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Nashville Day 2

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I decided the best way to do these posts was in keeping with the mainly photos theme. Saturday was a bit of a slower day for us as we had plans to attend the Grand Ole Opry that evening.

After a quick breakfast at the hotel supplemented with our Trader Joe’s fruit, we started out. Our first stop ended up being one of my favorites (and it was free!).

The Dukes of Hazzard Museum

I spent a good part of the 70’s watching this show. I know there was some controversy at some point recently over the Confederate images but as a girl watching the show, I wasn’t worried about the images. Spent more time fighting with friends over who my imaginary boyfriend was going to be, Bo or Luke Duke. After all, they were just good ol’ boys, never meaning no harm…

And seriously, we all wanted to be Daisy Duke, did we not?

I really wish, I’d have went ahead and coughed up the $10 to have my picture taken in the General Lee. Maybe next time. Moving on…

Our primary day stop…

Gaylord Opryland Hotel and Convention Center

It was beautiful but super busy to the point I was very glad we weren’t staying there.

These images are all from inside the hotel! There was actually an app for people staying there to download so they could find their way around the hotel. And you could take a little boat ride around the indoor river river. We decided to pass on that idea. I had a photo of the boat but unfortunately, it came out too blurry to share here.

After walking around inside the hotel, we walked back across the street to the local mall where we’d parked the car (for free!). Opted to eat inside the mall. Not our best decision. We were rather unimpressed with the Johnny Rockets in there.

However, it was nice to see a shopping mall that was thriving. We walked around there a bit, I bought some cupcakes from a place called Molly’s Cupcakes that was famous for being on cupcake wars (turned out to be a chain/franchise with the original location in Chicago, I think). The cupcakes were good but not earth shattering, I’d not go out of my way to get them again.

After relaxing back at our hotel for a bit, we made our way back to the same area for the big event of our trip.

The Grand Ole Opry

Not a lot of photos to share here as I opted to enjoy the experience more than take photos. We got there a bit early and had a look around the gift shop and then had drinks outside while waiting to go inside. Our seats were up kind of high but not terribly high, it was interesting to watch the sighs and looks of disbelief of some people who were up higher than we were. Each show lasts about two hours and features several different singers/bands.

We planned our trip to be there when Carrie Underwood performed and why we went a week ahead of our actual 25th wedding anniversary. She was the last one on stage and sang 3 songs, there were several other performers there as well. I bought an limited edition poster after  the show. My plan is to get it framed sometime soon.

It was a fun time and I’m glad we went. I’m still a bit on the fence about whether I’d rather just see a full concert from one singer or this type of format. Fun seeing so many people at the same time and yet, I wanted to hear more than just 2 or 3 songs from quite a few of the performers.

Which would you prefer?

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I’ll share about our last full day in Nashville soon.

 

 

 

Happy Homemaker Monday

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It’s a new week and ours is off to a sleepy, rainy start but no complaints here.

J was supposed to take his driver’s test today but opted to sleep so we’ll go either tomorrow or Wednesday. Probably better not to take it in the rain anyway though I have no doubt he could’ve passed it. Gave me a chance to get my grocery shopping out of the way at my normal time.

For now, taking a minute to plan my week with Sandra’s Happy Homemaker Monday link up. Go check it out over at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom.

The Weather

Um, I can’t believe it but I’m actually cold. It’s currently 67 degrees with a steady downpour of rain falling. Much needed rain. Rest of the week is supposed to be no warmer than the upper 70’s. It’s as if fall is almost here.

As I Look Outside My Window

It’s a gloomy, rainy day and I’m wondering if our little resident hummingbird is also cold.

Right Now

Working on this post instead of folding the mountain of laundry waiting for me on our bed.

Thinking And Pondering

Job/career choices have been on my mind a lot lately. Mid-life career crisis? Is that a thing? I really just need to embrace this odd season, I think. On another note, ever feel like you simply can’t get things done? I feel like I keep doing just the basic chores but can’t find the time/motivation to get to a lot of the other things on my list. And finally, I did, of course like most of Americans I imagine, spend some time thinking the September 11 from 22 years ago. I could tell you exactly where I was and what I was doing at that time.

