Happy Homemaker Monday

I'm late putting this up, of course. It's been an eventful morning, and Ella and I both still have the crud, so trying to do work/school/life has been extra exhausting.

Here we go!

The weather in my neck of the woods:  Humid, and too warm for my liking. Bring on Fall, I'm so ready!

What I'm reading: "Where Secrets Sleep" by Marta Perry (slow start, I have no time to get into it) and "Unseen" by John Michael Hileman (on the Kindle, I'm 2% in, that should tell ya'll how much time I've had to read)

Things that make me happy: My husband. My kitties. The ipsy bag I got today, even if the lipgloss makes me look like a wild west saloon girl (no, there aren't any pictures, and no, I will not be keeping it. I'm already looking to trade with someone)

On the menu for this week: I did SO well, until the end of the week, when Ella and I both got sick. Bleeeeeh. Making up for it this week (let's hope, ya'll, let's hope)

Monday: Zuppa Toscana
Tuesday: Pot Roast, Potatoes
Wednesday: French Dip Sandwiches
Thursday: Chicken Enchiladas
Friday: Chicken Kebabs
Saturday: (Farm Tour) Beef Stew, Potatoes
Sunday: Spaghetti/Spaghetti Squash (it's an experiment!)

Looking around the house: It's kitty nap time. Ella's studying the solar system.

To-do list: Library
                   Bank
                   Post office
                  Garden
                  CVS
                  Grandma's

New Recipe I tried last week: Zucchini Chocolate Cake. And it.was.amazing.

In the craft basket: What if I told you it was headbands? lolol

Looking forward to: Grandma Jean's house, like always. Starting a study on bats with Ella.

Homemaking Tip of the week: Clorox bleach wipes are a lifesaver...especially to clean up cat puke (gak)

Favorite Photo: 

           
Lesson Learned: Oh, man, where do I start? Hot tea is wonderful. When your husband doesn't like someone you know and then offers you a reason (a perfectly valid reason), make sure you listen to it.

On my prayer list: My parents.
                                A baby girl named Ruth who has stolen my heart
                                A situation that is out of my hands but is breaking my heart.
                             
Devotionals, Key Verses, Scripture: 

Have a blessed week!!!!

33/52

33/52: Always in motion. Also, those rain boots have seen some serious mileage. I'll be needing to upgrade them before too long

33/52, Sunday. Nope, this isn't wear your nightie to church day. We're down with the cold. Bleh.

Happy Homemaker Monday

I'm late getting this up today. Why? Because this.

That's right, I'm officially the Mama of a 4th grader. And I'm officially OLD. Moving on, it's really hard to think about posting this, when I'm teaching, running interference with a black cat (Sphinx) absolutely everywhere and doing about fifty other things. Whew.

That said, here.we.go!!!

The Weather in my neck of the woods: It rained. A lot. And we almost got caught in it. Holy moly. It's supposed to be a warm and rainy week.

Things that make me happy: Trading fresh veggies with friends and neighbors, the fact that my little girl has an awesome, unselfish, giving spirit.

Menu for the week:  So, last week's plan went great until Wednesday or so when life intervened and the plan unraveled completely.
So, here's an updated plan for this week:
Monday: Steakhouse soup
Tuesday: Breakfast for dinner
Wednesday: Chicken Noodle Soup
Thursday: Stir fry
Friday: Chicken Enchiladas
Saturday: Zuppa Toscana
Sunday: Chicken and Veggie Pasta

Looking around the house:  It is very clearly a school zone.

To-do list: Head to the garden and get some swiss chard.
                   Go see hubby at work for a few minutes
                  Finish up some headbands (yes, THOSE headbands) for a baby girl

New Recipe I Tried Last Week:  Not so much a recipe, but those salad bowls (exactly what they sound like, layered taco salad in a bowl) were awesome.

Recipe I want to try soon: I was given some spaghetti squash today...can you believe I've never made spaghetti squash? Any tips and tricks would be appreciated.

In the craft basket: Headbands, but those are leaving said basket today. I SWEAR.

Looking forward to: The rest of this school year. A farm tour we are going on in a few weeks. FALL!

Blog hopping: The Pleated Poppy . She makes me want to dress up all cute!!!

Favorite Photo: 

I hit some yard sales with a friend this weekend and found an awesome doll house for Ella, super cheap. Love getting a good deal and love seeing her happy!!!

Lesson Learned:  Sticking by your values is super important, and sometimes it's best not to argue and get dragged into other people's drama. Not my circus, not my monkeys.

On my prayer list: My friend Tessa, whose uncle is dying.

                                My parents, as always.

                                This school year. 

Devotionals, Key Verses, Scriptures: 

32/52

32/52: We made kindness bombs on Wednesday. That involved writing positive things on slips of paper that we then hid in library books. Hers, of course, was hidden in a book about owls.

