Hello Monday ~ 5/27/2024

 

Holly & Sarah

I want to take a moment before getting into my Hello Monday post to REMEMBER and HONOR all the brave men and women who gave his/her life so that we could be free.  I think sometimes we look at this day only as a reason for a three-day-weekend and don't truly remember and honor the ones who so greatly deserve it.  So make sure to pause for a moment Monday or whatever day you may be reading this and be grateful.

With all that being said, I am super grateful and excited to have this three-day-weekend.  It is Sunday night as I write this post and it feels so good to still have another day off to look forward to!  I'll let you know how we spend our Memorial Day in my Friday Favorites post (make sure you stop back) but for now I'll share our weekend adventures.

I came home Friday from work and was greeted by these two wrestling.  Oliver and Flynn are so funny together!  I couldn't help myself, I had to snap this picture and share it!  It cracks me up :)

Laken finished up her AP Language class which was her last class of Junior year.  Does that mean I have a Senior???

Every year, on the last day of school, we eat out to celebrate finishing up another school year.  This year Laken decided that she wanted Cracker Barrel.  Only my youngest daughter would order a hot chocolate on an 85F day  :)

The hubby likes to play the peg game at Cracker Barrel.  I don't know the technical name of the game, but I do know that the hubby cheats so that he's not a "plain old ignoramus"!

We went grocery shopping Saturday morning and we couldn't pass up these gorgeous orange Dahlias.  The hubby loves orange flowers and something about these really caught my eye as well.

One the way home, we once again saw the geese by the pond near our house.  Look how much the babies have grown just from when I posted about them last weekend!

Saturday afternoon/evening we stopped by Kaylee and Shawn's.  We spent some time looking at their newly planted garden and the flowers that are coming back up from last year.  Kaylee had just got her hair cut and was worried I would think it was too short but I think it suits her and she looks beautiful no matter what!

They have a Mock Orange Bush that reminds me so much of my Gram.  Gram loved plants and flowers and had a Mock Orange off the back porch.  I think the new owners of her house cut it down, which makes me very sad.  Moving on to happier things!

My grandpuppy, Dahlia, hated that we were outside and she was inside the house.  I made sure to say hi to her before we left.  She is a Great Dane and is such a lover!  Sweet, sweet Dahl Baby!

Aunt Donna and Uncle Charlie invited us to dinner that evening so we took corn-on-the cob to contribute to the meal.  It was our first corn-on-the-cob of the season which is always exciting!  What was even sweeter was getting the corn 10 ears for $2 at Weis.  That price is unheard of these days!  I wish we would have gotten more, to tell you the truth.

Aunt Donna had these cute little piggy corn-on-the-cob stickers.  I had to snap a picture of the hubby using them.

When we got home after dinner, we watched 2 epidsodes of Tracker.  We still have 2 more episodes to watch to get caught up.  It might even be over the season.  If so, we'll have to find another show to watch before bed.  Any suggestions?

Sunday morning we got up and the hubby made us cinnamon rolls for breakfast before Church.  He usually either makes us cinnamon rolls or muffins.  They are out of a can or a mix but I appreciate it SO much.  He's a sweetheart and I love him so much.

When we got home from Church it was time to catch up on some housework which included laundry, dishes and floors.  I had dumped the clean clothes in a pile on the bed and came back to find Oliver "helping".  He did not like me moving the clothes and messing up his little cocoon.  I tried to not disturb him, but I really wanted to get done with the housework and sit on my swing for a bit.

Which reminds me...I didn't get my swing painted the weekend...BUT, I still have all day Monday.  I'm hoping to pick up the paint when my hubby goes to Lowe's and get it finished before the rains come.  

Finally, I'll leave you with a picture of the beautiful "blue" rose that is blooming right off the back deck where my swing is.  Isn't it gorgeous?

So those were our weekend highlights.  I can't wait to read all about yours!  Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you have a wonderful week ahead :)

Colletta

Tea Time ~ 5/26/2022

 

Grab a cup of tea, coffee, hot chocolate or your favorite drink
while I share a few things about my life lately...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 

~The hubby got the cats a new toy :)  They LOVE it!  All night long I hear the little bells inside the balls jingling!

~My Mom and I went to a Ladies Tea hosted by a sister congregation about an hour from home.  It was nice to spend some time together and with other like-minded Christian women.  After the tea, we stopped at Eat-n-Park for dinner.  We haven't gone out, just the two of us, in YEARS!  We did get Laken some Smiley cookies to bring home to her :)

~While Mom and I were at the Ladies Tea, the hubby, Laken and my Dad went to see the new Dr. Strange movie.  (Not my cuppa tea!)  Afterwards, they went to Cracker Barrel for dinner.  Laken sent me some hilarious pictures of her Pap.  This is my favorite:

~I missed Church Sunday due to a stomach bug.  The hubby had it first and then passed it on to me!  Something I'd rather he hadn't shared!  Not a fun thing but I am feeling better now :)   I'm just hoping I was the end of the line for it in the family!