How I’m Feeling

Really, not awful. Slept okay, just need to find that motivation and I think I’d feel so much better.

On The Breakfast Plate

Coffee, vitamins, chocolate chip muffins. Then, at the store I used the end of my Starbucks gift card to get an oatmilk apple macchiato. Did not like it much. Apple macchiato is a nice candle smell that doesn’t translate to a very tasty drink. Might’ve been the oatmilk, it just had an odd flavor to it.

On The Lunch Plate

I just had a lemon meringue pie flip yogurt as I wasn’t super hungry.

On The Dinner Plate

Planning to put some meatballs and spaghetti sauce in the crock pot before I run J to his band class that’s at a college about 30 minutes away.

What I’m Wearing Today

Washington D.C. tee-shirt, jeans, and my leopard print slip on shoes.

On My Reading Pile

Tried to get away from all the serious non-fiction by reading Paris:The Memoir by Paris Hilton, turned out to be a bit more serious than I expected. While I’m not ever going to be a huge fan, I did find myself with a bit more respect for her after reading it. She endured some pretty significant abuse at one of those teen wilderness schools that were somewhat popular in the 90’s (I can remember seeing a few Dr. Phil episodes about them being a great thing).

Thankfully, I found a fiction author I liked on the Kindle Unlimited app and have been working my way through her books. I really enjoyed The Secret of the Villa Alba and The Lost Notebook by Louise Douglas. I’ve just started in on The House by the Sea.

On My TV This Week

Do I want to talk about the football game last week? I do not. Not even sure what I’ll have time to watch this week. Probably whatever streaming service shows fit my mood. Today’s rainy weather has me in a zombie mood so I plan to check out The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon later.

On My Menu

Menu planning has become interesting because until J gets his license, we are on the road at dinner/cooking times every day due to his schedule.

MONDAY: spaghetti, meatballs, garlic toast

TUESDAY: chicken strips, oven baked potato chips

WEDNESDAY: roast in the crock pot *MNO for me!*

THURSDAY: sausage/green beans/new potatoes (maybe in crock pot?)

FRIDAY: Husband’s choice *I work 7-3:30*

Looking Around The House

Let’s not do that today.

 

On My To-Do List

Please don’t judge if I say everything from last week plus:

  1. Take J to take his driver’s test
  2. Post office for stamps (I also need to write some letters)
  3. Laundry (in progress at least)
  4. Another blog post about our Nashville trip
  5. I don’t even know but I’m sure there’s something I’m forgetting

From The Camera

Aren’t surprise flowers the best? Didn’t expect this clematis (a garden center rescue) to bloom again this year! 

Dragonfly I spotted while I was out watering one day last week.

Happy bumblebee on my bargain zinnias. (Unpopular opinion: I’ve bought them plenty of times in the fall but I’m just not a huge fan of mums. Did you know zinnias will also bloom until the first frost? I was really excited to see these and may have bought a few more than I really needed).

Quote For The Week

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (John 14:27)

 

Nashville Trip Day 1

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Since it’s wordless Wednesday (also, red Wednesday here in KC, go Chiefs!), I’m going to just show mainly photos of our first day in Nashville.

Centennial Park

The Parthenon (located within the park)

Inside, the statue of Athena:

Marathon Motor Works

(Note: this was building also contained several shops including Antique Archeology, made famous from the show American Pickers)

Downtown Nashville Pedestrian Bridge

View of football stadium though not once did I see anyone in Titans attire. Unheard of in these parts, dare you to come to KC and try to go an hour without spotting someone wearing Chiefs attire, especially during football season. That said, I think hockey must be the thing there as I spotted lots of Predators hats and shirts to the point I had to look it up (no pro hockey here).

Country Music Hall of Fame

Other places we went not pictured

I should first mention that the inside of the Parthenon ($10 to get inside) also contained a really interesting little art gallery.

We did go inside and look around Antique Archeology which was to me just an antique store but probably worth a look if you like that sort of thing.

While downtown, we ate lunch at Jack’s Bar-B-Que. Husband loved it, I did not and found their KC sauce insulting. For the record, we had different things and he liked the spicy sauce they offered. We also visited the Johnny Cash museum which was neat but oh so crowded when visited. I think we might have been a bit too old for the whole Broadway strip thing with the bars and country music blasting out of them. However, I’m glad we were able to see it.

