Ha! That seems like a funny thing to say after we’ve just had a week of heat advisory weather. However, the “official” summer solstice is tomorrow! Summer is my favorite. 
Time to look ahead at planning this new week and “new” season. Joining in as always with Sandra over at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom.
The Weather
It’s been hot just like I like it. Right now it’s 85 and sunny outside. I’ll have to get out there and enjoy it when I’ve finished this post. The rest of the week is supposed to stay warm though we’re done with heat advisory weather for a while. Not too many chances of rain which I wouldn’t mind a little rain but I’ll take the warm, sunny summer days.
As I Look Outside My Window
I see flowers blooming, the birds at the bird feeders (mainly just the resident house finches and chickadees), and a few summer insects.
Right Now
Putting aside lots of things I should be doing to work on this post.
Thinking And Pondering
I had a bit of an epiphany this weekend that I didn’t need to be good at things to enjoy it. That something could still be a hobby even if you weren’t good at it. So, I guess gardening is a hobby of mine. I do enjoy it but I’m not very good at it. I can grow some flowers but I also for what it’s worth managed to kill an Aloe Vera plant. Who does that? And let’s just say our vegetable harvest is never great but I keep trying.
Homemaking Tips
Keep your calculator handy in the grocery store. Sometimes the big multipacks work out to be cheaper than the individual items even if those items are on sale. Also, it’s not a bargain to buy the store brand if your family doesn’t like and therefore won’t eat the store brand.
How I Am Feeling This Morning (Afternoon at this point) 
I feel like I am starting to climb out of the funk I was in most of last week. After working on Friday afternoon, we had a fairly nice weekend. I spent a decent amount of time actually deep cleaning the house a bit Saturday morning and we went out to eat for Father’s Day that night (husband wanted to beat the crowds). Yesterday, we had a quiet Father’s Day celebration where my husband and I went to see Top Gun (predictable but very good), the boys gave him his gift (some video game they downloaded for him), and I spent a large amount of the day working in the garden and with my flowers.
On The Breakfast Plate
I ran to the store this morning so a late breakfast of a brown sugar cinnamon bagel, strawberries and whipped cream plus coffee (grocery store treat coffee: Starbucks Iced Caramel Macchiato).
On My Reading Pile
Bonus tip: Don’t read creepy suspense thrillers before bed! Currently reading The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James. Last week I read three very different books. Sunny Days at the Hummingbird Hotel by Daisy James. I’m already looking forwarding and awaiting the next in the series (end of July release date). Then, I read Beyond the Moonlit Sea by Julianne MacLean and enjoyed it. Finally, I read a memoir that I still am not sure how I’d rate it. I actually thought Group: How One Therapist and a Circle of Strangers Saved My Life by Christie Tate was a fiction read until I realized the main character and the author had the same name. Truth is stranger than fiction?
I almost forgot, it came up as a skip the line loan so I also read The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett. Interesting and well-written though I found the ending a little unsatisfying.
On My TV
Master chef, the conclusion of The Time Traveler’s Wife, not sure what else.
On My Menu
Heat advisory weather is over, menu planning struggles not so much.
MONDAY: leftover brisket, probably just made into sandwiches. *J has a baritone lesson at 6:30*
TUESDAY: chicken and spinach skillet *I have a hair appt at 9* *J has an appt at 3*
WEDNESDAY: spaghetti? *I have work training 1-2:45*
THURSDAY: Sausage and French Toast (already cooked in freezer) *I work 10:30-1:30*
FRIDAY: Hamburgers/hot dogs on grill *I work 8:00-1:30 or maybe 4:45, unsure as summer schedules change a lot*
From The Camera
Looking Around The House
Did I say I deep cleaned on Saturday morning? SIGH. Needs picked up a bit.
On My To Do List
No idea. 
- Finally got around to repotting the lemon tree and trying to rid it of the scale infestation. We’ll see what happens.
- Grocery store *DONE*
- Target (maybe)
- Do laundry (mainly lots of folding)
- A few tasks that have been on my to do list but not ever done (cat vet appt, letter writing, a bit of decluttering)
On My Prayer List
Friends, family, strangers. Friends who have a son sick with COVID, that he makes a speedy recovery and they don’t get it (so far, he’s been okay with it). Those who struggled with Father’s Day yesterday. For things to cycle back to a kinder, healthier, gentler dare I say more affordable world.
Quote For The Week
The Earth laughs in flowers. (Ralph Waldo Emerson)
Am so glad that it’s finally cooled down to the low- to mid-90’s with a heat index only in the double digits. I know that sounds like sarcasm, but it’s not. I truly am thankful to have a break and be out from under the heat advisories. Your flower pictures are lovely! I got out in the garden this morning and started trying to recover something after all the wet, then extreme heat. Am thinking about replanting and am looking at seed now. I know that your favorite season is upon us and that you are reveling in it; I, on the other hand, am enjoying it as stepping stone on the way to fall. LOL! I hope your day is going well. Enjoy the first day of summer tomorrow! 🙂
Guess I spoke too soon about the weather, heat advisory back on for tomorrow. Just need a swimming pool (or time to actually go to one). Our garden seems to be hanging in there so far, keep reminding myself that spring was really about 2 weeks late before the extreme heat. Though I am keeping an eye on the fall planting dates as well. Fall will be here soon. Hope your week is off to a great start!
Love all the flower pictures. Enjoy your week
Thank you! Happy First Day of Summer!
Hello my Lovely!
It feels like covid is everywhere around here lately. Ugh! Stay well! 🤗
I love all of your flowers and couldn’t agree more – that you don’t have to excel at something to enjoy it. It’s all about what it does for your mind, heart and soul. ♥️
I wrote down the sunny days at the hummingbird hotel book – just the title alone has got me! Lol
Sounds like it was a lovely Father’s Day overall. I hope the rest of the week is very blessed. xo
It seems like it’s cycling in small batches around here. I know we’re all ready for it to just go away already though we did just get our free at home tests in the mail today. Better to have them and not need them I suppose. That book is a series but a good one set on the island of Corfu in Greece. Daisy James writes fun series, most are free on Kindle Unlimited if you have that (The Cornish Confetti Agency series is another fun one, set in Cornwall. The books are as much fun to read for the settings at the story lines and the stories aren’t too intense. Great summer reads 🙂 ) Happy Summer!
I LOVE your quote! The earth must be REALLY laughing at me right now as everything is finally blooming ALL at once now that we are getting some warmer weather finally – I’ve even been able to wear sandals 2 days in a row! I REALLY like your cloud picture – so pretty! I hope you’re having a GREAT week.
It is a fun quote isn’t it. Glad your flowers are finally all blooming and that you are getting some warmer weather. Thank you, that sky was just before a storm was moving into the area one day. Hope you’re having a great week as well!
Hi Jean, such lovely photos, especially those beautiful flowers. I’ve got family visiting, staying nearby and lots to do both in the garden and the house. Take care Cx
Thank you! Hope you are enjoying your visiting family. I took a bit of a break from my blog (mostly due to a hectic work schedule) but might try to get back into it a bit this week. Have a wonderful week!