Last week was a rough one. As we were preparing to go out-of-town for our Aunt’s funeral, we found out my husband’s grandmother passed away. Unfortunately, we couldn’t attend her funeral as it was too far away (she’d moved to Texas earlier in the summer).  

As I said in the title, I’m hoping for a better week to end out this month.

Starting today with meeting a friend for coffee and a much-needed catch up on all the things kind of chat. Then, I get to take G and help him through the process of car inspections and tag renewals. Followed by maybe a grocery store trip and taking J to his baritone lesson. Better get to planning this week!

Joining in as always with Sandra from Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. Be sure to check out her site. Making my headings red for the Chiefs, they may not have won but what a game they gave us!

The Weather  

Um, snow chances tonight? And on Thursday! Winter, you’re too early! Go back to bed. It’s about 40 degrees today and 46 is the high. Warmest day of the week until the weekend, a balmy 48 predicted for Saturday.

On The Breakfast Plate

Haven’t made it that far. Coffee. Probably going to have a cheese danish with my Pumpkin Spice Latte in a bit.

As I Look Outside My Window

Cloudy. Dark when J and I left for the high school. Ready for some light in my mornings again.

Right Now I Am

Trying to hurry up with this post before I head out for the day.

As I Look Around The House

Could be worse but could also be a lot cleaner. We have too much stuff sitting around right now in need of a home. Maybe I’ll work on that this week.

On My To Do List

Seems like a lot and not sure it will all happen…

1. Go have coffee with a friend
2. Get G’s car tags renewed
3. Grocery store
4. Deep clean the bathrooms
5. Target?
6. Figure out what we’re going to do for J’s birthday (Nov 15, fast approaching)
7. Pay bills
8. Clean out fridge/freezer
9. Buy new socks (I’m not as holy as my socks would have one think 😉 )
10. Call to get my haircut

On The Menu

MONDAY: Lasagna (from a box), bread, salad (if I get to the store) *J has a baritone lesson*

TUESDAY: Apple Cider Pork Chops (in the crock pot), Fried Green Tomatoes

WEDNESDAY: Chicken in some form

THURSDAY: Chili (either here or at my brother’s house), cornbread *HAPPY HALLOWEEN*

FRIDAY: Been craving Chicken Enchilada Soup….not sure

Currently Reading

Same book as last week.

On The TV

Been watching Riverdale on Netflix. World Series (Maybe the Nationals can still win it?), NFL Football (Chiefs). Need to catch up on shows from last week.

New Recipe I Tried Or Want To Try 

Not exactly a recipe but J and I did try the Trick or Treat Ice Cream at Stone Cold Creamery yesterday afternoon (when it was a nice, sunny, and fairly warm fall day). Our Sunday Dinner: 

From The Camera

I picked everything left in our garden yesterday. 

Quote For The Week

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17)

Verse from the eulogy of our late aunt. Thought it was a good one.

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What’s on your agenda for this last week in October?

 

Well, I missed another Monday. Getting called into work at 6:30 will do that. Agreeing to go when half-asleep isn’t the best idea either as I realized too late I’d agreed to be there at 7:15. YIKES! Not a lot of get ready time.

We had a rather bittersweet weekend around here, we were all able to attend J’s last marching band competition. The band made the finals and placed 6th (pretty good for a very young band). G had fun catching up with friends who attended the college hosting the competition).

Unfortunately, we received very sad news while there. Our aunt who lived in Oklahoma passed away over the weekend. We decided to wait and tell the boys once we arrived back home from the competition (around midnight).

Let’s go ahead and get the week ahead planned. Linking up with Sandra over at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.

The Weather  

The trees are finally changing colors. Cold mornings, warmer afternoons but lots of wind! It was 45 degrees this morning when I left to take J to school. Supposed to be around 55 later this afternoon and sunny. Most the week looks the same, chance of rain on Thursday. Maybe over the weekend.

On The Breakfast Plate

Not the healthiest choice, a big bowl of Mahomes Magic Crunch (aka Frosted Flakes) with almond milk and lots of coffee.

As I Look Outside My Window

Nothing to see out the basement windows but earlier I saw lots of leaves flying around and blue skies out the back door window.

Right Now I Am

Sitting in the basement writing up this post, thinking of all the things I need to get done today, and listening for G to get up and go off to his college class.

As I Look Around The House

Cleaning it is definitely on the list for today as I don’t want to come back to a messy house after we attend the funeral out-of-town.

On Today’s To Do List

1. Put out the trash 
2. Clean the house
3. Go to grocery store
4. Clean out car/fill with gas
5. Pack for Oklahoma

On The Menu

MONDAY: Yesterday, J had leftover steak bites and G and I ate scrambled eggs *J had a baritone lesson at 6:30*

TUESDAY: Not sure, probably something out of the freezer or that I pick up at the grocery store.

WEDNESDAY: OUT *traveling to Oklahoma for funeral*

THURSDAY: OUT

FRIDAY: OUT

Currently Reading

Call Sign Chaos: Learning to Lead by Jim Mattis and Bing West.

