I know I’ve been here and then gone and really out of sync the past few months. Working on getting back into it and I’m starting by ending the year where I likely started: Joining in with Sandra over at Diary of A Stay At Home Mom for a Happy Homemaker Monday post.
The Weather
Beautiful sunrise this morning before the clouds moved in, rain predicted for tonight. 
Hot N Cold. Heard the Katy Perry song recently on the radio and it pretty much describes our weather. Well, if she’d added some lyrics about too many foggy days in a row. (Note: I didn’t share the youtube of it because some of the lyrics have a bit of language in them)
Actually, it’s supposed to get winter cold this weekend and maybe snow even. We’ll see.
Things That Make Me Happy
Time spent with family and friends, being outside, watching the birds, sunshine
Book I’m Reading
The Spare Room by Andrea Bartz
What’s On My TV Today
We’ve been watching Resident Alien on Netflix, it’s a fun show.
On The Breakfast Plate
I made cinnamon toast except on a croissant and coffee
On The Lunch Plate
No idea but it’s lunchtime right now really and I’m hungry
On The Dinner Plate
Making them real food today, I guess. Pork Tenderloin, mashed potatoes, and broccoli
On The Menu
MONDAY: Pork Tenderloin, mashed potatoes, and broccoli
TUESDAY: Happy New Year! We’ve all got plans, I’m making bacon wrapped little smokies to take with us
WEDNESDAY: Black-eyed peas, ham, cornbread, salad
THURSDAY:
FRIDAY:
On My To Do List
- Go back to the grocery store and buy the bacon I forgot to get, SIGH
- Make black-eyed peas to give as NYE gifts
- Pay our property taxes
- I think I have work training I need to do (’cause no minute like the last minute!)
- Clean the house
- Go to Target for a few basic things
- Make list of 25 for 2025, decide on word for year, blogging!
New Recipe I Tried or Want to Try
Not sure…
What I Am Creating
Just working on taking down Christmas and trying to put it away in an organized fashion
Photo
(He’s made from painted acorn caps!)
Quote For The Week
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Hello! Isn’t cooking real meals so weird this week? Last night, I went all out with Kraft macaroni and cheese and chicken tenders, and I felt like a champion! Happy New Year, my friend.
Looking forward to spending it here with you.
Chicken tenders and Kraft mac & cheese sounds like my kind of dinner! I was busy with my procrastinated work training so husband ended up cooking dinner, my plans were downsized to pork loin and garlic bread. That was okay though! Happy New Year!
l love how you said you were making them “real food”. Isnt that the thing for the between Christmas and New Year’s? I know for me that I would just let them scrounge, but I feel accomplished when I make a real dinner. To be honest. tonight was boxed mac and cheese and Aldi Red bag chicken. I love the nutcracker. That is a really good idea. I am caught in between wanting to take Christmas down, but enjoying the coziness of my living room.
I hope 2025 is a good year for you and yours!
Well, I had one of my young adult children request carrots from the store and mention we hadn’t eaten any vegetables so I thought it must be time to get back to it. Ha! I usually take about half my stuff down and then wait until the 6th of January for the rest. (It’s mainly a space issue with taking down the tree in the living room here). Miss your blog posts but I’ve barely kept up around here so I know what trying to find that balance is like or maybe not like as I’ve yet to find it. Happy New Year! Hope it’s an amazing 2025 for you full of great things!
I LOVE that sky picture – sooooo pretty!
We live on the edge of town and back up to a highway. Hubby started feeding the birds and I think they told ALL their friends. This morning we had 6-7 quail, a couple blue jays, a couple woodpeckers (they like one of the feeders A LOT), a HUGE bunch of red wing black birds, a couple dozen sparrows, some doves, a few pigeon, a couple hummingbirds…
I’m making a new cider pork stew for dinner tomorrow and black eyed pea chili on new year’s day.
That tin soldier is adorable! Have a GREAT new years!
Thank you! I’m never sure any more how much the phone camera helps photos along but the sky was super pretty when I took the photo. Wow, you have a great variety of birds! We’ve had just sparrows for quite a while but today I noticed a few more like a chickadee and my cardinals. Your dinners sound fabolous. Happy New Year!
I love you and your blog, Thank you for writing so wonderfully. I enjoy your photos so much, like the funny little figures made from painted acorns. How cute! I wish you all the best for the new year, and may you share many more lovely photos.
Lots of love from me,
Aritha.
Thank you so much! Your words are so uplifting and encouraging. Hope you have a very Happy New Year full of love and blessings!
Hello Dear Jean!
Happy New Year’s Eve to you!! It made me laugh when you said making them real food. Lol I think part of the joy of this time between Christmas and New Year’s is getting to slack in that dept and heat up lots of leftovers. 😉
We’re going out for a nice dinner with our friends the C’s tonight. But making yummy snacks for tomorrow – Ghiradelli brownies and fun ranch & dill pretzels. I plan to be a big slug for one more day and soak it all up! Then get more intentional on the 2nd.
I LOVE that soldier made of acorn caps! How cool is that!! ❤️💚
I’m wishing you a very joyous and blessed 2025 filled with abundant blessings. xoxo
Sounds like you have fun plans for ringing in and celebrating the new year! We had some friends fall ill so our group is down to 4 but I’m still making some bacon wrapped smokies and tomorrow I guess I’ll be googling what else to do with little smokies (I planned for a lot more than 4)…or throwing them in the freezer! Happy New Year! Hope your 2025 is amazing and full of love!