For dinner, we went to the Rock’n Dough Pizza and Brewery where I was a fan of the angry Hawaiian pizza and my ale. Husband thought it was okay. After dinner, we went to, wait for it, a Trader Joe’s (for a few snacks and fruit, the hotel breakfast was honestly, a bit subpar). And then, a local Target, can’t even remember why. Probably for something we forgot to pack.

That’s it for day 1. Day 2 coming soon…

 

 

Happy Homemaker Tuesday, Happy September

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Yesterday was a holiday so I chose to spend it away from the computer and around my family. We had a nice long weekend. 

Saturday morning I ran to a couple farmer markets. Early in the afternoon, J and I walked to a local festival (it’s only a little over a mile from our home) to get some kettle corn and other goodies. On Sunday, we made my husband drive us back for funnel cakes and then, we watched a band called Styx Illusion on one of the stages for a few songs. Yesterday was just a nice slow day without much happening. My husband cooked a brisket on the smoker while I read my book and watched tv. Basically, I just had a lazy day though I did do a tiny bit of outside stuff.

Well, shall we get on with planning this four day week? Joining in as usual with Sandra over at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom.

The Weather

Near the end of last week and especially yesterday it was HOT but not over 100 degrees hot. A small rain “sprinkle” not sure you’d call it a shower came through this morning. Cooled things down a bit. Right now it’s 85 degrees and partly cloudy. Still shows were supposed to be in the upper 90’s later today and tomorrow, mid to high 80’s for the rest of the week.

As I Look Outside My Window

I see lots of yard work and flower tending I’ve been avoiding.

Right Now

Trying to see how far I get on this post before I need to run and pick J up from his class.

Thinking And Pondering

Just thinking about the stuff I want to get done around here this week. I ended up getting called into work twice last week and am hoping for a full 4 days at home (between running around for J).

How I Am Feeling

Not too bad, slept decent.

On The Breakfast Plate

Coffee, cinnamon sugar bagel, and vitamins

On The Lunch Plate

Not entirely sure, maybe just a sandwich *UPDATE-I made a frittata*

On The Dinner Plate

Chicken and noodles, mashed potatoes

What I’m Wearing Today

Striped shirt with teal flowers, navy blue shorts, socks, and tennis shoes

On My Reading Pile

Currently between books, a trip to the library is on my list for today. Finished reading Raising Lazarus: Hope, Justice, and the Future of America’s Overdose Crisis by Beth Macy. It was a bit depressing but gave good insights. Then, needing something light I chose Penelope in Retrograde by Brooke Adams for my Prime First reading choice. Read it in a day, really enjoyed it!

On My TV This Week

Well, Thursday, quite a few of us will be saying: How ‘Bout Them Chiefs!!?? Otherwise, last week G got me to watch Abbott Elementary which I loved and pretty much binge-watched the entire series, so funny! And I watched yet another documentary on the opioid crisis called Crime of the Century over on HBO Max, I joked that I was finally ready to write my research paper but really there are no words for the disgust I had at all the ways those with money and influence bent rules for these drugs (and are probably still doing it). While waiting for the Chiefs, I might watch a Dr. Who episode or two this week.

On The Menu

strawberry summer cake

Everyone everywhere is screaming fall. Meanwhile, our weather still says summer. Plus, still lots of back and forth driving for J’s schedule.

MONDAY: brisket, watermelon, brownies

TUESDAY: chicken and noodles

WEDNESDAY: leaning toward ham steak, sweet potatoes

THURSDAY: taco soup (requested) *Go Chiefs!*

FRIDAY: No idea, leftovers? J has a driving lesson at noon.

Looking Around The House

Ever feel like you just can’t get caught up on things?

On My To Do List

  1. Grocery store *Done, almost, forgot a few things*
  2. Target at some point
  3. Library
  4. Laundry
  5. Outside stuff
  6. Clean the house/get it ready for fall/winter

From The Camera

J’s college classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays are close to a local nature center so I’ve been walking the paved trail there after dropping him off. Most of the photos in the post are from those walks. 