On The TV Today

I’ll probably watch The Flash later. Not sure what else. Doubt it’s going to be much of a TV kind of day.

What I’m Creating At The Moment 

Painting some “Leave my wildflowers alone!” fencing for the backyard area.

New Recipe I Tried Or Want To Try

Made my mom’s Apple Chip Cake last week.  Oh and after seeing the preschool kids get super excited at a birthday celebration, I decided we had to try these cookies: 

From The Camera

Exciting news on the camera front! I fixed my broken Nikon camera. 

You can see the bent lens in the photo above; I used a flat screwdriver to bend it out more so the lens could extend and the camera would function. Not pretty but it works now.

The zoom on the Sony frustrated me so much….here’s an example of the differences in the zoom capabilities:

I spotted this squirrel having a treat on top of the neighbor’s chimney last week. This is as close as the Sony could get me to the action.

Same chimney (squirrel long gone) using the zoom lens on the Nikon.  And one last one, from the band competition: 

Quote For The Week

If you must look back, do so forgivingly. If you must look forward, do so prayerfully. However, the wisest thing you can do is be present in the present…gratefully.  (Maya Angelou)

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What are your plans for the week ahead?

 

Didn’t mean to miss a week of posting. However, I was sick and busy last week. Not a great combination. I can vaguely recall my mom used to say something like “no rest for the wicked.”

Between having some sort of cold/sinus thing going on, working, and running my high school freshman to activities, something (blogging) had to go. However, I’m back to about 94% today so let’s plan hopefully, a less busy week ahead.

Linking up as always with Sandra, our host of Happy Homemaker Monday, over at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.

The Weather 

Proper fall, chilly nights and mornings but a bit warmer in the afternoons. It’s 45 degrees this morning and supposed to be 72 this afternoon. Lots of sun during the week with chances of rain over the weekend (of course).

On My Reading Pile

I’m between books but did manage to read two books during the last 2 weeks, Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel and What You Did by Claire McGowan. My reviews of both books are on Goodreads if you’re interested.

On My TV

Finished watching Mr. Robot and discovered Mindhunter on Netflix (might need to read the book on that one). Also, watching my usual series, The Flash, Seal Team, and God Friended Me.

On My Menu

The freezer saved us last week! Still need to clean out the basement one a bit and organize the upstairs one.

MONDAY:  BLT’s (using last red tomato from garden), french fries *I work 1:30-3:45* *J has a baritone lesson at 630*

TUESDAY: Chicken taco salad/maybe enchiladas (using cooked chicken in freezer) *I work 1:00-3:45* *J has early morning band* *Parent/Teacher conferences & Bunco night*

WEDNESDAY:  Chicken apple sausages & cabbage *J has early morning band*

THURSDAY:  Fish/shrimp/baked potatoes *J has evening band*

FRIDAY: OUT *Football game* *No school for J*

On My To Do List

1. Argue with library (I KNOW I returned a book they say I lost; second time this has happened to me, getting a bit old)
2. Pay bills
3. Catch up on last week’s to do list
4. Put away most of my summer clothes
5. Practice more with new camera

Looking Around The House

Looks like we were gone all day Saturday (band competition) and too tired to take care of anything on Sunday. Needs lots of attention.

From The Camera

I’m struggling with this interim camera and very much missing my Nikon. Especially the zoom function. Hoping to have time to watch a tutorial on it this week. 

Quote For The Week

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

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What’s on your agenda for the week ahead?

 

Happy Last Sunday in September! I just found out I’ll be working in the morning so I’m sitting here working on my post. And wondering why my weekend ran away in such a hurry.

It was busy but I still wish it could have stayed a bit longer. Here’s a brief recap of our weekend:

The high school moved the Friday night football games to Thursday out of weather concerns, made for a long day for me (worked til 6 then off to cheer on my favorite marching band on the field, football team as well). After work Friday, the rain came late so I had time to mow the front yard. Much needed.

Saturday, we spent the entire day on the road and at a marching band competition in southern Missouri. The predicted rain mostly held off and we only had to seek shelter from a brief downpour once and it happened after all the bands had their preliminary turns.  Our band took home a well-deserved 3rd place trophy from the finals competition! We didn’t arrive home until close to 2 AM last night as we drove through some thunderstorms.

The lovely cat cried out her displeasure at being ignored bright and early at 5 AM this morning. Thankfully, I was able to back to bed until about 8 but my poor husband had to work most of today. The Chiefs game gave us enough of a rush that we didn’t need to celebrate national coffee day around here! We do get to celebrate another football win though. Hooray!

And now it’s time to plan the week ahead.

The Weather

Rainbows are hard to photograph! It’s off to the left but there is a rainbow in the photo above (taken after the brief downpour on Saturday afternoon).

Summer isn’t leaving us without a fight. Highs in the upper 80’s until Wednesday. Then, fall gets to try again with highs in the upper 60’s. And always those chances of more rain on Wednesday & Thursday. So far it looks like we’ll get a nice football Friday evening.

On My Reading Pile

After finishing The Two Lila Bennetts by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke, I haven’t picked up another book. Guess I better find one before J’s lesson tomorrow night.

