Happy Homemaker Monday ~ 7/29/2024

Come join Diary of a SAHM for Happy Homemaker Monday. 

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Hello and HAPPY (almost) Monday.  I'm writing this post Sunday night as I've finally gotten a few moments to sit down and relax.  Tomorrow is another busy day even though I'm "off".  

We had a great time camping!  It was perfect camping weather.  Even though we desperately need the rain, it was dry and the temperatures weren't unbearable.  In fact, it was very chilly by the time 4am rolled around.  I ended up pulling the covers over my head to get my ears and nose warm while sleeping!

We were all a little sad when it came time to tear down our campsite and we decided that next time we need to go for more than just 2 nights.  I'll share some pictures below.

Let's get on with today's Happy Homemaker :)

The weather outside is:

It looks like it is going to be a warm week although the forecast is showing some much needed rain.  I mentioned last week how the grass is brown and crunchy and it has just gotten worse as time has gone on.  How is it in your area?  Has it been as dry as it has been here? 

On today's to-do list: 

Monday's to-do are:

~Sleep in

~Devotions

~Sweep and mop floors

~Call Laken's Guidance Counselor again as I haven't received a return call.

~Go to the bank

~Fold and put away laundry

Happening this week:

I'm working Tuesday 10-4, Wednesday 7-1, Thursday 7-1 and Friday 10-4.  I'm off Saturday and Sunday.

Other than that it is a pretty normal week with prayer meeting and Bible study midweek and the Angel Picnic on Saturday at 11am-1pm.  At first I thought I was going to have to work Saturday and miss the picnic but my manager changed my schedule.  My schedule being changed has happened at least 3 times and I've only been working there for 4 weeks.  I really hope this isn't how it keeps going.  I like to plan out my week and having it change constantly isn't making me happy...  At least this time it worked out to my benefit.

Currently reading:

I took my book along with me camping and actually got a few chapters read.  I think I only have a few chapters left to read.  It will be my first finished book of 2024 which is absolutely amazing to me.  I remember the days when I would read a book every 2 days and sometimes I'd finish a book in 1 day if I was REALLY into it!  

Listening to:

This song is a few years old and I hadn't heard it for a long time.  It was playing on KLOVE on my way home today and I enjoyed singing along.  Truth be told, how are you?

Watching:

I haven't watched much this week as we weren't home.  What I'm not watching is the Olympics.  I'm just going to leave it at that.

On the menu today:

Wiener Winks and French Fries

In the Craft Basket:

I almost bought yarn the other evening.  The hubby was in the sporting goods section of the store and I was just perusing the craft section.  The yarn called to me!  I haven't picked up a hook in probably 1.5 months or more but I had the urge to start crocheting an afghan.  I resisted the inclination and told myself that I need to go "shopping" in my stash first.  I think I'd like to make another scrappy granny square afghan so I think I have plenty of yarn to do that.  If I have to supplement with a few skeins then I'll do that.

Picture from the Camera

Camping pictures as promised!

Bible Verse

"Draw near to God and He will draw near to you."  James 4:8 NKJV

Have a great week!

Colletta

Happy Homemaker ~ 7/23/2024

Come join Diary of a SAHM for Happy Homemaker Monday. 

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I realize it is Tuesday but I wanted to post about being a Happy Homemaker today.

I used to participate in this linkup on a weekly basis before becoming a working wife/mom.  Working outside the home, that is.  But then, I was feeling a little odd because I wasn't considering myself a homemaker in the traditional sense of the word.  Because I had an outside job.

HOWEVER, I've recently had a change of heart.  For one thing, I'm still a homemaker doing all the homemaker things.  I still have a heart for home.  So here I am.  Writing this post and hoping that I'm welcome.

When I went back to work 2 years ago, I was working full-time in an office.  I had a very rigid schedule and even though I had PTO I still felt very STUCK in my work schedule.  About a month ago, I decided that full-time working wasn't, well, working.  For me, at least.  I decided to resign that very lucrative but time-consuming position and look for a part-time job.

