{ Happy Homemaker Monday -10/17/2022 }

 

 

 

Good morning friends, and a very happy Monday to you all. 

 

October so far, has been a bit of a wonky one for me.  I haven't had time for much blogging, just the bare minimum.  Curt has also been sick, he had a stomach bug which he shared with me last week, then got a cold, which he also shared with me.  It's wonderful having such a wonderful husband that shares the good and bad right?  *snicker*     

 

Hopefully things calm down a bit.  I have my Women's check up this afternoon, which I never look forward to, I just find it so awkward, but necessary.  I'm thanking God ahead for a good appointment.

 

Now, let's get going with our post for today.  I apologize for not visiting you all or leaving comments, it's just been nuts around here. 

 

♥♥ The Weather ♥♥
It's cold.  I've been wanting to say that for a while.  Woke up to 50 degrees, and we've had quite a bit of rain the past two days, which has kept the temperatures nice and cool.  We are not completely out of the hot weather yet, but at least we have a few days of cooler temps to even it out.      

Monday - Mix of clouds and sun, 66
Tuesday - Sunny, 62
Wednesday - Sunny, 70
Thursday - Sunny, 79
Friday - Sunny, 86
Saturday - Sunny, 89  

Sunday - Partly cloudy, 85



♥♥ As I look outside my window ♥♥
It's quite cloudy and grey.  There is also a slight breeze coming in. 

 

♥♥ Right now I am ♥♥
Just sat down on my bed to get this post up.  The fur babies are asleep next to me, and I've got All Creatures Great and Small on the TV.    

♥♥ Thinking and pondering ♥♥
About my appointment this afternoon, and also about our budget and groceries.  Our food budget has doubled, and I'm not even buying as much meat as I usually did.  I need to try and work out the budget again but honestly, I can't cut anymore on the food.  It's really frustrating.  I am praying for us all through this difficult situation.     

 

♥♥ How am I feeling ♥♥
I'm ok, sick with a cold, but I'll be seeing my doctor this afternoon anyway, and if I need something more, she will prescribe it.       

 


♥♥ On the breakfast plate ♥♥
I've had two cups of coffee already.  One at 6am and one now at almost 9am.  It's cold this morning, and I needed that extra energy and warmth.  I also had two slices of toast with butter.             

 

♥♥ On the lunch plate ♥♥
Not sure, I haven't been eating much the past few days, just not feeling very hungry.  I will either have spaghetti leftovers or a salad. 

 

 

♥♥ On the dinner plate ♥♥
Slow Cooker Italian Chicken, Rice, Sauteed Greens.       

 

 

♥♥ What I'm wearing ♥♥
Black leggings, and a long sleeve brown and tan long top.      

 


♥♥ On my reading pile ♥♥
Reading through Isaiah in the Bible.

Paul David Tripp New Morning Mercies devotional.
Morning and Evening Devotional by Charles Spurgeon.   

Started The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen by Syrie James.

The Return of the Gods by Jonathan Cahn.

♥♥ On my TV this week ♥♥
Star Trek Strange New Worlds

Vlogtober vlogs
House of Dragons

The Lord of the Rings Series on Amazon Prime

The Serpent Queen

The Great British Bake Off 

All Creatures Great and Small

♥♥ On the menu ♥♥

 

Monday - Slow Cooker Italian Chicken, Rice, Sauteed Greens  
Tuesday - Sausage Potato Casserole, Salad
Wednesday - Texas Toast Sloppy Joes, Onion rings

Thursday -   Slow Cooker French Onion Chicken, Egg Noodles, Fried Cabbage with Bacon

Friday - Cheese Ravioli with Meat Sauce, Garlic Knots

Saturday - Beijing Chicken and Rice, Egg Rolls
Sunday - Leftovers



♥♥ Looking around the house ♥♥
The back patio door is open,  and there is the most wonderful crisp breeze coming in through the screen.  There are blankets on the couch that I need to fold, some vacuuming to do and some dusting too.  But the house is nice and cozy on this cold morning.            

