Yesterday got away from me. Ran out of time for a quick morning post and then, ran out of energy for an evening one. It’s going to be another full day of work so I’m trying to get this post up this morning. Hopefully, I’ll have more success than yesterday.

Let’s get straight to it. Joining in as always with Sandra over at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom.

The Weather

Typical summer: HOT. Hotter when wearing a mask. I think the news said high today was supposed to be 93. Higher heat index. More heat next week. Always a chance of rain though it doesn’t look likely today.

How I’m Feeling This Morning

Glad to be getting back into my crazy routine of work but still a bit tired from yesterday. It was a long day with working 8:30-5:15, getting home and pretty much turning around to take J to his baritone lesson.

On My Mind

Just the stuff I’d like to get done this week, whether I’ll get called in tomorrow and Thursday as well. And how to keep from melting at work today, ha!

On My To Do List

1. Still a few leftover items from the last list (mainly phone calls and work stuff)
2. I did most the laundry on Sunday but do need to wash my work tee shirts (I air dry them so need some time)
3. Clean out the fridge
4. Grocery shopping (tentatively slating it for Thursday morning)
5. Find some documents for G so he can renew his driver’s license

On My Breakfast Plate

Haven’t eaten yet but it’s gonna be the usual: Chobani Flip yogurt, a bit more coffee, and two gummy vitamins.

On My Reading Pile

I’m almost finished with The Little Village of New Starts by Donna Ashcroft. Enjoying it quite a bit more than I expected.

TV Viewing

We watched Independence Day on the Fourth of July (tradition) and I spent most of Sunday watching Fear the Walking Dead for my laundry folding show.

On The Menu This Week

Husband and kids are going to be on their own a few days this week…might get called in to work more (the week has that kind of feel to it)

MONDAY: Husband made spaghetti *I worked 8:30-5:15* *J had a baritone lesson at 6:30*

TUESDAY: No idea, there’s some grilled BBQ chicken in freezer, maybe that. *I work 10-6*

WEDNESDAY: Pork chops and baked potatoes?

THURSDAY: Chicken legs and salad or maybe OUT. *J is having a friend over*

FRIDAY: Same as Thursday *I work 12-5*

From The Camera

If you read my post about the baby blue jay, you might think this cat is looking up at it. Nope, I couldn’t see a single thing in the backyard tree she was looking up into last week.

 

Does anything say Happy Fourth of July more than an 800 shot Saturn Missile? I think not. Our neighbors answered with one of their own. It was our finale, their show lasted a bit longer than ours.

And finally, did anyone see that full moon on Saturday night? Spectacular!

Looking Around The House

Amazingly enough, not awful.

On My Prayer List

Preschool student who told me his dog passed away from blood cancer last week (and his family), coworker who’s father in law is in hospice and nearing the end, friend having surgery later this week, all the teachers and students (we’re exempting our preschool kids) starting summer school wearing masks. Family, strangers.

Quote For The Week

Of all things love is the most potent.  (Maria Montessori)

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How’s your second week of July look?

Goodbye, June! Guess what? We’ll be officially half-way through the year on July 2! I think we can all perhaps get excited about that.

Even though it seems to be setting up to be a bit subdued, I’m excited for the Fourth of July on Saturday. Not sure what we’re going to do yet but I think we could all use some thoughts of celebration right now.

Let’s get on with planning the week ahead. Be sure to go visit Sandra over at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom for the link up.

The Weather 

Not sure how we now need rain when earlier in the month, we had a basement full of water. It’s not bad out there right now but hot and humid are the words for the week. 

How I’m Feeling This Morning

Really, a little grumpy. A couple work texts a bit too early for me. Rare occurrence but I found myself annoyed by one. Not a big deal and I probably just read too much into the text. I’ll let it go and be fine after a bit of time outside I’m sure.

On My Mind

The text mentioned above, the stuff I want to do outdoors, a project I need to help J with it (closet organization), what we’re going to do for the Fourth. A whole hodgepodge of thoughts I suppose.

On My To Do List

1. Pay rest of the bills
2. Help J sort through his closet stuff (my husband put new flooring in his room so the closet contents are currently all over the living room. Seems a good time to sort and get rid of outgrown things.)
3. Still need to send that letter!
4. Figure out Fourth of July plans (probably just going to be us)
5. Laundry!
6. Plant my new flowers (I went to Home Depot with my husband this morning and I can’t get out of there without buying flowers)
7. Sort something out with my work (not sure I’ll mess with it this week)
8. Paperwork/phone calls regarding an insurance billing question (yuck!)

On My Breakfast Plate

Usual Chobani Flip yogurt, coffee, and two immune support gummy vitamins. And clearly, not enough coffee!

