Happy Homemaker Monday~ 1/27/2025

Come join Diary of a SAHM for Happy Homemaker Monday. 

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Hello and Happy Monday!!!!!

And just like that we're on the last Monday of January 2025.

February is going to be bitter-sweet for me.  Yes, we've (almost) made it through January, but on Sunday, February 2nd my little Groundhog Baby turns 18 years old!  Where have the years gone?  The hubby and I will have our 25th dating anniversary in March, Kaylee turns 24 in June and Laken is days away from being 18.  Our little family is grown up and I'm feeling a bit emotional thinking about it...so...

Let's get this show on the road :)

The weather outside is:

A touch warmer than last week.  Actually, a lot warmer than last week...lol!  Schools in our area were either closed or delayed for 3 days last week due to the cold temperatures.  Well, I guess I should say schools were "virtual".

On today's to-do list:

**I'm typing this on Sunday afternoon/evening (for reference).**

I work 10a-5p.  Other than that it should be a fairly normal day of trying to get back into the routine of the week.

Happening this week:

I work Monday, Wednesday and Friday 10a-5p.

Wednesday is my SIL, Kelly's, birthday.  Any ideas what I can give to her as a birthday gift?

Thursday evening is zoom meeting night for the Good for the Soul Women's Book Club.  I have a whole post about our February 2025 book selection, you can check that out HERE.  But first, I have to finish listening to January's book!

Saturday, we'll be celebrating Laken's birth.  We're thinking of getting dressed up and taking her out to a nice restaurant in the evening.

Sunday, we'll be celebrating Laken's birthday.  I'm not sure what we'll do on her actual birthday other than have cake at Church for her.  Any good ideas?

Currently reading:

I wrote on Friday's "My Weekly Bookishness" post that I've finally discovered listening to audio-books.  "The Librarian of Boone's Hollow" by Kim Vogel Sawyer is my first ever audio-book.  It is the January 2025 book club selection and as I mentioned above, I need to finish it before 8pm on Thursday.  I only have a few more hours to listen to so I "think" I'll make it.  

Listening to:

"Oh Death" by MercyMe debuted on KLOVE radio a few days ago and they played it every hour at the top of the hour.  I love it!  Let me know what you think.  Enjoy :)

Watching:

NFL Championship games.  By the time you read this it will probably be decided what teams will be playing in the Super Bowl.  At this point, 5:06pm on Sunday, it isn't looking good for my nephew's team the Commanders.  They are down 15-27.

The hubby has recommended that I catch up on the past 2 seasons of "Reacher" so that I can watch season 3 with him when it airs.  I've 2 episodes in and look forward to watching more.

In the Kitchen:

I haven't spent much time in the kitchen creating this past week but Laken and Nate made Cookie Monster Cookies.  They, of course, were blue :)

In the Craft Basket:

I've been working away in my "off" time on items for the Spring Fling Vendor show happening in the beginning of April.  Last week I completed all 16 Mabel Chickens that I wanted to get made.  4 Gray Loaf Cats.  1 Ivory Loaf Cat.  And 1 Yellow Peep Bunny.  Shown below are the Ivory Loaf Cat and the Yellow Peep Bunny.  

Let me know what you think of the Peep.  Should I make more as it will be a Spring Fling show a few weeks before Easter.  Or should I just make yellow, green and purple Leggy Frogs?

Picture(s) from the Camera

Prayer Requests

~Winter traveling safety.

~I need to get into a good routine of work, home and self-care.  I've been a bit scattered lately and need to find my self-discipline again.  Pray for me as I work on this.  (continued)

~As always, prayers for the safety and well-being of all school/college kids.  (continued)

~Our Country, our Leaders.  (continued)

Bible Verse

"Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you."

James 4:10

Have a great week!

Colletta

Happy Homemaker Monday ~ 8/26/2024

Come join Diary of a SAHM for Happy Homemaker Monday. 

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Hello and HAPPY Monday.  