Quote For The Week

Give the ones you love wings to fly, roots to come back and reasons to stay. (Dalai Lama)

 

Sharing Four Somethings: August Edition

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I’ll get back to posting my trip report tomorrow. Today, I wanted to take a minute and join in the Share Four Somethings link up hosted by Jennifer over at Overflowing With Thankfulness.

I like how it keeps me somewhat mindful and paying attention during each month. My four somethings for August are listed below.

LOVED

Taking an anniversary trip with my husband to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary.

J starting college courses (He’s loving it so far).

Going out with friends. We went to a local brewery where they do a karaoke night two times in August.

And going to see the Barbie movie with other friends.

A  brand new preschool student telling me his favorite color was teal. (I just happened to have on teal capri pants that matched his socks). And then later, looking at me and going, “I like you” Things like that are what I love about my job.

Watching our hummingbirds and those at a local nature center.

LEARNED

How to use an ant moat on a hummingbird feeder, what it actually was and that our hummingbird feeder had one. It somewhat helped with keeping the ants out of it.

I’m a bit more of a fair weather gardener than I care to admit. Pretty lettuce flowers pictured below:

More about the opioid crisis than I really needed to know, still learning. (This relates to my reading choices not anything happening personally in my life)

READ

 

Dopesick and now I’m reading Raizing Lazarus by Beth Macy. All because I watched a documentary on Netflix and then someone told me it didn’t get great reviews. So, I looked it up and found there was another one on Hulu and then, watched it. Decided to read the book. Down the rabbit hole I fell.

I didn’t just read super serious (and rather depressing) non-fiction. Some fiction titles I read in  August:

The Wedding Planner by Danielle Steel

This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar

The Christie Affair by Nina de Gramont

Ate

We ate lots of good food and yet, I managed not to take a picture of any of it! How is that possible? I’m sharing the fun food items in random order as they pop into my mind.

Last year in St. Louis, my husband discovered a bakery/cafe called The Sweet Spot that offered up these fried croissant donuts that were amazing. Amazing enough that we went out of our way (just a bit) to get some on our way to Nashville. I was a bigger fan of the cannoli, so I got those.

As hot as it’s been, I should mention ice cream. With the heat, of course, we had ice cream a few times. We didn’t go out anywhere fancy. However, I did one night buy these fun Klondike cones that we all liked so much they’ve been in the freezer more than once this month. The unicorn ones were a bit interesting but the vanilla and chocolate flavors, huge hits!

An amazingly good flatbread pizza at the karaoke place.

Food we ate in Nashville: I loved the angry Hawaiian pizza at the Rock’n Dough Pizza & Brewery. We loved breakfast at the Nashville Biscuit House so much we ate there twice! I’d go back again if it were closer. And yes, I did have a hot chicken sandwich at the Germantown Pub and enjoyed it. Timing wasn’t on our side for the lines at the two famous places.

Pizza again for our anniversary from a local place. Schedules and all that though it was nice not to be attending any back to school open houses on our anniversary, we’ve done that many times.

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So that concludes my 4 things for August. Soon it’ll be time to start loving and learning in September. And maybe remembering to take a food picture now and then.

 

Nashville Trip, Getting There

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Just thought I’d share a little about our trip to Nashville the next few days. Seems like a good way to procrastinate cleaning the house get back into a routine of blogging.

We left early Thursday morning, too early for me and not early enough for my husband. Have you seen that meme floating around (can’t find it) that says there are two types of people, the ones who pack the night before and the ones who try to sneak in another load of laundry the morning of the trip? And that they marry each other. Very relatable. For the record, I’m the “another load of laundry” person. Nashville is about a solid 8 hour drive from here.

We left about 8 a.m. and made good time. Stopped at The Sweet Spot in St. Louis so my husband could get some fried croissants and I could get a couple cannoli. We enjoyed our treats for the next couple of days as well. It threw us off our planned route but was well worth it.

We then, stopped for lunch at a Dairy Queen somewhere east of St. Louis in Illinois though I think we’d passed by east St. Louis by then. It wasn’t a very scenic drive through that area of Illinois. A random bathroom break brought us to our fun stop in Metropolis, IL. Shared a few pictures last Monday so maybe just one today.

