Author: jehdld

Happy Monday! Hope you all had a wonderful Mother’s Day yesterday. It is May, right? Wonder why I’m asking? I’m asking because I generally don’t get up thinking about bumping on the heat during the second week of May!

It was a cold 41 degrees this morning! Supposed to stay chilly until the weekend. Wait, I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s save the weather talk for its category.

Joining in with Sandra over at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom where she hosts these wonderful weekly link ups. And she changed up the categories just a bit as well. However, the weather always stays at the top.

So, on to the categories starting with…

The Weather

Yesterday was gray and gloomy and also, chilly. I talked about this morning above but at least the sun is shining again! Most of our week is in the low to mid 60’s, about 10 degrees below normal. We’re, thankfully, back in the 70’s for the weekend. And because it’s spring, there’s also a chance of more thunderstorms over the weekend as well.

On My Reading Pile

Currently, nothing. A bit unusual. I did read Reluctantly Home by Imogen Clark last week. Always enjoy her novels though the subject matter of this one rang a little heavy at times (deals with the death of a child).

On My TV

Usual, Masked Singer and Prodigal Son. Phinneas and Ferb with J, a bit. And I watched the entire season of Dad Stop Embarrassing Me on Netflix over the weekend (only 8 episodes). A bit of an edgier comedy, probably not for everyone but I found it a bit like the comedies from the 70’s, 80’s, & maybe 90’s so I enjoyed the reminiscent feel of the show while it dealt with current issues.

On The Menu

Chocolate chip banana bars, change up from banana bread

My husband and kids took me out to eat yesterday and we had a lovely in restaurant meal. Probably the first time we’ve all eaten out together in a restaurant in over a year! It was a catfish restaurant and so lots of delicious fried food, led to some rather tender stomachs last night and this morning.

Luckily, dinner for tonight is already prepped.

MONDAY: BBQ roast sandwiches (my husband cooked one on the smoker), leftovers from the restaurant (okra, fries, coleslaw, and beans)

TUESDAY: taco salads

WEDNESDAY: ham steaks, baked potatoes, asparagus

THURSDAY: Spaghetti or I might try these zucchini boats (zucchini was on sale at the store!), salad *I work 8:30-1:30*

FRIDAY: OUT! *J has an appt at 4* *I work 8:30-1:30*

SATURDAY: (not sure I’ll do this but I had a thought that Saturday would be a great crock pot meal day) Chicken Verde

On My To Do List (This Week)

Put entire pantry back together. I know it IS May despite the weather because we had ants visiting the pantry yesterday morning. UGH.
Still need to sort winter/spring/summer clothes. Except it can’t seem to pick a season around here!
Find a new book to read
Go outside and dump all the standing water I can find (rained over the weekend so now I’m on mosquito patrol today)
Call the trash company (AGAIN) to get a second recycling bin delivered (it was supposed to come last Tuesday)
Figure out what to do for G’s birthday and to celebrate him getting his Associate’s Degree (He’s transferring to a 4 year college now)
Work in the yard, get some plants in the ground
Clean the house
Look for a new pair of tennis shoes
Pick up the camera every day

What I Am Sewing, Knitting, or Creating

Working on getting the outside front porch and yard ready for the summer. I’m also back to working on my Animal Crossing New Horizons Island just for fun.

Looking Around The House

Well, the kitchen table is completely full at the moment, covered in pantry items. The rest of it is okay but needs a good clearing and cleaning.

From The Camera

The purple iris fell over but it still bloomed!

Something Fun To Share

I got nothing. Although I’m excited there are only 9 school days left for J! It’s been a rough year but he’s almost done.

On My Prayer List

Friends, family, strangers.

Quote For The Week

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 5:20)

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What’s Growing in the Vegetable Garden Areas

May 5, 2021

jehdld

garden areas No Comments

For fun, I thought I would share what’s growing in our vegetable garden areas.

vegetable garden areas

First, I want to talk about the weather today. It was 39 degrees when I woke up this morning. Thirty-nine degrees! That is too cold for May. Luckily, we didn’t have a frost here. Funny because J was just asking what if it snowed in May. And my husband was answering we’d have wasted a lot of money on plants. So, while not unheard of for here, thankfully, no snow, just a bit chillier than usual this week.