About 2 1/2 weeks ago I started working at my current position of a Customer Assistance Associate (AKA cashier) at a local market.  I know it doesn't sound like the most glamorous job but it is flexible and part-time.  Time will tell if it is the job for me physically, financially and most-of-all mentally!  At this point I'm praying for daily guidance and strength and would appreciate your prayers as well.

Okay!  Enough of that!

Let's get on with today's Happy Homemaker :)

The weather outside is:

It has been SO hot and dry here in Southern Pennsylvania for the past many, many weeks.  The grass is brown and crunchy because it is so dry.  We have gotten a few sporadic showers the past few days but nothing like what we need.

On today's to-do list: 

This is day 2 of a 4-day work stretch.  So far I've only worked 2-3 days in a row.  Standing the whole shift and being VERY busy makes for a long 6 hours with only a 15 minute break.  I actually don't mind working 4 days in a row because I then have a 4 day "vacation"!

~Work 10am-4pm

~Devotions

~Supper

~Sweep floors

Happening this week:

As mentioned, I still have 2 more days to work this week.  I work 7am-1pm Wednesday and Thursday, but then I'm off for 4 days.  I had requested Friday off because we are going camping Thursday and Friday night.  Getting Saturday, Sunday and Monday off were a bonus.  The only thing I'm concerned about is that when I come back from "vacation", I work 5 days in a row.  My feet are going to be killing me!  lol

Other than camping, we'll still have to grocery shop and do laundry probably Saturday afternoon/evening.  Grocery shopping could probably wait until Monday but not the laundry.

I also need to make an appointment with Laken's guidance counselor to make sure everything is in place for ...SENIOR YEAR!  Laken is going to be doing what is called "Senior Challenge" which is basically taking a few morning classes in school and then leaving early to work on college courses.  The college courses are what we need assistance with the most.  Hopefully the counselor can schedule us to see her on Monday as well.

Currently reading:

I've been ever so slowly reading "Living Slower" by Merissa A. Alink.  I'm on chapter 7 and am enjoying the book but it has just taken a back burner to everything else that has been going on.  Chapter 7 is about creating a useful space which we are currently doing.  We took part of the rather large Family Room and built a small Storage Room.  I can't believe the difference it has made.  The Storage Room is still full of bins and boxes that need to be gone through but the Family Room and Our Bedroom are so much more pleasing to the eye.  I don't feel like the clutter is taking over.  The hubby has worked so hard on this project and I really appreciate his effort!

Listening to:

Anne Wilson was actually at a County Fair near me last Wednesday evening.  I really wish I could have made it to the concert.  I haven't been to a concert in YEARS!  Anne's album is named "REBEL" so I wanted to listen to the title track.  I'm glad I did!  Are you a REBEL?  Enjoy :)

Watching:

We finally finished up Season 1 of Tracker and I'm excited that the network has renewed the show for at least another season.

We've been watching a lot of Hallmark-ish  movies on Freevee.  They're actually pretty good.  Maybe even better than Hallmark because there is a bigger variety of actors.

I'm still debating if I'm going to be watching the Steelers play football this year.  Pre-season will be ramping up pretty soon.

Youtube videos from a few favorites

On the menu today:

Salisbury Steak, Noodles, Veggie and Strawberries

In the Craft Basket:

I need to pick a new project to start as I don't have any going at the moment.  I'm open to crochet suggestions!

Picture from the Camera

Oliver is getting so big!

Bible Verse

"The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things and the God of peace will be with you."  Philippians 4:9 NASB

Have a great week!

