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Category: Blog365

Happy Homemaker Monday

Blog365 HappyHomemakerMonday 12 Comments

Ever have those weeks where you have lots to do but just don’t do any of it? That was me last week. Sometimes you just need to give yourself a break.

Now it’s a new week with an old and new to do list. Time to get it planned by joining in the weekly link up hosted by Sandra over at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom.

The Weather 

We had some 80 degree days last week, then April Fools! It was suddenly cold again over the weekend. Really, just back to normal but 50’s feel cold after the 80’s. And it did drop down enough overnight that I had to bring in my hibiscus. We did get a bit of much needed rain, so that was nice. Right now it’s currently 48 and sunny. Supposed to warm back up the next two days, then drop again with a chance of rain Thursday and Friday.

As I Look Outside My Window

I’m in the basement so the ground level window has a privacy film. However, the sun is strongly streaming through it.

Right Now

I just returned from the grocery store, put away the groceries, ate breakfast, and am working on this post.

Thinking And Pondering

Ever read something and just have a light bulb moment?

I get a weekend favorites email from Courtney over at Be More With Less. In one of the links this week was this article about the rule of five for eliminating kitchen clutter. As someone who gets easily overwhelmed with too many choices, this article just spoke to me. And I applied it to my grocery shopping this morning. Really helped me in not overbuying, I’ve been working really hard to get out of that pandemic shopping mindset. My magic number was 3 this week. Three fruit choices, three veggie choices, three snack choices (for the kids and maybe me), etc.

On My Bedside Table

Lamp, two chargers. My husband was charging some type of work light on it yesterday. Need to get rid of the extra charger.

Listening To

Cat is down here sleeping and I can hear her snoring!

On My Reading Pile

Just finished one called The Accident by Chris Pavone. It didn’t do much for me, way too many points of view in the story telling. And I’ve just started Finders Keepers by Stephen King, the second one in the Mr. Mercedes trilogy.

On My TV Today

If I do find a few minutes for tv today, I’ll either watch my one episode of Dr. Who for the week, The Spring Baking Championship, or the first episode of Barry, season 4.

On The Lunch Plate

Undecided but 3 choices: leftover spaghetti (might make into a meatball sub), leftover ribs (probably not), or ham/cheese sandwich.

On The Dinner Plate

Not my favorite but I have potatoes I need to use up: chicken and noodles, mashed potatoes

On My Menu This Week

Pretty standard fare for us this time.

MONDAY: chicken and noodles, mashed potatoes *J has a lesson at 6:30*

TUESDAY: tacos *I have bunco at 7*

WEDNESDAY: Roast in the crock pot *I work 12-4*

THURSDAY: Teriyaki shrimp and rice (don’t get excited, I’m pouring a jar of teriyaki sauce over some frozen shrimp) *I work 8:15-4:45*

FRIDAY: Leftovers, OUT, or frozen pizza *I work 8:15-4:45*

On My To Do List

Everything from last week.

  1. Pay bills
  2. Grocery store *DONE*
  3. Laundry is mostly done
  4. Bit of housecleaning
  5. Figure out J’s graduation stuff
  6. Take J to practice driving
  7. Work
  8. Call my brother
  9. Add some more flowers/plant some seeds in the garden
  10. All the things I’m forgetting

Plans This Week

Bunco on Tuesday night, yardwork, some clutter clear out, take some old electronics to a local recycle event on Saturday, and maybe make some clear out the pantry cookie dough and throw it in the freezer

What I’m Creating

Need to get started on my new diamond painting, still thinking about the garden flowers for on the front porch and the area beside it.

Simple Pleasure

Having fresh air come in the open the windows.

 

Looking Around The House

See item #4 on the to do list.

From The Camera

I’ve been a bit obsessed with the orange tulips.

On My Prayer List

My sister-in-law (still need to call brother and see how things went), the homeless, friends, other family, strangers, that everything is set for J to graduate, our country, the world, peace and kindness to prevail.

Quote For The Week

Stay close to people who feel like sunlight. (Xan Oku)

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Day 107/365

 

New Week

Blog365 Just Photos 5 Comments

Almost missed posting today. Only going to share a couple of photos as it’s already 9p.m. and close to bedtime.

It’s a new week with new possibilities!

I’ll be back tomorrow for a proper posting on Happy Homemaker Monday.

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Day 106/365

 

Hawk Versus Rabbit

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Earlier today, I was outside taking a few photos between the rain showers.

