{ Happy Homemaker Monday - 10/18/2021 }

Good morning sweet ladies, hope you've had a wonderful weekend.  

 

I haven't been able to get a post up since last week's Happy Homemaker Monday.  It was a week a bit busier than usual, if that is even possible.  This coming week will be somewhat calmer, thankfully.  

 

Our weekend was......I don't even know how to describe it.  Let me just say, if you follow me on Instagram you will know what happened, but if not, I'll just quickly tell you that Curt was chopping wood on Saturday morning.  It's something we do every year.  He was using a chainsaw, and unfortunately the chainsaw slipped, came up and hit two fingers on the left hand, his pinky and ring finger.

 

We ended up in Urgent care, with one finger needing to be glued and the other receiving two stitches.  What a fright I got, and Curt too.  All is good now, he is on antibiotics and some pain meds, but he is ok, thanks to God.  It could have been much worse, he could have lost his fingers, or a hand.  But God as always, stepped in and protected us.  

 

Yesterday we started taking down the pool for the year.  I did most of the work, as I didn't want Curt doing anything with his fingers like that.  So this morning, I am in so much pain, my neck, my lower back, my fingers.  Goodness.  Nothing some prayer and motrin won't cure though.

 

Anyway, now you're caught up, I do have more posts going up this week and I'll fill you in on whatever else is going on then.  

 

Now, let's get going with our Happy Homemaker Monday.  

♥♥The Weather♥♥ 

Fall weather is finally here, in all it's cold glory.  We've been seeing 40 degree mornings, and highs of 70s.  I think I could get used to that, actually would be nice to have those temps all year round. 

♥♥How I am feeling this morning♥♥

Sore, but otherwise good.     

 

♥♥On my mind♥♥ 

How God is always there, always looking out for us, and doing miracles that sometimes we don't even realize.  

I went for my women's check up last week Tuesday.  Not only did I get a clean bill of health, but one of the issues I was having because of perimenopause, has completely reverted, shocking even the doctor.  She couldn't believe it and told me it doesn't just happen, it's not something that reverts, and even with treatment specific for that kind of situation, it doesn't usually work.  Praise God!!!!   

 

 ♥♥On the breakfast plate♥♥

Went completely off track this weekend, but back to the grind today.  I just had a cup of coffee, and will have some toast, or oatmeal in about an hour.      

 

♥♥Right now I am♥♥

Sitting on the bed, under the warm covers, working on this post, watching a video on TV and using my Tens Unit to try and ease up some of the pain on my neck and shoulders.     

 

♥♥On my reading pile♥♥ 

Have started Hebrews in the Bible.  I am so close to the end of the New Testament.  So happy and proud of myself for reading through the whole Bible.  

Couple review books as well.

 

♥♥On today's to do list♥♥

Homemaking.....Didn't carpet clean this weekend, so need to do that sometime this week.

Some dishes in the sink from last night, need washing.

Tidying up around the house.   

Blogging.....Still need to post the recipes on the food blog.   

 

 ♥♥On my tv♥♥

Homemaking vlogs

 

♥♥On the menu this week♥♥

Monday - Chicken Stir Fry, Egg Rolls

Tuesday - Spaghetti, Garlic Bread

Wednesday - Chicken Manicotti, Salad

Thursday - Pressure Cooker Beef, Mashed Potatoes, Steamed Broccoli

Friday - Italian Sausage Hoagies, Fries

Saturday -Gnocchi with Spinach and Sausage, Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon

Sunday -  Leftovers, Sandwiches

 

♥♥From the camera♥♥

This sweet boy, Elliott ♥

♥♥Looking around the house♥♥

The sun came up not too long ago, so the sun is peeking through the trees and flooding into the house.  Beautiful Fall morning rays, covering everything in a beautiful golden glow.  

Curt is off to work.  Nick is sleeping and so is Jasmine.  She is switching jobs at the moment, so she has until Wednesday to relax. 

Elliott is laying on the bed, next to me, asleep.   

 

♥♥New recipe I tried last week, or one that we really enjoyed♥♥

The Pumpkin Spice Apple Butter is delicious.   

 

♥♥To relax this week, I will♥♥

I am making a Winter Wreath for my front door, using Juniper branches and some pine cones.  Will be doing that to relax. 

 ♥♥Something I want to share♥♥ 

Bringing another beauty from Whitney Barkman.  A beautiful short video called Spend a Rainy Day with Me.  Love it and I hope you do too.

 

♥♥On my prayer list♥♥

As always, my SIL and her fight with Breast Cancer.

