Happy Wednesday! Thought I’d just pop on here and share what I’m watching, reading, and doing this week.

Watching

Believe it or not, I’ve not had the TV on much this week. Well, actually that’s not true. I guess I should say I’ve not watched too much of anything specific or planned on the TV. The past two days I’ve left the TV on as ambient background noise. Keeping an eye or ear rather on the news. Yesterday, I watched a bit of Live with Kelly and Ryan as well as a snippet of the Wendy Williams show.

And of course, last night I watched the season premiere of Prodigal Son. So good! Wish I could get my husband to watch that one with me. After watching season 1 of the series and the premiere last night, I’m convinced The Walking Dead wasted Tom Payne’s acting ability. And Michael Sheen is so fun as a serial killer. Really, I’ve not seen a more perfectly cast drama series in a long time. Will someone please watch this show with me?

When I’m not watching TV (really I’m listening to it more than watching), I’m looking at the birds out the back door. I’ll share more about my birds on Saturday like usual. However, I’m happy to report the score so far: New Birdfeeder: 2 Squirrels: 0. Chickadees were first to embrace the new feeder, followed oddly, by the red-bellied woodpecker!

What are you watching lately? Or are you doing more reading?

Reading

I’ve not glanced at either of the books I mentioned struggling to read on Monday at all this week. However, I did download Tuscan Dreams at the Cornish Confetti Agency and started reading it at J’s lesson and a bit in the afternoons.

Mostly, I have been glancing at my magazines. I get the HGTV magazine and stumbled across an IKEA desk from the cover I want for my reading nook corner of our bedroom.

Also, not sure if it counts as reading, looking at blogs and Pinterest. Seem to have the home décor bug. Think it might be a January thing? Anyway, I’m a bit obsessed with the Scandinavian style lately and this blog in particular. Trying to figure out how to convince my husband we need to go this direction in our ever on-going bedroom remodel.

So when I’m not watching TV or pretending scrolling through Pinterest counts as reading, what am I doing?

Doing

Honestly, not that much. Trying to over-see J’s on-line schooling. That’s going about as well as I expected. Still searching for balance. And completely fed up with these teenagers and their bizarre sleep schedules. Trying to not bristle too much at my husband’s random suggestions when he’s happily off at work and I’m turning down work to be here and oversee things.

In less gripey news, I’ve been working on my little corner nook area of our bedroom. Can’t do much as the walls and floors aren’t quite complete. However, I can dream. And clear out a bit of clutter, the usual January stuff. A trip to drop off at the thrift store should happen today.

Cooking dinners with mixed results. Tonight, however, we’ll eat leftovers instead of what I planned. Choices of taco meat (from Saturday), chicken legs, sausage & vegetables, or a battle over one porkchop with turnips. Funny note: White wine vinegar is not the best substitution for white cooking wine. My cooking level of experience remains “medium.”

In homage to my word of the year, I plan to spend today simply doing one chore in each room of the house and without hurry or worry. Thankful for today’s nice weather, I’ll be attending a fire pit meeting with friends later. Though I’ll bundle up in layers as the temperature drops quickly in January (any month) once night arrives.

What things have you been doing this week?

********

Happy Homemaker Monday, Second Week of January

January 11, 2021

jehdld

HappyHomemakerMonday 12 Comments

Well, we did it. We survived the first week of January 2021. Shall we see what the second week holds? I’m hoping it’s a little bit of calm, both here and around the world.

Joining in with Sandra over at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom for this fun and encouraging weekly link-up.

The Weather

The sun is coming! The sun is coming! And warmer temperatures as well. It’s a balmy 26 degrees as I type this around 7:00a.m. but we’re supposed to hit the 50’s by Wednesday of this week. A welcome break from the cold. Even better, a break from dreary gray skies.

On The Breakfast Plate

Nothing yet but my plan is for apple cinnamon oatmeal, a blueberry English muffin, followed by vitamins. Already drinking the coffee, of course.

As I Look Outside My Window

The backyard is still in the fuzzy outlines of the dawning day. Birds (and squirrels) not quite yet awake. It’s just past peak sunrise so nothing really photo worthy though I’m happy to see that blue sky.

