Happy Monday to you my Lovelies! ☀️💛
How are things kicking off this week for you? Did you have a nice weekend??
It was a fun one here as we celebrated July 4th at the lake cottage with Matt's folks. Aaron was at Jill's family cabin. And Annie is still in Europe for her study abroad program.
We went early (Thursday night) as Matt didn't need to work Friday. We went out for a lovely dinner that night. Then Friday morning we did our annual tradition of watching the Nathan's hot dog eating contest and Joey Chestnut won again! The announcers are the best because they make it so funny with the way they introduce the contestants.
It was a hot windy day and we swam in the lake for hours. It was so fun with the big waves. Then that night we grilled up dinner. It rained/stormed all evening. So no fireworks. :(
Saturday was a gray overcast day and they predicted rain so we mainly hung out inside playing games, cards and had a kind of a movie marathon.
Then Sunday we had a lovely brunch and went for a long pontoon ride before heading home. Such a nice long relaxing weekend. And I just love my in-law's and time at the lake so much!! 💗
Now back to real life...
THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:
ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE THIS MORNING:
iced coffee, a light and fit protein yogurt with a little granola on top
ON MY TO DO LIST THIS WEEK:
catching up on bible study, zooming with girlfriends to catch up, errands, Matt & I tag team some yard work, hanging with Annie when she gets back, hospice work
THINKING ABOUT:
how very blessed I am and singing praises of gratitude to the Lord in heaven for so many abundant gifts 🙏🏻
THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY:
any time I share with my girlfriends (near and far) - they are the sisters of my heart
including time with my blogland girlfriends too 😉💗
CURRENTLY READING
The next book in the Dream Harbor series by Laurie Gilmore called The Cinnamon Bun Bookstore
ON THE TV TODAY:
Americas Got Talent, Jeopardy, TWD catch up, Just Like That, Stick, I've started watching The Gilded Age, Matt's never seen The Office (I loved that series) so we've started that together, Big Brother starts back this week, I'd never seen The Last Kingdom so watching that with Matt now too (sounds like lots of shows but we usually only watch jeopardy and then 1 show a night...and sometimes an office episode as they're so short) Matt goes to bed before I do, typically, so I may watch one of my shows later at night.
ON THE MENU THIS WEEK:
MONDAY - shredded cabbage "pasta" with protein alfredo sauce and grilled Italian marinated chicken breasts, melon (didn't end up having this last week)
TUESDAY - mini pierogies with mediterranean salad
WEDNESDAY - might be out for dinner?
THURSDAY - chicken crumbles with sesame ginger sauce bowls with spinach
FRIDAY - ??
TO RELAX THIS WEEK I WILL:
read, scrapbook, visit with friends, work in the yard/garden
TIPS OR SOMETHING TO SHARE:
FROM THE CAMERA:
WARNING: sharing lots - photo overload ahead. 🙈
Beautiful nights on the lake - the sunsets there are always stellar
Checking on the new deck Matt and I had built there. The previous one was falling apart. It's right above where you head down to the dock. There's a bridge behind it that's old and rough too that we plan to have replaced next year. For those that don't know - we live on a bay in WI. The home I've been living in since 2007 that I kept in the divorce. But Matt owns his Grandparents lake property in MN and his parents "rent" from him as they live there every summer. There's a mobile home (his Dad's "bat cave") on the property, as well as a lake cottage. It's 11 acres and over 300 feet of lake frontage. It's a retirement plan for us - so we are keeping up with the place and repairs. When his Dad doesn't need it anymore - we will remove the mobile. And we plan to revamp/reconstruct the whole cottage one day to make it a true home for us. But that's all quite a while down the road. :)
Holiday weekends called for giving myself a sparkly red, white, and blue mani. And for bringing lots of yummy goodies: crab dip we had with crackers and veggies, pinwheel deli sammys, and summer berry poke cake with white frosting. 😋❤️💙
Matt's Mom found some more old photo albums to share when we got there. I love looking through them and learning more about this studly as I'm still a newlywed. Lol A lot of them crack me up so I have to share with you friends so you can tease too. 😁
baby Matt with his Granny (they were the best of pals!)
did any of you watch Home Improvement? So many of Matt's pics from around this time period he looked just like Brad Taylor. Lol Do you see it?
Matt was at a cooking event and Robert Irvine was there (from the show Restaurant Impossible) and he called Matt up on stage because he said he had big muscles like him and they should compare. Ha!
Who is this guy - with a soul patch no less?? I was dying laughing at this one 😂😂😂
And studly athletic Matt (back left) from his days at Illinois State - he had a scholarship for Track and Field (he did discus and hammer throw) - lots of years of training and awards until he wrecked his knees and blew out his ankle :(
Thank you for indulging me down that Matt memory lane ...now back to our regularly scheduled lake photos. Loving these summer days and time on the pontoon too.
And now some pics of life back at home on the bay. Matt took a pic the other day and momma robin has 4 eggs in the nest!
grow garden grow...
a guilty pleasure is picking up some seasonal bath and body soaps (I recycle all the bottles!) And I've been loving this unique one called off the vine with hints of tomato garden, flowers and moss. It smells fresh like a garden 🍅
PRAYER LIST:
For an end to the conflicts all over the world and anyone living in war & fear. For peace and unity in this country, especially from hate and shootings or violence. For anyone sick, suffering, in pain, fear, loneliness etc ... that God bring them comfort and peace. For the flooding in Texas and especially for all those affected at Camp Mystic 😢 🙏🏻
For Christ's Light and Love to cast out the darkness everywhere and help the world find its way. 🙏🏻