Happy Homemaker Monday

Hi there Friends! 

Happy new week to you.

For those in the States I hope you had a lovely Independence Day weekend. 

We went to the lake to spend it with Matt's folks and Annie came with us. They love when kiddos come and especially love the fact that my kids have embraced Matt's folks as other grandparents to them. 💗 Matt and I love that too! 

The weather was a little rainy/stormy on Saturday. But we had fun playing games, watching a movie, and then later it cleared enough that we could watch some of the fireworks across the lake. 

Then Sunday was gorgeous out and we got in a pontoon ride before lunch and then heading back home. 

Another lovely July 4th in the books ❤️🇺🇸

I know my fellow Autumn loving Friends feel the same way I do though. That once July 4th comes and goes we allow ourselves to let in a little Fall thought here and there. Lol In the northwoods July is the epitome of summer and then August becomes pre-Fall so it's easy for me to think that way. 

But don't worry my Summer loving Friends. I am still all in on Summer vibes. I still have a lot of flowers and garden to love, walks to be had, iced coffee to be sipped, golf to be golfed, BBQ's to be grilled, sunsets to be watched by a fire, swimming to be swam in the lake, and pontoon time to be relaxed upon. I just needed to be honest for a moment about who I am and that I do enjoy the allowance of an Autumn thought because it's always in my heart. As well as, I plan on some Christmas in July to be shopped and celebrated too. 😉❤️💚

But that's another story....

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE THIS MORNING:

ice protein coffee, whole grain toast with a little natural peanut butter

ON MY TO DO LIST THIS WEEK:

errands & groceries, getting ready for an Aunt to visit that is having surgery in the area and will convalesce here overnight (need to work on menu as she has a gluten allergy), check in with my Mom, projects, yard work, hospice work

THINKING ABOUT: 

As a Taylor fan (my daughter & I saw her in concert before and she was amazing!) - I'm glad she got her happy ending and that she had her big wedding with Travis over the weekend. It will be fun to see photos when they release pics of the big day. 

THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY:

fun bonding chats with my Annie boo

CURRENTLY READING

I'm happy to report I'm back to the book I was reading a month ago and making a dent on finishing it. Then I can dive into my new pile. (still finishing it 🙈)

 

ON THE TV TODAY:

  Jeopardy, old seasons of big brother Castle Impossible (we have several yet to watch), AGT, Sweet Magnolias (I need to finish this one), new Big Brother starts this week!

ON THE MENU THIS WEEK:

    MONDAY - green goddess pasta salad (for Annie & I), Matt will probably have a turkey sandwich too as he doesn't like to eat only vegetarian Lol😂

TUESDAY - maybe breakfast for dinner? (eggs, breakfast potatoes, I will make pancakes if Annie wants, fruit)

WEDNESDAY -  chicken salad low carb wraps

THURSDAY -  grilled chicken, roasted regular or sweet potatoes, romaine salad with fruit veggies & feta with balsamic viniagrette, gluten free rice krispies bars

FRIDAY - out for dinner?

TO RELAX THIS WEEK I WILL:

projects, maybe read, work on a craft for a future Christmas gift

TIPS OR SOMETHING TO SHARE:

 

FROM THE CAMERA:

A few shots from around home - including my goofy Hubby's humor. He put this monster plant in my garden for me to find. Lol Also some pics of the pretty glow at night. I love solar lanterns everywhere. 

Some pics from July 4th weekend at the lake. Crazy clouds before it got stormy. And the July 4th tradition Matt loves is to watch and see if Joey Chestnut can defend his hot dog eating contest title each year. I made some patriotic goodies for the weekend including chocolate covered strawberries. And this cream cheese berry french toast bake that was SO good. I will share the recipe this week. 

Sue (my MIL) wanted to take a pic of all of us to send to her Bestie back in AZ who always sends pics of her grandkids to Sue. I love that we always need take 2 because in the 1st one Matt is always being such a dork. That's my goofy Hubby. ::sigh:: It's never dull. 😂 

Also, you gotta love that I always look like I'm standing in a hole because I'm so short compared to everyone else. Lol 🙈

The weather cleared up enough to give us a pretty sunset and allow for us to watch some fireworks going off across the lake. 

Then Sunday was nothing but blue skies and a lovely day to take a ride on the pontoon. I love the last pic of a Mama Loon we came across that had a baby on her back:

PRAYER LIST:

 For an end to the conflicts all over the world and anyone living in war & fear, especially everything going on in the middle east right now. 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 healing for my Mom. For my Aunt's surgery this week to go well.

For the Lord's love and peace to fill 2026. ❤️ 

For Christ's Light and Love to cast out the darkness everywhere and help the world find its way to loving our neighbors as ourselves. 🙏🏻

PRAYER, INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE OR DEVOTIONAL:

See, still mostly iced coffee and summer thoughts around here. 💗 Blessings on your week ahead. 

I'm sharing this with Sandra of Diary of a SAHM for Happy Homemaker Monday.

Happy Homemaker Monday

Hey there my Peeps! 

How are you doing on this fine Monday? Did you have a lovely weekend?