The first week of Laken's Senior Year is in the books!  I feel kind of old.

I was looking at all the obligatory first day of school pictures that everyone was posting on Facebook.  There were a lot of Seniors and even College students but I also saw lots of little ones getting on the school bus or outside their school for the first time.

I guess I've just always seen myself as a young mom.  I have to come to the realization that I'm old enough (more than old enough) to be a ,,,  GRANDMOTHER!  Settle down!  No one is pregnant.  (to my knowledge ).  I have to move on or I'm going to get super depressed about my babies being grown!

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

The weather outside is:

Summer is back.  That is all.

On today's to-do list:

I'm off work at my job today so I get to be a Happy Homemaker all day!  I got most of my to-do list done on Friday, my last day off as I had to work both Saturday and Sunday.  My list for today will be to wash my work shirts, fold laundry, take Laken to and from school, practice driving with Laken in the afternoon, alter a few dresses I got at the thrift shop and anything else that comes my way.  I might even take a nap.  Wouldn't that be glorious!?!

Happening this week:

I work Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week.  I work the early shift which is good for taking Laken to school in the mornings.

I have hopes of it being a fairly quiet week with just the normal activities.  We don't have any appointments this week which is a good thing.

Currently reading:

Only my devotional and Bible.

I just watched a movie about a Book Club (more about that later) and it really has me missing the Kindred Readers Book Club that I used to co-host on Facebook.  Does anyone belong to a good Book Club that you could point me to?  I need a REALLY good book to get me hooked and back in to reading.

Listening to:

Enjoy!

Watching:

My babies grow up!  Here is the First Day of Kindergarten Picture next to the First Day of Senior Year picture.

  

As I mentioned above, we watched "Blind Date Book Club" and it was so cute!  It was about a bookstore owner who hosted a "mystery" book club by wrapping the books with paper and just putting a blurb on the front to intrigue people into reading the book.  If they liked the book (or not) they could come share their thoughts on the book.  Erin Krakow was the leading lady and I really enjoy her movies.  Let me know if you saw it or if you're going to go watch it now that you've heard about the movie :)

I've also been watching some new YouTube channels featuring "sewists" which have me itching to get my sewing machine out!

In the Kitchen:

Friday I had supper in the oven and decided while the oven was hot to try a second variation of the cinnamon roll "cobbler".  A few week ago I made one with apple pie filling and it was SO very good!

This time I had picked chocolate chips and pecans!

I cut the cinnamon rolls in fours, melted a stick of butter, added brown sugar and cinnamon plus about half a bag of chocolate chips and stirred it all together.

I only put the pecans on half the cobbler because not everyone in the house likes them (Laken).  It turned out so delicious!  I might have over-done it with the stick of butter because there was a lot of oeey gooey goodness.  I was going to wipe it off the plate to make the picture look more professional but decided to leave it as is to show the yumminess!

I haven't decided what to make this week.  Any suggestions?

In the Craft Basket:

I'm e...v...e...r so slowly working on Japanese Fields blocks.

I also want to alter a few dresses I got at the thrift store as I mentioned above.  The first dress is just too big and shapeless.  I think I'll take the sides in and maybe add a belt.  The second dress has straps and peekaboo shoulders that hand WAY too low on my shoulders.  I'm thinking of just cutting off the peekaboo shoulders and wearing a shrug over top of it as I wouldn't feel comfortable without one.  

Picture from the Camera

Prayer Request

Please keep my work situation in your prayers.  I absolutely do not like having to work on Sunday morning but it seems like they keep scheduling me to work then.

Laken is now taking 4 college courses.  Please pray that she does well with them and that she stays healthy.

As always, prayers for the safety and well-being of all those going back to school.

Bible Verse

"First of all then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity."  I Timothy 2: 1-2  NASB

Have a great week!

Colletta

Happy Homemaker Monday ~ 8/12/2024

Come join Diary of a SAHM for Happy Homemaker Monday. 

