{ Happy Homemaker Monday - 11/02/2026 }

Good morning and welcome to the first Happy Homemaker Monday of November.  Well we are now entering the holiday weeks, the busy, crazy, and amazing holiday times of the year.

 

It does also mean that we now have to focus on Thanksgiving and organizing it all, which I'm not quite ready for yet, but we will do it.

 

I also see a lot of people already decorating for Christmas, have you started?  I haven't yet, but may start pulling out some of the decorations later today.  

 

Anyway, thank you all for the comments on the last posts about my anxiety, I am getting through it, doing a lot of prayer, trying to train my brain not to overreact to everything and will definitely talk to my doctors.

 

Wishing you all a very happy and blessed week!   

♥♥ The Weather ♥♥
We are expecting some strong storms later this afternoon with the possibility of tornadoes.  Why we are doing tornadoes in November is beyond me, but ok.  Hahahah  

 

Monday - Storms and cloudy, 82
Tuesday - Partly cloudy, 69
Wednesday - Mostly sunny, 74
Thursday - Mostly sunny, 75
Friday - Mostly sunny, 70
Saturday - Partly cloudy, 67
Sunday - Sunny, 70


♥♥ As I look outside my window ♥♥
The sun has come up, the birds are chirping and the chickens are clucking away with the roosters singing their constant song.  it looks like a beautiful day ahead, at least until the clouds and storms set in.   

♥♥ Right now I am ♥♥
Sitting at my desk, I have a random Christmas movie playing on TV and I'm working on this post.  

 

♥♥ Thinking and pondering ♥♥
It's been a lot going on lately, poor Elliott has had a tough month, it's been one thing after another.  Just thinking how resilient animals are and how much joy they bring to us. 

 

♥♥ How am I feeling ♥♥
Physically I am well, obviously the anxiety played a major part of my mental well being, but I'm feeling ok today and I plan to stay like that.   

 

♥♥ On the breakfast plate ♥♥
I just had a cup of coffee earlier and haven't yet had breakfast.  Not sure what I'll have but will probably end up being the usual scrambled eggs with cottage cheese.  Or I may make a breakfast sandwich with an english muffin.  I'm not very hungry, one thing about anxiety and stress for me is that I stop eating, it's weird.    

 

♥♥ On the lunch plate ♥♥
Not sure, I don't feel like anything in particular but will see how I feel later.  

 

♥♥ On the dinner plate ♥♥
Sausages in tomato sauce, rice, mixed roast veggies. 

 

♥♥ What I'm wearing ♥♥
Still in my pajamas, will change into something hahahah  Not sure what.  Either leggings, a dress or some shorts, I'm not sure.  

 

♥♥ On my reading pile ♥♥
Almost done with 2 Samuel in the Bible.      

Currently reading Thornyhold by Mary Stewart. 

 

 

♥♥ On my TV this week ♥♥
Youtube - 

Homemaking and book vlogs

Crochet and Knitting podcasts 

 

Netflix - 

Trying to catch up on Call the Midwife but I don't remember the last season I watched so may start again from the beginning.

The Great British Bake Off

Going to start watching Star Trek The Next Generation again.   

 

Turkish Soap -

Mercan Kosk

Guller ve Gunahlar

Muhtemel Ask

Halef

Sevdigim Sensin

Gunesin Dogdugu Yer

Anne Yarisi

Sevdan Bir Ates

 

♥♥ On the menu ♥♥

Need to start working on the new meal plan today

 

Monday - Sausages in tomato sauce, rice, mixed roast veggies  

Tuesday - Meatball Moroccan Stew with potatoes, salad 
Wednesday - Chickpea and sweet potato curry, rice
Thursday -

Friday - Layered Flatbreads and Garlic Yogurt Sauce

Saturday -

Sunday -

♥♥ Looking around the house ♥♥
I need to do a bit of organizing in the living room to start making room for Christmas decorations and the tree. 

♥♥ To Do List for the week ♥♥
- Carpet clean, vacuum, dust

- Laundry 

- Normal daily cleaning, kitchen, bathroom, living spaces

- Starting my Clarendon Cabled Jumper

- Continue working on the Universe in Bloom Blanket  

♥♥ What I am creating ♥♥

Universe in Bloom Blanket and I just got my pattern for the jumper on Saturday, so am eager to get started with that.   

♥♥ Something fun to share ♥♥
I love the channel on YouTube Through Lucy's Lens, she always takes us around such fantastic spots in England.  

 

Here is her latest where she takes us to Wales to a lodge and shows us around.  Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.  

 

 

♥♥ From the camera ♥♥

I love sitting at my desk, by the window, and working on crochet projects.   

 

♥♥ Devotional ♥♥ 

As I navigate my anxiety journey, I have started two new plans on my bible app.  

 

Fear & Anxiety

Victory Over Anxiety

 

They seem to be pretty good, so we will see how that goes.  

{ Blogtober 2026 - Day 20 - We've lost the joy of gifting and receiving }

I have always wanted a doll house, since I was a child, but it's something I never got.  I was one of four, the only girl, and my dad and stepmom worked hard to provide for us, but times were different and it wasn't always possible to give big gifts.

 

What I do remember, is that no matter what, we loved every gift we received, and I miss that, I miss the simple days and the simple holidays.  The days where gifts were not extravagant, not expensive but they came from the heart and meant so much.  