32/52, Sunday. I apologize for how incredibly dark these pictures are. But, hey, she has an awesome tiara in her hair :)

Settling In

We've been in this house since two days before Ella's 9th birthday, and we are slowly settling in. I mean that in all ways. Yes, we've unpacked (most of) our stuff and the house is looking like a home, but I mean we're settling into a nice routine and it's good.

The loss of Tom really shook us up hard. After losing Sparrow, it was amazing how seamlessly Tom fit into our little family unit. He was a big guy looking for love and we were absolutely more than willing to give it. It's been different with Dave and Sphinx, well...with Sphinx mostly. She was found stray and didn't really trust us her first week here. Dave actually reminds me a lot of Tom, he's just a chill guy who likes hanging out and relaxing. Sphinx has settled in and will follow us around here and there now. It's sweet.

This house is the first time since we left the place on Nelson Road that I feel stable and content. The place we lived in after Nelson Road was more trouble than it was worth and we had some questionable neighbors. The place after that didn't have a working stove, a VERY dishonest landlord, and more questionable neighbors, and while we made some friends while living there, I was very very glad to leave.

I love where we are now. Absolutely love it. We have a porch swing, and a working stove (because ya'll know it was the first thing I checked for when looking this place over) and awesome neighbors and there's just this CALM. For the first time in a very long time, there is a calm. I can wake up in the morning, go to work, do schoolwork with Ella and there is a calm and contentment and I love it.

I often joke to Gabe that I would like to take this house and move it up north with us when the time comes, whenever that is. For the first time in a long time, I don't feel an overwhelming rush to move home...which is amazing in its own right.

I guess in the middle of all this insanity, it was time for a happy post, and that's what this is :)

Happy Homemaker Monday

It's my day off! Which is awesome, because yesterday was our (9th!!!) wedding anniversary, and of course Gabe had to work and I had 659832312 things to do and he came home and we had a very unromantic dinner (how romantic can you get with a big striped cat begging for food every five seconds?) and I went to bed because I was exhausted.

HOWEVER, we are both off today and I think that once we get Ella off to bed this evening, we are going to try to catch up and maybe watch a movie and just spend quality time together. Or maybe I will ask Gram to watch Ella for a few hours. Hmmm.

Moving on!

The Weather in my neck of the woods: The last couple of days have been PERFECT. It'll be warming up some the first half of the week, but is supposed to cool down by the weekend. Yay!

Things that make me happy: the increasingly rare day off, my family, crazy kitties, the fact that I can take a few ingredients and make a good-tasting meal (I've come a long way, trust me)

Menu for the week: Um. Yeah. Last week, I started off great, then halfway through, life happened. Here's hoping for a better meal planning week!

Monday: At Ella's request: Grilled chicken strips, couscous and veggies (from the GARDEN ya'll, from the GARDEN!!!!)
Tuesday: Taco Bowls (something new, update maybe)
Wednesday: Chicken kebabs, rice
Thursday: Smokey bacon macaroni and cheese
Friday:  Back to school shopping for me and E, so we'll just grab a couple take and bake pizzas
Saturday: Steakhouse soup
Sunday: One pot spaghetti

Looking around the house: One cat sleeping, one cat jumping counters. Going to attempt a light cleaning today.

To-do list: Straighten up the living room, kitchen and the master bedroom. Possibly laundry. Trip to the garden to trim up the tomatoes and maybe pick more peppers and harvest chard. Quick trip to the grocery.

New Recipe I tried last week: Uhm, I did cook couscous in a new way. Made it toasted, instead of the normal way of simmering it. It was AMAZING. Ella had 3 helpings and asked for it again this week.

New Recipe I want to try soon: Not much of a recipe but we had Walk'n Tacos at an event on Saturday, and I totally want to try making those.

In the craft basket: Everything. I cannot even deal with the craft basket this morning ;)

Looking forward to: Back to school shopping and a few days worth of a study break for me. I took my last test early so my brain could get a break this week!!

Favorite Photo: 

Lesson Learned: Time passes by really quickly. Really, really fast. Last night, I was in the kitchen, making dinner and dancing to Taylor Swift and being silly with Ella when it hit me. Holy moly, she is 9 years old. I can't even...

On my prayer list: This country, because things are getting bad, and fast.
                                 My parents, like always.
                                 The upcoming school year.
                                 My husband.
                                 My sanity ;)

Devotionals, Key Verses, Scripture:

Have a blessed day, everyone!

31/52

31/52: We went to an event yesterday. There was a wildlife demonstration. Ella was very taken with Bindi, the corn snake. There may be another pet in our future.

31/52, Sunday: She looks like a little princess. Gotta love Goodwill for awesome dresses!