Friday was my last day working at the preschool. And so, today, it’s a new start.

As well as back to having a bit of time to do things I enjoy. One of those is these Happy Homemaker Monday posts and actually putting them together on an actual Monday!

I’m glad Sandra over at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom still does these. I really do enjoy making a small plan for the week and then, seeing what the other lovely bloggers out there plan to do with their weeks as well.

The Weather

Well, I was just reading where the Farmer’s Almanac said “a warm October means a cold February” so I guess we’re going to be freezing in February if that’s true. Today’s high is supposed to be 90! Of course, it’s showing rain mid-week in the 60’s and then, 57 for a high on Friday so who knows. The garden sure doesn’t. It’s so confused.

As I Look Outside My Window

I can see it’s going to be another pretty, sunny day with a bit of a breeze. No birds at the bird feeders this morning. Leaves haven’t started turning too much.

Right Now

Feels very weird to be sitting in the living room working on this post with no schedule to follow.

Thinking And Pondering

How I kind of miss being at work this morning (yes, there were a few tears on Friday and maybe still a few this morning). The bizarre feeling that part of my identity is gone. I mean I know it’s not but it feels like that a bit because I put so much of myself into my job these past few months. Just because you know it was the right choice doesn’t make it easy.

The weird dream I had about a bunch of butterflies one day last week. Then, coming home to see a large group of dragonflies 2 days before my last day. And the randomness of yesterday’s church sermon being about rest. Coincindence or signs?

How I Am Feeling

See above. Mentally: Hopeful, anxious, excited, tired, unsure. Physically? A bit tense but okay.

On The Breakfast Plate

I had a brown sugar bagel, one piece of sausage and one piece of bacon. Fridge clean out. Coffee, also but have now switched to sparkling water drink called (don’t buy them on Amazon, expensive there, wow!) Bubbl’R. 

On The Lunch Plate

Marinating some steak bites in Thai peanut sauce to have with rice. Not sure I’ll eat but I’m trying to get a few options ready for J to have this weekend while we’re on a trip.

On The Dinner Plate

J requested Chicken Katsu. Probably with a fresh cucumber from the garden and some shredded cabbage.

On The Menu

Still haven’t found the recipes for I don’t know and I don’t care, the two biggest requests around here. Ha! Also, I need to go to the store so this could all change.

MONDAY: Chicken Katsu

TUESDAY: I might make Carnitas in the slow cooker or we’ll have regular tacos

WEDNESDAY: A local pizza place that’s been around forever is closing down so we may go there. Might rethink Thursday’s vodka pasta…

THURSDAY: Vodka pasta

FRIDAY: ???

What I’m Wearing Today

Sleeveless olive green and white striped shirt and slightly different shade of olive green shorts

On My Reading Pile

Just finished The Book of Unwritten Stories by Helen Phifer, the second in the Salem Sisters Series. It’s a very cozy read for October. Highly recommend. Last night, I started So Old, So Young by Grant Ginder.

On My TV

Watched Hocus Pocus and Hocus Pocus 2 over the weekend. And football even though the Chiefs weren’t playing. Lots of good games. Glad to see Carrie’s Packers won.

On My To Do List

This may not all happen this week just listing things as they pop into my head.

1. Go to grocery store
2. Return (ahem, overdue) library books.
3. Laundry
4. Clean house
5. Go outside and go for walk
6. Garden chores, figure out which plants are coming inside
7. Get garden soil, actually plant my pansies in a hanging basket
8. Clean out freezer and pantry, see what we actually have
9. Make a ham/cheese quiche for the freezer as breakfast option
10. Clean out one shelf in linen closet
11. Decorate for fall/Halloween

What I Am Creating

Nothing at the moment

Something Fun To Share

I had something but I can’t remember now.

UPDATE: I remembered! Just a funny story about a joke my husband played on me. At Christmas last year, we went to a white elephant gift party and I made him keep his gift of 2 sock monkey coffee mugs. Well, he found another sock monkey coffee mug in a thrift store and put it in our sink without telling me. I was so confused, like were the sock monkey mugs ahem multiplying? LOL. Now, we just need one more and we’ll have a set of four! Just a bit of random silliness around here.

From The Camera

Want to play is it July or is it October?

Trick question: They are all October around here! As is that tomato blossom picture under the weather heading. However, I don’t expect to harvest any more tomatoes or eggplants that haven’t formed yet.

Quote For The Week

Psalm 23:3

“He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” 

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P.S. Happy Thanksgiving to those of you celebrating today!

It’s almost 8:30 at night. This time last night, I was ordering a few things on line and my son walked by and said “what are you still doing up?” Ha. I do stay up past 9:00 though I’m often reading in bed by that time.