♥♥ To Do List ♥♥
- Tidy up the house
- Women's Annual Check Up this afternoon

 

♥♥ From the camera ♥♥
We have so many deer in our yard, they come here every night to eat.  But as always, there are one or two who become a bit territorial with the others.  Usually I just yell out my window for them to stop it, and be nice....and funny enough they listen  Hahahah

 

These two males were not full on fighting, but kept getting in each others' faces.  Isn't nature amazing?  To be able to see this with my own eyes and watch them interact so close, is fantastic.     

 

 

♥♥ Devotional ♥♥ 

What we have known of our faithful God, proves that He will keep us to the end. 

 

— Morning and Evening by Charles Spurgeon

{ Happy Homemaker Monday - 10/10/2022 }

 

 

 

Good morning friends, hope you're having a good Columbus Day.

 

I have hubby home but Jasmine is working, that's retail life right?    

 

We have a pretty cloudy and rainy day ahead, so I'm thrilled to be indoors.  I think I'll be watching some movies today or maybe getting some reading done, not sure, but whatever it is, will be cozy for sure.

I hope you all have a wonderful week ahead, full of blessings and the Lord's favor.  Let's get right on with our post today, and see what is happening around our homes.

 

♥♥ The Weather ♥♥
It's been wonderful.  We got down to 50 degrees on Saturday and I can't tell you how much I enjoyed that.  We're over the really hot temps, although we still have a day or two in the 90's.  But I'll take it intermingled with cooler temps and rain.   

Monday - Storms, 79
Tuesday - Morning showers, 84
Wednesday - Sunny, 85
Thursday - Sunny, 81
Friday - Sunny, 86
Saturday - Mostly sunny, 91  

Sunday - Partly cloudy, 82



♥♥ As I look outside my window ♥♥
Cloudy, dark skies and a sprinkling rain.  I absolutely adore this time of year, the crispness in the air, the trees starting to turn color.  Just love it.       

 

♥♥ Right now I am ♥♥
Sitting on my bed with Elliott.  He is napping and I'm working on this post, and watching a youtube video.   

♥♥ Thinking and pondering ♥♥
I'm starting to plan for Thanksgiving.  I really want to be on top of it this year, and get as much planned and done before the day.  With my hands hurting lately, I can't leave it all for the actual day, or I won't be able to do anything.   

 

♥♥ How am I feeling ♥♥
Doing well, PMSing but other than that, I'm well.  The allergies are still going, though they seem to have calmed down slightly over the weekend.     

 


♥♥ On the breakfast plate ♥♥
I have had a cup of coffee with my Peppermint Mocha creamer, and two of the small frozen sausage biscuits.           

 

♥♥ On the lunch plate ♥♥
I'm not sure yet, we have leftovers in the fridge, so I may just have that, or a sandwich, salad, who knows.

 

 

♥♥ On the dinner plate ♥♥
I made a pork roast last night, and have quite a bit leftover, so going to turn it into a meat pie for dinner, along with some sauteed squash.     

 

 

♥♥ What I'm wearing ♥♥
Black cotton romper jumpsuit.     

 


♥♥ On my reading pile ♥♥
Reading through Isaiah in the Bible.

Paul David Tripp New Morning Mercies devotional.
Morning and Evening Devotional by Charles Spurgeon.   

Started The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen by Syrie James.

♥♥ On my TV this week ♥♥
The Orville - We're almost finished with the third season.  Loving this series.  

Next, we will be watching Star Trek Strange New Worlds

Homemaking vlogs
House of Dragons

The Lord of the Rings Series on Amazon Prime

The Serpent Queen

The Great British Bake Off 
Lucy Worsley Investigates on PBS

Hotel Portofino

♥♥ On the menu ♥♥

Going to start working on the new meal plan today.  

 

Monday - Meat Blender Pie, sauteed squash  
Tuesday - Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesan, Spaghetti
Wednesday - Beef Korma Curry, Rice

Thursday -   Roast Chicken and Potatoes, Sauteed Greens

Friday - *grocery shopping*

Saturday -
Sunday -



♥♥ Looking around the house ♥♥
The house is neat and tidy, as I gave it a good clean this weekend.  There are Fall decorations out, pumpkins here and there, and wonderful scented candles dispersed throughout the house.  It just feels so cozy and homey.          