On My TV

Still fascinated with the Mr. Robot series. Probably explains the lack of reading. Plus all the season premieres are starting. Watched The Goldbergs, Single Parents, and Modern Family. And tried out a couple new shows…probably not the best sign I can’t remember the names of them: the one about the little girl found by the plane crash & the one with the gal from How I Met Your Mother.  I just watched the season premiere of God Friended Me and will watch Seal Team on Wednesday.

On My Menu

Another somewhat odd week and I’m still working on a big freezer clean out….got rid of some old French Toast sticks and French Toast tonight at dinner.

MONDAY: Honey Teriyaki Chicken Bites, rice, salad? *I work 7:30-3:45* *J has a baritone lesson at 6:30*

TUESDAY: Apple cider pork chops (trying something new), baked sweet potatoes, fried apples *J has early morning band practice* *I work 1-4:30* *Mom’s Night Out*

WEDNESDAY: Maybe chili if the weather is truly cool *J has early morning band practice* *I work 1-4:30*

THURSDAY: Popcorn chicken in the air fryer or frozen pizza/salad *I work 1-4:30* *J has evening band practice*

FRIDAY: OUT *Football game tradition* *I’m meeting a friend for coffee in the AM*

On My To Do List

1. Continue working on freezer clean out
2. Take back library books (still need to do this!)
3. Get a spare key made
4. Buy windshield wiper fluid for car
5. Do a little more fall decorating
6. Work on blog posts

Looking Around the House

I did a little more fall decorating around the mess, my fall leaves lights make me happy. And so do my candles. 

From The Camera

I thought this church building was so beautiful! 

This colorful little moth was attached to our door on Saturday morning: 

And one last photo, I was in awe of this predawn sky on Friday morning as I was leaving for work: 

Quote For The Week

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you flows from it. (Proverbs 4:23)

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Don’t forget to hop over to Diary of a Stay at Home Mom where Sandra hosts these weekly Happy Homemaker Monday link ups.

A bit of a later start to planning my week today. I work later today but had to spend the morning dealing with putting our pantry back together. We had an ant invasion over the weekend.

I guess it’s going to be kitchen clear out week around here. Gave the pantry a really good cleaning this morning before returning and re-organizing all the contents. Left me inspired to move on to the rest of the cabinets. Been on my project list for a long time.

Taking a break to plan the week ahead before I return to it and get ready to work later.

The Weather  

Summer is reminding us that it’s still here for another week. Highs in the low 90’s to upper 80’s all week. Chances of rain on Saturday and Sunday. I really hope the rain holds off as J has his first band competition on Saturday.

On My Reading Pile

I picked up I Let You Go by Claire McIntosh at the library. Started it, put it down, and finally last night picked it up again. It’s intriguing but a bit troubling to read at first as it deals with the hit and run of a 5-year-old boy.  Going to be a tough read for me considering I work with 2-5 year-old children.

On My TV

Cheesy Netflix movie for the win. I broke down and watched I Am Mother on there. Not as bad as I anticipated. Not good but not that bad. Alternate title suggestion for them: Terminator: From the Machine’s Point of View.  Also watched a movie I’d requested on disc, Mortal Engines. Clearly a movie produced for effects vs plot though I enjoyed it.

On My Menu

I’m doing another round of the Take Ten challenge so my menu is somewhat set though I’m shuffling some menus due to time constraints and my ongoing freezer/pantry clean out project.

MONDAY: pancakes and sausage (shifting and subbing this for the day that looks like omelets as my husband doesn’t do eggs) *I work 1-3:45* *J has a baritone lesson at 6:30*

TUESDAY: Chicken legs *J has early morning band practice* *I have Bunco*

WEDNESDAY: Looks like some sort of tacos *J has early morning band practice* *I work 7:30-noon*

THURSDAY: Roast in the crock pot *J has evening band practice* *I’m helping prepare food for the band competition day*

FRIDAY: Chicken and pasta of some sort (I may just make chicken cacciatore) *I work 9:30-6*

On My To Do List

1. Pay bills
2. Freezer/Fridge/Pantry (done!)/Cabinet clean & clear out
3. Grocery store for lunch stuff mainly
4. Still need to take items to donate
5. Wash bedding

What I Am Creating

Hopefully, a clean and cozy home that’s ready for fall and winter.

Looking Around The House

We have stuff everywhere! It’s making us all grouchy, I think. Necessary component of remodeling the bedroom but I’m ready to have my living space back.

From The Camera 

Didn’t pick up the camera much last week. Here’s glance at my ant-inspired pantry project. 

 

On My Prayer List

Family, friends, speedy recovery for a fellow teacher who was extremely sick (hospitalized) last week…

Quote For The Week

Don’t let seeds of discontent take root in your spirit. (Joel Osteen)

I needed that message yesterday as well as the run my own race reminder when I happened to flip on the TV to his sermon. Definitely something I needed to work on last week and going forward.

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Don’t forget to go check out Sandra’s blog Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for the Happy Homemaker Monday link up. Such a fun, encouraging place to visit in blog-land.