Last Stop Before Our Destination

We actually spent a bit more time there than intended. Mostly because I was wearing a Chiefs shirt and you know, KC fans are everywhere. We ran into a woman (not literally) who used to live in the KC area and she was a talker though her stories were quite interesting. She told us how her supervisor had run her over (he was drunk) causing back injuries when she was doing road work on a local state highway back in the early 90’s. And that she’d helped in getting the law about the fines for hitting construction workers made. She was there when former President Clinton signed it into law.

I wish I’d have thought to ask her for her name. I could find nothing regarding what she said during a few google searches on the way home but I don’t disbelieve her stories either.

Nashville Arrival

I wish I could tell you we hit the ground running and did lots of fun exciting things when we arrived. We did not. Even the photo above is from the following day. We checked into our hotel which was a nice Marriott in a business district–we’re not hip downtown staying kind of people. Plus, honestly, we were too cheap to pay the downtown hotel parking rates. We checked into our hotel later in the afternoon and then, went to eat at…wait for it…Arby’s. Yes, that’s how exciting we are over here.

For the record, I don’t like Arby’s and it apparently doesn’t matter if it’s in a different state. Still don’t like it. Of course, I should have got the chicken but tried roast beef as I knew we’d likely be having hot chicken in Nashville and didn’t want to ruin my appetite for it.

Don’t worry, we did do more exciting things than go to Arby’s on our trip. I’ll share about our first full day in my next post.

 

 

 

Happy Homemaker Monday, Motivated

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Well, I was motivated until I realized my to-do list kept going and going scroll style. Ha!

My own fault as I was quite lazy over the weekend and did basically nothing. Seems odd to say I needed the rest as we’d just returned from vacation last week. However, that phrase about needing a vacation after your vacation exists for a reason. Now, it’s a new week and I’m ready to start doing the things on my list.

Glad that Sandra is still doing this wonderful link up on Mondays as it keeps me motivated. Go check out her blog and the link up at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom.

The Weather

It’s so nice out! I’m kind of mad at myself for sitting around indoors all weekend. Thankfully, the nice weather and break from all the heat continues for us this week. Highs in only the low 80’s all week long. We could use some rain but none in the forecast, going to have to remember to water. I find it harder to remember that when the air isn’t boiling hot.

As I Look Outside My Window

A lovely view of all the things I’ve neglected with the heat. The poor bird feeders (with the exception of my little hummingbirds) are all empty–on my list to get more birdseed this week. Some plants are trying to recover but there are more than a few I need to let go.

Right Now

I just finished renewing my license plates (on-line, hooray!) and am still marveling at how ridiculously easy it was this time around. Hopefully, the local office mails my stickers soon (My plates expire in 3 days!).

Thinking and Pondering

I actually bought this bread at a local farmers market

Grocery store prices. How on Earth are people making it? Feeling blessed we are fortunate enough to afford things. While it was annoying at times (many times), I’m glad to have grown up with parents who lived during the Great Depression and knew how to save/make use of things. I’m not going to start saving every piece of foil though my husband does re-use one for his lunches during the week. However, I plan to do a better job with using what we purchase. Threw out a fair amount of produce this morning that had gone bad. I know it happens but I also know I can do better.

How I Am Feeling This Morning

Not too bad really. Slept good.

On The Breakfast Plate

Cinnamon toast croissant, coffee, vitamins

On The Lunch Plate

Not sure. Maybe a grilled cheese?

On The Dinner Plate

A roast is in the crockpot

What I’m Wearing Today

V-neck shirt with a blue, gold, and black swirl design, black shorts, socks and tennis shoes.

On My Reading Pile

I need some new light reading books! A trip to the library is in order for this week. Almost finished with Dopesick by Beth Macy. Might look into her new book.

On The TV This Week

So I discovered the show How to Get Away with Murder on Netflix. SIGH. I’m hooked though I do call it Grey’s Anatomy with lawyers and fast forward through some of the scenes that are a bit much for me. Still, I did watch the first season in one weekend so…there’s that. We watched The Flash movie on Saturday night. I wanted to give it a chance despite not great reviews but it was bad, maybe it will become a cult classic but I said I felt like I was watching a parody of a movie. Oh, and I watched the movie, Dumplin’ on Netflix as well. Really cute. A bit older (2018) but I needed an easy feel good movie so it worked.

