Better to join in late than never, right? Hope so! On vacation (staycation) this week, so I’ve been a bit lazy about coming down here and working on the blog. However, I still wanted to go ahead and join in the fun for this week!

If I can, I’ll still link up with Sandra over at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom. And of course, I plan to visit all the fabulous bloggers who link up over there as well.

The Weather

I’ll just let B.J. Thomas do our weather forecast.

We’ve had lots of rain! Every single day since Saturday maybe? Seriously though, I wish I could send our surplus to some of those places with the super high temps and drought conditions. At least only one day so far, felt jungle steamy. Waiting for the sun…

How I’m Feeling This Morning

Not too bad. I slept in a bit (that means I woke up at 6:30 as opposed to 5, sigh.). Kind of upset with myself for not running errands yesterday when it was a bit of a light rain as now it’s a pouring down kind of rain and a Wednesday (busier day to run errands).

On The Breakfast Plate

My husband went and got us doughnuts! I had a frosted apple fritter. It was okay, needed a lot less frosting and a lot more filling, it wasn’t the one he meant to get me but it was still a nice change. And of course, coffee.

On My Reading Pile

Just finished the book I was reading, Daylight by David Baldacci. It’s the 3rd in a series. It’s intriguing enough. Not sure what I’ll pick up next, maybe something from my summer reading list. Today, I’ll probably focus on magazines and getting the rest of the June magazines glanced at and recycled.

On My TV

Finished up The Walking Dead over the weekend (reminds me I need to cancel AMC+ now). Haven’t really started anything else. Been watching a few random movies, mostly ones we’ve seen before like Bourne Identity and Red. Oh and I’ve been watching Loki on Disney Plus. Husband’s been watching America’s Got Talent (I could never get into that one for some reason).

On The Menu

I need to go to the grocery store so I’ve been kind of day by day on the menu. I’ll really need a better plan for when I work the next 3 weeks.

MONDAY: We had BBQ roast sandwiches and chips plus I made jello *J had a baritone lesson at 6:30*

TUESDAY: Frozen pizza

WEDNESDAY: Maybe tacos?

THURSDAY: OUT, hoping to go on a daytrip at least

FRIDAY: No idea depends on what’s on sale at the store

From The Camera

A friend and I finally visited a local daylily garden last Friday! It was so peaceful and relaxing out there.

And yes, you could buy daylilies to bring home and plant so of course, I did that. The variety pictured below is called Mokan Butterfly and one now has a home in my garden by the front porch.

Looking Around The House

Well, it’s not awful but it’s looked better. I have big cleaning plans for the last week of July when J is at band camp and I *hopefully* have the house to myself.

To Relax This Week I Will

Not worry about the weather, spend time with my family. Read my magazines. Visit my silly Animal Crossing Island where maybe the sun is shining.

Something I Want To Share

Since the Fourth of July is this weekend, here’s something that’s just silly and fun I stumbled across this morning. (I think I can name relatives like most the characters portrayed in this video! Ha!)

Quote For The Week

May the flowers remind us why the rain was so necessary. (Xan Oku)

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Back from nowhere. I didn’t actually go anywhere but the last two weeks were a bit of a whirlwind. Fun, hardworking, and happy. However, also too exhausted to come downstairs and sit at a computer each night and do any blogland visiting. “Thyme” to come back and do a Monday posting.

The whole month of July looks like the same kind of busy but I do have a bit of a break between now and then so here I am back to my routine. Sort of. Took the day to be a bit lazy so just now getting to my posting. And I should also get a chance to do some blogland visiting this week as well, might not be until later in the week though.

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

The Weather

It’s been HOT. My kind of weather but even a bit hot for me a few days. Today is a bit of a reprieve as we had a cold front move through and it was in the mid 60’s this morning. A nice change after waking up to the mid 80’s most of last week. It’s supposed to be the mid 80’s/low 90’s for most of the week as our high temps not the starting points.

How I Am Feeling This Morning (Afternoon)

Not too bad. Looking forward to having a few days off and happy that it’s officially summer.

On The Breakfast Plate

A Chobani Flip Yogurt, chewy churro flavor, not a fan.

On My Reading Pile

Just finished two Alison Sherlock books in the past two weeks. The Village of Lost and Found (Riverside Lane #2) and A House to Mend a Broken Heart, one of her older books and not my favorite. The Riverside Lane series is great though.

On My TV

Zombies! Been catching up with Fear the Walking Dead and The Walking Dead.

On The Menu

Didn’t really make a menu last week or maybe I did and we didn’t follow it. Seems to be the theme for my summer menus, make menu, change it all last minute.

MONDAY: Cooked Pork Chops (from freezer), baked potatoes, salad My husband ended up making us pancakes *J has a baritone lesson at 6:30*

TUESDAY: pepper steak, rice *I work 8:15-4:45*

WEDNESDAY: chicken spinach skillet *I work 8:15-4:45*

THURSDAY: Roast in crockpot

FRIDAY: turkey sausages, chips, strawberries *J has an appt at 3* *I have am plans with a friend*

From The Camera

Planned to go take some quick updated pictures of the garden areas but when you don’t pick the camera up for two weeks, you don’t know the battery needs a charge. So, all the photos in this post are from 2 weeks ago…

Looking Around The House

It’s looked better, a lot better but it’s still livable.