Colletta

Hello Monday ~ 7/8/2024

 

Holly & Sarah

I didn't post a Friday Favorites to highlight the happenings of last week so I'm going to squeeze my Hello Monday and Friday Favorites together today.  Maybe I should call it Monday Favorites and leave it at that :)

I want to make mention that July 3rd was my Dad's 77th birthday!  Happy Birthday, Dad!  He wanted Chinese food for his birthday supper and I made him a Cream Puff Cake with sugar free pudding so that he could actually eat it!  I asked him how it felt to be 77 years old and he said he felt the same as the day before :)

On July 4th, our Independence Day here in the USA, we spent most of the day reorganizing the Family Room, our Bedroom and the new Storage Room that I mentioned we were building in last week's post!  We have the Bedroom pretty much situated and the Storage Room is almost at its max already.  We still have a few totes full of miscellaneous items sitting in the Family Room that we need to go through and purge to finish up.  Once we get done, I think it is going to be a really good transformation.

For our 4th of July Celebration, we went to my Aunt Donna's and Uncle Charlie's house around 7pm.  We were supposed to get there around 6-6:30ish but until we got finished working for the day and cleaned up (remember:  we had no AC) we were the last ones to get there.  Everyone was still eating the yummy picnic food so no harm done!  When it got closer to dark, Uncle Charlie and Brian, my cousin, started setting off the pre-firework fireworks :)  Brian's little girl, Audrey, who REALLY wanted to have fireworks ended up being completely afraid of the loud noises.  The hubby and I volunteered to take her inside to watch the fireworks out the window where she was much happier.  It was fun talking to a little one as she is only 2 years old.  When the fireworks were over, Audrey was sad and wanted more!  We had a fun and enjoyable celebration :)

Friday was orientation for my new part-time job.  It was a long day of watching videos, learning about the company and signing authorizations and policies.

A good thing happened though!  While I was at orientation, our AC unit came!  Whooot Whooot!  A whole week early and I am ever so thankful.  We actually had to turn the AC off last night because it was making the bedroom a little TOO chilly!  What a problem to have :) 

The hubby took Oliver to the vet Friday for his last set of kitten vaccinations.  He had grown so much in the past 3 weeks that the vet tech re-weighed him to make sure she had read the scale right.  He is definitely losing his baby kitten look.

My goal for this week, other than actually training for my new job, is to take more pictures!  I was doing really good for a while and then life started flying by.  I want to try to slow things down a bit.  I'm actually reading a book right now called "Living Slower" by Merissa A. Alink.  It has lots of good information and I'm getting ready to start reading about how organization and routines can help a person live slower which I REALLY need.

Well, I think that is enough rambling for now.  Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you have a wonderful week ahead :)

Colletta

Hello Monday...er...Tuesday ~ 7/2/2024

 

Holly & Sarah

It has been a rough couple of weeks and I haven't felt much like posting, but I'm still here and kicking :)  I had to really stop and think what day of the week it was today!  I'm only a day late for Hello Monday so I thought I'd jump on here and join in.

First, I guess I want to mention that I'm switching jobs.  I've decided that going from being a SAHM to working full-time just wasn't working for me.  I needed something part time and more flexible, so I'm taking a leap and trying something completely different for me.  My orientation is Friday at my new job so I'd appreciate all the prayers and well wishes you'd like to give me!

In other news...I've been working on getting our Family Room organized and have come to the realization that the bins and totes that are sitting in the corner of the room and along the wall aren't going anywhere.  We've decided to make the rather large, messy Family Room a bit smaller by building a partition wall to create a VERY large walk-in closet for storage.

We're really hoping this will make things easier to organize and more aesthetically pleasing.  So we're going to be rearranging lots of furniture, etc., in the next week or two.  I really should take some before and after pictures of our progress.

Summer is in full swing.  I hope everyone fared well here in the heatwave that was in the USA.  Thankfully the temperatures have gone down a bit or we're just getting used to the heat.  Unfortunately, the air conditioner we had in our bedroom has given up the ghost.  It was rather old so we weren't totally surprised.  We have another one ordered but it won't arrive until July 11th or 12th.  We're making due with fans until then.  I'm sure we'll be perfectly fine.

Tonight is the hubby's last night of work for the week.  Wall building starts tomorrow.

I'll leave you for today with this song that has resonated with both the hubby and myself lately.  Enjoy :)

Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you have a wonderful week ahead :)

Colletta