Let’s get right to the post and hopefully, I can remember to link up with Sandra over at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom after I’m done.

The Weather

It’s been gorgeous! Open the windows kind of weather but the heat’s creeping back and the a/c is running again. One more last plug before it cools off for official fall weather.

As I Look Outside My Window

Hello, darkness, my old friend…

Right Now

Trying to get this post finished but my husband keeps talking to me about hunting season stuff and so I’m having trouble concentrating.

Thinking And Pondering

All the things. Last week of work unless I give them a couple days next week but I’m planning to be out by next Wednesday for sure. I put this Friday on my notice but my “exit interview” if you could call it that was strange so we’ll see.

How I Am Feeling

Tired. It was a long day followed by a grocery run. Looking forward to going back to my day time grocery shopping routines.

On The Breakfast Plate

Blueberry bagel with mixed berry cream cheese & coffee

On The Lunch Plate

I ate part of the work lunch of a ham/cheese sandwich and then, my yogurt and a couple gingersnap cookies on my break

On The Dinner Plate

Rotisserie chicken, pita chips, and tzatziki sauce (store bought)

On The Menu

Somewhat simple this week with G moving

MONDAY: Rotisserie chicken

TUESDAY: Korean meatballs, rice, maybe cucumber salad

WEDNESDAY: Roast in the crock pot

THURSDAY: Maybe leftovers

FRIDAY: No idea

What I’m Wearing Today

Wore a blue denim dress to work.

On My Reading Pile

Just finished Saltwater by Katy Hays. Really twisty and good. Set on the isle of Capri in Italy, would’ve made a great vacation/beach read.

On My TV

HOW ‘BOUT THOSE CHIEFS?!  Need I say more? 4 and 0. What a start!

Didn’t really watch anything else over the weekend.

On My To Do List

1. Books back to library
2. Target for something
3. Not make any more to do list at 9:00 at night

What I Am Creating

Maybe I’ll have something in a couple weeks or not

Something Fun To Share

Did you know  cucumber blossoms are edible as well? You can either eat them raw in a salad or fry them the same way you would squash blossoms. That’s my plan for right before the first frost as we still have tons of cucumber blossoms (and a few cucumbers still forming, hopefully those finish before the frost). Seems funny to think about frost when it’s supposed to be 82 tomorrow but I know it’s coming.

From The Camera

Not a great week or weekend for photos, here’s the sunset from Saturday while we were in transit helping G take things to his apartment

Quote For The Week

(Found on Pinterest)

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Trying to keep this up, didn’t get my Sunday night timing right and yesterday was just a blah kind of Monday. So, Tuesday night it is!

Hoping it’s not too late to link up with Sandra over at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom. Let’s just get right into things…

The Weather

Fall arrived with some rain! And cooler weather. Of course, now it’s slowly heating back up a bit. Nothing like it was thank goodness. It’s currently 67 degrees and raining. Supposed to be in the low 80’s tomorrow and maybe more rain. Only supposed to be in the low 70’s and Thursday and lots of rain.

As I Look Outside My Window

Dark and rainy tonight but over the weekend, I spotted these sparrows hanging out in our boxwood when looking out the front window.

Right Now

I was listening to the rain as I typed this post but now the a/c is all I hear. I’m not mad the a/c is running as it is a bit stuffy in here.

Thinking And Pondering

Thank you to those of you who commented and sent prayers about my job situation. I did ultimately decide to give notice and had a rather lengthy meeting with my boss this afternoon. Still struggling a bit with the decision so that’s on my mind as well as if I said to much or too little. It’s hard to let go of somewhere you’ve been for over 10 years.  Other random things on my mind: G is moving out, one of my older brothers getting diagnosed with cancer, an upcoming trip, and I don’t even know what else.

How I Am Feeling

Actually, I left work last Wednesday with some sort of bug. Proud of myself for actually saying you know what I don’t feel good at all and need to rest. And that’s what I did. All weekend. And I do feel much better.

On The Breakfast Plate

I had a blueberry bagel with berry cream cheese, pretty standard. And of course, coffee! Always. And then, at work, I take a Bubbler energy type drink with me

On The Lunch Plate

lemon blueberry yogurt, a cashew sweet and salty granola bar, and an apple. Plus water

On The Dinner Plate

Since my meeting with my boss ran late, I ended up grabbing Wendy’s for myself and J. Husband ate leftover spaghetti. G ate lunch late so wasn’t hungry and had plans anyway.

On The Menu

MONDAY: Spaghetti with Italian sausage and breadsticks

TUESDAY: Wendy’s/leftovers.