♥♥ To Do List ♥♥
- Meal plan and grocery list
- Laundry

- Make another crochet placemat/doily

 

♥♥ From the camera ♥♥
I took this photo the other day, and it immediately became one of my favorites.  There is something so magical about candle light and crochet together.   

 

 

♥♥ Devotional ♥♥ 

Let us be joyful now as we rehearse the song of eternal praise so soon to roll forth in full chorus from all the blood-washed host;  let us copy David's exhaultings before the ark as a prelude to our ecstasies before the throne.  It really is true that peace in times of trouble is not found in figuring out your life, but in worship of the One who has everything figure out already.    

 

— Morning and Evening by Charles Spurgeon

{ First truly Fall day }

I'm sitting here with light rain falling outside.  Woke up to 50 degrees, clouds, cold and drizzling rain.  Oh how happy that made me.

On days like this, I seem to enjoy my homemaking even more.  Maybe because it's dark and seems to make the house seem even cozier, but I love lighting a candle, turning on the TV with a documentary, and then going about my day.

I worked on the fireplace the past few days, just tidying it and getting it ready for the upcoming holiday season.

 

I just love working around my house, moving things, tidying, cleaning and organizing.  I guess I do it so much that it's just become second nature, and on the off day that I am not really needing much done, I often feel guilty for even sitting and reading.

So I just get on with my day and if I'm listening to something in the background, things seem to go faster.

 

My fur babies just watch me, quite curious as to what I'm doing, and always being nearby, sniffing at everything.  I do that with them a lot, they love to be included, so whatever I'm working on, I always give them a sniff   Hahahah

That sounds so strange saying it out loud.  I mean, like a candle, or if I'm cooking I let them smell it, or I grab Elliott and take him around the house, showing him everything and he loves that.

 

For some reason, decorating this time of year always brings cozy feelings, doesn't it?  

 

I particularly like my dining, den area with the big fireplace.  It reminds me of a cabin, with all the wood, paneling and candles.  I guess it's the closest I'll ever be to living that Laura Ingalls life.  Right?  

 

So I got it all taken care of, then gave the house a quick vacuum.

 

Once that was done, I was able to sit on the couch, with my yarn stash, and make some more placemats.  I've been enjoying making these because they're so quick to work up, and in my opinion, you can never have enough.  

I not only use them for placemats for our dinner plates, but also as doilies to set a pretty flower vase on, or even to act as trivets for hot food.  It's little things like this, that make a house a home, at least for me.  Small touches that take the house from a building with four walls, to a cozy, inviting home.....and when you've taken the time to create them yourself, I think that means even more.

I've also been enjoying some wonderful documentaries on PBS.  I love Lucy Worsley's newest series called Lucy Worsley Investigates.  There have been just 4 episodes so far, but she has investigated The Princes in the Tower, The Madness of King George, The Black Plague and The Witch Hunts.  

 

So good.  Actually all of her documentaries are wonderful and there's a few on PBS to watch.  Just a suggestion.

 

Anyway, I need to go give Kaia some food, she's asking ever so nicely.  

 

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.  God Bless!

{ The Weekly Gratitude Project - TLC Book Tour }

 

 

About The Weekly Gratitude Project

Publisher: Zondervan; Illustrated edition (November 10, 2020)

Hardcover: 144 pages

 

 

It’s time to start a project that will grow a grateful heart. The Weekly Gratitude Project is a 52-week guided gratitude journal that offers a life-changing journey through reflection prompts and inviting questions to guide you into a deeper relationship with God. This yearly gratitude journal features beautifully illustrated journaling pages that will help you discover more intimacy and joy in your spiritual life.

 

The Weekly Gratitude Project is:

• Perfect for a beginner in faith and practicing gratitude, but strong and thought provoking enough for someone who already has a solid foundation
• An easy-to-use journaling format designed to help you focus on adding more gratefulness into your day
• A helpful companion for individual worship, Bible studies, and small groups

 Each week includes:

• A biblical theme to focus on
• A short but impactful Bible verse to help you reflect and meditate
• Inspirational insight to guide your thoughts and jumpstart your gratitude project
• Journaling prompts and lines to help you reflect and grow a grateful heart

This 12-month journal:

• Showcases beautiful photography and calming colors
• Has a pretty ribbon marker, so you never lose your place
• Provides a ton of journaling space, but easily fits on your nightstand, tote bag, or a gift basket
• Is perfect for a self-purchase, Mother’s Day, National Best Friend Day, a welcoming gift for Bible study groups, birthdays, and holidays

Check out the rest of the series, The Weekly Prayer Project and The Weekly Faith Project.

