{ Happy Homemaker Monday - 11/11/2024 }

Good morning everyone!

 

Happy Veteran's Day to all the amazing veterans in our country.  I want to send out a special thank you to my husband Curt, for his service.  He is a 22 year Air Force Veteran, and is still very much involved in shaping and instructing the newer airman coming in.

 

His devotion to this country is unshakeable.  

 

With that said, let's move on with our post.  Can you believe it's already the 11th of November?  This year has completely flown by.  We are so close to Thanksgiving and Christmas.  I actually have already started decorating for Christmas, I know for some of you it's too early, but not for me, I love this season.

 

Anyway, let's get going with our post.  I hope you all have a fantastic, blessed week ahead.  Enjoy your holiday today with your family, and don't forget to thank a Veteran for their sacrifices to our beautiful country.

 

 

 

*** The weather in my neck of the woods*** 

I can finally say that we are done with hot weather.  Been waking up to shiny dewy grass, cold temperatures and the smell of fall and winter in the air.  I love it, this season is when I thrive. 

 

Monday - Mix of clouds and sun, 73

Tuesday - Partly cloudy, 75

Wednesday - Sunny, 72

Thursday - Sunny, 68

Friday - Sunny, 72

Saturday - Partly cloudy, 74 

Sunday - Showers, 74

 

 

 *** Things that make me happy ***

Christmas, everything about it.  Just pulling out the decorations makes me so happy, it truly lifts my spirits.  

 

 

*** Book I'm reading *** 

I was reading Romans in the Bible, but felt led to go to Isaiah instead.  I love the book of Isaiah and am loving digging in again.  

 

I am finishing off Gwenhwyfar by Mercedes Lackey.

And today I am starting the much anticipated second book from Isabel Ibanez, Where the Library Hides.  Been waiting for it for months, can't wait to sit down with it this afternoon with a warm blanket, and a cup of tea.

 

On the Kindle, still have A Light in the Window by Marion Kummerow. Haven't finished it yet.

 

 

*** What's on my tv today *** 

YouTube

Just the usual homemaking vlogs.

 

Netflix 

The Great British Baking Show

Christmas movies 

 

*** On the breakfast plate *** 

Had a cup of coffee and some oatmeal. 

 

 

*** On the lunch plate *** 

Last night I made ribs, macaroni and cheese and a pan of roasted veggies.  I will be having the leftover roasted veggies for lunch.

 

 

*** On the dinner plate *** 

Beef Curry, Rice and homemade naan. 

 

 

*** On the menu *** 

Monday

Beef Curry, Rice and homemade naan

Tuesday 

Stuffed Peppers, Salad

Wednesday 

Greek Baked Tilapia, Curried Quinoa, Sauteed Squash

Thursday

Amish Chicken Potpie, Broccoli and Cauliflower

Friday

Fried Kielbasa Sausage and Potatoes, Salad (I will have something else)

Saturday

Homemade Sub Sandwiches

Sunday

Turkish Doner Kebab, Fries

 

*** On my to do list *** 

Nothing today.  I am taking the day off to do the things that I enjoy.  Crocheting, reading, watching my favorite shows.

 

*** New Recipe I tried or want to try *** 

Made an amazing soup the other day, will be sharing on the food blog tomorrow. 

 

 

*** What I am creating ***

Nordic Winter Afghan. 

Crochet fingerless gloves.  I made a pair in one night and love them.  They are the Hygge Arrow Gloves, and they were very easy and quick to make.  

I will be making a matching cowl in the same color today, to match.

 

*** No words needed (favorite photo or picture) *** 

How stunning is the cover for this book?  It's on my reading pile, and I'm hoping to get to it this month.

 

 

 

*** Devotional, Prayers, Bible Verses *** 

God is always working for our good—even when it seems as if nothing is happening.

{ Books read in October 2024 }

 

I am so thrilled to be able to make this post, and say that I read 7 books in the month of October.  It's crazy to even type that out because I had been in such a reading slump, for years, and nothing I tried pulled me out of it.  

Then a few months, it just clicked again and that was it.  Sometimes all it takes is one book to bring that love back, and for me it was Where the River Flows by Isabel Ibanez.  Speaking of which, her newest is out today and out for delivery for me.  I pre-ordered it months ago and forgot about it until I saw the notification for delivery.

Can't wait to get into that one.