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Hello and HAPPY Monday.  

I'm actually typing this post on Sunday evening when I have a bit of time to sit down and reflect on the week ahead.  Monday is actually going to be very busy even though I don't have to go to work.  I'll tell you a bit more about that later in the post.

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

The weather outside is:

We finally got the much needed rain!  And we got a lot of it from good old Hurricane Debby.  Here in the mountains of Pennsylvania, we usually only get the rain and a bit of wind when hurricanes go up the east coast.  It absolutely poured and now the temperatures are much more comfortable.  It was actually a bit cool this morning when I left the house around 9am.

On today's to-do list: 

Monday's to-do are:

I'm off work Monday but like I mentioned above, I have lots to do.  

~We have a meeting at 9:30am to make sure everything is situated for Laken's enrollment in her college classes for the fall.  I think I mentioned before that she is doing what is called "Senior Challenge".  It basically means she'll be taking 2 high school classes and a few college classes in the mornings and then be able to leave school before lunchtime.  The college classes start on August 19th (next Monday!) so we have got to get this set up and find out exactly what she will need to complete her classes.

~Sweep

~Mop

~Clean out my car

~Supper

~Dishes

~Devotions

~Wash work clothes and hang up to dry

Happening this week:

This week I'm off Monday and  Friday and Sunday.  The rest of the days I work 7am-1pm.

Tuesday Laken has an appointment to get her Senior Pictures taken for the year book at 3:00pm.  Then Kaylee's work is having a Back-to-School Night that she invited us to come to.  It is 4pm-7pm and we get to take a tour of her work so I'm excited to see her office area.  Then at 6:30pm we have our Ladies' Class Meeting at Church.  So it will be a very busy day.

Wednesday is Kaylee and Shawn's 3rd Anniversary and Kona's (our chocolate lab) birthday :)

Thursday is pretty normal.

Friday (my day off) is once again filled to the brim.  Some items on the list are laundry, groceries, bills, bank and my usual daily to-dos.

Currently reading:

I didn't even touch "Living Slower" this week :(  I only have a few more chapters to go.  Hopefully I'll finish it soon.

Listening to:

Raise the battle cry and take back what the enemy stole!  Enjoy :)

Watching:

I tied to watch the Steeler preseason football game on Friday evening but it was on Prime.  We have Prime but the game was blacked out.  Apparently we live too close :(  argghh!  They lost anyway so I guess I didn't miss much...

Instead of the game, we watched a movie on Freevee about a wedding photographer at a family owned venue who falls in love with the movie-star best man/brother of the couple getting married.  I forget the name of it but it was really good.

I've been watching a lot of YouTube videos on why/how women are returning to wearing dresses/skirts.  One YouTuber (from Heavenly Minded Home) challenged her subscribers to wear a dress/skirt for 7 days in a row to really give it a try.  I've decided to take her up on it and this is my fourth day of wearing a dress except for while I'm at work. I even ordered a few new dresses because my wardrobe will be very limited if I continue to wear only dresses/skirts.

In the Kitchen:

I didn't make the Butterscotch Zucchini Bread this week but I did bake!  I made what I'd like to call "Cinnamon Roll Apple Cobbler" and it was so easy and VERY delicious.

You basically take cut up Cinnamon rolls, apple pie filling, brown sugar and cinnamon and mix it all together and bake it.  If you'd like a more formal recipe go check out this ONE at Olives & Thyme.

In the Craft Basket:

I've been working on the Japanese Fields blocks a bit each evening (well most evenings) but I'm just not sure what to do about the edges of the blocks.  The bottom block is with the Ivory outer round and the top block is with a single crochet of the Hot Rose.  Should I do a round of the Hot Rose on all the block and then join with either the Hot Rose or the Ivory?  Should I just keep it with the Ivory and then join with the Hot Rose?  Should I keep the last round Ivory and then join with Ivory?  I just can't decide!  I think I'll continue to work on just the main block for now and then decide later.  Please give me your opinion!

