Sunday, August 28, 2016

34/52

34/52: A delicate balance :)

34/52, Sunday: *Sniffle* She's growing up!

Wednesday, August 24, 2016

Slices of Sanity

Sometimes, things get out of control crazy. Busy. Busy. Busy.
Work. School. Homework. Housework.
Lather, rinse, repeat.

So what keeps me sane in these mountains?




Little things. My daughter. The garden. Cats. Jumping in puddles.
What keeps YOU sane?

Monday, August 22, 2016

Happy Homemaker Monday

Oh, I am so late. And it was worth every second! I worked some, I hung out with Ella after her lessons were over, and I even got to spend some time with Gram. Tomorrow is going to be even more busy, so let's get this HHM done!

On the weather front: PERFECTION. Absolute perfection. Fall is on the way, with chilly mornings, but it's still far enough away to be shorts-weather by the afternoon.

On my bedside table: Cookbooks. My Kindle. "The Summer of the Gypsy Moths", which is what Ella and I are reading together every night. "A Cold Dark Place", which I will finish today, I swear.

On my TV: Goodness, nothing. I have no time for anything.

Thinking and pondering: That the undertaking of going through all of Ella's clothes for an upcoming consignment sale is much bigger than I initially thought. Good heavens, but she has a lot of clothes.

Listening to: "Safe and Sound" by Taylor Swift (from the Hunger Games soundtrack) It's a beautiful and haunting song. She has a tremendous voice.

On the menu for this week: 
Monday: Asian Ribs and Brown Rice
Tuesday: Italian Chicken over egg noodles, veggies
Wednesday: Shipwreck Casserole
Thursday: Frittata
Friday: Egg Roll Bowls
Saturday: TBA
Sunday: Chicken and Red Pepper Spaghetti

On my to-do list: 
It's late in the day, so the only thing on there is to give the bathrooms a quick once-over and vacuum the living room! Woohoo!

Looking forward to: I'm going to take the day off and go take Ella shopping in Johnson City on Friday, and a friend is having a LulaRoe party on Saturday (leggings, ya'll!)

What I plan on doing for myself this week: Did ya'll hear me say leggings? Hehe, also going to cut my hair on Thursday.

Favorite Photo: 

I love my chamomile!

Lesson Learned: Patience is so important. I've been praying, begging, pleading, angry, yelling with God, on the subject of another baby. Yesterday, the word "patience" appeared 3 times in a single chapter. So, yes. I need to be patient. One day.

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses: 


Have an amazing week, my friends! God Bless You! 


Sunday, August 21, 2016

33/52

33/52: Working on Scripture Memorization. Her handwriting WILL be better than Gabe's, I swear it. (It already is, but Momma's a perfectionist)

33/52, Sunday. On Friday evening, something stung Ella right below the brow-bone. Yesterday, the swelling was pretty bad, but nothing could be done at the doctor's that couldn't be done at home. Her eye itself was fine, it was just the swelling above the eye. Ugh. She was determined to go to church today, having worked super hard to learn her memory verse (1 Peter 2:9, which I still have trouble with). Long story short, swelling has gone down some, she nailed her memory verse, and she went to church in a garden party dress and my antique pearls.

Monday, August 15, 2016

Happy Homemaker Monday

Good morning, friends! I am actually OFF today. OFF. Unbelievable. However, I am going to a garden center's end of season sale (yes, more plants, don't judge), so I need to get this post up here quick!

The weather: Bright and sunny, which is awesome, because we've had a lot of rain. I'm thankful that we've not had the flooding that some places have. I have friends in those regions and it's terrifying watching some of the Facebook updates from Louisiana.

Right now, I am: Typing this post, and running around like a chicken with its head cut off. Oh the life of a Mom and Wife.

Thinking: That it's probably not the best idea to be running around like a chicken with its head cut off. Also, that I need to buy a couple heads of garlic.

On my reading pile: "The Book Thief" which I'm reading with my best friend (even though she's in TX, love texting!) and "A Cold Dark Place" (slow going because I'm so busy)...although I did sit down last week and read Jaycee Dugard's "A Stolen Life" in one sitting, alternately gasping and crying because what she went through was so horrific.

On my T.V.: The question is...despite my day off, will I even get TIME to turn on the TV?

On the menu for this week:
Monday: Frittata for me and Gabe, Chicken and CousCous for Ella, who has a summer cold.
Tuesday: Pork Tacos
Wednesday: Slow Cooker Beef Stew
Thursday: Broccoli and Bacon Mac and Cheese Casserole
Friday: Stuffed Peppers
Saturday: Potato Veggie Chowder
Sunday: "Plain Old Spaghetti" at Ella's request

On my to do list: LOL everything. Washing sheets, cleaning the bathrooms, organizing school supplies (how is my kid in the 5th grade?) We have a Back to School thing to attend at a church this week, and tons of clothes to start to organize for a Wee-Cycle sale this week (hey, it gets rid of stuff, and it's extra money. Win-win!) Also, weed my neighbor's garden (and my own...)

In the craft basket: Still that skirt. I'm terrible, you guys. THE WORST.