To Relax This Week, I Will

Water my flowers, work in the gardens, take a walk, pick up the camera again

Something I Want To Share

Dumb joke I heard on the radio last week:

Why did Tigger stick his head in the toilet?

He was looking for Pooh!

(Not preschool appropriate but I thought it was funny!)

Quote For The Week

A single sunbeam is enough to drive away many shadows (St. Francis of Assisi)

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Are you excited for it to finally be officially summer?

Our calendar is once again full. So is my heart. I am so happy to see activities and places for us to be listed on there once again. Though it seems we might be making up for lost time this week.

That’s why I’m getting a jump on things and putting my Happy Homemaker Monday post together on Sunday evening. Later, I’ll link up with Sandra, the host of the link up, over at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom.

Let’s just get straight to it.

The Weather

Sun, sun, Mr. Golden sun decided to shine down on us almost all of last week! It’s apparently now something called the start of the “meteorological” summer but I’ll take it. Very slight rain chances and highs in the 80’s and low 90’s this week. Hooray! My weather is here.

On My Reading Pile

Magazines. Tried to start Jane Eyre but it feels like a fall read so I’m not sure I’ll continue. I’ll find something, maybe from my list, to start tomorrow night during J’s lesson.

On My TV

Been catching up with the rest of the Lucifer episodes on Netflix. Other than that, just whatever happens to be on…enjoying Crime Scene Kitchen when I catch it though. Probably start the Loki series on Disney plus on Friday.

On The Menu

Now, you’ll see what I mean by a full calendar. Keeping things simple for my sanity this week.

MONDAY: French Toast and sausage, fruit *I work 7:45-4:15* *J has a baritone lesson at 6:30 (HOORAY)*

TUESDAY: Pepper steak, noodles or rice, salad? *I work 7:45-4:15*

WEDNESDAY: On Your Own *I work 7:45-4:15* *I have a hair appt at 5*

THURSDAY: Greek sheet pan chicken and potatoes *I work 7:45-4:15*

FRIDAY: Frozen pizza or homemade pizza, salad *I work 7:45-4:15* *J has an appt at 3 or 4 (G will take him)*

SATURDAY: Moo shu pork in crock pot *J takes ACT at 8am*

On My To Do List

1. Mow the lawn
2. plant the flowers I bought today
3. Try to visit the other local nursery before they shut down for the season (she told me they stopped after Father’s Day, it’s a local pop up kind of place)
4. Remember to water the garden
5. Get with husband regarding whether we’re actually going to go somewhere for a vacation
6. Breathe

What I Am Creating

Maybe some day some pretty flower garden areas.

Looking Around The House

Please, don’t. Not this week. All the pretty outside flower pictures are supposed to distract us from that.

From The Camera

Need to be better about picking it up after work. Took all the photos for this post today except this one. A phone photo from Saturday. Think this is a newly hatched Katydid on my petunia. Stayed there all day yesterday.

Something Fun To Share

I got a last minute invitation to the ball (aka the preschool graduation, ha) last week. Had to earn my chair with parking lot duty (directing students and parents to their respective places) but didn’t mind. One of the songs the kids sang was this one. Very cute (obviously, for privacy reasons I’m not showing you MY school instead just a random video of a different school singing the song).

On My Prayer List

Friends, Family, Strangers. For things to continue to return to normal in the world. My dear blogging friend, Rebecca over at Rebecca’s Hearth and Home and her friends and family who are having some serious health struggles.

Quote For The Week

To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow. (Audrey Hepburn)

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Seems silly but I had no idea eggplant flowers were purple! Excited for the new garden addition. Did you plant a garden this year? What are you growing?

Maybe that should say night. I’m a bit late with my posting today. No real reason, just a bit of holiday laziness before a full week of work. 

Debated postponing until tomorrow but really do need to get a plan for this upcoming week underway. Joining in with Sandra over at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom helps me do just that.

The Weather

Rainy and cool all day today. However, the rest of the week looks nice with highs in the 70’s and I do think we might hit the 80’s on Friday. A slight chance of rain on Wednesday. Would be nice to properly dry out again.

On My Reading Pile

Read two books from my summer reading list. Spent a lot of today finishing The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins. A good twisty suspense novel that’s supposed to be a bit like Jane Eyre (one of those classics I’ve never read, hmm…perhaps I need to make another list?). My lighter summer read was A Summer Wedding at the Cornish Confetti Agency by Daisy James. A bit disappointed to see that series come to an end as I really enjoyed the characters.

On My TV

Trying to finish my Walking Dead shows before my AMC+ trial ends, need to finish Lucifer now that they’ve added the rest of the season to Netflix. And my husband and I started watching The Kominsky Method, also on Netflix (funny but for adults!) Just reruns on network tv now probably so whatever I happen to catch.

On The Menu

A full work week after the holiday today so keeping things pretty simple.

