Wordless Wednesday

 

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY: SENIOR NIGHT 🏐

*(my main contribution was decorations - and gift bags a bit too. But my favorite was I found these adorable pumpkins in our team colors 😍 )

Happy Homemaker Monday

Good morning and happy Monday Friends ☀️ 🍁

I haven't done an official HHM since late August. It got kind of busy around here, but happy officially Fall and the start of all the "ber" months - my favorite! 

We had a busy but very fun weekend. Matt's folks were up here to visit. They stay over at Matt's old house (as he's not renting it yet). We spent a lot of time with them doing meals, going out to dinner, visiting, playing cards. Matt and I also did our usual errands, went to church etc. We had a really fun day over at Matt's yesterday watching football with them a lot of the day. Matt and his Dad are big football guys. Our Packers won!! Jordan Love looked great and so did a lot of the team. There was so much speculation with Rodgers being gone. I know it's VERY early and who knows how the whole season will go. But it sure was nice to have low expectations and then be pleasantly surprised by how well the game went! And the Vikes lost - always a bonus (sorry Deb 😉 )

I brought over a slow cooker of sweet and sour meatballs & veggies - the recipe is so good and you can find it under my recipe tab or you can click here.  Served over rice with cashews for crunch on top. I also made a pan of caramel cashew bars. We had fresh veggies and dip and chips and munchies and just grazed and cheered and visited all day. So relaxing and fun! I will share some recipes that I meant to share last week - this week on cooking Thursday. 

I am thinking of 9/11 today and can't believe it's been 22 years already! I'm holding up in prayer all of those families and loved ones still mourning extra today. And all of those affected by the devastating earthquake in Morocco! So sad. 😢 🙏 

Today feels gray and chilly and somber and there are chances of rain. It seems fitting for a 9/11 anniversary and sadness in the world. It also makes me want to bake and feel cozy. So I think in a bit I will light some candles and use up the zucchini in my fridge that my Mom gave me. Make a few loaves of bread - a sweet one (Annie loves) and a savory one (Matt loves) 💗 

        

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE THIS MORNING:

I have been on a yogurt kick, but today I had a pumpkin spice donut from a box Matt's Mom gave us this weekend. So good! I had it with a nice cup of hot coffee and some oatmilk coffee cake creamer. Sometimes a chilly morning calls for indulgence. ;) 

ON MY TO DO LIST THIS WEEK:

errands, Annie's volleyball, going to a gf's daugther's soccer game, bringing some things to my Mom's, keeping on workouts 💪 , groceries later in the week, out with a friend one evening, hospice work

THINKING ABOUT:  

Getting my Fall decorations out! I still haven't done that and it's time!! 

🍁🌾🧡🍂 

AS I LOOK AROUND THE HOUSE

I did a lot of cleaning already this AM. I want to do a few more things and get in a workout before I do some baking. Windows are open. It's nice and cool in a wonderful way. I'm listening to peaceful Celtic music at the moment.

CURRENTLY READING

Autumn magazines right now

ON THE TV TODAY:

HGTV shows, When Calls the Heart, Big Brother, AGT, Better Call Saul, Halloween Baking Championship starts tonight, Hallmark movies

ON THE MENU THIS WEEK:

    MONDAY - leftover sweet & sour meatballs & veggies over rice and topped with cashews

TUESDAY - creamy wild rice & potato soup w/bacon and cheese toppings, fresh veggies, zucchini bread (will make tomato soup for Annie)

WEDNESDAY -  whole grain pasta with lemon herb ricotta sauce, roasted broccoli with lemon and parm

THURSDAY - pasties, fresh veggies

FRIDAY -  out for dinner

TO RELAX THIS WEEK I WILL:

get out Fall decorations, look up recipes, craft

TIPS OR SOMETHING TO SHARE:

FROM THE CAMERA:

Annie's volleyball team had a tourney this past weekend and took 1st place! 🏆 😊 

I took Annie to get her ears double pierced last week (she just decided she wanted that) and we got amazing malts, after, at a local place that's only open seasonally and well loved in our area. We brought Matt one too. Had to get them while they are still open! 😋 

My Mom and step Dad live in such a cute building and many people decorate their doors and little areas around them for each season. This is my Mom's - so cute. 😍 

caramel cashew bars from our big football day 😋 

Annie had another grad photo shoot session with her Auntie. Annie likes me to go with too and share any ideas. It was a chilly evening and not quite the sunny beachy we were hoping for...but there was kind of a beauty in the gray and moody too. They're all turning out so pretty so far! Planning a final shoot (Autumn one) in early October too. 

new teas for Fall - pumpkin spice and apple pie chai 

Still settling in great with Bubba here  - Ruby and Bubba both often like to be on one of us at the same time (both a little jealous to share attention yet - Lol)

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 those in Morocco. And for those grieving extra on this anniversary of 9/11. 🙏 

PRAYER, INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE OR DEVOTIONAL:

I hope your week starts out beautifully and you have a wonderful one ahead! I'm sharing this with Sandra of Diary of a SAHM for Happy Homemaker Monday.