 

 

 My thoughts:

This is one of the most beautiful books, journals, I have ever owned.  But it's not just a normal journal that you open up and write at your will.  It's not about your day to day, so to speak, but more about a journey through Faith, getting closer to the God and delving deep within you to find gratitude in everything you do.

I will be honest and tell you that I am not good at journaling.  When I was younger I attempted a few journals and managed to keep them up for a bit, but that didn't last for too long, so when I received this Gratitude Project, from Zondervan Publishers and TLC Book Tours, I wasn't quite sure what to think.

I'm not going to say that I have been successful in keeping up with it, every single week, but I will say that when I do tackle the week at hand, I give it my best and take my time.  

The questions are thought provoking and harder than I was expecting, which threw me off at first.  But I think it is developed in a way to make you really think about your spiritual relationship with the Lord, your faith.

For example, on Week 31 the theme is Grace.  I thought "oh that will be easy, I know all about grace."

Then the question is put to me.  

 

Describe God's rich grace.  What is it?  What has it done for you?  What does it continue to do?

And I couldn't answer it right away.  I was stumped, I drew a blank, I didn't know how to answer or what to answer.  It sent me digging through the Bible and other devotionals I had to refresh my memory and to search my heart for the right answer.  

Here's another example that had and has me stumped, I haven't even answered this one.  

I just love being challenged in my faith.  It makes me want to know more, search more, press more into the Lord's word.  

I think The Weekly Gratitude Project is a book I'll have on hand for many years to come, and I don't think I will finish it in 52 weeks exactly,  because some of the themes and questions have me searching more than others.  That's ok though, we are never finished growing as Christians, it's an ongoing journey full of questions and moments of reflection.

I highly recommend this book if you are just starting out on your spiritual journey.  It will push you to focus and meditate and above all, praise and worship the Lord.

Thank you to TLC Book Tours and Zondervan Publishers, for providing me with a copy for this review.

 

{ Why are you a homemaker? }

The question came as a bit of a surprise.  I don't have the habit of asking random people, why they chose to do what they do, because frankly it's none of my business.  So it always surprises me, when I'm asked why I chose to be a homemaker.

But the answer is quite simple, at least to me.

Because I was called by God to do this, and I was given charge of my home and my family to care for.

What is most important in your life?  

 

In mine, it is God above all, and my family next.  I have both of those things inside my home, so I take great pride in caring for both my relationship with my Lord and my family.

 

 

 

 

As the days have gotten colder, I have found myself even more eager to do my housework.  There's a certain renewing of spirit, if you will.  Maybe it's the candle light or the piping hot oatmeal wafting steam up as if in a dance.

It makes me want to bake, decorate, plan and prepare for hibernation.  Though that is really not possible, no matter how appealing it may sound.  But you know what I mean.  

Chopping firewood to keep us warm during the winter months.  Gathering the last of the garden harvest to freeze or can, until Spring comes around and we plant a whole new garden.

Setting a pretty table for dinner.  Placing pine cones and pumpkins throughout the house.

 

Then there's those days that I don't feel like doing anything, not even speaking, and I can't muster up the motivation or energy to blog or post anything on Instagram.  We all have those moments, when our spirits seem to cry out for a slow day, for peace and quite, and a cup of coffee or tea with a slice of a yummy cake or pie.

 

Those days I spend in silence, with just some soft music in the background, a good book and my pets at my side.

 

 

On my quiet retreated days, I still am a homemaker.  I move through the daily chores at a slower pace, I take my time, and I allow myself to soak in everything around me, taking extra time to watch the flickering candle light.

Or I really take in the scent of whatever I am cooking or baking.

Sometimes I sit back, close my eyes and go into deep prayer.  Not the kind of prayer that consistently asks for the Lord's help in certain situations, but the kind of prayer that involves me praising, loving and just listening intently.

Those are the prayers that seem to help me the most.  

So why am I a homemaker?  Because that's what God has instructed me to do!