For our country and the whole world in general, there is so much chaos at the moment.   

{ Happy Homemaker Monday - 10/11/2021 }

Good morning everyone!!!

I apologize for the post going up quite late today, but it's been a pretty crazy night for us.  A random storm blew into town last night, around 6pm.  It was so strong and the winds so high, that we couldn't see out the windows, it was just white with rain.

We immediately lost power, and end up without any power until almost 3am.  We made do, played some board games, lit some candles, had some family time which was wonderful.  However, trying to sleep was just unbearable.  It was so hot and muggy, and without electricity we couldn't turn on the fan or the air conditioner.  Me and my perimenopausal self were drenched in sweat, it was awful.

I ended up not sleeping all night, and then having to rush this morning to get Jasmine to work, and here I am now, to finally sit down and get this post up.  So, without any further delay, let's see what is happening around here.

Hope you all have a blessed week ahead.

 

♥♥The Weather♥♥ 

It is currently 63 degrees and the sun is shining.  We have more rain this week, which I always love, as long as it's not like yesterday's storm.  We ended up with a ton of broken trees, and a neighbor's trampoline in our yard, from across the field.  Crazy!!! 

Monday - 82
Tuesday - 84
Wednesday - 82
Thursday -  81
Friday - 72
Saturday - 72
Sunday - 75

♥♥How I am feeling this morning♥♥

Really tired, and hoping I can find at least 10 minutes to sneak in a quick nap.   

 

♥♥On my mind♥♥ 

A lot that I have to get done, but not sure how to do it when I'm this tired.  I will most likely just push through as I always do.  

Also have my yearly ob/gyn appointment tomorrow afternoon, and I really dislike those, so not looking forward to it at all. 

 

 ♥♥On the breakfast plate♥♥

Starting today, I am back to counting calories and watching what I eat.  Between my perimenopause and my bad eating habits the past few months, due to the stress around Marley's sickness and then his passing, I've put on 10 pounds, and it's time to get rid of them.  

I just had coffee and some toast this morning.    

 

♥♥Right now I am♥♥

Actually sitting on my bed with a blanket on my feet and legs, as I'm feeling a bit cold.  I'm typing up this post, and watching a youtube video at the same time.   

 

♥♥On my reading pile♥♥ 

I am now in 2 Thessalonians in the Bible.

Also reading Divine Encounters by Donna Rigney. 

 

♥♥On today's to do list♥♥

Homemaking.....Tidying up from the weekend and yesterday's power loss.  There are candles around the house, board games needing to be put up and just basic tidying up.  

Blogging.....Finish a post from last night that I was typing up when we lost power, and post it.  Post a few recipes on the food blog.  

 

 ♥♥On my tv♥♥

Homemaking vlogs

Some crime shows

 

♥♥On the menu this week♥♥

Monday - Ikea Style Meatballs, Mashed Potatoes,  Kobucha Squash

Tuesday - Slow Cooker Bang Bang Chicken, Rice

Wednesday - Slow Cooker Hamburger Hash, Salad

Thursday - Slow Cooker Sausage Rigatoni, Veggies

Friday - * Grocery Shopping *

Saturday -

Sunday -  

 

♥♥From the camera♥♥

Rainy days call for baking.

♥♥Looking around the house♥♥

Curt is home today because of the holiday, so he is in his office, working on his college classes.  Nick is asleep, of course.  Jasmine is at work, and I'm doing what I already told you I was doing  hahah

Elliott is laying by the front door, looking at the birds outside. 

 

♥♥New recipe I tried last week, or one that we really enjoyed♥♥

I made some Esfihas for dinner last week, it's one of the recipes that will be on the blog.  

 

 

♥♥To relax this week, I will♥♥

I have no clue what relaxing means, at least at the moment.  There is too much going on. 

 ♥♥Something I want to share♥♥ 

Let me introduce to one of my favorite kind of videos to watch on Youtube, at the moment.  I'm sure you've all heard of ASMR.  I don't care for most of this type of video, because some are sounds of chewing, or eating, whispering, and just weird things.  But, there is also the type of ASMR that brings us an ambience sound, and my absolutely favorites lately are the kind I'll show you below.

 

I just love to pop one on while I'm busy cooking, or cleaning, it brings me so much peace. 

 

♥♥On my prayer list♥♥

My SIL Hayley, her oncologist is happy with her progress so far, but her white blood cells are quite low, and if they go any lower, they will have to stop the treatments until they come back up.  She is now going 3 times a week to get shots to make her blood marrow produce faster.  Please pray that she is able to get her blood cell count raised.  

