Happy Homemaker Monday

Good Morning, friends! I'm determined to start this week off on a positive note. We're all feeling a bit under the weather, but since Gabe hardly gets sick, I know he feels worst of all. Literally, he is Superman. One cold every two years, but when it hits, it hits hard.

I've been up for a while and I've been thinking about the kind of Wife and Mom I want to be this new year. And the thing is, I just want to be the kind of Wife and Mom who always puts her family first.

The Weather Right Now: It's pouring the rain, ya'll. And it's windy, and a far cry from the summer-like temperatures we had yesterday. (It's no wonder everybody's sick!!!)

On the Breakfast Plate: I had a piece of toast and there's a fresh-baked chocolate muffin calling my name from the kitchen. I got up extra early this morning to tidy up and bake muffins.

As I look out my window: It's raining, but it's not super dark and scary, which gives me hope that it may brighten up later.

Right now, I am: Typing up this post, and desperately doing some last-minute meal planning. We were all so miserable this weekend that Progresso was our best friend, and meal-planning and cooking took a backseat. I've decided that unless I'm super duper sick (and not just miserable) it's really in the best interest of my family for me to cook good, homemade things.

As I look around the house: There's a sunbeam on my wall! It IS brightening up. Simple things make me happy :)

On today's to-do list:  Finish my dang meal plan, clean the bathrooms. Going to try and have a somewhat laid back day today.

Happening This Week: Ringing in the New Year in a house without crazy neighbors and WITH a stove :)

Currently Reading: 2 Kings in the Bible, and Burial Rites. I finally finished "If Angels Fall" by Rick Mofina and it was very good! (But then again, I love me some crime, so...)

Meal Planning: 
Monday: Ham and Potato Bake (chicken soup for Gabe if he's feeling particularly down)
Tuesday: chicken enchiladas
Wednesday: pork roast, garlic potatoes
Thursday: frittata
Friday: beef stew
Saturday: pizza soup
Sunday: turkey spaghetti

What I am creating at the moment: A scrapbook of pictures of Magpie.

New Recipe I want to try soon: To be determined. When your family is sick, it's all about easy, healthy comfort food. I haven't thought too much out of the box yet.

From the Camera: 

That's my amaryllis from Grandma Jean. I've never had one before, and I'm hoping it blooms. The red flowers are so lovely. Gram had one last year and I couldn't get enough of it!

Bible Verses, Devotions: 

Have a beautiful week, my friends, and a Happy New Year!!!!! 

Some Sad News...

....Ella's kitty Magpie (the Pie, Pie-Pie, Pot Pie) passed away yesterday. Apparently, she had some undiagnosed problems and it got to be too much for her.

She was loved very very much, and we will all miss her.

Oh, Magpie. She was such a character.

They were so very close.

Please say a prayer for Ella's heart, she's had a rough year.
Thank you all.

52/52

Aaaaah! Another 52 weeks have gone by!

52/52: My kid loves crazy socks. Absolutely loves them!

52/52, Sunday. It's another sickie Sunday at our house...this time it's me. Hopefully, we'll kick this crud soon!

Stay tuned! Next week, we start a brand new year!!!!

Merry, Merry Christmas!

It's Christmas Day, It's Christmas Day!!!!
We are rejoicing over Christ's birth and enjoying a rare day together.
I'm taking a break from the lull in the action to post this little update.

Our tree is little right now, but it will be majestic when we plant it near our house. Expect a fake tree next year, ya'll!

We had a TON of Amazon boxes pour in at the last minute that I didn't have time to wrap...whoops. (and there are more coming, one of Ella's gifts from me and Gabe...a Kindle Fire...shhhhhh!!!!....is coming sometime next week as well as some books from her grandparents!) Oh, and there's a Sphinx in there and Magpie's tail (Magpie, we believe, is on the upswing, yay!)

Christmas selfie! My hair is doing some crazy curly thing (I cut it this week) and the thing I love about this picture is how much I resemble my Mom. She's a lovely lady!

My very own Joe Cool ;) His big gift from me won't be here for a little while yet, but hey, chocolate and money is always good ;)

Ella and a pile of presents.

If you heard an excited scream, it was my kid because she got a TELESCOPE!!!! (from our landlord, Tony) It's been cloudy here the last few days, but she is (im) patiently waiting for a clear night so she can stargaze.

