Wordless Wednesday

 

Happy Homemaker Monday

Good morning and happy Monday Friends ☀️ 🍁

How are you this lovely new week? I hope your day is bright and lovely and your week full of promise already. 

Did you have a nice weekend? It was a very fun one here! My sweet kiddo Aaron and the significant person in his life (their name is Jill 💗) came up to Ten Mile with Matt and I. Aaron finally got to meet Matt's folks and vice versa. Annie has already met them a few times and wasn't feeling well this weekend - so she stayed home. It was so fun to show Aaron & Jill around the lake property and cute towns nearby. We did some fun shopping (Aaron got himself like 5 Ten Mile shirts and a cute hat- Lol). We ate, gabbed, played lots of games and went for a final pontoon ride for the season up there. The weekend went way too fast and it sure sounds like Aaron and Jill had has much fun as we all did too. 😊  They want to go back in the summer next year and spend time IN the lake then. 

Aaron really wants a water property one day and said he'd be fine with Matt and I giving him our home, or the ten mile property anytime we'd like - he's such a stinker and always cracks me up. In seriousness, though, he said that Jill has commented before that she really loves our home on the bay here, which I took as such a nice compliment :) 

        

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE THIS MORNING:

part of a pretzel bun with a little cheese, coffee w/ vanilla almond milk creamer

ON MY TO DO LIST THIS WEEK:

errands (Matt & I need to run to DMV this week), Annie's volleyball games, need to run to my Mom's, yard work & decorations, home projects, fun plans with friends the upcoming weekend, hospice work from home and at the facility

THINKING ABOUT:  

I love that it looks so Fall in our home! I got most of my Fall decorations up, but haven't done the outside yet. I've even been thinking ahead on some of the season and even ordered our Thanksgiving turkey from the company I like to and set up the delivery date in November. I've also already started getting a few Christmas gifts that I've been storing away already. 

Also, I have been talking to my gf who also shares an October birthday with me about scheduling our annual trip up the pretty shore for our special lunch date place. And Matt also has an October birthday so he and I have been talking about our fun Fall hiking and big day out to celebrate plans too. I love this time of year! Yay! 🍂 🧡

AS I LOOK AROUND THE HOUSE

Bright sunlight pouring in. I can see more leaves changing on some of the trees in the yard. I love seeing my Fall decorations out! I'll share some pics below but won't do too many. I will share more over the days and weeks ahead too. Don't want to overload you 😂 

CURRENTLY READING

More Autumn magazines, home projects and might be tackling an embroidery project - all have been taking my time from book reading...but will get back to it soon! 

ON THE TV TODAY:

HGTV shows, When Calls the Heart, Big Brother (Annie & I are so behind on this because of busy schedules! Lol), AGT, Better Call Saul, Halloween Baking Championship, Hallmark movies

ON THE MENU THIS WEEK:

    MONDAY - leftover pizza from the weekend,  caesar side salad

TUESDAY - tacos 

WEDNESDAY -  cheese & broccoli wild rice soup, lemon poppyseed scones, fruit

THURSDAY - pesto pasta with pine nuts & meatballs, salad

FRIDAY -  pesto chicken salad sandwiches, french onion soup (or might be out for dinner)

TO RELAX THIS WEEK I WILL:

crafting, walks with Matt, fun home projects

TIPS OR SOMETHING TO SHARE:

FROM THE CAMERA:

Loving Autumn moments around our home - but had to share the cute shot I got of Ruby and Bubba hanging out together on the couch. And the cute blanket I picked up that reminded me of Bubba. 🐱 

Loved our time up in Ten mile so much! We had to take Aaron and Jill around the cute shops there and to the park where there's a statue of Lucette (the Paul Bunyan legend is big in the area and Lucette is his girlfriend - 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. 🙏 

PRAYER, INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE OR DEVOTIONAL:

I truly wouldn't want to skip summer - but I sure love Fall! And I knew this would give my friend Mari and giggle because she LOVES summer. 😉  I hope you all have a blessed week ahead. I'm sharing this with Sandra of Diary of a SAHM for Happy Homemaker Monday.

Snickers Fruit Salad

 

When we went to Matt's lake property over the Labor Day holiday, I made this wonderfully amazing "salad" (ha - more like treat!) to share with his family.  I found it from an influencer I follow on instagram named Catherine Benson. She's a Mom that's really good with organization and home life things. She makes the neatest videos. You can find her at:

_catben_

She shared a video of this salad and I knew I wanted to try it! She listed the recipe too and it looked like it made a lot - so I sort of cut the recipe in half. This is the only pic I took of my salad right after I made it. But gives you the idea. 

Apples, grapes, strawberries, blueberries in yummy fluff....oh and chopped up snickers bars! What's not to love?? 

Here's her recipe:

I hope you give this one a try. It was a hit! 😋 

Wordless Wednesday

 

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.