching my camera all summer, I suppose)
And finally, we closed out July with a trip to Saint Louis, Mo for the music festival J participates in annually. This year, he chose to only play with his brass band ensemble so it was a pretty relaxed trip. Other than, I forgot to schedule the weekend off and had to scramble to find someone to cover me half a day. Over all though, it was a nice weekend. Here’s my other photo of the Missouri River in Saint Charles, MO (the only 2 pictures I took that weekend).
August So Far…
If you made it this far in the post, then you are all caught up with my summer activities. Mostly work but a little bit of fun in there. I’ve already noted to myself that perhaps I overscheduled my summer work hours a bit. I worked more to start this month and am finally ready to slow things down enjoying the last few weeks of summer. Once I get over being sick, UGH. Currently, I’m downing vitamins and watching every Fast and Furious movie (I’d only ever seen X all the way through, enjoying these movies way more than I expected).
Perhaps I’ll make a list of the things I’d like to do to close out the summer season. I’ll share it in a different post. How has your summer been? What things do you still have on your summer list?
Whew! It’s been a while. Probably going to do a summer summary post tomorrow. However, I can’t think of a better return from my blogging break than a Happy Homemaker Monday post. Glad Sandra over at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom is still hosting these!
Worth making a quick note that sadly I don’t think I’ve picked up my “real” camera since May or maybe June so these are all phone pictures from the last few months sprinkled in the post.
The Weather
My phone camera had a mind of its own one night. The sky looked nothing like this! Still a cool photo, I thought.
We’ve had some much cooler temperatures (record summer lows last week!) and a bit of rain that’s putting me in the mood for fall. However, I know better. It’s going to get hot again. Low 90’s by the end of the week.
As I Look Outside My Window
We had a hawk nest in the backyard. It was really fun watching them (and a little nerve-wracking at times as well, making sure they didn’t eat my cat). They’ve moved on now.
I see a gloomy, cloudy, fall-like sky. My little hummingbirds fighting over the feeder. And lots of outdoor chores I’ve neglected the past few months.
Right Now
Working on this post (yay!) while listening to the washing machine.
Thinking and Pondering
Where to start with things.
How I am Feeling
Sadly, not great. I think the yuckies from school have finally caught up with me. Bit of a scratchy throat. SIGH.
On the Breakfast Plate
A couple of mini croissants and an off-brand churro oreo. (My work day breakfasts were a lot more balanced, I promise. Just not in the mood for fixing things today and yogurt didn’t sound good.) Plus coffee. Still need to take my vitamins. I’ll probably make myself a glass of Emergen-C with black elderberry syrup in a bit.
On the Lunch Plate
No idea
On The Dinner Plate
Husband and I are supposed to go out for our friend’s birthdays but I’m probably eating at home if I don’t start feeling better. So, it’ll be roast for me.
On The Menu
MONDAY: Roast in the crock pot, potatoes, carrots
TUESDAY: white chicken chili
WEDNESDAY: beef and/or chicken marinated using the recipe on the back of the Thai peanut sauce, jasmine rice
THURSDAY: Waffles, bacon or sausage, fruit *I work 1:30-4*
FRIDAY: Pulled pork (from freezer) and rice
What I Am Wearing Today
Palm leaf type tee-shirt, navy blue skort, socks and tennis shoes
On My Reading Pile
Just finished up with The Many Daughters of Afong Moy by Jamie Ford. Really enjoyed it. Probably one of the better novels that wasn’t a suspenseful/murder mystery thing I’ve read in a long while.
On My TV This Week
Not sure. We were all about watching the Olympics the last two weeks. I don’t think any of the fall shows have started. I’ll have to see what’s back on my streaming services. I’m waiting on Emily in Paris (my guilty pleasure show) and Daryl Dixon to start.
Looking Around the House
We do NOT want to do that.
On My To Do List
Hmm…where to start. Not making a big list considering I’m not feeling 100%
Grocery store DONE (It was so nice to go in the morning again!)
Return library books
Laundry (always)
Make a start on cleaning the house
Clean out emails
Make another to do list of outdoor chores
From The Camera
Like I said, I’ve not really picked up my “real camera” in months. I’ll post more about my non-working summer adventures tomorrow but here’s a photo of a recent adventure.
I had a chance to go to the Rabbit Hole Museum in late July. Basically, they’ve brought many of your favorite picture books to life. If you are out this way and a book lover, definitely go! It’s even on this list from Time Magazine.
Quote for the Week
How beautiful it is to do nothing, and then to rest afterward. (Spanish proverb)
Well, I sort of took summer off of blogging! Didn’t exactly mean to do that but I was getting a bit burned out with things. Started working full time hours for the summer at the preschool. I love it but it’s a bit exhausting.
However, I’m winding down my last days of full time subbing in the next couple weeks. Sometime in mid to late August, I’ll return to this space.