For me, for my appointment tomorrow, that everything goes well.

{ Canning and fresh cut flowers }

“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” 

— L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables 

 

Oh beautiful October, beautiful fall, beautiful leaves and warm morning glow.  This time of the year brings so much peace to my soul.

It's started to get darker earlier, by 7pm the sun is already dipping below the horizon, and yesterday we had to turn on the car lights while driving home.  And I love every second of this transformation from warm to cold.

I wanted to come in and just share a bit of what I was up to the past few days.  

#1 - I would love to say that I got the recipes on the food blog.  Truth is, I didn't.  I haven't had the time, and the little downtime that I have, I end up just wanting to sit for a bit and don't have the motivation to do anything that requires me using brain.  You understand, I'm sure.

#2 -  I have so many projects that chores, tasks that need doing before the cold weather truly arrives, and I'm so hoping to get them going this week.  They need to happen and soon.

 

Okay, now that we got that out of the way, let me show what I've been up to.

 

 

 

My slow cookers have been working overtime.  They're either making dinner, or a side dish, or something that I need to process to be able to can for the winter time.

 

Last week's slow cooker meals, were not only delicious, but they saved me so much time, and ensured that we had a home cooked meal on the table after a day of running around.

I also made a delicious Pumpkin Spice Apple Butter, and canned two of them for the pantry, and left one out in the fridge.  It is soooo good, so so delicious.  It's one of the recipes on the list to be posted.

I also canned some of my nectarine brown sugar jam, and some pecans as well.  Forgot how much I enjoyed canning and am determined to get back to it, as soon as possible.

We are slowly filling our cellar with canned goods and all sorts of canned food.  I will be getting some big buckets soon for flour and sugar too. 

I mentioned last week how I made this Immune Booster drink.  I've been taking a tablespoon every day, especially going into the cold and flu season.  It packs quite a punch and I'm sure it is going to be wonderful especially with such ingredients as grapefruit, lemon, ginger, cinnamon and tonic water.

As our gardens come to a crawl and put out the last of their beautiful blooms, I've been trying to make the most of them by bringing them in, and adding pops of color to different rooms of the house.

 

Walking into a room, smelling the outdoors and seeing the beautiful flowers, is sure to brighten your day, at least it does mine.

I also brought out more of my candles, and placed them in different rooms.  Not just for those nights when we lose power due to strong storms (which happen more often than we would like), but even though I light candles all year long, there is something magical about candlelight.  

It invokes a feeling of cozy and warm, of soft blankets, cups of coffee or tea, a cheeky cookie or a slice of cake.  Crackling fires, and the sound of rain or a winter storm blasting outside.

I've started gathering wood and getting the fireplace ready, and can't quite wait for the first fire of the season to be lit.  

As I type this post, a storm has moved in, and is howling outside, trees are dancing to and fro, and our lights are starting to flicker.  

I had no sooner finished typing that line, and we lost power.  It would go on to last from 7pm to 3am.  I think one of the longest we've lost power due to a storm.  There is a lot of damage outside, a neighbor's trampoline from across the field, is in our front yard.  A mangled mess of bent iron and torn fabric.

Trees have come down, huge branches have broken off and toppled to the ground and we have a lot to clean up.

I just wanted to come in and quickly finish this post so that I could post it for you all.  Thankfully, we were ok, and aside from losing power, we were kept safe by the Lord.

{ A Royal Christmas Fairy Tale by Karen Schaler - TLC Book Tour }

  A Royal Christmas Fairy Tale

 

 

• Publisher: HawkTale Publishing (October 5, 2021)

• Paperback: 358 pages

 

A “sweet Christmas charmer…” – Publishers Weekly

This feel-good, humorous, and heartwarming new Christmas romance, about the power of believing in yourself to find your happily ever after, is from the Emmy Award-winning writer of the Netflix sensation A Christmas Prince and Hallmark’s beloved Christmas Camp, the movie and novel. This enchanting escape is just what your heart needs this holiday season…

A charming Christmas village, a storybook castle, a royal ball, and a gorgeous prince are the last things New York City reporter Kaylie Karlyle expects to find on her holiday freelance assignment to Europe. But when the family she’s interviewing turns out to be the royal family of Tolvania, Kaylie has a meltdown when the quirky queen wants her to write a Christmas fairy tale for the spunky, young princess. Kaylie must battle the princess’s father, who doesn’t trust the media, and her own insecurities about writing anything beyond the news.

To spark inspiration for the fairy tale, the queen recruits the prickly Prince Alexander to show Kaylie the family’s most spectacular royal holiday traditions. And sparks definitely fly when the only thing Kaylie and the prince agree on is that they’re both more “bah humbug” than “ho, ho, ho.”

