Taking my time this morning. We’ve had a nice relaxing, long weekend. If I don’t watch or read any news, I can almost pretend things are normal again.

The week ahead looks to be a bit slow but that IS actually normal for me at the tail end of May. We did have a trip scheduled (just my husband and some friends, no kids) for next weekend. However, that’s been put on hold. Since I was a bit on the fence about it prior to the pandemic, I’m not overly upset.

Let’s see what lies ahead for this very last week in the month! Joining in as always with Sandra from Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom.

The Weather

They’ve been wrong so many days lately, I’m not even sure I want to look. It does look as if we got a tiny bit of the predicted rain over night but not the spring thunderstorms predicted. I apparently slept through the storms. G just informed me it did indeed storm over night and one clap of thunder shook our house. I didn’t hear a thing. More chances of rain today and throughout the week. Highs in the 70’s. The sky yesterday afternoon was blue with just a few clouds.

How I’m Feeling This Morning

Well, it’s almost afternoon at this point but I woke up feeling okay. Still a bit tired from yesterday (I mowed our front and back yards plus our empty house neighbor’s front yard). Think today is going to be just a bit of a go slow kind of day.

On My Mind

There should probably be lots on my mind but I’m choosing to just kind of be today. Not worry about too much. Want to enjoy my day.

On My To-Do List

1. Finish paying the bills
2. Still need to see about getting J a haircut
3. Return my library books
4. Lots on list from last week I didn’t get done

On My Breakfast Plate

A couple slices of bacon, a Chobani flip yogurt, coffee

On My Reading Pile

I finished Where the Story Starts by Imogen Clark and started working my way through all her books. Honestly, they shouldn’t work and I shouldn’t enjoy them as much as I do. I’d categorize them as “beach reads,” nothing too high brow, mildly predictable, don’t require too much concentration. And still somehow enjoyable. Last week two more by her: Postcards From a Stranger and Postcards at Christmas, the first one was better but I enjoyed the short little series. This week, I’m reading her book called The Thing About Clare.

TV Viewing

Not much unless you count staring at the screen while playing Animal Crossing: New Horizons as TV viewing. I did re-watch Rocketman with my husband the other night. He’d never seen it while I’d gone to see it in the theater with friends last year. Oh, I almost forgot but I also started watching Little House on the Prairie. Just needed to be reminded of simpler times, I think.

On The Menu This Week

Husband got a new grill so he’s been doing the cooking around here ever since Saturday. I’m just enjoying my break from worrying about fixing dinner!  I’ve made a pretty casual dinner plan this week as I never really know what he’s planning.

MONDAY: Marinated pork steaks on the grill *J has a baritone lesson at 6:30 (I should probably confirm this)*

TUESDAY: Maybe tacos

WEDNESDAY: Something Italian….probably spaghetti but I’m more in the mood for lasagna

THURSDAY: Chicken strips

FRIDAY: Pizza

From The Camera

Last night I noticed this little bunny out in the far reaches of the backyard. Really, I noticed the ears!

And then while I was watching (along with a rather interested little gray cat), another bunny arrived and they chased each other around for a bit. It was quite fun to watch. I must give a shout out to the little gray cat as she later chased one out of our garden. Wonder if one of these two is the culprit taking just one bite out of our ripening strawberries?

Looking Around The House

It’s not too bad as I cleaned on Saturday in preparation of my sister in law and nephew’s arrival for our small birthday gathering. Could stand to clean it some more though.

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

Not sure it counts as chore but I realized almost my entire summer wardrobe consists of high school marching band tee shirts. And that I’m pretty low on summer pants/shorts. I need to add a few things to my wardrobe for when I go back to work. After eating my way through the stay at home days, not looking forward to figuring out sizes.

To Relax This Week I Will

Work on the flowers and garden in the front and back yards. If the weather is bad, I’ll work on my pretend island in my little video game.

On My Prayer List

The world, all those grieving, all of us to be more understanding, respectful, and kind to one another.

Quote For The Week

“Some old-fashioned things like fresh air and sunshine are hard to beat. In our mad rush for progress and modern improvements let’s be sure we take along with us all the old-fashioned things worth while.”  (Laura Ingalls Wilder)

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How do you plan to spend this last week of May?

And people to see! Happy Monday! I got out a little over the weekend. Also, my husband finally took a few days off work. Woke up feeling so refreshed this morning. Those little things were very much needed.