Happy Homemaker Monday

Happy Monday my Friends 

I've got a sickie home today so I've been playing nurse a bit and loving on my girl.  Happy Veteran's Day today to all of our men and women in the military, past and present. God bless their service and sacrifices. 🇺🇸 ❤️ I especially give a shout out to my Brother who is a retired green beret in Army special forces. 

I hope you had a wonderful weekend. We had a busy one here. Friday we went to Annie's school musical with my Mom. They put one on every year and this year was Mary Poppins. Several of her friends were in it and they did a great job! Saturday was church and then Annie's friend slept over and we all went out for sushi with my brother and sister-in-law. Then yesterday Annie and her friend and I went to The Adam's Family movie. It was really cute. Then Annie and I had her volleyball banquet. Only a few players got awards and Annie got one voted on only by the players. It was so sweet and I'm so proud of her! I share more about it and photo below. 

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE THIS MORNING

Toast with raspberry jam, yogurt, coffee

RIGHT NOW I AM:

Right now listening to, yep you guessed it, Christmas music! Lol Working on my planner. Listening to Ruby bark outside. She likes to talk tough to all the squirrels on the hill. Let them know who's in charge 😉 

AS I LOOK OUTSIDE MY WINDOW

The weather can't make up her mind today. It was sunny earlier and now it clouded up and snowed a little. I see the frozen bay with bits of snow still on it. It's really chilly today (as you can see in the weather report above)

AS I LOOK AROUND THE HOUSE

I see some things that still need picking up. Mostly my teenager's things lying around ::sigh:: I see her laying on the couch resting and watching something on her computer. I'll go easy on her today because she's a sickie

ON THIS WEEK'S TO DO LIST:

Groceries, errands, Annie's hockey practices and a game, her religious ed, meeting a friend for lunch, bring my FIL a meal, do more Christmas shopping (I've started online - yay!), more Thanksgiving menu and planning prep, cleaning projects trying to accomplish around the house, help my Mom with some jobs, my hospice volunteering

 

CURRENTLY READING

The Rules of Love and Grammar by Mary Simses. 

ON THE TV TODAY:

 Holiday baking championship,  Dancing with the Stars, the Resident, The Good Doctor, New Amsterdam, Greys Anatomy, This is Us, Survivor, Bluff City Law, The Rookie, Will & Grace

Catching up on shows I never watched when they first came out - The Crown on Netflix currently and Big Little Lies on HBO 

I also have some, you guessed it, Christmas Hallmark movies taped to watch
 (this is all still the same up) 

 

ON THE MENU THIS WEEK:

MONDAY: baked potatoes with toppings and salad

TUESDAY: soup (not sure what kind yet), biscuit sandwiches

WEDNESDAY: chickie chip hot dish, fruit, veggies & dip

THURSDAY: cheesy egg bake, toast, fruit

FRIDAY: slow cooker honey lime chicken tacos (& with leftovers make quesadillas) 🌮 , homemade guacamole and chips, fruit

WHAT I AM CREATING AT THE MOMENT

scrapbook catch up, setting up a craft corner in my son's former desk area, and potential job announcement for me to share soon

NEW RECIPE I WANT TO TRY THIS WEEK:

I never got to sharing the banana cake and apple cinnamon bread last week, but there will be a post up with both of those recipes this afternoon!!

TIP OF THE WEEK:

FROM THE CAMERA

When Annie started volleyball at her high school this Fall she had only had a little bit of experience playing one season in a rec league.  She made up her mind she wanted to play for her school this Fall and worked on it every night extra at home, besides practice at school. It paid off and she became a more valuable player as the season progressed. Her teammates voted her most improved on the season at the banquet last night and she was pretty proud. I was enjoying the moment and didn't get a photo. And we don't have her vball pics back. But here's one of her in action from this season:

We've had some gorgeous late Fall sunsets on the bay lately

And woke up to this Friday morning ❄️ 

so of course lots of cozy took place inside - candles and coffee ☕️ 

And Annie was in the penalty box (aka naughty box) in one of her recent scrimmages and looks pretty pleased with herself 

sushi dinner  the other night with my Brother Steven and his wife Jill - love them so much and so glad they were able to move back to our area

And this is from a military banquet in years passed. I'm so grateful for my Bro's service and to my SIL Jillie's sacrifices during all they years he served 🇺🇸 

PRAYER, INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE OR DEVOTIONAL:




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