But somewhere between sleigh rides and snow angels, merrymaking and mistletoe, upside-down Christmas trees, and a legendary Christmas crown, Kaylie and the prince open their hearts to Christmas and start believing in themselves and each other. It’s a real-life fairy tale in the making until Kaylie discovers a secret about a royal Christmas heirloom that jeopardizes everyone’s happily ever after. Can the magic of the season save this holiday happy ending?

Purchase Links

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Thriftbooks

 

About Karen Schaler

Photo by Scott Foust

Karen Schaler is a prolific and passionate three-time Emmy Award–winning storyteller, author, screenwriter, journalist, and national TV host. In the last three years, she has written five rom-com novels and five Christmas movies for Netflix, Hallmark, and Lifetime, including the Netflix sensation A Christmas Prince and Hallmark’s Christmas Camp. Karen also wrote the Christmas Camp and Christmas Camp Wedding books (HarperCollins). For her next novels, Finding Christmas, Christmas Ever After, and A Royal Christmas Fairy Tale, Karen is also writing the movies and writing three feature films, including a summer rom-com and an inspiring true-life story.

All of Karen’s books and movies have received ongoing national TV, print, and online media attention including two exclusive features on NBC’s TODAY show and features in Forbes, Parade, Entertainment Weekly, Entertainment Tonight, The Wall Street Journal, Southern Living, Bustle, and Cosmo.

Embracing the Christmas spirit of giving back, Karen trademarked her Christmas Camp concept and is bringing her Hallmark movie and books to life hosting fun and festive one-of-a-kind Christmas Camp experiences worldwide where everyone is invited! All of Karen’s stories are filled with humor, heart, and hope. For more

Find out more about Karen at her website, and connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

 

REVIEW:

You guys, this book.....this book.  If you love Christmas and are ready to get into the season (like I am), then this is a must read.

 

Bonus?  You even get some yummy recipes included, which is always a big seller for me.

 

So, what is A Royal Christmas Fairy Tale about?  Well, let me tell you, first of all, that it is written by the Queen of Christmas Romance herself, Karen Schaler.  If you don't know who she is, you need to get acquainted and quick, but then again, perhaps you already have without even knowing because Karen is the author and writer of many Christmas movies for Netflix and Lifetime.  

 

One of my favorite Netflix movies for Chrismas, last year, was A Christmas Prince.  Yes, that movie was written by this outstanding author, and now she brings us a story very similar but in book form.

Kaylee is excited about her freelance writing assignment to Europe.  She can not wait to get overseas, find out exactly what her assignment is, and show off her journalistic skills.

Only, she is going to be in Tolvania, writing a Christmas fairy tale, for a young princess.  If that doesn't throw her off, she also has to deal with the Queen herself, who happens to the be the grandmother requesting this writing piece for her granddaughter, and the rude, obnoxious, hates anything to do with the media, Prince Alexander, who is the young girl's father.

There are mishaps, and frustrations, but in good Christmas romance fashion, there is a romance that takes off no matter how much Kaylie or Prince Alexander try to avoid it.  

It's just all we expect from a wonderful Christmas movie, rolled into page after page of brilliant writing. 

I had already told my husband, yesterday, that I was skipping Halloween and going straight into Christmas decorating for the holidays.  This book just made me want to do it all the more, and I may just have to start digging out the decor by next week.

Thank you to TLC Book Tours and Hawktale Publishing for providing me with a review copy.

{ Autumn is here....sights and sounds }

 

(click to play, while reading this post)

 

 

It is a beautiful, crisp, Autumn morning. 

 

I just love this time of year, when Summer starts slowing down, and Autumn creeps in slowly, but steady.  I always think of this season as the quiet intruder, coming in slowly, not making much noise, a change in a leaf here, a change in the leaf there.

 

A few degrees cooler one morning, and before you know it, you are smack dab in the middle of it's beauty, and left wondering how you got there, without you hardly noticing.

 

 

Curt and I took a walk around our property this weekend, and of course, the camera was in hand to capture the signs of Autumn, because as I said above, you often miss them in your day to day life.  We are so busy with life that we tend to miss the small details.

I never used to pay attention, until I started blogging.  I then realized that I needed to always be on the lookout for a blog worthy picture.  It started that way and with that intention, but it taught me to stop and really look around everywhere I went.

I started to take in the details of the smallest and sometimes trivial things around us.  Before I knew it, I was searching these things out, not for a blog post, but just because of the peace and joy it brought me.

