Thought I’d get a jump on my weekly planning post. I work all day tomorrow so won’t be around until Tuesday most likely.

It’s been the kind of weekend where I look up and the hours have passed. Just now I realized somehow instead of 6:00PM, it’s almost 8:00! And not because I’ve been especially busy. Been rather lazy all day really as it was dark and rainy outside (still raining).

Later I’ll go back and link up with Sandra over at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom. Let’s see what the week ahead holds.

The Weather

We’ve cooled off and it’s currently 54 degrees outside and still raining. Yesterday it was 85 degrees and sunny so this is a bit of a change. I don’t see a predicted temperature of above 75 for the coming week. However, that could always change. No more rain the rest of the week either.

How I’m Feeling This Morning Tonight

A bit tired, a bit grumpy (Leftover from a small dispute with my youngest son about the a/c. Clearly, we’re not turning on the a/c when it’s 54 degrees out. I’m so unreasonable as to suggest he could just open his window. Ha!).

On My Mind

Mainly thinking about how I really don’t want to get up early tomorrow. Trying to decide when and if I’ll go to the store this week. Debating if I’ll do a 31 days post in October (need to decide soon!). If I do, think it’ll simply be a casual thing where I just post a little something every day and not try to conform to any type of theme. My theme might be the lack of a theme, just day to day tidbits from my rather unexciting life. Selling it well aren’t I?

On My To Do List

Some of these may look familiar

1. Grocery store at some point
2. Sort out Internet hosting
3. Camera homework
4. Still have bulbs to plant (I bought more, that’s why)
5. Letters to write
6. Clean the house (always)
7. Get out October/Halloween decorations (maybe)

On My Breakfast Plate

Coffee, toast. Then later, instant cinnamon roll oatmeal. Back to boring yogurt tomorrow.

On My Reading Pile

Still plugging away at He’s Not Lazy: Empowering Your Son To Believe In Himself by Adam Price. Took a break last week and quickly read The Price of Time by Tim Tigner. Quick, enjoyable mystery as long as I didn’t think too hard about the silliness of some parts of the plot.

On My TV

We’ll watch the Monday night football game, of course. Husband’s been watching Black Sails on Hulu. I can’t get into it much. It’s as if someone said, you know let’s see if we can stretch out those Pirates of the Caribbean movies into a long series. He tells me there’s some plot about them looking for gold. I don’t know, it’s one of those historical type shows he likes.

Personally, I’ve been watching Keep Cooking and Carry On with Jamie Oliver. A dangerous one as I think I might be able to make the stuff he cooks. Somehow even the things he makes with ingredients I dislike look appealing to me.

On The Menu This Week

Might be an interesting one depending on when I get around to the store…

MONDAY: Not sure. Probably leftovers (we had enchilada chicken and rice today) or something scrounged up from the freezer *I work 8-5* *J has a baritone lesson at 6:30*

TUESDAY: French toast

WEDNESDAY: Lasagna soup

THURSDAY: Husband’s choice, unless I get inspired and throw something in the crock pot *I work 12-6*

FRIDAY: Something easy, maybe a fend for yourself kind of night

From The Camera

Looking Around The House

I think it’s time to start a round of decluttering.

New Recipe I Tried Last Week Or One That We Really Enjoyed

On a whim, last Monday I made the spicy potato soup Schotzy mentioned in her blog.  Three out of four of us liked it enough to give it a make it again vote.

To Relax This Week I Will

Go for a walk with my camera, clear some clutter from the house, read, spend Sunday morning with a magazine.

Something I Want To Share

The documentary I watched last week inspired me to take a tiny bit of action. I disabled the Facebook app from my phone. Now, if I want to check it, I have to come down here to the desk top computer. I find I’m not missing it all that much.

One other thing I did is borrow a new tradition. This post over on How To Hygge The British Way made me think about how I could have my own Sunday morning magazine time to replace the days of casually reading the newspaper I’ve been missing.

So this morning, I woke up and read through all the September magazines. Moving forward, I’ll probably focus on just one or two magazines. Today was different as I needed to clear out the old ones and the weather was rainy day perfect. I even tore out pages interesting to me and made an old school paper and pen list of books and websites to check out later.