The only 50 Shades book I want to read ;)

Ahhh, I look ridiculous, but I love us. Nearly 11 years!!!! I asked Gabe earlier if this Christmas was better than last Christmas (cough stoveless house, insane neighbors, cough). He said that it was because, "I got to watch my family have a wonderful Christmas."
*swoon* Love this guy. We've been through some rough stuff these past 11 years, most of it my fault, but we've managed to come out better for it!
....oh!
Today is Christmas Day...and it's also the 5 month anniversary of bringing home Dave and The Sphinx!

Happy Adopt-A-Versary to my two turkeys!

Merry Christmas, dear friends!!!! May you feel God's love this season, and always!

Happy Homemaker Monday

Good morning, friends. It's Christmas week!!!!

The Weather Outside is: Rainy. And cool. And Ella's cat Magpie (who's under the weather right now) is sitting on my sweater, so good luck to me if I want it.

On the Breakfast Plate: You mean in the breakfast soup mug? Because I'm having soup, don't judge.

As I Look Outside My Window: It's gray, and it just looks chilly. Brrr!!!!

Right Now, I am: Typing up this post, trying desperately to Meal Plan and decide what on earth I'm getting at the grocery store. I've got Christmas dinner all figured out (and it's an actual dinner, not pizza) but the days before and after Christmas have me uninspired.

As I Look Around the House: Ella is reading about the different kinds of fish and their environments. Gabe is getting ready for work, and Magpie and Dave are napping. Sphinx is in the yard, prowling.

On Today's To-Do List:
*Visit the dump
*Go to the grocery
*Make cookies with Ella
*Write out the last of the Christmas cards
*Wrap Gabe's gifts...shhhhh!
*Wrap a gift for a friend

Happening This Week: 
Christmas!!!!
Also, I work some, and will be trying to take some time to relax.

Currently Reading: 1 Kings in the Bible and a book called Burial Rites by Hannah Kent.

Meal Planning:
Monday: TBA, the chicken is still frozen and I haven't been to the grocery yet
Tuesday: Chicken, broccoli and rice
Wednesday: Frittata
Thursday: Christmas Eve!!!! We do most of our celebrating Christmas Eve, and then we're lazy bums on Christmas Day...so, Ham, Potatoes, Rolls, Green Beans, lots of good sweet stuff.
Friday: leftovers, because we can and Gabe's place of employment is CLOSED!
Saturday: Beef Stew
Sunday; Sausage and Peppers, Pasta

What I am Creating at the Moment: Order in the house ;)

New Recipe I Want to Try Soon:
We were given some salmon, and it's been forever since I've had salmon, so I'm on the look out for new recipes. Also, deer meat (venison). I've NEVER prepared it and my landlord was awesome enough to give us some.

Favorite Photo: 

We had some errands to run in TN, so we stopped at the Dollar Tree. (Have I mentioned how much I LOVE the Dollar Tree?)

Bible Verses, Scriptures:

Have a beautiful week, friends, and Merry Christmas!!!!!

51/52

One more week left!!!

51/52: Balancing act

51/52, Sunday: Super casual Sunday at our house. Oh, and The Sphinx says hey.

A Little Bit of Christmas-y Stuff...

It's not looking like Christmas around here. At all.

The other day it was almost 70 degrees out, and Ella spent the day riding her bike (the one she got from the Sheriff's Dept.) and playing with the animals (our cats, the landlord's dogs) outside. It's supposed to cool down on Friday, but we're back up into the 60's next week. I've given up on the idea of a white Christmas this year, but that's okay.

We decorated our (living, in a pot, going outside in the Spring) tree.

My dear friend Jen sent me a beautiful ornament in memory of my Little One, gone nearly a month now. The ornament reads "Every time a bell rings, a faithful angel gets its wings."

Riley's ornament is nearly 6 years old. I got it when we first moved to NC.

I finally got all of the fall decorations off my mantel. The picture is Ella's handprints from years ago, and the two little ornaments are in honor of my two babies in Heaven. Oh, and Hawkeye the fish is there too. He's not decor though.

As far as Christmas shopping goes, it's almost done (Thank you, Swagbucks and Amazon) I have a few little things I need to get on Friday, and then we're ready. While I'm a little sad this Christmas, because Christmas Eve was going to be when I announced the pregnancy, I'm extremely blessed. I have a loving husband, a beautiful 9 year old girl, 3 sweet (for the most part) cats, amazing family and friends. I'm blessed, even through this sadness.