~Laken is DONE with 9th GRADE!!!!  It was a rough year of cyber schooling full medical tests and being sick which put her VERY behind by January.  After getting some relief by limiting Lactose and using Lactaid, she had a lot of work to catch up on.  I am so proud of the late nights, weekends and holidays that she worked on her schoolwork instead of having fun.  I am so glad that summer is here and I bet she is 10X as glad as I am!  Time to PARTY :)

How was your week?  What's new with you?

 

Colletta

The Good Stuff ~ 2/3/2022

~~~~~~~~

~Quarantine Over!  That pretty much sums it up.  Quarantine is over and we're all feeling better.  Thank the Good LORD!

~Back to Church!  This kind of goes along with the quarantine being over, but it was so good to get back to Church and participate in Church functions again :)

~Youth Group Lock-in!  And along with that came being able to attend the Youth Group Lock-In Friday night.  The hubby and I volunteered to stay the night and help with the Youth Group.  Laken was so glad to be feeling better as she had really been looking forward to the Lock-In.  She would have been VERY disappointed if she hadn't been able to go.  It was a long night but the kids had fun :)

~5 Books!  I read 5 books in January!  I'm excited about this because last year I read a total of 12 books.  The entire year!  My goal this year is to read 1 book per week.  So far, so good :)

~15 Years Old!  My youngest, Laken, turned 15 years old Wednesday 2/2/22.  She's by little groundhog baby who isn't so little anymore.  In fact, she likes to point out the fact that she is almost taller than me.  Right now, we're tied in the height department.  Happy Birthday, Laken!

What has you thankful/smiling/exited this week?  Tell me all the good stuff! 

Colletta

Happy Homemaker Monday ~ 7/12/2021

Come join Diary of a SAHM for Happy Homemaker Monday. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hello, and Happy Monday!

The weather outside is:

Nice temperatures but this week looks very cloudy with thunderstorms.  However cliché, we do need the rain.

On today's to-do list: 

I have an eye doctor appointment this afternoon and have to get groceries at some point thereafter.

Annalea will be haning out with me too :) 

Happening this week:

The countdown is on for the wedding!  Only 34 more days!  We had a surprise Bridal Shower for Kaylee on Saturday afternoon.  My sister-in-law, Kelly, did the brunt of the work and did a wonderful job at it.  She could be an event planner in all seriousness.  Kaylee's vacation for their honeymoon was approved.  Also, the appraisal on the house Kaylee and Shawn are buying is set for Tuesday.

Laken has to have an MRI on her knee to see what is going on.  The X-ray showed something so now she has the MRI on Friday and sees an orthopedic surgeon next Monday.  So no Volleyball until we see what is being shown on the X-ray.  Prayers are appreciated that nothing serious is going on!

The hubby is on daylight this week so I'll get to see him in the evening/night.  We need to get in his closet to see if his suit fits him for the wedding.  He bought and wore it to escort Kaylee to the Fall Foliage Queen Festival her junior year of high school and it hasn't seen the light of day since!  The hubby is NOT at all the "dressy" sort.  Jeans and t-shirts are his everyday attire and Sundays are khakis and a polo shirt.  I know we'll have to buy him a pair of shoes at the very least.

Saturday we have birthday party to attend for a little girl in our Church.  Layna Bee will be 2 years old and is the sweetest little thing.  Every weekend this summer is booked until after the wedding!

Currently reading:

I decided to start a new book hoping that it will get me out of my reading drought.  I really want to try to read at least a bit each day but so far this week has been a bust and I haven't even touched my Kindle.  Starting Monday, I'm going to really strive to read some before bed to relax instead of just falling onto my pillow and zoning out.  I picked "Hard Landing" by Edie James to try to read this week.

On the TV:

Hot Mess House

Laken is pining to see the new "Black Widow" movie but we just didn't have time this weekend to sit down and watch it.  I'm hoping maybe this Friday to purchase it on Disney+ and sit down for a Family Movie Night.

Listening to:

This week I featured Stand In Faith by Danny Gokey on Songs on Sunday.  I hope you'll check it out :)

On the menu week:

Not done yet :(

Monday ~  

Tuesday ~ 

Wednesday ~ 

Thursday ~  

Friday ~ 

Saturday ~ 

Sunday ~ Potluck at Church

In the Craft Basket:

I have been hooking away on Kaylee and Shawn's Afghan all week which is another reason I haven't taken time to read.  I finished all the squares, tied in all the ends and got the squares crocheted together.  I'm gong to be crocheting a total of 11 rounds of border.  I have 2 rounds finished.  I wanted to get it down by the Bridal Shower, but now my goal is the Wedding.  34 days.  It can be done :)

