{ Happy Homemaker Monday - 08/10/2026 }

Good morning, happy Monday!

 

It is my birthday today, I turn 52 years old.  How?  I feel like I just turned 18 the other day, and even though I have lived more than half a century, time has flown so fast that I guess my mind is still stuck on the younger years, while my body for sure reminds me that is not the case.  LOL

 

I have had a wonderful weekend with family, was spoiled with some of the best birthday gifts I've ever received and I still have some to open today from my brother in law.  We had family over for cake and coffee, my husband picked up some of my favorite Greek Gyros for dinner on Saturday, we went to the gym both days, went to church yesterday and just had such a blessed weekend.

 

Today, while it is officially my birthday, I am alone and I honestly don't have an issue with that.  I will spend my day doing the things that I want to do, taking pictures of my gifts to show you in tomorrow's post, reading, napping, watching some great TV and just relaxing.

 

I plan on making a delicious pork roast for dinner with roast potatoes and veg. and I have a Tiramisu for dessert.  I also gave myself a gift this year, the gift of the monthly cycle starting right on my birthday, so there's that Hahahah

 

Anyway, let's see what is happening in our homes.  Have a wonderful blessed week my friends, and have drink for me today. 

 

God Bless,

Sandra

♥♥♥♥♥♥

 

 

*** The Weather *** 

We're still boiling over here and are under a heat warning for today.  Our yards are dead, instead of lush green we have dried yellow grass, it makes me so sad.  I'm just over it at this point.  Might as well be back in Arizona with these temps. 

 

*** Right now I am *** 

I'm actually sitting on my bed using my laptop for this post.  Usually I sit at my desk but I'm so crampy that I just want to sit on my bed.  No worries, I will get up soon.    

 

 

*** Thinking and pondering *** 

With my stepmom arriving the second of September, I have a lot to get done before then, so I'm thinking about everything that needs to be done, I really should write it down on paper.

 

 

*** How I am feeling ***

It's that time, so you know how it is.  Also feeling very blessed that I am here and turning 52 years old.  Life is not promised to us, so every year that we stay here on this planet, is a blessing.  Getting old is a blessing, even if at times I look at myself in the mirror and think "Oh girl, you really are starting to look your age".

 

But overall, blessed and content.  

 

 

*** On the breakfast plate *** 

I just had my second cup of coffee, two scrambled eggs with a tablespoon of cottage cheese for extra protein, and a piece of sourdough toast. 

*** On the lunch plate ***

Probably a bowl of greek yogurt with granola and fruit. 

 

 

*** On the dinner plate *** 

Pork Tenderloin Roast, Roast potatoes and roast veg.   

 

 

*** On the menu *** 

Need to start working on the new meal plan today.  You know the drill when it comes to the end of the two week meal plan, I only have meals until Wednesday.

 

Monday -   Pork Tenderloin Roast, Roast potatoes and roast veg 

 

Tuesday -  Tacos al Pastor, Mexican Rice, Beans 

 

Wednesday -   

 

Thursday - 

 

Friday - 

 

Saturday - 

 

Sunday -    

 

 

 

*** What I am wearing *** 

In my nightgown and will change into a comfy summer dress soon. 

 

 

*** On my reading pile *** 

Still reading in 1 Samuel in the Bible.  I actually placed an order with Daily Grace yesterday, they are having a huge sale, so I picked up Stand Firm, Armor of God Bible Study, Abide Bible Study and When Fear meets Faith Bible Study (this one was free).

I just started Summerhaven by Tiffany Odekirk.  I am just 5 pages in and already so invested and loving it.  I think I'll be sitting with it today for an hour or so.  

 

 

*** On my TV this week *** 

YouTube:

Homemaking 

Christian book vloggers 

Quiet and simple living 

Homemaking  

 

Today, I am hoping to watch Feast of July on YouTube.

 

 

Turkish series:

Doganin Kanunu

 

Netflix:

I watch random crime documentaries when I'm on the treadmill.  This weekend I watched some episodes of The First 48 Hours.