 

As we walked around our 3 acres, it dawned on me that God had brought us here, picked this house and placed us in a place that He knew I would fall in love with.

 

Outside our property gate, is life.  With it's technologies and busy schedules, cars and trucks, highways and shopping malls.

 

But the minute I pass my gate, through the driveway, to the house, I step into another place, especially during the cooler months of the year.  

 

And as we walked around, looking at the property line, making sure everything is as it should be, planning and talking, I realized that there are areas that almost feel magical.

Secret Garden kind of magical.

I walk between the trees, the only sounds coming from the crunching of the leaves beneath my feet, and the birds chirping on the trees.

Leaves of every color, shape and size, fall gently to the ground around me.  The air smells different, it's a mixture of cool, mulch, compost soil and pine needles.  Isn't it wonderful how certain scents and aromas can transport us immediately to a specific place?

Pine trees, pine needles and pine cones have that trigger for me.

One whiff of those and I am 5 years old, living in Portugal.  It is a cool Autumn day, and we are at the forest attending a huge picnic.  I don't recall what it was for, who the people were, or why we were even there, but I do recall the same feeling, the same trees, the same smells, the same crunching of leaves beneath my feet as I ran laughing with my brothers.  And at the end of the day, when we packed up our belongings in the car and got ready to leave, I remember feeling this sadness that I had to leave that beautiful magical place.

 

 

In my need and attempt to slow down, and to grab hold of my life instead of letting the busy routine take over, I am finding ways to calm my soul.

 

Sometimes, it is through a home cooked, stick to your ribs kinda meal, or a sip from a hot chocolate topped with the whitest fluffiest cream.  And sometimes, it is through sounds and music.  Lately it's been more sounds and ambience creating videos that really touch deep inside and invoke in me a peace and calm that is very much needed.

Right at the top of this post, I left you a video and I invited you to click on it and listen while reading my thoughts this morning.

When ASMR first came out, I was so put off by it, because it seemed to go in a very weird direction that I did not feel comfortable with.  Sounds of people eating, chewing, drinking, breathing and so on.  Many people grabbed onto it right away, and enjoyed these type of videos.  Me?

I shrunk back.

See I tend to be the one that goes against the flow, with many things.  That whole tik tok for example, I can tell you that I may be one of the very few who has never created an account on it, never downloaded it, don't ever go on there, and the only time I even see anything is by scrolling through Instagram, or if one of my family members shows me.

It's not my thing.

But back to the ASMR.  Once the weird side of it got played out, many decided to take it in a different direction, one which I absolutely adore.  It has brought me hours of peace and calm, like I can't even tell you.

There is something about the sounds of nature, birds, creeks, or the sounds of a quiet kitchen in the winter, the fire crackling, whisking of batter in a bowl, or even washing a dish.

Now those sounds, create just the right ambience for me.  And so lately I have found myself with these kind of videos on repeat.  Many are above 2 hours, most are 5 or even 8 hours long.  Perfect to turn on, and go about your day with relaxing sounds that calm the anxiety and the tense soul.

Give it a try and let me know what you think.

I hope you enjoyed this little look into Autumn on my side of the world, and I sure hope that you too are seeing signs all around you.  Take a step outside, breathe in the fresh air, it will do you a ton of good.

{ Trying to grasp this temporary routine }

It is 55 degrees outside, the birds are chirping, my windows are open and the house is quiet. If I bottle up a perfect Fall/Autumn morning, it would be this one.

I'm still trying to get used to this new routine, and knowing me, I will master it the day before it ends.  Hahaha

We still have another 2 and a half weeks of driving school, but my girl is doing so well, she has her permit now and she is getting ready to start doing her actual driving hours.  She is excited and albeit a bit anxious still, but that is normal.  I've been driving forever and I still get a bit anxious especially on the highway.  

But, the routine is just insane.  I feel so tired, like I haven't really been able to relax or get much downtime, so I'm trying to cram everything I want to do get done in my day, into every single spare moment.

I am so determined to get a grip on my days, that I've pulled out my planner and have actually been using it.  If you're a huge planner person, you're probably laughing at me, and that's quite alright.  But I'm the girl who loves the concept of planners, and buys them, and then never touches them.  I don't know why.

But I pulled it out, and have been using it to keep me on track, or try to at least.

In the middle of this craziness, driving back and forth and all that, Fall is well under way, which means we have a ton of work to do around the property.  So we are also trying to get things done, as we can, and cramming most of it into the weekends.  It's great, but also kind of counter productive in a way, because I'm so busy during the week, and Curt is so busy with work and college classes too, that we don't get to rest or relax on the weekend either.