Picture from the Camera

Friday evening, we had a Church outing to the local AAA baseball field, the Altoona Curve.  Dex and Laken got along really well and we had a great time.  That is "Aunt Kelly"  (my SIL) photobombing in the back!  She is so much fun!

Memory Verse

" ‘Oh, Lord God! Behold, You Yourself have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You,"  Jeremiah 32:17

Have a great Monday!

Colletta

Journal Entry ~ 6/16/20

A few sentences about each day...

June 7, 2020 - June 13, 2020

Sun/7 ~ Happy Lord's Day!  Thankfully, Kaylee was off today and had a 2 day weekend.  She shouldn't have to work on Sunday until the next sale.  I made Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Rice Krispies Treats for snack at Bible Study this evening.  The recipe used corn syrup and sugar instead of marshmallow.  I'll share the recipe sometime soon :)

Mon/8 ~ This is my second day without caffeine.  I started weaning myself off of caffeine last week by only drinking one glass of Diet Dr. Pepper a day.  I was doing so well that I thought I'd try cutting it out completely.  I've been drinking lots of water out of my new turquoise cup.  I passed the orange cup on to Laken after finding one in my favorite color.  Kaylee got her hair cut today.  She was very ready to get a trim.  She actually got a bit of an undercut.  I think it is really cute but I didn't have a chance to get a picture before she left for work.

Tues/9 ~ Today Doug turned 52 years old!  We're not sure what time he was born so throughout the day he kept saying that he was still 51 :)  I took Laken to Uncle's to swim as it was so stinking hot out.  It was the first time this summer and she said it was "majestic"!  The kittens are out and about walking now.  They are so cute!  The girls named them Punkin and Peanut although they look so similar it is hard to tell which is which most of the time.  Punkin is just a tiny bit bigger.

Wed/10 ~  I was going to bake today but it was just to stinking hot!  Just as I was about to take to the kids to my brother's house to swim it started to rain and thunder.  It cooled off a bit but Kaylee said it was miserably hot at work.  Instead of cooking supper, we went to Sundae's for hot dogs, nachos and ICE CREAM! 

Thurs/11 ~ My Chocolate Chip Cinnamon Coffee Cake recipe was featured at Miz Helen's Full Plate today!  I'm now 5 days caffeine free and only drinking water.  I am SO tired!  I don't know if it is worth it!  I might go back to having just one glass of Diet Dr. Pepper a day just so I'm not SO tired!

Fri/12 ~ We painted our headboard and put on the new bedding that I bought to complete the "look"!  It was so exciting to see it come together :)  Doug and I went to Dairy Queen to pick up Kaylee's birthday ice cream cake.  Her birthday is tomorrow so this is officially her last day as an 18 year old.

Sat/13 ~ We celebrated Kaylee's 19th birthday this evening with family.  We had pizza from Little Caesar's and the Dairy Queen ice cream cake that Kaylee requests every year :)  I can't believe it has been 19 years since giving birth to my first baby girl.  We had her "party" out on the side deck but it got chilly toward the end.  This weather is so back and forth!

Until next week,

Colletta

Journal Entry ~ 5/26/20 ~ With pictures

A few sentences about each day...

May 20, 2020 - May 24, 2020

Wed/20 ~ We had Prayer Meeting and Bible Study this evening!  It is so good to be getting back to normal!  Doug has tonight to work and then he's off for four days.  He wants to re-do the dog yard and porch.  Hopefully we have nice weather so that he's able to get done what he wants to complete this weekend.  Right now the dogs are enjoying being able to stretch out on my bed.  Where am I going to sleep?

Thurs/21 ~  Doug worked last night and then stayed up all day working on the fencing for the dog's yard.  As I'm waiting for Kaylee to get home from work, he's snoring away on the couch.  It is supposed to rain all weekend, so he was hoping to get it all done today.  Unfortunately, he needs to get two more boards to finish up the project.  My poor hubby...

Fri/22 ~ During a break in the rain, my Mom and I walked around the outside of the house looking at the flowers.  I always plant Marigolds in honor of my Grandmother who had a green thumb.  We plant Impatiens in honor of Doug's Mom.  She always planted them in her flower boxes, just not the white ones!  She hated white flowers for some reason. We tried out the new food truck in town called "Lumberjack Snacks".   It is run by one of Doug's best friends from high school.

Sat/23 ~  Laken and I repainted my swing today.  First we had to  scrape the old paint.  Laken was a big help.  I absolutely love the color.  It is called Milano Teal.  My porch swing is my Happy Place :)  Kaylee and Shawn ordered us all Chinese takeout for dinner.  Kaylee was happy to get her sushi.  She loves the stuff...