A long solo walk in the park on Thursday. Can’t remember Friday, probably just another at home day. On Saturday, I ran a few errands with my husband as he searched for a new toolbox. And convinced him to stop at local garden store I’d never seen. Small place that just popped up, happy to give it my business.

Sunday, I went out with my husband again to pick up the toolbox he chose and then, came home and planted my flowers. In the afternoon, we all attended a graduation parade for my nephew. I can’t remember the last time we were all four in the car at the same time. It was nice. And of course, it was nice to cheer on the seniors who aren’t set to graduate in a proper ceremony until late July.

Now, that we’ve started a new week, it’s time to plan with Sandra over at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom.

The Weather

It’s cloudy this morning but not cold. We’re supposed to have some cloudy days but thankfully, not a lot of rain chances until the weekend. And it’s supposed to be normal (upper 60’s and 70’s for our temps). I’ll take it!

How I Am Feeling This Morning

Energized and happy though with a bit of a throat tickle (hello, cottonwood pollen). Also, super excited about this little message in my inbox this morning:

You are not required to report, your service is complete.
Thank you. 

No jury duty in June! It’s a big worry off my shoulders. The driving downtown part was my biggest concern as I’ve not done that in years but then throw in the Covid-19 concerns and well, big sigh of relief happening over here.

On My Mind

How it almost feels like a normal week. J’s lessons resume tonight, I have a hair appointment on Wednesday, and need to decide what we’ll do for G’s birthday on Thursday. Thinking it’s time to actually clean up this basement space for guests again (not that we’re there yet but I feel more ready to entertain the idea). It’s funny how I suddenly feel a lot more motivated to do things around here now that I know we won’t have to be spending all our time here.

On My To Do List

1. Drop off J’s school books and band tux  DONE
2. Pay bills
3. Conquer mountain of dishes and laundry
4. Clean/clear out this basement space
5. Figure out what G wants to do for his birthday
6. Look into getting J a haircut somewhere (maybe with my hairdresser though I’m not giving up my appointment!)
7. Clean up yard/plant flowers
8. Go to Grocery store/Target
9. Check into if I can return my library books (I think I can outside in the box but I want to be sure)
10. Clean out fridge/freezer (just a bit as this is pretty ongoing)

On My Breakfast Plate

Chobani strawberry cheesecake flip yogurt, coffee

On My Reading Pile

Read Better Believe It by Fern Ronay last week. She writes uplifting reads where the main characters get guidance during their dreams from family members in heaven. I really do enjoy her books. And I started in on Where the Story Starts by Imogen Clark. Struggling a bit as there’s quite a bit of back and forth time jumps with the characters.

TV Viewing

Not quite as much, watched the movie Thor: Ragnarok one night (we own the DVD). I also broke down and signed up for a 30 day trial of CBS all access to catch up on Seal Team.  Going to cancel it for sure, not a great streaming service. And don’t get me started on why they expect me to pay to watch free TV shows. That said, I’m enjoying getting all caught up on my show.

On The Menu This Week

I’m not really planning on a grocery store trip until Tuesday so this could all change. Current plan:

MONDAY: Roast in the crock pot (carry over) *J has a baritone lesson at 6:30*

TUESDAY: Teriyaki chicken and rice (carry over)

WEDNESDAY: Taco salads *I have a hair appointment at 10:30*

THURSDAY: G’s 19th birthday. Maybe OUT?

FRIDAY: Pizza, salad or OUT depending on G’s birthday plans

From The Camera

Sunshiny days even give the trees happy hearts!

A little bug photo bombed my daisy picture!

Looking Around The House

Uh, see to-do list about mountains of laundry and dishes.

Finally, cleaned our face masks. Need to order more gray ones (I know they look black in the picture, they’re wet) as the blue one turned out to be a bit too small and uncomfortable for J.

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

Actually, nothing is striking me as too awful today. Just in the mood to get things done.

To Relax This Week I Will

Play my little video game (Animal Crossing), read my book, get outside

On My Prayer List

My oldest son who’s struggling a bit with the re-opening and worries about the virus, friends, family, strangers. That we overcome this virus sooner than later. All the families at the graduation parade yesterday. The world.

Quote For The Week

Wisdom from an egg carton:

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How does the week ahead look for you?

 

 

 

 

Our new normal begins this week. The county and our local cities start opening back up in phases. Not really sure what it all means. Really, I think everyone is a bit confused. However, it’s nice to think about getting out a bit again.