On My Menu This Week

Okay, I might need menu ideas. Until J gets his license and a car, on Monday, Wednesdays, and Fridays, we’re out of the house during dinner prep/dinner hour. And on Tuesdays and Thursdays, he has class at 6, not getting back until later. G’s schedule is not much better. And of course, my husband is home at normal dinner hour times. So I need dinners that are somewhat easy to make and easy to reheat/grab for all this different schedules.

(This week I’m trying to eat a bit out of what’s already in our freezer)

MONDAY: Roast in the crock pot

TUESDAY: OUT maybe? It’s our actual 25th wedding anniversary. I’m thinking I’ll grill chicken legs for the kids during the early afternoon and then my husband and I will go out while J’s at class (G works Tuesday night)

WEDNESDAY: Spaghetti (might just throw it all in the crockpot)

THURSDAY: BBQ pork chops (pork chops are already cooked and in freezer), broccoli

FRIDAY: Hamburgers? OUT? I’m not sure

Looking Around The House

How can it be worse after a week of us being here than when we were gone? Please don’t tell me our kids our better housekeepers than we are? SIGH. I need to pick up and clean.

On My To Do List

Everything, yes, everything that I didn’t do last week. And then, let’s see…

  1. Grocery store *DONE*
  2. Library
  3. Menards for bird seed
  4. Yard chores, cut back petunias, replace some dead flowers in front, plant seeds (fall garden?)
  5. Get husband an anniversary card
  6. Blog posts about our trip
  7. Go for walk at nature park near J’s college while he’s in classes tomorrow
  8. Hobby Lobby to see about framing some photos
  9. Big fridge clean out (I do this every Labor Day weekend and I’m way too excited)
  10. Prep some easy/healthy snacks for everyone, sweet treats as well

From The Camera

Once we returned from our trip, I didn’t take one picture until this morning when I ran out and grabbed some for this post.

Quote For The Week

I saw this on Pinterest this morning and it really spoke to me.

Happy Homemaker, Uh, Wednesday

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Thought I’d take the time to put together a Happy Homemaker Monday post today. However, it is a bit late as we’re already to Wednesday. Feels like a Monday though, does that count?

We were in the car returning from our trip to Nashville, Tennessee all day Monday, and then yesterday, was a whole lot of laundry and running around town.  This morning, I’ve been trying to get caught up on all that stuff I was going to do before we left town but didn’t. Does that happen to anyone else? Plans to have everything done and the house spotless before a trip but somehow those plans never quite work out? Ha.

Still going to link this post up with Sandra over at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom.

The Weather

Full scale replica of the Parthenon in Nashville, TN

HOT. Crazy hot. It’s not supposed to feel like 100 degrees at 10 in the morning. Seems strange that it was cooler south of here. Of course, our heat wave is supposed to be moving their way. Heat warnings all around. Husband left for work before it was light out this morning. Heat is supposed to last until the weekend, then it cools down to normal.

As I Look Outside My Window

It just looks hot out there. Garden didn’t fare too well while we were gone but these tomatoes on the front porch managed. (Note: this is the only picture from home, all others are from our trip)

Right Now

Centennial Park, Nashville, TN

Working on this post while doing a load of my “hang to dry” laundry, thinking about how I forgot to text my boss back (she did text me on Monday so we were technically still on vacation…I chose to ignore until we got home, then forgot to reply).

Thinking and Pondering

A lot of gratitude this morning: the kids (okay, young adults) managing so well while we were gone. The living room was even clean when we returned and the rest of the house passable. Glad we were were able to go on our trip and get there and back safely. The blessings of having air conditioning and clean water in this heat wave. J’s excitement at starting college courses (so much running though, gotta get him his license, we’re waiting til the heat wave is over). All of G’s help with so many little things.

How I’m Feeling This Morning

Just a bit tired. And maybe this should have went under thinking/pondering but I’m still feeling a bit burned out with my job. Guess we could turn that into more gratitude of my husband convincing/wanting me to wait a year on doing a full-time option.

