{ A day for running errands }

Yesterday was one of those days where I was out for a while and didn't get to do much at home.

I don't mind a day like that, once in a while, but those kind of days always seem to reiterate the fact that I'm a homebody and that is where I like to be.

Housework was done in the morning and then at noon I had a hair appointment.

I was thinking about growing out my hair and actually planned on doing just that, but when I got to the hairdresser, I changed my mind, as I often do.  What happened was a choppity chop like I haven't had in many many years. 

I think the last time I had my hair this short was back in Arizona.

If you follow me on Instagram and Facebook then you probably will have seen my newest cut.  I'm still getting used to, it's a bit shorter than I wanted but it's hair and it will grow out.

{ Kitchen day and a little change in publishing posts }

Good morning everyone.  It's a gorgeous day here in North Texas, there is not a single cloud in the blue sky, 63 degrees and just beautiful. 

Yesterday was a kitchen day for me, and I'll show you below what I did, but I first wanted to talk about the blog posts and when I'm putting them up and so forth.

First and foremost, I have to say I'm so proud of myself for sticking with the daily posting all month long.  I didn't think I could do, it's been a while since I've deliberately taken the time to sit down and put up and update every day, and you know how it goes,w hen you lose that habit it's quite hard to get back into it.

But I pushed through, the first two weeks were the hardest, I would sometimes get ready for bed and realize I didn't get the post up so quickly get back up, turn the computer back on and edit photos, post and so on.

I'm happy I did though because I have the love for blogging back and I'm enjoying the daily blogging again.

{ Cool temps and another dark rainy day }

Ok, I have been wanting cooler temps, but I wasn't expecting to feel cold last night and all day today.  I actually put on my robe on top of my clothes, halfway through the day. 

The high temp today?

59 degrees!!!! 

Yes, yes, yessss.

{ Lone Star Christmas by Delores Fossen - TLC Book Tour }

Series: A Coldwater Texas Novel (Book 1)
Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: HQN; Original edition (October 1, 2018)

A family crisis brings him home…
Just in time for Christmas
Cattleman Callen Laramie has no intention of returning to his hometown of Coldwater, Texas, until a Christmas wedding and a family secret convince him he has no choice. And when he’s reunited with his childhood crush, the girl who’d always been off-limits, Callen knows leaving might not be so easy this time.
Shelby McCall is as pretty as a Christmas snowfall, and Callen wants to kiss her under the mistletoe…and the Christmas tree…and the stars. But once Shelby knows the whole truth behind this homecoming, will their holiday fling come to an abrupt end? Or will she accept the gift of his heart?

Purchase Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

About Delores Fossen

USA Today bestselling author, Delores Fossen, has sold over 70 novels with millions of copies of her books in print worldwide. She’s received the Booksellers’ Best Award, the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award and was a finalist for the prestigious Rita ®. In addition, she’s had nearly a hundred short stories and articles published in national magazines.

Connect with Delores

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

My Thoughts:

You know those quintessential feel good romances that we all grew up reading?

The ones where you know the ending but you still can't help diving into the story and giving it your full attention?  Yes, those.  That is what you can expect from Delores Fossen latest romance Lone Star Christmas.

Of course the fact that I live in Texas makes the title even more relevant to me, but that's besides the point.

The story follows Callen who left his town of Coldwater, Texas behind and moved on with his life elsewhere.  When a wedding brings him back to the town he would rather have forgotten, he knows that it's inevitable that he may run into the woman that he has always loved but never been able to have.

The rest, well, you know what is going to happen so need for me to tell you, but really truly, you have to read this cute Christmasy romance, it will make you smile from beginning to end.

{ Dewy mornings, butterflies and preserving gourds }

The past few mornings, we've woken up to foggy car windows, and gorgeous dewy grass.  It's a sure sign that Fall is upon us and the mornings are getting cooler.

I love sitting out back in the early morning and watching the sun shining on all the dew drops, it creates such a beautiful backdrop.

{ Usual Monday }

I always find that my Mondays are pretty much the same.

The weekend means relaxation, taking it easy, not being so on top of putting things away immediately or tidying it all up and so forth.

{ Happy Homemaker Monday - 09/24/2018 }

Good morning, welcome back to the Happy Homemaker Monday.

Woke up feeling as if I could sleep at least another 2 or 3 hours, it's been a very busy weekend and I didn't get any time to sit down and relax, but never mind that, it's full steam ahead with the last week of September.  Can you believe that???

Before we know it Thanksgiving will be upon us and then Christmas and we're heading into 2019.   Somebody make it slow down hahah

Anyway, let's see what's happening in our households this week!!!!

{ Weekend in review }

Oh my friends, it is the first time this weekend that I'm getting a spare moment to come in and put up a post. I don't have very long however, because the family is coming over for dinner at 6 o' clock and it's already after 3.  This weekend has been a whirlwind and I'm a bit frustrated that it's already halfway through Sunday and I haven't had much time at all to relax.....but, that's ok.

I haven't even taken pictures of any kind the past two days, I haven't had the chance to pick up the camera, but I'll tell you real quick what I've been up to.

{ Scariest moment of my life and prayer request }

You guys, I can't even begin to tell you just how scared I was last night.

If you follow me on Instagram then I'm sure you've seen by now, if not, then I'll point you in that direction so that you can see the video I posted last night.

My day started out like any other, the sun was shining, there were hardly any clouds in the sky, and it was just a nice cool fallish day.

{ The Secret of the Irish Castle by Santa Montefiore - TLC Book Tour }

Paperback: 480 pages
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks (August 14, 2018)

International bestselling author Santa Montefiore continues the story of the Deverill family in the third book in her beautiful and moving Deverill Chronicles trilogy—perfect for fans of Kate Morton and Beatriz Williams.

{ Cooking Thursday - Beef Casserole }

Hey everyone :)

It's been quite a while since I've done a Cooking Thursday and I've quite missed them, so here I am with a recipe for you today.

Beef Casserole, well actually it's a bit like a cottage pie but instead of mash we use cubed fried potatoes.  It is a nice change to the usual cottage pie though I still really do love that comforting dish on a cold winter day.

Right, let me show you how to make this delicious dish for your family, and as always, if you do try it, won't you let me know how you liked it, or how it turned out?

{ What I watch on Youtube }

I'm often asked what I watch on Youtube, because I usually mention that I watch quite a few vlogs.

Instead of replying individually to one person at a time, I think it will be easier if I just make a post on it, share my faves and maybe you will find a new favorite to enjoy from my list, who knows.

My Youtube tastes have changed a bit over time, but for the most part, 99% of my Subscription list is vlogs from the UK.  I know, we live in the US, but I don't really enjoy the local vloggers as much as I do the overseas ones.

{ The Removes by Tatjana Soli - TLC Book Tour }

About The Removes

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Sarah Crichton Books (June 12, 2018)

As the first wave of pioneers travel westward to settle the American frontier, two women discover their inner strength when their lives are irrevocably changed by the hardship of the wild west in The Removes, a historical novel from New York Times bestselling and award-winning author Tatjana Soli.

Spanning the years of the first great settlement of the West, The Removes tells the intertwining stories of fifteen-year-old Anne Cummins, frontierswoman Libbie Custer, and Libbie’s husband, the Civil War hero George Armstrong Custer. When Anne survives a surprise attack on her family’s homestead, she is thrust into a difficult life she never anticipated?living among the Cheyenne as both a captive and, eventually, a member of the tribe. Libbie, too, is thrown into a brutal, unexpected life when she marries Custer. They move to the territories with the U.S. Army, where Libbie is challenged daily and her worldview expanded: the pampered daughter of a small-town judge, she transforms into a daring camp follower. But when what Anne and Libbie have come to know?self-reliance, freedom, danger?is suddenly altered through tragedy and loss, they realize how indelibly shaped they are by life on the treacherous, extraordinary American plains.

With taut, suspenseful writing, Tatjana Soli tells the exhilarating stories of Libbie and Anne, who have grown like weeds into women unwilling to be restrained by the strictures governing nineteenth-century society. The Removes is a powerful, transporting novel about the addictive intensity and freedom of the American frontier.

{ A cleaning day }

Hi everyone :)

Today was a cleaning day for me, as Mondays usually are.  I got right to work at 8am and didn't stop until 1pm., but I was on a mission to give everything a really good, deep clean.

Woke up this morning to foggy fields.  I couldn't believe my eyes at first, because this really only happens when Fall has surely come around.  Sure felt good to feel those lower temps though :)

{ Happy Homemaker Monday - 09/17/2018 }

Good morning everyone and a very happy Monday to you all :)

Are you ready for the new week ahead?  I'm kind of on the fence, I am and I'm not.  I think the weekend went by a bit too quick for my taste, if I'm being honest, but I am also looking forward to a week of homemaking, and whatever else comes my way.

Now let's get right into our Happy Homemaker Monday, shall we?   

{ A lazy Sunday }

I love weekends when I just stop trying to stay busy, and give in to the laziness that my body is wanting and needing.

Usually, the minute I even think about being lazy, my mind immediately tells me that it's not a good thing, and that I should get up and do something productive.

Thing is, I do productive things every day of my life, and sometimes, I just want to veg out on the bed surrounded by comfy crochet blankets, and my doggy and some random thing on TV.

{ A day of pawn shop hopping }

My family and I love thrift stores and pawn shops, and not even so much to buy anything, but just looking around and seeing what kind of fun things we can find.  It's amazing the treasures you end up discovering in the back of the shelf, right down there at the bottom.

Today though, my husband and son had a specific goal in mind, they wanted to see if they could track down any of games for the old systems like Nintendo.

Nick lately has been enjoying playing on all of the old consoles, and he has quite a nice set up going on in his bedroom, I'll have to take a picture and show you.

Anyway, they wanted to go check out a few pawn shops and I just decided to go along for the ride, literally.

{ A yarny kind of Friday }

I often get asked how I managed to do get my housework done and still have time for crochet or watching a show or doing the things that I enjoy.

It's not the first time that I've talked about this, but it has been quite a long time ago so I thought I would quickly mention it again.

{ A new crochet project and a busy schooling day }

Hi everyone :)

Come on in and sit with me a little, won't you?

I am currently sitting on my bed, already showered, got my Tens unit going on my back and some Youtube vlogs on the telly.

{ Fall Crafting - Pine Cone Swag }

Hey everyone :)

Today's post is going to be a short, quick tutorial for a fun and pretty inexpensive DIY, that is just perfect for Fall.

I don't know about you all, but I always have pine cones on hand.  We have 3 acres of land, and a lot of different trees, shrubs, plants and flowers.  One of the biggest trees in our back yard, is a gorgeous pine.

{ Change of plans and some Fall DIY }

Yesterday, I told you that today I would take you for a walk around my property and see how Fall was starting to show it's face, as well as gather some Myrtle Crepes and other plants, foliage so that I can make some cute arrangements inside.

I fully intended to do that until I woke up and was faced with cloudy skies and intermittent sprinkles of rain.

I should have realized by the way the house seemed so dark, more than usual at this time of the day.

{ A Slow Monday }

6 AM came around pretty quick this morning.

The alarm sounded off and both Curt and I sighed and groaned, not ready to get out of bed, to get the day started or the week for that matter.

The weekend went by way too fast for us both, and it didn't feel like two days of sleeping in past 6AM, was nearly enough for how tired we felt.  Honestly, it didn't help that we both seemed to be tossing and turning all night, not quite able to fall asleep or stay asleep. 

{ Happy Homemaker Monday - 09/10/2019 }

Good morning everyone, hope this post finds you doing well on this beautiful Monday morning :)

The rain has finally left us and we were greeted with warm shining sun and gorgeous blue skies, with not a cloud in sight.

I woke up this morning with my back feel 90% better, and I have to attribute that to the Tens Unit we got yesterday.  My goodness, what a difference it has made, wish I had gotten one sooner.

I'm looking forward to another week of homemaking, some crafting, some more Fall decorating and who knows what else.

Wishing you a beautiful, blessed weekend, and thank you once more for always being here to participate in this feature and leave me such sweet comments.  I'm trying my best to continue posting daily, as well as come by and say hi to you all :)

{ A quick hello....}

I promised that I would post every day in September, and I'm determined to stick to it, so even though nothing of substance or interest happened today, I still needed to come in and say a quick hi :)

My back is feeling a little better today, but it's still very much sore and tight.  Sitting makes it worse, I don't feel the pain while seated but if I stay more than 5 or 10 minutes, when I get up to walk, it is excruciating.  It actually feels like someone has a hand on my lower back and is squeezing tight.

Because of that pain, I've taken it extremely easy today.

{ Back pain, fall crafting, grocery shopping }

I woke up with the worst lower back pain.  It's nothing new for me, osteoporosis runs in my family, and with it, scoliosis etc. 

A few weeks ago, I was going through my medical records, just out of curiosity and I came upon a report for a chest X Ray that I had done when I was 4 months pregnant with Jasmine. 

In the report it states.....well, actually, let me backtrack a second and tell you why I was getting the X Ray.

{ A day of getting things done }

Made phone calls.....

Paid bills......

Did a lot of homeschooling with Nick......

Finished off the Meal Plan and Grocery List.....

Did quite a bit of computer work.....

Ran some errands......

Enjoyed the still continuing rain outside......

{ Dreaded sinus is at it again }

Some families inherit money, homes, yachts and super cool stuff.

My family just passes down things like cholesterol, diabetes and the dreaded Sinus and Post Nasal Drip.  Hahah

But hey, at least it's something right?

I started feeling off last night as in very congested and some sinus pain, he congestion continued throughout the morning, but by early afternoon I was feeling rough.  Think I may be coming down with a cold, which is always the case when the weather starts changing.   

{ It's often hard to see the significance in our season }

Life is full of seasons, chapters, doors closing and others opening.  We think we are just getting through one season unscathed and another season comes upon us, leaving us struggling, lost, confused and unsure of how to get through it.

My husband and I are going through such a season at the moment.....the one where your 19 year old makes a decision that you don't necessarily agree with, but have to let it happen and just trust that the lessons you have taught them, the advice you've given, is enough to keep them on the right path.

{ When the Lights go Out by Mary Kubica - TLC Book Tour }

 

About When the Lights Go Out

Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: Park Row; Original edition (September 4, 2018)

A woman is forced to question her own identity in this riveting and emotionally charged thriller by the blockbuster bestselling author of The Good Girl, Mary Kubica 

Jessie Sloane is on the path to rebuilding her life after years of caring for her ailing mother. She rents a new apartment and applies for college. But when the college informs her that her social security number has raised a red flag, Jessie discovers a shocking detail that causes her to doubt everything she’s ever known.

Finding herself suddenly at the center of a bizarre mystery, Jessie tumbles down a rabbit hole, which is only exacerbated by grief and a relentless lack of sleep. As days pass and the insomnia worsens, it plays with Jessie’s mind. Her judgment is blurred, her thoughts are hampered by fatigue. Jessie begins to see things until she can no longer tell the difference between what’s real and what she’s only imagined.

Meanwhile, twenty years earlier and two hundred and fifty miles away, another woman’s split-second decision may hold the key to Jessie’s secret past. Has Jessie’s whole life been a lie or have her delusions gotten the best of her?

“Kubica brilliantly unravels the lives of two women in this tense and haunting tale of identity and deceit. WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT will keep you questioning everything-and everyone-until the riveting conclusion. A twisty, captivating, edge-of-your-seat read.” –Megan Miranda, New York Times bestselling author of ALL THE MISSING GIRLS

{ Apple Butter, welcoming fall and a rainy day }

The day began with the pitter patter of rain outside.  It had been such a long time since we had a good downpour and I welcomed it with open arms.

Aside from providing a much needed relief to the hot temperatures we've been enduring for months, it also seemed to bring in September and give us a quick glimpse into the incoming Fall season.

{ Fort Worth Stockyards - Day Trip }

We have lived in Texas for the past 3 years, and had yet to make it to the Fort Worth Stockyards.

When my stepmother was visiting, she asked if we could take her to see the Stockyards, and we thought it was the perfect opportunity for us to finally make it down to Fort Worth.

It was a short day trip, actually more like a few hours trip, but it was so interesting and fun that we plan on returning with the kids, sometime in the next few weeks.

{ Happy Homemaker Monday - 09/03/2018 }

Good morning everyone, hope you've had a wonderful Labor Day weekend.

Ours has been good, relaxing and filled with family time.  My stepmom left on Saturday night, so yesterday I took the day to just sit and relax and catch up on some much needed ME time.  Today, I have a few things to do around the house, some homeschooling with Nick and then will take some time to work on my Cosmic CAL and watch some tv.

Hope you all have a fantastic week ahead, let's see what is happening in our homes for the next few days. 

The weather in my neck of the woods:
It has cooled down a bit, even though yesterday was still a bit too hot for my liking.  We are expecting a lot of rain this coming week which makes this girl very happy.

{ Hello September }

It is here!!!

September in all it's glory.

I get so happy when this time of the year rolls in.  I don't quite want to think that we are but a few months away from Christmas, but it's good to see the summer behind us.

This summer, for me, has been one of the busiest.  I've been on the go since July 1st and today, September 2nd, is the first time I have been able to sit on my bed, with my laptop, my tv and my yarn and just breathe and relax.

No worrying about taking care of anyone or anything, or worrying that I need to be sure my guests are well, fed, entertained and so on.

Much as I love having family and friends visit, it is exhausting, and I was surely starting to feel run down and overwhelmed.