Also, Magpie says Merry Christmas!!!!

Happy Homemaker Monday

Good morning/soon to be afternoon, friends! I've not changed my HMM button to winter yet, and I refuse! It hasn't really felt like winter here lately at ALL. (and Fall still has its place on my mantel)

Here we go!!!

The Weather Outside: Rainy, but warm. I'll take it. Considering one year here in NC, December was brutal, and snowy and horrible, I'll take it!

On the Breakfast Plate: A turkey and mozzarella (fresh, not shredded) sandwich, and the vitamins that taste like fruit-flavored tacky glue.

As I look outside my window: I think the rain is slowing down a little bit. Maybe a trip outdoors is warranted later.

Right now I am: Trying not to choke on a lemon-shaped vitamin. Yuck. Also, going over spelling lists and trying to meal-plan. All stuff I should have done this weekend. Whoops...that's what Mondays are for.

As I look around the house: I realize that I have a lot to catch up on. Again, that's what rainy Mondays are for, right?

On today's to-do list: *Catch up on laundry
                                     *vacuum
                                     *finally get Fall off my mantel
                                     *finally put up my tree (it's taken a back seat as I've recovered from my miscarriage)

Happening This Week: 
Monday: Christmas tree gets up, come hell or high water. It's gotta happen.
Tuesday: Work, Grandma's House, Winter Remembrance
Wednesday: Work, Cooking for Soup Delivery
Thursday: Soup Delivery, Take Ella to Town Hall for Christmas-y pictures
Friday: Taking a day trip out of town because my sanity depends on it
Saturday: Helping out with Sunday School Board
Sunday: Church, Rest

Currently Reading: 
My Bible and The Baker's Creek Catalog (Heirloom Seeds). It's never too early to start thinking about the garden. We had such an awesome tomato harvest this year, I'm already wondering what else to plant. Will have to ask my Mom and Dad for advice, as their garden also did very well this year.

On the T.V. today:
I don't have time for TV!!!

On the menu for this week:
Monday: The Chicken Alfredo I should have made yesterday, whoops
Tuesday: Stuffed Peppers
Wednesday: Frittata
Thursday: Crock Pot Pork Loin
Friday: Frozen Pizza, Mama needs a break
Saturday: Potato Soup
Sunday: Spaghetti

What I am creating at the moment:
Christmas stuff. Winter remembrance. I should probably sew Ella another skirt.

New Recipe I want to try:
You're going to gasp, but I have never in my life made a meatloaf. One day....

Favorite Photo From the Camera:

A few weeks ago, Ella bought a gift certificate for some Sheriff's Deputies in our town. We were invited to the Sheriff's Christmas party after that, and Ella received a new bike! ...okay, so maybe I have two favorite pictures.

Even though I look slightly suspicious in this picture, I still love it. We don't get many pictures of just us....

Bible Verses, Devotions...

Have a beautiful week, friends!!!!

50/52

50/52: Ella, walking JT, one of the gigantic dogs at work.

50/52, Sunday. When you sound like a duck when you talk, but you try to smile through it.

Happy Homemaker Monday

Good Morning, Friends! It's going to be a great week, because my husband is finally ON VACATION!!!!! (Of course, I still have to work most of the rest of the week...)
We're going to have a date night on Friday. Our last one was in July, when Ella went to a friend's house for a few days.

The weather: Warmer than forecasted. Victory! Friday, our date day, is supposed to be gorgeous, and the day after, Ella and I go to house-sit at work. That's supposed to be gorgeous too. YESSSSS

On the breakfast plate this morning: Green tea. Yes, I know I need to eat. No, I'm not hungry. I took some gummy vitamins and they had the consistency of fruity tacky-glue. Oh, the things we do to keep healthy.

Right now, I am: Finishing up some schoolwork with Ella, and typing up this post in an evening gown. True story! A dear friend sent me two evenings gowns and even a dress for Ella, as well as some other things, and an incredibly thoughtful gift to remember the baby we lost last month.

As I look around the house: It's sunny, it's beautiful, and The Sphinx is chasing a slinky around the living room.

On today's to do list: Laundry, Cleaning out the fridge (my least favorite chore), going to the dump, cleaning the kitchen, catching up on all the stuff that has fallen by the wayside lately.

Currently Reading: My Bible, and a host of recipe books.