As I Look Around The House

I see a multitude of small messes and projects requiring my attention. Most of it appears to be mine.

What I’m Wearing Today

Black, long-sleeved tee shirt and my elephant pants plus I’ve went ahead and put on my tennis shoes. High aspirations for a productive day.

Currently Reading

Excited to pick out two books containing my word of the year. One fiction and one non-fiction. The fiction one is titled Less by Andrew Greer. And it won the Pulitzer Prize in 2018. And can I just say so far I have no idea why. In the interest of following my word of the year, it may become a “DNF” for me. (Did Not Finish). I might read “less” of Less and more of something I find enjoyable.

The non-fiction book I tried is titled The Sweet Spot: How To Accomplish More by Doing Less by Christine Carter. It also risks becoming a DNF. Seems aimed at a different time period than pandemic times. I’ll give it another chance today and see if my mind changes.

I’m mostly excited to seek out and read the new Daisy James novel, Tuscan Dreams at the Cornish Confetti Agency. It’s not exactly Pulitzer Prize material but I’ve been waiting for it to release and am more excited to read it than either of the two books currently (not) holding my attention.

On The TV For This Week

Murder!

I’m super excited they renewed this show and the new season starts on Tuesday. Prodigal Son is smart and sometimes funny, all the things you want in a show about the son of a serial killer who works as a criminal profiler now. (Also, sometimes a bit gory) I’ve already went and refreshed my memory by watching the last show of season 1 on Hulu (the whole first season is there and I highly recommend this one if you like murder mystery type shows, each episode ties up in the end with season having an on-going mystery).

Watched a little Fargo over the weekend, finally got around to finishing season 3. Ugh, what was with the ending of that season? Started season 4. Also, in lighter TV viewing, watched all the Chronicles of Narnia movies on Disney Plus (The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, Prince Caspian, and finally, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader). Might need to go re-read that series as it’s one of my all-time favorites (much to G’s aggravation, he’s not a big fan. Prefers The Lord of the Rings series. To each their own.)

On The Menu This Week

Last week I followed the entire menu plan! This week, not sure that’s going to happen, thinking I’ll be re-arranging these meals a bit based on the weather. And switching the oven meal to a grill meal.

Of course, it’s an on-line school week and I turned down my work for today so I could be here to oversee things (SIGH, wish me luck as I’ve traded love and hugs from 3-6 year old children for surly teenage angst. I’m where I need to be though I’m already missing my coworkers and the kids.) Long way to say, there’s hope for this menu plan.

MONDAY: 20 minute skillet sausage and zucchini, salad *J has a baritone lesson at 6:30*

TUESDAY: Lemon Artichoke Chicken and Rice (by request from J!)

WEDNESDAY: Flank steak in the oven, asparagus (I bought frozen in a bag), baked potatoes *maybe a MNO, warm enough weather to be outside around a fire pit*

THURSDAY: Seared pork chops with turnips, baked sweet potatoes?

FRIDAY: Homemade or Frozen Pizza or OUT

Something Fun To Share

During the opening sequence of a season 3 episode of Fargo, they played Peter and the Wolf narrated by Billy Bob Thornton. This immediately took me back to when I was a kid in the late 70’s/early 80’s. My mom had the album. Not narrated by Billy Bob Thornton, of course. So I looked it up and my mom’s album was narrated by non other than David Bowie. Had no idea.

I remember liking the music and thinking it slightly scary all at the same time. Here’s the full you-tube recording:

(Note: I think someone simply put his narration to the Disney cartoon as the original cartoon dates back to 1946 with Sterling Holloway as narrator)

Favorite Photo From The Camera

Frozen lake at the end of the street:

Quote For The Week

A friend posted these verses on her Facebook wall last week and it stuck with me.

Ephesians 4:31-32 put away all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with malice, and be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving one another as God in Christ has forgiven you.

**********

So, what kind of things does your second week of January hold?

Those Feathers, They’re Blue!

January 9, 2021

jehdld

Birdwatching 11 Comments

Before I continue my post,

Please watch this short video. I want to make sure you read, “they’re blue!” in the correct voice. It’s short and if you have less than 30 seconds, just forward to about the 17 second mark.