Sunrise today:

Been awhile since I was awake for a sunrise! Plan to try and get up at a more normal time this week. And maybe be productive, not watch TV for an hour. I also took a shower, ate breakfast, and spent some time outside getting a few photos. Now, it’s time join up with Sandra over at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom for the Happy Homemaker Monday prompts.

The Weather

Wanted to get outside a bit this morning because the weather the rest of our week is pretty stinky! Already, the clouds are rolling around in the sky. We barely escaped at frost warning this morning as it was 41 degrees when we woke. In May! And there are chances of rain every.single.day. this week.  Just slight ones today but it’s only supposed to hit 53 degrees. Then, the rest of the week the chances for rain with strong storms increases. I’m glad to see that the temperature does also at least with highs in the 70’s again (a lot more normal for this time of year).

How I Am Feeling This Morning

Like I drank a bit too much coffee this morning. A bit restless, lots on my mind. Oh, look at the next category!

On My Mind

Cautious optimism for a new normal this summer. I’m ready to get out of the house but I still feel strange about it all. Thinking ahead to the fall and winter and wondering if we’ll be on a repeat loop of this shut down stuff. Wondering what we should do to prepare for it. Christmas shopping. One of my 20 in 2020 was to buy 2 presents each month. Current total on that: 0. Thinking I really should get on it in case of another quarantine situation. As well as stock the freezer. My work. Jury duty in June. My house should be spotless but it’s far from it. Uh, did I mention I drank a bit too much coffee this morning?

On My To Do List

1. Have J figure out his schoolwork priorities (it’s the technical last week)
2. Also, have J gather his items to return to school (books, band tux, etc). On the 18th, they’re having a drive-up to pick up/drop off of supplies.
3. Wash our face masks (I need to figure out an easy way to do this. Any tips?)
4. Check in with J’s private baritone instructor to see how/if he plans to proceed with lessons
5. Order some Christmas presents (see rambling thoughts above)

On My Breakfast Plate

The usual, a Chobani Flip yogurt (peach cobbler flavor) and too much coffee

On My Reading Pile

Finished my current book, One for the Blackbird, One for the Crow by Olivia Hawker. Didn’t really expect to like it and ended up loving it! I’ll probably write a proper review over on Goodreads later. Seemed to be just the book I needed to read for our current circumstances.

TV Viewing

We watched Terminator on regular TV one night. I do love that movie for some weird reason. Other than that, I caved and watched Tales From the Loop on Amazon, really kind of enjoyed it though my husband didn’t last the first episode. And I’ve been working my way through the Spring Baking Championship on Hulu, a nice, positive little cooking show.

On The Menu This Week

While it’s the time of year we should be enjoying quick, simple things, the weather keeps crying out for warm, fall comfort foods. Add in the meat shortage thing and I don’t even know what to plan. Oh, and I want to go to the store though I should wait it out one more week. Might try to plan around the pantry a bit this week.

MONDAY: (depends on whether my son has a baritone lesson tonight) turkey hot dogs, sweet potato fries, strawberry brownies (leftover dessert from yesterday) (LUNCH: leftover BBQ from yesterday)

TUESDAY: Waffles, bacon and sausage (leftovers in fridge) (LUNCH: popcorn chicken)

WEDNESDAY: Spaghetti (pasta of some sort anyway), salad, garlic bread (LUNCH: ham sandwiches)

THURSDAY: Roast in the crock pot (carry over from last week) (LUNCH: soup maybe?)

FRIDAY: Teriyaki Chicken (from freezer) (LUNCH: Burritos from freezer)

From The Camera

I’m waiting impatiently for this random bloom in the front yard. Anyone know what this is going to be?  My husband set up his hunting blind in the backyard for me to take bird photos that weren’t through the backdoor glass. We’ve been especially enamored with these backyard guests:

One morning we had no less than 7 of them milling around under the feeders!

Looking Around The House

Needs a good cleaning.

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

See above

To Relax This Week I Will

For Mother’s Day, the boys pooled some Nintendo gift cards to give me Animal Crossing: New Horizons and helped me get started.  So I’ll escape to Jeansland for a bit.

On My Prayer List

Family, friends, strangers. A smooth restart to our new normal and an end to this pandemic.