But anyway, I will talk more about that book in another post, let me show you what I read in October.

I read 5 physical books and 2 on my Kindle.  I used to not like the Kindle at all, and honestly I'll always be a physical book kinda girl.  To me nothing beats a real book, the smell of the pages and just holding it in my hand.  But, I have grown to enjoy the Kindle too, for moments when I want to read somewhere outside the home, or in the car.  It's easier to grab the Kindle and have hundreds of books at my fingertips.

Anyway, I'm getting sidetracked again, let's talk about the books I read not on the Kindle.

 

I read the entire Gold Seer Trilogy and really loved them.  I've added Rae Carson to my favorite authors list, and have actually ordered another of her books, that should be arriving within this week.  It is the first in another series.

The Gold Seer Trilogy takes place in the 1800's gold rush era and we follow Leah, a girl with a special gift of feeling out where gold is located.  Because of that gift, her parents are murdered and Leah is forced to flee to the west coast in search of a better future.  She teams up with the boy she loves, she runs from her crazy uncle, and in the midst of it all, she makes incredible friendships with other families also making the trek west on a wagon train.

Really enjoyed the series. 

Woven in Moonlight series by Isabel Ibanez.  

Isabel Ibanez is a new author for me, my first book of hers was back in September or August, when I read Where the River Flows, which I absolutely adored.  Because of that book, I pre-ordered the next in the series, which I currently have right in front of me, to begin reading today.

But while I waited for it's release, which was this Tuesday the 5th of November, I got her Woven in Moonlight Series.  Loved them both as well, though I will say, much as I enjoy Isabel Ibanez, I absolutely hate the way she ends her books.  

I always feel like I am left halfway or not getting closure or an actual ending.  For example, it's as if I have written you a story and built up this great love, and at the end they finally meet face to face.  And that's it, the book ends and I'm sitting there thinking.....ok and?  Did they hug, did they kiss, are they together, what happened?  It's kinda like that.  I don't enjoy the endings but the stories themselves are wonderful.

So, Woven in Moonlight and Written in Starlight.  In the first book, Woven in Moonlight, we follow the story of Ximena who has been living her life as a decoy, since she was 8, for the real condesa.  Her people have lost everything, they were massacred by Atoc and his army of summoned ghosts.  When he demands the hand in marriage of the real condesa, Ximena steps in as always.

It's a story of adventure and revenge and a young woman trying to do the right thing, but feeling like she doesn't belong and can't ever truly be herself.

In Written in Starlight, the story takes over from the real condesa Catalina.  She has been banished to the jungle and feels like she has lost everything.  Her chances of surviving are slim, until she is saved by Manuel, her former general's son and her true love.  It is another adventure story set in South America.  Again, I loved the story but had another quite disappointing ending.

On the Kindle, I read The Apothecary's Daughter by Julie Klassen. 

 

If you're looking for a good Christian author with the sweetest period stories, Klassen is it. I just love her books, they're wholesome, sweet, with good family oriented characters. 

 

I also read The Beauty and the Beast by Jenni James, part of the Faerie Tale Collection. It is a short story based off the fairy tale we have all come to know. It was a bit cheesy and not really a great read, but I mean, sometimes it's good to read something that is not heavy, or long or requires as much attention, so for that alone, I appreciated the quick albeit predictable story. 

 

7 books may not seem like a lot, but for me, that was a record read in one month.  I absolutely love books and being transported to different settings, stories, emotions and so on.  

I would love to know if you've read any books lately, and any good ones that you can recommend?  I'm always looking for new ones to add to my list.

{ Happy Homemaker Monday - 11/04/2024 }

Good morning from a very wet and rainy Texas.  This is the part where I would go into how much I love this weather and so forth, but if you know me, you know how I feel about rainy weather.  I don't think I need to say it 🩷

 

I've had a wonderful rainy weekend, filled with warm drinks, books, naps, pitter patter of raindrops constantly hitting the roof of the house, and the beginning of Christmas decorations starting to emerge.

 

It is without a doubt, my favorite time of the year.  The weeks leading up to Thanksgiving and Christmas.  I can't wait.

 

I hope you've all had a weekend as wonderful as mine, and I wish you a blessed week ahead.  We are in for some craziness starting tomorrow, aren't we?  But let's keep our eyes on God, and focus on our families and our homes.  While craziness rages outside our walls, let's exude peace, calm and joy into the atmosphere.  That's what I plan to do!