Something about those silly commercials! They always make me laugh. Probably because sometime long ago, I think I became somewhat the parent person the ad pokes fun toward.

Anyway, back to the birds. Specifically, the blue jays.

In anticipation of colder weather, I switched up the birdseed, thinking I’d just do it for a special treat for my “regular” customers. However, it brought out a bigger variety of birds including the lovely blue jay!

They have no problem coming right up on the deck to grab the seed. Though they are skittish enough, all photos were through the back door.

While they don’t like to pose for my photos, they aren’t bothered by the other birds or squirrels. I have a rather blurry (too blurry to share) photo of a blue jay enjoying his breakfast right next to one of my pesky squirrels.

If not for the pesky squirrels, I’d love to put a peanut out for the blue jays. I can recall being lucky enough years ago to visit an aunt in Florida and watch as she put a peanut out for her blue jay each day. I’m pretty sure it’s not something I could do in the land of squirrels. Judging by the last few days, I firmly think perhaps the phrase should be multiplying like squirrels, not rabbits!

However, I do plan to stick with this more varied seed at least through the winter months as I love seeing the blue jays come around closer. Maybe they’ll eventually pose for me if I’m outside with them.

Other Birds Spotted This Week

It’s not been a great week for sunshine or really being outside at all. On Tuesday, we walked to the pond at the end of the street and as the gate was opened, trespassed. Just a little bit to see the pond up close!

On the way through the field, I spotted a few crows in the trees as well as this one on the ground.

I always tend to forget that crows are fairly large birds until I see some on the ground.

And in other exciting news, we saw another hawk in the backyard on Thursday! The weather was awful and it’d just quit raining so I might as well of taken the photo at night. However, I edited a little so I could share.

A young Cooper’s Hawk or something else? J keeps asking me what kind of hawk we saw and I’m not sure. Want to guess from my blurry photos?

Wish the lighting had been a bit better (and I’d not been so cold!) as it did that thing where it turned it’s head all the way around to look at me.

Here’s the front of the bird.

What do you think? Hoping it comes back on a warmer day or at least on a day when it could land in range of the back door window (I had to go outside and around the side of the house for the photos above).

Along with the birds mentioned above, I saw our regular backyard visitors: cardinals, chickadees, sparrows, the two tufted titmice, two nuthatches, both the downy and red-bellied woodpeckers, sparrows (including the white-throated sparrows), and Carolina wrens. A few geese and gulls flying overhead. A robin or two in the front of the house. And some starlings. What birds did you see this week?

Most Wanted For Crimes Against My Bird Feeders

I believe this is the leader of the squirrel gang terrorizing my backyard bird feeders. I don’t mind sharing a bit of the bird seed but I’m a bit fed up with the vandalism of the feeders. The gang now numbers at around 7. One member broke my favorite finch feeder. Another dumped the contents of the other feeder all over the ground. And finally, yet another member “stole” all the suet from the suet feeder.

Searching for a new “squirrel proof” feeder is on the weekend agenda. Any suggestions?

**********

Joining in with The Bird Depot hosted by Anni over at I’d Rather B Birdin’.

On Today’s List and Other Random Bits

January 7, 2021

jehdld

Chitchat 4 Comments

Thought I’d share my to-do list for today and what I’ve been up to the past two days.

Still focusing on my 2021 word of Less, I only wrote 5 things on today’s list. Most of them already accomplished, the last 2 in progress as I take a small break to start this post. And that list of errands at the bottom? I crossed them off my list, saving them for the weekend.

Should I share my thoughts about yesterday?

I go back and forth. The desire to not comment on politics versus the internal need to say something. I heard about the storming of the capitol while I was happily visiting Narnia via Disney plus. Seemed surreal and I returned to Narnia for a bit. Personally, I think former George W. Bush gave the most eloquent statement on the disappointing display within our capitol: if you want, here’s the link to his words.

Surely, I’m not alone in missing a country where politics didn’t drive people apart from one another and incite them to violence. So much more we could focus on doing within our own states, neighborhoods, and homes than shouting at each other over the “leaders” of the moment. Also, though I’ve chosen less for my word, can we all strive to be more? Let’s be more than one issue/one party voters (something I have never understood). Show more kindness to one another. Strive for more understanding of different points of view.