On My Prayer List

Friends, family, strangers. A healthy and peaceful fall season for us all.

Quote For The Week

And all at once, summer collapsed into fall. (Oscar Wilde)

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Are you ready for October?

Today is the last day of summer. 

It’s been a bit of an odd one with the pandemic cancelling so many events and things we’d normally do. Called one of my older brothers yesterday as I’d realized it’d been much too long since I’d talked to him. Normally, we would have had at least one random get together on my side by now.

Hoping next summer finds us doing all the usual things once again. Swimming at the pool, going on vacation (without masks and virus worries), eating too much greasy, sweet food at fairs and festivals, and having random get-togethers, parties, and holiday celebrations with friends and families (again, without virus worries).

Time to embrace the next season. At least this one calls for a bit more being at home under the blankets, drinking tea, and enjoying coziness. So it might feel a bit more normal. (Minus the things I’m already missing like sitting on cold concrete bleachers watching the band on the football field, going to band competitions each weekend, and the general sense of routine that band practices and school schedules force upon us. On-line school doesn’t tend to do that. Hooray for an in person week this week at least!

Time to plan the week with Sandra over at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom. And first we look at our local forecast.

The Weather 

Ironically, the last week of summer here was rather mild and fall-like and the first week of fall is going to warm up again into the mid 80’s. Typical Missouri weather. Chance of rain overnight Saturday into Sunday. We need the rain, I just don’t want to see any on Wednesday night.

How I’m Feeling This Morning

As if my to do list is longer than the hours in the day. Annoyed at the crickets serenading me down in this basement. Wish they’d find their way back outside. A bit tired as I didn’t sleep great except for a few early morning hours on the couch (went out there to “discuss” the incessant meowing to go outside with the cat).

On My Mind

The long to-do list for today (this entire week?). A bit of a longing for simpler times. Yesterday morning, I was scrolling through my phone and my husband was looking at things on his tablet and I was thinking of how we used to spend Sunday mornings leisurely going through the newspaper (when it was actually thick and full of content and advertising fliers, probably pre-internet days). I miss personal connection instead of just seeing political opinions and cutesy quotes shared on social media. Seems like there is so much “noise” everywhere lately.  And yes, I could unplug from all of it and do consider it from time to time.

On My To Do List

Includes quite a few things I didn’t do last week…

1. Finish up the laundry
2. Grocery store/Target run
3. Finish paying bills (just a few)
4. Clean house
5. Need to sort out internet hosting. Expires in October but the renewal fee is considerably higher than if I were a new customer. Going to have to call and/or change companies. Ugh.
6. Sort out training schedule with work. See if I can opt out of two days of it.
7. Water lawn (new grass seed) garden, and flowers
8. Camera homework
9. Write/mail a letter (or two)
10. Finish planting bulbs along side of house

On My Breakfast Plate

Flip yogurt (peach cobbler), coffee, and vitamins.

On My Reading Pile

Read an interesting one I’d downloaded quite a while ago called A Man by Keiichiro Hirano. Japanese novel. Interesting premise (man dies and wife discovers he was going by the identity of another man, lawyer tries to figure it all out for her) but the book went down quite a few existential rabbit holes that I found a bit distracting.

Not sure if maybe it lost something in translation or it’s a norm for Japanese novels. The only other Japanese novel I’ve read was Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage by Haruki Murakami. I preferred that novel.

Currently, I’m reading He’s Not Lazy: Empowering Your Son To Believe In Himself by Adam Price. I’ve already found it helpful though it’s a bit like reading a textbook. Plan to find something a little lighter to read during J’s lesson tonight.

On My TV

Chiefs football. Go Chiefs! Not sure what we’ll watch this week.

