Happy Monday to you Friends!
Happy April 🌸 😊 Although, you still wouldn't know it up here with the piles of snow yet. Snow in the forecast again tomorrow too. Ugh! But it has been melting some days here and there and the next week looks lovely with highs in the 50's every day. Yay! So hopefully that will take care of the snow and begin true Spring in the northwoods. ☀️
It was a fun weekend here. Annie had buds hang out one night and play some darts and ping pong downstairs. Matt and I made an amazing salmon dinner. Then I met my Bestie Mrs. C for lunch Saturday. Sunday Matt, Annie & I had brunch and made pancakes and an egg bake. Then in the afternoon Annie went with us to Matt's house to have Ruby and Bubba hang out together more (and we all played cards). Last night Matt and I went to Annie's hockey banquet. It was so nice. Annie lettered in her sport and also the team gave her the unsung hero award which they said stood for the player that shows up and gives her all each time and is kind and caring about the team. She was sick a lot this season (not with covid, but with colds etc) but she still kept being an asset to the team and maintaining a GPA of 4.2 (due to honors courses). I got emotional watching her get that award. I can't help but gush a bit as a very proud Mom - thank you for letting me. 😉 🙏
Matt and I went to our local Home and Garden Show this weekend and had fun looking at all the things. We found new deck furniture, which has been needed here for a while. I love it!! We got a double glider swing, single glider rocker, some fan back chairs and an end table. Going to get a large umbrella for shade and that furniture will go around the big fire table we already have. We eventually want to do a pergola over it all with a retractable roof and I'll string lights in it etc. But saving that for next year. We got all the furniture in a pretty gray with white trim. It will match the deck beautifully. And it's nice because it's made out of material like treks deck and is guaranteed to last for 20 yrs.
We also looked at and priced our dream hot tub. We will need to look at the pavers we already have and how to level the hot tub where we will put it in the back of the house. We also need to look at the right electrical hook up we will need etc. So we are probably tabling that until next year too. It was so fun to walk around and dream though! We plan to put a sauna up at his lake property in the future. His lake property has a lovely sandy bottom so it will be perfect for sauna and then run in for a dip. We live on a bay here - so it's more mucky etc. But we want to add to the dock here with a bench for sitting down there (Matt loves to fish) and some holders for kayaks. Not sure if that may happen this year or not? But we've definitely been doing a lot of talking and dreaming with Matt moving in here by this summer. ♥️
Well enough day dreaming and back to the reality of the week ahead...
THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:
ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE THIS MORNING:
Cardamom bread toast, coffee
ON MY TO DO LIST THIS WEEK:
Get Easter groceries and other errands on Matt's day off, meet with fellow Mom on a committee with me for Annie's school about an end of year event, Annie and I getting spa pedis, get out Easter linens and clean etc for hosting Easter here, hospice work
THINKING ABOUT:
The upcoming vacation in the sun Annie and I are taking for her Spring break and to visit my Dad and step Mom ☀️
AS I LOOK AROUND THE HOUSE
It's bright and at moments the sun peeks out a bit and streams in the windows. Ruby is laying in her favorite chair (she lays on the doggy bed we have for her when I'm using it though 😉 ) and snoring as she naps. Lol I see everything all decorated for Easter and will just need to get out the linens and dishes for a fun family gathering this weekend. I will be hosting my Mom and step Dad, my Brother and my Sis-in-law, and of course Matt and my kiddos
CURRENTLY READING
I put a hold on the book The Wonder for the moment and have been looking at Spring magazines and doing more cross stitch in my spare time, to finish the gift I want to bring for my step Mom when we go visit.
ON THE TV TODAY:
Quantam Leap, Survivor, HGTV and cooking shows, Breaking Bad, Greys Anatomy, Shark Tank, Ted Lasso, Reign
ON THE MENU THIS WEEK:
MONDAY - clean out the fridge
TUESDAY - chicken crust pizza (high protein) that Matt wants to try and make for us, salad
WEDNESDAY - Indian butter chicken, cauliflower rice, naan
THURSDAY - sushi night
FRIDAY - fish fry
** For Easter here on Sunday I will be making: honeybaked glazed ham, cheesy hash brown potatoes, strawberry and spinach salad with poppyseed dressing & or raspberry vinaigrette dressing, fruit salad, corn, a crudite veggie platter, cheeses, dinner rolls, lemon bars, fruit pizza cookies, various drinks and coffee
TO RELAX THIS WEEK I WILL:
get a spa pedi, cross stitch, play cards with Matt
TIPS OR SOMETHING TO SHARE:
Well it would show your sense of humor 😏
FROM THE CAMERA:
I recently found this sweet decorative ceramic colander bowl and knew I wanted to display it with something in it - and I found these adorable felt strawberries on Etsy, and I love how it looks. 😍
Matt, Annie and i went to her hockey banquet early to help the gals that were setting up the slideshow and with final decorations.
Annie is only a junior but the seniors gave speeches and that along with the slideshow got me choked up...but not as much as Annie getting her award. I was in the moment and didn't take a photo of her with it until after the event.
The girls did a last huddle for the seniors - so sweet 😢
Team and coaches
My Girl 💗 😢
Here is some of the furniture we ordered for the deck:
But they will all be in this gray and white trim color
PRAYER LIST:
For an end to the conflict in the Ukraine and other areas of the world living in war & fear. For peace and unity in this country, especially from hate and shootings or violence. For anyone sick, suffering, in pain or fear... that God bring them comfort and peace. For His Light and Love to cast out the dark everywhere. For everyone that celebrates to have a very blessed Easter. 🙏