I’d have been sad if I lost this little tomato baby. So excited for how well my from seed tomato plants are faring so far…

Side of House Vegetable Garden Areas

Here’s a blurry glance at the vegetable garden area where we planted all our tomatoes. I can’t seem to get a decent shot of the whole area.

You may remember I shared about my husband making me a raised bed from the wood left from old box springs and an old fence gate.

Well, to the left there I had him build me a small flower bed as well. More on what’s in there another time. Then, oddly enough, he decided to add the rest of the wood to a burn pile. Too many project ideas from me, I guess.

The blue tub in front is my first attempt at a raised bed. I bought a $7 tub cooler (maybe?) from Target, drilled holes in the bottom, added liner, rocks, and dirt. It contains corn, green beans, and zucchini. All started from seed, trying something called the 3 sisters method of planting.

And we decided to try just all tomatoes in the other raised bed. It contains both my plants started from seed as well as some starter plants purchased at a local nursery. And of course, marigolds. I always add marigolds to my gardens. Do you? I’m a bit obsessed with the flowers this year. Even found a type supposed to repel mosquitoes for the deck table. Need to get more. Bonus of marigolds, they’re fairly cheap.

vegetable garden spots

Regular Vegetable Garden Area

Let’s move on and talk about our regular vegetable garden area. The place we just stick the seeds and plants in the ground and hope for the best. Our strawberry plant holds lots of promise this year:

We’ll see if the human creatures here get to enjoy any red berries before all the other wildlife finds them.

Here’s a glimpse of our garden for this year:

I really do need to quit being lazy and take the zoom lens off for some of these photos. This year, we’re attempting: green beans (from seed), cucumbers, zucchini (yes, more), onions, and some hot peppers. I also bought a small compact eggplant, designed for containers but I planted it. High hopes for fresh from the garden vegetables later this summer.

Flowers in the Onion Family

Because I’m a bit more obsessed with my flower garden areas than the vegetable gardens (it’s a patience thing), I want to end by showing you my allium flowers. I recently learned some kinds of these flowers are edible as they’re related to onions. Mine, I think, are not. However, I still love these purple globe flowers. Even when they don’t behave and grow between my herb garden containers like I planned, choosing instead to stand tall and show off right in front of them.

What’s growing in your gardens?

Happy May! Happy Homemaker Monday

May 3, 2021

jehdld

HappyHomemakerMonday 14 Comments

Happy May! I’m excited to start a new month and move toward summer. At the same time, I’m acknowledging that I’m tired. The first part of this year (or maybe last year entirely) wore me down. Hoping that things continue to edge even more toward normal as spring continues and summer begins.

Happy May!

Before I begin this week, I want to say I’m very sorry I didn’t get a chance to visit everyone last week. Hopefully, I’ll get by and visit and comment with all of you this week. Now, let’s move on to the present week.

Linking up as always with Sandra over at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom. Be sure and visit for some homemaking inspiration!

The Weather

Happy May!

It’s spring and again, Happy May! Welcome to the unpredictable weather season (more than normal). This morning, chilly and looked like rain. Now, the sun is starting to stream through this basement window. It’s supposed to be in the 70’s today and then, a cold front with rain and low 60’s for temps moves through. Will that happen? Who knows. I just enjoy the warm sunny days as they arrive.

How I’m Feeling This Morning

Happy May!

I’m in the mood to just spend all my time (and money, ha!) outside working in the garden areas. Trying not to feel too guilty about turning down a last minute request to go into work. Already had my day sort of planned out though. Working very hard on telling myself that even if I have plans to just be with myself, those plans also count. Also, need to do some things with J today as he’s home from school again.

On The Breakfast Plate

A bit different today, scrambled eggs with sausage, toast, coffee, and vitamins. Hopping back on the carb cycling bike, I think. Was very sad about missing my toast until I remembered I could have a few carbs with breakfast. Need to re-read the book. We’ll see how it goes.