On The Menu This Week

MONDAY: Something easy. Might decide after I go to the store. Probably going to involve baked potatoes as a side or maybe that shall be our main dish. Loaded baked potatoes. *J has a baritone lesson at 6:30*

TUESDAY: Enchilada Chicken in the crock pot (from a spice mix I picked up at the grocery store)

WEDNESDAY: Turkey sausages and hash browns *J has a band performance 7-9. We have tickets for the 7:00 PM performance. They had to break it into 3 shows for number compliance*

THURSDAY: Husband’s choice *I work 12-6* *J might have band practice 6:00-8:45, not sure*

FRIDAY: OUT (pizza coupon?) *I work 7:00-3:30*

From The Camera

We drove over to Manhattan, KS this weekend so my husband could pick up a purchase (He bought a new ATV for hunting season). Here are a few pictures from the Konza Prairie scenic overlook. 

Looking Around The House

Needs some TLC.

New Recipe I Tried Last Week Or One That We Really Enjoyed

No picture but I did make my favorite apple chip cake. Made the full 13 x 9 pan this time as well.

To Relax This Week I Will

Work out in the yard, go through the September magazines while drinking a cup of tea.

Something I Want To Share

Last week I watched a really interesting documentary on Netflix called The Social Dilemma. One of those really makes you think kind of shows. Probably what got me longing for the simpler times of the past. Realizing it is a kind of propaganda of its own sort (I did find myself mumbling correlation does not equal causation once or twice but more or less agree with almost every point made) I highly recommend watching it.

Certainly makes you think about how much of your time and attention you’re allowing companies to sell to advertisers. Social media is not free to use. You’re paying for it with your time and attention.  I’d like to watch it again with my husband (he came in late to the program while I was watching it and fell asleep) and kids to discuss it all.

On My Prayer List

Our HHM host, Sandra and her family for their loss of her mother-in-law, that all were safe from a house fire we drove by on Saturday, family, friends, strangers. A return to civility and kindness. And of course, an end to this pandemic and the continued good health of all reading this.

Quote For The Week

 

 

 

A little shocked to realize it’s already mid-September. When exactly did that happen?

I’ve been a bit all over the place this morning trying to get a few things done. Since it’s already after 9 AM, thought it time to start my post!

Joining in as usual with Sandra over at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom for her Happy Homemaker Monday link up.  Let’s just get straight to it. (I noticed she changed up a few categories so I am following suit).

First, as always we look at…

The Weather 

After a week of cold, gloom, and rain, we’re getting a week of pretty much perfection. Sunny and in the upper 70’s to low 80’s all week long. Sold! Hope it helps the garden items grow. 

How I’m Feeling This Morning

Tired. Didn’t sleep well thanks to a certain teenager who woke me up by being too loud on a video game about midnight. And again when I woke up as the angry “GO TO BED!” parent a bit later. Being tired makes it hard to focus on the things I need to do as well. Certain video game system may find a special bed in our room tonight.

On My Mind

A little bit of everything. Dealing with teenager mentioned above (The high school student. Thankfully, the college student is usually pretty quiet and considerate late at night.). Cleaning and errands I need to accomplish this week. An upcoming trip with my husband (delayed from March) that now interferes with on-line work training I just signed on to do. Always something!

On My To Do List

1. Pay Bills
2. Usual House Cleaning and Laundry
3. Fall Countdown Cleaning (If you’re following along, let’s just make today another catch up day)
4. Camera homework for free on-line course. Need to look at lesson again, did not understand it.
5. Grocery store/maybe Target/general shopping/still want to get bulbs but need to find somewhere they don’t sell in crazy bulk amounts. Thanks Home Depot but I don’t need 50 daffodil bulbs at a time!

On My Breakfast Plate

Cinnamon swirl bagel with butter and of course, coffee. Always coffee.

On My Reading Pile

I finished The Son and Heir: A Memoir by Alexander Munninghoff last week. Still on a bit of a reading frenzy.

Thank goodness for the Kindle Unlimited as it’s helping me not miss the library as much. However, I do very much miss going in the library and browsing the shelves. More than I’d ever thought. Miss seeing the “new and notable” section, wandering over to the librarian suggests shelves (found lots of great reads that way) and walking among the shelves to see what peaks my curiosity.

