Happy Monday! Lots of things to do today. However, a few delays. Can’t grocery shop until tomorrow (could but I want my gas discount based on how many points the Chiefs score). Delayed kitchen chores because a yellow jacket is in there angrily buzzing at the kitchen light fixture. Or rather there was. Which is scarier? Seeing it or not seeing it? I’m not sure.
UPDATE: I found it in a water glass, not sure if it was alive or not, and gave it a “gentle” toss out the back door. Sigh of relief to have my kitchen back.
Let’s just get straight to the categories provided for us by Sandra over at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom, the gracious inventor and host of this weekly link up.
The Weather 
It’s a beautiful fall morning out there, sunny and not too chilly. Supposed to be warm today, high of 82 predicted. Super excited to see a 50% chance of rain for tomorrow! After our rain (hopefully, we get it), the highs drop into the low 70’s. And I see a predicted low of 38 (BRR) for Thursday night. Guess I’ll be out throwing sheets over the mums again.
As I Look Outside My Window
Blue skies, sparrows mostly at my bird feeders, a few leaves starting to drift to the ground on our slight breeze today. 
Right Now I Am
Doing some laundry, working on this post, considering another quick Target run for some items I forgot to pick up last night.
Thinking And Pondering 
How to get back to the me I used to be before a lot of life happened. Oh, that’s nice and vague now isn’t it? Just thinking that I used to be better at being a caring and compassionate person and would like to do better than I have been doing lately.
How I Am Feeling This Morning
Relieved as I think we finally have J’s schooling worked out, maybe. The plan we decided on (him and I) is that he’s going to on-line school (through a certified homeschool program because our district won’t let him use their on-line option, they have crazy strict restrictions on it) for this semester. Then, go back next semester to graduate from the high school with his friends. Have I ever mentioned the kid is only 8, yes eight, credits away from graduating?
And on an unrelated not, my back is hurting a bit but I’ll manage.
On The Breakfast Plate
Flip yogurt, coffee, vitamins.
On The Lunch Plate
Possibly out, probably just a sandwich. Sort of depends on yellow jacket status.
On The Dinner Plate
Plan is for pepper steak and rice.
What I’m Wearing Today
Um, it’s red Monday in these parts. Chiefs tee-shirt, navy blue shorts, and my slip on leopard print shows though I’ll probably change into real tennis shoes in a bit.
On My Reading Pile
Nothing at the moment but I just finished a book last night called Beartown by Fredrik Bachman. It was well written (I do enjoy his books) but the subject matter wasn’t what I expected. If you’re looking for a feel good sports story, this isn’t it. It’s a pretty grim and gritty story about a small town pinning it’s hopes on a youth hockey player and a violent assault against a young teenage girl. It’s worth reading but don’t pick it up expecting something light. I guess it’s a series so I’ll read the next one when it’s my turn at the library (both books were on hold with long lines). Need to find something a bit lighter for my next read.
On My TV
Many thanks to Billie Jo over at Afternoon Coffee and Evening Tea for recommending Halloweentown as a fun movie to watch. I loved it! Also watching The Chiefs (of course), The Walking Dead, The Masked Singer, and Kim’s Convenience. Last night I caught the end of the Ravens and Bengals football game. Sorry to my Bengals friends but wow, what a finish to that one!
On My Menu 
Felt like I cooked a lot last week. Another week of it, I suppose. Not really in the mood to put a lot of effort into meals this week.
MONDAY: pepper steak and rice *J has a lesson at 6:30* *G is due home from his trip!*
TUESDAY: Some form of tacos *I have Mom’s Night Out*
WEDNESDAY: Might just make chicken strips and have salad with it
THURSDAY: Korean BBQ meatballs again with rice, maybe I’ll get some spring rolls to have with it
FRIDAY: OUT or maybe just BLT’s and French Fries
Looking Around The House
I need to put out my Halloween decorations (clean first though)
On My To Do List
- Laundry *in progress*
- Target for soap/check for a kind of granola bar husband likes that we suddenly can’t find
- Get J enrolled in his on-line school/inform high school of change/etc.