On My Reading Pile

Finished The Last Odyssey by James Rollins (good thing, e-loan expires tomorrow!). Still working through Happier At Home and Choose To Lose (haven’t actually started it for my re-read yet). Need a new “fun & easy” read for passing my time during J’s baritone lesson tonight.

TV Viewing

No big movie binges last week, I ended up working 4 days! Over the weekend, I did watch bits of Killer Clowns From Outer Space and Godzilla vs. Megalon.  Don’t ask why.  Also, yesterday, I discovered a new guilty pleasure show: Married At First Sight. I’m 4 episodes in and totally hooked. New laundry folding show. Still working through Fear the Walking Dead. 

On The Menu This Week

I don’t have a clue. Let’s think about what’s in the fridge and freezer…

MONDAY:  Grilled chicken breasts (already cooked in freezer) and salad? *J has a baritone lesson at 6:30*

TUESDAY: Roast in the crock pot *I have a hair appointment at 10*

WEDNESDAY: Maybe spaghetti?

THURSDAY: Fish and baked potatoes

FRIDAY: Anything goes…maybe out?

From The Camera

I’m waiting impatiently on my summer flowers. Getting close now.

My bee balm this morning, getting closer to full bloom:

And finally, I’m trying to decide on a home for this new fairy door. One of my favorite doors so far:

Looking Around The House

Considering the contents of J’s closet cover most the living room, perhaps it’s best we not do that right now.

On My Prayer List 

Friends, family, the man who felt compelled to be nasty about the mask requirements at Home Depot this morning (and the poor worker who handled his frustration gracefully), a very sick student at my work (tested negative for Corona but still very sick). A MUCH better second half of 2020 filled with peace and happiness for the world.

Quote For The Week

There’s a mural above one of the bookshelves in a classroom at work. It says:

Kindness Matters.

It does. Please, remember to be kind.

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What’s on your agenda for the week ahead?

Whew! This month is going a bit fast. Not complaining because it means I’ve had more to do. Hooray for that!

My plan to get back on track again this week with waking up early didn’t quite pan out. My alarm went off at 6 but I didn’t quite get out of bed until closer to 7:30. Oops! Let’s just get on with the weekly planning post.

Linking up as always with our wonderful host, Sandra over at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom.

The Weather

Rain or shine? That is the question. The day I took the photo above answered shine and the storm clouds blew over. Today looks more like maybe rain. Or course, there’s just a 25% chance of it so who knows. Temps in the mid 80’s reaching the low 90’s by Friday.

How I’m Feeling This Morning

A little tired. I think I probably needed to get up when my alarm rang and not sleep that extra time.

On My Mind

Nothing too intense. Mostly, I’m thinking about how to get healthy again. Need to reclaim my scale from G. He took it to weigh packages for shipping or something. While I don’t want to know the number, I probably should know the number as my clothes tell me it’s not a good one. Toyed with the idea of the intermittent fasting but I’m such a breakfast lover (you can imagine me saying that how Oprah says bread lover if you want, it’s true) that I can’t quite grasp the idea. Probably going to try carb cycling again first. I’m sure just eating healthy(ish) again and avoiding all the packaged snacks should do wonders. Perhaps a little more activity as well.

On My To Do List

1. Mountain climbing. (Wow, I jumped right in on that activity thought! Ha! Not quite, it’s a laundry mountain. SIGH)
2. Clean out fridge/organize freezer/grocery shopping
3. Pay bills
4. Add band dates to calendar
5. Re-read Chose to Lose by Chris Powell
6. Write and send a letter

On My Breakfast Plate

Shook things up a bit this morning: scrambled eggs and sausage, half a cinnamon swirl bagel, and coffee (with chocolate milk as we’re out of regular).  Plus two immune support gummy vitamins.

On My Reading Pile

Didn’t do as well with reading last week. Same two books in progress: a re-read of Happier At Home by Gretchen Rubin and The Last Odyssey by James Rollins.

TV Viewing

Might explain the lack of reading progress. Fear the Walking Dead is still the laundry folding show. However, last week we went on a movie binge. We watched:

Trumbo on Netflix. An accidental pick that turned out to be quite interesting. Nothing worse than accidentally learning some history while watching a movie. It’s about the time of the McCarthy trials in Hollywood and black-listed writers. I had no idea those investigations went on until the 1970’s. (!!).

Then while I helped my husband with his tax stuff, we watched Twister. Cow! Another Cow. (Same one). Ha!

