Happy Homemaker Monday

Hi there Blogland family! 

Happy end of September to you. Can you believe October is only days away?? I love it because in my opinion it's the best month of the year. :) Where I live in the northwoods - I don't think the world gets any prettier than up here in October. 

Did you have a nice relaxing weekend? We had a busy one, but fun. We hung out with our friends the C's for a fun night Friday. We mini golfed, went out for dinner, and then came here and had a fire on the deck and then played cards into the wee hours. A perfect Autumn night. 🧡 

And then Saturday night we had my Brother (Steven) and SIL (Jill) over - along with my Dad and Uncle - to celebrate Steven's birthday and to be a send off to my Dad and step Mom as they head back to AZ soon. My step Mom wasn't feel well, though, so she wasn't able to come. But we had a lovely dinner and played cards and visited. 

We also worked to clean out one of our spare bathrooms...as they are here renovating since first thing this morning. Yay!! And last night I zoomed with my gf's as we are planning a trip to NY together in the Spring! We wanted to do a trip for turning 50...but covid and life threw a wrench in some things - so now into our almost mid 50's we are making it happen. 

And amongst all this busy we got the Fall decorations up outside and the trees are changing more color every day. As Anne of GG once said, "I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers" 😍🍁🧡 

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE THIS MORNING:

 

coffee and a piece of 100 calorie apple cider banana bread (mixes I shared about in a prior post)

ON MY TO DO LIST THIS WEEK:

errands, hopefully get my car back soon (it ended up it was leaking transmission fluid as I must have run over something that damaged it), no pickleball this week because the gym is being used for an event (bummer), going to work on home projects while I'm trapped with the pets on one side of the house while they renovate the bathroom, maybe hanging with my Mom one day, dinner with a girlfriend, hospice work

THINKING ABOUT: 

My blogger friend Danielle had asked about where us women of a certain age find clothes they like. I shared some of my faves with her in a response on her blog. But I'm thinking of doing a post in the future with some pics of some of my favorite kinds of clothes are where I find them. I love the thought of our middle aged woman community helping each other out. 😊

THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY:

gabbing with my girlfriend's and laughing until we cry :)

CURRENTLY READING

Currently reading the 2nd little novel of the Emma M. Lion journals by Beth Brower and have a new book lined up when that is done. Also spending lots of time on crafting :) I am so in love with embroidery and I shared an update on my current projects the prior post. 

 

ON THE TV TODAY:

Big Brother, Jeopardy,  Best Medicine, Survivor, Dancing with the Stars, Youtube things, Fall movies I want to watch, Halloween Baking Championship

ON THE MENU THIS WEEK:

    MONDAY - PW's BBQ meatballs, roasted sweet potatoes, green beans

TUESDAY - chicken and dumpling stew

WEDNESDAY - leftovers

THURSDAY - Asian style green beans and soup dumplings

FRIDAY - spaghetti hot dish, steamed veggies

TO RELAX THIS WEEK I WILL:

embroidery project, watercolor painting, diamond art

TIPS OR SOMETHING TO SHARE:

Or maybe coming on Halloween season you want to invite the spiders in??! 😉🕸🕷

 

FROM THE CAMERA:

a perfect Autumn night with the C's including a fire out on the deck and the moon was hiding behind the clouds here...but it would peek out and be so bright and pretty

Got our Fall decorations outside and put away summer - although we will probably pick up some pumpkins to carve and some mums in the next few weeks🎃

Matt smoked a salmon on the traeger for our family get together and the boys (my Dad, Bro & Uncle) were all thrilled! Lol I made gluten-free apple crisp with ice cream for my Bro's bday dessert (he has a gluten allergy). And gatherings are always the time to put out fun appetizers, right? Our main meal was pizza from my Bro's favorite local place. And also not pictured is spinach dip with veggies, and apple cider I had simmering on the stove with brown sugar, cinnamon sticks and orange slices with cloves pushed into them floating on top. I love we're into cozy Autumn flavors now. 😋

goat cheese with hot honey drizzle, blackberries and parmesan flatbread crackers

we don't have a Trader Joe's close by so I ordered this online....OMG, SOOOO GOOD!!

and it's the perfect time to get out the cute Fall dishes to use :) 

The sun was streaming into the upstairs tv room so lovely Saturday afternoon...and Ruby was posing so pretty, that I had to grab a photo. 

This is my usual perch - in the recliner with my lap table (see leaning against the side table) on my lap.  The green container holds my current embroidery project. So I recline and relax and embroider as we watch tv. Notice pretty Fall color out the window 😍

And Autumn touches here and there in our bedroom.

I love this Madonna. My former MIL (that passed from Alzheimers) used to collect them and gave me this one. 

Getting awfully pretty in our backyard and on the bay. 🍁

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 the Lord's love and peace to fill all ❤️'s.

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:

Wishing you an amazing week (& beautiful October) ahead. 

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

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.