Happy Homemaker Monday

Hello my dear Friends

Happy Monday and happy June! ☀️🌸💚

The month when true summer begins. Yay!

It's already starting to look and feel more like it around here. We had a day in the high 80's recently. Crazy for the northwoods this time of year. But temps have been climbing in general and the summer vibes are starting to show up. The grass needs mowing again already, flowering trees are fully in bloom, and folks are starting to have their landscaping fill with flowers. 

We had a nice weekend that included getting most of the flowers, veggies & herbs to plant (yippeee!!), going to church, checking in on my Mom, hanging with Annie, and spending time with my Dad and step Mom back from AZ. 

I flipped my calendar to the new month this morning and I already see so many things coming up. Summer is too short (especially up here) and we need to pack in so many events and people in that short time. But I think we're up for the challenge and ready to embrace this lovely time of year.

And even though it will involve busy weekends of family reunions, weddings, and other events. I hope it will also involve chilly AM's out fishing in the boat...or lazy evenings fishing off the dock. Sitting on the deck listening to the peepers come out as we watch the sunset. Maybe catch sight of some fireflies out on the hill. Going for a long walk with a soft breeze and smelling all the different flowers in bloom. Aimless drives with the sunroof open blasting some music and ending with dripping ice cream cones. Golfing out on a pretty green course. Or mini golfing challenges for bragging rights. And of course lots of long lazy sunny pontoon rides! 

Welcome June - we are ready for it all. 

 

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE THIS MORNING:

iced protein coffee 

ON MY TO DO LIST THIS WEEK:

errands with Annie, check on Mom and bring her a new tray for her walker and some food I made, Ruby's vet appt, home projects, hospice work

THINKING ABOUT: 

All the fluff I see floating outside my window. I woke up sneezing this AM and I can see between dandelions and some trees in our yard - allergy season is in full bloom! I take regular meds, and sometimes eye drops, and they sure help. Hopefully only another week or 2 and then it will calm down. 

THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY:

knowing you have the whole summer before you :) 

CURRENTLY READING

I have been terrible about reading and need to get back to it. I need to start going to bed with my book at night instead of staying up to watch tv. I've also been working on crafting things and that's where I've put more of my focus.

 

ON THE TV TODAY:

  Jeopardy, old seasons of big brother & the office, Castle Impossible (HGTV)

Matt and I need to go back and finish The Last Kingdom series

ON THE MENU THIS WEEK:

    MONDAY - leftover burgers and sides from grilling we did with my Dad and step Mom yesterday

TUESDAY - a new summer pasta dish I want to try, asparagus

WEDNESDAY -  still haven't done a taco night (I froze the meat) - Annie doesn't really eat meat and will use chickpeas in place of it in hers

THURSDAY -  maybe crepes with lemon curd & berries, breakfast potatoes

FRIDAY - maybe out for dinner?

.

TO RELAX THIS WEEK I WILL:

plant the rest of my flowers/garden

TIPS OR SOMETHING TO SHARE:

 

FROM THE CAMERA:

I apologize for photo overload but I have so much beginning of summer goodness to share.

Including some outdoor moments:

Love the first mow and smell of freshly cut grass

Always plant rosemary by the garden gate 

(name that movie 😊)

This is an inexpensive solar lantern I found on amazon and love that it glows in color! 

 (hard working honey did trimming, killed weeds with all natural weed killer, and pressure washed all of our deck furniture)

💗💗💗

And summer moments inside, including new summer bedding:

Love this light up vase for when I'm propagating new plants.

My step Mom brought me this lovely bouquet 😍

For the BBQ we started with apps including yummy crab dip. We did burgers on the grill & sides and I baked up cherry raspberry pie. Thanks for the recipe Billie Jo! (Afternoon Coffee & Evening Tea blog)

A perfect still night on our dock. I was cheerleading Matt on when he threw in a line to fish a bit (& I read my summer magazine) 

Life is good! 🙏🏻💚

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 a friend that lost a grandparent and another friend going through a big move.

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 hope you have an amazing and blessed start to your June! 

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

Cooking Thursday on a Friday

 

Hello dear Friends!

Happy Friday to you. We've been surviving up here - although we had another false Spring and it's so frustrating. All the snow was melted off the deck again, even in the yard, and you could see patches of grass. Then overnight...boom...almost a foot of snow again. ::sigh:: I can't wait until Spring shows up for real!

I'm also slowly getting over this cold stuff. I have more energy and I'm a bit less congested but it's still hanging on a little. 

But in happy news my Annie is almost home for Spring break - yay!! True ray of sunshine as far as I'm concerned. 

So today I thought I'd think warm fun thoughts and share this salad I made recently. I think would be a perfect Spring or Summer Chicken Salad. It was so colorful and flavorful and truly tasted like a bit of summer. 

this was after the driveway was plowed this morning :(

This recipe is for a chicken salad that is filled with crunchy veggies and Mexican flavors. Add a creamy flavorful dressing and top with a sprinkle of tajin and it was delish! I found the recipe on social media by a gal named Macy Blackwell and she called it Elote Chicken Salad.