On The Breakfast Plate

Is it ever too hot for coffee? Not yet. Coffee, chocolate chip muffins (from a box mix, oven on early in the morning and then, no more!), some reheated sausage.

On The Lunch Plate

Not sure. Been craving a peanut butter and jelly sandwich so maybe that.

On The Dinner Plate

Nothing that requires oven/grill preparation. I did have my husband get a big bag of salad at Sam’s Club yesterday so maybe some sort of salad, maybe a blt chicken salad?

What I’m Wearing Today

STAR labs t-shirt, black shorts, leopard print shoes.

On My Reading Pile

Mostly between books though I’m still working on the Intuitive Eating book, I read a bit, and then stop, read a bit, then stop.  While on vacation, I read The Wife Before by Shanora Williams, it was okay. Don’t tell me a book has a big twist when it really doesn’t have that great of one. And yesterday, I finished up The Wedding Planner by Danielle Steel. I enjoyed it for what it was, basic chick lit type stuff. The kind of book you don’t really need to think to read. Sometimes we need that.

On My TV This Week

Yesterday, I watched the beginning of Catch Me If You Can, an older movie that I’d somehow never seen. We’d watched the end of it last week so I had to see the beginning. Also, watched a couple of Doctor Who episodes. Not sure what I’ll watch this week, lots of half-watched shows in my que. Probably going to finish Dopesick on Hulu. I’d watched the Netflix documentary on the opioid crisis called Painkiller only to find out Hulu had already made a (so far) much better one with Michael Keaton as the lead. Then, I have Jack Ryan to finish, Only Murders in the Building, and who knows what else, oh, Locke and Key. Too many.

On The Menu This Week

Not even sure I’m going to plan out a menu at this point. It’s just too hot and there’s so much running around with everyone’s new schedules. Going to have to figure things out but maybe not until next week.

MONDAY: We were on the road, ate at Steak and Shake in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. It was okay, not the best but not the worst.

TUESDAY: Rotisserie Chicken/Pulled Pork/Taco Bell. Everyone was going different directions. I actually ate a handful of pistachios and a yogurt for dinner. *J had a class at 6, G was called into work at 4, so it was a bit crazy*

WEDNESDAY: I’m leaning toward BLT chicken salads or maybe taco salads but no idea really as J has a college concert band practice at 6 about 30 minutes away.

THURSDAY: Maybe some sort of pasta?

FRIDAY: French toast? No idea…

Looking Around The House

It’s ready for a good round of decluttering. And cleaning. However, it really doesn’t look too awful, just needs attention.

On My To Do List

Trail on the grounds of Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage
  1. This post and a few trip report posts
  2. Rest of the laundry
  3. Pay bills (most are done but things wigged out while I was trying to renew my car tags online)
  4. Figure out J and G’s college schedule/mostly J’s so I can figure out my work availability
  5. Clean the house, then start a room by room declutter

    The Hermitage, home of Andrew Jackson

From The Camera

I actually took more cell phone photos on our trip than “real” camera photos this week. The camera pictures are throughout the post but here are a few from the cellphone of our stop in Metropolis, IL on our way. Fun accidental find.

Quote For The Week

Happy Homemaker Monday, Sunday Style Again

HappyHomemakerMonday 16 Comments

I work just a few hours tomorrow. It’s the first day of school at my work, way too early to start but nobody consulted me on things. Of course, it’s also way past time for the summer program to end. It ended on Thursday and somehow I ended up working a few hours of it. I try to avoid working the last days as it’s so hard to say goodbye to some of those kids. Did I go home and cry a bit? Not telling.

I thought it best to go ahead and get this post written today since tomorrow and possibly the rest of the week might be a bit busy. We’re getting ready to go out of town starting on Thursday so lots to do.

Joining in as always with Sandra over at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom.

The Weather

It’s 74, cloudy, and rainy today! Such a nice change. Bit stormy at times and I guess a chance of strong storms tonight but I don’t mind. We needed the rain. And the cooler weather though I wish I’d managed to plant a few more things yesterday. Supposedly, after the rain clears out, it’s not going to get above the low to mid 80’s all week until it shoots up into the 90’s on Saturday. Not sure I believe it’s going to stay that comfortable for that long.