I haven’t even had a lot of time for “plant rescue” from my local garden centers but I did pick up this hibiscus on clearance when I had a few days at the beginning of the month. So I’ll end this post with a phone picture of the blooms which just make me happy.
Been a bit swamped with work the past few weeks. Good thing I have a job I enjoy for the most part. Anyway, thought I’d jump on here for a quick Five on Friday tonight.
My pictures are from last week and may or may not be related to the categories. Ha, sometimes swamped, especially if one works at a preschool (any school) in late April/early May = losing one’s mind.
So, with the above title, the first category should be titled:
ONE: WORK
We had a teacher leave unexpectedly (but not, more effort should have been made to retain her but nobody asked me) mid-April and her replacement doesn’t start until the second week of May. Another sub and I are filling in until then. Add in our previously scheduled subbing commitments and it makes for some full work weeks.
Next week should be the end of the full weeks for most of May at least. (I do have Tuesday off but have to spend it waiting on a gas meter inspection…). Then, my June and most of July seem fairly full up as summer is typically my busy season
TWO: SICKNESS
My husband has been sick for the last week (took his first sick day in I don’t know how long last Tuesday). And now J is sick. SIGH. My husband keeps blaming me as I had some pretty strong allergy/sinus stuff happening when we returned from Arkansas but his symptoms are not the same. And his is lingering as he didn’t rest to start. Does it sound terribly lacking in compassion to say I’m so sick of the sick people around here? (Obviously, healthcare was never my calling, ha!) I did make him jello and soup to start.
THREE: OWL
The blurry blob is the owl that was in the far corner of our backyard one night, I was excited to actually see it! Even though the photo, obviously did not turn out well. It flew off further away when I tried to get a better photo.
FOUR: FLOWERS AND TREES
My irises are blooming despite flopping over. I was debating how to stake them but then, the tree guy was here to cut down a tree. I voted no but apparently the chance of a tree falling on the roof vetoes someone voting no just because they love the tall trees. SIGH. At least the front yard garden should get lots of sunlight.
This happened last weekend, I mostly hid in the house doing mountains of laundry. However, I did help my sick husband haul part of it (we’re not finished but work/weather/illness are not making this a speedy process) to his brother’s land.
FIVE: WALRUS SOUND
Today, I worked in two classrooms, first with the primary (3-6) before going to fill in with pre-primary (18 mo to 3) where I’ve been subbing. I’m mostly a primary teacher at heart but the younger ones never fail to amuse. They were listening to a “what animal makes that sound?” activity. And I think the animal sound was a lion but a kid guessed “A walrus!” And you know, I have no idea what sound a walrus made so I looked it up tonight. I’ll leave you with one of my search results for just that.
Have to laugh and learn something new every day.
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Have you learned anything new or laughed about anything lately? I sure hope so!
First, I’m going to start right off saying my eclipse pictures were just with my phone and not too many. I wanted to focus on the event not trying to get photos of it. So, if you are looking for professional quality (or even just quality) eclipse photos, this isn’t the place.
My Five on Friday post is more the tale of a group of friends traveling to the path of totality for eclipse viewing. And the beauty of the area. A trip planned in October of 2022! What are the odds it would work out? And that the weather would cooperate? It did on both counts.
Since 2020, we’ve been spending an October weekend near the Buffalo National River in Arkansas, in a county that labels itself the “authentic Ozarks”, I do not disagree. We skipped our October of 2023 trip and instead went last weekend for the eclipse as the area was in the path of totality.
ONE: Wildflowers
The part of Arkansas we visit is about 5 hours south of the KC area. And their trees were mostly leafed out and the wildflowers were blooming!
Dogwood tree blossom
Did I mention the bees, butterflies, and wasps were already buzzing with excitement down there? And that as we were packing up on our last morning, we saw a hummingbird?! Time to get the feeders out up this way as the hummingbirds are on the move.
TWO: Exploring
One thing we do in October and also did in April, ride Four Wheelers (ATVs) on the many trails. We did this while waiting for eclipse day and to search for the perfect viewing location.
THREE: Discovery
We often look for rocks as we stop along the rocky trails. One of the days, I found part of this skull. And then, others found the more of it. It was a bit of an exciting discovery. I also found many animal tracks along the stream I visited each morning for a bit of peace and quiet time.
The creek near our cabin:
Here’s a 30 second moment of peace (you can find a video that lasts a full minute, the next post back): 20240409_074124.mp4
FOUR: Eclipse
FIVE: Home, before and after
I noticed this tulip beginning to bloom the morning we left (Saturday):
And this is what it looked like upon our return:
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Were you able to view the eclipse in your location? Has Spring sprung yet for you?
Don’t forget to hop over to My Creative Life to check out Five on Friday!
I also found many animal tracks along the stream I visited each morning for a bit of peace and quiet time. 