MONDAY: husband grilled ribs, corn, fruit salad

TUESDAY: Spaghetti, salad *I work 8:30-5*

WEDNESDAY: Honey lemon chicken legs, rice (or I may make the crunchy coleslaw I forgot to make today) *I work 8:30-5*

THURSDAY: BLT salads *I work 8:30-5*

FRIDAY: OUT (or something from freezer) *I work 8:30-5*

On My To Do List

Not too much since my work schedule is pretty full this week (for the next 3 weeks!)

1. Pay bills
2. Need to find the time to go buy new tennis shoes
3. Take some donations to the thrift store
4. Remind husband that Saturday is the big item drop off in the city (we have some large junk to dispose)
5. Maybe a little vacation planning

Creating

Honestly not much, just working on the garden areas. Pulled a bunch of weeds (thought they were flowers coming back but determined no, they were indeed just weeds) yesterday. Front porch still needs more flowers. At least I have my pink petunia pot going…

Looking Around The House

Well, G cleaned his room which somehow translates to lots of stuff in the living room. Can’t complain too much as he finally went through his clothes and now there are 2 bags of donations to take to the thrift store just from his stuff.

From The Camera

An older one from our 2019 Washington, D.C. Trip but meaningful to share today.

Something Fun To Share

I think I’ve shared her videos before but I made this recipe for our dessert tonight. (It wasn’t a huge hit but I liked it. My husband and oldest didn’t care for the apple in it. J hasn’t tried it yet as he just wasn’t super hungry today.)

On My Prayer List

Friends, Family, Strangers. Especially the strangers having a medical emergency in the grocery store on Sunday morning (it’s weird to here a call for a doctor over the intercom that usually plays music, I saw the ambulance as I left the store).

Quote For The Week

Another photo, taken during our 2019 Washington, D.C. trip. Good reminder for today especially.

Today was a manic Monday.  Late getting my post up after working all day. I agreed to be in the kitchen at work for today. Let’s just say that phrase about no good deed going unpunished fit for the day.

It was rather stressful from the fluorescent lights not firing on properly to a lack of information about the food I had to prepare. Oh, and add in a delivery right as lunch needed serving. However, I did have several teachers help me how they could and offer to help. And that was very much appreciated. That said, I’m looking forward to hopefully having a day off tomorrow!

Let’s just move on to the planning of the rest of this week with Sandra over at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom.

The Weather

Hot and humid today.  Upper 70’s/low 80’s all week until 65 degrees on Friday. Good news is it didn’t rain yesterday or today (in this area, other areas still got a few downpours). Bad news is that it’s supposed to rain yet again tomorrow and Thursday. The backyard is essentially turning into a wetland at this point. Maybe I’ll see a duck or two at the birdfeeders, who knows!

On My Reading Pile

Still not much. I did breeze through my turn with a library hold over the weekend, The End Of Her by Shari Lapena. Wasn’t my favorite, all seemed a bit far fetched. Could’ve just not been in the mood for a thriller though. I have a list of lighter summer reads that I’m planning to start on after Memorial Day when it’s proper summer season. Might do a blog post about my list.

On My TV

Been watching Fear The Walking Dead and ahem may or may not have signed up for the 2 months of AMC+ for 99 cents each over the weekend to see the end of the season 5 cliffhanger (had been watching on Hulu). Blaming the weather, dreary rainy days make for good days to watch zombie shows. However, our self-appointed comptroller (J) informed me of the total were spending on streaming services so we really should look into making some cuts and soon.

On The Menu

MONDAY: Tacos *I worked 8:30-5*

TUESDAY: honey lemon chicken legs, asparagus, salad

WEDNESDAY: Fridge Free For All (leftovers) *I work 3-6*

THURSDAY: Hawaiian Chicken, rice *I work for just a tiny bit in the a.m.*

FRIDAY: OUT *I work 7:30-3* *J has an appt at 4*

On My To Do List

1. This post (in progress)
2. Clean up house (always)
3. Mow front yard if it stays dry
4. Still need to clean out upstairs freezer
5. Pay a few bills
6. Mail a graduation card
7. Probably a bunch of other stuff I just can’t think of right now

What I Am Creating

A Wildflower garden area in the far corner of the yard.

My garden helper inspecting the flowers:

Silly cat follows me everywhere, trudged right beside me through the soggy yard that looked like this:

Looking Around The House

I did at least get my summer/spring wardrobe change out put away so we could sleep last night. Rest of the house needs a good cleaning as usual.

From The Camera

A bloom from the yard.

And a bloom from the grocery store bouquet.

Something Fun To Share

I’ve been trying to listen to more up to date music but you know I just have to share this 80’s favorite today.

And One More because it popped up and I like that song, too.

On My Prayer List

Next door neighbor, still in the hospital, friend of my husband, recently diagnosed with cancer on his jaw, father-in-law, who fell and is doing knee rehab. All the recent high school and college graduates. Friends, family, strangers.

Quote For The Week

May your life be like a wildflower growing freely in the beauty and joy of each day. (Native American Proverb)

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Did you have a manic Monday as well?