Can’t think of a better way to start 2024 on my blog than with a Happy Homemaker Monday post! And since I’ve not taken a single photo yet, I’m sprinkling in 12 photos from last year (one from each month, an idea I saw over on Daniela’s blog, Danahandmade). Also, I want to congratulate any of you who managed to blog for 365 days! Amazing.
Okay, now onto my weekly planning post. Grateful that Sandra over at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom decided to continue this wonderful link up in 2024. (Did I wish everyone a happy new year yet? Happy New Year!)
The Weather
It’s pretty dreary out and chilly this morning. Temps in the high 20’s, feels like the low 20’s. Sun is supposed to come out later this afternoon with a very slight warm up. Hoping to get a short walk in when that happens. The rest of the week is normal for around here: highs in the upper 30’s/low 40’s. Chance of rain (maybe snow? Who knows) over the weekend.
Right Now I Am
Downstairs working on this post, wondering why it’s a bit chilly in our usually very warm basement.
Thinking And Pondering
Still trying to decide on a word for this year. Usually a word has come to me by now but I’m still sorting through things: heart, happiness, that came up something 3 times on an auto-word generator as did explore (which I do like), joy, trust. So many words! Maybe I’ll do a separate post and get your input to help me choose.
How I Am Feeling
TIRED. We went out last night, traditional New Year’s plans, played games with friends until midnight. Couldn’t sleep, my alarm went off unexpectedly at 6:00AM but it worked out as J also had plans an overnight party and decided to come home at 6:15AM but we had the door bolted. Oops. Glad I was up to let him in the house.
On The Breakfast Plate
Photo has nothing to do with breakfast, huh? My first breakfast of 2024: coffee (of course!), vitamins (nothing new), donuts, and bacon. Donuts are supposed to be a lucky thing to eat on New Year’s Day so of course, I had to do that.
On The Lunch Plate
Absolutely no idea.
On The Dinner Plate
Traditional New Year’s Dinner: spicy black-eyed peas, cornbread, salad (ham steaks for the picky ones who won’t touch the black-eyed peas)
On The Menu
I’m not completely finished menu planning and also toying with the idea of assigning everyone here a day to plan for 2024. Also, planning to do a bit of a pantry/freezer/fridge clear out in the next few weeks so…
MONDAY: black-eyed peas, cornbread, salad, ham
TUESDAY: copycat Chik-Fil-A sandwiches
WEDNESDAY: Pepper steak maybe?
THURSDAY: not sure
FRIDAY: not sure
What I Am Wearing
Like my turtle friend, I’m moving slow this morning. Still in my “pajamas” of an Eskimo Joe’s t-shirt, sun and moon pj pants, and slip on leopard print shoes.
On My Reading Pile
Working my way through Tom Lake by Ann Patchett. Not very far into yet. Garden catalogs, is it too soon?
On My TV This Week
The Chiefs ended the year (and started the tv viewing week) on a good note winning the AFC West championship for the 8th year in a row (!) so I watched/listened to that. We’ll probably watch some more football at some point this week. Not really sure what else. TV Viewing Last Week: Based on a True Story, The Doctor Who Special, Oppenheimer, Mommy Dead and Dearest (documentary about Gypsy Rose), and re-watched the Barbie movie. Maybe more reading this week?
Looking Around The House
Living room and bathrooms are clean. The rest? Yeah, needs a little (a lot) of work.
On My To Do List
If you’re keeping count this is the 13th category here. I did go for a walk on December 29 so I’ll share those pictures for the rest of this post. 
- Decide on a word for the year
- Lots of blog posts rattling around in my brain to get “on paper”…er, the computer
- Finish putting away Christmas and washing putting away Christmas sweaters
- Usuals: laundry, bills, cleaning
- Start slowly cleaning/clearing our clutter
From The Camera
Few more from my walk last Friday. We’d had quite a bit of rain over Christmas so this was the path in places: 
Squirrel!!
Quote For The Week
I haven’t picked a word for 2024 yet. I’m thinking about using “persistence” as my word. Have a safe, healthy happy and blessed New Year!
Colletta
Oh, that’s a good word. Hope your 2024 is off to a wonderful start!
Well, I have been praying that everyone in our church stays well, and have no accidents, why! Well, besides the usual deep concern for great friends and church folk, but., Don’t hate me here. I am the new bereavement chairman .. we prepare special meals for our dear church members who have passed or have close family, who have and our church has hosts the funeral, I and my committee prepare the lovely meal to greet them following their trek to the the cemetery. Ok,, well, someone has to do it. Anyway, I made it through the holidays with all my physical problems, ok, read my blog post if you really want to know! I’m being actually rather persnickety here, but in my hear Inreally needed a new word this year, and it is “compassion! “. So I am keeping a string of scriptures in my new daily planner on mercy and compassion . My prayer for myself is to change my heart to conform it more and more to the precious Lord who led me to this very important role in our church. I think these yearly words are so very important! I wish you very well, Jean, happy new year!
