Happy Homemaker Monday

Hello and happy new week to you sweet Folks! 

I hope you had a great weekend! It was a relaxed one here. We hibernated in a lot because it was so hot and muggy (90's and humid). We had a work crew here cutting 14 - yes 14! dead trees around the property. The ash borer beetle had killed most of them. Some were in spots that we were worried about them falling on the house or our shed in back. So they were the main ones needing to be dealt with. We had them take several others though too. They did such a great job and had amazing equipment and even put down tracks in the yard so as not to hurt it. They cleaned up and hauled all the wood away and I can't say enough what an amazing job they did! So that's a great job done. 

This weekend we also went to church and out for dinner and ran errands - kind of the usuals. And we went to a beautiful rose garden in our area which I like to visit each summer. But mostly we hibernated in and watched some movies and the olympics. 

I agree with many who were appalled about the opening ceremonies display and mockery of the last supper. I understand that the opening ceremony often shows the host country's culture, music etc. But I don't get how that would be part of their culture seeing as France has always been a very Catholic country? I know people who were saying they were going to ban watching the olympics and I completely understand your anger and standing up for your faith that way. I support that fully.  I was outraged too - but I guess I view it differently as I don't feel the amazing athletes that worked years to get to the olympics, and had nothing to do with planning the opening ceremonies, should be banned from being watched and cheered on. I think the committees that put together the opening ceremony should be to blame and punished - so I direct my disgust there. So Matt & I have been watching the games and it's been fun to see our amazing athletes doing so well already... especially in the women's sports! 💗 

But I will say I sure pray for our world every. single. day.  

 

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE THIS MORNING:

sugar free iced coffee with a little protein creamer (fasted)

ON MY TO DO LIST THIS WEEK:

hair appt, run to furniture store, other errands, home projects, yard work, hospice work

THINKING ABOUT:  

projects I'd like to accomplish this week

AS I LOOK AROUND THE HOUSE

It rained this AM but sun is out now and I can tell it's going to be another warm one! Keeping the blinds shut - like I did all weekend - to keep it a cooler sanctuary in the a/c.  

CURRENTLY READING

Nora Roberts trilogy starting with Awakening - only kind of into it - might switch to something else?

ON THE TV TODAY:

 Olympics, House of Dragons, Grantchester, Bachelorette, HGTV shows, Big Brother, jeopardy

ON THE MENU THIS WEEK:

    MONDAY -  BLTs, corn on the cob, green beans w/ lemon, watermelon

TUESDAY - blueberry wild rice stuffed brats on the grill, asparagus with lemon, fruit

WEDNESDAY - chicken crust pizza with lite caesar salad on top (we didn't have it last week)

THURSDAY - might go to the local fair and split something fun?

FRIDAY -  veggie + egg breakfast burritos (low carb wraps), fruit

  

TO RELAX THIS WEEK I WILL:

work on organization home projects, watch shows, read in some Fall cookbooks, do diamond art

TIPS OR SOMETHING TO SHARE:

they're so good to throw in smoothies too - or to use as a binder/sweetener in healthy sweets

FROM THE CAMERA:

it's right around the corner! 🙈

daisies are a fave of my mom's and I recently made and framed this diamond art for her 💛

rose garden beauty:

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 His Light and Love to cast out the darkness everywhere and help the world find its way. 🙏🏻

PRAYER, INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE OR DEVOTIONAL:

Praying for peace and blessings for you always Friends. I'm sharing this with Sandra of Diary of a SAHM for Happy Homemaker Monday.

Happy Homemaker Monday

Good morning Friends!