On My Reading Pile

Last week, I finished Girl A by Abigail Dean. It was one of my holds at the library. Really, I’d hoped for more. It just wasn’t my thing. I’m also on and off reading but I’ve started picking it up more lately, When Less Becomes More by Emily Ley. It’s a “real” book and I tend to do more reading on my phone lately. Though I do love the feel of “real” books. Finally, I’ve just started Reluctantly Home by Imogen Clark. Since I’ve enjoyed all her books very much, I have high hopes for it.

On My TV

With the exception of Prodigal Son because of it’s dark humor, I’m finding I need lighter viewing. Watched Moana on Saturday afternoon. And J and I started re-watching Phineas and Ferb, one of our favorites. Probably going to watch The Masked Singer on Wednesday night.

On The Menu

Trying to keep things simple as the weather warms up (well, maybe) and to make it easy with my unpredictable schedule.

MONDAY: Stuffed Peppers, salad

TUESDAY: *Cinco de Mayo* Steak and Chicken Fajitas, peppers *I work 7:45-4:15*

WEDNESDAY: Waffles, bacon, sausage, fruit

THURSDAY: Copycat Chik-Fil-A, French Fries

FRIDAY: Some type of pizza (homemade, frozen, or OUT)

Looking Around The House

Well, it’s starting to look pretty outside of it. Getting closer to getting the porch flowers done.

Happy May!

SIGH. I need to straighten and clean quite a bit inside the house.

To Relax This Week, I Will

Happy May! — I moved my columbine to the west side of the house and it gave me an encore blooming. Think it approved of the move!

You’ll probably find me outside working on the flower garden areas. Or dreaming of landscaping projects. Reading some magazines or my books. Practicing with the camera (I can tell from the amount of blurry photos I’m taking that I’ve not picked it up enough recently).

Something I Want To Share

As much as I love working in my garden areas, I’m still not very good at identifying the returning perennial flowers from weeds. And I’d been trying to use the Plant Snap app without much success. Even I know that I’m not growing a Japanese banana tree in the front yard, come on! However, I found another free app that I think is going to work well. It’s called iNaturalist and I’m very happy with it so far based on my limited use of it without signing up for anything fancy.

From The Camera

I’ll get back to my bird watching posts eventually. Right now, I’m trying to think about how to structure when I post (keeping Mondays, of course) and whether I want to be on-line at all on the weekends. Meanwhile, here’s my accidental dove photo.

Quote For The Week

I came across this verse more than once last week so perhaps I should share it.

Psalm 119:105: Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

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How are you spending your first week of May?

Flower Garden Spots Update

April 29, 2021

jehdld

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Thought I’d share a brief update on some of my various garden spots around the yard. The progress photos as well as future plans for each spot.

First, I want to share my unexpected iris blooms with you. I moved these 2 years ago and they finally decided to forgive me and bloom. A yellow one and a purple one, almost ready.

garden spots

flower garden spots

And of course, now, I think I may move them again. Another future project churning in my mind. My thought is to move these over and around the maple tree in the front yard. They’ll get plenty of sun there and not be so crowded out by my cheerful daffodils.

On One Side of the House

There’s only the small clump of irises, had hoped for more before I went a little daffodil crazy. The daffodils have faded. I’m in that impatient phase now where I have to let the daffodils naturally fade away and not mow the leftover greenery out of the way. However, I did sneak over yesterday and plant some sunflower starts behind the daffodil greenery. I can just imagine one of my new flower garden spots being a wall of sunflowers. (We determined the shed wall where I first wanted to go with the sunflowers didn’t get quite enough sunlight for them.)

flower garden spots

On the Other Side of the House

Not really a flower garden side as this is where we put the raised garden bed my husband built from the used box springs. However, I couldn’t resist adding a few marigolds to it, mostly for practical reasons.

Flower garden spots

Front Yard Areas

Really, I’m trying to hold off on doing too much to the front yard areas until Mother’s Day weekend when I expect good sales on outdoor flowers. Plus, this mess is a bit much. Some day I’ll be better at knowing what’s a returning perennial and what’s a plucky weed. Maybe.

However, I did cave and buy my favorite little blue flowers one day last week.

