Good morning friends.

I apologize for this post going up a little later this morning.  With everything that has transpired the past week, my insomnia has decided to come back and visit me the past few days.  Last night was quite frustrating, and because the pollen has been so high in our area, my allergies have flared up which meant a night of tossing and turning, sniffling and eye rubbing.

I got up with my husband this morning, at 6am, and then after sending him off to work, took an allergy pill which knocked me out until now.  Goodness!!!

That is the reason the post is going up later this morning, my apologies.

Nonetheless, I hope you all have a wonderful week ahead.  :)



The weather.....
I am quite done with the triple digit weather, it's become unbearable at times.  So much so that I just paid our electric bill for this month and it was over $300.  Almost had a heart attack, good grief!!!
It's cooled down slightly and we even had a good thunderstorm early this morning.
This week we are going to be in the high 80's and 90's, still quite warm but I will take that over 115.

Right now I am....
I am sitting on the couch, just had my breakfast of coffee and a sandwich.  I'm getting this post up before getting dressed for the day and tackling the usual cleaning.

Thinking....
About everything I need to do.  Also need to get ready for the new school year, so I'm going to gather the materials we need and make sure we are prepared.  I'm also thinking about my stepmom's visit in two weeks and how excited I am to see her, it's been 10 years.

Favorite photo from the camera....
The day my grandmother passed, my husband, son, daughter and her boyfriend, picked up a card for me and all wrote sweet messages and signed it.  It was a beautiful and thoughtful thing to do and I appreciate them all so much.  




On my reading pile.... 
Currently reading Shattered Silence by Marta Perry, and The Art of Inheriting Secrets by Barbara O' Neal.

On my TV..... 
After finishing When Calls the Heart, I caught up on Poldark, still need to catch up on a few other Period Dramas, but I'll let you know which ones as I watch them.


On the menu for this week....



On my to do list....
The usual Monday clean up.  Family has been playing games this weekend, so everything is left out and I need to get things sorted and put back in their places.
Summer Reading List Post

In the craft basket.... 
Still working on the Cosmic CAL, but running out of yarn so may need to make a quick trip to Walmart.  Also have a new CAL coming up in September which I'm so excited about, so want to get this blanket finished first.


Looking around the house.... 
It's quiet, the kids are all still fast asleep, Marley is sleeping near the back door and Bella is asleep in the office.  I do so enjoy being up early before everyone else rises, it gives me a chance to enjoy some quiet time to either read or clean or do whatever I need to before the house becomes busy.

Devotionals, Bible verses, Worth sharing....

[Jesus said] "You are the light of the world. Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."
—Matthew 5:14-16

I just finished catching up on When Calls the Heart.  Truthfully, I watched the first season when it first aired, and loved it, but then as often happens, I got distracted by other shows and didn't go back to catch up until a few days ago. 

This past week has been hard for me, and through grieving for my grandma, I have found myself just wanting to sit quietly, and either reading or binge watching a show.  I figured now was as good a time as any, to catch up on When Calls the Heart.

I'm so glad I did, and I just finished the Season 5 finale a few minutes ago. 

I bawled. 

It's so strange how invested we become in certain shows and their characters, and Jack and Elizabeth were it for me.  I found them to be so beautiful together, in every sense.  I watched from episode to episode, always waiting for them to finally be married and start a life.  And then bam!!!

I'm not going to give out details because there may be some of you out there who have yet to finish watching.  The only thing I will say is that it's going to take some time for me to digest what I just watched and hopefully be ready for Season 6 when it airs, because as it stands right this second, I'm not sure I want to continue with the series.
 

The reason I am posting, is not just to talk about this beautiful family centered show, though I feel it deserves all the mentions, respect and love in the world.....but mainly because as hard as times were back in those days, I still believe that I would have been much happier living in a small frontier town than in the here and now of today.

The sense of community, family and the lessons learned, paired with the simplicity of life and the honest caring of your neighbor, is what I think is missing from our world today.

Everything about the show, calls to me.  Women dressed beautifully and took such pride in their appearance.  The small homes, the gorgeous kitchens (yes simple and rough around the edges, but for me, the epitome of a homely kitchen), the meals, the town schools and the way everyone pulled together through hard times.  It makes me long for that. 
 

To be honest with you, I have no clue who any of my neighbors are, I never see them and I doubt they see me.  Everyone keeps to themselves, no one really knows what the next person is going through or if they need a helping hand.

And so I am asked often why I bother with these shows, why I like watching times gone by when things may have seemed simple but in some ways were terribly hard.  My answer is always the same, because for some reason I find myself completely pulled to this way of life, to the way things were, to the fact that even though times may have been troubled, people dealt with them and lived through them surrounded by others who cared about them, through communities who came together in times of need and did everything they could to see their friends overcome whatever it was they were facing.

Call me old fashioned, tell me I was born in the wrong century or maybe even call me naive, I'm ok with that because at the end of the day, as much as I love my life and my family, I would go back in time, without a second thought, in the blink of an eye.

But since that is not possible, I must contend myself with beautiful family shows like When Calls the Heart, Little House on the Prairie, or Anne of Green Gables and Road to Avonlea, even Outlander and Poldark. 

 

 About The Art of Inheriting Secrets

• Print Length: 359 pages
• Publisher: Lake Union Publishing (July 17, 2018)

When Olivia Shaw’s mother dies, the sophisticated food editor is astonished to learn she’s inherited a centuries-old English estate—and a title to go with it. Raw with grief and reeling from the knowledge that her reserved mother hid something so momentous, Olivia leaves San Francisco and crosses the pond to unravel the mystery of a lifetime.
One glance at the breathtaking Rosemere Priory and Olivia understands why the manor, magnificent even in disrepair, was the subject of her mother’s exquisite paintings. What she doesn’t understand is why her mother never mentioned it to her. As Olivia begins digging into her mother’s past, she discovers that the peeling wallpaper, debris-laden halls, and ceiling-high Elizabethan windows covered in lush green vines hide unimaginable secrets.
Although personal problems and her life back home beckon, Olivia finds herself falling for the charming English village and its residents. But before she can decide what Rosemere’s and her own future hold, Olivia must first untangle the secrets of her past.
“Settle in with tea and biscuits for a charming adventure about inheriting an English manor and the means to restore it. Vivid descriptions and characters that read like best friends will stay with you long after this delightful story has ended.” —Cynthia Ellingsen, bestselling author of The Lighthouse Keeper
“The Art of Inheriting Secrets is the story of one woman’s journey to uncovering her family’s hidden past. Set against the backdrop of a sprawling English manor, this book is ripe with mystery. It will have you guessing until the end!” —Nicole Meier, author of The House of Bradbury and The Girl Made of Clay

Purchase Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

About Barbara O’Neal

Barbara O’Neal is the author of eleven novels of women’s fiction, including How to Bake a Perfect Life and The Lost Recipe for Happiness. Her award-winning books have been published in a dozen countries, including France, England, Poland, Australia, Turkey, Italy, Germany, and Brazil.
Barbara lives in the stunningly beautiful city of Colorado Springs with her beloved, a British endurance athlete who vows he’ll never lose his accent.

Connect with Barbara

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

My Thoughts:

Olivia Shaw inherits a beautiful English Estate, but with that comes a slew of secrets and twists and turns she was not prepared for.

Without even realizing it, Olivia is royalty in her small village, not a title she is quite comfortable in portraying.

Her mother has recently passed away, and therefore catapults Olivia from San Francisco, all the way to a gorgeous village in England.

The story follows Olivia's journey as she tries to uncover more about her family's past, and learns to deal with the new found title of Countess in a place that sees both fans of her family and a few distasteful characters that would be happier with Olivia being far away, back in the United States.

Good morning friends.

It's not a good day for me, I'm extremely sad and heartbroken at the moment. 

If you've been reading my blog for a while, you know that my grandmother was one of the most important women in my life.  I loved her more than anything in this world.

The past few years her health has been declining and she actually ended up very close to death not too long ago, and then miraculously recovered.

This past week, she broke her hip and was in ICU, her heart was extremely weak and her blood pressure low so she couldn't be operated on.  Yesterday, she closed her eyes for the very last time and went home to our maker.

I'm heartbroken and at a loss for words.  It's so difficult to go through because I'm going through bouts of either bawling my eyes out, or being calm and happy that she is finally at peace and rejoicing in Heaven with her mom and dad, husband and son.

I'm going to miss her so much, but I'm so glad that she got to hear my voice one last time before passing on.  My older brother was visiting her, she was heavily sedated, but he asked me if I wanted to send a quick voice message so she could hear me.  I did, and he said that when she heard my message she moaned and her heart spiked.  :(

Anyway, as you can imagine, I'm not doing too well this morning, but I still wanted to come and get our Happy Homemaker Monday post up.  In times like these, it's best to maintain a routine and keep things as normal as possible.

Just hope my grandmother knows how much she meant to me and how much I absolutely adored her.




The weather.....Quite unbearable the past week, we hit 113 for two days and the rest of the week saw us ranging between 108-111.  This week cools down just slightly but we will still be around 102.  It's killing my air conditioner, and I'm sure my electricity bill is going to be astronomical this month.  

Right now I am....I am sitting in bed with my laptop.  I just need some time alone to sit and reflect and deal with my grief.    

Thinking....About my grandmother.  I'm trying not to focus on the way she looked when she passed, but on the beautiful woman she was and all the time we spent together.   

Favorite photo from the camera....
My beautiful grandmother last year, celebrating her birthday.  She was 94 years old.
 

On my reading pile.... Quite a few books for review, I'm going to do a post on the upcoming end of Summer/Fall reviews. 

On my TV.....At the moment I'm watching a video with Lisa Harper called When Everything Falls Apart.      


I don't have all the meals planned, I still have to figure out a few here and there, and also need to plan the new menu because Friday is payday and grocery shopping day.

On my to do list....
I need to set up a computer area for me.  I am not sure where I want it, whether in my bedroom or a corner of the living room.
Menu planning and grocery list


In the craft basket....I'm back working on my Cosmic CAL


Looking around the house.... It's clean.  My daughter's boyfriend is visiting for the new two weeks so as always, when guests visit I go out of my way to make sure the house is spotless.  I know no one but myself, really worries about that, but I can't help it.  My husband, son, daughter and her boyfriend did play a game last night at the dinner table and I need to get it all cleaned up and put away or we won't have a place to sit and eat tonight.

Devotionals, Bible verses, Worth sharing....

There are moments in life, that immediately take us back to another time.  Maybe it's a memory from adulthood, or as most often it occurs, our childhood.

Burnt Toast!!!


I was making some breakfast for myself this morning, and I used a bread roll in the toaster.  Because it was thicker than the usual sliced bread, some of it caught and burned.

I pulled it from the toaster, grabbed the butter knife and instinctively started scraping the burned edges.  Without even realizing, I was transported back to my childhood.


Standing at the kitchen door, I see my greatgrandmother making toast, and scraping off the burned edges with a butter knife.  The scraping sound and the smell of burning was deeply ingrained in my memory and I hadn't even thought of it until this very moment.


Take for example this cereal above.  When I visited the Portuguese store in San Diego, one thing my eyes caught on was this cereal that I remember eating as a child, in Portugal.

I could almost taste it.

Yesterday for breakfast, I made a bowl and as soon as I took a bite, I knew that this was it.  I closed my eyes and again, was back in Portugal, eating a bowl at the kitchen table, getting ready to head to school.  Mind you, I was 5 years old, so to be able to still remember exactly where I was and what I felt, is a blessing.

Funny enough, I had this conversation with my Nicholas yesterday.  He always comes out of his bedroom and chats with me when I'm preparing dinner.  It's such a small gesture, but it's something I absolutely love and will treasure for many many years to come.  I'm quite certain that in years to come, he will find himself transported back in time to this kitchen too.


The past two days I've been homemaking at full speed.  One of the things I've been catching up on, is laundry, and since it's been so incredibly hot here in Texas, I've been making full use of the wash line to hang the clothes out to dry.


And when the homemaking is done, I always take an hour or two to sit on the couch, catch up on some shows and crochet.

I've completely caught up on Call the Midwife, and am almost done catching up with Poldark, next on the list is When Calls the Heart.  After that, I think I may start watching Anne with an E on Netflix.  I know there have been mixed reviews on it, but I always prefer to watch for myself and make my own opinion, so I'll give it a go.


Life is made of little moments.  Every single thing we do is a potential memory maker not only for us, but for those around us.  Choose wisely how you spend your time and influence those around you.

You could be someone's fond memory, or worst nightmare.  Just think about that for a second.

I had never really thought of it like that, and then realized that just as I have such wonderful memories that take me back in time to my childhood, I could have easily had awful things to block out.  So with that in mind, I'm determined to give my children nothing but wonderful moments to reflect back on when they leave home.

I'll close this with a question because I am quite curious.....do you ever have those moments where you're also taken back in time?  I would love to know :)

As much as I love getting away, and enjoying a change in scenery, there is nothing quite like returning home to my belongings and my family.

I find a sense of comfort and peace in being surrounded by my every day chores, my routine and usual humdrum of daily life, maybe because I'm a creature of habit.

Now that's not to say that I struggle with change, I really don't, and I'm quite an easy going person who just goes with the flow and adapts as needed.  But there are certain things in life that I crave and need in order to be content.


Cooking, homemaking, taking photos of my day, even the simple task of hanging clothes out to dry, are all puzzle pieces that complete my heart.


I came back with a full heart, filled with so much love for my niece and great niece, and a replenished soul as only some time away and near the ocean, can do.


I jumped right back into my routine, my cleaning and my general taking care of my home and family.  It's a little strange falling back into the swing of things, but I love the familiarity of it all :)


Not much has changed around here, unless we take into consideration the return of the moth filled trees.  It's a normal occurrence very summer for us.  The first year I noticed it I actually thought they were spider webs, which conjured up in my mind horrid visions of dog sized spiders running around.

Boy was I happy to find out I was wrong.  HA!


Another thing that has changed, is my breakfast, or sometimes lunch.  While in San Diego I visited a Portuguese Market and was able to get some Marmelada (Quince Jam).

Growing up, one of my favorite sandwiches was quince jam and cheese and I know it may sound a bit gross to some, but it's so good.  I bought a small tub for myself and have been indulging in this yumminess with a hot cup of coffee.


After about two months of not doing any crochet, I got the itch again and quickly grabbed my current WIP, the Cosmic Cal.

I was but 3 rows before the end of Part 2, so while catching up on Call the Midwife yesterday afternoon, I finished Part 2.  I had forgotten just how gorgeous this pattern was, so it was quite a treat being able to work a few rows.


While taking the photo, I stood back and smiled at the amount of complete blankets I have in my basket, and this is not the whole collection either, as I have some laying around in different spots.

Some may call it old fashioned, but I truly couldn't imagine living without being surrounded by all my crochet goodies. 

So as I've stepped back into my role as mother and housewife, I am embracing it all again and counting my blessings that I'm able to do this full time.

Hello friends, I'm back :)

I apologize for the lack of Happy Homemaker Mondays the past two weeks, but as you already know, I was in San Diego and didn't have my laptop with me.  I surely did miss sharing this Monday feature with you all though and am so happy to be back home to do it.

We have just a few weeks left before school starts again, can you believe that?  I'll have a 10th grader, my word.

Have a lot coming up in the next few weeks though.  This coming weekend, my beautiful daughter returns home and she's bringing her boyfriend with to stay for two weeks.  We have never met him in person, so are very much looking forward to doing so.

Once he leaves, I have but a week to prepare for my stepmom's arrival from South Africa.  I haven't seen her in 10 years, and she's coming for the month of August, so I'm delighted to be seeing her soon.  School starts while she's here, oh boy.

I'll only really get a break from visits and hosting, in September.  So, as you can see, lots going on and lots planned for the next month.

