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

Hello lovely Friends💗

How was your weekend and start to summer going? I hope summer is showing up in the best ways and that you're getting lots of wonderful relax time. 

We went to the lake to visit Matt's folks and help them with more chores around the property. We always love going there...not only for time with them...but also because we get a lot of relaxation and lake time too. 

They have beautiful wood walkways that Matt's Grandpa put in around the cottage. Every couple of years they get a little mossy build-up that can get slippery. So Matt pressure washes them. He loves doing it and calls it a very "zen" process. We also had people come to grind up stumps around the property and some other general clean-up needed. Matt helped with that too. I made meals over the weekend and also brought strawberry rhubarb sauce I had made (my rhubarb is going gangbusters!) We also did pontoon time, played cards, visited, watched movies and just had fun hanging out. I need to share....My Hubby is the sweetest guy in the world! He does all kinds of work yet still dotes on me. We had washed our sheets at the lake and I didn't know they were done but he went and put them on the bed before we headed there for the night and also got me a water to keep by the bed side knowing I like that every night. He also gave me a back rub as my arthritis was hurting. He also tells me he loves me every day and often calls me beautiful or some version of it. I feel so loved and treasured and just love that man more than I can put into words. 😍 Just had to shout out my love for him today...thanks for indulging me. 💗💗💗

Then when we got home last night Matt mowed and trimmed and cleaned up our yard. When Matt first started his current job, and it was new to him, he had to put in a lot of hours. So we had hired a mowing service. He has more time and ability now and is taking back over the job here.  And I'm so glad...as personally I think he does a better job. 😉 It looks so beautiful even amongst the raindrops today.

Now on to another lovely June week ahead...

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE THIS MORNING:

iced protein coffee, small bowl of honey nut cheerios & berries

ON MY TO DO LIST THIS WEEK:

errands & groceries, mail out grad & wedding card, Annie & I nail appt, my hair appt, bring some things to & visit my Mom, home projects, hospice work

THINKING ABOUT: 

a family reunion in the future and plans for it

THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY:

the smell of fresh cut grass and rain 💚💙

CURRENTLY READING

still haven't been focusing - doing craft or home projects lately

 

ON THE TV TODAY:

  Jeopardy, old seasons of big brother & the office, Castle Impossible, AGT, I finally finished Love on the Spectrum (love that show) and Virgin River, now I'm going to start Sweet Magnolias new season

ON THE MENU THIS WEEK:

    MONDAY - breakfast for dinner which will probably be eggs, sausage, & toast for Matt - maybe avocado toast or smoothie bowls for Annie & I

TUESDAY - stuffed pinwheel pork chops, veggie side dish

WEDNESDAY -  

THURSDAY -  

FRIDAY - 

.*not sure about the rest of the week need to plan and grocery shop and probably do something we can grill

TO RELAX THIS WEEK I WILL:

craft project

TIPS OR SOMETHING TO SHARE:

 

FROM THE CAMERA:

Last week I cleaned out our kitchen island and several cabinets that needed the organization and love. Always a good feeling! I've continued to go through different rooms, closets & spaces in our home and downsizing and organizing. I think I'm at the age of wanting to edit our lives down a bit. 

some of my rhubarb and the strawberry rhubarb sauce I made that we took to the lake and had over low carb ice cream :) 

Scenes around home:

Scenes from hanging at the lake:

💗💗💗

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 and for a relative's family member that had recent heart surgery. For those affected by the shooting in Toledo, OH 😢

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:

My you feel hope and happiness this day my Friends. 

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