 

Apple TV:

For all Mankind

 

Paramount Plus:

Star Trek Strange New Worlds 

 

 

*** Looking around the house *** 

I don't need to do much today, other than the daily chores.  I'm thankful for that because I do want to spend my birthday doing a bit of self care.  

 

 

*** To do list *** 

Today:

Water inside plants

Read

Take photos of my gifts to share with you all tomorrow

Water inside plants 

Water plants and veggies outside on the patio

Daily bible reading 

 

This week: 

Daily 15k steps

Homemaking chores

Pay bills

Meal plan and grocery shop

 

 

*** What I am creating ***

Nothing at the moment though I've been feeling the itch to grab my blanket again.  I've given it some time to rest and just want to get back into it and finish this part that has been frustrating me so much.  

 

*** From the camera *** 

My youngest brother is in Portugal right now.  He has been sending me photos and videos every day, places we once visited, one of the homes we lived in in 1988 and just everything and anything in between.  I am living vicariously through him because it's been 30 years plus since I've been to Portugal.  I am wanting to go next year with my stepmom and husband, but for the moment I live through the photos. ♥   

 

 

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

Our church message yesterday was about Grace, and we read in Titus 3.  It was quite interesting and the verse that stood out to me, and the one that the main focus was on, was Titus 3:5.

 

"He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit" 

 

 

 

{ Slow Cooking Thursday - Slow Cooked Irish Beef Stew with Cheddar Biscuits }

Beef Slow Cooker Irish Stew

 Source: The Twisted Onion

 

Prep: 40 minutes • Cook: 7 hours 20 minutes • Serves: 8 

 

2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2-1/2 pounds boneless sirloin tip roast, fat trimmed, cut into 1-1/2-inch pieces
1-1/2 pounds baby red-skinned potatoes, scrubbed and quartered
4 sprigs fresh thyme
2 garlic cloves, sliced
2 medium leeks, halved lengthwise and sliced 1/2-inch thick
1 bay leaf
1 medium yellow onion, cut into wedges
8 cups low-sodium beef broth
2 cups baby carrots
1/2 cup barley
1/4 cup coarsely chopped fresh parsley leaves plus additional for garnish
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 cup warm water
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1-1/2 cups frozen peas
1-1/2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Chopped fresh chives for garnish

1. In large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. In 2 batches, add beef and cook each batch 3 to 5 minutes or until beef is browned, stirring occasionally. Transfer beef to 5- to 6-quart slow cooker.

2. Add potatoes, thyme, garlic, leeks, bay leaf, onion, broth, carrots, barley, parsley and Worcestershire sauce. Cover and cook on low 7 to 8 hours or until beef and potatoes are tender.

3. In medium bowl, whisk together water and flour; stir into slow cooker. Increase heat to high, cover and cook 15 minutes. Stir in peas and vinegar; cover and cook 3 minutes. Remove and discard bay leaf and thyme stems. Season with salt and pepper. Serve garnished with parsley and chives.

Approximate nutritional values per serving: 445 Calories, 9g Fat (2g Saturated), 68mg Cholesterol, 332mg Sodium, 48g Carbohydrates, 7g Fiber, 42g Protein

Cheddar Irish Soda Biscuits

Prep: 15 minutes • Bake: 22 minutes • Makes: 12 biscuits

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
4 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
3/4 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
1-1/3 cups buttermilk
Nonstick cooking spray

1. Preheat oven to 350°. In large bowl, whisk together flour, salt and baking soda. With fingertips or pastry blender, cut in butter until pea-sized crumbs form; stir in cheese. Make a well in center of flour mixture. Pour buttermilk into well. With wooden spoon, gently stir to gradually draw flour mixture into buttermilk until a soft dough forms. Knead dough in bowl just until dough begins to stick together.

2. Spray cookie sheet with nonstick cooking spray. Drop dough by 1⁄4 cupfuls, 2 inches apart, onto prepared cookie sheet. Bake 22 to 24 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm.