They’re still in the pot. And when I was out getting the marigolds, I also picked up a pot of lemon grass to put next to the stinky boxwoods.

Oh, and the alliums I planted to give color to the herb garden are just about ready to bloom…

That’s all I have to report on the front yard areas for now. Not as much as we walk around to the back yard.

Back Yard Areas

I have more flower garden spots and ideas than I have time and budget. Anyone else with that problem? So, I’ll just share about my wildflower area.

I had two tiny wildflower blooms! Not the best pictures (excuse the blurriness, I went out to take another but the flowers are bent over and almost spent now)

Here’s what the area looks like from a little further out. I’m waiting (impatiently) on my late summer wildflower blooms. I have some fencing around it this time (some of you may remember when my well-intentioned neighbor decided to “help” by weed eating my first attempt at this. Then, last year just didn’t go real great. Third time is the charm I hope!

Next time, I’ll fill you in on the vegetable garden areas. Not as exciting or fun to me but we still give it a try every year.

Are you gardening this year? How’s it going so far?

Happy Homemaker Tuesday, One Day Late

April 27, 2021

jehdld

HappyHomemakerMonday 6 Comments

Not really a surprise anymore that I’m a day late with my Happy Homemaker Monday post. It’s just started off to be that kind of a week.

Worked yesterday so it does feel a bit as though my week is starting today. Let’s just get straight to the categories.

Don’t forget to check out the Happy Homemaker Link Up over at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom.

The Weather

Something *finally* woke up spring or perhaps summer decided to take a trial run. Dare I say it was a little hot yesterday? Hot and windy, really windy. Today is also going to be warm, predicted high of 82, but maybe not so windy. Good chances of rain tonight into tomorrow. Then, it looks like a decent weekend with highs in the upper 70s. Sold, I’ll take it!

How I Am Feeling This Morning

Still trying to shake off yesterday’s mood. Been in such a funk lately. Work was okay, I was mostly in the preprimary class but it was the outdoor picnic day (postponed Earth day celebration) so it wasn’t bad. However, home was just frustrating. I’ll just leave it at that. Bit frazzled over all the things I should do today and all the things I want to do today. A bit of overlap on some of them.

On The Breakfast Plate

Lemon meringue pie yogurt, coffee, and vitamins.

On My Reading Pile

I just started in on Confessions on the 7:45 by Lisa Unger and it’s very good so far. Read a couple of David Bell books last week, not bad just not my favorites. Characters aren’t very likeable in his books. Good for low concentration reading. Books were The Request and Since She Went Away. If you have a choice between a book by Lisa Unger and David Bell, go with Lisa Unger, so much better.

On My TV

I’ll watch Prodigal Son tonight. Might see if we have a streaming service where I can watch Debris from the beginning. Always catch glimpses of it and think it looks interesting. Movies I watched over the weekend: Souls (very good, I’d watch it again!), Green Lantern (with my husband, I’d seen it before and slept through the end, it’s probably one of the worst super hero movies out there), and King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (Really enjoyed this one! Charlie Hunnam plays King Arthur and Jude Law plays King Vortigern, longer movie but worth watching, definitely not the Disney version of things, it’s on HBO Max).

On The Menu

Being in a funk equates to not having a great menu plan.

MONDAY: I was ticked off at the family and left them to their own devices, personally I ate chips and salsa plus a balanced break thing with nuts and pepper jack cheese cubes *I worked 8:15-3:30*

TUESDAY: Grilled Chicken Legs (probably going to just marinate them in some Italian dressing), salad

WEDNESDAY: Pork Chops (I’m going to grill them tonight), baked potatoes, salad *MNO!!*

THURSDAY: Stuffed peppers or spaghetti depending on mood/weather

FRIDAY: OUT or leftovers *J has an appointment at 4*

Looking Around The House

I’d rather be outside. It needs a good straighten and cleaning especially the kitchen (going to have a discussion about this with the teenagers)

To Relax This Week I Will

Work in the garden areas planting flowers. Maybe set up some fairy gardens. Go for a walk. Try to clean and clear out the house, want to redecorate a bit.