 

The excitement of birthdays and Christmas was palpable, and I don't know about you all, but I feel that those feelings have been lost along the way.  Of course we're older and I myself will be the first to admit that I don't have that excitement about gifts as I did when I was a child, but it's not just that, it's the fact that nowadays gifts seem to be all about the biggest, the most expensive, and being better than the year before.

It's made it all so materialistic and void of joy, and I really want to change that.

 

As I am making this big Gingerbread house that my sweet husband bought me, I am like a child back in my early teens, finally receiving the doll house she always wanted.  I am getting such pure happiness out of building these small pieces that will go into the finished house.

 

This is what brought all these memories back and made me really want to start looking at Christmas especially, in a different way.  I mentioned a few blogs back that I really want this year to be different, to be more of a vintage older kind of Christmas, from the tree to the gifts, to the food and especially the atmosphere. 

 

So I am just throwing thoughts around in my head and trying very hard to make that come true.  I feel the whole world is falling apart and our homes, our families are the only peace we really have around us, so why not make these upcoming holidays even more special than usual? 

Homemade is at the top of that list, for sure.  

 

Speaking of homemade and slightly drifting off the subject, I have been working on my sourdough for over a year.  My sourdough starter or Suzy as I call her, lives in my fridge and she has been thriving all this time.  I couldn't be happier.  

 

But having a good sourdough starter and producing a good loaf is a completely different thing.  I have struggled, I have made flops, I have made drops, I have made flat, dense, rock hard loaves, I have made them all.  But I have finally mastered a good sourdough loaf and I am thrilled beyond thrilled.  

 

Above you can see my loaf wrapped in a beautiful kitchen towel from Aveiro, Portugal. 

Just look at this beauty?  Look at those holes and the perfect crust.  This loaf is one of the best I have made and I am so proud of myself for sticking with it.

In the meantime, while I work on all these ideas floating around in my already overloaded and overwhelmed brain, I have been building shelves and trying to create a very cozy den/dining room area.  It's a work in progress for sure.

 

But when we have Thanksgiving and Christmas, I want everyone who walks through the doors to feel welcome and cozy and warm and happy. 

{ Blogtober 2026 - Day 28 - Wordless Wednesday }

{ Blogtober 2026 - Day 27 - Happy Mail }

There is something about receiving happy mail, you know the kind that you've been waiting for, eagerly anticipating, and then the package arrives and you have this giddy feeling?

 

Books and yarn do that for me, so anytime a package of that sort arrives at my mailbox, I get so happy.

 

This box from Michael's contained my yarn for my Cabled Jumper I will be making for Winter.   I am still waiting to receive the pattern, because of digital I asked for it to be sent as physical copies, and they're coming from the UK, but should be here very soon.

 

As soon as it arrives I can get going with the jumper, and of course show you as I go along.  

 

 

I also had a package from Paperbackswap, which is this book above.  The first in a series and I have free book credits so was able to grab this one.  I didn't see the other two posted but am keeping an eye out and as soon as I see them, I will definitely grab them.

 

The Edge of Light by Ann Shorey is the first book in the At Home in Beldon Grove series. 

 

It is the summer of 1838 in St. Lawrenceville, Missouri, and Molly McGarvie's life is about to change forever. When her beloved Samuel succumbs to cholera, Molly is heartbroken but determined to take care of herself and her children. But when Samuel's unscrupulous brother takes over the family business and leaves Molly to fend for herself, she knows she must head out on her own. It is a dangerous journey and Molly has to leave her old life behind. Somehow she must find a way to make a living, keep her family together, and fend off some over-eager suitors. 

 

 

From Thriftbooks, I got the book two and three in the Midwives series, and yesterday late afternoon I got the third book.  I love shopping at Thriftbooks because they are so inexpensive, these were only around $4 a book, which is a steal.

 

Now I have the series ready to go.

 

 

I have also been reading and looking through the Brambly Hedge book, most specifically the Autumn Story.  It is adorable and always makes me want to jump through the pages and be right there, in the forest with the animals and their cosy sweet little homes.

 

Have you received any happy mail lately? 

{ TLC Book Tour - A Christmas Carol Devotional by Charles Dickens }

 

 

About A Christmas Carol Devotional: 25 Advent Reflections from Charles Dickens’s Beloved Classic

Publisher: Zondervan

Publication date: September 8, 2026

Draw near to God this Christmas season as you reflect on spiritual lessons from a timeless holiday classic.

This 25-day Advent devotional journeys through one of the world’s most beloved Christmas stories, A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, and helps you honor Christmas in your heart—and keep it all year! In this devotional companion to the cherished classic, you’ll walk alongside Ebenezer Scrooge, Bob Cratchit, and Tiny Tim as you explore the many spiritual lessons tucked into the story. The timeless novella’s themes of redemption, generosity, and community will help you prepare your heart for Christmas and reflect on all God has done, is doing, and is preparing to do in your life.

Each daily entry includes a key scripture, a retelling of part of the story, a personal reflection, and a short prayer. Filled with beautiful line-art illustrations, A Christmas Carol Devotional will help you slow down and draw near to Christ during the busy Christmas season.

About the Author

Rachel Dodge is the bestselling, award-winning author of The Anne of Green Gables Devotional, The Little Women Devotional, The Secret Garden Devotional, and Praying with Jane: 31 Days through the Prayers of Jane Austen. She teaches writing, speaks at conferences and retreats, and writes for Jane Austen’s World blog. Pairing classic books with cozy devotional content is her happy place. Rachel loves timeless beauty, quiet moments, and helping readers find comfort and encouragement in the pages of beloved stories.