 

{ Wordless Wednesday }

{ A homey day }

The heat is blistering outside, and inside the air conditioning is struggling to keep up.   It is a daily fight between the two extremes and we are in the middle of this battle, just hoping it lets up.  Honestly, I am hoping the heat is the one to let go and leave.

 

Mornings are bearable, afternoons are horrid, making me stay indoors as much as possible.  I remember when I was younger, the minute the summer would come around I wanted to be outdoors in the sun, having fun, playing, enjoying life and soaking up the warmth.  I always had a nice tan going.  This year, and actually the past few years?  I don't really care about any of that.

 

The heat comes up and this lady hides indoors, forget about tanning, being outside, nope, none of that.  Maybe I really am getting old!  

 

I spent a homey day, meaning, just pottering around.  It's actually funny that anytime family comes by, they tend to say the same thing "Oh....you've changed things.  AGAIN!".  LOL

 

Yes, I have and next time they come by it will probably be different once again.  I don't know about you, but I love changing rooms, moving things from room to room and trying to decorate here and there.

 

I am no expert, my home is kind of a mix of what I love and what I feel represents me and my feelings.  Funny enough though, anytime my family or even AI describes my home, the same terms come up "cozy, country, lodge, farmhouse".  I didn't even know I was achieving all that without even thinking, I guess our way of being really does project itself in our homes.  

I worked on my dining room.  it is a work in progress, and never seems to be finished or to my liking, so I'm constantly moving and shifting things around.  I had a huge bookshelf in my hallway that I moved into the dining area, and it fit perfectly between the two black bookshelves.

 

You know one thing I have realized over the years?  I am not into minimalism.  It was all the rage, people getting rid of things, de cluttering,  living in spaces that had bare essentials.  I thought at first that it might be a good idea, but the more I looked into it and the more I debated hopping on that train, the more I realized that I much prefer rooms that hold all sorts of treasures and knick knacks.

 

I want to walk into a room and feel at home, feel like I'm being hugged, like I want to sit with a cup of tea or coffee and just relax.  Maybe it's just me and my constant need to go against the grain.  I'm the girl that if everyone is into something, I immediately hate it.  If the whole world says yellow is the new color, I will hate yellow and go for a different color altogether.  If everyone is doing viral food or drinks, I want nothing to do with it.

 

I don't know why I am like this, but I tend to march to the beat of my own drums.  Hence why my home is lived in, filled with coziness and warmth and lived in spaces. 

After tackling those rooms, I sat down to start working on the new meal plan.  I have so many wonderful cookbooks that often sit collecting dust because I don't even touch them.  I stopped using most of them when I switched to healthy eating, though truth be told, I have not been very good at healthy eating the past two months.  

 

The carbs I was avoiding, have been consumed.  The sweets?  Have been consumed.  I need to get a hold of my nutrition again and get back on track, but that doesn't mean that I can't still use my cookbooks.  It's just a matter of adapting certain recipes to my needs.  Just because I make carbs for my boys doesn't mean I have to eat them, right?

 

So at the moment I am juggling going back to healthy, but also going back to making use of all my wonderful cookbooks. 

Definitely a work in progress. We will get there though.  My mind is also starting to shift to Fall and I am fighting myself not to grab any decorations yet.  It's a battle I tell you.  We're still in the throes of summer yet my brain is saying "let's fight the heat with some Fall decorations, just a little pumpkin here and there."

 

So far, I have managed to keep these thoughts at bay, though I am very very tempted.

 

And so life goes on.  The usual hum drums of homemaking, sprinkled in with some decorating and painting here and there, lots of book reading, copious amounts of coffee, a cheeky naughty chocolate thrown here and there, and some enjoyable television watching.

 

Oh and for some reason I have had this idea going on around my mind, about having an old fashioned 80's kind of Christmas this year.  I want to go back to the basics, to the best years for the holidays.  Again I think that combative go against the grain girl, is rearing her head.

 

I just don't want to have a modern holiday like we do each year.  I find that the meaning of Christmas, and the spirit, and the whole vibe is so different nowadays.  So yes, that is going around in my mind and I'm already collecting ideas to see how I can recreate it.  Wish me luck!