When I saw a hawk fly into the neighbor’s tree across the street. I was using my zoom lens trying to see what kind of hawk I noticed as it looked small.

And suddenly, this happened:

Down he swooped, aiming for a rabbit. Who thankfully, avoided it. This is right after the hawk attempted to have him for dinner.

I know hawks need to eat. However, I really didn’t want to watch him have rabbit stew today.

By the way, I’m fairly certain despite the grainy photos that is was a young Cooper’s Hawk.

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day 105/365

 

Today I Learned

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Today was a work day. Sometimes we teach the kids things. And sometimes the kids (and/or their parents) teach us things.

It was share day today for the letter sound of “v.” Saw lots of vegetables (real and fake) and oh so many velociraptor toy dinosaurs. However, the coolest item of the day was by far the “venomous” scorpion.

They found it in their basement. And not the first one, they said! Yikes. This one was rather small, thank goodness. Here’s a photo of what I’m guessing is an adult one from the Missouri Department of Conservation.

So today I learned we have scorpions in Missouri. I had no idea. Only one kind, a striped bark scorpion. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen one. You can read more about these “lovely” creatures here if you’re interested.

Hopefully, I don’t find any at my house.  Do you have scorpions in your area?

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Day 104/365

 

 

 

I Can’t Count

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So just a short post tonight after all. Probably going to be short posts all  this week. Busy days.

Thought this was going to be the 100th post of the year. However, it turns out my count is off. This is the 102nd day of the year so I messed up my count somewhere along the line.

Hooray for posting 102 days (almost) I suppose!

Thinking About Things On Tuesday

Blog365 8 Comments

Too tired to write a proper blog post. Worked, came home, went back to a (rather short) CPR class, came home again. Watched an episode of Spring Baking Championship. Surprised by who went home this week, I’d have gone the other way if I were the judges. And now, time for a blog post.

Just a random list of a few things I’m thinking about tonight:

  • Why I’ve woke up at 4:44 a few times in the last couple of weeks, enough for me to notice. Weird, right?
  • Some family situations I found out about on Sunday (a niece going through a divorce)
  • My work. Do I throw my hat in for a full-time job? Or not. I’m perfectly happy to keep subbing but a steady schedule might be nice. Of course, I also like the idea of a year to get things in order around here and then, re-evaluating the work situation. Then, I have to think how long would I have to wait for a classroom I want again?
  • Why I’ve used the word situation twice now in one post
  • When I’m going to get to the grocery store this week
  • All the flowers I want to buy and plant in the next few days….going to need self-control!
  • If everything is set for J to graduate, whether he’ll do the pomp and circumstance stuff for me
  • The fact that I need new work clothes, did I mention this list was random?
  • Does this post need a picture? Only one to share is a not so great shot of the end of the driveway flower garden:
  • I’d like to do a special post for the 100th day of blogging but it’s tomorrow and I have nothing planned. Maybe something will come to me by then.

Well, at least this list isn’t rattling through my brain at midnight, right?  Do you ever get the million (I didn’t give you the full list) thoughts rattling around in your brain?

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Day 99/365

 

Happy Homemaker Monday, A Bit Busy

Blog365 HappyHomemakerMonday 10 Comments

Just now getting to my post as today ended up a bit busy.  Work, supposed to end at 3:45 but asked to stay until 5. Then, off to J’s baritone lesson. Followed by a 30 minute driving lesson. Finally, I have a few minutes to put up this post.

Things this week just keep changing to a bit busier than anticipated. So, let’s get to planning the week with Sandra over at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom.

The Weather 

Spring is in the air! And so are warmer temperatures. And *clears throat, sneezes a bit* so is tree pollen, especially the blooms from those stinky pear trees. Exciting news was that we got a bit of rain today! Rest of the week is supposed to be clear and our highs are predicted to be in the 80’s with sunshine.

As I Look Outside My Window

Dark now, wasn’t home earlier. However, the preschool kids spotted a caterpillar as they looked outside one of the preschool doors. Very observant!

Right Now

Working on this post.

Thinking And Pondering 

Quite a bit. Stuff I need to do. Some sad news from yesterday. A possible job opportunity at my work.

On My Bedside Table

Lamp, old and new phones, charger cable.

On My TV Tonight

Husband is watching The Handmaid’s Tale, not my thing so I’m down here working on my blog. Probably glance at the news later. Over the weekend, we watched the complete season of Night Agent on Netflix. It was pretty good.

Listening To

The dryer. Hooray for husbands who help with laundry!