It's just our life at the moment and we're both getting through it without complaining, because really there is no sense in wasting time doing that when it changes nothing, right?

It is temporary.  That's all!

Some of the things I've been doing, is preparing for the cold weather.  If you've followed me for a while, you know that every year, around October, I make my Winter Concoction for the fridge.  If you want to make it for yourself, there is a recipe, or step by step rather, already on the blog.  

Preparing for Winter

This year I also made a new mixture that is amazing for the winter crud, let's put it that way.  It brings out all the phlegm, it helps with colds and flus and is just brilliant for your immune system.  I will share it on the food blog, just haven't had time to sit and do it, but hopefully today.

Our pecan trees are about ready to be harvested.  We actually have some of the most beautiful pecans growing this year and we are so excited for the harvest.  They don't produce every year, I think I've mentioned it before, but it's something we had to learn after moving to this house.  I had no clue about pecan trees, or any trees of any kind. 

Our Pecan trees produce every two years.  

We have 6 on our property and a few baby ones growing too.  It's wonderful that God has blessed us with some many producing trees, but the harvest usually yields far more pecans than we can handle.  We gift them to family and friends, and then I use as much as I can.

We still have two buckets from 2 years ago, that I am trying to shell and process as fast as I can, before the new ones come in.  So, will be making pecan milk, pecan pie filling for canning, and also canning  roasted pecans.  A lot to do and I'm not sure how or when I'll be able to get it all done, but I'll do it.

I know my posting has been a bit sporadic, since I was working so hard on getting back on track here on the blog, but our plans are never really our plans.  God's plans supersede everything, and so we just go with the flow.  

 

This whole driving school thing came out of nowhere because of Jasmine's job, so we got thrown into this routine, literally from one day to the other.  Life is like that though, isn't it?

On my to do list for today, I have to iron a few work shirts for Curt and a few other things, I am also going to be taking Jasmine to school later, and to pop into her work real quick at 1pm.  

In between all this, I need to get this post up, hopefully get some of the food blog recipes up too, and I also want to get some Pumpkin Spice Apple Butter going in one crockpot, so that I can process it all later tonight, as well as getting dinner going in a second crockpot.

Oh goodness.

But, what I'm going to actually do, is instead of dropping her off, coming back home and returning to pick her up, I'm going to stay there.  It's two hours, but I'll take my laptop, and use that time to get all the recipes up on the food blog, edit photos and if I still have time, maybe watching something on Youtube.  Who knows.

Again, it's all about organizing and planning.

I hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday.  I am going to get up, make my bed, get dressed and start on some of these tasks.

{ Happy Homemaker Monday - 10/04/2021 }

 

Good morning everyone, come on in and sit with me a little. 

It is 57 degrees, so a nice crisp morning.  It has just past 7am, and it is still so dark outside, we are most definitely in the Fall season.  I have to say though, much as I love this time of year, I don't enjoy waking up to the dark mornings or the sun setting much earlier than usual, but, nothing can beat the cooler temperatures and all the fun stuff that come with Fall.

I am going to try and get this post up as quick as I can, because I need to head out the door in an hour and I'm not even dressed yet.  Goodness!!!

I wish you all a good and blessed week ahead!

 

♥♥The Weather♥♥ 

Blissful in the mornings, but still pretty warm in the afternoons.       

Monday - Sunny, 88
Tuesday -  Sunny, 84
Wednesday - Sunny, 84
Thursday - Mostly Sunny, 91
Friday - Mostly Sunny, 96
Saturday -  Mostly Sunny, 96
Sunday -  Sunny, 91

♥♥How I am feeling this morning♥♥

Content, joyful.  I have noticed a change the past week in that I feel a shift in the atmosphere.  I can't explain it, but I am finding myself smiling ear to ear, content, hopeful, excited, and I don't know why.  Must be God moving and shifting things, and it is reverberating within me.     

 ♥♥On the breakfast plate♥♥

I'm sipping on a cup of coffee, but it's getting cold and I don't like when it gets to this part Hahaha  I'm having a bagel for breakfast, or I might some Pumpkin Spice Toast instead.  Not sure yet. 

♥♥On my reading pile♥♥ 

I am already in Ephesians in the Bible.  So proud of myself, can't believe I've actually been reading through the whole Bible. 

My daily devotional book.

 ♥♥On my tv♥♥

Homemaking vlogs on Youtube

True Crime Channels on Youtube

♥♥On the menu this week♥♥ 

You will notice that most of the meals the next few weeks, are going to be Slow Cooker meals.  The reason for that is, Jasmine's driving school.  I am out of the house during dinner time, so it's easier to get dinners in the crockpot, than coming home at 7pm and then cooking.  