Something I’d Like To Share

How about something a little positive? My husband made me a raised garden bed using an old box springs we removed from J’s room.

Needs one more layer of soil. Not sure what we’re going to plant yet, maybe tomatoes here and something else over in the garden.

From The Camera

Quote For The Week

“Nothing is worth more than this day. You cannot relive yesterday. Tomorrow is still beyond your reach.”

(Johann Wolfgang von Goethe)

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What do you do to get out of a funk?

My Earth Day Project

April 22, 2021

jehdld

Chitchat 2 Comments

Just thought I’d hop on here and take a little “thyme” to share my Earth Day Project.

Earth Day Project

It seems odd to once again have not worked on Earth Day at the preschool. They were only doing a picnic for today (as far as I know) and then, postponed it to Monday. While the snow is thankfully long gone, the cold is still around a bit. I think it was supposed to rain today but that didn’t happen. Actually, turned out to be a pretty day but maybe still a little too cool to eat outside (lunch is early).

Mostly, I’ve been over here just languishing away. However, I forced myself to get up and do something for Earth Day. Finish at least one project.

I actually started my Earth Day project back in the fall. Well, I finished it the first time in the fall. At that time, we took our disassembled gate and turned it into a little plant holder for in front of the porch. I filled it with mums.

Fall Project

Once the mums died out, I removed them but left the containers. For the early spring I tried filling the empty mum containers with early blooming bulbs but it didn’t really work out so no pretty pictures of flowering hyacinths and tulips.

Today’s Finished Project

However, all along I knew I wanted to really fill it with a herb garden. Our front yard faces east and gets the best sun. Needed a not so weird looking way to plant herbs. So, I devised the plan to fill this recycled fence (gate) with planters and put my herbs in them. A few weeks back I filled in the top row. And today, I finished up my herb garden.

I can’t wait to go outside this summer and fall simply grab some fresh herbs for cooking. Top row: tarragon, mint, parsley, dill (more for butterflies than us), oregano, and rosemary. Bottom row: cilantro, thyme, lemongrass (more for mosquito repellant than us), basil, and marjoram.

Then, in summer, I’m hoping to have tall flowers grow up and around them for a bit more color.

Currently, I have alliums planted for some early spring color (hopefully, they’ll bloom around early to mid-May). The blazing star should take over starting in June or July. And I have plenty of sunflower starts I’m debating putting out there as well.

It felt good to complete a project today. I have lots more I’d like to finish. One at time though. Do you have a herb garden? Any fresh herb cooking tips for me?

Happy Homemaker Monday, Maybe Snow?

April 19, 2021

jehdld

HappyHomemakerMonday 8 Comments

To start this week, after some typical spring days, we get maybe snow? Not happy about that. Not sure who out there is, happy for you if you get excited about April snow. However, most of us do not.

maybe snow

I’m ready to plant my flowers and more plants in the garden. Sit out in the sunshine. Not so much still drink hot cocoa and dream about doing it. SIGH. Guess I better make the most of today’s sunshine.

First though, it’s time to join in with Sandra for Happy Homemaker Monday.

The Weather

Guess it’s fitting they’re busy talking about football on the news this morning (spring training camp stuff) since the weather predictions are more fall/winter than early spring. It’s been an usually cold spring, I think. The maybe snow is probably more like a good chance of it since we’re under a winter weather advisory starting later tonight. At least it looks as if things are back to normal by the weekend, and warm (finally) next week.

How I Am Feeling This Morning

Tired, relieved, frustrated, sad. Pretty much all the feelings. Tired because I didn’t sleep great. Relieved because J went to school this morning. Frustrated because I had to take the G’s car and I don’t want to take it to do my other errands, it is not a joy to drive (Husband took my car to go turkey hunting this morning). Frustrated for lots of other reasons, grab the tiny violins as I’m having a bit of a pity party. Sad because we have family moving out of state tomorrow and I’m going to miss them (though note: I am very happy for them).

Ever feel like there’s too much and not enough on your plate all at the same time? Kind of where I am right now. If that makes no sense to you, don’t worry, it doesn’t even make a lot of sense to me.