WEDNESDAY: Chicken Pomodoro (carry over from last week)

THURSDAY: Husband’s Choice *I have Mom’s Night Out plans*

FRIDAY: Not sure, maybe Korean meatballs…

What I’m Wearing Today

Olive green work tee shirt and different shade of olive green skort/shorts

On My Reading Pile

Been working my way through Enshitification by Cory Doctorow. It’s nonfiction about the business practices of companies like Amazon, Facebook, Google, etc. Really interesting and at times enraging. It’s basically a look at how the Internet and social media used to work and how the Internet evolved into the state it now resides. I’m on the last “what to do about it” chapter.

On My TV

Of course, I watched my 3-0 Chiefs on Sunday! Woohoo! That said, I hope our defense gets a bit better before we play again. Bit of the Monday night game last night but uh, I fell asleep so don’t really know the outcome. Last week I re-watched season 1 of Walking Dead (feel like a zombie, watch a zombie show, right?) and finished up Sinners, season 4 on Netflix. It was okay, the previous seasons were much better.

On My To Do List

1. Grocery store *done*
2. Call one of my older brothers to get info on the other brother *oddly done b/c I ran into the brother I needed to call in the grocery store*
3. Library book return/pick up holds/request a few more for school
4. Hand in notice at work *done* boss still wants me to stay which is good but makes it hard
5. Decide what to wear tomorrow/find fall “witch” type outfit for Thursday night (Our Mom’s night out is an event called Witches’ Brew where we purchased tickets to walk around a local downtown and sample wines and have snacks. We’ve done it in the past and it’s lots of fun! Hopefully, it won’t be pouring rain on us the whole time this year)

What I Am Creating

*nada*

Something Fun To Share

I don’t know…these are the games I like to play on my phone: For just relaxing: project make-over which is silly but I enjoy dressing up my avatar and decorating the properties.  My morning/evening *challenge the brain a bit* games, all NY Times: wordle (compete with husband to see who can get it in least guesses), strands (my personal favorite, like a wordsearch with clues instead of the words), and connections (I don’t do this one every day). What games are on your phone/computer?

From The Camera

Not a lot of photos because I was sick. These are all phone photos throughout the post.

Quote For The Week

(found on Pinterest)

Someday, maybe sooner than later, I’ll get back to doing these posts on actual Mondays. More on that in the thinking and pondering section.

Today, I’m writing up my Happy Homemaker post on a quiet Sunday morning. Boys are both asleep and my husband is not home as he’s pet sitting for some clients. He’ll be back later this afternoon. Tomorrow, I’ll link up properly with Sandra over at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom and go blog hopping.

The Weather

It’s been so hot! Good okra growing weather but definitely people melting weather. However, this week is supposed to actually be cooler and feel like fall just in time for the official first day of it. Rained over night and it’s only 70 degrees this morning. Not supposed to get warmer than 77 degrees today. And all week, highs in the lower 70’s! I’m excited for a new season but hoping it’s not going to be super sticky and hot indoors, sometimes when the weather is nice outside, it’s too cool for a/c but still too hot to be comfortable inside. Maybe we’ll get lots of outside time.

As I Look Outside My Window

Pictures from a couple weeks ago but my favorite little hummingbird is still out there this morning sitting on the fence fiercely guarding his feeder! It’s also gloomy out and looking like it might rain a bit more.

Right Now

I’m enjoying the quiet of the morning as I type up this post.

Thinking And Pondering

Oh so much! Work was not great at all last week and I think it might be time to move on to something new. I think I’m just burned out. Last week was the first week in over 10 years of working there where I had an entire week of just not wanting to go. Some things (not really kid related, honestly, the kids have kept me there longer than if it were a normal job with adults) happened last week with regards to how I and my coworkers were treated over a situation that just didn’t set well with me. And the school is moving and do I really want to move? It’s literally just 3 buildings down the road but I do not want to move.

I feel like I’ve been pouring so much of myself into those kids and that school and not leaving much for my family. And while my family has not complained at all, I think I personally have lost sight of where my focus should be. The joy I used to have for my job hasn’t been there for a while now. When I agreed to step into the classroom, it was only supposed to be until the end of the school year (last May) and I think now releasing that boundary was a mistake. As was, not going through with putting in my notice mid-summer when I was also feeling these things. I should’ve trusted my instincts. Anyway, I’m pondering if I should make October 31st my last day. Lots of unknowns but sometimes you have to do scary things for things to get better.