Picture from the Camera

You've got to give "Cinnamon Roll Apple Cobbler" a try!  The best was just out of the oven but it was also delicious the next morning for breakfast.  I put it the microwave for 20-30 seconds and it was warm and gooey and almost as good as fresh from the oven :)

Prayer Request

My brother, Danny, is having surgery Monday morning to remove his gallbladder. He is almost 48 year old (his birthday is Saturday) and he's never had surgery of any kind before. Not even a broken bone. Please keep him and his doctors in your prayers that all goes well. Also, please pray for my Mom as she's very nervous about her "Baby Boy" having surgery.

Bible Verse

"Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, "Let the children come to me.  Don't stop them!  For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children."  Luke 18:16 NLT

Have a great week!

Colletta

Happy Homemaker Monday ~ 2/26/2024

Come join Diary of a SAHM for Happy Homemaker Monday. 

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Hello, and Happy Monday!

I can't believe this week we turn the calendar to March!  I love that it brings nicer weather, a time change and my birthday.  The older I get (I'll be 46) the more I like to celebrate my birthday (for now anyway) and I can't wait to have long, lighter evenings :)

The weather outside is:

The week ahead is looking lovely.  I love seeing "Springlike" and "Beautiful!" on the forecast!  I'm looking forward to eating my lunches outside.  Right now, I make sure to sit in the natural light and, if possible, in the sunshine.

On today's to-do list: 

~Monday starts my third week at my new job.  I'm feeling pretty good about my learning progress.  My coworkers are great and I'm enjoying my work.  I couldn't ask for more than that.

Happening this week:

~It is a pretty calm week schedule-wise this week.  Laken has a dental appointment Tuesday that the hubby will be taking her to.  It is just a cleaning so hopefully it will be uneventful with no cavities.

~My first payday is Friday!  Which reminds me that we still need to get our taxes completed for 2023.

Currently reading:

I think I need a new book to really grab my attention and make me WANT to read more than watch TV.  I'm thinking a good nonfiction book might be what I need.  Something that isn't just fluff.  Any recommendations for either physical books or for my Kindle?

Listening to:

Watching:

Farmer Wants a Wife

Tracker

Hallmark - Jane Austen inspired movies (loving them!)

Youtube videos from a few favorites

On the menu today:

Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes

In the Craft Basket:

I didn't accomplish much crafting this week.  I think I'm still trying to get into a routine of work/hobby balance.  I thought I would get some crochet time this weekend and be able to finish the Sunburst Granny Square tote that I started.  However, I found that I just wanted to relax and didn't even pick up my hook.

I was going to be doing a Vendor Show on March 16th but my nephew's 18th birthday is that day and he is having a party at the same time as the show.  I decided that supporting my family on this important day was more important to me.  I told the organizer that I hope to catch the next show.  This also gives me more time to plan things out and get more items made if I decide to go that route. 

Picture from the Camera

Laken sent me this picture of Kona's nose.  It cracked me up when I opened it!

Bible Verse

"Because Your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise You.  So I will bless You as long as I live; I will lift up my hands and call on Your name"  Psalm 63:3-4 NRSV

Have a great week!

Colletta

Happy Homemaker Monday ~ 1/29/2024

Come join Diary of a SAHM for Happy Homemaker Monday. 

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Hello, and Happy Monday!

The weather outside is:

I can't talk about the weather without mentioning how absolutely gorgeous it was this past Friday her in southern Pennsylvania!  The sun was shining, the birds were chirping and the snow was melting!  Glorious :)

The week ahead is a little more wintery...sigh...

On today's to-do list: 

~Today is my sister-in-law's birthday!  I would love if you could pray for her.  Kelly is having a major surgery tomorrow on her neck and is very scared.  We're all nervous and have been praying hard that it is safe and successful.  I appreciate it :)

~Working on my new routine of early to bed/early to rise.  I did pretty well with the routine in the beginning of last week and then little by little, I was staying up way too late.  So last night I was in bed by 10pm and now I'm wide awake a little before 5am.