On The Breakfast Plate

Something a little different, strawberry toaster strudels with coffee and vitamins. I really need to get to the store.

On My Reading Pile

Finished two books last week. First, I read Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century by Jessica Bruder which was fascinating and disturbing and sad and hopeful all at once. After my nonfiction choice, I needed an “escape” so I read Girl A by Dan Scottow. A page turning thriller that surprised me in some ways and not in others at the end.

Finally, this week I’ll finish up reading The Flight Attendant by Chris Bohjalian. I wasn’t sure I’d like it, pretty mixed reviews on Amazon (I checked it out of the library, I don’t think it’s free over on Amazon). However, I’m enjoying it. It reads like a thriller but the author spends a bit more time developing the main characters than in most thrillers I’ve read. Seemed to annoy some of the Amazon reviewers but I kind of like it.

On My TV

Tried very hard to watch the Nomadland movie after reading the book. Just couldn’t get through it. Too depressing for a Friday night. That said, some of the people profiled in the book play themselves in the movie so that aspect was interesting. Didn’t really watch anything else of note.

Typical TV shows: Prodigal Son, Masked Singer, Falcon and the Winter Soldier. I’ve been watching a bit of the Doctor Who reruns now and then.

On The Menu

Did I mention how I really need to go to the store? Last week, I changed a lot of my menu ideas so might be some repeats here. I’m sure things will change again this week as I’ll probably get called into work as well as change my mind once I go grocery shopping.

MONDAY: Subway OUT *J has a band concert!!*

TUESDAY: Spaghetti, salad, garlic bread

WEDNESDAY: Pork chops probably, salad, baked potatoes

THURSDAY: Chicken strips or there’s a moo shu pork recipe I’ve been wanting to try (would use the left over pork chops)

FRIDAY: Frozen pizza or OUT *J has an appt at 3*

Looking Around The House

I need to do a serious clean up again.

To Relax This Week I Will

Read my book, watch the birds, maybe do a little shopping other than at the grocery store

From The Camera

Something I Want To Share

I moved my So Not Organized blog followers from Bloglovin’ over to this blog. Hello! (Feel free to unsubscribe if this isn’t your cup of tea (or coffee), I won’t take offense.)

Also, look at these Earthship homes. I’d never heard of them before reading Nomadland.

Quote For The Week

Everyone needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul. (John Muir)

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How’s your weather look this week? Is it a maybe snow forecast for you as well?

Bird Sightings and Sounds in the Backyard

April 17, 2021

jehdld

Birdwatching 2 Comments

Thought I’d just catch you all up on the bird sightings and sounds from the backyard this week. Been a while since I’ve been on a walk to do any proper birdwatching but I’m still looking out the backdoor. Need to grab the camera more often.

Hoping to do better.

Regular Birds

Our regular sparrows and house finches are still hanging out around the feeders.

bird sightings and sounds

And while I didn’t get a photo of the action, the house sparrows are still raiding my suet feeder much the annoyance of my downy wood peckers.

bird sightings and sounds

The downy woodpecker took a minute to figure out the squirrel proof bird feeder. (The squirrel also continues to raid the suet feeder)

Moving on, we had a visitor!

Visiting Bird

The Eastern towhee came and completely checked out the backyard one morning. Two weeks ago, J had spotted him briefly but I hadn’t seen him since that day. I had a lot of fun watching on Sunday morning as the little bird explored all the feeder areas including hopping on and off the hummingbird feeder several times.

bird sightings and sounds

He spent some time playing peekaboo with the white throated sparrows.

However, I’ve not seen him the rest of the week. Perhaps he’s moved on like the dark-eyed juncos. One day they were here and the next, gone. So far, my white throated sparrows are still out there.

Birds Heard

While I’m out of practice taking bird photos, I don’t need to be near the window with a camera in hand to know a few of my birds are out there.

Each morning I hear the call of my white throated sparrows though I know that time is about to end. I’ll miss hearing their song. However, the chirping of the cardinals should keep me cheery. The grackles are back in town and trying to dominate the backyard with their rather loud vocabulary.

One night, I awoke to the familiar who cooks for you of a barred owl. My husband said he heard 2 and they were right out in our backyard tree.