 

Now, let's get going with our post for today.

 

 

 

*** The weather in my neck of the woods*** 

We are fully into the cozy days of Autumn and Winter.  The shift seems to have happened this weekend, the temperatures dropped, the days have been rainy and dark, and there is the unmatchable scent of cooler days in the air. 

 

Monday - Thunderstorms, 72

Tuesday - Sunny, 64

Wednesday - Sunny, 72

Thursday - Rain, 67

Friday - Rain, 60

Saturday - Sunny, 65 

Sunday - Sunny, 69

 

 

 *** Things that make me happy ***

Homemade things, crafts, crochet, cooking, whatever it may be.  I love seen a home that is filled with items created by the owners hands.  Little bits and bobs that showcase the person's creativity and love for life.  

 

 

*** Book I'm reading *** 

As the month of October drew to an end, I realized that I had read 7 books in that month.  That is an incredible success for me, seeing that I hadn't been reading much, if anything at all, for years.  So happy to have that love for reading back, it transports me to different places, to excitement, romance, adventure.  

 

I'm already planning my November book pile, and am hoping to not only match the amount of books read for this month, but maybe even surpass it, even if just by one book.  

 

At the moment, I am still in the book of Romans, in the Bible.  

 

For a physical book, I am reading Gwenhwyfar by Mercedes Lackey.

 

And in my Kindle, I am still reading  A Light in the Window by Marion Kummerow. 

 

 

*** What's on my tv today *** 

YouTube

Vlogtober is over, much to my chagrin, but I guess I have Vlogmas to look forward to, right?

I will continue watching homemaking videos, calm and slow videos, book hauls, reviews and TBRs.

Ambience videos - Woodsy cabins, rain, snow 

 

Netflix 

The Great British Baking Show

I am a Killer

Christmas movies 

 

*** On the breakfast plate *** 

Hubby and I love the Peppermint Mocha creamer, but we stopped using creamers months ago.  However during this time of the year, we really enjoy that creamer in our morning coffee.  Yesterday I bought the zero sugar peppermint mocha creamer.  It will literally be a small splash into our morning coffee, just to give it that peppermint taste.  That's what we had this morning and it was glorious.  I also had a bowl of Banana Nut Crunch Cereal.  

 

 

*** On the lunch plate *** 

Last night for dinner, I made a Portuguese pork roast with roast white and sweet potatoes, and roasted vegetables on the side.  For lunch, I will be having the leftover vegetables. 

 

 

*** On the dinner plate *** 

Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesan, Egg Noodles, Salad. 

 

 

*** On the menu *** 

Time to plan the next two weeks again, so meals for this week, are just until Wednesday.  However, for Tuesday, I need to see what is in my freezer, because I somehow ended up with two pasta dishes back to back, Monday and Tuesday, and that is definitely not going to happen.  I need to switch something around.

Monday

Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesan and Egg Noodles, Salad

Tuesday 

 

Wednesday 

Beef Curry and Rice

 

*** On my to do list *** 

Monday home reset - laundry, changing bed linens, vacuum, carpet cleaning, dusting, window cleaning

Bible reading, devotional. 

Nordic Crochet Blanket.

Finish second crochet cowl.

Meal planning.

 

*** New Recipe I tried or want to try *** 

I have a lot of recipes bookmarked for Thanksgiving, I will be making the Traditional Thanksgiving meal, but I will also include some low carb, low sugar dishes for me to enjoy.  

 

 

*** What I am creating ***

Nordic Winter Afghan. 

Crochet cowls - if you read my previous Wednesday post, I shared a cowl that I wanted to try.  It was so quick and easy to make, that I made one, and am halfway through another.

 

*** No words needed (favorite photo or picture) *** 

This beautiful mourning dove that I photographed last week.     

 

  

 

*** Devotional, Prayers, Bible Verses *** 

Thank you all for the prayers for my sister in law Nadine.  She was able to go home last week.  They did an endoscopy and turned out that she had a huge infection in her intestines, but she is fine now.  Thank God!

 

This week, I encourage you to pray for our beautiful country and the elections.  No matter the outcome, stay focused on God and His will and His plan for our nation and the world.  Pray for each other, pray for the end to violence, to anger, to division.