Quote For The Week

“Make hay while the sun shines” 

(English proverb though I think of the Little House on the Prairie books with this one.)

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Is your area starting to re-open? What are your plans for the week?

 

 

 

Aren’t we all hoping this is going to be a good month? 

Currently, it feels about as surreal as the month of March. I think the weather this morning is adding to my feelings as it’s fairly gloomy. 

On a positive note, our area starts tentatively opening again this week. Our whole state, today. Some counties today as well. Our local area, however, is still on lock down for another week.

Let’s just look at the week ahead and see if it looks any different than the one we just left. Linking up with Sandra over at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom.

The Weather

Gloomy and green cast. The world has the weird coloring of the impending spring thunderstorm. We’re under a severe thunderstorm watch until this afternoon.

The rest of the week shows 60’s and varying chances of rain. Means they have no idea. Might be rainy all week or it might be beautiful.

How I Am Feeling This Morning

Better after I’ve showered. Woke up a bit tired. Weird since I woke up quite a bit later than normal. Guessing I didn’t sleep well. Of course, I’ve been going to bed a bit later so that could also explain it. Missing the sunshine very much. Keeping positive amid a global pandemic is much harder under gloomy skies.

On My Mind

My work. I miss it. J’s school. He won’t admit it but he misses it, too I think. I’m sure he misses band class at least. Wondering if it’s too early to take a nap.

On My To Do List

1. Check in with my work (I’m scheduled for Friday but probably not needed)
2. Work on the flower garden (if it isn’t too rainy)
3. Help J keep on his school work (it’s a fine balancing act here)
4. Laundry/clean house (always)
5. Find some motivation

On My Breakfast Plate

Benefit of sleeping late on a gloomy day. Husband was up early and made breakfast so I had a pancake and sausage along with my coffee.

On My Reading Pile

I read Wild by Cheryl Strayed. Didn’t really care for the author but her descriptions of the trail were interesting and it did make me a bit nostalgic for the 90’s (However, I do realize it’s odd to use a blog platform to miss a time prior to social media and mainstream blogging.) It was the last library book I had left (not counting several children’s books about the grasslands) so it was nice to pick up a “real” book.

Since I enjoyed reading a “real” book so much, I went and raided our bookshelves here for something I hadn’t read. Finished Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger last night. G kept amused at my face as I read the book from his high school sophomore honors English class. Not one of my favorite reads.

TV Viewing

Watched the final installment (almost 3 hours of sub-titles!) of my Millennium trilogy movies, The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet’s Nest. I liked that book the best and that movie the least. Found myself really disappointed by how they developed Erica Berger’s character in the movies (she’s a side character but they didn’t get her right at all to the point it annoyed me).

Spent my Friday night watching La La Land as I’d never seen it. It was okay. Not something I’m itching to watch again. My husband and I enjoyed watching Upload on Amazon Prime though I do wish Amazon Prime focused more on making new seasons of their current shows than constantly throwing the new shows out there.

On The Menu This Week

Went grocery shopping last night so probably a pretty standard fare as far as our menus go.

MONDAY: Pork chops, sweet potatoes, salad (lunch: leftover pizza)

TUESDAY: Taco salads (What else would we have?) (lunch: peanut butter sandwiches)

WEDNESDAY: BLT’s, sweet potato fries (lunch: leftovers probably)

THURSDAY: Bar-B-Que Baked Chicken, corn, salad (lunch: scrambled eggs, toast)

FRIDAY: Roast in the crock pot (lunch: baked potatoes)

From The Camera

We finally got our garden tilled on Saturday.

So yesterday afternoon, we went to see about some seedlings and ended up mostly with seeds. However, I was happy to find my little blue flowers! 

Going to have to make my own hanging basket this year but that’s okay.

Looking Around The House

It’s dark! The rain’s here along with some hail. I just returned to this post after running outside to grab my little flowers pictured above and bring them inside.

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

Discussing school work with J.

To Relax This Week I Will

Watch my birds, maybe bake something, turn on some music.

On My Prayer List

A friend who lost her mother last week (not to the virus), all the workers considered essential, family, strangers. An end to this crazy global pandemic.

Quote For The Week

How about a song instead?

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What are your plans for this (hopefully) very merry month of May?

Can you believe this is the last week of April? It felt at times as if we wouldn’t get this far. Let’s see what’s going on in the week ahead as I wait impatiently for the stay at home orders to lift. (Our state orders end on May 3. However, here in the K.C. metro area most areas ours included have a delayed date of May 15.)