Happening this week:

~Laken's 17th Birthday!  My little groundhog baby is growing up.  Friday we're going out to eat for her Birthday Dinner and then on Saturday we'ere taking Laken and Nate snowboarding at a ski resort about an hour away.  I pray no one gets hurt!

~Prepping for my first ever vendor show!

Currently reading:

I did so good with my reading goal and finished "Keegan" in 2-3 days.  I then started "Small Town Shepherd" by Nala Henkel Aislinn.  So far it has been good, but I've been distracted from reading.  I've put it as an item on my daily tasks, so I'm hoping to finish this book in the beginning of the week.

Watching:

NFL Playoff games.

Percy Jackson

Youtube videos from a few favorites

On the menu today:

Stroganoff

In the Craft Basket:

I finished up the Think Pink Shawl.  Other than that I've been working on bunnies, turtles, bees and leggy frogs for the vendor/craft show.  It isn't until March 16th but I start working outside the home again on February 12th and don't know how much time I will have to craft.  I'd like to get as much done in the next two weeks as I possibly can.

Picture from the Camera

Kona Mae :)

Bible Verse

"In the morning, O LORD, You will hear my voice; In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch."  Psalm 5:3

Have a great Monday!

Colletta

Tea Time ~ 4/28/2022

 

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

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~This past weekend we had 88F weather!  It was spectacular! We decided to cook on the grill that Mom and Dad got for Christmas from my brother and sister-in-law.  (It was delicious :)  Laken insisted that we trek up the hill to the picnic table to eat.  The breeze was magnificent!  After our impromptu picnic, Laken picked me a wildflower just like when she was little.  It made my day :)

~The Chicken/Duck Coop and Pen is done!  The Hubby and my Dad worked tirelessly to get it finished and fenced in while the weather was nice.  The next day we had a Spring storm so it was just in time.  The day after the storm the coop was painted a nice brown but I didn't get a picture.  It looks amazing  :)

~Peaches is one of our travelling, outside cats.  He comes and goes as he pleases.  Mom calls him a working cat because anytime someone is outside working, he'll be in the midst of the action.  As I was at the Coop, I looked over and saw him resting so peacefully in the shade.  He is such a pretty cat.  He keeps himself very well-groomed :)

~Once Easter had passed it was time to give the hounds new bandanas.  (The previous ones had bunnies)  I posted how we make our bandanas (SO SUPER SIMPLE).  You can check that out HERE!

~I lost 2 lbs this week!  I'd love for you to check out my Weekly Weigh In post HERE!

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

 

Colletta

Sewing Saturday ~ No Sew Bandana ~ 4/23/2022

I'm going to be featuring my sewing, crocheting and crafting projects on Saturdays.  Some weeks this will include a finished project, a FNSI or FNWF or just a WIP.

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Today, I'm sharing a SUPER simple, no-sew bandana for 2 that Laken and I like to do for our dogs!

We started with this flowered fat-quarter which Laken and I decided was perfect for Spring!  We do a new bandana about once a month and like to have themes :)

Next, I cut from corner to corner.  VERY easy!  We could hem the edges, but as I said it is only on for about a month and holds up well enough without sewing.  

Next, we tied one half of the fabric loosely on Kona and the other half on Lilah.  Honestly, the hardest part of this project is getting a good picture of the model.  I didn't even try to get one of Lilah as she doesn't cooperate well for pictures :)

I also wanted to give an update on Adalynn's Baby Blanket.  I worked on it off and on all week with the most time being spent on it Friday evening while watching the movie Redeeming Love.

I got almost two rounds done!  As the Blanket gets bigger it takes longer to go around and I kept getting distracted by the movie.

BTW, have you seen Redeeming Love?  If so, what did you think?

Colletta