- Clean house
- Grocery store (tomorrow)
- Still need to clean out pantry (eventually this WILL happen)
- Garden clean up chores (did tear out all but one tomato plant over the weekend)
My garden helper - Other things I can’t think of right now like paying a few bills that arrived in mail after I paid others
From The Camera
Still struggling to pick up the camera, not sure why. Need to get back to it, maybe just pick a time of day to go take a few photos. All the photos in this post I took this morning. 
Quote For The Week
Rejoice always, pray continuously, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Jesus Christ. (Thessalonians 5:16-18)
I would prefer not to know about the yellow jacket in the kitchen. 😉 I know I put my head in the sand haha
Glad the schooling is figured out for your son.
Have a great week
Thank you! I’d be okay not knowing if I didn’t already know it was there, the extra stress of the surprise factor, too much for me. Hope your week is going well so far!
I enjoyed reading your Monday post, Jean, glad to hear that you got the yellow jacket situation under control. We were fighting them left and right over the lunch table on the day of the craft festival at Missouri Town. Hope you get a good discount on your gas fill-up tomorrow! 🙂 Your chances for rain tomorrow are much better than ours. According to the Missouri drought reporting page our county is the driest in the state. Supposed to be 36 degrees one night here. I’ve got to get my stove cleaned and make sure the ignitor works. Hopefully, will get that done today. I understand the wanting to “get back to me” before life happened thing. After losing John, I seriously doubt that that will ever happen for me, but I do hope to find a new normal and a new me that I can comfortably live with. It’s hard. Glad you’ve found a solution to the school issue and your purple aster picture is lovely! Have a great week ahead, my friend! Go, Chiefs!!!
The yellow jackets seem to be worse this year, at least the ones around our yard aren’t so aggressive but we have some at my work that ugh, they’ll chase you. The teachers made up some peppermint water spray that seems to help though. Got a decent discount on my gas but with that game, I felt like I earned it, LOL! We ended up with a couple of mornings of rain (more this morning),hoping some finds you soon as well. I can’t imagine what it’s like to lose a spouse, I’m sure things will take time for you to find balance as you grieve, please be gentle with yourself. Hope your week is going well so far!
I’ll be cheering on the Chiefs tonight. I picked them in the little football pool thing hubby and I have going with each other. My Vikings won, and better yet . . . the Packers lost. LOL I think I’m happier about that!
Well, that was quite a game, think I’ve just now recovered. It was ugly but an ugly win is still a win. Do hope they play better on Sunday. Glad your Vikings won. Hope you are having a great week so far!
So glad you enjoyed Halloweentown!!! Isn’t it the best?!?! And, guess what?!?! There is Halloweentown 2 and 3!!! The third one is really good! Wish I could stop over for dinner. The pepper steak sounds delicious! Have a cozy evening, my friend!!
I did love it and noticed the other movies, maybe another one this weekend. You’d be more than welcome to stop over for dinner anytime. Hope your week is going well so far!
Hello my Lovely! Still enjoying all the gardening pics. And I’m so glad to hear that prayers have been answered with finally sorting J’s schooling out. I’m so sorry that’s been such a headache for you all!! I sure hope your back is feeling better. I’ve been going to the chiropractor and it’s been a game changer.
Love the kitchen cross stitch. So cozy! I hope you have a blessed week ahead dear One. xoxo
Thank you! I am hoping and praying this works out for us. Glad the chiropractor is working out for you. Pretty sure I just slept wrong but who knows. My late mother-in-law made the cross stitch for me years ago, cross stitch was her thing. Hope your Wednesday is off to a wonderful start!
I just sounds like I need to send you a BIG hug 😀 So glad you figured out J’s school and glad you’re finally getting some fall weather. Hope the rest of your week is great!
Late replying to comments, nothing new here. Thank you, I could use the BIG hug. We are getting some kind of weather, not sure what…fall, winter, and maybe back to summer this weekend? Yikes. Hope you had a wonderful weekend!
Schools have absolutely gone crazy over the past few decades. This is why parents have to take our kids education back into our hands not theres. So glad you found a solution.
Thank you.