Finally, got around to watching my DVD pick from Netflix: Blackkklansman. One I ordered, ironically, long before all the protests started. Based on the true story of a black police officer who infiltrates the KKK (he has a white officer who attends the meetings posing as him). Funny at times, another makes you think kind of story. Based on a book. I’ll perhaps read it if the inter-library loan program ever re-opens. By the way, this song from one of the scenes stuck in my head all weekend:

Wait, there’s more! Seriously, you watched more movies over the weekend. Yes, we did. Just two. Escape From L.A. and then, I had to go and watch again, my all-time favorite, Escape From New York. 

On The Menu This Week

MONDAY: Parmesan Chicken and Caesar Salad (bag mix) *J has a baritone lesson at 6:30*

TUESDAY: Taco salads

WEDNESDAY: Waffles and Bacon maybe *J has mini band camp 3:00-6:00* *I might have MNO*

THURSDAY: Grilled pork chops, maybe sweet potatoes? 

FRIDAY: OUT *I work 9-6*

*all subject to change based on freezer organization and upcoming grocery store trip*

From The Camera

Our garden is growing nicely this year!

Maybe someone with a new “gnome” near it is helping us out a bit?

Looking Around The House

Not terrible though by the looks of the kitchen, I missed a party last night!

On My Prayer List

Friends, family, strangers. Those with loved ones in nursing facilities. For this virus to disappear. For a kinder, gentler world with less anger and divisiveness.

Quote For The Week

This verse is in my heart this morning:

Matthew 13:9-16

9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.” 

10 The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” 

11 He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 

12 Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 

13 This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. 

14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: “ ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. 

15 For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’ 

16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.

 

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Whew! I got a little chatty today! Are you still with me? What’s on your agenda for the week?

 

 

 

 

We’re almost halfway through the year. Hang in there, my friends!

I’m up early today (practicing for my first full day back at work). I’ve already showered and dressed for the day. And watered the garden plus changed over some laundry. Thinking a mid-day productivity crash might be looming. Who am I kidding? Make that a mid-morning productivity crash.

Before that happens, here’s my Happy Homemaker Monday post. Be sure to hop over and visit our host, Sandra, at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom.

The Weather

Hot and somewhat steamy. Hooray for summer! Possible thunderstorms later in the week and maybe this afternoon. Highs in the upper 80’s to lower 90’s all this week. Not everyone is a fan but I love this type of weather.

How I’m Feeling This Morning 

Energetic and ready to tackle the day. Happy after a pleasant week and weekend. Work went well last week and seeing the preschool kids lifted my spirits so much. Can’t be around them without feeling hope and happiness for the world. My husband had a rare weekend off work so it was nice having him home (plus he cooked a great dinner on the grill yesterday!).

On My Mind

The things I’d like to get done today. I’m hoping I can avoid news fatigue this week and keep my happy mood. While I don’t plan to go running around with reckless abandon (and do plan to be respectful with the mask wearing), I’ve simply hit the point of when it’s my time, then it will be my time. I’m going to get on with my life and stop focusing on all these things I can’t control. There’s a difference between being fearful and cautious and I think too many are perhaps in the fearful camp. Just rambling thoughts in my brain.

On My To Do List

1. Um, all the stuff I ignored last week
2. Laundry!
3. Figure out Father’s Day stuff (it’s this weekend!)
4. Cook with the boys
5. Spend lots of time outside

On My Breakfast Plate

Same boring breakfast as usual: Chobani Flip yogurt (peach cobbler flavor) and coffee. Plus, I don’t usually list it but I also take two immune support gummy vitamins each day (something I was doing long before Covid-19 came along)

On My Reading Pile

Decided to re-read Happier At Home by Gretchen Rubin. Hoping her book re-inspires me with my word of the year (home).   And my name finally came up for the latest novel by James Rollins on the library hold list (e-book). So, I’m also reading The Last Odyssey. 

TV Viewing

Mostly, I’ve just been playing my little video game of Animal Crossing: New Horizons. However, my current laundry folding show is Fear The Walking Dead. Oh, I did watch the season finale of D.C. Legends of Tomorrow. Glad it’s returning for a new season as it’s campy style makes it a perfect “escape” kind of show.

On The Menu This Week

Both boys expressed interest in learning to cook so I had them pick two dinners this week to make (with help from me).

MONDAY: Breakfast for dinner, scrambled eggs, French toast sticks *J has a baritone lesson*

TUESDAY: Chicken strips (G’s choice), cucumber salad

WEDNESDAY: Freezer surprise! (Whatever is already cooked in there) *I work 8:30-5 AND have MNO* (Excited to see everyone for Mom’s Night Out)

THURSDAY: Steak bites (J’s choice), salad

FRIDAY: Pork chops on the grill? or OUT?

From The Camera 

Our resident fairy worked a bit on his yard this weekend as well.

A few of my flowers from the flower garden beside the front porch:

Snapdragons in honor of my husband’s late grandpa, who passed away last March. They were his favorite.