Moving on, here are the other 3 books I read last week. Funny thing, I accidentally downloaded The Vine Witch by Luanne G. Smith but found I enjoyed it. So, I went ahead and read the sequel, The Glamourist.  Not quite as enjoyable as it read a bit more like Harry Potter fan fiction set in France. Still timely a timely read for the fall and I’ll probably read the 3rd in the series once it’s released.

The final book I read over the weekend was The Village Shop For Lonely Hearts (Riverside Lane #1) by Alison Sherlock.  Ideally, I should have read it during the gloomy, rainy days instead of over a sunny weekend. A perfect light and optimistic read.  It came as a suggestion from a Facebook post shared by How to Hygge the British Way.  

Now, I just need something to read during J’s baritone lesson tonight. I’ll see what mood strikes me later this afternoon.

On My TV

Not all that much. Finished up Cobra Kai on Netflix. Looking forward to the next season.  We watched the movie Aquaman and my husband labeled it underwater Star Wars. I didn’t disagree. Tried a little of some new organizing show called The Home Edit on Netflix as well but prefer “real people” organizing as opposed to seeing celebrity closets. I would’ve preferred another season of Tidying Up with Marie Kondo as I think her show had a lot more heart. Not sure I’ll finish the series. Probably go back to Fear The Walking Dead as my laundry folding show today.

On The Menu This Week

My husbands been doing more of the cooking which is nice but makes menu planning hard. He cooks what he wants. If someone else is cooking, I’m not complaining.

Still need a plan just in case.

MONDAY:  Spaghetti and salad *J has a baritone lesson at 6:30*

TUESDAY: Hawaiian BBQ Pulled Pork  *I now work 12:30-5* *Mom’s Night Out*

WEDNESDAY: Fish and baked potatoes

THURSDAY: OUT, Quick, or Left Overs *I work 12-3:30* *J has band practice 6:30-8:45*

FRIDAY: Roast in the crock pot? Not sure

LUNCH IDEAS: scrambled eggs, twice-baked potatoes, chicken noodle soup, chicken quesadillas, grilled cheese

From The Camera

Our Sunday project, covering up the ugly part of our front porch. Before and after photos.

Still need to add a bit to the ground but I’m happy with the results of our wall made from reclaimed garden gate wood. Plan for next summer it to plant sunflowers all along the base of it. Not sure what I’ll put in the pots.

Looking Around The House

It’s okay. Not great but not horrid either.

New Recipe I Tried Last Week Or One That We Really Enjoyed

On a whim last week, I made the Lemon Artichoke Chicken and Rice shared by Tamy at Chasing My Life. Knew I’d like it as I love artichokes but was surprised my husband enjoyed it as well. Got mixed results from J and G wasn’t home. I’d make it again.

To Relax This Week I Will

You’ll find me outside checking on my 100 days to bloom sunflower (pictured above, we’re almost there!), planting bulbs, moving a peony (maybe) from the backyard to a sunnier spot in the front. Visit with friends. Read. Practice with the camera while watching the birds.

Something I Want To Share

We’re not great gardeners and often barely end up with a single serving or two of whatever we tend to plant. However, for those of you who garden to the point of surplus, I stumbled across this interesting information in the August issue of Better Homes and Gardens.  

There’s a site called AmpleHarvest.org that maintains a nationwide directory of food banks who accept fresh produce. If we ever manage to garden to excess, I’ll be checking them out (and I did confirm with our zip code that there are pantries in our area).

On My Prayer List

Family, friends, strangers. The family and friends (strangers to us) of a rather horrible car accident at nearby intersection (one person died).  A peaceful fall and election season. This pandemic to end! Kindness and compassion to return to every day encounters. Positive news to overtake all the negative.

Quote For The Week

The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be.  (Anne Frank)

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Isn’t Tuesday the new Monday? Feels like it! I took yesterday off from the blog (all weekend with the exception of Saturday’s bird watching post really).

Time to get back into things. And plan the week ahead. Hoping it helps me feel a bit more organized or purposeful or something. Struggling a bit this morning.

As always, planning to link up with Sandra over at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom. Let’s get to the categories.