My final thought is I hope our leaders who incited the violence as well as those who participated, face proper consequences.

Back to My To Do List Items

The laundry mountain is on-going, of course. And I had Christmas clothing in the wash so sweaters are drying.

I safely packed the Nativity away for next Christmas.

Sorted out all those candles.

Gave myself permission to feel less guilt and throw away some that weren’t entirely consumed. Especially if I didn’t like the scent. I threw away 3-4, seems okay. The rest I returned to the shelf, sorted seasonally. I need more January candles.

Cleared out the cup cabinet. Mainly, re-arranged it though I did add a pile of grey plastic cups we all hate to the donation bin.

Sneaked in a different type of project. Since I’ve decided to do a Rudolph day on the 25th of each month, I found an empty bin for projects. Quite by accident but hooray for the discovery of an empty storage bin in the basement! Had some Christmas stickers lurking in an upstairs cabinet and so made myself this:

It’s just a blank spiral notebook I took from the kids’ school supply stash. Even jotted a few ideas in it before stashing it in the aforementioned empty storage bin. By the way, did I ever share that I’m a left-handed blogger? So, I also decorated the back as I find it easier to turn spiral notebooks over to use them.

The Random Bits

I guess the left-handed part was kind of random, huh? Going back to yesterday, I made our traditional 3 King’s Cake. Kept things simple and used a yellow cake mix and can of vanilla frosting, just adding some colored sugar to the top of the cake. We typically use a cashew to represent baby Jesus and I kept that the same.

Can you believe my husband found the Jesus cashew (I hope saying Jesus cashew isn’t blasphemy) in the very first piece of cake? I’m glad he’ll have the prosperous year and all that but it kind of takes the fun out of searching for it.

In other news, J and I have been enjoying simple hot chocolate. The kind from a packet. It’s nice. We’re down to one packet so if he wants hot chocolate after school again today, I’ll have hot tea instead. Yes, with cake. Are you a hot chocolate fan? Favorite brand? We like Swiss Miss around here.

Not much else going on, I work a full day tomorrow, my first working day since Christmas break. I’m looking forward to going back and yet still going to miss having another lazy day at home.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I hear Prince Caspian might attend my laundry folding party.

Interesting Observation About Less

January 5, 2021

jehdld

2021 Word Of The Year 2 Comments

This pesky word of the year, already trying to teach me stuff. Five days into the year. What’s with that?

In case you missed it, I chose less as my word for 2021. You can read all about my reasons here. So what interesting observation occurred to me today? And perhaps had I realized it earlier, might I have re-thought my word?

Turns out the word less starts off the word: lesson.

SIGH. Great, guess I’m in for a year of lessons.

Learned my first one today. Whether it sticks or I need constant review remains unknown.

Today’s Lesson

Doing less, requires asking for more help.

So in this year of 2021, I get to learn how to ask for help. It’s not something natural to me. In fact, it’s an area where I’ve always struggled.

Not with everything, I mean I have no problem taking the laptop at work to another teacher and asking what I did. (Happens quite often, that particular laptop intensely dislikes me.). However, at home or when I’m struggling emotionally, I tend to keep it to myself and try to figure it out on my own.

Out of respect for the privacy of other members of this household, I won’t share the personal story and experience of today that led to my conclusion. I’ll just say I asked for help with something and it was okay. I wasn’t deemed an immediate failure for needing it. The world didn’t end.

I actually got the requested help. And our day didn’t end up being awful (I will share early this morning it held the promise of a terrible day).

Happy Homemaker Monday, A Fresh New Year

January 4, 2021

jehdld

HappyHomemakerMonday 6 Comments

Starting my post a bit late on Monday. We’re technically still on Christmas break around here so spending the day at a leisurely pace. J goes back to school tomorrow. My husband returns to work Wednesday. I (so far) return to work on Friday. And who knows what G’s college schedule holds.

In fairness, he’s told me. I just don’t remember, something about 8 week online courses starting later. Believe it or not, he’ll have his associates degree when this semester ends. Enough future talk, let’s get back to the present.

I’m excited to continue to join in with Sandra over at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom every Monday in 2021! It’s a great supportive community of bloggers.

Moving on to look at our week with the categories: