I know it’s silly but does it make anyone else happy that the new year started on a Sunday? The first four Saturdays of January make for perfect multiples of seven: 7, 14, 21, 28. Then, of course, it stops since there are 31 days in January.
Time to join in for the very first Happy Homemaker Monday of 2023. I was waiting to see if Sandra might’ve changed the categories for the new year but I need to go ahead and get my post up now. If they’ve changed, I’ll just change them next week. UPDATE: She did add a few new ones but like I said, I’ll catch up on that next week.
The Weather 
Yesterday was beautiful, sunny *almost* no coat weather. Today, however, is foggy and chilly. Rain predicted for later this afternoon. Looking forward to the free carwash! Should’ve seen the lines with the nice weather over the weekend. Right now, it’s 42 degrees with a predicted high of 57 later today. Then, we start sliding back down into the reality of winter temperatures. After tomorrow, highs are in the 30’s for the rest of the week. More chances of rain (high of 38) again on Saturday.
As I Look Outside My Window
I don’t see too much, pretty foggy right now. Have an electric candle in the window and a vanilla candle burning on top of the bookcase. Semi-cozy around the mess I suppose.
Right Now
Waiting for the washing machine to finish as I work on this post. It’s laundry day!
Thinking And Pondering 
About My word for the year and what to add to my list of 23 things I’d like to do in 2023. What the new year will bring.
How I Am Feeling This Morning 
I work the rest of this week, J returns to school tomorrow (praying it goes well) so basically some standard Sunday night anxiety tripled into Monday day anxiety. SIGH. Otherwise, not too bad.
Listening To
Washer and dryer down here. If I were upstairs, I’d hear the background of the local morning news my husband is watching.
On The Breakfast Plate
Lower sugar maple brown sugar instant oatmeal and a cookie (balance, right?), vitamins, coffee
On The Lunch Plate 
Probably leftover black-eyed peas and cornbread
On The Dinner Plate
I am not sure…need to ponder it as I work on this post
What I Am Wearing Today
long-sleeved black t-shirt, greenish color jeggings, tennis shoes
On My Reading Pile
Need to start a new book on my phone! Probably the first chapters of the Marie Kondo book, Kurashi at Home: How to Organize Your Space and another book I picked up at the library about being outdoors. Can’t recall the exact title but it’s about the concept of Friluftsliz, the Norwegian word for outdoor love. Something like that.
On My TV
Probably not much with my work schedule this week. Planning to watch one episode a week of the David Tennant Doctor Who episodes.
Over Christmas break, I finished watching Litvinenko on AMC+, it was interesting. And also White Lotus, can’t quite decide how I felt about that show. First season was better than the second. It was on HBOmax. And I watched a couple Netflix movies, Slumberland (really enjoyed it!) and Troll (fun, think it was supposed to be scary but was a bit silly).
And of course, yesterday, how about them…Chiefs! Actually, they were aggravating me. At one point after they got the lead, my husband turned to me and asked if I knew they were winning. We’re very spoiled by such a good team. And though it is a bit painful, most of KC has to say Go Bengals! (Just for tonight)
On The Menu 
And here we are at the category, I wanted to avoid. As usual, I really do need to go to the store but let’s see what I can manage from the fridge/freezer first.
MONDAY: Roast in the crockpot *J has baritone lesson at 6:30*
TUESDAY: Chicken strips *I work 8-4:30*
WEDNESDAY: Pork chops, baked potatoes *I work 8-4:30*
THURSDAY: Pepper steak *I work 8-4:30*
FRIDAY: Turkey of some sort, sweet potatoes *I work 8-4:30*
Looking Around The House
Still a few touches of Christmas amid the mess. Trying to decide if I want to go ahead and take them down today or wait until after the Epiphany.
On My To Do List 
So much. Why did I wait until the last minute for everything??
- Grocery store
- Target for household supplies: shampoo, cleaning, etc
- Laundry
- Find books/plan for school tomorrow
- Pay a few bills/at least get them organized
- Put away all Christmas sweaters/clothing until next year
- Clean out cat box *SO overdue on this, oops
- Hope it’s not cheating if I write and schedule a few blog posts for the blog365 challenge
- Clear off kitchen table/either throw away or freeze Christmas goodies
- Clean out email inbox. Say it with me: There will always be another sale.