On The Lunch Plate

Macaroni and cheese at work

On The Dinner Plate

A second hurrah for husbands who help with dinner.  I wouldn’t have done it but he deep fried some frozen chicken nuggets and made rolls. (No vegetable in sight is the trade-off here)

On My Menu This Week

No idea. Might be a lot of husband’s choice/lack of vegetables this week.

MONDAY: chicken nuggets and rolls *I worked 8-5* *J had a baritone lesson at 6:30*

TUESDAY: No idea, husband’s choice. Easter leftovers? *I work 8-3:30 and then, have a CPR class at 5:30*

WEDNESDAY: Spaghetti?

THURSDAY: Pepper steak and rice or husband’s choice *Mom’s Night Out*

FRIDAY: Turkey sausages on the the grill maybe? With pasta salad? *I work 8-4:30*

On My Reading Pile

Just started one called The Accident by Chris Pavone.

On My To Do List

This is likely to be a week where not much on the to do list happens so keeping it short.

  1. Go to store at some point
  2. Pay a couple bills
  3. Take J out driving as much as possible
  4. Talk to husband about job opportunity at my work
  5. Plant some garden things

Plans This Week

Work, Go to the CPR Class, Visit with friends at Mom’s Night Out, Put away Easter things, Try to not eat all the leftover Easter candy in one sitting

What I Am Creating 

Impossible way over budget both in terms of space and finances garden plans and ideas?

Simple Pleasure

Leaving the house without needing a coat!

Looking Around The House

It’s not awful.

From The Camera

I did pick it up a bit last week.

On My Prayer List 

My sister in law who battled throat cancer during 2021 and was cleared. They’ve discovered small spots in her throat and one in her lungs. Prayers they are able to deal with them quickly and she’ll be clear again. For family, friends, and strangers.

Quote For The Week

Well-suited quote for my garden plans:

Gardeners, I think, dream bigger dreams than emperors. (Mary Cantwell)

 

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Day 98/365

A Happy Easter

Blog365 4 Comments

Happy Easter!

Our holiday is winding down and it’s been a nice one. Nice weather, nice company, and nice food.

I’d say our day started with church but really my day started earlier than that. Showered. Filled the boys (they’ll always be boys to me) Easter baskets.

Baked a lemon meringue pie. Dropped J off at church, returned to pick up my husband and G. G had slept in a bit so we did it that way instead of all going together as J had to be there an hour before the service.

Enjoyed a wonderful Easter service especially the music 🙂

Yesterday, my other older brother who is here locally called. He’d missed my text but said he’d come over for dinner in the afternoon. So when we get back from church, he was already here waiting for us. (Think we had a miscommunication somewhere as I’d said after 1 and it was 12:30. Never complain about extra family time though.)

Easter lunch was good. We had bbq brisket on buns, corn on the cob, and baked beans. Lemon meringue pie for dessert. Pretty simple. A very strange and different realm from the big all out Easter morning brunches I used to host.  I missed the large gathering of family and G missed the food. Still, it was nice to not spend all day yesterday and the wee morning hours today cooking up a storm. A lot less stress.

My brother stayed and visited pretty much all afternoon. Now, it’s 5:30 and dinner time I suppose. We’ll see if anyone is hungry. Plenty of sugar choice throughout the afternoon in addition to the pie.

How was your Easter?

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Day 97/365

 

 

Saturday Stuff

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Just a quick check in post so I don’t forget again!

Awoke to the cat bugging me to go outside. Then, I heard the owl in the maple tree. Quite loud. Quick denial of the cat’s request.

Today’s been mostly a yard work day. Took a load of brush/extra trash to a city wide drop off event. Happens every spring/summer. Helps a lot of with yard clean up.

Then, off to Home Depot to rent a heavy duty garden tiller. Got the garden ready. Husband did most of the tilling as the tiller was a bit heavy for me. And tilled up a new little area in the yard to try an extra garden.

Read my book a bit/took a nap with the cat. I mean what else are you going to do when a purring cat jumps on your lap in the middle of the afternoon?

Back outside for raking some leaves and clearing a flower area under the bedroom windows. Had slowly started this project last year. Bleeding hearts are coming back in that area. Planted my wild blue phlox there. And put down a bit of impatiens seed from the Dollar Tree. If it comes up and flowers, great. If not, not a huge loss and I’ll figure something else out.

Now, it’s time for laundry and figuring out tonight’s dinner. And tomorrow’s Easter plans outside of church.

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Day 96/365

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