 

Monday - Crockpot Chicken Enchilada Casserole, Basmati Rice

Tuesday - Slow Cooker Ravioli Lasagna, Garlic Bread

Wednesday - Slow Cooker Sausage and Potatoes, Salad

Thursday - Slow Cooker Chicken Tater Casserole, Kabocha Squash

Friday - Esfihas (Sfiha, open meat pies)

Saturday - Spaghetti with Bacon

Sunday -Pastel de Carne e Queijo (Meat and Cheese Empanadas)

 

♥♥From the camera♥♥

Our sweet Elliott!!!  

 

 

♥♥Looking around the house♥♥

It's still pretty dark.  If you were to walk into my house right now, you would wonder why so many aluminum foil balls all over the living room and dining room.  Well, Elliott is obsessed with them, and loves playing catch.  He will play for hours with these, so basically throws them around at night, and then I come in the morning and gather them all up. 

♥♥To relax this week, I will♥♥

Honestly don't know.  I won't have much free time this week, but I'm sure I will either read, crochet or watch something on the tv.     

♥♥Something I want to share♥♥ 

Another calm video to share with you all.  Hope you enjoy!   

 

 

♥♥Devotional, inspirational, prayer list or Bible verse♥♥

Reading through Paul's journey in the Bible, is amazing and so inspiring.  Paul is the perfect example of someone being used by God, who we never would have thought would be chosen.  We often go through life thinking that there is no way God will love us, or choose us, or bless us, because we're less than.  We forget that He is the potter and we are the clay, and He loves using the most broken of souls to bring forth His message.  

{ New routine, same ol' homemaking, how I stay organized }

Good morning from a warm Texas.

 

We have been blessed with some rain, the past two days, and have more incoming this afternoon and through the rest of the week.

 

It has set me into Fall mode, and I've been planning, reorganizing and getting ready for all the cool weather goodness.

 

I haven't had as much time as I wanted, because my schedule is very tight at the moment, with Jasmine starting her driving school.  It will run for a full 4 weeks, so I have a lot of driving back and forth to do.

 

It will all be well worth it in the end, when she has her driver's license in hand.

 

You know, as I've mentioned before, Jasmine has anxiety and is fearful of driving.  It doesn't help that she sees the crazy drivers in our town and that does not in any way make her want to get out there.

 

Who can blame her right?

 

I've said many times and I'll say it again, I drive because I have to, not because I enjoy it.  If I could go with out ever having to drive, I would be quite alright.

 

I've been trying to figure out the best schedule for us, as a family, but it's going to take some time.  I can tell you that I'm already exhausted with all the time spent in the car, and of course gas prices being so expensive, doesn't help either because I feel like I live at the gas station.  Oh well, it's just a season and soon will be done.

 

I sat the other day and pondered on the fact that I used to think, I was super busy when the children were young.  I thought surely when they're adults, I will have all this extra time for myself and I can relax, do whatever pleases me all day and so forth.  Oh how the Lord must have been chuckling at my ignorance.

 

There are days, I find myself more busy, than when they were toddlers in need of my full attention.  

 

I think often times we try to convince ourselves that, the minute the kids hit 18, they don't need us anymore.  I think it's quite the opposite at times, they need us just as much if not more, depending on what is going on.

But, I've been given this charge by God, and I will carry on willingly and joyfully, until I am no longer called upon Him to do it.

This time of trying to adjust to the new schedule, has meant that I've had to organize my days better, and really plan ahead of time.  Every minute counts, and every minute means I need to be doing something, throwing a load of laundry in to wash while I take her to work, so that I can hang it out to dry or put it in the dryer when I return.

It all works itself out, and somehow I manage to get it all done.  Don't ask me how, but the hours just fit into what I need, when I need.  

Above you can see my newest candles, these are the ones I mentioned to you in a previous post.  They are from Irie Lights and oh they smell amazing.

I want to light them so badly but also want to keep them for as long as I can.  By the way, they do come previously lit, as you can see by the wick, but that is because they do light them after making them, to make sure they work correctly. 

I have managed to work in a few minutes here and there, to do some reading.  I actually add that to my schedule, along with crochet or anything else that I want to do for my own leisure.  I learned that trick very early on in my marriage, and it's always helped balance life out between homemaking, kids, errands, husband and leisure activities.

Remember life is about balance, it shouldn't be all one thing or the other.