{ Happy Homemaker Monday - 08/03/2026 }

Good morning, happy Monday!

 

I have had a week of just stress and frustration and really wish my weekend had been longer, but alas, here we are.  Monday!!!  A start of a new week and hopefully a better week for us all.

 

Let's see what is happening around our homes.

 

Sandra

♥♥♥♥♥♥

 

 

*** The Weather *** 

It's been disgusting, and I was all excited because on my phone it showed this coming week we would be in the 90s.  That happiness was short lived because it's now showing triple digits again.  Lord help us!    

 

 

*** Right now I am *** 

At my desk working on this post, also talking through Whatsapp with my stepmom and my niece.  

 

 

*** Thinking and pondering *** 

Just things that I want to get done this week, blog posts, sewing and crafting and getting ready for Fall.  I am just going to remove all thoughts of heat and summer and pretend it's cooler temperatures.  Fool that I am!  

 

 

*** How I am feeling ***

Tired.  Last week as I said, was a bit stressful for Jasmine.  She had a few things going on, it feels like the enemy is directing an onslaught against her and as parents, it's sad to see and know that we can't do anything.

 

She had a situation on Tuesday, and then Friday morning woke up with ear pain in her left ear, and a horrible vertigo attack that came and went for hours.  I ended up taking her to urgent care, and it turns out she has fluid in that ear.  She was prescribed some medication and is starting to feel better, the spinning and vertigo has stopped but she still feels a bit light headed and dizzy.  

 

 

*** On the breakfast plate *** 

I just had a cup of coffee and a bowl of oatmeal.  

*** On the lunch plate ***

Not sure yet, but will probably be a tuna salad.     

 

 

*** On the dinner plate *** 

Skillet Sausage and Potatoes, Salad  

 

 

*** On the menu *** 

 

Monday -   Skillet Sausage and Potatoes, Okra and Tomatoes 

 

Tuesday -  Cowboy Lasagna, Salad 

 

Wednesday - Shrimp Fajitas, Mexican Rice, Beans  

 

Thursday - Pork Tenderloin, Mashed Potatoes, Steamed Broccoli

 

Friday - Homemade Pizza

 

Saturday - Baked Ziti with Sausage, Garlic Bread, Salad

 

Sunday -  Turkey Burgers, Potato Wedges, Sauteed Cabbage  

 

 

 

*** What I am wearing *** 

Still in my nightgown and will change into a dress later.  

 

 

*** On my reading pile *** 

I am reading in 1 samuel in the Bible.   

Finished Rachel Fordham's A Life Once Dreamed, last night.  I really enjoy Rachel Fordham.  

 

My next read will be All the Forgiveness by Elizabeth Hardinger. 

 

 

 

*** On my TV this week *** 

YouTube:

Homemaking 

Christian book vloggers 

Quiet and simple living 

Homemakers in Brazil, Portugal and Mexico  

 

Turkish series:

None at the moment

 

Netflix:

I watched the new Idaho Four Documentary.  I wasn't going to because I've seen so many already but decided to go ahead and it was quite good.  Lots of videos and interviews and bodycams that we hadn't seen before.  

 

Apple TV:

For all Manking

 

Paramount Plus:

Star Trek Strange New Worlds 

 

 

*** Looking around the house *** 

I have to do the usual Monday cleaning.  I would love to have my windows and patio door open but this heat does not allow that.  I just feel that the house is stuffy and needs some fresh air, so I'm going to open everything up this morning for at least 30 minutes.  

 

 

*** To do list *** 

Water inside plants 

Water plants and veggies outside on the patio 

Daily bible reading and devotional/bible study 

Daily 15k steps

Homemaking chores

Pay bills

Make bread for the week

Carpet clean  

 

 

*** What I am creating ***

I have been looking up some crochet fall potholders that I want to make.  Will start looking through my yarn and seeing if I have the colors I need.  Something like this below, and if you have any patterns or ideas for Fall inspired potholders please send them my way.  

 

*** From the camera *** 

Home ♥   

 

 

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

Isaiah 40:31: "Those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."