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

The Weather

Yesterday, was a beautiful and warm spring day. Even managed to mow the front yard. However, it rains every other day it seems. And the backyard resembles a swamp. Rained again overnight. Rain is supposed to move out today but then, more chances tomorrow. After that, we get a few decent days at last. Most our highs show as the upper 60’s to mid 70’s. Sounds right.

How I Am Feeling This Morning

I’m bouncing back and forth between feeling full of motivation and wanting to just go back to bed and pull the covers over my head. I’m feeling a bit restless.

On My Mind

All the things I want to do, places I’d like to go after the stay at home stuff ends. Today, the only place I’m going is to the curbside pickup at a local farm supply store. We’re out of birdseed for the downy woodpecker and he’s quite unhappy about it. I’m out of my other birdseed as well. And the store is out. New kind ordered, hope the birds like it just as well.

On My To Do List

1. Order and go pick up birdseed (in process, order placed)DONE
2. Finish this post
3. Clean the house
4. Spend some time outside between rain showers
5. Maybe go for a drive just for a change of scenery

On My Breakfast Plate

The usual, Chobani flip yogurt and coffee. Today was the last “normal” flavor, now I’m down to Cookies and Cream or S’mores (flavors I buy for J, not my favorites for breakfast)

On My Reading Pile

Working my way through Stieg Larsson’s Millennium series. Last week I read both The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and The Girl Who Played With Fire. And this week, I’ll continue reading (and most likely finish The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet’s Nest. The second book was better, I thought, than the first. They certainly aren’t for everyone but I’m enjoying them.

TV Viewing

After being quite excited to find a movie corresponding to my book, I pulled it up on Amazon and….wait a minute. They’re speaking Swedish and that’s certainly not Daniel Craig! However, I stuck it out (with some help from “tech support” showing me how to add the subtitles) and enjoyed the film after all. As an added bonus, there are 3 Swedish films corresponding to each book So I watched the second film once I finished the second book.

I also watched Dirty Dancing on you-tube.  Glad no one ever had the garish thought to remake that 80’s classic. If they did and I missed it, don’t tell me. I wouldn’t want to watch it anyway.

On The Menu This Week

Ugh. A hard one. I opted not to go to the store yesterday as I’d decided we’d done awful at stretching out our trips. (Of course, I can not help my husband’s trips to get whatever he wants. And can’t be too upset as he got me quite the haul of M&M’s yesterday). Anyway, our meals this week are definitely coming from the freezer.

On a side note, we’ve both noticed less meat available each trip. Especially beef. I’m wondering if pork shall follow?

MONDAY:  Chicken Parmesan (already seasoned/breaded from grocery store), probably made into sandwiches (Lunch: Easy fried rice with ham and pineapple)

TUESDAY:  Fish sticks, baked potatoes, cornbread waffles (trying something new), and salad (Lunch: corn dogs, chips)

WEDNESDAY: Regular waffles, bacon (Lunch: burritos, dinner leftovers from last night)

THURSDAY: Hamburgers, French Fries (Lunch: pretzels with cheese)

FRIDAY:  Frozen pizza, salad (Lunch: popcorn chicken in air fryer)

And even though I’m planning lunches, most days the teenagers are hardly up to eat breakfast let alone lunch. I still like to have a plan just in case.

From The Camera

I’ll likely share this picture again on Saturday in my bird watching post. However, I was excited to spot and finally capture on camera this little bird pair! I’m fairly certain they’re yellow-rumped warblers. 

Looking Around The House

It could definitely be cleaner.

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

The floors.

To Relax This Week, I Will

Read my books, get outside and walk around the yard, pick up the camera

On My Prayer List

All those impacted, whether in big or small ways, by this virus. Prayers for peace, healing, and compassion for us all.

Quote For The Week

This actually just popped up on my Pinterest feed. Funny.

Probably because of my book choices combined with my quick glance at a Swedish newspapers. (It’s this weird quarantine obsession of mine, reading newspapers from other countries. Mainly because the television world news reports seem to be anything but that. Rest of the country?  Yes. Rest of the world? Good luck. Been a pet peeve of mine for a while). If you have a suggestion of a newspaper from another country, let me know.

End of rant/digression. Here’s the quote/thought:

Those who wish to sing, always find a song. (Swedish Proverb)

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