Sun/24 ~ It was great to once again fellowship with other Christians at Church.  I made some Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies to take for snack in the evening.  They turned out a bit flat but were quite tasty.  Next time, I'll add some more flour.  I'll share the recipe soon :)

Until next week,

Colletta

Journal Entry ~ 5/21/20

A few sentences about each day...

May 13, 2020 - May 19, 2020

Wed/13 ~ Kaylee got home from work early.  Sunday she'll start working 10 hour days/6 days a week.  I think she's doing well and adjusting.  I'm adjusting too :)  I felt a bit lazy today and didn't walk on the treadmill as planned.  Now I need to walk the next four days to get my fitpoints before weigh in day next Monday.

Thurs/14  ~ Our County is going "Yellow' tomorrow!  I'm dreaming of a Hobby Lobby trip :)  Laken needs to get one of her friends a 13th Birthday gift and Hobby Lobby is a great place for gifts.  I love wandering around looking for great finds!

Fri/15 ~ Kaylee got her very first paycheck today.  My baby has grown up.  We sat down with her "budget binder" and went over the few expenses she has.  She was able to put a sizable chunk into savings and still have a pretty good amount of spending cash.  I'm so proud of how hard she's working. 

Sat/16 ~ We went to Sundae's!  They finally opened on Friday but it was jam-packed so we decided to wait until today to go.  I got a peanut butter sundae and it was scrumptiously delicious :)  Yesterday was Laken's last day of 7th grade.  I now officially have an 8th grader!  One more year and then comes High School!  Oh my!

Sun/17 ~ It was so wonderful to be back at Church!  Aunt Donna and Kaylee sang a special song called "Nobody"  They did an excellent job.  Kaylee works until 1am tonight.  I think I'm going to have to take a short nap and then wait for her to get home.

Mon/18 ~ Doug and I went for groceries this evening instead of in the morning.  The store nwo says that masks are not "required" but are "appreciated".  I was so tempted to take mine off so I could breathe easier but I didn't.  We stopped at the farmer's market and got flowers to plant in the flower pots on the deck.  Laken is excited to plant them!

Tues/19 ~ It was nice to get back into my morning routine of walking on the treadmill.  This afternoon we planted the flowers in the flower pots.  It was nice to dig into the dirt.  The wind was ridiculous though.  My patio umbrella blew out of the table and up over the roof of the house.  I  had to track it down...

Until next week,

Colletta

A Simple Woman's Daybook ~ 5/19/20

Looking out my window:

As I write this Monday evening, it is a bit dreary but warm at about 65F.

I am thinking:

I am thinking that I still have a lot to do this evening.  Doug and I just got back from getting groceries and I still haven't exercised, read my devotions, or tracked my food on WW.  I still have to go pick Laken up from her friend's house so I don't think the treadmill is going to happen today...

I am thankful:

I am thankful that we were able to go back to Church yesterday.  It was wonderful seeing everyone even if we had to "social distance".

One of my favorite things:

One of my favorite things is reading regency romance novels :)

I am creating:

I am still creating a granny square blanket using the following colors in Redheart Ombre and white.



I joined the first 4 rows and have 2.5 more rows completed in various stages of assembly.  I really need to get them all joined soon!

I am wearing:

I am wearing blue capris, a blue and tan patterned shirt and my trust flip flops.

I am reading (read) /watching (watched) / listening to:

I discovered this author with the first book of the "Ladies of Devon" series.  I then found this series "Women of Worth" and have the whole series downloaded.  I'm enjoying this first book of the series :)

I am hoping:

I am hoping that I can complete the 20 Books of Summer 2020.  I've committed to reading 20 books between June 1st and September 1st.  It is going to be tight but I'd really like to finish the entire challenge.  See my sidebar for more info on #20booksofsummer20 .

I am learning:

We learned that Kaylee got 3 A's and 2 B's this Spring Semester!  I'm so proud of her for finishing strong even though she started working full time the last few weeks of the semester.  We also learned that Laken got all A's for the school year.  She's now finished with 7th grade!  My babies are growing up!

In my kitchen:

Over the weekend we tried another new recipe called "3 Cheese Penne".  It had Italian sausage, sauce, penne and of course 3 different cheeses.  I'll be sharing the recipe sometime soon!

Shared Quote:

"As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one." "

Romans 3:10

A moment from my day:

A sneak peek a the 3 Cheese Penne :)

Have a Blessed Day!

Colletta