Looking forward to this week: Did I mention that I'm going to a GARDEN CENTER? And that I'm going to get PLANTS? Yes, I'm a bit obsessed. Also, that back to school thing, which should be fun for Ella (and, OK, for me too. I'll admit it)

Looking around the house: The Sphinx is asleep on a box of school supplies. I need to close my window. People are mowing lawns and it's driving me a bit batty.

From the camera: We had two epic meetings with bugs this past week! Check 'em out!



On my prayer list: So many people, but one especially close to my heart is a young pregnant girl, struggling to make the right decision for her unborn daughter. God knows who she is, so if you would just pray for her?


Bible Verse, Devotional: 

32/52

32/52: She's wearing a very bemused expression and an awesome owl shirt

32/52, Sunday: You'll have to excuse her hair. It was air drying.

Monday, August 8, 2016

Happy Homemaker Monday

Good morning, folks! It's been quite the weekend here, and I'm actually ready for the week because it actually promises to be less crazy, but we shall see!

The weather: Gloomy, lots of rain. I'm hoping for a glimpse of sunshine today, at least when I take Ella to the library later on. I realize we need the rain, but we're under a flash flood watch...not sure we need that much!

Right now, I am: Celebrating the fact that I have the day off! What?! A Monday off? YES!

Thinking: That I have lots to get done today, but that I'm pretty sure it will all get done. I think I have some banana peppers to pick out of the garden, and Gram is bringing by fresh corn today. Yum!

On my reading pile: Somehow, in the midst of all of the insanity last week, I zoomed through Home to Big Stone Gap and Doll Bones, a super spooky book by Holly Black. I'm reading in A Cold Dark Place right now, and Ella and I are headed to the library this evening.

On my T.V: Nothing, I'm pretty sure. Too much to do, and I think I just want it to be me and my recliner and a book in the evenings.

On the menu this week:
Monday: Ham, Green Beans, and Small Potatoes in the crockpot
Tuesday: Chicken Tikka Masala, Rice, and Garlic Naan
Wednesday: Pot Roast
Thursday: Lasagna Soup
Friday: Breakfast for Dinner/Fend for Yourself night, as I have to work super duper late
Saturday: Potato Soup
Sunday: Chicken Alfredo

On my to-do list today: Check the gardens, library, visit with neighbors and with Gram, clean the bathrooms

In the craft basket: Still that skirt. I'm notoriously slow at this stuff.

Looking forward to this week: Thursday, when Gram and I are going to a concert in the next town over, and Saturday, when I should have an easy day...also, the coming of my ipsy bag. It's silly, but I love to play around with all of the new products!

Looking around the house: It's quiet and if I look out my window at a certain angle, I noticed I can see the McDonald's arches peeking through the trees. It's odd that I've never noticed it before, and we've been in this house over a year.

From the camera: 
My butterfly weed in the healing garden is in bloom!


On my prayer list: My Dad, who's due for a "check in" appointment with his cancer doc on the 16th. I remember the August of 2013, and how scared we all were of everything. I'm hoping for all good news, and that the cancer is still in remission.

Bible Verse, Devotional: "The heavens declare the glory of God." Psalm 19:1

Sunday, August 7, 2016

31/52

31/52: Around here, we wear hats.

31/52, Sunday. No fanciness again. Things have gotta slow down, you guys.

Monday, August 1, 2016

Happy Homemaker Monday

Good afternoon, friends. I have a late-starting work day today, so this is late, too. After losing my Dave, I took the opportunity to sleep in while I could.

Let's get it started, shall we?

The Weather: Not as warm as I thought! Praise the Lord, I was getting sick of sweating my butt off.

On my reading pile: Still "Back Home to Big Stone Gap". I'm finishing it tonight. I swear.

On my T.V: A documentary of the history of music, and maybe a movie with Gabe if we both have the time.

On the menu for this week:
Monday: Crockpot Lasagna Soup
Tuesday: Jambalaya
Wednesday: Hamburger Helper (don't judge, it's a late work night)
Thursday: Gabe is cooking, breakfast for dinner (because he's the master of bacon)
Friday: Egg Roll Bowls
Saturday: Pork Tacos
Sunday: Chicken Alfredo

On my to-do list: Work, Clean bathrooms, spend some time with Gabe. (It's sad that time with my husband is scheduled, but that's what happens when you're in a household where both spouses work)

What I am creating: A lacy skirt for Ella.

Looking around the house: It's so quiet. I have vegetables literally everywhere. A friend stopped by with garden produce, and then another, and then another. And I picked peppers today. So...yeah.

From the camera: 



Coca Cola is better condolence gift than a casserole, ya'll. Way better.

On my prayer list: Everything and everyone. Life is crazy.


R.I.P My Cave Dave

My sweet boy Dave (aka Cave, aka Cave Dave, aka The Boy, aka My Heart) passed away in the early hours of Sunday morning.

I am crushed. He'd been sick for a while, but he had such fight in him. I'm slowly adjusting to not having him rush me when I come home from work or curl up next to me on the porch swing or try to eat breakfast off my plate.


Goodbye, My Heart. There will never again be another you.

30/52

30/52: :)

30/52, Sunday: It's been a long, emotionally exhausting week. Excuse the lack of fanciness, ya'll.