But, let's get right into our Happy Homemaker Monday.  I hope you all have a beautiful blessed week!!!!    




The weather.....Scorching hot here in Texas.  This upcoming week we will be seeing highs of 108.  I can't folks, I just can't.  I have found that the older I get, the less I can handle hot temperatures like these.  Let's pray that we don't all melt, shall we? 

Right now I am....I am sitting on my couch, listening to Jasmine's birds chattering away as I have just uncovered them for the day.  It's very quiet, hubby is off to work and Nick is sleeping.  

Thinking....About what I need doing this week in preparation for my daughter's boyfriend's visit.  Also thinking about my to do list for today, there's so many things I want to get done but truthfully, didn't sleep well last night and am moving at a snail's pace this morning, so we will see just how much I actually accomplish. 

Something fun or interesting that happened....I was blessed to be present during my niece's labor.  Having gone through it twice before myself, it is a completely different feeling when you're watching someone you love go through that pain, but what a beautiful and absolutely breathtaking moment watching a life come into this world. 

On my reading pile.... Have received quite a few more books in for review.  I have to say that I'm quite pleased with the list I have to read, there's a mix of genres and fantastic books on my shelf, at the moment.

On my TV.....With the World Cup finally over, I'm back to catching up on favorite shows.  At the moment though, I'm trying to catch up on the vlogs I've missed the past two weeks.  Who knew that just two weeks could accumulate such a huge stack of videos?
I'm also still watching Call the Midwife and there are a few other Period Dramas that I'm wanting to get through as well.  As always, if I find something interesting, I'll share with you and add it to my lists here on the blog.    



On my to do list....
Iron and put laundry away
Carpet clean

In the craft basket....Nothing at the moment.

Looking around the house.... It's actually clean and tidy so I don't have much to do in the sense of cleaning.  My windows are all needing cleaning though, so I may tackle that sometime today, probably this morning before it gets too hot this afternoon.

Devotionals, Bible verses, Worth sharing....
Love Steven Furtick, actually first heard of him through my brother Paul, and ever since then, I've been truly enjoying all of his messages.  He is a breath of fresh air, young guy, very relatable, but with powerful messages to get across.  Just thought I would share one of his videos below, because it truly was a light bulb moment for me and I hope it does the same for you. :)

 

About The Orphan’s Wish

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (June 26, 2018)

From New York Times bestselling author Melanie Dickerson comes an inspired retelling of the beloved folk tale Aladdin.

Orphaned and alone, Aladdin travels from the streets of his Arab homeland to a strange, faraway place. Growing up in an orphanage, he meets young Lady Kirstyn, whose father is the powerful Duke of Hagenheim. Despite the difference in their stations, Aladdin quickly becomes Kirstyn’s favorite companion, and their childhood friendship grows into a bond that time and opposition cannot break.
Even as a child, Aladdin works hard, learning all he can from his teachers. Through his integrity, intelligence, and sheer tenacity, he earns a position serving as the duke’s steward. But that isn’t enough to erase the shame of being forced to steal as a small child—or the fact that he’s an orphan with no status. If he ever wants to feel equal to his beautiful and generous friend Kirstyn, he must leave Hagenheim and seek his fortune.

Yet once Aladdin departs, Lady Kirstyn becomes a pawn in a terrible plot. Now, Aladdin and Kirstyn must rely on their bond to save her from unexpected danger. But will saving Kirstyn cost Aladdin his newfound status and everything he’s worked so hard to obtain?

An enchanting new version of the well-known tale, The Orphan’s Wish tells a story of courage and loyalty, friendship and love, and reminds us what “family” really means.

Purchase Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes and Noble | iBooks

 

About Melanie Dickerson

Connect with Melanie

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

My Thoughts:

This is my kind of book, it's got everything that I absolutely adore.

If you love fantasy and Aladdin and enchanted tales, this is the book for you.  I've always enjoyed the story of Aladdin but it's so much fun seeing it told from a different perspective and really giving the character depth and personality.