And pink and orange flowers in honor of our late aunt, who passed away last October.

Looking Around The House

Definitely need to clean today. I ignored the kitchen last night and chose to go to bed at a decent hour. No fairies cleaned it for me overnight. SIGH.

On My Prayer List

Two friends and their families who recently lost relatives, family, strangers. For everyone reading to have a joy-filled week.

Quote For The Week

I stumbled on this over on Pinterest this morning, fits my mood perfectly.

“We spend precious hours fearing the inevitable. It would be wise to use that time adoring our families, cherishing our friends and living our lives.” (Maya Angelou)

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How do you plan to spend this mid-June week?

 

Been a while since I typed any title with the word “work” in it. Happy and grateful to do so this week. Today still finds me at home so let’s just jump right on into the weekly planning post.

Don’t forget to hop over and visit Sandra, the host of Happy Homemaker Mondays, over at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom. And a few of the other fabulous bloggers as well.

The Weather 

Hot, then rain, then hot and humid. Typical summer though a bit early for the super hot and humid parts. No complaints from me as I love the hot and humid sunshiny weather. Except I need to mow the lawn, not too excited to do that in the hot, humid stuff. My son might get a turn with it.

How I’m Feeling This Morning

Hopeful. Slightly energetic (might just be the coffee). Happy and excited for the week ahead. I feel like it’s going to be a good week.

On My Mind

A bit of fear I’ll forget to go to work at the appointed time this week as it’s been a long time. A little anxiety about the unknowns. Things I’d like to accomplish this week. I’m not exactly planning to the ignore the state of the world this week but I do plan to focus more on the people and space (home) right around me. And just keep sending my love out into the world throughout the week. I found it really helped my mood last week.

On My To Do List

1. Clean out fridge/freezer/cut up fruit
2. Mail 2 cards, possibly 3
3. Mow the lawn
4. Clean the house
5. Get a few more flowers

On My Breakfast Plate

So far only coffee. I’m not sure if I’ll eat a yogurt or not. Another upset stomach night on Saturday and the only yogurt flavor left (aside from Cookies and Cream) is just not calling me right now. Odd as I usually love all things coconut. And I’m pretty sure the upset stomach came from our dinner out (My husband mentioned the a/c seemed to be out in the restaurant where he picked up our dinner).

On My Reading Pile

I read a pretty “lite” one last week titled Aunt Daisy’s Letter by S.J. Crabb. Silly, predictable romance. Always wonder about the grammar errors on the Kindle books, author or typist? I wanted my red pen at times. Of course, the book charmed me enough to pick up the sequel and now I’m reading The Wedding at the Castle of Dreams by the same author.

TV Viewing

A bit of tiff with my husband last night about Press Your Luck being the best game show of all time. (Super nostalgic from my childhood. How can you not love shouting “No whammies!”?). Can you believe he didn’t want to watch it? I watched it by myself on another TV. Other than that, no judgement please, I started watching Fear The Walking Dead. It’s quite interesting. And the last few episodes (still need to watch the season finale) of D.C. Legends of Tomorrow. 

Mostly, my TV viewing habits consist of playing Animal Crossing and setting up my little island of Jeansland.

On The Menu This Week

MONDAY: Turkey bacon clubs, sweet potato fries *J has a baritone lesson at 6:30*

TUESDAY: Taco potatoes 

WEDNESDAY: Teriyaki chicken and oriental salad (from a bag) *I work 1-5*

THURSDAY: Fish, cornbread, salad

FRIDAY: Hamburgers and hot dogs on grill? *I work 3-5*

From The Camera

The little purple flowers that invade the backyard arrived this week! Mostly they’re in the neighbor’s weed infested backyard (not complaining as their “nature preserve” brings me my beloved birds by providing lots of habitat). A few flowers always show up around our yard as well. 

And in our garden, earliest appearance ever, a tiny green tomato!

Looking Around The House

It needs a little love. And lots of cleaning!

Chore I’m Not Looking Forward To Today Or This Week

I started a linen closet clean-out and re-organization last week. And now, I need to finish it. My grand idea to put our blankets in space bags worked well except they don’t fit back on the shelves. What’s the old cliche: Measure twice, cut once? I always forget the measuring part. Just know super large space saver bags are super large even after all the air’s removed.

To Relax This Week I Will

Spend some time outside, maybe go pick up some new flowers for the newly washed front porch:

Husband power washed it yesterday! Looks so much better.

On My Prayer List

Family, friends, strangers. All those struggling right now. That love finds a way into some of the hardened hearts out there.

Quote For The Week

“Let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer. And let faith be the bridge you build to overcome evil and welcome good.” (Maya Angelou)

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What’s on your agenda for the week ahead?