Compassion is such a wonderful word and something we all need both for ourselves and others. I think it is so kind of you to take on the task of bereavement chairman, I know those families will be in great hands under your care. Hope you are feeling a little better today.
My word for the year is peace for me. For business it is focus. I need both in my life. I am determined to bring more peace to my life this year.
Peace sounds like a wonderful word, I hope you find it. I like how you have a personal word and a business word. Hope you have a wonderful 2024 that is peacefully focused (see what I did there? LOL). Have a wonderful week!
I watched that documentary on Gypsy Rose too. I guess I’ve been under a rock all these years because I just now heard about it, it was insane! My husband woke up this morning and prepared what you had for dinner for breakfast. You can imagine my kids when they saw black eyed peas. Needless to say most of it is in the refrigerator for leftovers someday this week, haha! Wish I would have known about donuts, that is something I could get on board with haha! I’m working on my resolutions and word of the year as well- I feel like I should already have that done but alas! I look forward to following along this year!
I must’ve been under the same rock as I’d never heard of it and the town where it all happened is only about 3 hour drive from here. Black eyed peas for breakfast? Not sure I could do that one. Hope you have a wonderful first week of 2024 and a great new year!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
I LOVE the 12 photos from last year idea! I especially LOVE the turtle!
I was thinking of you during the Chiefs game – so glad they pulled it out for you. My end of year/2024 goals will post tomorrow. I tried to do a new word, but like last year picking just one was too difficult so I am choosing sentences 😀 RESILIENT PROGRESS with BALANCE, SURVIVAL, CONTENTMENT & FLEXIBILITY!
The Chick-Fil-A recipe sounds interesting. Have a wonderful week.
Happy New Year! Still feeling a bit like the turtle over here, ha! The Chiefs have spoiled us so much now that 1 loss and I was thinking about my “alternate team” Just call me a Fair Weather fan, I suppose. That said I did replace my Christmas garden flag with a Chiefs flag yesterday. Getting ready to post my word (actually found one I think is going to be THE ONE) and list in a few minutes. The Chik-Fil-A is a good recipe, basically you tenderize the chicken in pickle juice, then do the milk/egg dip in flour thing but the flour mix has a few odd things I wouldn’t normally think to add like powdered sugar and celery salt (I cheat and do Italian seasoning a lot). Here’s the official recipe if you are interested: Copycat Chik-Fil-A. Hope you have a great week as well!
My 2024 word is ‘Driven’!! I’m going to be more conscious of my time and goals.
Wow, that’s quite a word! You strike me as already very conscious of your time and goals. Hope you have a wonderful new year!
I absolutely love the idea of sharing a picture from every month! Honestly, I don’t know if I took pictures every month. I will be more intentional about it this year.
My word of the year is cultivate. I heard it and felt it at the same time, if that makes sense? I was like, ‘yep, that’s it!’. It actually works perfectly, as I’m at a stage where I’m doing a lot of cultivating this year!
Happy New Year! I’m glad Sandra is continuing as well. Now that I am back into the swing of things, it is such a great start to the week (and the year!)
That makes perfect sense, my word of the year usually comes to me like that. Cultivate is a great word, I really like it! Hope you have a wonderful new year!
Hello and Happy 2024 blessings to you dear Friend!
I usually do a word of the year too. But I decided this year I want to just make a little list of all the things I’m leaving in the past – that didn’t serve me last year. And a little list of all the things I want to bring me joy this year in ways where I will learn and grow. Kind of a true “in” with the new and “out” with the old deal 🙂
Love the 12 photos from last year. So clever! And I love your idea of everyone taking a day to figure out the menu and help for the week. Also, is that sweet maison book good? Looks up my alley. 💜
I hope and pray that 2024 brings you health, peace, growth, contentment, and such JOY dear Jean. 🌟
Thank you! Oh, what a great idea for your lists, I love it! When I suggested this everyone taking a day to my crowd, they disappeared so quick it was almost comical 😉 but I’m not giving up quite yet. The Sweet Maison Book is fun, it’s a look at how the French set up their homes. Has some good organizing and personalizing ideas in it. Definitely worth a read, one I’d like to have on my bookshelf. Hope you have a year of abundant blessings! And of course, that you are midway through a wonderful week already.
Happy New Year!
I’ve got a phrase instead of a word. … One little step per day in all spheres of life.
That’s a great phrase, I really like it! Happy New Year!