Hopefully, I’ve caught you up on some of the bird sightings and sounds around the backyard. Didn’t mean to go quite so long without a bird watching post.

Other Birds Spotted This Week

Before I end this post (I’m going to resume linking up next week, I think), here are the other birds I spotted this week: a cedar wax wing! J and I took a quick walk down the street and mockingbird sat on the fence. Lots of geese by the pond. Starlings, robins, and blue jays searching for a place to nest. Looks like the starlings are returning to the maple tree in front and the blue jays to the neighbor’s oak tree. Saw the chickadees checking out a wren house. Crows flying over head. And briefly saw an appearance of brown headed cowbirds. Glad they moved on quickly.

What birds did you spot this week?

Let’s Just Chat

April 15, 2021

jehdld

Chitchat 2 Comments

Since it’s been a while, other than the Happy Homemaker Mondays, let’s just chat.

A little of this and a little of that. We’ll pretend we’re at the coffee shop. Me with a chai tea latte in hand, you? Maybe a scone? Or should we go all out and splurge on cake pops?

Whatever is there to chat about?

Let’s see: Band concerts, vaccines, and taxes. Oh my! Or maybe good, bad, and ugly topics? Ha!

Let’s start with the good.

Band Concert

The kids get to have a band concert! A real, proper one. Well, except no tuxes and fancy dresses. Just dress nice clothes. Retro middle school style, I suppose. Two tickets per family unless your kid is a senior, then 4.

It’s been so quiet here for so long. I miss the music!

let's just chat

Very much looking forward to going to an event at the high school and not even going to complain about those hard bleachers in the gym this time (The entire band doesn’t fit in the auditorium. We did, however, just pass some bond issue to upgrade schools including auditoriums so maybe next time.). Really hoping this provides the spark to get J back to picking up his baritone again. Can’t even begin to express how hard it is to watch your kid lose interest in things you know they love.

Oh, how’d the good turn into that sob story? Anyway, a tiny dose of almost normal in this crazy school year? I’ll take it and enjoy. Maybe we’ll even get Subway for dinner (tradition).

Moving on to the bad (maybe).

Vaccines

So, I mentioned I was brave on Monday. Wanted to get that one and done Johnson and Johnson shot before they ran out of it. Silly me thought there’d be a shortage of it. Not that they’d pause the whole vaccine the very next day. My timing is amazing, no? SIGH.

Not much I can do now. Take heed in the wisdom of Tracy Lawrence, I suppose. Going country today!

In poor taste? I don’t know. Humor is requirement for things sometimes. Anyway, I feel fine. Felt pretty run down on Tuesday the day after but today I feel fine. Only symptom is an itchiness and redness around my shot site. Pretty sure it’s normal.

Did you get a vaccine yet? I keep seeing these silly things on Facebook comparing the vaccines to the Harry Potter houses. Hopefully, those of us who took the Johnson and Johnson one won’t end up as bunch of Tom Riddles later turning into you know who (well, if you read the books/saw the movies).

Perhaps, we should just move on to the ugly.

Taxes

Typically, today is tax day but it’s different again this year. So, let’s just chat about taxes for a minute. Husband’s tax stuff for work is spread all over a table in the living room. My post today is actually procrastination. I should be getting a bunch of tax paperwork and numbers together for him. It’s the reason I really came down into the basement. And to pay bills as well as do some laundry. Think we have the ugly part of the post covered now.

Thankfully, once we gather all the paperwork, we take it to someone and I don’t have to think about taxes again until December. (Property taxes are due December 31 in our state). Are your taxes all done?

Let’s see, I don’t want to end our chat on that ugly note. What else can we talk about here?

Gardens and Birds

Let’s end on some pretty and optimistic notes. I’ve been bringing in the tiny tomato plants and sunflowers each night to avoid our frost advisories.

Should be done with that tonight! My husband planted some green bean seeds (still think it might be too early but what do I know, just what the garden center board said).

I’ve been dreaming of purple coneflowers, wildflowers, and sunflowers filling the yard. I have so many plans for the garden areas this year! A post is rattling around in my brain about showing you each area now versus my vision for it.