(Thank you for listening to my rambling up there)

How I Am  Feeling

Honestly, pretty discouraged. On top of that, I’ve been missing my little gray cat so much this week! Note the week hasn’t been all bleak, I did get to catch up with one of my best friends from high school who I haven’t seen in years on Thursday night. And it was so much fun getting all caught up on what’s been going on with our lives.

On The Breakfast Plate

Coffee, toast, and oatmeal (in the form of a cookie but hey, it was still oatmeal!)

On The Lunch Plate

No idea, maybe my leftovers from Hawaiian Bros that was had on Friday night (spicy chicken and rice)

On The Dinner Plate

Kind of hoping I can talk my husband into making us hamburgers.

On The Menu

 

MONDAY: Chicken Pomodoro Skillet

TUESDAY: BLT tacos

WEDNESDAY: Spaghetti

THURSDAY: Husband’s choice, I have a work meeting

FRIDAY: No idea

What I’m Wearing Today

The required uniform in Kansas City today of a Chiefs shirt (mine is a red AFC champions 2024 one today). Then, also black shorts and slip on tennis shoes. I’ll have to change shoes if I go anywhere as these are my “garden and around the house” shoes.

On My Reading Pile

Still working my way through Sour Crime Donuts by Ginger Bolton.

On My TV

Game night tonight: Kansas City Chiefs vs the Indianapolis Colts. And I think Best Medicine is on this week as well. Over the weekend, I watched Captain America, Brave New World. Not the best Marvel movie out there but definitely not the worst. Also, caught up on Lanterns over on HBO Max, that one is really good.

On My To Do List

1. Get a mouse for this laptop! I’m not good with the little keypad thing and keep making the text too big and then, too small.
2. Target for shampoo, body wash, etc.
3. Grocery store
4. Laundry (in progress, at least)
5. Talk to husband about work (I know he’ll support me because we already discussed it once over the summer and then, I changed my mind.)

What I Am Creating

I got nothing this week.

Something Fun To Share

A fun story from one of my preschool kids. One of his friends was out due to getting tubes in his ears. And the boy told me on Thursday, I know why he’s not here. It’s because he had to go to the doctor so they could cut him in half! ME: What?? They cut him all the way in half? My sweet preschool boy, very serious and reassuring: Yes, but it’s okay because they put him to sleep first so he wouldn’t feel it.

From The Camera

A baby bluebird was on our fence yesterday. I think I saw the adult on the wire first but was too slow to grab the camera. This is the first time I have *ever* seen a bluebird in our backyard so very exciting!

Quote For The Week

May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears. (Nelson Mandela)

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Second week of posting something for me! Hooray. The Sunday night scary is attempting to settle in with me. However, I’ve decided to try and just focus on the week ahead by doing something fun like getting a Happy Homemaker Monday post going!

Later, probably tomorrow night, I’ll link up with Sandra over at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom.

The Weather

Fall like today, so nice to be under 80 degrees! Enjoying it because tomorrow, just in time for the Chiefs game, we’re back to a high of 91! Then upper to mid 80’s for the rest of the week with quite a few rain chances sprinkled in there.

As I Look Outside My Window

A few leaves starting to fall, lots of acorns falling, still seeing a hummingbird as well. Just cleaned and refilled his feeder this morning.

Right Now

I am waiting on our taco soup to finish, typing this post, and randomly texting with a friend about possible plans on either Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday. Oh, and glancing at the NFL game on television (Sorry, Carrie, the Packers don’t seem to be winning this one).

Thinking And Pondering

If I want to sign up for an Alpha class at the church, how the house got so messy, and whether I had too much caffeine today.

How I Am Feeling

See caffeine comment above, a little anxious, a bit tired, overwhelmed, but happy everyone is home and dinner is almost ready.

On The Breakfast Plate

Bacon and a biscuit plus a biscuit with huckleberry jam. Then, later at the grocery store, I had a pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks.

On The Lunch Plate

We were out so stopped at Whataburger, it was really good.

On The Dinner Plate

Taco soup, eventually.

On The Menu

Monday: hot dogs, French Fries, cucumbers, brownies (?)

Tuesday: Sheet pan chicken thighs with spicy corn (might grill chicken, weather dependent)

Wednesday: Vodka pasta

Thursday: Maybe roast or maybe someone else decides…

Friday: OUT, maybe Chinese food?

What I’m Wearing Today

I can share my Monday outfit since I’ve already planned it. What I’m referring to as my “ugly” Chiefs dress (it’s a sleeveless color block maxi dress: red, white, and pink that I picked up on clearance at the end of last season. When it arrived, my husband said it was ugly and I said I thought so as well but I didn’t care because I know the kids will love it!) and some gold tennis shoes that I just found yesterday.