The Weather

Fall-like this morning. Yesterday was hot and in the 90’s. This morning it is 59 degrees and not supposed to get much warmer. Slight chances of rain all week.

How I’m Feeling This Morning 

A bit tense and anxious for no real reason (well, except global pandemic, things aren’t normal, and all that stuff). Wanted a day to just be. However, J is home from school (stuffy nose, lack of sleep last night, nothing serious) and so I’ll be dealing with him soon enough. G is also home doing on-line college courses. Everyone was home this weekend. I like us all together but all home and messing up the house (with not enough people cleaning it) is another story.

On My Mind

The week ahead, whether or not it’s going to rain, the things outside I’d like to do, going back to bed, Christmas, what to do about J’s school stuff today, my work schedule, family I need to catch up with soon, too much.

On My To Do List 

1. Clean the house
2. A bit of laundry (not as bad as last week)
3. If it doesn’t rain, plant green beans and lettuce in the garden
4. Find pot for amaryllis so I can transition it back inside, maybe for a small lavender plant as well. Wonder if it will grow all year inside? 
5. Discuss on-line school weeks with J, suffice it to say him doing the work in his room is not going well.
6. Fall countdown cleaning (hopefully, you used yesterday as a catch up day). Look for the fall countdown cleaning post later today.
7. Post more than one blog entry this week.
8. Pick up the camera every day. Do homework for free e-mail course I’m doing.
9. See about pulling out some fall clothes (not too many though…this is the Midwest, it might be 90 again next week. You never know)
10. Get some fall bulbs, make some notes about flowers I want to plant for next summer

On My Breakfast Plate

Peach cobbler flip yogurt and coffee

On My Reading Pile

I read four (FOUR!) books last week. The first was okay, just a light silly romance which I probably rated higher than it deserved over on Goodreads: Spring Shoots on Sunflower Street by Rachel Griffiths. The second book was Survivor Song by Paul Tremblay. Carol over at Pure Sugar mentioned it awhile back. I knew it was about a pandemic but thought it probably was about the 1918 influenza pandemic or something. I wasn’t familiar with the author. Oops. Not about that pandemic. Scary stuff. However, also refreshingly well-written in a I couldn’t put it down kind of way. Intense.

Needed something a little less scary, so next I read The Last of the Moon Girls by Barbara Davis. Characters were messy and interesting, the who of the mystery easy to figure out but the how and why not so much. Worth the time to read. And finally, I *foolishly* ordered another Paul Tremblay book from the library: The Cabin At The End Of The World. Another didn’t put it down book but I’m still not even sure how I felt about it. Especially the ending. His other two books in our library look a little too scary for me but we’ll see if I break down and read them.

And this week, I am reading something completely different from all of the above. The Son And Heir: A Memoir by Alexander Munninghoff. He was born near the end of World War II and his father fought as an SS soldier much to the dismay of his grandfather. I’m only a little over halfway through this one.

On My TV

Starting to see why I didn’t post as much last week. Had to take advantage of our free trial of Starz so watched a few movies (We cancelled Starz by the way, I didn’t see enough to justify paying for it monthly). Watched Taken with Liam Neeson because we’d never seen it. Not super impressed, just a Jason Bourne wannabe in my opinion. And I watched A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood. Enjoyable, touching movie. Honestly, I found myself more impressed with Matthew Rhys than Tom Hanks though of course, they are both fantastic actors.

Regular streaming stuff: watched some Fuller House and some Fear The Walking Dead.

And one last show to chat with you all about, this one my husband and I both enjoy! 80’s loving friends take note. I was skeptical but Cobra Kai on Netflix is worth your time. Smart, funny, and with the original actors from The Karate Kid movies (watch those first if by some chance you’ve lived under a rock and not seen them). Note: the show does contain language, violence, and alcohol so definitely a PG-13 but I do think older teens would enjoy it. My 19 year old actually suggested the show to us.)

On The Menu This Week 

Um, can we talk about cooking shows instead? I did randomly watch some regular TV show with Jamie Oliver making a 30 minute meal  (Does your supermarket carry fresh pasta? Ours decidedly does not).