In the photo below, I’m envisioning a row of sunflowers growing up against that building in the picture. Maybe a vine with flowers climbing up the pole leftover from a broken birdfeeder. And of course, those hydrangeas blooming!

And then, hopefully, later in the summer, what happened with it. What do you think?

Hoping to finally share a proper bird watching post again on Saturday. For now though, I’ll just end this post with a photo of the cedar wax wing I randomly spotted yesterday. One of my favorites!

Tell me what’s going on in your corner of the world?

Happy Homemaker Monday, A New Week

April 12, 2021

jehdld

HappyHomemakerMonday 8 Comments

Well, last week got away from me. Some day I’ll go back to posting more than these Monday posts that sometimes don’t show up until Wednesdays.

I ended up working a lot more than I expected last week. One of the reasons explaining all the blog silence. Anyway, it’s a new week and time for a fresh start on things.

Going to link up as always with Sandra over at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom. Go check out her posts!

The Weather

new week

A little cooler this morning but today is going to be another beautiful spring day! There is a chance for a frost overnight and on Tuesday night but lots of sunny skies predicted for the next few days.

How I Am Feeling This Morning

Brave and accomplished. Despite being super scared of needles, I went and got my Covid 19 vaccine. Thankfully, I found a place with the Johnson and Johnson one shot kind. And I’m even more thankful for the kindness of the pharmacy tech who gave it to me. A lot less nervous now but still just a tiny bit worried about side effects. As someone who’s had an allergic reaction in the past (to amoxicillin), I probably won’t fully relax until a couple days are past. Still, I’m done with the super scary needle part of things! Hooray.

On The Breakfast Plate

Lemon meringue pie flip yogurt, vitamins, and coffee.

On My Reading Pile

After waiting since December, I finally had a turn to read The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. Really enjoyed it. Over the weekend, I read a quick thriller by Lisa Unger called Under My Skin. I find I appreciate her books aren’t overly predictable.

On My TV

Over the weekend (it rained all day Saturday!), we watched a few movies. By myself I watched Gone Girl because I’d long ago read the book. Book was better. Of course. Then, we did it. We watched the FOUR hour Justice League movie. Started it Saturday night so had to watch a bit of the end again on Sunday (I may or may not have fallen asleep during part of the middle, just a battle scene, I think, and at the end). It was good. A bit too much slow motion in it (cut that and you’d probably have a 3 hour movie). Finally, yesterday, we watched Monsters, Inc. Just for fun.

Excited that Prodigal Son is back on tomorrow night! Need to finish the Q documentary on HBO Max. And of course, I’ll watch Falcon and the Winter Soldier on Disney Plus Friday night (husband wouldn’t admit it but he’s watching it with me).

On The Menu This Week

Last week was weird with me working unexpectedly and odd hours every day except Monday. Lots of eating out. Too much. Hopefully, this week we eat at home around the table a lot more.

MONDAY: Probably leftovers from the weekend or maybe pasta of some sort. Maybe pasta and leftovers *I have a hair appt at 11*

TUESDAY: Roast in crock pot

WEDNESDAY: Chicken Verde in crock pot

THURSDAY: Fried cube steak, mashed potatoes

FRIDAY: Probably OUT *J has an appt at 3*

Looking Around The House

Not too bad, lots of nervous energy funneled into cleaning the house a bit yesterday. Husband does have tax papers all over the living room. And we still have a box of jewelry sitting on the couch. Kitchen table is clear, however.

To Relax This Week, I Will

You’ll find me either outside working on the garden areas or inside dreaming about doing it. Read a book. Enjoy a cup of tea.

From The Camera

I’d kind of lost my camera motivation. I don’t know, all motivation. However, this little Eastern Towhee came to visit yesterday morning and I enjoyed some time chasing him around with it.

Eastern Towhee

Something I Want To Share

Probably goes under book talk but I’m really enjoying and finding a lot of peace in reading through the Jesus Calling book I picked up on Easter weekend. Have you read through it before?

Quote For The Week

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13)

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What are your plans for this lovely part of mid-April?