As I Look Outside My Window

Cloudy skies and rain though I did see the end of the sunrise earlier before the clouds fully moved in on us.

Right Now

Working on this post, listening to the dryer, thinking I need to add some more clothes to the washer.

Thinking And Pondering

The kind comments from last week regarding my feelings with all the transitions. Feeling a bit better today. Also, realized I needed to give myself permission to fully relax. After working so many hours last month, I had slowed down on my days at home but still felt guilty about doing it. Also, realized something was making me just not want to be at home. If I’m at home, I’m outside or planning somewhere to go. So, yesterday, I gave myself permission to just do the “lazy” things I wanted to do. And it helped my mood and attitude so much. Now, I feel ready to tackle making home somewhere a bit more welcoming to myself (and to others).

How I Am Feeling This Morning

Just a little tired, can’t figure out how to reset the furry four footed alarm clock to a more reasonable hour.

On The Breakfast Plate

Stale croissant, spoonful of Nutella, and a couple pieces of bacon

On The Lunch Plate

No idea. *UPDATE: my husband ordered pizza*

On The Dinner Plate

Husband is making pulled pork (in the rain!)

What I’m Wearing Today

Kansas City Chiefs tee shirt (Football is back! Hooray!), black shorts, leopard print slip on shoes

On My Reading Pile

I read This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar in about 2 days this weekend. Wasn’t sure about it at first, it’s a heavy dose of sci-fi but ended up loving it. And I’ve started a new historical fiction one called The Christie Affair by Nina de Gramont that has lots of promise, about the 11 day disappearance of Agatha Christie.

On My TV 

In just a bit, Kansas City Chiefs preseason football game!  *update: they lost, SIGH, but it’s just preseason and they did lose on the very last play so at least it was a game.* Yesterday, I watched the best movie I’d seen in a long while. Air on Amazon Prime is definitely worth your time. Also caught up a bit on Fear The Walking Dead at some point last week. Not sure what else I’ll watch this week.

On The Menu

Zucchini bars though they were more cake like than I prefer

This is going to be an interesting week because my husband and I leave Thursday for our anniversary trip so the boys will be on their own for the second half of the week.

MONDAY: Pepper steak/chicken and rice *I work 8-11*

TUESDAY: Grilled chicken legs, corn on the cob, salad

WEDNESDAY: ham steaks, potatoes, fried apples, maybe cornbread

THURSDAY: G and J’s choice

FRIDAY: G and J’s choice

Looking Around The House

I’m hoping to have it somewhat clean before we leave.

On My To Do List

  1. Work
  2. Grocery Store
  3. Finish Laundry
  4. Pay bills so we don’t have to come back to the task
  5. Few outdoor chores if it’s not too soggy, we’ve had LOTS of rain today but it’s been nice

From The Camera

First a few from last Friday, J and I went to Worlds of Fun, a local amusement park so I could ride the Zambezi Zinger, a discontinued roller coaster that they’d rebuilt and reimagined. It was not the same, no pictures. And then, he got me to go on one called The Mamba. Terrifying for someone scared of heights but fun. When I can see the downtown skyline from the top, um, no thanks but it was too late. Still, fun. Just scary.  Also, I pretty much lived at this amusement park in my early teenage years and then, worked there in my later teenage years so it was fun to share the nostalgia of it all with my youngest son. Happened to be the parks 50th anniversary this year so they had a fun display of things. Oh, how many times I did ride the roller coaster pictured below:

Amusement park photos were phone pics. Here are a few camera pics.

On My Prayer List

Friends, family, strangers. The people of Maui impacted by the fire. Safe travels for myself and my husband and the boys (ok, so they are young adults) to be okay while we’re gone. Peace and kindness in the world.

Quote For The Week

There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind. (C.S. Lewis)

 

 

A Quick Walk

Just Photos 2 Comments

Probably should have posted this yesterday. Tuesday I found myself by one of my favorite parks. Wrong shoes. Wrong time of day. No camera besides the phone. However, I went for a very quick walk anyway. Pretty short walk because I also had no water and it was a bit hot.

Thought I’d share the few phone photos I took before I leave for work.

Happy Thursday!

 

 

 

 

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