MONDAY: We had smoked chicken and salad (my husband smoked the chickens on the grill) *J had a baritone lesson at 6:30*

TUESDAY: Feels like a spaghetti day to me

WEDNESDAY: Fish, baked potatoes *I work 10-3:45*

THURSDAY: Maybe out (Has to be something quick) or leftover chicken from today *I work 7:30-4:45* *J has band practice 6-8:45*

FRIDAY: Chili and cornbread

From The Camera 

Flowers!

Looking Around The House

It’s dark in here because of the cloudy, fall-like day. I’m ready to decorate for the new season.

On My Prayer List

Family, Friends, Strangers. Kids and teachers in other local districts starting school today. A speedy recovery for friend’s daughter who recently tested positive for Covid 19 and her family to remain negative. The country, the world to try empathy and kindness instead of hate and division.

Quote For The Week

We don’t have to agree on anything to be kind to one another. (Unknown)

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Whew! I got chatty there. Now that we’re all caught up, what does your week ahead look like?

 

I’m usually a bit sad to see August go but not this year. This year, I’m ready for fall. Thinking perhaps we all want to just move this year along a bit.

Speaking of moving along, I need to get this post up quickly now. Thought I had the day to meander but just got called into work. Only for a half day and I could’ve said no. However, I already work Wednesday and Thursday in the same classroom so decided to go ahead and work.

Straight to the categories provided by Sandra, our host of this link up, over at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom.

The Weather

Thunderstorms moving through the area this morning. Already seeing a trickle of water in our basement. However, we really needed the rain so I’m glad to hear the thunder. Chance of thunderstorms all day today and lesser chance tomorrow. Highs in the low 80’s most the week.

How I’m Feeling This Morning

Slept decent, drank way too much coffee, but more or less ready to tackle the day.

On My Mind

The day ahead, how online school weeks are going to be hard around here. I’m already missing the built in routine of last week and I think J is as well. All the things I planned to do around here now put on hold for a few hours. Whether I’ll end up working Tuesday as well. Usual Monday morning mind racing I suppose.

On My To Do List

1. LAUNDRY (all caps for emphasis because there is so much of it)
2. Normal house cleaning
3. Fall countdown cleaning (Today’s task: Clean all the doors! Dust the frames, wipe down the front and back of them. Post with rest of the tasks coming tomorrow)
4. Write blog posts
5. Pick up camera every day

On My Breakfast Plate

Cinnamon swirl bagel with cream cheese and I think I already mentioned the too much coffee.

On My Reading Pile

Last week I came across (in my kindle app) a new Ginger Bolton book, Jealously Filled Donuts (Deputy Donuts Mystery #3). Fun, silly cozy mystery. Survival of the Fritters was the first cozy mystery type book I ever read and it got me hooked on the genre. Need to something new to read this week.

On My TV

Lots of Bill and Ted! Watched Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure. Then, signed up for a 7 day trial to Starz (need to remember to cancel this week!) to watch Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey. Plan to watch the sequel soon. Trying to decide whether to brave the theater, maybe go to the drive in, or just SIGH watch it at home on demand. Was so looking forward to seeing it in the theater pre-pandemic but now the idea of sitting in a theater makes me fairly nervous.

On The Menu This Week

Feel like I should have some ideas but I’m struggling. You’ll see quite a bit of carry over from last week.

MONDAY:  Maybe fish, baked potatoes, salad *I work 11:30-3:30* *J has a baritone lesson at 6:30*

TUESDAY: Chili

WEDNESDAY: Hawaiian pulled pork sandwiches *I work 11-3:45*

THURSDAY: Spaghetti? *I work 7:30-3:45* *J has band practice 6:00-8:45*

FRIDAY: Fend for yourself or frozen pizza

From The Camera

Might get a sunflower this summer after all…

Wildflower picture from a hike I took last week. 

Looking Around The House

Today’s original plan was to clean it so…

On My Prayer List

Friends, family, strangers, our country, the world. For a kindness pandemic to overtake the current one.

Quote For The Week

Those who are hardest to love need it the most. (Socrates)

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What’s going on in your corner of the world this week?