On My Reading Pile

I finished It Could’ve Been Her by Lisa Jewell, it was good but not one of her best. Now, I’m reading Sour Crime Donuts by Ginger Bolton. Just a nice, cozy mystery.

On My TV

FOOTBALL is back! So happy. Chiefs on Monday night! Over the weekend, I watched Matilda the musical on Netflix, super fun, and Supergirl, not great but not as bad as the reviews said.

On My To Do List

Not too much as I did quite a bit of errand running this weekend.

1. Pay bills
2. Clean the house
3. Finalize plans with friend (waiting on her to text me back)
4. Probably a bunch of things I am forgetting
5. I really need to make pesto, so much basil!

What I Am Creating

I got nothing for this. Might bake an apple cake sometime this week, does that count?

Something Fun To Share

We tried a new flavor of Oreo cookies just for fun. (Side note: Any of you Instagram people following the whole Oreo group chat messages? It’s like a little mini soap opera on there). Anyway, I was at Menards yesterday and they had a special flavor on the clearance rack. Let’s just say Chicken and Waffles aren’t on any of our Christmas wish lists. I spit mine in the trash! Oh, they are so bad!

From The Camera

I definitely need to improve in this area.

 

We’ve been seeing so many of these little butterflies or moths around here.

Quote For The Week

 

 

Happy Labor Day Weekend! I decided to get back to blogging starting this month. And since I have today off, figured it was a good day to jump back into things. Can’t think of a better way to start back than with a Happy Homemaker Monday post.

Thank you to Sandra over at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom for hosting these link ups. I have missed this little hobby of mine as well as keeping up with all the wonderful bloggers. I’ve been terrible at keeping up with everyone (in real life as well) so my goal for this fall is to be A LOT better about it.

Before I get on with the post, I should share I’m typing this from a brand new laptop and being a desktop kind of gal, this is new to me. Hopefully, I’ll just figure it out as I go.

The Weather

As a summer lover, I’m hereby declaring that this summer needs to end. NOW. We’re on day 10 million of heat advisory over here. Okay, maybe like day 6 or 7, been a long stretch of temps in the 90’s with feels likes over 100. It’s currently 83 outside with a feels like of 88 and that feels halfway decent.

It’s supposed to be 99 degrees tomorrow but then, we get a break the rest of the week with a bit of rain and temps mostly in the upper 80s. Counting down to the 84 degree that’s supposedly coming on Thursday.

As I Look Outside My Window

The hummingbird fights are on! We’ve had FOUR hummingbirds at our feeder lately but they don’t get along too well.

Right Now I Am

Sitting in the living room trying to get this post typed up before lunch.

Thinking And Pondering

How crazy the next couple of weeks are going to be at work with one of our regular teachers out, how the house is ever going to get clean, and a million other little things.

How I Am Feeling

I’ve been a bit crabby this weekend, probably a mix of the heat and not sleeping great

On The Breakfast Plate

Sausage and biscuits (not the gravy stuff) and a biscuit with huckleberry jam. Husband made homemade biscuits yesterday & I had the leftovers.

On The Lunch Plate

Husband is making us hamburgers

On The Dinner Plate

Great question

What I’m Wearing Today

Old Navy star tee shirt, jean shorts

On My Reading Pile

Just started reading It Could Have Been Her by Lisa Jewell. Good and suspenseful so far.

On My TV

Not much, I re-watched Avengers: Infinity War on Friday. I am excited for a new season of Best Medicine, a remake of Doc Martin, to start back

On The Menu

Crazy  high heat does not make for good menu planning. Neither does needing to go to the store…

Today: Hamburgers for lunch, we might just do frozen pizza or something else light later

TUESDAY: Most likely tacos

WEDNESDAY: Maybe pasta, I need to make pesto as I have lots of basil going wild around the gardens

THURSDAY: ????

FRIDAY: ?????

On My To Do List

1. Usual shopping errands: Grocery/Target/Dollar Tree
2. Library
3. Clean the house a bit
4. Continue to figure out this laptop
5. Get some extra meals in the freezer for busy days

What I Am Creating

Just went yesterday and got some seedlings for a fall garden: cabbage, lettuce, and need to plant some carrots (not sure I have time…need to check).

Something Fun To Share

A couple of 9 spotted forester moths visited my garden one day. These were new to me. Lots of fun to watch!

 

From The Camera

We went to Roaring River State Park for our anniversary a couple weeks back. Still very hot but it was peaceful.

Quote For The Week

Not every season asks you to bloom. Some just ask you to breathe. (Aurelia Leafsong)

*found on Pinterest*

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