- Spend 23 minutes outside for another challenge I’m doing
From The Camera
Took advantage of the great weather after the game yesterday to go for a walk on a local trail. Excited to finally make it this bridge. (It’s a 5 mile loop trail and I usually don’t have time for the loop, still didn’t but got to the bridge at least) 
What I’m Creating
I have a candle project I’d like to do but likely won’t have time to look at it until Saturday
Quote For The Week
May my heart be kind, my mind fierce, and my spirit brave. (Kate Forsyth) 
***********
Day 2 of 365
I have to admit I am considering scheduling a few blog posts as well to keep up with Blog365. I don’t think it’s cheating at all! It is still sharing something every day 🙂 Hope you have a great week!
I think I’m pretty much going to have to schedule some of my posts this week to keep up with them. Hope you have a great week as well!
I love tha decorated tree at the end of your post. We have one here I see just off the freeway I call Bikini tree because people keep spray painting the backside of a bikini on the perfectly shaped tree 😀 It is absolutely not cheating to pre-prepare blog posts! It’s the only way I can stay organized. Some days are just too busy while the next has plenty of slack time 😀 And while I know it’s just another day in hopefully a LONG string of days there IS something really magical about a new year, an empty calendar yet to be filled ESPECIALLY when it begins on a Sunday! Have a wonderful week.
It really caught my eye. There was another rock someone had painted as well but unfortunately, that photo didn’t come out well. Funny how we name trees and things like that. I haven’t thought of a name for this tree yet but I’ve always referred to one on a different trail as the “all you need is love tree” because of someone putting something with that saying on it. Yes, I’ll have to schedule a few blog posts this week. After today, the week will be rather busy and I have a feeling I’m gonna be tired. Hope you have a wonderful week as well!
Hello Jean, thank you so much for stopping by!
I will definitely check out the movies you mentioned and I don’t think it is cheating to have some blogs scheduled 🙂 Happy new year !
I really enjoyed your blog, glad to have found it. The movies I mentioned are pretty silly but still enjoyable. Happy New Year to you as well!
Yes, I loved having Christmas and New Year’s Day on a Sunday! Yesterday’s weather was perfect for the ‘First Day’ hike at the park and today was even warmer. We had sun and…like…78 degrees, I think? (Crazy!) Then clouds, thunderstorms, and a tornado watch just to our west. I think it’s all about fizzled out now. Your candlelight sounds cozy. I need to light one of the new candles I got for Christmas. I like the idea of spending 23 minutes outside. I hope this first Monday of the New Year went well for you and that you have a fantastic week (and year!) ahead! Blessings, Jean!
Glad your First day hike went so well. It’s been so foggy here all day, then pouring rain along with some thunderstorms. Such strange weather. I didn’t do so well with the outside today but tomorrow should be easy since I work. Yes, light one of your candles and enjoy it! I had a great Monday. Happy New Year! (By the way, the comment form should be fixed for you now 🙂 )
Thanks for fixing that, Jean!
LOVE that second bridge pic!!! I need to start picking up my camera more again. Well, I never go anywhere pic-worthy but I suppose there are pics to be had just around the property. lol
I like to be outside around the yard with my camera in the spring/summer but should pick it up more. You’ll be surprised what you’ll find I bet.
Happy New Year to you and your family. Health, love and smiles
I’m a bit behind on replying and not sure if I wished you a Happy New Year back yet. Sometimes it’s hard to see if I’ve replied on here. So, if you get a Happy New Year twice, consider it a double wish for a great year for you!
Jean, you can absolutely schedule posts. The point of the challenge is to have something on our blogs for every day, but it doesn’t have to be exactly that day. If you have posts you can schedule, for a week or two ahead, go for it girl 🙂
Good because I’ve already scheduled a few in the past week. Mostly, I’m just planning on scheduling things when I know my work schedule is going to be crazy. I’m glad you had this idea. I’m having fun posting every day and trying to visit around with everyone else. Thanks for sharing your ideas with the rest of us.