Happy new week to you. I don't know where the time is flying to - but somehow after this new week ahead, we're coming to the end of August already! I can believe it because as I was doing devotional time, and offering up whispered prayers to heaven, I had the windows open and I could feel cool breezes blowing in. And I just heard a group of geese flying over! The practice runs have begun and my sweet girlie starts school this week. Fall is imminent my Friends! 😉 🍂 

Speaking of my dear Annie - we started her grads this weekend. Her lovely Auntie (my former SIL) is doing them for her. She's an amateur photographer and has gotten great with editing software. She also has an artistic eye, she's very efficient, fun and we love her. So that sure makes this process easier! Lol We did a shoot in the rose garden...that also morphed into some pretty lakeshore moments and a railroad track. We're thinking the next shoot may be at the Lake Superior beach and then wait and do some in the Fall with the pretty leaves.  Not gonna lie that the thought of empty nest in a year goes right to my heart like an arrow. But I know this gift of Motherhood comes with bittersweet like this and being their Mama will never change. I will continue to treasure every new stage that it brings. 💕 

Other than that we also got to visit with a cousin of mine that was in town from Italy with his family. He's an F16 pilot and stationed over there. We all gathered at my Uncle & Aunt's house and it was nice to catch up and for more of my relatives to meet Matt! ♥️ Speaking of him - I have news I can finally share! Matt got a new job! He's so excited and I am too. 💃 🎉 He will be a rep and consultant for a whole new region (created for him) in a position that this big company (it's a fortune 500 company) created just for him! He will get to create his own schedule. He will have weekends off (no more working Saturdays!!) He will have some travel involved but never more than a few hours away so he will be home for dinner each night. And he will work from home a lot too! It's going to be so nice. 😊 We went shopping for office things for him as we'll be setting up a cool new home office for him here. He also had a new luxury truck delivered yesterday. It's going to be part of his new office too (so to speak with the travel he'll need to do) - so it needs to be comfortable. 😉  The company is also providing him with a work phone, computer and monitors, ipad etc. He starts next week already. So it feels like a  season of change in more ways than one. ;) 

We ended the weekend having dinner with both of my kiddos and playing some games. Lots of laughing involved! So grateful for precious moments like that. 💗 

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE THIS MORNING:

1/2 of an onion bagel with a little butter, peach, iced coffee

ON MY TO DO LIST THIS WEEK:

Help my Mom with some things, celebrate my Dad's bday with him and my step Mom, hospice work doing respite for a family, errands, groceries, home projects, carpenter coming to repair wall from water damage, Matt's office, hospice work from home

THINKING ABOUT:  

All the change ahead with Matt's job. Changing things in my own little office too (hospice work and crafting I do there). Fall jobs Matt and I will work on together - shampoo carpets, clean windows, yard work.

AS I LOOK AROUND THE HOUSE

It's so cloudy and gray today. Cool breezes still blowing. Might rain later. The house feels cozy and peaceful. I have Enya music on. My daughter and I were just chatting about our lunch & dinner plans for today. 😋  

CURRENTLY READING

magazines currently

ON THE TV TODAY:

Outlander, HGTV and food network shows taped, AGT, Sweet Magnolias, And Just Like That, Grantchester, When Calls The Heart, Big Brother 

ON THE MENU THIS WEEK:

    MONDAY - fettuccine alfredo, garlic bread, caesar salad (Annie faves)

TUESDAY - pasties (meat & veggie pies), roasted broccoli with lemon

WEDNESDAY -  grilled sandwiches, sweet potato waffle fries, fruit

THURSDAY - maybe sushi night? (need groceries so not sure yet)

FRIDAY -  maybe out for dinner? 

TO RELAX THIS WEEK I WILL:

craft, read, play golf or ladderball with Matt

TIPS OR SOMETHING TO SHARE:

Back to school inspired 📚 😉 

FROM THE CAMERA:

I know I've been sharing more of Annie lately - but wanted to share these pics of my sweet Aaron when he was little. It was his bday last week and I had put some of these pics up on my social media. Oh how my heart misses these days!! 💕 

My Aunt & Uncle had put up this cute sign in their yard for my cousin and his family visiting. 😊 

i ws able to wander and enjoy the rose garden while Annie & her Auntie were busy working...

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 all those suffering from weather events and turmoil in our world. Especially for those in Maui dealing with the aftermath of those horrible fires and loss of lives and property. 😢 🙏 

For any kiddos starting school soon. That they have a blessed year ahead filled with knowledge and safety. 🙏 

PRAYER, INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE OR DEVOTIONAL:

Have a wonderful week ahead dear Friends! I'm sharing this with Sandra of Diary of a SAHM for Happy Homemaker Monday.