On the menu this week: 
Monday: Chicken Stew, as the girl is fighting off a cold and this is my cure-all.
Tuesday: Italian Beef Sandwiches
Wednesday: Taco Soup
Thursday: Breakfast for dinner
Friday, Date Night: Dinner out, Ella eats at Grandma Jean's!
Saturday: Beef Stew
Sunday: Chicken Alfredo

What I am creating at the moment: Winter Remembrance items and Christmas decorations (I need to get Fall off my mantel)

Favorite Photo from the Camera: 

We went to Speedway in Lights in Bristol, TN this weekend. It was cold and this picture is blurry, but oh my goodness, her face says it all. The magic of childhood is alive and well here.

On my prayer list: My Mom and Dad, my kid brother, the families of the victims in San Bernadino, our government, this entire world.

Bible Verses, Devotions, Key Scriptures: 

Have a beautiful week, friends!!!!

49/52

49/52: Oh, to be a kid on a merry-go-round again.

49/52, Sunday: The weather here has been holding up really nicely. I'm sure we'll pay for it in January or February, but for now, we're enjoying it.

Happy Homemaker Monday

Good afternoon, friends. It's been a rough weekend here in the mountains.

Without going into too much detail, last week, I found I was pregnant with our third child, but the prognosis was not good. I was told to basically prepare for a miscarriage. I went home, hopeful, but bracing myself. I lost our baby the day after Thanksgiving and am still healing and grieving. Putting up the "Happy Homemaker" post today gives me something to do as I sit and rest and recover and grieve.

The weather: Rain, rain and more rain. I suppose that's good because if it was sunny out, I would want to go out and do things and right now, I am supposed to REST.

Looking outside the window: It's gray and wet outside, and is supposed to remain that way until Wednesday night.

Right now, I am: Typing up this post, and debating getting something to eat.

Thinking and pondering: Oh, all sorts of things. I'm debating putting up the Christmas tree this weekend, and being more than a little sad. I'm also intensely grateful for everyone who reached out to me this weekend.

On my bedside table: Water bottle, Kindle, pen and paper, glitter, cardstock, glue, craft supplies.

On my TV this week: Things to make me laugh, because it's either laugh or cry...and I don't think I have any tears left.

Listening to: Don't laugh, but Uptown Funk. I need something happy-ish right now.

On the menu for this week:
Um, grocery shopping. Our week kind of stood still last week. so...
Monday: Breakfast for dinner
Tuesday: Asian Ribs in the Crockpot
Wednesday-Sunday: To be announced.

On my to-do list: Light cleaning and rest.

Happening this week: Hopefully, a quiet week. At some point, I have to buy groceries, and we have a Family Fun day planned on Friday.

What I am creating: More pieces for Winter Remembrance. Also, a birthday-something for my Daddy, who will turn the big 6-5 this Saturday!!!

My Simple Pleasure: Laying in bed, reading a book, something I did a lot of this weekend.

Looking around the house: Ella is having a snack, and sorting through clothes for her cousins, and The Sphinx is asleep next to her.

From the camera: 

This was my tux therapy earlier. My best friend remarked that I looked sad, and I guess I must. But this picture is just such a lovely reminder that animals comfort us and feel our pain.

Prayer List: Mom, Dad, kid brother, everyone who's having a hard time this holiday season.

Bible Verse, Devotional:

Have a blessed week, my friends.

48/52

48/52: Oh, this kid. My heart.

48/52, Sunday: It's been a rough weekend here, friends. But these two are my strength right now.

The Turkeyless Thanksgiving of 2015

I blogged earlier this week about not doing the traditional turkey dinner this year. I'm tired, I've got a bad cold, and I just wanted one year to enjoy my family. Also, Gabe worked all day, and it just isn't Thanksgiving without him.

So, Ella and I made a few crafts, and worked on some pieces for Winter Remembrance while we waited for Gabe to come home from work. I was determined to at least have dinner as a family.

When Gabe did get home, I served up a delicious pizza (which was actually homemade, and not frozen, like I was previously planning to do.). The toppings were grilled chicken, pepperoni, peppers and cheese. It was incredibly yummy!!!!

Afterwards, we watched Peanuts movies and took silly family pictures. It was by far the most low-key Thanksgiving we've had, but it was probably the best one.

And one of just us...

Today, Gabe had to work again. Ella and I visited our local Humane Society, with the purpose of seeing Toby the tuxedo cat. (because I've got a soft spot in my heart for the tuxies)

Hope your Thanksgiving was filled with lots of love and family!!!