Cut up your crunchy veggies and put in a big bowl. The recipe called for fire roasted corn but I couldn't find any. So I drained a can of sweet corn and toasted it in a skillet with a little bit of oil. Then add in your corn, chopped up chicken and toss it all together. If you can't find cotija cheese just use sprinkle parmesan from the green canister - that works perfectly too.

Then make a creamy dressing that includes greek yogurt and mayo, squeeze of lime and lots of yummy seasoning. Pour it over the salad and toss. Top with a sprinkle of tajin if you want (we love it over here). Then dig in! We had ours on a green salad and mixed it in. But it's really good leftover scooped up with some taco chips (wink wink). Kind of like eating really good dip. This nice cold salad on a warm day. Maybe with a margarita  - would be heavenly. We will definitely be making this again. 

Here's the recipe. If you try it 

enjoy!! 😋

Happy Homemaker Monday

Happy Monday dear Friends! ☀️

At least I hope it's a happy Monday for you. :) 

I'd love if it were a little warmer here in the northwoods. It was in the 30's last night and we had the heat on! Today it's only supposed to be in the 40's. It was cold all weekend, actually, and not supposed to warm up until later this week. Geesh Spring, where did you go? 😁

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. It was a fun one here because we treated my Mom and step Dad to a show. My Mom has always wanted to see Riverdance - so we got tickets to treat them. It was also partly a thank you for how much they come and hold down the fort and hang out with Bubba when we're gone to Ten Mile or another trip. 

And in exciting news my bestie Kristi's daughter had her baby! So Mr. & Mrs. C are grandparents! Their daughter unfortunately had preeclampsia (like I did with Aaron) - but not as bad, thankfully! So baby was almost 5 weeks early (Aaron was almost 7 weeks early and a preemie) Their sweet little Thea Cate was 5 lbs 11 oz. She's the cutest little peanut ever! And everyone is doing well, thank You Jesus!!

Other than that it was a nice productive weekend around the house. Matt and I did some tag team cleaning and even on some bigger projects. Plus, I got out my more summery decorations around the house. 🌸💗

Even Annie got the bug and cleaned out all of her closets! Lol 

Other than that, Matt & I just enjoyed some down time together too. Even though it's cold it is nice to see all the green outside and seems more leaves and blooms out every day. 

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE THIS MORNING:

coconut built puff protein bar, a couple pieces of cantaloupe, iced coffee

ON MY TO DO LIST THIS WEEK:

shopping with Annie, shampoo carpets, get groceries for holiday weekend (meal plan), maybe get some more of my flowers for planting, hospice work catch up

THINKING ABOUT:  

what things I may want to make for the upcoming weekend and we're finalizing our plans too ☀️💛

 

THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY:

watching Bubba chase the sunlight moments on the carpet from the suncatcher out the window

CURRENTLY READING

 The Glucose Revolution by Jessie Inchauspe that Matt's Mom turned me onto - the science to it fascinates me. I'm learning a lot about other ways to be healthier

ON THE TV TODAY:

 The Rookie , Jeopardy(& Masters), Shark Tank, Survivor, TWD catch up, Ghosts, Call the Midwife, The Handmaids Tale (need to watch final episode), Vacation House Rules & Castle Impossible (HGTV), we started watching The Last of Us, cooking shows. 

ON THE MENU THIS WEEK:

    MONDAY - leftover grilled Greek lemon chicken and greek salad (it was really flavorful and I'll share later in the week)

TUESDAY -  low carb turkey pepperoni skillet pizza and you put caesar salad in the middle and roll up like a wrap sandwich

WEDNESDAY - maybe little skillet pierogies & veggies? or breakfast for dinner? (depends on Annie)

THURSDAY -  ??

FRIDAY - ??

*need to figure out groceries and for this weekend

For Memorial Weekend might make up a batch of chicken salad, we also talk about grilling burgers or brats, I'll make a veggie pasta salad & maybe do corn on the grill too. We're going out for dinner one night and I'm going to bake some lemon bars.

TO RELAX THIS WEEK I WILL:

read, cross-stitch, craft

TIPS OR SOMETHING TO SHARE:

*I remember my Mom always having us do this as kids - now I know there's science behind it! I have turned into my Mother and now tell anyone in a coughing fit to do the same. 😂

FROM THE CAMERA:

My Mom was in heaven finally getting to see the show she's always wanted to see...and it didn't disappoint! So good and if you get a chance to see it, I recommend it!!

sweet new life - and I can't believe my bestie is a Grandma!! 

It was so nice seeing everything starting to bloom up at the hospice house last week.

And back at home too - all the dandelions filling our yard.

summer decorations around the house

This grilled Greek chicken & salad were so good! Great summer flavors.

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 Mrs. C's daughter to continue her healing after new baby and the scare of preeclampsia, for baby Thea to continue to grow strong and healthy. For a safe weekend for those celebrating Memorial weekend and traveling etc. 

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

PRAYER, INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE OR DEVOTIONAL:

I was thinking about how I just comforted a bestie burying her Dad recently, and now I'm celebrating new life with a bestie having a new granddaughter. Life is sure an amazing circle. 

Blessings friends and have a wonderful week! 

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