Cooking and baking has been a bit of a struggle too.  Mainly because I need to pick Jasmine up by 4:30pm (time I would usually start prepping dinner), take her to the driving school because her classes start at 5pm and run until 7.  

 

It doesn't give me much time, and I can either cook dinner and have it ready by 4, which is far too early and means having to reheat later to eat, and I will be honest, I'm not a fan of that at all.

 

Or, I have had to pick her up, drop her off, drive 20 minutes home, make dinner, eat and leave again to pick her back up, all within an hour.  Crazy I tell you!

 

I've made it work the past 3 days, but as I've been working my new meal plan out, for the next two weeks, I've been adding slow cooked meals to the days she is in school, so that I don't have to worry about cooking between driving etc.

Had this been a few years back, I would have thrown my hands in the air and said "well, I can't do this, I can't fit everything into a day."

I also would have stopped reading my Bible or spending time with God, because something had to give, and between everything else that I felt was absolutely NON negotiable, I often threw Him into that pile.  How shameful of me, but I have no problem admitting my short comings.  The important thing is to see it, recognize it and repent for it, right?

So I do my Bible reading first thing in the morning, and if for some reason, I don't get to it in the morning, then it is the last thing I do at night before going to sleep.  No budging on that!!!

For example, the other morning, I had to take Jasmine to work but I knew it would be a busy day, and I really needed to bake some bread because we were out.

 

While I waited for her to get up and get ready, I got the dough made in the Kitchenaid, then popped in in the bowl, covered it with plastic wrap and a kitchen towel, and set it out back on the patio to rise, while I was gone.

 

I knew I would be back home in about 40 minutes, so that was the perfect rising time, and when I returned I just had to shape it, get it in the loaf pans and into the oven.  

While the bread was in the oven, I started working on the pool.  We are getting it ready to shut it down for the winter, so there's cleaning and vacuuming to do as well as preparing the pool itself to be covered and so forth.

I had about 30 minutes to spare that afternoon, so I sat down on the bed with my crochet.  Well, and with a sleepy kitty of course.  Just look at those paws ♥

Crochet has been something I've been enjoying again, especially since it helps me to relax, and it is imperative that I get some of that in between all the running around.

I also try to keep my crochet to an easy project.  I have blankets on the go, but they require quite a bit of attention, and stitch counting, something I don't always have the time or concentration to do in such a short amount of downtime.  So, I've been sticking to quicker projects, like these crochet baskets that I'm making for my potted plants.

I am using jute to help strengthen them, for the white I actually used jute all through the basket, but I found that it started bulging in some areas.  I'm not sure why, but my suspicion is that the jute itself is not all the same thickness, some strands are a bit thicker than others which altered the stitches.

So what I did for the green one, was to use the jute just for the bottom of the basket, to give it a bit more stability, but kept it out of the sides, and it worked so much better.

I just love how they turned out, love that I can use whatever color I want to match the room they're going in, and above all, I love that it is a quick project that I can make in a day or two.

I also managed to quickly wipe down all my windows, before heading out the door to pick her up.

Ever feel like a chicken with their head cut off?  That's how I'm feeling, hardly time to breathe before I'm getting back into bed, sleep for a few hours and start it all over again.  

Though through it all, I am choosing to stay thankful.  I'm busy, I'm tired, but I'm alive, and that is a blessing in itself, isn't it?

I'm finishing off this post, going to crochet for about 20 minutes, then I need to get dinner in the slow cooker and start gathering my things to get Jasmine to school.  She is off work today, but we still have driving school to get to.  I think I may just wait on her today, it's supposed to start raining within the hour, and I would rather not have to drive home in that weather, then return again.

Tomorrow, I plan on switching my dining room around.  If you've followed me for a while you know that I do this every Fall/Winter.  I love having our dining table near the fireplace.  

I also need to finish my menu plan and grocery list, and get it ready for pickup, write up the bills/expenses for this month and so on.  It really does take a lot to run a household doesn't it?

Well friends, I hope you have a wonderful rest of Wednesday.  I also hope that my post has encouraged you to tackle each new routine or schedule, with a joyful heart.  Don't let it overwhelm you, with a little planning and effort, everything is doable.

And to all those that are struggling at the moment, feeling like life is just coming at us from all directions, the world is falling apart and we sit and wonder how to tackle the battle at hand......remember that God doesn't remove the battle, He equips you with the tools and His grace to fight it.

Take Moses for example, He didn't remove the Red Sea or make it disappear, He simply parted it.  So while he may not take our problems away, be assured that He always makes a way, and equips us in order to overcome them.  :)