We were away to see family for a little reunion in Green Bay WI. Matt, Annie & I traveled down to the vrbo rental we had rented...and to meet other relatives for the weekend. It was a gorgeous property right on Green Bay (the actual water not just the city) and it was perfect for all we needed. We have several family that live in that area - as well as a few more relatives that flew or drove up for the weekend. 

We celebrated a few momentous things besides just catching up as family. My ex's Uncle had passed recently and he was a big GB Packers fan. Annie had asked if maybe we took a little of his ashes we could sprinkle some of him there. Matt & I as huge fans as well, were happy to oblige. Plus, in another life he had been my Uncle too. :) 

We also gathered at my Aunt's condo on Sunday for a little birthday celebration of a great Uncle of mine. He turned 98! So we had a little luncheon buffet and cupcakes and sang him happy birthday. 

We were blessed with lovely weather. We played bocce ball out on the lawn. We sat out in the sun and visited. Matt and I took sunset walks with my Aunt Mary Jo and had great deep conversations. We ate a lot of good food and played a lot of games. I don't know that I've laughed that hard in a long time. It was so nice as some cousins that never met Matt finally got to meet and know him. Many family members came up to me and kept saying how he fits in our family so well and how much they just love him. Yep, he's a keeper for life. 😊💗 

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE THIS MORNING:

ice protein coffee and half of a bagel with scant amount of veggie cream cheese

ON MY TO DO LIST THIS WEEK:

errands & groceries, lab appt, cleaners come (we have company coming to stay this weekend and sometimes hiring help is a useful thing), visit my Mom, hospice work

THINKING ABOUT: 

things I want to accomplish and to grab to make for company coming this weekend (making lists) as well as Father's Day plans for my Dad (& step Dad, Matt)💙

THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY:

watering and tending to my flowers in the morning as I listen to the birds sing, someone mowing the lawn in the distance, and geese honking on the bay

CURRENTLY READING

I have not been in summer reading mode yet - too busy during the day or too tired at night, but I have lots of good books lined up!

 

ON THE TV TODAY:

  Jeopardy, old seasons of big brother & the office, Castle Impossible, AGT, Sweet Magnolias

ON THE MENU THIS WEEK:

    MONDAY - leftovers we brought back in a cooler from the reunion

TUESDAY - asian chicken crumbles with sauce (Costco) over cauliflower rice, veggie spring rolls

WEDNESDAY -  

THURSDAY -  

FRIDAY - 

*need to plan out the rest of the week before we get groceries

TO RELAX THIS WEEK I WILL:

organize some of my craft area, play with my flowers/garden

TIPS OR SOMETHING TO SHARE:

I thought you might enjoy this "cozynooks" channel from youtube that had ambiance of a strawberry garden  🍓

 

FROM THE CAMERA:

Watering my flowers this AM and I could see all the ants crawling on my peony bulbs. They will bloom soon, yay! 

My great Uncle Paul is in the yellow shirt. He is a retired priest and we had a little 98th birthday for him at my Aunt's condo:

Here are some moments of family time at the VRBO. We took turns being teams playing bocce ball or being the cheerleaders on the sidelines.

The VRBO was a 5 bedroom 3 bathroom place and had several levels and a few different decks. Matt and I loved this one for coffee in the morning as we were often up earliest.

This is the back of the property standing on the big dock looking back at it. And I caught some sunset pics when were walking back from one of our walks with my Aunt:

Here are some pics of the property. Matt & I secured the VRBO and handled menu planning, grabbing the groceries, and made a lot of the menu items (Matt did the grilling too) - so they insisted we have the primary suite. Which was the whole 2nd floor! 😍

I forgot to get a photo, but besides the dining table it had several stools along the island and the cutest breakfast nook connected with the island that had benches.

the lower level had a bar, big screen tv and fuseball:

The whole 2nd floor was a primary suite that included the bedroom, bathroom, and a hallway that had 2 very large separate walk-in closets and full laundry. Matt & I loved it!

The top floor was like a little cuppola with a desk area....basically a nice quiet work area with an amazing view!

Matt, Annie & I took a visit to Lambeau football stadium and said hi to Vince Lombardi (the statue where Matt & I got engaged). We had stopped there to sprinkle some of my ex's Uncle Gary's ashes (Annie's great Uncle) as he had been a huge Packers fan. Matt & I love Lambeau and were happy to help. We picked out a lot number in the parking field so there was kind of a designated spot to know where he is. I said a few words and we all said an Our Father prayer over him and then Annie sprinkled him and I got some pics for her dad. 

PRAYER LIST:

 For an end to the conflicts all over the world and anyone living in war & fear, especially everything going on in the middle east right now. 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 healing for my Mom. 

For the Lord's love and peace to fill 2026. ❤️ 

For Christ's Light and Love to cast out the darkness everywhere and help the world find its way to loving our neighbors as ourselves. 🙏🏻

PRAYER, INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE OR DEVOTIONAL:

I am so grateful for the gift of family. And I consider my good friends (like you) family I get to choose to have in my life too. 😊💗 

Blessings on your week Friends!

I'm sharing this with Sandra of Diary of a SAHM for Happy Homemaker Monday.