Melanie Dickerson is a master at retelling old favorite tales, and I was super excited to read this spin on such a well known and beloved fairy tale character, such as Aladdin.

It was like reading a retelling of such a well known story but seeing it through different eyes, where we get to really understand who Aladdin is, where he came from and how he struggled to reconcile his past as a poor orphan forced to do things he didn't want to, with the man he is today.

The story did start off a little slow but once it picked up, it was so enjoyable that I couldn't put it down.

Hello friends!

I am currently in San Diego, California, and have been for the past two weeks.

I had mentioned it in passing, a few weeks ago, but wanted to come in and show you the reason why there have been no Happy Homemaker Monday posts, or any posts in general.

It's been a whirlwind around here, from our arrival, to my niece's labor and the arrival of little Miss Eva, my great niece who is absolutely gorgeous.

I've taken numerous photos already and still plan on taking a few more before we leave on Friday, but just wanted to come in and say a quick hi to let you know that I haven't completely disappeared from the blog, just haven't been able to get on and do anything.

Honestly, I thought that I would have been able to blog daily from San Diego, but the baby has kept us extremely busy and between me, my niece, her mom and dad and brother, and baby's daddy, we've taken turns taking care of the little one.

My last baby was 15 years ago, and it's easy to forget just how busy you are the first few days with a newborn.

Anyway, I really wanted to show you beautiful Eva, so here she is.  She was born on July 2nd, at 5:03pm, weighing 7 pounds 15 ounces, and was 21.2 inches long.

Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson (June 26, 2018)

Just as Jeremiah Goodbye is set to meet his fate in the electric chair, a tornado tears down the prison walls, and he is given a second chance at life. With the flip of a coin, he decides to return to his home town of Nowhere, Oklahoma, to settle the score with his twin brother Josiah. But upon his escape, he enters a world he doesn’t recognize—one that has been overtaken by the Dust Bowl. And the gift he once relied on to guide him is as unrecognizable as the path back to Nowhere.

After one jolt in Old Sparky, Jeremiah sees things more clearly and begins to question the mysterious circumstances surrounding the murders he was accused of. On his journey home, he accidentally rescues a young boy who follows him the rest of the way, and the pair arrive at their destination where they are greeted by fearful townspeople. When the Black Sunday storm hits the very next day, the residents of Nowhere finally begin to let the past few years of hardship bury them under the weight of all that dust.

Unlikely heroes, Jeremiah and his new companion, Peter Cotton, try to protect the townspeople from themselves, but Jeremiah must face his nightmares and free himself from the guilt of flipping the coin on those men who died.

Filled with mystery and magic, What Blooms from Dust is the story of finding hope in the midst of darkness and discovering the beauty of unexpected kindness.

Purchase Links

Amazon | iBooks | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

About James Markert

James Markert lives with his wife and two children in Louisville, Kentucky. He has a history degree from the University of Louisville and won an IPPY Award for The Requiem Rose, which was later published as A White Wind Blew, a story of redemption in a 1929 tuberculosis sanatorium, where a faith-tested doctor uses music therapy to heal the patients. The Angels’ Share is his second novel, and he is currently working on his next historical, All Things Bright and Strange. James is also a USPTA tennis pro, and has coached dozens of kids who’ve gone on to play college tennis in top conferences like the BIG 10, the Big East, and the ACC.

My Thoughts:

 I absolutely love history and so, tend to gravitate towards anything history related.  Some eras and incidents throughout our history, I find more interesting than others, and the Dust Bowl is one of those.

This story takes place during that time period, where we meet Jeremiah, a man who escaped execution and has a few scores to settle.

Jeremiah returns to the town of Nowhere, with a clear objective in mind, but on the way encounters a family selling a child.  Unable to walk away, he ends up taking with him the little boy they were trying to get rid of.

In the town of Nowhere is his twin brother Josiah (the person responsible for Jeremiah going to prison and almost being executed), and Ellen, his wife, who also happens to be the woman Jeremiah loves.

What follow is a story of heartache, longing, revenge, anger, and a town trying to survive through some of it's bleakest moments.